Sandra C. Lopez's Blog, page 51
September 21, 2024
Review: THE HOUR OF HER DEATH by Rebecca Rane
Kendra Dillon was the indiepodcast host of “The Cold Trail,” a show that investigates cold cases, and wason the hunt for their Season 2 case. At first, this sounded interesting…untilit takes forever to find a cold case to work on. In the meantime, we hear aboutKendra’s work emails and custody battle over her cat. It’s quite boring, and Ihonestly expected more from this. Not great at all.
Rating:2 stars
Review: WRONG PLACE, WRONG TIME by Gillian McAllister
Day one: Jen sees her son killsomeone and gets arrested for the murder.
The next day: Jen wakes up toyesterday, the day before the murder happens. Interesting premise, for sure.
I wasn’t too keen that this waswritten in British English, which irks me, but I pressed on hoping for thebest. The writing was a little choppy with incomplete sentences. Initially, andfor natural reasons, the character questions her sanity, which slows thingsdown dramatically. And what was with the weird chapter titles like “Day MinusTwo” and so forth? That was just too confusing! Anybody else would’ve putactual dates to make things clearer. I bought this on the recommendation ofother readers, and I feel that they should really give me my money back. Therewere just too many things I didn’t like about it. This book was a total flop. Iwill never again buy a book on a whim.
Rating:2 stars
Review: THE STALKER by Becki Willis
A private investigator reluctantlytakes a stalker case. There was nothing to go by and it seemed that he was moreobsessed with her beauty than anything else. At first, the story didn’t soundtoo special and it slowly dragged on for me. Story spent more time describingeverything rather than get into anything good. I’m sorry, but I need a book tograb me from page 1. This one couldn’t even grab me within the first 25 pages.If nothing good has happened within the first 25 pages, nothing good is goingto happen in the rest of the book. Too boring!
Rating:1 star
Review: HER LAST STEPS by N.L. Hinkens
A 4-year-old daughter has gonemissing. The only thing the mother had to go by were her disappearing footstepsin the snow. Although I tried to get into it, this story just didn’t grab me aseasily as previous N.L. Hinkens books. I struggled with it big time. One of thethings that confused me were the names. There were just too many of them. Justtoo boring!
Rating:2 stars
September 20, 2024
Blog Tour: WHISPERS OF THE PAST by Karen Tjebben
Paranormal with a little romance
Date Published : 09-07-2024
Gifts always come with strings... Just don't get tangled in them. When Kat Summers inherits a dilapidated house, she can't wait to restore it. As she breathes life into the house, something within her awakens. Shadows & voices haunt the hallways & trigger her quest for answers. Jana Summers has a spreadsheet for everything. So, when her wife quits her job & begins restoring a money pit, she panics. There's no spreadsheet on how to handle a haunted house or a wife with the gift of sight.
Listen to Whispers of the Past for free on the My Secret Obsession Podcast
https://mysecretobsession.alitu.com/
About the Author
Karen lives in Georgia with her wonderful husband and twin daughters. She loves traveling the world. Whether it’s to the heights of Yosemite, the white sands of the Caribbean, or even Down Under, she’s always ready to pack a bag in search of inspiration. She enjoys creating worlds filled with unique characters that will delight and raise goose bumps on her readers.
Contact Links
Purchase Link
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September 18, 2024
Blog Tour: THE SCHEME by Amethyst Drake
THE SCHEME
Amethyst Drake
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GENRE: Mystery
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BLURB:
KatherineCarson, a former intelligence operative turned private detective, has neverbeen in it for the money. But when a desperate CEO offers double her usual feeto find his missing daughter, she can't refuse.
Setin Baltimore, 2009, what begins as a simple missing person inquiry transformsinto a complex case of espionage, financial crime, and deep-seated grudges. ForKatherine, this case strikes a personal chord, stirring up haunting memoriesfrom her own past. As unexpected connections emerge, she must confront herunresolved guilt.
CanKatherine and her team of private detectives solve the case before it's toolate, or will the turmoil of her past consume her?
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ExcerptThree:
Katherine’s mixed emotions reflected the muddle of the Ames’case. The chilly silence was broken by the ring of her BlackBerry. She answeredon the second ring.
"Hey, Katie."
"Hi, Jake." Katherine unbuckled her seatbelt andstraightened up in her seat.
"Did you make it inside your apartment?"
Katherine slumped back. "You always know, don't you?”
"You okay? Seems like this case is getting to you.”
"I guess so. I wanted this to be easy money…find arun-away heiress, let the family figure out the relationship mess."Katherine got out of her car and climbed the steps to her apartment.
"I suppose nothing is ever that simple."
