Sandra C. Lopez's Blog, page 69

Blog Tour: MIRRORED WOUNDS by Rebecca Christo

 When the present mirrors her past wounds, Laura begins to unravel  

Mirrored Wounds

by Rebecca Christo

Genre: ContemporaryWomen’s Fiction, Psychological Mystery

 Laura's life was finally good. She'd freed herself from the clutchesof an abusive partner, left an unrewarding career as an interiordesigner to follow her dreams of becoming a writer, and was finallyhappy. And things were only getting better. Her very first novel hadstruck a chord with readers and become a bestseller, but when themurder she'd described in its pages suddenly gets played out in reallife, with her beloved husband as the victim, it is obvious to herthat she looks guilty, despite having an alibi that would have beendifficult to fake.

As the investigation proceeds, withlittle or no progress being made, bizarre happenings in thesecurity-protected home she'd shared with her husband have herquestioning her own sanity, despite the reassurance of her therapist.Could she have murdered the first man to ever make her feel trulyloved and secure and then just ... forgotten somehow? Surely not. Butas even more troubling events come to light, with no logicalexplanation besides her own guilt, she finds herself questioningeverything she knows to be true ... including her own innocence.

Amazon* Apple* B&N* Google* Kobo* FriesenPress* Bookbub* Goodreads

Review: Laura, a career-driven interiordesigner takes a shot at online dating. Too bad the first guy she meets was apsycho that almost killed her.

Ten years later, she was marriedto a wonderful man and writing her first novel, which becomes an instantbestseller after publication. It takes a while to get through some lengthynarratives, but, as you read on, you learn a little bit more. For severalnights, Laura is consumed by fear, anxiety, and paranoia. By chapter 17, herhusband was found dead. Now, we were getting somewhere. It seemed her husbanddied in the same manner that she wrote in her book. Fortunately, she wasn’tconsidered a suspect because of the alibi. What really grabs you is when Laurastarts getting messages from her dead husband’s phone. From the killermaybe? 

Laura continues to go from onescary crisis after another in this harrowing tale. Her sanity was definitely inquestion at the end after meeting the hypnotherapist, who puts her on somewhacked-out medication. Who takes pills from a stranger? She was so drugged-upthat she could barely take care of her dog. I found the dog getting hurt to bevery upsetting. I’m surprised the author, being a dog-lover, would write thatin. Glad the dog turned out okay.

This story all came down to ashocking and gratifying conclusion. A good read!

Rating:4 stars

 Avid dog lover and Author Rebecca Christo was born in Toronto,Ontario, where she developed an early love of both reading andwriting. Of particular interest to her was creating a story withemotionally mature content that was still entertaining enough to beread for fun on a relaxing vacation. She hopes she’s succeeded withher very first published novel: Mirrored Wounds.


Whenshe’s not travelling with her husband, Darcy Christo, Rebeccaenjoys spending time with him, her children Ali, Brittany andMaxwell, and her puppies (Lucy and Winston) in Wasaga Beach, Ontariowhere she currently lives.

Website* Instagram

Followthe tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

$20 Amazon

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Blog Tour: IMPERFECTIONS by Ann Chiappetta

 

IMPERFECTIONS

Ann Chiappetta

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GENRE:  YA Contemporary Fiction

 

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BLURB:

 

ForLainie, feeling unwelcome is only the beginning of her struggles. Her mom isaddicted to painkillers, her stepfather is a felon, and her dad traded her infor a new family.

 

Sowhat if she’s kicked out of high school? Determined and attractive, Lainie setsout to make her own path.

 

Shane,the young man she begins dating and believes is trustworthy, transforms into apossessive and cruel boyfriend. When Efren, Shane’s older cousin, enters herlife, Lainie grasps onto a shred of hope, falling in love. Shane’s obsessiveand abusive treatment of her, however, casts a deep shadow over Efren andLainie’s chance to find  safety and afuture free of the fear of Shane’s sadistic retribution.

 

Willtheir love persevere, or will Shane’s pervasive and negative influence pushLainie and Efren apart, forcing them to love secretly?

