Sandra C. Lopez's Blog, page 59
October 26, 2024
Review: SKIMMING AROUND MURDER by Edale Lane
A child goes missing whileDetective Jenna investigates a card skimming scam. Always being a person thatwasn’t good at relationships, she takes out her anger and frustration out onher new girlfriend. Looks like the relationship ended before it started.
This one had a slow start asthings, at first, don’t have any appeal. By chapter 5, we get a dead body bythe ATM, which may relate to the skimmer case. There was some needlessnarrative here that could’ve taken out quite frankly. And the investigation tookjust as much time, too. It took TOO MUCH time. This one certainly didn’t grabme like the first one did. This book officially ends my TBR train on thisseries and this author.
Rating:2 stars
October 25, 2024
Blog Tour: UPAS STREET: SHOCKING SPECTER by Sherrill Joseph
Do you dare enter Dr. Frankenstein’sla-BOR-uh-tree?
Upas Street:Shocking Specter
The Botanic HillDetectives Mysteries Book 6
by Sherrill Joseph
Genre: MiddleGrade Paranormal Mystery
Do you dare enter Dr. Frankenstein’sla-BOR-uh-tree?
A fearless quartet of teen sleuths, the Botanic Hill detectives, travel toLlanfair, a fictitious Welsh village in present-day California, to solve themystery of the Shocking Specter.
The green-glowing apparition reportedly roams the countryside, settingfire to buildings and meadows during the new moon. The occurrences beganshortly after a motion picture stagehand Scotty Roberts’s accidental death byelectrocution in this case inspired by the filming of Universal Pictures 1931classic horror movie Frankenstein.
Supernatural?
Coincidence?
Or is criminal activity at work?
And why, nearly a century later, has the Shocking Specter returned?
Readers will enjoy learning about real-life horror film star BorisKarloff, Frankenstein author Mary Shelley, other key playersin the movie’s production, and some early Hollywood cinematic history. Our fabulous four might need to kick some monsters to the curb to solvethis challenging mystery!
For ages 9 to 14. Adults like this series,too! My present-day Middle-Grade mysteries have a twist of history,this time, harking to the filming of 1931's Universal Pictures classic horrormovie Frankenstein.It is not within the Young-Adult genre that serves ages 14 to18.
Whatreaders are saying:
“Follow our detectives to the fictitious Welshsettlement of Llanfair, California, as they chase a green-glowing specter andget caught up in a riveting mystery that will introduce young readers to themagic of old Hollywood horror movies. Kids will stay intrigued from start tofinish.”
--KIMBERLEY KRAMER, Literacy Specialist, SaintKatharine Drexel Academy, San Diego, CA
“I loved this book and could not put it down! Iloved learning about the Hollywood monsters from the old-time days and meetingthe people of Llanfair. You will not be sad that you chose this book to read.”
--SOPHIA O., age 10, San Diego, CA
“As a professor of History of Film and Monsterand Character Makeup Design, I was intrigued from the first page of this book!The Golden Age of Hollywood is brought to life in the eyes of the youngprotagonists through their exploration of Universal Studios’ Frankensteinfranchise. Joseph not only captured my attention with the charm andintelligence of her four detectives but had me searching for clues and secretmessages (Easter eggs) to unravel this horror-movie-inspired mystery. Josephincludes facts about Boris Karloff that I did not know, which delighted me tono end. Jack Pierce may have never received an Oscar for his iconic makeupdesigns, but he gets a wonderful tribute through this exciting story. Amust-read for mystery lovers and film buffs of all ages.”
--SHARON LYNN, award-winning author of ACotswold Crimes Mystery series; aka SHARON BOLMAN, Senior Professor of DigitalVideo and General Education, University of Advancing Technology, Tempe, AZ
Amazon * Apple * B&N * Kobo * Smashwords * Books2Read * Author’s Site
**Don’t missthe rest of the series!**
Find them on Amazon!
Sherrill Joseph was a shy kid whose BFF wasNancy Drew. From her, the author learned to seek adventures, be kind and fair,help others everywhere, and become a mystery author someday.
Convinced early on that she was an architect ina former life, Sherrill was receptive to the magic of her Southern Californianeighborhood’s historic houses. To this day, she dramatizes those old“castles,” filling them with mysteries, staircases, a ghost or two, andexaggerated occurrences.
