Sandra C. Lopez's Blog, page 64
September 18, 2024
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.
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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
Followthe tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
$20 Amazon
Book Blast: MEN OF THE 65TH by Talia Aikens-Nunez
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Talia Aikens-Nunez will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
Honor and Fidelity. That is the motto of the 65th Infantry Regiment, also known as the Borinqueneers, the only Puerto Rican unit in the United States Army.
Since the regiment’s creation in 1899, the men of the 65th have proudly served the US through multiple wars, despite facing racial discrimination. Their courage, loyalty, and patriotism earned them hundreds of accolades, including the Congressional Gold Medal in 2014.
But the honor and fidelity of the men of the 65th came into question in 1952, in the midst of the Korean War, when ninety-one Borinqueneers were arrested and tried for desertion and disobeying orders. How could this happen in one of the most distinguished and decorated units of the Army?
In this telling of one of the forgotten stories of the Korean War, author Talia Aikens-Nuñez guides us through the history of the Borinqueneers and the challenges they faced leading up to what was the largest court martial in the entire war. Rediscover the bravery of the men of the 65th through Aikens-Nuñez’s thorough writing and the soldiers’ firsthand accounts of the Korean War.
Read an Excerpt
[T]he US public was shocked to discover that during the war, 162 soldiers of the 65th Infantry Regiment had been court-martialed and ninety-one of those soldiers found guilty of disobeying orders and desertion.
The US military kept the courts-martial quiet. But the soldiers of the 65th sent letters to their families describing what was happening, which led to public outcry and confusion from the press. How could one of the most distinguished regiments of the Korean War, whose soldiers had only months before been praised by General Douglas MacArthur for their “brilliant record of heroism,” become involved in the largest mass court-martial of the Korean War?
Did the Borinqueneers lose their bravery and heroism in such a short time? Or were they victims of discrimination in a prejudiced and segregated system? Were they betrayed by the country they risked their lives for?
This is the story of one of the bravest and most decorated regiments in the history of the US military. It is a forgotten story in a forgotten war. But it is a story of patriotism, loyalty, and bravery in the face of danger and discrimination, and it is one that deserves to be told.
About the Author:
Talia Aikens-Nuñez writes chapter books, picture books, and nonfiction for children. Her daughter inspired her to write her OMG Series of books about an accidental little witch. She and her husband live on a river in Connecticut with their daughter and son.Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Men-65th-Borinqueneers-Korean-War-ebook/dp/B0BNT3ZRZQ/
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Cover Reveal: STELLAR HEIR by Scott Killian
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
Jael Ked’Korhva hadn’t anticipated becoming the galaxy’s most wanted.
He hadn’t planned on picking up a strange alien artifact, either, but once it was clasped around his wrist, Jael was granted extraordinary abilities. His senses were heightened, his reflexes faster, and he could now regenerate from damage that would spell the end for others, which was a boon, considering he was just a derelict scavenger.
That was until forces from every corner of the stars wanted Jael’s artifact for themselves, and they’ll stop at nothing to take it back. What initially appears as a boon swiftly transforms into a weighty charge. Yet, it's a charge Jael accepts without hesitation, understanding the catastrophic potential should the relic fall into the wrong hands.
Prodded onward by visions of an ancient ally and a mysterious enemy, Jael becomes a pivotal piece in a vast interstellar play of power and dominion.
An action-packed space opera, perfect for science fiction fans of Sun Eater by Christopher Ruocchio or The Mercy of Gods by James S. A. Corey.
