Sandra C. Lopez's Blog, page 67
May 7, 2024
Blog Tour: WESTON'S LADY by Bobbi Smith
WESTON'S LADY
Bobbi Smith
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GENRE: Historical Romance
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BLURB:
ComeOne! Come All!
ToWeston’s Wild West Texas Stampede
Therewere Cowboys and Indians, trick riding, thrills and excitement for everyone.And if Liberty Jones had anything to say about it, she would be a part of theshow, too. She had demonstrated her expertise with a gun by shooting a playingcard out of Reed Weston’s hand at thirty paces, but the arrogant owner of thestampede wouldn’t even give her a chance.
Disguisingherself as a boy, Libby wrangled herself a job with the show, and before sheknew it Reed was firing at her—in front of an audience. It seemed an emotionalshowdown was inevitable whenever they came together, but Libby had set hersights on Reed’s heart and she vowed she would prove her love was every bit astrue as her aim.
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Excerpt One:
Reed opened thedoor to his private wagon and stood back to let Libby enter ahead of him. Sheswept past him, her manner dignified and ladylike, in spite of her masculineattire.
“Have a seat.”He motioned to one of the chairs at the small table.
“No, thank you.I prefer to stand.”
“Have it yourway,” he said sharply. “It seems you don’t listen well, Miss Jones. As Irecall, I told you I wasn’t hiring for the show—and I especially wasn’t hiringany women.”
“I hired on asa boy,” she retorted.
Reed’s gazeraked over her. “So I see. How ingenuous of you.”
“You wouldn’tgive me a chance! I’m good and I just proved it tonight! The performance wouldhave been a disaster if I hadn’t stopped the runaway team in time! The audiencethought it was a regular part of the act.”
“I could tell,”he answered, irritated by the whole situation.
“I can help youwith the show,” Libby went on, trying not to sound desperate. If he fired her,she had no money, and nowhere else to go.
“I don’t needyour help, Miss Jones.”
“But youwouldn’t want to disappoint the public, would you?”
“You know,you’re right. You are worth a lot of money to me. You wanted a job withWeston’s Wild West Texas Stampede—well, you’ve got one. You’re officiallyWeston’s Lady.”
“Know this,Reed Weston—I am worth a lot of money to you, and I’ll earn ever cent of itworking for the Stampede, but that’s the only place I’m going to be Weston’sLady.”
“We both knowyou’re not a lady, and I’m not sure you’re much of a woman.” Even as he saidit, Reed knew it was a lie. She looked beautiful as she challenged him. Herhair was a glorious golden mane of curls about her shoulders and high colorstained her cheeks.
Libby reactedwithout thought, swinging out at him.
Reed snared herwrist to stop her when she would have slapped him, and he jerked her to him.
In thatinstant, his awareness of everything except Libby faded. He drew her near,slowly, deliberately. He wanted this—no, he needed this. He needed to taste herpassion.
Libby foundherself frozen, held captive by the unfathomable look in Reed’s eyes.
Their lips met,and time seemed suspended as his mouth settled over hers in a possessive brand,claiming her sweetness for his own.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Afterworking as a department manager for Famous-Barr, and briefly as a clerk at abookstore,
BobbiSmith gave up on career security and began writing. She sold her first book toZebra in
1982.Since then, Bobbi has written over 40 books and several short stories. To date,there are
morethan five million of her novels in print. She has been awarded the prestigiousRomantic
TimesStoryteller of the Year Award and two Career Achievement Awards. Her books have
appearedon numerous bestseller lists. When she's not working on her novels, sheis frequently a guest speaker for writers' groups. Bobbi is mother of two sonsand resides in St. Charles, Missouri with her husband and three dogs.
Website:https://bobbismithauthor.com
Readon Kindle Unlimited:
Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/Westons-Lady-Bobbi-Smith-ebook/dp/B00FAY1R3U/ref=sr_1_1
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GIVEAWAY
BobbiSmith will award a randomly drawn winner a $10 Amazon/BN GC.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Cover Reveal: EXILES by L.J. Ambrosio
>Welcome to the cover reveal of EXILES, a Literary Fiction/Coming of Age novel by L.J. Ambrosio. The author will award a $20 Amazon/BN GC, an autographed copy of the book, or a dragonfly necklace to three randomly drawn winners. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
In this final chapter, Ron's story concludes from Reflections on the Boulevard (2023). Michael's wish was for Ron to exile himself in the heart of Paris with its beautiful culture and citizens as they protest and fight for the soul of the city. Ron's journey is met with life-affirming friendships and lessons along the way. The final book in the Reflections of Michael Trilogy, which started with A Reservoir Man (2022).
