Sandra C. Lopez's Blog, page 82
February 3, 2024
Review: STILLWATCH by Mary Higgins Clark
What had driven the popularCongressman to murder and suicide? Patricia hoped that moving into her oldfamily home would reveal some answers. What was indeed the truth behind herparents’ story? The only token Pat had of her father was the limp he left herwith from the night he tried to kill her. What really happened? And why was shegetting phone calls and letters telling her not to come to the house?
Meanwhile, Pat is working on adocumentary of the life of Senator Abigail, who was in consideration for therole of VP of the United States. Looking into the life of the senator can get alittle drawn-out, but there was some juicy tid-bits here and there. It getsbetter when Pat starts getting threatening messages to stop the documentary.But why? What could the senator have to hide? What didn’t she want Pat to findout and did it have anything to do with her father?
An interesting mystery!
Rating:4 stars
Review: WHAT HOLLY HEARD by R.L. Stine
This one takes a while to getgoing. It only really gets good in chapter 7 and 8 when Miriam’s boyfriend getsa little too rough with her and Holly overhears two classmates plotting amurder. But lots of kids get mad at their mom and say they want to kill her.Nobody actually does it. But then this one does. And then Holly turns up dead,too. Murdered. Who was the murderer? And could the murderer be after Miriam andRuth next because of what Holly heard?
I liked this one, but I didn’tlike the smashing of the poor hamsters.
A chilling and mysterious read!
Rating:4 stars
Review: BROKEN HEARTS by R.L. Stine
The 1st chapter was alittle confusing. We begin with a nightmare of riding a horse. The girl wakesup and can’t catch her breath. There’s guilt over a friend’s accident. Then wecut to a scene of a girl getting backed up by a guy. What’s going on? It reallywas best to just skip the first chapter altogether.
This doesn’t really pick up untilchapter 2 when Josie gets the Valentine card with that dreadful rhyme. OnValentine’s Day, Josie will be dead. Was this a sick joke? I thought it wouldpick up at this point, but this book really didn’t grab me. Normally, I getreally into R.L. Stine books, but this one was just disappointing. Too long,confusing, and dull. This broke my heart.
Rating:2 stars
Review: POPPED by Carol Higgins Clark
Was the pilot for a reality TVshow being sabotaged? It was up to Regan Reilly to find out.
Let’s see: we had a threateningnote and a contestant that fell and broke his arm. Mmm, interesting…but notinteresting enough.
Fleeced was way better since ithad 2 dead bodies right from the start. The pace was too slow with not muchhappening—nothing exciting anyways. It’s really more exciting when there’s adead body. Geez, we’re 13 chapters in and all we’ve gotten were menialcharacter activities revolving around a TV studio production. Where was theexcitement, the mystery, and the supposed humor?
Carol definitely doesn’t have hermother’s suspenseful style. That’s really why I picked up her book at all. NowI know I won’t be getting anymore.
Rating:2 stars
February 2, 2024
Blog Tour: SECRET ADMIRER PACT by Bernadette Marie
Secret Admirer Pact
by Bernadette Marie
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GENRE: Romance
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BLURB:
When Will seeks to rekindle a flame with hisex-girlfriend, his best friend Monique reluctantly suggests a plan involvingsecret admirer notes to divert his ex’s attention. In a surprising turn,Monique finds herself infatuated with her new boss, prompting Will toreciprocate with anonymous tokens of affection. However, as the deceptive gameunfolds, both Monique and Will come to realize that the heartfelt sentimentsexpressed in the secret admirer notes were their own true feelings. So, whathappens if the plan works? What happens if it doesn’t?
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Excerpt One:
“Happy New Year, sweetheart,” he says, his words slurredfrom champagne.
“Sure,” I say, letting my eyes close. “Can’t even imagineanything happy about it.”
“Cynical,” he teases, but I don’t have the energy to arguewith him.
Lifting my head, I sit back in my chair, and scan a lookover him. Will’s hair looks like he just rolled out of bed, but that wasn’t howhe looked when he’d brought me home. Alcohol and stress has had him raking hisfingers through it until now it stands on end.
Will is a handsome guy, though lacking in any fashion sense.He’s my ride or die friend, has been since middle school, and I adore him.
“Are you going home?” I ask, noticing his eyes blink slower,or maybe my eyes are blinking slowly.
“No. Since you begged me to drink away the old year withyou, you’re going to have to let me sleep on your couch.”
I was hoping he’d say that. I don’t want him to leave.Tonight, I want the company.
“Do you think she’s home?” I ask.
Will leans his elbow onto the table, resting his head in hispalm, and he watches me. I move to mimic him, placing my elbow on the table,and my head in my hand.
“She’s home,” he says. “I’m just afraid that maybe she’s notalone.”
I reach for his other hand, and lace our fingers together.
“You know your living situation makes no sense, right?” Isay.
“I know that more than anyone,” he admits.
“I mean, who lives with their ex?”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Review: “If my best friend wants the womanof his dreams back, I want him to have that. And I promise you the woman ofyour dreams by Valentine’s Day.”