 

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ExcerptThree:

 

Shane wasn’t who he once was, and I needed to do whatever Icould to help her feel safe. Witnessing the abuse and shame she’d enduredbecause of his sick obsession twisted me, and I wanted nothing more than topummel his snotty little face until he begged for mercy. How could anyone abusesomeone like Elaina?

 

She strode past Shane and into my suite with the finalarmful , ignoring him.

 

“I’m done,” she said.

 

“I hope she doesn’t disappoint you in bed,” said Shane.

 

The anger boiled, but I kept myself in control. “Enough ofthat. This isn’t the time to rearrange your face, you snotty wanker,” I said,my voice thick with anger.

 

I waited until Shane dropped his gaze, then I said, “I hopethat day comes soon, cousin. I hope you step over the line so I can make someimprovements to your complexion.”

 

He retreated to his room. I heard the lock engage, and Ipermitted myself to feel a little regret at not defending Elaina’s characterwith direct contact of my fist against that arse’s face.

 

I entered the room. Elaina had stacked her belongings, herlife, into a corner of the sitting area. It saddened me to know that a fewcases and boxes were all that remained after Shane had stolen and sold the restto get high.

 

There was so much about her that I wanted to know. Why herfather never helped her. Why she didn’t ask for help from her relatives in NewYork. I knew her mother was an addict and that she and Elaina did not speak.She was enrolled in East Bay Community College and was close to earning anassociate’s degree. She wanted to obtain a bachelor’s degree in kennel andstable management. So focused, and yet she seemed sad.

 

The fair gowns hung on a hook in the closet. Her fingerscaressed the pewter and black one.

 

The gesture brought me a sense of gloom, as if she weresaying goodbye. After I had crept into Rita’s box and listened to her sobbing,the moderate measure of guilt I felt for punching Shane, the wanker, thenasking Rick to assist in throwing him over the fair gate, had been assuaged.Shane should have gotten a sounder beating, but he was still blood kin. Thatwas the only thing that had saved him from my rearranging his mug.

 

Listening to Lainie’s sobs, I realized I wanted to pick herup off Rita’s back and be the one to absorb those tears. I needed her to trustme. She was so vulnerable and isolated that I wondered if she would ever take achance on sharing the abuse I knew she had endured during her time living withShane. I hoped when she finally decided to trust me, I would be able to handleit.

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Whatdo you think readers can learn from your characters?

 

Ifind this question to be packed with potential. I write with character-focusedintentions. I strive to ground the setting so readers connect with the feelingor emotion of the scene and arc of the message of the story. How else could Ido this without relying on the characters? It is the characters who emote, whofeel and who act and react to one another and situations and consequences inthe context of a story.

 

Asfor the characters in Imperfections, I presented Lainie as essentially acomplete personality with a little wear and tear; she attracts people and isn’taware of why it happens because she views herself as broken and missingsomething. The quest for purpose and self-worth is Lainie’s story.

 

Sometimesthe character is concrete, like Ray Miller, Lainie’s employer and owner ofHuntsman Canine Academy. He sees Lainie as worth the time and trouble and hisinstincts are correct. The reader learns Ray is grounded and trusts his innervoice. The reader learns to trust Ray a step ahead of Lainie.

 

Effrenis a bit Pollyanna about Shane and his predilections until he is faced withdealing with them directly. Yet, he holds back, the reader is clued into someof his doubt but not all of it until the last part of the book. Will he bestrong enough to handle things or not?

 

Asfor Shane, he is the human representation of the ugliness in the world. He isunrelenting, cruel and suffers from bad decisions and neglect . Readers may ormay not believe Shane and his pain to be realistic; the purpose of Shane in thestory is twofold; push Effren into a place where he doesn’t have all theanswers and to challenge Lainie’s trust in herself and learn to trust othersand stop blaming herself.

 

Anothermajor part of Imperfections is the thread of trauma, specifically, sexualtrauma, introduced and processed in the book.

 

ForLainie it is the angry outbursts conveying how much she is effected. Once aperson is touched by it, trauma is never gone; it resides in us inertly oractively, depending on the type of trauma and the person touched by it. I hope thestory shows readers caring and purpose are two strategies to counteract the lessproductive paths of coping.