About the Author: Louis J. Ambrosio ran one of the most nurturing bi-coastal talent agencies in Los Angeles and New York. He started his career as a theatrical producer, running two major regional theaters for eight seasons. Ambrosio taught at 7 Universities. Ambrosio also distinguished himself as an award-winning film producer and novelist over the course of his impressive career.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ljambrosioauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorlambrosio
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/louis.ambrosio
Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/ljambrosio
Blog: https://ljambrosio.blogspot.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCI2XkCETDOj_VUtCFcB74ig
a Rafflecopter giveaway
May 4, 2024
Review: SMILE by Raina Telgemeier
Braces, yikes!
An accident causes her to lose hertwo front teeth. My teeth! All that blood on the ground! The scenes can be kindof gross, but you feel for her—her pain, her humiliation.
As she’s recuperating, she gets acard that says “Smile!” Well, that was just the rock on her sundae. And thelast thing you want your dentist to say is “uh-oh.” What “uh-oh!”
Story illustrates the whole dentalprocess like molds, x-rays, ortho visits, to not being able to eat popcorn, tobeing dubbed “vampire girl.” This becomes a wonderful tale of growing pains.
This story was both fun and funny!Absolutely loved it! Goes to show that sometimes you just gotta laugh atyourself and smile!
Myrating: 5 stars
Review: VIRTUALLY YOURS by Wollet Daniel
The drawings were good, but someof the text was hard to read. Why did they have to shove so much text intothose dialogue balloons? And why do they have to have so many balloons?
So, this Virtually Yours is thisonline dating app where you don’t actually have to date. Was that right?
You can only tell so much aboutwhat’s going on in the pictures. Yep, there was definitely too many dialogueballoons. Like I said, the art was pretty cool and worth taking a look at. Myrating is really based on the art.
Rating:3 stars
Review: WHY DID WE TRUST HIM? By Shannon Wheeler
Funny, little sketches with puns. Somewere clever. Some were odd. Some I couldn’t really get. Some were quite bizarrewith an irony or a twist. I liked the one about the writer.
“What makes you think I’m havingan affair?” says the wife in bed with another man. Funny!
“Love means never having to say,‘Don’t sleep with my friends.” I liked that one!
Employees must wash hands, but it didn’t say anything about the rest of you. P.U!
Quick funnies to give you achuckle. I liked it!
Rating:4 stars
Review: OFFICE LADIES (erotic manga)
Loved how this started off with afight against guys that were harassing a girl. Good kick there! Years later,the same guy is working in an office with a bunch of ladies. Unfortunately, helearns the hard way on how vicious ladies can be. Well, if he’s going to beknown as a pervert, he might as well be one. Boy, does it get dirty in theoffice. Such sexy images!
Rating:4 stars
Review: RED-BLOODED MAN (erotic manga)
A young man moves in with hisbrother and wife. Once he sees how hot the wife is, he can’t help fantasizingabout her and her huge, milk-filled breasts. It’s sweet how he’s there for herwhen she gets sick. Will he be able to control himself when he has to pumpthose huge things? Too bad the poor guy had too many near-missus on this one.Sexy imagery though.
Rating:4 stars
May 3, 2024
Blog Tour: FOWL PLAY by Monique MacDonald and Carla Howatt
It's all fun and games until yourgoose gets cooked.
Fowl Play
TheMaddy Whitman Mystery Series Book 1
byCarla Howatt and Monique MacDonald
Genre:Humorous Cozy Mystery
It'sall fun and games until your goose gets cooked.
MaddyWhitman, the sharp-witted aficionado of the storage auction world, ison a rollercoaster ride through hilarious mishaps and heart-poundingtwists in "Fowl Play". When she stumbles upon a peculiarMexican mask in a storage unit she bought at an auction, sheunwittingly sets off a chain of events that lead her straight intothe heart of a gripping mystery. With danger lurking around everycorner and a kidnapped woman's life on the line, Maddy must decodecryptic clues left by a cunning killer.
Astensions soar and the clock ticks, can she untangle the web ofdeception before it's too late? Packed with humor, suspense, and theirresistible charm of its female sleuth, "Fowl Play" is amust-read adventure that will leave you guessing until the very end.
Amazon* Apple* B&N* Kobo *Books2Read * Bookbub* Goodreads
Writing Fowl Play
When writing the lighthearted whodunit “Fowl Play,” we knewthat we wanted it to be a
series and we’ve already outlined the next four books, withseveral more in the works.
As Maddy and her friends began their antics, we had such afun time coming up with
various scenarios and humorous possibilities, that wequickly realized that there were
many stories we needed to tell.