"I suppose not.” Katherine unlocked her apartment doorand stepped into the nearly bare living room. “I just wish we had more to goon. The clues we do have seem to conflict with each other. And I think Sammi ison strike.”
“Again?” Jake chuckled.
Katherine huffed as she removed her coat and bolted thedoor. “What does she think detectives do? We can’t find missing people bylooking into a crystal ball.” Katherine lowered herself onto the soft couch,the only piece of furniture in the room.
"Even if we could, she’d probably think that wasspying, too.” Jake chuckled louder. “Cut her some slack, Katie. We were allyoung and naive once.”
Jake knew better than most people exactly how young andnaive Katherine had once been. He was the closest thing to family she had.
“Anyway, I’d like to believe Olivia wouldn’t runoff..."
Jake finished her thought. “But it’s possible that thisRobert character manipulated her into doing something she would not normallydo."
"If that’s the case, then I want to find Olivia beforeshe does something she’ll regret. I hope it’s not too late."
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Describea compelling scene in your book and why it is important.
“Youdid all this last night?” Katherine was impressed by Sammi’s hard work. Sherecalled one of the few lessons from her mother: “People will rise to meet yourexpectations."
Sammi spokesoftly. “I wanted to try to make up for the mistakes I made yesterday.”
“Goodwork, Sammi. Let me know when you find those addresses. I want to check out thesalon this afternoon. And I want you to come with me.”
“Really?”Sammi bit back an excited smile.
Katherinewalked to Sammi’s desk. “Yes. You found this clue; it’s only fair you get tohelp follow it up.”
Sammijumped up, squealed, and threw her arms around Katherine’s neck. Then shequickly stepped back and bit her lip. She straightened her vest, trying to lookprofessional despite the tears welling up in her eyes. “Gracias.”
This excerpt from the end of Chapter 11 marks the turningpoint in the relationship between two of my main characters. Katherine heads asmall private detective firm. It has been operating for seven years. Sammi hasbeen on the team for less than a year as an administrative assistant. Recentlygraduated from college, Sammi has dreams of becoming a private detective. Sheleft Puerto Rico to go to college and pursue this dream while living with heraunt and uncle in Baltimore.
Earlier in The Scheme, Sammi oversteps herresponsibilities. She and Katherine have an argument about it. Sammi storms outof the office, and it isn’t the first time. In a few other scenes, Katherineexpresses her frustration at Sammi’s childish behavior. She may even considergoing back on her promise to help Sammi become a detective. But she believesSammi has the right stuff and is encouraged by friends to “cut her some slack”for being naive.
Sammi, for her part, is full of youthful ambition andidealism. Her enthusiasm is infectious, but sometimes her morals conflict withthe job they have to do. Sammi must decide how much gray area to accept in herlife. She must also decide if she wants to keep pursuing a career as adetective.
What makes this scene compelling to me is the subtleinteraction between Katherine and her administrative assistant. Up to thispoint, the relationship has been one of a boss and an employee. At thebeginning of this scene, Sammi comes back to the office and apologizes. Shealso has progress to show on her assignment. Katherine then makes a consciouschoice to stop being only a boss and start being a mentor. Later scenes depictboth women beginning to step into their new roles.
Sammi must learn to take on responsibility, objectivity,and professionalism. Katherine must let Sammi learn from her mistakes, praiseher successes, and teach her the ins and outs of being a detective. I believeboth women will face a steep learning curve. It won't be the last time we seeSammi and Katherine fight. But both women have acknowledged their mistakes andare working together to shift their relationship. They will both end up growingstronger because of the interaction in this scene from Chapter 11.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
AmethystDrake is a passionate storyteller. She excels at crafting delightful charactersand enjoys developing com-plex relationships among them. Mystery has alwaysbeen her favorite genre to read, making it a natural choice for her writing.She aims to blend her personal experience with mental health and the moralcomplexities of intricate interpersonal relationships into engaging novels.
Amethystloves reading all kinds of mysteries, suspense, and thrillers and enjoyswatching classic detective and espionage dramas like "Murder, SheWrote," "Perry Mason," and "Mission: Impossible."