 

Thanksfor hosting me and my book on your blog.

 

 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

AnnChiappetta, M.S. Poet and author

Ann’saward-winning poems, creative nonfiction, and essays have appearedinternationally in literary journals, popular online blogs, and printanthologies. Her poems have been featured in The Avocet, the Pangolin Review,Plum Tree Tavern, Magnets and Ladders, Oprelle, Western PA Poetry Review2024and Breath and Shadow. Ann’s short story, The Misty Torrent appeared in theArtificial Divide anthology published by Renaissance Press (2021).

 

Annis the recipient of the 2019 GDUI Excellence in Writing award and the WDOMI2016 Spirit of Independence award.

 

Independentlypublished since 2016, the author’s seven volume collection includes poetry,creative nonfiction essays, short stories and contemporary fiction.

 

Diagnosedin 1993 with a rare form of progressive retinal disease, Ann accepts visionloss as part of her life but doesn’t let it define her as a whole person.

 

Theauthor resides in western Pennsylvania with her husband, retired guide dog petdog and cats, striving to develop a mutually-beneficial relationship with herassistive technology.

 

ContactAnn by visiting her website: www.annchiappetta.com

Subscribeto Ann’s blog www.thought-wheel.com   

Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/verona.chiappetta/    

 

 

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GIVEAWAY

AnnChiappetta will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawnwinner.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour: HEART AND SOUL by Toby Negus

 

HEART & SOUL

Toby Negus

 

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GENRE:  lyrical inspirational prose

 

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BLURB:

 

Truthsbeautifully expressed

 

TobyNegus, author and illustrator of The Heart Knows What the Mind Cannot See, hascreated a collection of lyrical inspirational prose messages coupled withcolorful and mesmerizing symbolic illustrations that speak to the soul.

 

Theauthor has continued his exploration of the most transformationalpsychospiritual concepts that lie deeply within all humans, bringing the wisdomof heart and soul into the light for our minds to connect with and grow from.He weaves his messages through a variety of topics, including love, freedom,choice, truth, self-awareness, the now moment, healing, peace, and mostimportantly, the role of the heart and soul in enlightening humanity’s journeyon Planet Earth. Connections are made among these concepts to help readers makethe same connections in order to find peace in their own lives.

 

Asan artist, the author takes his ethereal subject matter, fuses it with thecolors and shapes presented by his own spiritual muse, and gives the reader avisceral inner transformation through symbol, intense color, and cosmic shape.

 

Heartand Soul creates a deep and beautiful immersion for the reader into their ownheart’s beautiful depths.

 

 

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Excerpt One:

 

There is adirect correlation between the amount of love we feel in life and the freedomwe give to our soul.

 

It is true thatthe heart knows what the mind cannot see, and it is also true that the soullives in what the heart loves.

 

The loves wehave in  life allow us to know the soul’sresolve. They are urges of the soul’s wish to know life. They give us signpostsof our soul’s intention, and where the heart can find joy.

 

They are theaspects of life where the soul seeks freedom; the times and places where webecome, in that loved moment, set free from our labour and become the dreamthat we love.

 

We are thenboth lost and found at the same time. Lost to the mystery of life and foundwithin the company of the love we have made.

 

If we do notlove we confine our soul, for it is in the quest of love that the soul fulfilsits purpose on earth.

 

Our love may beknown from a sight in nature, a piece of art, a song, within the company ofloved ones, or any of the thousand things that lighten the heart and inspirethe mind.

 

Our loves arealways close, beckoning us to adventure. Their presence has pushed and pulledus throughout our life.

 

Theirpersuasion is for us to make a way that is true to ourselves; an indigenousjourney that honours the deeper truth of who we are.

 

They light thepath to our true happiness, and often, to our greatest self-learning. For thejourney that loves take us on is often not what we expect.

 

They will causeus to dig deep into the mystery of ourselves in order to summon the courage tosurrender our old security for the adventure that love will always bring.

 

But when welove what we do, put our heart into it, then love’s providence empowers theheart and inspires the mind.

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

TobyNegus is an artist, both with paints and of the spirit. His work reflects adeep commitment to meeting life on its terms and an equally deep understandingof human nature.

