Sandra C. Lopez's Blog, page 46
November 2, 2024
Review: LAST DANCE IN LITTLE LEAF CREEK by Cindy Bell
Just before Cassie’s wedding, adead body is discovered on the dance floor. Who killed the danceinstructor? Once again, the dynamicduo—Cassie and Tessa—are on the case.
I just enjoy the witty comraderyand the funny animal antics. Naturally, the mystery draws you in and you putyour thinking cap on to figure out who did it. A quick, quirky mystery!
Rating:4 stars
Review: INDIANA BELLE by John Heldt
For Cameron, a university studentworking on his dissertation, it all started with his curiosity of a 1920’sphoto of Candice Bell, who was brutally murdered in 1925. Cameron’s curiositywas further piqued when he not only meets a relative of hers, but that he alsomeets a time-traveler. A time-traveler? Suddenly, an amazing opportunity ispresented and Cameron wants to go back to 1925…to save the girl he’s been inlove with and that’s been dead for over 90 years. However, the time-travelingprofessor insists that Cameron not change the past and leave his family historyintact.
This was a fascinating journeythrough the roaring twenties. The scenes were so rich and descriptive. In thisGolden Age journey, Cameron gets a ring-side seat to a KKK ritual and a “sermonof division, fear, and hate.” The young reporter Candice Bell apprises Cameronof the deceit and corruption of their small community.
At the newspaper worked “a blackacquitted killer in a town of conservative, judgmental, law-abiding whites”—theman that would also be responsible for Candice’s murder. Cameron’s journeybecomes more complicated when he gets romantically involved with Candice. Wouldhe be able to let her die the way history has written it? Or will he try tosave her and possibly jeopardize the future?
A captivating and well-writtentime-traveling tale! A fantastic read! A wonderful journey to the Golden Age! Iwant more books like this one!
Rating:5 stars
Review: HIDDEN HIDEAWAYS by Cindy Bell
Two men went out in a boat. Onewashed ashore, beaten to death, and the other was missing in action. Policethink Suzie’s boyfriend, Paul, might be a suspect in the death. To prove hisinnocence, Suzie must first find Paul. It’s a search for the hidden hideawaysin this one. A mystery you quickly get into!
Rating:4 stars
November 1, 2024
Blog Tour: The Cinderella Romance series by Petie McCarty
THE CINDERELLA ROMANCES SERIES
Petie McCarty
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GENRE: Contemporary Romance
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BLURB:
TheCinderella Romances...Fall in love with the fairy tale all over again.
Modern-dayCinderella stories that provide unlimited opportunities to retell the classicfairy tale, happily with returning characters to share in these adventures.
Cinderella Busted
Onceupon a time, in Jupiter Island, Florida . . .
Billionairedeveloper, Rhett Buchanan, is forced to inspect a shipment of priceless treesand meets the girl of his dreams instead. A bit jaded where women areconcerned—since most are gold diggers—Rhett falls head over heels for theJupiter Island socialite who only wants him, not his money. Except she isn'tthe glamorous socialite she appears to be.
She'sthe gardener . . .
Betting on Cinderella
Onceupon a time in Biloxi, Mississippi . . .
GarrettTucker inherits his grandfather's casino empire and steps into the reclusivebillionaire's shoes as the new "Prince of Vegas." Discoveringembezzlement in his newly purchased casino in Biloxi, Garrett goes inundercover. His prime suspect? The new finance supervisor . . . a feistybrunette who stole his heart at first sight.
AndiRyan moves to Biloxi to care for her godmother. Taking a job as financesupervisor for the renovated Bayou Princess casino, she discovers someone isskimming from the till. Andi starts her own investigation, worried she will beblamed for the theft when the handsome new owner discovers her godmother likesto gamble.
Industrialespionage is afoot at the Bayou Princess, and Garrett and Andi are soon forcedto work as a team to prove her innocence and save the casino before it’s toolate.
Thisswoonworthy modern-day fairy tale joins the other stories in the CinderellaRomances series. Each provides a new opportunity to retell the classic fairytale, happily with returning characters to share in these adventures.
Par for Cinderella
Onceupon a time in Cedar Key, Florida . . .
Golfresort developer Aidan Cross is at loose ends. Something feels missing from hislife, but that something isn't women. He has too many women chasing him now. Toconfuse things even more, his yacht breaks down off-shore of his next projectsite in Florida, and Aidan falls for his only competition in the small town—awoman who wants nothing to do with him or his rakish charm.
