Sandra C. Lopez's Blog, page 66

Review: THE DEATH AND LIFE OF DOMINICK DAVIDNER by Shawn Inmon

 

In 1999, Dominick was killed by aschool shooter. Then he wakes up in 1968 at 9 years old. Honestly, this wasn’tas good as I thought it would be. There was far too much focus on the religiousstuff and nothing really interesting about the time-travel aspect. Just aboring read!

 

Rating:2 stars

Review: THE REDEMPTION OF MICHAEL HOLLISTER by Shawn Inmon

 

Michael Hollister died once, cameback as a child, then died again. He killed his father 87 times. Why was herepeating this same moment as a child? At last, he decides to relive his lifeas a second grader. You definitely see why he kills his father so many times.Why were we getting a different story with Bertellia and Carrie?

 

In this reset life, Michael getsshipped to military school, where he spends most of his childhood. I stilldidn’t understand what the whole deal was with Carrie. I guess she was like aguardian angel or something.

 

This was a nice read in general.The life in military school wasn’t too appealing. It’s a long read to getthrough, but it’s okay to get through it if you have nothing else to read. There’sbetter out there though.

 

Rating:3 stars

Review: THE MANY LIVES OF GEORGIE WELLS by Michelle Files

 

Georgie Wells automaticallyrestarts her life in middle school. At this point, we don’t know what’s goingon in her life or why her reset has triggered. How could Georgie havecompletely different siblings now? What happened to her siblings from the previousbooks? So right away this one has our heads scratching. It seemed that Georgiewoke up in an alternate universe, which was completely different than whatwe’ve been getting in this whole series. Why did the author stray from theformula? Whatever this was, I didn’t like it. The first 3 books were waybetter. This would’ve been just as good if the author hadn’t changed thepattern.

Don’t bother with this one.

 

Rating:2 stars

Review: JUSTICE FOR THE MISSING BODY by Katy Pierce

 

An alert of a serial kidnapper ona college campus. Apparently, this guy takes them, uses them, and dumps themback to where he found them. Could Allie Grecco do something to stop this sickcreep? The best thing about this was how the investigators go undercover tolure the kidnapper at a bar. It was cool how she went all Nikita on the guy.But one thing I don’t get was: someone knew who the perpetrator was all along?The son of a politician? Looks like Allie caught the guy…so where was themotivation for the rest of this story?

 

This had a nice narrative andthere were some good parts here and there, but this wasn’t quite what I wasexpecting.

 

An okay read, but I’m not sureI’ll continue the series.

 

Rating:3 stars

Blog Tour: THE STARLIGHT MOTEL by Amy Craig

 

THE STARLIGHT MOTEL

Amy Craig

 

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GENRE:  Contemporary Romance

 

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BLURB:

 

Experiencedmuralist Kada took charge of her family's Palm Springs motel to give her mothertime to grieve. As a grant deadline approaches, Kada must convince her motherto manage the motel so she can return to her art. Late in December, Kadaencounters a horseman approaching the property. Dane, the reserved son of alocal farming family, is a loyal workaholic with limited spare time orexperience outside the valley. When lightning startles his horse, he lingers atthe motel and stirs up Kada's emotions about leaving the desert oasis. Wary ofmixing business with pleasure, she struggles with her attraction. As New Year'sEve approaches, will the cowboy convince her to chart a new course?

 

 

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ExcerptThree:

 

Kada’s cry of delight bounced off the casita walls. Lookingup from the desert pavers, he watched her launch herself into an older woman’sarms. The pair grinned, and their smiles shone brighter than the swaying patiolights. Staying back, he leaned against an adobe wall and watched Kada and Mrs.Ritchie greet each other. The pair did the hug-shake mother-daughter thing henever understood. In twenty years, Kada would be just as beautiful as hermother. She soaked up her mother’s presence like a drought-stricken plant. Heenvied their connection. His mother gripped him hard, examined him, and spunhim back into the world to do good work.

 

“Just look at you, runnin’ around the desert like Pops.” Ms.Ritchie gripped Kada’s long, black hair and rubbed it between her fingers. “IfI hadn’t seen you for myself, I wouldn’t have believed it. I thought you wouldstay in Los Angeles, but here you are, the queen of the desert!”


 

He cocked his head and imagined Kada tearing into asourdough loaf over drip coffee. She would look at home on the winding streetswearing a wrap-tie dress, but he preferred her stained jeans.

 

“I thought I would stay in Los Angeles, too, but you neededme.” Reaching to the side, Kada shifted into her father’s arms.

 

Lean by most standards, he sported the small belly thatdeveloped from a desk-bound lifestyle.