The author graduated Phi Beta Kappa and summacum laude from San Diego State University. Once retired in 2013 afterteaching kids for thirty-five years in the San Diego public schools, the innerchild in Sherrill created the multi award-winning Botanic Hill DetectivesMysteries series so her grandkids and all kids can gallop with her and her fourforever-thirteen-year-old sleuths in their standalone cases after clues to nabthe bad guys.
Website * Facebook * X * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads
On moonless nights, somethingcalled The Shocking Specter roams the laboratory originally seen in the old,classic movie, “Frankenstein.” Sounds like a case for these teen detectives.
Story right away dives into therich history of Golden Age cinema. In fact, the whole case becomes a learningexperience for the kids. Right before they get into anything, they have alively discussion about black-and-white movies vs. color movies. Very interestingtopic! So much talk about movie history and filming techniques. Howfascinating!
Even though it takes a while forthe mystery to get underway, I was still intrigued by the movie facts. Attimes, the history can be too informative, and the pace can be a little longand slow. But it’s the educational element about classic horror films that willkeep readers motivated. You’re basically a tourist to Movieland history. Whatfun! Following the kids’ investigation was like watching the Scooby Gang—it wasall wit, smarts, and innocent fun. The gang had their list of suspects and theywere trying to eliminate each one with clues and info.
A nice, little mystery!
Rating:4 stars
Followthe tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
$20 Amazon
Blog Tour: I KNOW A GUY NAMED NOAH GUY by Jeanne Ward
Children's Book
I Know a Guy Named Noah Guy is a delightful and imaginative rhyming picture book that will capture the hearts of young readers! Follow along with Noah Guy, a character who knows he’s in a book, as he takes you on whimsical adventures where the only limit is your imagination. From riding bulls at the rodeo to joining the circus, Noah shows that anything is possible with a friend by your side.
This charming story celebrates friendship, teamwork, and the power of never giving up. The rhythmic verses are designed to engage young minds, promoting speech, cognitive development, and early literacy skills. Children will love the playful language, sound patterns, and the chance to predict what comes next—just like in their favorite nursery rhymes.
Review: A cute, little rhyming tale abouta guy named Noah Guy. Although there really wasn’t much story to it, you can’thelp but enjoy these colorful pages. Find out why Noah Guy is THE guy.
“In Storybook Land, rules don’tapply. You can do anything with Noah Guy.”
There’s no limit to theimagination.
A nice read!
Rating:4 stars
About the Author
My name is Jeanne Ward, I am a mother of three, grandmother of two and a business owner. Family is everything to me. Me and my eldest brother married siblings, creating a unique environment of double cousins and a close-knit family. I live in Brooklyn NY where I own and operate an Early intervention program for young children with autism. I opened my school in 1998, and I have all 3 of my siblings, had all 3 of my children, my daughters-in-laws, all my nieces and nephew, and my uncle work there at one time or another. Additionally, I have my brother and brother-in-law who work tirelessly behind the scenes to make sure the school remains a success. I am a special educator, and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and love what I do for a living.
My eldest are twins. One lives right outside Asheville North Carolina with his wife and daughter. He, like me, is a special educator and a BCBA. Although he has a physics degree from NYU, he found a passion working with children with autism after he graduated college and working for me while applying to graduate school. My other son, my partner in these books has moved back from Nashville Tenn and currently lives in Newburgh NY with his wife and newborn son. My youngest, Phoenix, will leave for High Point University in North Carolina in a month. I lost my husband to cancer nearly 6 years ago and I am about to be an empty nester. It is my sincere hope to spend my days writing Noah Guy stories, running my school and being the best mom and grandma I can be.
October 24, 2024
Blog Tour: THE POSEIDON PROJECT by E. William Podojil
THE POSEIDON PROJECT
E. William Podojil
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GENRE:
Suspense,Thriller, Mystery
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
ThePoseidon Project is an international suspense thriller and the first book inThe Herb Society Mysteries series
MollyHalloran and her friends have a secret past. Their bucolic retirement is suddenly upended when Molly’s husband isabducted and held for a steep ransom. Now she, her friends, her tech executive son, Lukas and his Air Forcepilot boyfriend must race against the clock and travel halfway around the worldto meet the kidnappers’ demands. Butwhen they learn why her husband has been abducted, they realize how high thestakes truly are. Molly and her friendsnow must face their past in order to save the future. But not only their futures; the world’s.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ExcerptThree:
“There’s just nothing like airplane sweaty body, Ma. Ipromise I won’t tell anyone you complained about your private jet.” Lukasjoked.