 

Tobyhas studied and taught spiritual and personal development in the UK and aroundthe world for over two decades. He is qualified in advanced counselling, as alife coach and as a Cognitive Behaviour therapist. He is an Amazon best-sellingauthor of a collaborative Conscious Creators book and has illustrated and selfpublished two books on the subject of self-awareness and the spiritual journey.He has articles published in national magazine and has given talks and runworkshops in support of his published work within the UK.

 

Inthe last few years, he has created many pieces of artwork that are a reflectionof his spiritual journey. These have appeared in magazines and have beenexhibited in the UK.  

 

Website:www.tobynegus.com

email:toby@tobynegus.co.uk

Youtube:  www.youtube.com/c/TobyNegus

Facebook:www.facebook.com/OriginalArtWords

AmazonAuthor page: www.amazon.com/author/tobynegus

Twitterhttps://twitter.com/tobynegus

Instagram@tobynegus

AmazonAuthor page https://www.amazon.com/stores/Toby-Negus/author/B00PS7U9VK

 

 

 

 

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GIVEAWAY 

Toby Negus will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift cardto a randomly drawn winner

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour: PIRATE'S PROMISE by Bobbi Smith

 

PIRATE'S PROMISE

Bobbi Smith

 

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GENRE:  Historical Romance

 

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BLURB:

 

Talland strikingly handsome, Adam Trent could tempt any woman, especially in hissecret disguise as the swashbuckling Captain Spectre. But when this daringbuccaneer wagers a seductive campaign against a beauty whose passion matcheshis own, he’s not prepared for what awaits him…

 

WINNINGHER HOME WAS EASY…

 

Throwinga young woman out of her home is hardly decent behavior—even for a pirate. Butwhen Adam Trent wins the Ducharme plantation in a card game, he knows it’s theperfect base for a covert scheme of revenge in which he sails the bayous asCaptain Spectre. Adam agrees to let Lianne Ducharme stay until she comes ofage—a decision he soon regrets. For Lianne fascinates him, and Adam cannotafford the distraction…

 

WINNINGHER LOVE COULD COST HIM EVERYTHING

 

Toobad that the most virile man Lianne Ducharme has ever met is also the mostinfuriating. With no choice but to stay at Belle Arbor as his ‘guest’, Liannegradually yields to her own desires. But there is far more to Adam than Lianneknows. And succumbing to a pirate’s promise of bliss could be the surest pathto heartbreak…

 

 

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ExcerptThree:

 

Lianne was working in her flower garden when she heard acarriage coming up the drive. She hurried to the house to find two strangersgoing up the steps of her home. The man was tall, handsome and leanly muscled.Lianne knew she had never met him before, because if she had, she would haveremembered him. There was a beautiful, well-dressed woman at his side.

 

The contrast between their appearance and her own currentstate of dress left her feeling even more painfully aware of her own woefulcondition.

 

“Pardon me, but may I help you?” she asked as she emergedfrom the shadows.

 

The feminine voice that called out to Adam was cultured andrefined, but the woman he found it belonged to left him staring in surprise. Heturned, expecting to see a lady approaching, and instead found a dirty,disheveled young woman standing at the bottom of the stairs.

 

“Yes, you can help us. I’m Adam Trent, and I’d appreciate itif you could tell whoever is in charge here that the new owner has arrived.”

 

His statement left Lianne in shock. What??? A new owner???What was this idiot talking about? Belle Arbor wasn’t for sale. It had been inher family for generations, and it was going to stay that way. Surely he wasmistaken. She bolted up the steps after them.

 

“Wait a minute!” she yelled as they were about to go inside.“There must be some mistake.”

 

“This is Belle Arbor, isn’t it?”

 

“Yes, it is, but…”

 

“Then tell the person in charge that I’m here.”

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Afterworking as a department manager for Famous-Barr, and briefly as a clerk at abookstore, Bobbi Smith gave up on career security and began writing. She soldher first book to Zebra in

1982.Since then, Bobbi has written over 40 books and several short stories. To date,there are more than five million of her novels in print. She has been awardedthe prestigious Romantic

TimesStoryteller of the Year Award and two Career Achievement Awards. Her books haveappeared on numerous bestseller lists. When she's not working on hernovels, she is frequently a guest speaker for writer's groups. Bobbi ismother of two sons and resides in St. Charles, Missouri with her husband andthree dogs.