The original concept for the book was as a psychologicalthriller. Maddy started as a
much more serious character and the crimes were much moreheinous. But we quickly
realized that the idea of a woman who bought and sold thecontents of storage units
was prime for all sorts of shenanigans and we changeddirection.
We knew we were on to something when we found ourselvessitting during our plotting
time and laughing ourselves silly. Our ideas come from ourreal lives and experiences.
Monique was born to Lebanese Egyptian immigrant parents andbrings this perspective
when writing about characters of diverse backgrounds. As awriter of psychological
thrillers, Carla brings her experience of how to plan amystery. Both authors live in
Edmonton where the story is located and can bring in-depthknowledge of the area.
Edmonton as a story background has surprisingly beenunderutilised. This city has so
much hidden character that easily lends itself as theperfect setting.
But how do two separate and distinctive writers cometogether to create a story that is
funny and entertaining? The number one thing is to be ableto accept feedback. Both
Carla and Monique respect each other’s skill and talentenough to know that if they
disagree with something the other has written, it is okay tosay so. For example,
something may not fit with the author’s perception of how acharacter would behave. It’s
important to be able to have that discussion and iron outexactly what the character’s
attributes and thoughts might be in each situation.
It is also necessary to know that when something isimportant to one author, the other
author needs to respect their position. For Carla andMonique, they have a shorthand
where if a change doesn’t matter to them, they just say ‘Nota mountain.’ This lets the
other know that while they don’t agree with it, it is not amountain they are willing to die
on. Also, if they say “I’m taking a stand on this,” then theother author knows it is very
important to them. From there, it is time for a discussionon what compromise is
possible. Their personalities mesh well, they both know thatthis is work, and that
differing opinions are not personal. That’s very importantand reflects in their co-
authoring relationship.
CarlaHowatt lives in Alberta, Canada where she helped raise fourchildren, two husbands and a few pugs. A communicator at heart, Carlais also a proud introvert, port inhaler and dark chocolate hunter.
Herpets Carrera, Mercedes, Enzo and Mufasa keep her laughing and herhusband keeps her smiling.
Montreal-born, Edmonton-raised,Monique M. MacDonald started writing at her grandmother'skitchen table the moment she could scribble with a crayon. Thiseventually led to using a keyboard as a columnist for severalnewspapers and magazines.
Shewrites like she lives, with a sense of humor.
Website* Facebook* Facebook* X * X* Instagram *Instagram
Bookbub* Amazon* Amazon* Goodreads* Goodreads
Followthe tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
$10 Amazon
a Rafflecopter giveaway
May 2, 2024
Blog Tour: SEVEN DAYS AT MANNERLEY by Audrey Schuyler Lancho
SEVEN DAYS AT MANNERLEY
Audrey Schuyler Lancho
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GENRE: Historical Romance
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BLURB:
Thesuitcase she found changed everything. The contents? An elegant dress and aninvitation in another girl's name. Twenty-three-year-old Mary would go to theball, enjoy how the rich lived just for one night, and then quietly slip backinto her real life, sorting rubbish as a poor barmaid. No harm done. Of course,there wouldn't be much of a story to tell had it turned out that way.
It's1870 in rural England, and Mary assumes the identity of the suitcase owner,Agnes. When Mary's one night at Mannerley estate turns into a seven-day,hilarious farce, she quickly makes friends, finds suitors, and keeps fibbing.Not only does Arthur, the heir himself, fall for her, but so, too, does Mr.Singh, his friend visiting from India, making advances in plain sight of theheir. Making matters worse, a former workmate recognizes Mary and extorts her:she must steal a golden watch from the heir for him or have her true identityexposed and risk being thrown in jail, which could mean death--and that wouldcertainly ruin her stolen, er, borrowed ball gown.
Theonly way Mary can get close enough to Arthur to steal his watch is viasensuality and flirtation. But as Mary scrambles to cover her tracks, her liesand crimes compound, weaving themselves into an impossible tangle. All thewhile Agnes, the real owner of the fancy ball gown, is making her wayever-closer to Mannerley.
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Excerpt One:
She swung thedoor open, pocketing her key, and grabbed the corner of her dress and held itto walk. Arthur was standing a short way off by the stairs where he had beenwaiting for her, every golden hair perfectly combed. His pocket watch’s chainglistened on his vest in the lamplight. He heard her and turned to face her.
“Your hair.It’s wild.”
“I’m sorry, Islept too long.”
“I like it,” hesaid almost too quietly, a bit raspy, and she took his arm. Once again, she washis object, and she didn’t know quite what to make of it.