“You know, Lukas, I know it’s your romantic life, and youdon’t need your mother meddling in your affairs, but Taylor is quite a catch ifyou ask me. You two look so natural together, like you’ve known each otherforever.”
“I hope you mean that in a good way, Ma.” Lukas blushed abit. His mother could see right through him. “I’m waiting ’til he reveals he’sa psychotic serial killer. That’s usually how my relationships go, well, notthe serial killer part, but definitely the psychotic part.”
“I think you should go for it, for what it’s worth. And whyare you so negative about relationships?” his mother asked.
“Mom, I’ve known him for a week and during one of the mostawful, chaotic weeks in my life. I’d like to see how we get along in a normalsetting, like normal, boring life. Watching Netflix, making popcorn, foldingclothes, you know? Simple life stuff. That’s when you know whether you’re withthe right person or not.”
“You haven’t changed much, Lukas,” his mom pointed out. “Youlook at everything with logic,
precision, follow the rules, and with as little variation aspossible. You’ve been that way since you were little, and I love that aboutyou, but you have to let yourself feel emotions. Allow yourself to bevulnerable and take a leap of faith. You’re not a Klingon, for God’s sake.
a leap of faith. You’re not a Klingon, for God’s sake.”
Lukas held back a laugh. “I think you mean a Vulcan, Mom.”
“Let me ask you something, Lukas. How do you feel whenyou’re around Taylor?”
Lukas pondered. “That’s easy, Ma. I feel like I’m rightwhere I want to be. I feel joy, fear, happiness, then scared and vulnerable.Panicked and terrified he’s going to walk away.”
“Like Drew, you mean?”
Lukas paused. “Yeah, Ma, like Drew.”
“You live once, honey. You’re almost forty, and before youknow it you will be my age. It’s best to share a life with someone, not runprobability formulas to predict success or failure. Sometimes, you just have tojump and know, that no matter what happens, you’ll be okay.”
“What did you and Dad do before I was born?” Lukas quicklychanged the subject.
Molly was taken aback. “Um, well, we had a lot ofadventures, that’s for sure. Not much money, so we both worked a lot, but wehad fun.”
“Mom, how did you meet your friends, you know, Linda, Betty,and Donna?”
“We worked together.”
“Teaching? Lukas asked.
“Not teaching. We worked together at Argonne NationalLaboratory before teaching.”
“What did you guys do there?”
Molly thought about a response. “Lots of stuff.”
“Mom, can you tell me more than that?”
Molly let out a sigh. “Not every story is my story alone totell. I have to get the ladies to explain some things. It’s a long story, solet’s go get them so we can tell it together.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
E. William Podojil has worked as a writer, advisor and international business executive while livingin the Netherlands and the United States. He studied screenwriting at UCLA. Hisfirst novel, The Tenth Man, was published in 2004, by Haworth Press. His latest novel, The Poseidon Project, willbe published by Wild Rose Press in August, 2024 as the first book in the HerbSociety Mysteries series.
Podojil currently resides in Northeast Ohio with his husband andthree sons. He travels extensively and writes about his experiences on hiswebsite www.ewpodojil.com
https://www.facebook.com/ewilliampodojil
http://www.twitter.com/EWPodojil
https://www.instagram.com/ewilliampodojil/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GIVEAWAY
Onerandomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $25 Amazon/BN.com gift card
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Blog Tour: THESE ARE NOT MY WORDS (I JUST WROTE THEM) by Donovan Hufnagle
THESE ARE NOT MY WORDS (I JUST WROTETHEM)
Donovan Hufnagle
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GENRE: Poetry
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
EchoingChuck Palahniuk’s statement. “Nothing of me is original. I am the combinedeffort of everyone I’ve ever known,” this collection explores identity. Thesepoems drift down rivers of old, using histories private and public and visitpeople that I love and loathe. Through heroes and villains, music and cartoons,literature and comics, science and wonder, and shadow and light, each poemcanals the various channels of self and invention. As in the poem,“Credentials,” “I am a collage of memories and unicorn stickers…[by] those thathave witnessed and been witnessed.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ExcerptThree:
Zombies
If they could...
if we would
press a voltage meter to their temple, on
through to their rotten-goo-
brain and if it registered,
if it charged,
if those neurons
ramblin in still sparked,
still signaled amongst the village
of others, I think
zombies would
wish for love,
to love, flesh and bone
again, to feel and pulse
again, to imagine
a voice kissing the back of their neck,
hairs stand at attention, polka dots
spring out, up and down their arms
and legs.
After all, they were human
once.