 

Website:https://bobbismithauthor.com/

Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13375.Bobbi_Smith

 

Readfree on Kindle Unlimited.

 

Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/Pirates-Promise-Girl-Nowhere-Into-ebook/dp/B07W68CJR2/ref=sr_1_1 

 

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GIVEAWAY

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

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: THE GUILTY HUSBAND by Stephanie DeCarolis

 

It all started with a youngwoman—a murdered intern for a wealthy CEO. He knows way more than what he’stelling and that’s where the guilt sinks in. He is the guilty husband. Nosurprise that Vince had an affair with the intern. But, if he didn’t kill her,then who did? Right away, the story grabs you with its mystery.

 

With the cops on his tail, hismarriage in shambles, and the media turning his life upside down, Vincerealized that if he was going to get out of this, he has to take matters intohis own hands. It gets real enticing the more you learn in the story. You won’tbelieve how this really ends.

 

A gripping 5-star read from startto finish! Look forward to more books by this author.

 

Rating:5 stars

Review: DOUBLE DATE by R.L. Stine

 

Can a high school player date twotwin sisters at once? Now if he knows what’s good for him. Ever since hestarted dating the twins, bad things have been happening to Bobby. I mean, amonkey head in his locker? Yikes! There was a bad sister. But who was it?

 

What a great lesson and a goodread!

 

Rating:4 stars

Review: THE OPEN MARRIAGE by Victoria Jenkins

 

I really thought that this wouldbe an interesting read based on the summary. I was even willing to overlook theBritish spelling/writing, which I’m not particularly fond of. What got to mewas this read went absolutely nowhere. I recall being 7 chapters in and nothinghad happened. I hate stories like that. Do something! Make something happen!

 

This was just a waste of my timeand I will no longer try one of this author’s books.

 

Rating:1 star

Blog Tour: LETTERS FROM A WARRIOR, P.S., MOM, I LOVE YOU by Dale E. Dallman

 

LETTERS FROM A WARRIOR, P.S., MOM, ILOVE YOU

Dale E. Dallman

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GENRE:  Non-fiction Military History

 

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BLURB:

 

"LettersFrom A Warrior, P.S. Mom, I Love You" is a captivating true story full ofadventure and self-discovery. It is portrayed with a relentless wit that offersan intimate glimpse into the world of the US Marine Corps Boot Camp in 1960.This is all done through the eyes of a young man who trades his small-townroots in Minot, North Dakota for the thrilling and challenging life of aMarine.

 

Througha series of unapologetically honest and unintentionally humorous letters to hismother, the author shares his unvarnished experiences as a naive 18-year-oldnavigating the tribulations of boot camp. With the specter of his seeminglymenacing drill instructors looming large, this young man's quest for a lifebeyond his hometown quickly becomes a rollercoaster of exhilaration, fear, andpersonal growth.

 

Witnessthe author's transformation from a small-town boy to a dedicated warrior as heovercomes adversity and learns invaluable lessons about courage, resilience,and the true meaning of strength. From his first day at the MCRD to histhrilling new beginning in Hawaii, this unforgettable memoir stands as atestament to the power of determination and the indomitable spirit of youth.

 

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ExcerptThree:

 

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE don't ever send me anything but mail.DO NOT SEND FRUIT, CANDY, NUTS, POPCORN, or anything other than paper! Onlypaper letters. Don't even put perfume on the letters. PLEASE. Tell anyone whoknows me not to send anything. Tell Peggy not to bake me anything, PLEASE!

 

Vacky and a guy from Chicago got packages today at mailcall. Vacky got a big box of fudge from his girl, and the guy from Chicago gotpopcorn balls. The D.I. made each go into the Quonset and get his galvanizedbucket. He had them run to the head, fill the buckets with hot water and runback. He made them go three times because they kept spilling the water. He thentook a box of salt and dumped half in each bucket. The street in front of ourQuonsets is pretty long.