Shealso loves hearing from readers! Connect by signing up for her newsletter atamethystdrake.com or email amethyst@agswordsmiths.com
Links
AuthorWebsite https://amethystdrake.com/
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/amethystdrake.author
Amazonhttps://amzn.to/3M5lmJO
Barnesand Noble https://bit.ly/3Z3VsOv
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GIVEAWAY
Theauthor will award a $25 Amazon GC and a signed book to one randomly drawnwinner, a $10 Amazon GC and a signed book to a second randomly drawn winner,and a signed book to a third randomly drawn winner.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Blog Tour: CHOICE by Dora Farkas
CHOICE
Dora Farkas
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GENRE: Women's Fiction
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BLURB:
Valis a young Mexican-American quantum physicist and single mother struggling withan anxiety disorder and financial challenges. Her world is turned upside downwhen her ex-husband files for full custody of their three-year-old daughter totake her across the country where he was offered a job. The story unfolds asshe decides either to stay put in Boston and meet job related deadlines or goon a holiday and visit her parents in Mexico.
Encouragedby her father, Val flies to Mexico with Maya, her service dog, and Daisy, herdaughter, and she discovers a world of magic that will change her outlook onlife forever. She also reconnects with her childhood friend, Mercedes, whogives her a glimmer of hope. Things, however, are not what they seem to be. Asall areas of her life begin to fall apart, Val must explore the power of herintuition and make different choices to change the course of her and herdaughter’s futures.
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ExcerptThree:
It was magic that led me to Val. The day her mother, laseñora María, came into our house, I felt something I had never felt before.This woman and her family needed me. I couldn’t explain why. But as soon as shestepped into the house, I ran up to her and started pawing at her shiny shoes.La señora Luz always wore sandals, but this lady had the most interesting shoesever, with high heels and colors I didn’t even know existed. She petted all mysiblings, but I kept pawing at her shoes until she lifted me and didn’t put medown until she got back to her own house.
Is it a coincidence that la señora María got me right beforeVal got sick? Not a chance. Like all of us, la señora María was guided by herintuition to get a puppy for her daughter just when Val needed someone themost. Val and I had only been together for a few weeks when Val got so ill thatshe couldn’t get out of bed except to walk me. If I hadn’t been there, whoknows what would have happened? My being there helped her to get through theday until her doctor told her to train me as a psychiatric service dog. I can’ttell you how happy it made me to have a job!
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Although Dora was born in Budapest, Hungary, she lived in Mexicofor five years during her early childhood. Her connection to the Mexicanlanguage, history, and cooking inspired the cultural setting for her debutnovel, “Choice.”
After getting her doctorate from MIT, she published her firstbook, “The Smart Way to Your Ph.D.” which paved the way for a six-figureconsulting business while she was a stay-at-home mom with two daughters. Shehas given workshops about writing at MIT, Tufts, Boston University, theUniversity of Connecticut, Ohio State University, the Scripps ResearchInstitute, the University of Calgary, and the University of British Columbia.
Author website: https://dorafarkas.com/
Buy link: https://dorafarkas.com/Choice
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dora.farkas
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GIVEAWAY
Theauthor will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
September 17, 2024
Scavenger Hunt: WHO IS BOBBIE-MAE by C.C. Legault
Read the short summary of this book and find the answer to the question below. Those that comment on this post with the correct answer will be entered into a random drawing for a free $5 Amazon Gift Card. Contest ends Sept 18.
Question: What is the name of the man that claims to be Bobbie-Mae's husband?
Twenty-five-year-old Bobbie-Mae wakes up alone in a hospital room. Her first visitor is a man she doesn’t recognize, who claims to be her husband Simon. In the aftermath of a life-threatening car accident, there is complete darkness in her recall. Even though she tries desperately to remember, there are simply too many gaps.
September 16, 2024
Blog Tour: THE LEGENDARY MO SETO by A.Y. Chan
THE LEGENDARY MO SETO
A.Y. Chan
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GENRE: Middle Grade, Martial Arts, Action/Adventure
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BLURB:
MoSeto, martial arts movie star! Has a nice ring to it doesn’t it? Too badthere's a height restriction to audition. But 12-year-old Modesty (Mo) Seto hasnever let her height get in the way before, not when she became a black belt,or when she fought the meanest boy in her class, and she’s not going to let itstop her this time! Now if only she can figure out a way to grow five inchesand fool everyone at the auditions…and find time to search for her missingfather (who just might be harboring a dangerous secret of his own). Join Mo onan adventure (and audition) of a lifetime and find out if powerful thingsreally do come in small packages!
PublishersWeekly calls THE LEGENDARY MO SETO “Adrenaline pumping”, Kirkus Reviews says it“Packs a punch”, and Booklist calls it “Remarkably relatable.” Leap in and jointhe fun!
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ExcerptThree:
Itap the arm of a boy next to me. He’s around my height, though he looks likehe’s probably a good couple of years younger. “What’s everyone looking at?”
Theboy cocks his head toward the crowd and frowns. “There’s a poster aboutauditions for a Cody Kwok movie, but—”
CodyKwok? Cody Kwok! Aaaaaaaah! Every thought inside my brain disappears, exceptfor the words “CODY KWOK” in capital letters, surrounded by flashing lights.