If they could
mold pottery and poetry,
harvest apples and stomp out grapes.
If they could
graft theory from rose stems—
born yellow and purple petals from one bud.
if they could
carve a rib from Adam,
melt steel into sword and create new.
If they could
wield Eve from Adam
and create new on the verge of war
between objects of both sexes
between objects of all sexes,
divided like branches, each branch
new, each bearing fruit dissimilar to
the other—new
If they could,
would we?
After all, we were human
once.
[When I Ain’t Got That I Do Anything] or Frenchman
Drawing noisily at a curved, worn pipe,
he sat in the backyard under an apple tree—
I ain't educated but I can write.
I was a carpenter in Iberville, the east side.
I'm on WPA now. On the brush team.
He says, drawing noisily at a curved, worn pipe,
I learned polishing from an old type,
Italian, I believe. I watched him run the machine.
I ain’t educated but I can write.
The first time I tried it, the wheel cried,
running all over the dam stone, free. You see,
drawing noisily at a curved, worn pipe,
I spoiled it. I was fooled. I thought I’d try
and there was nothing to it. But the key
is being educated. At least I can write.
You can't sell granite with a wrinkled tide
in it. But for $2.80 a day, I’ll probably flee
And though I ain’t educated, I can write,
He repeats, drawing noisily at a curved, worn pipe.
Grandma, If Only These Walls…
Do you sleep naked beneath
a popcorn sky riddled with residue
of the past and clues to asbestos?
I remember
when I clawed the ceiling,
the putty knife scraped away
the yellowing kernels and it snowed
for the rest of the day. For the rest
of my life.
They popped. And from the ceiling,
down, eventually,
yellow falls asleep on the bed.
I am a child in a snow globe,
making snow angels the same
yellowish tint as her nubs, her alley-cat
eyes, these walls.
I know little of her:
her modeling days—her costume
jewelry displays throughout
the house, but where did she wear this
ruby ring? When did this
emerald rest around her neck?
An albatross?
I imagine her strut
on the runway, such
power. They stare at her, wait
for her everything. A look. A twist.
A wink. Was she always on
display?
Did the flash of cameras blind her
marriage—rumors of others,
into another?
How the hell could she let
the next in? He stole her
money, molested her
children and grands. He smoldered her
like the tip of her cigarette,
And from the tip, down,
eventually, the ash snow fell
gray to yellow.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
DonovanHufnagle is a husband, a father of three, and a professor of English andHumanities. He moved from Southern California to Prescott, Arizona to FortWorth, Texas. He has five poetry collections: These Are Not My Words (I JustWrote Them), Raw Flesh Flash: The Incomplete, Unfinished Documenting Of, TheSunshine Special, Shoebox, and 30 Days of 19. Other recent writings haveappeared in Tempered Runes Press, Solum Literary Press, Poetry Box, BeyondWords, Wingless Dreamer, Subprimal Poetry Art, Americana Popular CultureMagazine, Shufpoetry, Kitty Litter Press, Carbon Culture, Amarillo Bay,Borderlands, Tattoo Highway, The New York Quarterly, Rougarou, and others.
Website:http://www.donovanhufnagle.com
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/donovanhufnagle
Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/dhufnaglepoetry
Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/These-Are-Not-My-Words/dp/B0DBMN46M4/ref=sr_1_1
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GIVEAWAY
Onerandomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $25 Amazon/BN.com gift card.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
October 23, 2024
Blog Tour: THE RISE UP Trilogy by Henrik Wilenius
THE RISE UP TRILOGY
Henrik Wilenius
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GENRE: Young Adult Contemporary
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
TheRise up trilogy is a coming-of-age story about Hashim, Alex and Maryam, threebest friends on the threshold of adulthood. Before they can find their place inthis world, they must come to terms with their past and learn to confide ineach other as they are confronted by intolerance, ignorance, and corporategreed that threaten to rob them of their future. Inspirational, harrowing,intense and deeply moving, this trilogy presents a ray of hope amidst terriblehardship, misfortune and loss.
Book One: Catch You if YouFall
Highschool best friends Hashim, Alex, and Maryam must confront real-life issuesthat loom for Gen-Z today, including the climate crisis, corrupt politics, andracial and gender equity.
WhenHashim turns eighteen, he receives a grant from his Mosque that will send himto an Ivy League in New York. His devout Muslim family couldn’t be more proud.And to support their young son on his journey, they arrange a wife for him.There’s only one problem: Hashim is gay.