 

The D.I. had a recruit stand at each end. One with the waterbucket, the other holding the sweets. They had to run to the one with thesweets, eat as much as they could, run to the guy with the water and drink asfast as they could. They had to keep this up until all was gone. They startedthrowing up right away! It just got worse.

 

We start bayonet training pretty soon. The D.I. said each ofus would try to stick him with our bayonet. He said if we missed, he was goingto stick us.

 

I think he is nuts!

 

One time I want to get out of here, the next time I wouldn'tquit if I had to. I can't believe I am starting to like being in the Marines.We really are the best.

 

We went to a parade and the Navy and Army were there. Theymarch like a bunch of pansies. They have no pride.

 

LOVE, DALE

 

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 GUEST POST

What was the hardest part about writing this book? How didyou overcome it?

 

I imagined being able to write for as long as I canremember.  I wrote stories in grade school and beyond.  I dumped themin the trash.  I wrote to the editor at local and national newspapers. Some of my work got printed but most got dumped.  When I joined theUS Marine Corps at the ripe old age of seventeen, I kept a journal that I separatedinto letters I sent home. Life took over and my passion for writing was put onthe back burner for 50 plus years as I struggled to live.  

Then, 2011 gave me a wakeup call!  A flood hit Minot,North Dakota.  It wiped out the family home which I had bought. Swept it right down river! I went into the vacant lot when it dried outand low and behold, fourteen feet up in a tree was an old trunk.  In thattrunk were the letters from the 1960's, Marine Corps Bootcamp!  Iimmediately made plans to write a book but gave up.  

I was at a V.A. shrink who was treating me for PTSD. She told me to get back to writing.  I tried, but again justcouldn't get over the hump!

A buddy who was in the Marines with me was dying.  Hecalled and wanted to talk to me before he died.  I immediately went to hisside and we talked until he took his last breath.   We spent three daysgoing over our life in the Marines!  The highs and lows.

He recounted how another buddy that was in a helicoptercrash with me, had contacted him when he was dying.  I found out then,that the second buddy had also been in treatment with the VA shrinks. I didn'trealize that what we had been through had affected all our lives!!  Ithought I was just an alcoholic.  I thought all three of us were ok, justwild and untamed!  So the last things he said was, "Dallman, finishthat damn book, because I'm in it."   He added a very life changingstatement when he said, "I won't be able to read it. I will be dead, but Iwant you to tell our children and grand kids!"

I went back home and made myself a promise.  Iconvinced myself I needed to change!!  I threw away the Cognac bottle,changed my diet, prayed to God for help and re-read the faded letters from the1960's!  Everything suddenly fit as I recounted the stories, he and I toldeach other. It took two buddies dying to make me get the courage to write thatbook!  

THEN-my wife, who is a professional photographer and singerwas recording a song in Las Vegas.  I went along and the people she wasusing for the recording asked me what I wanted out of life.  I told them Ihad lived a long time and accomplished a lot, but never could finish writing abook!  

Well, theyimmediately hooked me up with Traci Wooden, a great publisher, and with herguidance and my wife's prodding, I finished.

Now, I am on book #2 and #3!!

 

 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

DaleE. Dallman, Senior was born on a hot dry day in Britton, South Dakota, just offthe Sisseton Indian Reservation, east of Lake Tewaukon, because that was theclosest hospital. His relatives all worked for the railroad and/or farmed nearFort Ransom, Cayuga, and Rutland, North Dakota. When his father got the chanceto quit farming and transfer to the railroad they moved to Minot, North Dakotawhere Dale attended grade school at Sunnyside and graduated high school atMinot High.

 

AfterDale and a few of his friends got themselves into trouble towards the end oftheir senior year, a nice judge “suggested” that he and several of hisacquaintances join the United States Marine Corps. The formation of the “NODAKPLATOON” made the timeline fit. The Marines took him to San Diego, California,Hawaii, Asia, and back to San Francisco, California. He grew up fast in theMarines. One of his buddies stuck with him after they were discharged and thetwo followed each other off and on through life.