About the Author: Scott Killian grew up in California where he consumed every bit of sci-fi and horror media he could find. Delving deep into the works of Thomas Harris, Stephen King and H. P. Lovecraft to name a few, those dark portals in his mind were opened and his obsession with the macabre began. Story telling, in any form, is his greatest passion.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Scott.E.killian
Twitter: https://x.com/authorsekillian
Email: saltnsulfurpublishing@gmail.com
Newsletter signup: https://mailchi.mp/9f595cbdc394/author-scott-killians-newsletter
Book Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0DF1RLYLB
a Rafflecopter giveaway
September 14, 2024
September 13, 2024
Blog Tour: YAY...I LOVE TO LEARN by Mr. B's Books
Children's Book
Date Published: July 23, 2024
Another wonderful rhyming Childrens story from Mr. B about the value of learning at school, home or with family and friends...Yay. The thirteen rhymes and and magical illustrations bring excitement and fun to the importance of learning, listening, paying full attention and the importance of asking questions with every learning experience. Like Mr. B's first first three books, Yay...It's My First Day of School, Happy Makes Me Happy and Twins With Love x2 your hearts will smile.
Review: “I love to learn because it is somuch fun. With my mind so bright, I shine like the sun!”
With cute, little illustrations,this book shows all the enthusiasm of bright, young kids as they share whyexactly it is fun to learn. See what kids can accomplish when they learn.
A good read that’ll surely turnkids into learners!
Rating:4 stars
About the Author
Mr. B
Happy Makes Me Happy
Amazon Best Selling Children's Book Author
Mike Barnes is a semi-retired new author whose passion for writing came to fruition upon his retirement from 38 years of authentic servant leadership.
As a father and grandfather, Mike was reading to his twin granddaughters and decided to unleash his passion for writing children’s books with rhyming stories about love, care, and kindness.
In addition to Happy Makes Me Happy, Mike has a second book Twins With Love x2 and a third book, YAY… It’s My First Day of School coming this year.
Mike also recently started Barnes Leadership and Strategy Coaching whereby he has been a keynote speaker on Authentic Servant Leadership Hardwired to the Heart.
Contact Links
Purchase Links
September 11, 2024
Blog Tour: ON THE THRESHOLD by M. Laszlo
On the Threshold
by M. Laszlo
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GENRE: Historical Science Fiction
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BLURB:
Obsessed with learning the origins of the cosmos, the actualmeaning of life, and the true purpose of civilization, a fine Scotsman namedFingal T. Smyth dedicates himself to the study of Plato’s most extraordinaryideas. Convinced of Plato’s belief that humankind possesses any and all innateknowledge deep within the collective unconscious mind, Fingal soon conducts aseries of bold, pioneering occult-science experiments by which to resolve theriddle of the universe once and for all. However, Fingal forgets how violentand perilous the animal impulses that reside in the deepest recesses of theunconscious mind. And when Fingal unleashes a mysterious avatar of his innateknowledge, the entity appears as a burning man and immediately seeks tomanipulate innocent and unsuspecting people everywhere into immolatingthemselves. Now, with little hope of returning the fiery figure into his being,Fingal must capture his nemesis before it destroys the world.
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ExcerptTwo:
Fräulein Wunderwaffe did not return the smile. Hand onheart, the little girl drew a bit closer. Then, as the hot, animalisticpresence undulated all across Fingal’s body, the little girl’s eyes grew wide.Until the little girl’s expression turned to that of a vacant stare.
A moment later, her feet pointed inwards, she removed herhat and undid her long, flaxen hair.
Again, he cringed. “If you’ve noticed something, ignore all.This hasn’t got anything to do with you.” A third time, he cringed.
A most ethereal, lyrical, incomprehensible hiss commencedthen: from the other end of the winding, decorative-brick driveway, each clayblock shining the color of blue Welsh stone, a sleek Siamese cat with a coat ofchocolate-spotted ivory had just appeared. And now the creature raced towardhis shadow.
As he looked into the animal’s big, searching, blue eyes,the chocolate Siamese studied the off-center tip of his nose. Then the animalturned away, as if to compare the peculiarity with that of some disembodiedvisage hovering in the distance.
Out upon the loch, meanwhile, a miraculous rogue wavesuddenly arose—and now the swell crashed against the pebbly strand.
Not a moment later, a cool flame crawled across Fingal’sthroat. The strange fire rattled, too—not unlike the sound of fallen juniperleaves caught up in the current and dancing against the surface of a stonewalkway.