Hashim’sbest friend Alex is struggling with a difficult home life, a non-presentfather, and financial issues that prove particularly painful when all hisfriends are planning to go off to college and leave him behind.
Standingconfidently alongside these two boys is Maryam, a headstrong Muslim girl whobucks her traditional roots by becoming a vegan activist.
Itdoesn’t take long until certain evil forces start to draw these three evencloser, as their futures and the wellbeing of their community and the world isthreatened. They are called to act.
Book Two: Merry Farm
Inthe second installment of the Rise Up Trilogy, best friends Hashi, Alex, andMaryam stumble upon a huge government coverup. When more people get sicker andsicker, and nothing about the outbreak makes news, it becomes clear thecorruption goes up high.
Asthe three attempt to expose and stop a tragedy that could kill thousands, theyend up framed as the bioterrorists responsible for this exact crime, and a teamof hitmen is dispatched to hunt them down. As they grapple with their owngrowing pains, Hashi, Alex, and Maryam hurry to outrun the disaster, prove thatthey are innocent, and do what they feel is right.
Book Three: Collusion
Nowa well-known activist, Maryam, along with her two best friends Hashim and Alex,is chosen by the President of the United States to draw up a proposal to helpfight climate change, mere weeks before superstorm Roxanne makes landfall inthe Northeast.
Afterthe President’s Future Rescue Advisory Board hears their climate proposal toset heavy taxes on meat, dairy and carbon emissions, and someone leaks it tothe press, chaos spreads across party lines. A few months since they stopped adeadly virus in its tracks, the three uncover a conspiracy on the highest levelof the legislative branch.
Whilethe deadly hurricane wreaks havoc along the eastern seaboard, destroying theU.S. Naval Command in Norfolk, Virginia, and hitting New York City withdevastating force, Maryam, Hashim, and Alex grapple with forces beyond theircontrol in the government.
Howwill their stories unravel? What do their futures hold as they mature intoadults in a world that may not accept them? Find out in this last book in theRise Up Trilogy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ExcerptThree:
From COLLUSION
“Yes, let’s talk about protecting the American way,” Maryamresponded to the reporter. “Let’s talk about the Norfolk Naval Station in hishome state of Virginia. We were there only a few days ago. All it takes is somerain and high tide, and a large part of the base goes underwater. And many ofthe piers were out of operation for that reason. Like Norfolk, many other U.S.navy bases have been built on lowlands by the water, and most of them areliterally sinking into the sea as we speak.”
Hashim bit down a smile from the sidelines. Maryam was goinghead on. She had seen how well it worked with the President when Alex did it.
“But Senator Stevenson and his colleagues refuse to talkabout the biggest national security risk of our time, because it’s caused byclimate change. Senator Stevenson with his fellow climate change deniers in theSenate are blocking all the attempts to fund any initiatives to address theissue. So I truly wonder what or who is the real threat to the American way?”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Topic: What makes your seriesdifferent from any other series in this genre?
In the Rise UpTrilogy, high school best friends Hashim, Alex, and Maryam must confrontreal-life issues like climate crisis, animal rights, corrupt politics, andracial and gender equity. Especially the first two are themes very seldom showup in fiction. In this blog post, I wantto concentrate on one of them, the climate crisis.
The New York Timesbest-selling author Jonathan Safran Foer wrote in his groundbreaking book We are the weather: “Climate change isquite possibly the most boring subject the science world has ever had topresent to the public. It seems fundamentally impossible to pull thecatastrophe from over there in our contemplations to right here in our hearts.”Blake Snyder, another one of my favorite authors, came up with a rule called“Watch Out For That Glacier” in his popular Save The Cat! screenwriting bookseries. In this rule, Snyder rails against having athreat that’s looming in the background but isn’t here yet. It’s approachingvery slowly, like a glacier (global warming) that one must watchout. There’s a lack of urgency that is vital for good drama. Maybe forthese reasons, there are plenty of non-fiction books about climate change butvery few fictional ones.
Every day we can read in the news about thedevastation extreme weather events provoke across the globe. UNSecretary-General Antonio Guterres spoke at a conference held in the wake ofthe devastating floods that left more than 9 million people homeless inPakistan in early 2023. According to him, we are on the road to climate ruin.That same year, The New York Times reported that “Climate Shocks Are MakingParts of America Uninsurable.” Dana R. Fisher writes in her epic non-fictionbook “Saving Ourselves” (2024) that the only we can save ourselves is with massmobilization that is driven by the pain and suffering of climate shocks aroundthe world. She coined the concept of AnthroShift which is needed to stimulateit. In other words, something really bad needs to happen before we take action.And what that bad could be, was what I started to work on in preparation towriting Collusion, my climate change thriller.