 

“Hi, Daddy.”

 

He kissed her forehead. “Princess. Good to see you.”

 

Easing off the wall, Dane figured he could slip back intothe cantina, take his salad to go, and sink into one of Walter’s tales. The oldcowboy had plenty of stories about what went wrong when a man took his gaze offthe land.

 

 

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 GUEST POST

How doyour characters evolve in the story?

 

Characterevolution is a central element in any compelling narrative. It's whattransforms a good story into a memorable one, as readers connect with thecharacters' journeys, struggles, and growth. In my latest novel, THE STARLIGHTMOTEL, the evolution of the characters is integral to the plot, reflectingtheir internal and external challenges and triumphs.

 

CharacterJourney: Kada and Dane

At the heartof the story are Kada and Dane, a muralist and a farmer who should never meet.They’re two characters whose development mirrors the essence of the novel. Kadabegins her journey feeling uncertain about her future and her place in theworld. Her relationship with her family and her deep connection to theStarlight Motel shape her character. She also had a career setback, and sheneeds courage to regroup.

 

Throughoutthe narrative, Kada grapples with the tension between her love for the desertand the opportunities that lie beyond it. She faces difficult choices,influenced by the memories and guidance of her parents and her grandparents.Her evolution is marked by her growing confidence and clarity about what trulymatters. She balances her aspirations with her deep-rooted love for the desertand grows into a confident and self-assured woman.

 

Dane, on theother hand, evolves from being a mysterious, locatin-defined figure to someonewho openly wants to expand his horizons. His evolution from a silent supporterto a vocal partner reflects his own inner growth.

 

Excerpt

 

Kada’s cry ofdelight bounced off the casita walls. Looking up from the desert pavers, hewatched her launch herself into an older woman’s arms. The pair grinned, andtheir smiles shone brighter than the swaying patio lights. Staying back, heleaned against an adobe wall and watched Kada and Mrs. Ritchie greet eachother. The pair did the hug-shake mother-daughter thing he never understood. Intwenty years, Kada would be just as beautiful as her mother. She soaked up hermother’s presence like a drought-stricken plant. He envied their connection.His mother gripped him hard, examined him, and spun him back into the world todo good work.

“Just look atyou, runnin’ around the desert like Pops.” Ms. Ritchie gripped Kada’s long,black hair and rubbed it between her fingers. “If I hadn’t seen you for myself,I wouldn’t have believed it. I thought you would stay in Los Angeles, but hereyou are, the queen of the desert!”


He cocked hishead and imagined Kada tearing into a sourdough loaf over drip coffee. Shewould look at home on the winding streets wearing a wrap-tie dress, but hepreferred her stained jeans.

“I thought Iwould stay in Los Angeles, too, but you needed me.” Reaching to the side, Kadashifted into her father’s arms.

Lean by moststandards, he sported the small belly that developed from a desk-boundlifestyle.

“Hi, Daddy.”

He kissed herforehead. “Princess. Good to see you.”

Easing off thewall, Dane figured he could slip back into the cantina, take his salad to go,and sink into one of Walter’s tales. The old cowboy had plenty of stories aboutwhat went wrong when a man took his gaze off the land.

 

Characterevolution is a dance between internal desires and external influences. In"The Starlight Motel," Kada and Dane exemplify this dance, growingindividually and together. By the end of the story, they are not only in lovebut also in sync with their goals and dreams. Their journey is a reminder thattrue evolution often involves embracing who we are, where we come from, and whowe choose to share our lives with.

 

So, how do mycharacters evolve? Through love, challenges, and the unwavering influence oftheir roots, they find themselves and each other, ready to face a future filledwith hope and joy.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

AmyCraig lives in Louisiana with her family and a small menagerie of pets. Shewrites contemporary romance and romantic suspense featuring intelligentheroines. In her spare time, she plays tennis and expands her husband’shoney-do list. Before writing, she worked as an oilfield engineer, projectmanager, and incompetent waitress. For more information and giveaways, visitwww.amy-craig.com or follow her on social media channels.

 

Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/author/amycraig

TikTok:www.tiktok.com/@authoramycraig

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/author_amy_craig/

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAmyCraig/

Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18011214

BookBub:https://www.bookbub.com/authors/amy-craig

Website:https://www.amy-craig.com/

 

https://linktr.ee/authoramycraig

 

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GIVEAWAY 

AmyCraig will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.