Ineed to see that poster.
Icrane my neck, but it’s no use. What would Cody Kwok do? Cody wouldn’t letbuildings or bridges or trains or nuclear explosions stand in the way of whathe wanted—let alone a few people.
“Nacho,meet me out front. I’ll be right back.” Slipping through cracks, under armpitsand between legs, I duck, crawl, and push my way through until I’m standing infront of Cody’s magnificent face. I’d recognize it anywhere. His black eyes arenarrowed, and his lips are curled, as if daring his opponent to strike. Hisfists are held in a classic fighting stance.
“Ohmy gosh. Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh.”
Belowthe picture are the words:
CASTINGCALL FOR THE PROTEGES
PRESENTEDBY FLYING FIST STUDIOS
Invitingall young martial artists to participate in our open auditions to staralongside CODY KWOK in his next movie.
Signup for an audition spot on Sunday, July 7
2:00p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Auditionsbegin Saturday July 13.
Sign-upsare—I double-check my phone—in a week.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
A.Y. Chan grew up in Canada’s Greater Toronto Area reading all the middle gradeand young adult books she could get her hands on. To this day, those remain herfavorite genres. After achieving her black belt in Taekwondo, she exploredother martial arts, such as Wing Chun, Hapkido, and Muay Thai. These days, shecontinues her martial arts training some mornings, writes in the afternoons,takes long walks to muddle out plot points, and falls asleep reading.
BookBuy Links:
Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/Legendary-Mo-Seto-1/dp/1665937327
Barnes& Noble:https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-legendary-mo-seto-a-y-chan/1144226905
Bookshop.org:https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-legendary-mo-seto-ay-chan/20699961
A.Y.Chan Social Links:
Twitter/X:https://x.com/AYChanWrites
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/aychanwrites/
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/aychanwrites/
AboutBook Links:
Website:aychanwrites.com
Simon& Schuster Author Page:https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Legendary-Mo-Seto/A-Y-Chan/The-Legendary-Mo-Seto/9781665937320
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GIVEAWAY
Onerandomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $25 Amazon/BN.com gift card.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Blog Tour: THE BLUFF by Bonnie Traymore
A crumbling bluff, two unsolved homicides, and a woman on the edge.Haunted by her husband’s untimely death, Kate must navigatetreacherous waters and leave Crest Lake and her tragic pastbehind...before it all unravels.
The Bluff
by Bonnie Traymore
Genre: PsychologicalThriller
"A riveting, pulse-pounding, adrenalinerush of a thriller. Do not miss this book!" -Noelle W. Ihli,author of Gray After Dark
“Grippingand full of surprises, The Bluffis a clever psychological suspense with layered characters and anatmospheric setting. Traymore masterfully ratchets up the tensionlittle-by-little until the shocking,explosive end.” –TraceyDevlyn, USA Today bestsellingauthor
“What do youhave to lose, Kate?” Ryan asked me, as we stood on the blufflooking out on Lake Michigan.
Turns out, almosteverything.
When I first movedfrom Manhattan to this small town six years ago, I worried about manythings. I worried about finding a job. I worried that I’d be bored.I worried that my relationship with charming photographer RyanBreslow was moving too fast. But I never worried about whether theground beneath my feet would crumble—both literally andfiguratively.
My marriage didn’tgo as I’d imagined. A year ago, Ryan met his untimely death in acar accident that’s still under investigation. Isolated and alone,all I wanted was to sell my home and leave Crest Lake and its painfulmemories behind.
But with my homeinching ever closer to the edge of the crumbling bluff, the propertyhas become unmarketable. All of us on the lakefront have lost chunksof property, and tempers are at a boiling point about what to donext.
And now, on theevening of a contentious vote about how to fix this pressing issue,my nemesis on the shoreline committee has been murdered. I know howit looks, but it’s not what it seems. I have to get my plan passedand cash out.
Because I havesecrets.
And they won’tstay buried forever.
** OnSale for Only .99cents for a limited time! **
BonnieTraymore is the award-winning, Amazon best selling author ofpage-turner mystery/thrillers that hit close to home. Her booksfeature strong but relatable female protagonists. The plots exploredifficult topics such as jealousy, infidelity, murder, and the impactof psychological disorders, but she also includes bits of romance andhumor to lighten the mood from time to time. She's an active statusmember of International Thriller Writers and Mystery Writers ofAmerica.
Website* Facebook *Twitter * Instagram* Bookbub* Amazon* Goodreads
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$20 Amazon