However, it wasn’t enough to come up withnatural disasters to make the story plausible. It needed political element too.A systematic change was needed, because it would not be believable that bigpart of the humanity would turn vegan anytime soon. I dug into the existingpolitical landscape in the US and identified the forces that were against thissystematic change. I didn’t have to invent it. It was already there staring atme in the centre of the legislative branch of the US government. All I neededwas a bit of imagination and I was able to come up with a credible conspiracyto make my thriller thrilling. Then I made my heroes live through it and growfrom the experience, and Collusion was born.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Henrik Wilenius is the author of the Rise Up Trilogy, a youngadult coming-of-age story about Hashim, Alex and Maryam confronting real-lifeissues like climate change, corrupt politics, animal cruelty and racial andgender equity.
The Rise Up Trilogy is now available also as an audiobook and aweekly serialized audiobook podcast on all the major platforms.
Previously, Henrik as published two books (an autobiographicalcoming of age book and a YA novel) by a major publisher (WSOY) in Finlandbefore switching to English and self-publishing. The Rise Up Trilogy wasinspired by his fifteen-year stint as a volunteer in a Red Cross Youth Shelterand by his vegan activism.
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BVJ1TNFG
Buzz Sprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2264640
Website: http://www.henrikwilenius.com
TikTok: http://www.tiktok.com/henrikwileniusauthor
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/@henrikwileniusauthor
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GIVEAWAY
Theauthor will award the winner's choice of an audiobook set via Spotify or adigital book set of THE RISE UP TRILOGY.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Blog Tour: SMELLING DAISIES by Elysia and Mark Stevens
SMELLING DAISIES
Elysia and Mark Stevens
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GENRE: Historical Romantic Comedy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
Wheneverthings seem to fall apart around Daisy, romance novels are her way of escaping.When immersed in a novel, she can imagine herself in the story as the leadfemale character. Still, the difference between her and the typical femalecharacter in her novels is that she is not your average damsel in distress.
Daisywas raised by a military father who ensured his daughter knew survival skillsand how to protect herself. Following in her beloved father's footsteps, Daisyjoined the army and met Justin. Eventually, Daisy's dreams would come true.While on a decompression stop after a deployment overseas, she finds herself atthe Lachlan Castle in Scotland. There, she is thrown back in time to the erashe loves to read about, but things are nothing like she imagined.
WhenDaisy befriends a bonnie Scottish lass, she finds herself in a haven under theroof of the girl's brother, a laird named Alick. It becomes clear that thelaird is constantly challenged by the many nuances of Daisy's status as amodern-day female soldier as she attempts to navigate the dangerous life inmedieval Scotland. While trying her best to fit in, Daisy stumbles upon apsychotic baron named Thomas, who loves to torture women and is fascinated withher.
BothLaird Alick and Baron Thomas want to tame the lioness in Daisy but fordifferent reasons. But Daisy is ill-prepared for medieval love or warfare andmust train her heart and head to face what's coming next.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ExcerptThree:
The sword felt foreign in my hands and was heavier than Iexpected, but the weight distribution allowed it to move more fluidly than astick or a bat.
Now at Dylan and Mairi’s side, I looked at Dylan, raised mysword, and said, “Speed and violence.”
He clanged swords with me and repeated, “Speed andviolence.”
And I knew that shit was about to get tangly.
At that point in the fight, it became like a dream.
Shielding Dylan’s flank, I suddenly sensed Alick beside mebefore the steal of my sword made its first battle cry, and the haunting soundof men’s screams filled my ears. There was
no counting down the clock; the three of us went to work onthese pigs for what were minutes but flashed by like only seconds. They keptcoming, one after another after another, as we stacked the bodies up like acord of wood. Finally,
using the blunt handle of his sword, Alick struck down thelast feeble Englishman with a jolt to the head, splitting his skull like apiñata.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What was the hardest part of writing this book and how did you overcome it?