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Blog Tour: THE HUSBAND CHAIR by Nick Bannister

 

THE HUSBAND CHAIR

Nick Bannister

 

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GENRE:  Humorous Fiction

 

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BLURB:

 

Ourhero: Bone tired. Lost. Desolate. A man pushed to the outer limits of his verybeing. His struggle: Satisfy the need to rest whilst still supporting hisbeloved in her hour of need.

 

Whilehis wife negotiates a seemingly endless list of fashion stores in her quest forperfection, her loving husband must stave off the weariness that visits eachpartner in a shopping spree with their significant other.

 

Fightinghunger, rising frustration and the mental fatigue associated with trackingcredit card usage, will he ever find peace? And honestly, can he just go andsit down for a minute...

 

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ExcerptThree:

 

“I think that I’m done. Are you ready to go?”

I’m pinching myself. Could it really be so?

And when over she strolls with complete shopping goals,

My heart’s just so full that it’s quite set to blow!

My cold bitter heart warms a hundred degrees,

When she whispers, “I love you,” and gives me a squeeze.

But my bright eyes turn dark when we reach the carpark,

As I’m patting my pockets and can’t find the keys...

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

NickBannister: Nick & Terry are long-time friends & first-timeauthor/illustrators. Each has their own vast experience with husband chairs, asboth are happily married.

 

Bothreside in Brisbane, Australia.

 

 

CONNECTWITH Nick Bannister

 

WEBSITE:https://nickbannisterauthor.com/

 

GOODREADS:https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/49040336.Nick_Bannister

 

 

PURCHASELINKS

 

AMAZON.COM.AU

https://amazon.com.au/dp/1779410816

 

INDIGOCHAPTERS

https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/the-husband-chair/9781779410818.html

 

BOOKTOPIA

https://www.booktopia.com.au/search.ep?keywords=9781779410818

 

 

 

 

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GIVEAWAY 

Theauthor will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour: LONG AND SHORT REVIEWS 17TH ANNIVERSARY PARTY

Like books? No matter the genre, we have a great place for you to find your next favorite read!

Long and Short Reviews is celebrating their 17th (wow!) anniversary, but you get the gifts. They're featuring more than 50 books in all genres from romance to science fiction, young adult to poetry... no matter your reading preferences, you can find something to enjoy!

What could possibly be better than that? 
How about a chance to win one of two $100 Amazon GCs, of course! Think of how many books you could buy...  Once you're arrived at the Long and Short Reviews site, simply read through the book posts each day and answer a simple question (or follow authors on their social media accounts) and you're entered to win. New chances to enter every day!So, go visit and enter and don't forget to tell a friend or two. Good luck!
Contest runs from August 19-23, 2024.

Blog Tour: PRIVATE LICENSE by Kevin R. Doyle

 

PRIVATE LICENSE

Kevin R. Doyle

 

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GENRE:  Mystery

 

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BLURB:

 

AllLorie Jones wants is a little help with her divorce. Some extra information, abit of ammunition to take into court against her no-good husband. And when shehires the biggest and best investigation firm Kansas City has to offer, that’sexactly what she gets. But after their operative wraps up Lori’s case, hedecides he doesn’t want to move on, and Lori soon realizes that she’s got aneven bigger problem than she had before, one that threatens her privacy, andmaybe even her life.

 

It’sup to Sam Quinton, one-man detective agency, to take on the largest firm in thebusiness, and as Sam digs into the background of Lori’s harasser, he soon findssomething bigger, and much more dangerous, than one overzealous guy who justcan’t let go. 

 

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ExcerptThree:

 

They wore blue jeans, sneakers, and tee-shirts, the blondwearing navy blue and the brown-haired guy wearing bright red. Both wore theirtee-shirts hanging out, and the shirts looked a size or two too big for them.

 

“How you doing?” the blond one asked me.

 

“Up to now, not bad,” I said.

 

The blond man continued, “Like to talk to you if you don’tmind.”

 

“And if I do mind?”

 

The two glanced at each other before turning back to me.“Going to talk to you anyway.”

 

I flicked my head towards the second man. “He have a voice?”

 

“Let’s say I’m the spokesman here, okay?” The blond tensedhis arms and chest to show me he was in charge.

 

“You know,” I said, “flexing your muscles doesn’t do a wholelot when your shirt’s too big. You can either show off the muscles or concealyour weapons, but not both at the same time.”

 

Both men made involuntary hand motions towards their lefthips, then caught themselves.

 

I smiled. “See what I mean?”

 

“We need to talk,” Blond repeated.

 

“No, you mean you want to talk. Just like I want to sit hereand finish enjoying my breakfast, which isn’t going to happen if I have to taketime to bounce you two bozos out into the street.”

 

“You think you can do that?” the brown-haired guy finallyspoke up.