CaseyStuart is stuck living in Cypress Key, unwilling to abandon her uncle or thegolf course they manage together. She doesn't quite trust the stranger Aidanwho shows up in town looking for work, and she vows to steer clear of him andthe danger their intense chemistry provokes. Aidan’s stay is temporary, andfalling for him promises only heartbreak.
ButCasey needs Aidan’s help when she discovers Cypress Key’s mayor is makingunderhanded business deals, and she ends up on the wrong side of the powerfulcrook. Aidan steps in to rescue her, but secrets from his past threaten tobogey their new-found affair.
Thisswoonworthy modern-day fairy tale joins the other Cinderella stories in theseries. Each provides a new opportunity to retell the classic fairy tale,happily with returning characters to share in these adventures.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpt One:
from Book One:Cinderella Busted
“Do you buy alot of plants here?” Buchanan suddenly asked.
Her headsnapped up from examining a bent gray frond. She swallowed. “Buy?”
“You must beone of the nursery’s best customers as well as you know the stock and know yourway around here.” He gave her that slow, sexy smile again. “Are you buyinglandscaping for business or pleasure?”
Oh good grief!He thinks I’m a customer.
But whywouldn’t he? Today, she was dressed like one. Surely, he could tell from theirconversation she worked here at the nursery.
Or not.
He waited for aresponse. So that was why he had asked her to help him! She grinned. Shecouldn’t help it. She felt like Cinderella masquerading as a princess at theball. Maybe she could just avoid answering his question altogether.
She guided himto the end of the aisle, made the turn to the fifth row of trees, and aimedtheir steps toward a cluster of Monterrey pines.
Buchanan put ahand out to stop her. “I hope you’ll let me take you to dinner to thank you forhelping me, Lily.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Petiespent a large part of her career working at Walt Disney World—"The Most Magical Place on Earth"—where sheenjoyed working in the land of fairy tales by day and creating her own romanticfairy tales by night, including her new series, The Cinderella Romances. Sheeventually said good-bye to her "day" job to write her storiesfull-time. These days Petie spends her time writing sequels to her regencytime-travel series, Lords in Time, and her cozy-mystery-with-romantic-suspenseseries, the Mystery Angel Romances.
Petieshares her home on the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee with her horticulturisthusband and an opinionated Nanday conure named Sassy who made a cameoappearance in No Angels for Christmas.
VisitPetie's web site online at http://www.petiemccarty.com or her Facebook page athttps://www.facebook.com/petie.mccarty.
BIOSocial Media:
https://www.facebook.com/petie.mccarty
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6094579.Petie_McCarty
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/petie-mccarty
http://www.amazon.com/author/petiemccarty
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GIVEAWAY
Theauthor will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
October 31, 2024
Blog Tour: THE CAT WHO CHASED GHOSTS by Nic Minnella
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
In a sleepy little town, an ordinary-looking cat hides an extraordinary secret that will transform his owners' lives forever.
When the Thompson family inherits a dilapidated old house, their overprotected son Timmy forms a strong bond with Whiskers—a chronically lazy tabby who's not what he seems.
As Timmy explores the house's mysteries, a chilling discovery puts his courage to the test. With the help of Whiskers and some newfound friends, he must face supernatural forces beyond his imagination and rescue a soul in peril.
The Cat Who Chased Ghosts is a spine-tingling tale about bravery, loyalty, and the magical power of friendship (human and feline) that will thrill readers of all ages, reminding us that sometimes the most extraordinary heroes come in the most unlikely packages.
Read an Excerpt
“Yes, Whiskers was called out on important business,” she carried on casually, as if commenting on the weather.
Timmy frowned, confused. He checked Mrs. Krantz for signs that she might be joking.
“Called out? By whom? On what business?”
“He wouldn’t tell me, now, would he?”
Timmy was at a loss for words. Jasper had been right: the woman was cuckoo.
“You seem perplexed, my dear,” she said with a hint of condescension (or so he thought). “Do you think only humans have business to attend to? Have you never heard of Puss in Boots, or the Three Little Pigs, or the White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland?”
“Those are just stories. They aren’t real,” Timmy snapped, now convinced that the old lady was mocking him. The Three Little Pigs, for Pete’s sake! Did she take him for a toddler?
“Narrow-minded, are we?” Her lips smiled, but her eyes didn’t. “Let’s see . . . yes, here it is.”
She handed him a book.
Its cover featured a whimsical drawing of a cat in a wizard’s hat, and it was both big and heavy. Quite a few pages were on the verge of falling out like it had been opened and closed too many times. Timmy could barely make out the title in the dim light.
“From Bastet the Goddess to Puss in Boots: A History of Magical Felines,” he recited.