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Hi,I am Elysia Stevens, and I am a big fan of rom-coms, which should not be asurprise after reading this story. Most would describe me as eccentric in mypersonality, which really stands out in my choice of attire. I love to wear funsocks, and every Friday I celebrate “Fabio Friday” by wearing a Fabio T-shirtfor all to enjoy (luv ya, Fabio!). Thankfully, my husband, Mark Stevens, has alot of patience because I can’t sit still for more than five minutes at a timeand always have my head in the clouds. He has been my partner in life for overeighteen years, and there is nothing we can’t and don’t tackle together. Myhusband’s taste generally ranges from Stephen King to classic literature, butbeing the great guy he is, he not only read my rom-com novel but alsoco-authored it with me! Unfortunately, he still doesn’t understand the appealof a good naughty scene in a book, but I won’t hold that against him.
CONNECTWITH ELYSIA AND MARK STEVENS
WEBSITE:https://elysiamarkstevensbooks.ca/
INSTAGRAM:https://www.instagram.com/elysiamarkstevensbooks/
PURCHASELINKS: SMELLING DAISES
AMAZON.COM:https://amazon.com/dp/1779418647
AMAZON.CA:https://amazon.ca/dp/1779418647
BARNES& NOBLE:https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/smelling-daisies-elysia-stevens/1146227969?ean=9781779418654
IBOOKS:https://books.apple.com/us/book/smelling-daisies/id6670277003
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GIVEAWAY
Theauthor will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
October 22, 2024
Blog Tour: BIG TEX by R.R. House
Adult Picture Book
Date Published: July 22, 2024
This satirical tale disguised as a children's book follows an aspiring drag queen with dreams of dazzling stages and glittered wigs eager to shine in a world determined to hold him back.
Convinced that the tough buckaroos in the neighboring town of Ruff Ridge, known for their rugged cowboy way of life and home to the clothing brand Ruff Ryder, will hinder his glamorous ambitions, he devises an ingenious plan to win their acceptance. With courage, creativity, and a pair of chaps, he embarks on a journey to turn his dreams into reality.
Inspired by real events, this clever, funny, and heartwarming tale explores identity, ambition, and community. The story celebrates individuality, courage, and the transformative power of being true to oneself, all while providing a thought-provoking reflection on the politics of our times.
Review: Here is the story of a guy namedBig Tex with some…questionable wardrobe choices.
“Jim didn’t know why his funclothes were taboo. But if they were discovered, he’d knew what they’d do.”
A funny and illustrative look atcross-dressing cowboys! You’ll definitely get a chuckle out of it.
Rating:4 stars
About the Author
Roger Rittenhouse is a former stand-up comedian originally from Denver, Colorado who began his career in the 80s, appearing on The Arsenio Hall Show, The Dennis Miller Show, and Jimmy Kimmel Live. Notable writing credits include Bill Maher's Politically Incorrect and the Comedy Central Roasts. An armchair cartoonist turned author and illustrator, (after finding a digital drawing tablet on Craigslist) Roger brings his comedic antics to picture books intended for big boys and girls.
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October 21, 2024
Blog Tour: A LITTLE GETAWAY by Bonnie Traymore
A little getaway takes a deadly turn for Morgan and Kyle Murphy inthis spicy suspense thriller about a marriage filled with passion,secrets, and suspicions.
A Little Getaway
by Bonnie Traymore
Genre: SpicySuspense Thriller
A little getaway takes a deadly turn for Morgan and Kyle Murphy inthis spicy suspense thriller about a marriage filled with passion,secrets, and suspicions.
Morgan Murphy has alwayslonged for a romance for the ages. And she’s found it with husbandKyle Murphy—until their spicy marriage suddenly starts to cooloff.
Is Kyle preoccupied and distant because of a problemwith his development project? Or is it something worse? Could KyleMurphy be...cheating? He’s hiding something, that’s for sure. AndMorgan’s determined to find out what it is.
With thehelp of gal pal Carla Flores, Morgan tracks her husband’smovements, and the signs increasingly point to infidelity, theultimate sin in Morgan’s book. When Kyle increases their lifeinsurance and surprises her with a weekend getaway to get their mojoback, she goes on the offensive and hatches a plan to make him comeclean about what’s been going on.
But before she canpull it off, Morgan’s attacked and nearly kidnapped, and Kylevanishes from the resort without a trace. With no clue as to who tookKyle or why, she’s not sure who is the biggest threat: the shadyinvestor he owes money to, the police, or the guys she hired to teachKyle a lesson. With the clock ticking, she needs to find outsoon.
Before they come for her, too.
Forfans of Liv Constantine, Kimberly Belle, Jeneva Rose, Kaira Rouda,Freida McFadden, and Daniel Hurst.