 

“Not sure,” I said. “But if you guys keep bothering me, I’mgoing to do my best to find out. And whether I succeed or not, it’s going tocause a ruckus, which I’m guessing your sergeant isn’t going to like too much.”

 

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 Review: Private Eye Sam Quinton was on anew case—a stalker case. This one’s a little slow to get into as you learnabout the details of the case. It becomes a question on whether Sam actuallybelieves the woman’s story or not. It was mostly a lot of procedural investigationand some of the narrative was quite lagging. This one wasn’t as good as theprevious Sam Quinton books. I was kind of hoping for some exciting turn ofevents, but it was just a lot of investigating. Of course, I enjoyed Sam’ssnarky and often witty monologues. The case itself was decent enough, but justnot the greatest. Readers can give this a try, but I’d honestly recommend theprevious Sam Quinton books as they were better. I’d definitely try another bookby this author.

Rating:3 stars

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Aretired high-school teacher and former college instructor, Kevin R. Doyle isthe author of four novels in the Sam Quinton mystery series, all published byCamel Press. He’s also written four crime thrillers, including And the DevilWalks Away and The Anchor, and one horror novel, The Litter, along withnumerous short horror stories published in small magazines over the years. Thefirst Quinton book, Squatter’s Rights, was nominated for the 2021 Shamus awardfor Best First PI Novel, and the fifth in the series, Private License, will beout in August of 2024.

 

http://kevindoylefiction.com

http://www.facebook.com/kevindoylefiction

 

BuyLink: https://www.amazon.com/Private-License-Quinton-Kevin-Doyle/dp/1684923042

 

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GIVEAWAY

KevinR. Doyle will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.

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Blog Tour: THE ADVENTURES OF PENNY AND YAYA: LOST AND FOUND by Marsha S. Clarke

THE ADVENTURES OF PENNY AND YAYA

Marsha S. Clarke

 

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GENRE:  Childrens Picture Book

 

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BLURB:

 

Ohno!

 

Yayacan't find her beloved stuffed toy. Join her in her adventure as she seeks tofind her toy with the help of her sister Penny and her parents.

 

Atthe end of the book, test your child's memory on Yaya's journey from lost tofound with some questions that will be fun to answer.

 

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EXCERPT

 

 

 

 

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Review: Yaya has lost her favorite toy,Fern. See how she asks everyone she knows and where they tell her to look.What’s interesting about this book is that it’s not just a regular storybooktale. No, it’s a read that includes a little exercise and a short quiz. Who didYaya first ask? How many places did Yaya look?

It’s a wonderful way for kids toread, learn, and memorize. A nice exercise for a growing brain. With bright andcolorful illustrations, this book is a real gem! Kids will absolutely love it!We need more books like this.

Rating:5 stars

 

 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

 

MarshaClarke is an attorney who adores her nephews and nieces. They are herinspiration for her children's book, The Adventures of Penny and Yaya: Lost andFound. In the first book of the series, please follow Yaya's journey as shetries to find her beloved stuff animal.

 

https://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Penny-Yaya-Lost-Found/dp/0228853362/ref=sr_1_1

 

 

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GIVEAWAY

Marsha S.Clarke will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Blast: ONE LITTLE WITCH by Crystal Beach

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

A brilliant Little Witch counts the pumpkins in her pumpkin patch and discovers some surprising surprises. Join author and illustrator Crystal Beach (One Polar Bear and Two Polar Bears) as she captivates you with her latest adventure story and a brand-new series—One Little Witch. You and your child will be delighted by this hilarious tale as together you learn counting and sight words, and experiment with sound.

A charming holiday tale for autumn, or any time of the year, One Little Witch is filled with pumpkins and childlike enthusiasm for learning. This little book is sure to enchant, and will make a spooky addition to your child's library.

If you can be anything, be inclusive.

About the Author:

Crystal Beach is an adoptive mother and caregiver of two adoptive children who have complexmedical needs and disabilities. Her children are often represented in her work as strong, caring individuals with special gifts and powers. Her writing projects are intended to ensure financial support for her children's future.

Crystal has a B.A. in Creative Writing from the University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Her focus is in children's literature, publishing, and journalism. She has had many careers including ten years as a MedA with the Canadian Naval Reserve, advertising with a dailynewspaper, communications and marketing, training as an EMT, and continued studies in developmental psychology.

She and her family live in Regina, Saskatchewan in a simple little house with two giant support dogs.

For more information visit Website: http://www.crystalbeachauthor.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/crystalbeachauthor
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/40712712.Crystal_Beach
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@crystal.beach.aut
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crystal_m_beach

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