Crivens. By now, the alien, pulsating presence held him sotight that he could barely breathe. Before long, he fell to the earth, and asthe dreamlike flame continued to move across his throat, he rolled allabout—until the illusory sensation of cool warmth wriggled and twisted anddropped into his neck dimple.
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
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M. Laszlo is anaging recluse who lives in Bath, Ohio. Rumor holds that his pseudonym is areference to Victor Laszlo, a character in the classic film Casablanca. On theThreshold is his first release with the acclaimed, Australian hybrid house AIAPublishing. Oddly, M. Laszlo insists that his latest work, On the Threshold,does in fact provide the correct answer to the riddle of the universe.
Buy link: https://aiapublishing.com/product/on-the-threshold-m-laszlo/
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GIVEAWAY
M. Laszlo will beawarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
September 10, 2024
Blog Tour: CROSSING DAY by William A. Glass
CROSSING DAY
William A. Glass
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GENRE: Young Adult/Alternate History
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BLURB:
It'sbeen one hundred and sixty years since the Confederacy won its independence atthe Battle of Altamaha Crossing. Slaves of African descent still perform mostof the work in the South. This seems normal to Ryan Walters and his friends whoattend high school in Huntsville, Alabama. Like teens everywhere, they enjoysharing videos, playing sports, and hanging out with friends. Jaybird'sdrive-in is their favorite gathering place. There, they befriend Mish, a slavegirl who works as a car hop. When the drive-in’s owner sells Mish to a dirtyold man, Ryan and his friends awaken to the injustice around them. Despite thedanger, they decide to help Mish escape. Will they succeed?
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ExcerptThree:
Melanie wanders into the dining room and finds her parentsalready seated at the table with their personal slaves standing behind them.Her mother, Dorothy, takes a sip of orange juice and replaces the glass on thelace tablecloth. Her servant, Natty, immediately gets a pitcher from thesideboard and refills the glass. Meanwhile, James is smiling at Melanie.“Morning, Miss,” he says. The white-haired Black man pulls out her chair. Onceshe’s seated, he spreads a cloth napkin over her lap.
“What was all the ruckus at Jaybird’s last night?” DanMontgomery asks. He’s the mayor of Huntsville and knows everything.
“A German boy started it,” Melanie says defensively.
“Yes, and his father already called me to complain. He’s abig wheel at The Space Flight Complex.”
“Sorry!”
Montgomery points to the syrup. His slave, Parker, reachesfor it and then pours. “Enough,” Montgomery snaps. He turns back to Melanie.“You and all the others will have a week of detention.”
Melanie gasps. “What about cheerleading practice?”
“You should have thought of that before you went to thedrive-in. That’s where all the delinquents hang out and you with them.”
“I won’t go anymore. Please.” Melanie bats her baby blues ather father. His expression melts. “Go to detention after school today, andmaybe we’ll see about tomorrow.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
Montgomery cuts off a bite of pancake and pops it into hismouth. That reminds Melanie to eat as well. It’s almost time for the bus.
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Billis a retired business executive who now lives in a small southern town with hiswife, Bettina. She’s a retired high school German teacher. Bill coaches soccerat a small college. Often, Bettina, who has a commercial driver’s license,pilots the soccer team bus to away games.
Bettinaand Bill have three sons, Alex, Robert, and Gordon who have all graduated fromcollege and moved away to pursue careers. Instead of having an empty nest,Bettina and Bill now host three rescue dogs. They enjoy finding promisinghiking trails to explore with their dogs.
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/william.glass.50767
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/williamasaglass
Twitter: https://twitter.com/WilliamAGlass3
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-glass-1281609/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20170818.William_A_Glass
LibraryThing: https://www.librarything.com/profile/Glaswa4611
Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/Crossing-Day-William-Glass-ebook/dp/B0CW8HBGV4/ref=sr_1_1
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GIVEAWAY
William A. Glass willaward a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter.