"Edge of the seatsuspense in this riveting thriller about a husband and wife hidingdeadly secrets from each other that will keep you guessing all theway to the explosive ending. Another winner for Bonnie Traymore!"-- R.G. Belsky, author of the award-winning Clare Carlson series
It was supposed to be a romantic,little getaway. Instead, a husband is missing and a woman fends for her life.
It all started a month ago whenMorgan suspected her husband of cheating and was thinking of killing him. Butcould the husband have turned the tables on her and be trying to kill herinstead? After all, he did get the $2 million dollar life insurance policy onher. There were so many questions about this case. Was Kyle cheating? Whoactually kidnapped him? How will all this look for Morgan? Would she getarrested for attempted murder and kidnapping? What was the real deception hereand who was behind it?
This case certainly piques yourcuriosity. There are several layers to this story and each new layer wascompelling in its own way. You read to peel away each layer until you reach thetruth. What was the truth?
This was an interesting read. Theending was a little docile and anti-climactic—not as exciting as I would’veexpected and liked—but it was still a scintillating case. A good read!
Rating:4 stars
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
Followthe tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
$20 Amazon
Blog Tour: FLAMINGO CAFE by Jackie Kang
FLAMINGO CAFE
Jackie Kang
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GENRE: Women's Fiction
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BLURB:
Astorm is brewing off the coast of Florida, but chaos has already made landfallfor four women of Palm Beach society. Abigail, a self-appointed Cuban princessand queen of the WAGs, suddenly finds herself penniless and on the streets.Claudia, a Greek entrepreneur and CEO of a prestigious international clothingline, is entering her golden years only to realize secrets can weigh you down.Cassy, a barista and owner of the Flamingo Cafe, is doing her best to recoverfrom a tragic past. Meanwhile her best friend, Bri, also harbors a secret: aromantic tet-a-tet with Cassy's brother Nick. Each woman has played her part ina society obsessed with appearances and secrecy for years. So, when HurricaneOdette blows through town, exposing those secrets, it's no surprise their livescollide like a clap of thunder. Only one thing is certain: if they don't worktogether, Mother Nature will teach them the hardest lessons of their lives.
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EXCERPT
My phone, lying on the chaise next to me, pings with yetanother incoming text. I roll my eyes. A pointless gesture really, if I takeinto consideration the noticeable lack of audience in attendance to witness mydrama.
With languid arms, I reach down and rotate the phone until Ican just make out the message lighting up my screen.
—OMG, Abs, I'm so sorry. Call if you need me.—
This message—even less inspiring than the last one—has mymotivation to reply dissolving right along with my grip on the slim phone. Adull thud sounds as the phone drops back onto the striped cushion. I continueto lay there, ignoring the persistent onslaught of afternoon interruptions.
Or at least that is what I try to do. As much as I want tostay perfectly still and focus on the simple joys of the South Florida sunbaking my body—morphing my golden skin into an even darker brown—my mindrefuses to stop buzzing with the activities of the last twenty-four hours.
I sit up with a sigh and roll my eyes again—empty backyardpool deck be damned. If I’m being honest, I’d have to concede this last messagefrom Suzy, one of the WAGS I socialize with, is at least slightly more sincerethan the outpouring of identical correspondence flooding my phone all day.Texts with the heartfelt, bullshit lines of,
Darling, I understand this is hard for you. Please take allthe time you need.
And
Don't worry about your seat at the gala. I'm sure we will beable to fill the spot in your absence.
Or
Your board position has been temporarily put on hold whileyou work to heal your family.
Of course, the hidden message in these so-called earnestcorrespondences flooding in from my so-called friends is as subtle as ahurricane warning calling for an immediate evacuation. The kind of warning thatlets me know if I come within twenty yards of the Palm Beach Princesses, I willbe dismissed as though I'm merely a brown-haired beggar on a street corner.
Damn. The women in this town work fast.
Which means I need to work faster.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Whennot spending her time creating make-believe people and places, Jackie Kanglives in Kirkland, WA with her very real family of 1 husband, 2 dogs, and 3children. In her past life, Jackie has held jobs as a personal trainer, a spamanager, a dental assistant, and an office manager, but her true love iswriting and sharing a well-crafted story. Jackie is a member of the Women'sFiction Writers Association.
Website:http://www.jackiekangwritesbooks.com
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/JacqulineK/
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/jacqulinekang/
Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/Flamingo-Caf%C3%A9-Jackie-Kang-ebook/dp/B0DCC4NCJ5/ref=sr_1_1
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GIVEAWAY
Theauthor will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