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Audrey has always written stories. Her very first picture bookwhich she wrote in early elementary school was about a mean, grumpy toothfairy. Her first “novel”, bound using a cardboard cereal box, was written inthe fourth grade. By high school, she was writing secret novels of her own,usually naming her characters by her own initials. By her twenties, she knewthat writing was her calling––and she’s so glad you’re reading her debutromance!
Audrey lives in North Carolina with her Spaniard husband and twoyoung sons, is completely bilingual in Spanish, and enjoys church, crochet,jigsaw puzzles, time with friends, yoga, and funny movies. She’s a freelancefiction editor on Upwork, an editor at a literary agency. She also writescontemporary romance under the name Audrey Lancho. Her debut contemporary isdue out in May 2025 from Harpeth Road. You can learn more about Audrey byvisiting www.audreylancho.com and signing up for her newsletter––she promisesnot to spam you; she’ll just inform you of big happenings and new releases.Audrey also enjoys connecting with readers and other authors on X/Twitter andInstagram (@audreylancho).
AUTHOR LINKS
Website/Newsletter: www.audreylancho.com/connect
Amazon Author: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Audrey-Schuyler-Lancho/author/B0CSGN9RVG
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/47903487.Audrey_Schuyler_Lancho
Upwork (editorial services): https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~016edfde2663d23587
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550654740294
Twitter: https://twitter.com/audreylancho
Instagram: https://instagram.com/audreylancho
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GIVEAWAY
Theauthor will award a $20 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner.
May 1, 2024
Audio Book Tour: THE LITTER by Kevin R. Doyle
THE LITTER AUDIO BOOK
Kevin R. Doyle
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GENRE: Horror
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BLURB:
Theykept to the shadows so no one would know they existed, and preyed on thenameless who no one would miss. Where did they come from, and who wasprotecting them? In a city that had seen every kind of savagery, they weresomething new, something more than murderous. And one woman who had thought shehad lost everything there was to lose in life would soon find that nothingcould possibly prepare her for what would come when she entered their world.
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EXCERPT
Audio Excerpt 3:
Click here to hear the excerpt
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Guest Post
What makesyour book different from any other book in this genre?
Well, thismay be a bit embarrassing to admit considering The Litter’s genre, but Iactually don’t read all that many horror novels. I do read horror short storiesquite a lot, mainly in the ones in smaller magazines, but when it comes tonovel reading, I tend more towards mystery and suspense. But while myexperience with horror novels is somewhat limited, one thing does come to mindthat I hope makes Litter somewhat unique.
Obviously,it’s a common trope of the genre that at some point there’s a big reveal.Either a big twist, sudden revelation on the characters’ part, or resolutionthat unveils the truth of whatever is behind the various happenings. Sometimes,depending on how well done it is, the reveal is a surprise to readers, andsometimes it’s not.
What I hopemakes The Litter a bit different is that it actually contains tworeveals: one I’d intended as rather obvious and one hopefully not obvious atall. More than one reader/reviewer has commented something along the lines ofthey thought they knew where the plot was going, and in terms of the first bigshocker, they were correct, probably because I specifically constructed thebook so that the first reveal is clear and somewhat foretold. My intention wasto lull the reader into thinking “I’ve got this figured out” before springingthe second reveal on them.
I’m being deliberately vague herebecause I don’t want to spoil anything. Just keep in mind the words of onereviewer who said, in terms of the second reveal, “I thought I knew where hewas going, but boy was I wrong.”
And that’s exactly the sort ofreaction I was shooting for.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
A retired high-school teacher and former college instructor, KevinR. Doyle is the author of four novels in the Sam Quinton mystery series, allpublished by Camel Press. He’s also written four crime thrillers, including Andthe Devil Walks Away and The Anchor, and one horror novel, The Litter, alongwith numerous short horror stories published in small magazines over the years.The first Quinton book, Squatter’s Rights, was nominated for the 2021 Shamusaward for Best First PI Novel. A lifelong Midwesterner, Doyle currently residesin Missouri and has loosely based the city of Providence in the Quinton bookson Columbia.
www.facebook.com/kevindoylefiction
https://booksinmotion.com/product/the-litter/
https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Litter-Audiobook/B0CX732CRY
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-litter-kevin-r-doyle/1121113060?ean=2940191538280
https://www.chirpbooks.com/audiobooks/the-litter-by-kevin-r-doyle
https://www.storytel.com/in/books/the-litter-2891144
https://www.overdrive.com/media/10543266/the-litter
https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-litter-kevin-r-doyle/audiobook/9781641925235.html
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GIVEAWAY
KevinR. Doyle will award a $10 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly dawn winner.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