~~~
Review: There’s no such thing as ghosts.That’s what Timmy told himself after moving into a creepy old house thatevidently came with a cat. With all the eerie stuff happening in the house, itwas a good thing that the cat could chase ghosts. But even with a ghost-chasingcat, the weird stuff can still be pretty scary, especially when a boy goesmissing in the house and Timmy was now tasked to save him. Now the ghost huntwas on!
A nice ghost story with a cat!
Rating:4 stars
About the Author: Nic Minnella has worked in journalism for twenty-plus years. She's also a part-time translator and a full-time cat enthusiast. When she's not occupied with any of the above activities, she's often traveling to faraway places or daydreaming about them.
"The Cat Who Chased Ghosts" is her first published work of fiction, a middle grade supernatural mystery tale where a boy and his cat must confront ghosts and spirits to save their loved ones from the clutches of darkness.
Twitter: https://x.com/nicminnella
FREE TO READ ON KINDLE UNLIMITED: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D7PS7Y4W
a Rafflecopter giveaway
October 30, 2024
Blog Tour: THE APPLE OF ERIN'S EYE by Cynthia Hilston
Contemporary Romance (Clean)
Date Published: 10-12-2024
Erin has planned her life down to alphabetizing her spice cabinet, so when she is stood up on the wedding day she's dreamed of since she was a little girl, her ordered life spirals out of control. When her best friend, and maybe something more, Aaron, challenges her to step outside of her small-town life and explore the world, Erin makes a monumental decision that will take her from teaching middle schoolers in rural Ohio to her dream job as a governess in New York City. Determined to start fresh, to eat meat again, and to ditch her planner, Erin embraces her novel life, but teaching loveable Jessica isn't the only new facet. Her employer, millionaire Daniel Goldstein, is as closed off as the books lining the shelves in his penthouse library where Erin and he spend their evenings sharing their love of books, wine, and perhaps each other. But as Erin opens her heart to new possibilities and loving again, she can't ignore the growing mystery that Daniel is hiding something…or someone.
In this small-town, big-city contemporary romance, Erin learns that no matter where she goes, she takes herself with her. Does that mean finally finding love in the Big Apple, or was it waiting for her in her hometown all along?
About the Author
Bestselling author of the Lorna & Tristan series, Cynthia Hilston is a stay-at-home mom of three young kids, happily married, and lives in the Cleveland, Ohio, area. Writing has always been like another child to her. After twenty years of waltzing in the world of fan fiction, she stepped away to do her debut dance with original works of fiction, although she still dabbles in fan fiction.
In her spare time – what spare time? – she devours books, shamelessly watches Hallmark movies and When Calls the Heart, pets her orange and black kitties, looks at the stars, drinks wine or coffee with good friends, and dreams of what other stories she wishes to tell.
Contact Links
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October 29, 2024
Blog Tour: BORDERLAND by Ross Victory
BORDERLAND
Ross Victory
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GENRE: LGBTQ Poetry
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BLURB:
Borderlandis not just a poetry collection—it’s an invitation to explore the mostvulnerable corners of the human experience. Award-winning author Ross Victorytakes readers on an emotional journey across the intersections of masculinity,race, bisexuality, and grief. In a fearless blend of narrative and free verse,Victory dismantles societal expectations, offering a space where identity canexist fluidly and unapologetically.
Throughits evocative imagery and bold storytelling, Borderland tackles life’s mostcomplex themes—love, loss, strength, and defiance. Each poem immerses readersin raw emotion, from tender vulnerability to fierce defiance. This collectionis perfect for readers seeking honest, unfiltered reflections on what it meansto exist at the crossroads of identity and experience.
Witha voice that’s as unique as it is powerful, Ross Victory has created acollection that speaks to anyone searching for connection and understanding.Borderland isn’t just a book—it’s a movement, a conversation, and a space tofind yourself reflected in its pages.
Stepinto the borderland, where identity knows no boundaries.
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ExcerptThree:
TheWatchtower
I am a lone sniper standing watch
over my heart,
On a fortress wrought with steel and barbed wire.
I scan the horizon, forever askance,
Enemy or ally? Escape or endure?
Isolation strips away my doubt.
Perched still and silent,
High and ready above the world.
Mirages in the distance,
Stirrings in the sand,
Hallucinations in my mind,
A phantom wasteland.
In this tower,
Each approaching step
Sparks memories of betrayal,
Too vivid to forget.
Steady aim, my rifle cracks—
I descend.
Moving with stealth and care,
To find a crumpled note,
“Do you need help? We see you alone up there.”