 

Hisfirst real job after the service was in Billings, Montana with Brown &Williamson Tobacco Co. as a road salesman. This led to other road salesman positions with the American GreetingsCompany and the Bristol Myers Drug Company. He ventured into real estate, casinos, auto sales, RV sales, which tookhim to Wyoming, North Dakota, and South Dakota. He became a deputy sheriff inCalifornia for a while, then traveled on to Washington, Arizona, Virginia,Germany, and Colorado, to name a few.

 

Today,Mr. Dallman lives in the South with his wife Cassandra Dallman, a professionalphotographer and singer out of Atlanta, Georgia.  He enjoys and continues to take great pridein his children and their offspring. 

 

Thisbook is neither his first nor last written work so please check back to seeupcoming books from Dale E. Dallman.

 

Hecan be found at

 

https://www.dallmanproductions.com/

https://www.facebook.com/Grizzlytrack

https://www.instagram.com/dallmanproductions/

 

 

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GIVEAWAY

 

DaleE. Dallman will award a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Excerpt from UNBOWED by M.G. da Mota

 

 

Haywards Heath,West Sussex, England

 

The room was in semi-darkness but heliked it that way. Should anyone peer inside at night he or she would seenothing but a person’s silhouette. A figure with no face and moving like aghost among the undefined shapes of the furniture.

Opening themagazine on his desk he admired her photograph. A coloured headshot clearlyshowing her green eyes. He liked her eyes. Two emeralds on her lovely face. Hefollowed the shape of her mouth with his fingers. Turning the page he looked atthe second image. A full size portrait picturing her in a figure-huggingroyal-blue gown, flaunting her curves beautifully. She was smiling, about tobow to the audience at the end of a concert. He held the magazine carefully,then took a pair of scissors from a drawer and for a moment let them catch thefaint moonlight coming through the window, as if performing a sacred ritual.Respectfully he began cutting out both pictures and then repeated the procedurewith the third and final picture where she appeared in front of the orchestrawhile conducting. Her arms seemed to float towards the musicians like anextension of the score. She wore an elegant navy-blue trouser suit with a pearlcoloured silk blouse. He preferred to see her in a dress, a long evening gown, sleevelessand slickly wrapped around her body like a second skin. She owned a variety ofevening dresses but his favourite was the dark claret red, embroidered withsame colour sequins. In the stage lights it literally made her shine.

For the moment heplaced the photos in a desk drawer. Picking up the concert programme he sat onthe couch and placed it on his lap. He opened it on the page where she’d signedit. A large group of people had been waiting for her at the stage door. He hadlingered, allowing others to get ahead. As she approached the place where hestood he stepped forward, placed the programme in front of her and asked, ‘willyou sign it for me, please?’ Smiling she looked him in the eyes and saidkindly, ‘of course.’ Quickly she scribbled, thank you for coming to the concert, with best wishes, Alex.

It made him happyshe hadn’t signed her family name of Jewel, it felt more personal. Jewel was anappropriate surname for she was a diamond, a precious jewel to be admired andloved. He didn’t much care for her first name. Alex sounded like a man’s name.She was too feminine, too radiant, too sexy for it. One day when they weretogether – for he knew they were destined to be together – he’d make her seeAlex didn’t do her justice and she’d change it to please him. Diamondah was abetter name, as she was a bright diamond. Or Esmeralda to suit her emeraldgreen eyes. His own personal jewel.

Touching hersignature he followed the letters with his indicator finger and after a whileplaced the programme in his safe box of treasures. Opening the drawer with therecently cut out photos he looked through all photographs, newspaper cuts andconcert programmes inside. They’d find their way into the safe later. He pickedup the latest photo where she wore the blue gown and placed it aside.Everything else he deposited in the safe, then returned to the sofa and put hisfeet up. Running his fingers over the selected photo he touched the image ofher body, imagining she was in the room and he was caressing her for real,quickly becoming aroused. He held the picture with his left hand, opened histrousers with his right and began to touch himself, fantasising his fingerswere her hands working him until he reached the climax and cried out her namein ecstasy.