How do I distinguish,
Between enemy and peer?
Steady aim, my rifle cracks—
I descend.
Another crumpled letter,
“I’m in love with you.”
Atop the watchtower,
Guarded by suspicion,
Threats of war outweigh my desire for love,
On guard, I am stifled by my own protection.
Ready, aim…
Once, I came down to aid a woman calling for help,
Blade to the neck, a sword in my side
She robbed me of everything,
Scars remain
Oh, the irony that echoes,
In this needle's eye,
Among glorious clouds, silken air,
I repel the saving light.
One day, I may know the truth,
Sometimes love knocks.
Until that day,
In the Borderland's cruel lore,
My instinct, my watchtower a monument,
To a boy lost in war.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Ross Victory, (he/him), is an award-winning author, musicartist, and entrepreneur from Los Angeles. Featured in LA Weekly, LA Blade,American Reporter, and Bi.org, Ross rediscovered the healing power of writingafter losing his father and brother. A former English teacher, Ross createsimmersive narrative experiences. He published “Views from the Cockpit,” afather-son memoir, in 2019, resulting in a portfolio of six original titles anda music catalog of 20 songs. His works explore self-discovery, adventure,bisexuality, and family. In 2023, he released the Pride anthem “Bisexual Daze”and Book 1 of the L.A.-based horror series “Grandpa's Cabin.” Ross alsopublishes articles and reflections about grief, biphobia, and elder abuse onMedium.com and recently spoke at their Annual Writer’s Conference. This fall hewill release his first poetry collection titled, “Borderland,” exploring theintersection of race, masculinity, and sexuality.
Website: https://www.rossvictory.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rossvictoryofficial
Twitter: https://twitter.com/rossvvictorius
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Borderland-Poetry-Intersection-Masculinity-Bisexuality-ebook/dp/B0DJ1PHR13
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GIVEAWAY
Theauthor will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
October 26, 2024
Review: THE MANY LIVES OF IVY WELLS by Michelle Files
The first part in Ivy’s life beganwith a bloody fight with her abusive ex-husband, who had found her and herkids. As she was dying, her world went dark. When she woke, she was in herpre-teen body fifteen years ago in her hometown of Red Lake, where two girlswere murdered. Oh wow!
The Red Lake Slasher was set tokill an enemy and her best friend in a few years. Could Ivy actually preventthe killings the second time around? Or how about the third time around?Evidently, every time Ivy dies, she wakes up in a different lifetime withanother possible chance at preventing these deaths. It’s funny because in theselives, she was still connected to Simon, the future ex that stabbed her in thevery beginning. It wouldn’t be surprising if he turned out to be the Red LakeSlasher. Or perhaps it could be Carter, Ivy’s loner boy next door? Mmm,interesting. Who was the killer here? That alone keeps you riveted, and I alsoliked the time-traveling element, too!
Why would Ivy keep re-living herlife? And why was she still with Simon? And why would she go to a full-grownlife after the murders? This multi-layered story was just too puzzling andcurious. It was just too good!
This was a great read from startto finish. The only thing I was curious about (besides who the killer was, ofcourse,) was what the years were in the lifetimes. Ivy mentioned using thecomputer with internet at 15 and the carpet not being changed since the 70’s.Still, the year wasn’t clear.
Wow, the ending! Just when Ithought I had it figured out, I get a shocking twist in the end. A grippingread you won’t want to put down.
Rating:5 stars
Review: DON’T OPEN THE DOOR by Allison Brennan
Don’t open the door…’cause youcould step outside and someone could shoot you dead. The guy that was shot wasa friend of former U.S. Marshall Regan Merritt, whose son was murdered. Whatdid he find out about her son that got him killed? Regan vowed to find out thetruth and find out who killed Tommy.
Regan delves into aninvestigation, looking through all of Tommy’s notes and contacts. It turns outthe death of Regan’s son may have had something to do with her ex’s job insteadof hers. Even though this is a complex mystery with a lot of variables, itstill naturally piques your curiosity, draws you in, and keeps you locked in‘til the end. What did a bank robbery have to do with her son’s murder?
“These people…they’ll kill to keepfrom being caught. A bank teller, a child, a lawyer, a marshall.”
A fascinating thriller mystery!
Rating:5 stars
Review: PAGEANT AND POISON by Cindy Bell
Bekki has her shot at working NewYork’s Beauty Pageant. On the first day, the organizer of the pageant dropsdead. Turns out that everyone had a reason to hate her. But which one of themkilled her? Which one of them poisoned her?
A delightful and quick mystery!
Rating:4 stars