Available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Unbowed-M-G-Mota-ebook/dp/B0D5HYBKG6/

Blog Tour: TWICE HUNG by Vanessa C. Hawkins

 

TWICE HUNG

Vanessa C. Hawkins

 

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GENRE:  Mystery/Suspense/Thriller

 

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BLURB:

 

EthelArsenault's been hearing noises in her brother's house ever since she arrivedfrom Summerside, but when he turns up dead, could the supernatural be to blame,or her sister-in-law Dolly whose been caught talking to herself when nightfalls?

 

Ethelisn't sure, nor is she happy when she's left alone to care for Ernest's estate.Was her brother the victim of sweet, little Dolly Arsenault, or is some othersinister force at work? The city of Charlottetown is quick to point the blameat Dolly, but now Ethel has been hearing things in the house...

 

...or is it just her imagination?

 

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ExcerptThree:

 

“An animal? Like a racoon?” Ethel pursed her lip, wonderingif all this time she had been hearing a poor frightened animal in the walls,rather than the lost soul of a sea captain. Since Al had told his story a fewnights ago, Ethel was certain no one besides herself had heard anything of thesort.

 

 Ernest bent to siphis tea before spooning a few generous lumps of sugar to dissolve within theamber fluid. “Something like that,” he said. “I’ve heard it a few timesrecently, mostly at night, so it must be some kind of nocturnal creature.”

 

“I’ve not heard a thing! Have you, Ethel?” Dolly asked, herfingers pressing at the hollow of her throat.

 

Ethel frowned, wondering whether she ought to say anything.“It’s an unfamiliar house…” she’d decided, “so I’m afraid even normal soundswould feel foreign to me.”

 

“I’m sure it’s just—”

 

“Sorry to disrupt, Mr. Arsenault,” Adella-Ray said from thewide open French doors that bisected the breakfast area from the foyer, “butI’m afraid I am unable to locate your spirits.”   

 

Ernest swivelled in his chair to face the exit. “Did youcheck the cabinet in the study? I know I put a bottle in there a few weeksago.”

 

Adella-Ray nodded, a few mouse-brown strands of hair bobbingout the borders of her maid cap. “I remember, Sir. But it seems it’s gone.”

 

Dolly laughed, finally pausing to take her first bite ofbreakfast. “You probably drank it, Ernie. Perhaps without thinking? You’ve beenworking late all week, seldom even coming home till morning.”

 

Ernest harrumphed, though he only seemed mildly perplexed ashe turned to resume his position at the table. “Perhaps so, Darling,” he saidin a tone unconvinced at the suggestion. “Though I was sure—I don’t care muchfor the stuff. Too fruity…”  He scratchedhis head, “I suppose I’ll have to buy another before I go.” He wiped his chin,smoothing out the corners of his moustache before standing up to excusehimself.

 

“Just another thing to add to the list,” he said. “I won’tbe able to keep you company today, I’m afraid.” He looked at his pocket watch.“Too much to do before departure tomorrow. Will you two be all right while I’mgone?”

 

Ethel smiled, while Dolly offered a confident wave of herhand. “We’ll find something to occupy us.”

 

“The day is lovely, after all,” Ethel agreed.

 

Ernest nodded. “Very well,” he said before turning towardsthe foyer where Adella-Ray had already fetched his hat and coat. “I won’t behome till late. So be sure to dine without me.”

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

 

Alife-long lover of horror, Vanessa wrote her first story in the genre when shewas only in grade five. It was titled Mutilated and it warranted her a trip tothe school guidance counsellor. A lifetime later, she continues to write aboutanything that suits her fancy. She was afforded second place in the David AdamsRichards Prize this year, and honourable mentions in the WFNB writingcompetition for her novel A Child to Cry Over. With over a dozen publicationsunder her belt, Vanessa was celebrated as a bestselling author with Books WeLove Publishing for the sale of over a thousand copies of The Curious Case ofSimon Todd! She lives with her husband Brendon and daughter Bernie in NewBrunswick.

 

Vanessais the author of the following BWL Publishing Inc. releases:

 

TheCurious Case of Simon Todd

BunkerBlitz

BallroomRiot by Vanessa C. Hawkins & Tara Woodworth

 

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

https://bookswelove.net/hawkins-vanessa-c/

 

 

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GIVEAWAY

Vanessa C. Hawkins will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BNgift card to a randomly drawn winner.a Rafflecopter giveaway