Monique’s plan to get Will’s ex tonotice him again was to drum up a fake secret admirer. In return, perhaps Willcan help Monique get her boss’ attention. And, thus, the Secret Admirer Pactwas hatched. But even though Monique felt that Will’s ex wasn’t good enough forhim and that he should get over her, she still helps him. And the weird thingwas that those random notes were actually working.
This was a quick and easy read. Webasically had an on-going exchange of secret admirer notes. It’s funny becausethe two best friends since 7th grade never even considered eachother as anything more than that, and, for a good chunk of the story, the twotry to deny the growing attraction in this whole experiment, which is totallyunderstandable considering that neither one of them want to risk losing thefriendship. But perhaps the benefits could outweigh the risk?
Although this wasn’t as funny as Iexpected or wanted it to be, this had a clever wit that I enjoyed. I especiallyliked the close bond that these characters had already rooted in their lifelongfriendship. They were there for each other and they would practically doanything for each other. I liked that.
A nice, sweet read!
Rating:4 stars
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
BestsellingAuthor Bernadette Marie writes contemporary romances and believes in HappilyEver After. The married mother of five believes in love at first sight, quicklove, and second chances. An avid martial artist, Bernadette Marie is acertified instructor and holds a third degree black belt in Tang Soo Do. Sheloves Tai Chi, traveling to Disney parks, and having lunch with friends. Whennot writing, or running her own publishing house, Bernadette is probablyimmersed in a Rom Com, from which she will often quote one-liners.
www.facebook.com/authorbernadettemarie
www.instagram.com/authorbernadettemarie
www.tiktok.com/@authorbernadettemarie
www.5princebooks.com/bernadettemarie
BUY LINKS:
AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CP4T78KG
BN: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/book/1144426105?ean=2940185950555
SMASHWORDS: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1485967
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GIVEAWAY :
Bernadette Marie will be awarding a $25 Amazon orBarnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during thetour.a Rafflecopter giveawayBlog Tour: RETURN TO LERICI by Rachel Dacus
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Rachel Dacus will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
A suspenseful, uplifting story of second chances, family bonds, and redemption.
Sisters Elinor and Saffron rarely see eye-to-eye, but they agree that an unknown half-brother appearing in their lives can only spell trouble. The Greene sisters want to support their ailing mother, Betsy, as they gather in their cottage in Lerici, Italy. But they don’t want Betsy to keep searching for Baby Boy, the only name they have on faded adoption papers.
While the Greenes debate, Baby Boy finds them. A rough childhood has led Daniel to a life as a thief. When he learns of his connection to the wealthy Greenes, he decides to scam them. He goes to Italy and using a fake identity observes them at close range. Watching these people makes him ache for what he never had—a loving family.
Betsy is touched by the young man’s story and guesses their hidden connection. Discovering his true identity, she asks the family to help him. But Daniel’s shady past is catching up and putting the Greenes at risk. Should they bring their lost lamb into the fold—and can he claim his heritage if it endangers his family?
Read an Excerpt:
April in Lerici was blossoming like the paradise it was. Elinor knelt over her tomato plants pulling weeds on a fine, cool morning. Whenever she had troubles, she turned to her plants, and today she had a basketful of troubles. Bushels and bushels, and they all revolved around her mother. Betsy said she was ailing, but she was being vague about the specifics of her illness. And she’d written Elinor to say she was searching for their missing family member, Baby Boy, as he was listed on the adoption papers they’d discovered in an old drawer. Best left at the back of that drawer, Elinor thought. An unknown quantity could only be another basketful of problems.
She dug harder to loosen the weeds. Her tomato plants had to have room to breathe, though soon Elinor wouldn’t have much room. Because Betsy was coming here to stay with them, and bringing her larger-than-life personality with her, and who knew what else, packed in that huge tapestry purse of hers.
Elinor bent closer to her plants, her babies that would later this summer be ready for farmer’s market. Italy was renowned for the quality of its tomatoes, and in this fine, coastal soil they grew bigger and more flavorful than almost anywhere else. In a couple of months, hers were going to be a hit.
A sudden pain stabbed her stomach. She sat up and put her hand on her abdomen, where her sister’s transplanted kidney rested, filtering her blood. Nothing had hurt for months. Why should she have a sharp pain now, two years after the surgery?
Getting to her feet as if to escape the sensation, she stood looking out over the trees to the sea. The pain still throbbed, but was now ebbing. Years of practicing to calm the PTSD she’d had after the explosion that injured her, Elinor couldn't help picturing the worst—losing her life here in her lovely garden, before she could fully grab her amazing second chance at love.
About the Author
Rachel Dacus is the author of six novels, four time travel books in the Timegathering Series and two books of women’s fiction. She has also published four poetry collections. Rachel’s work has appeared widely in print and online, in journal that include Boulevard, Gargoyle, and Prairie Schooner. Her poetry is in the anthologies Fire and Rain: Ecopoetry of California and Radiant DisUnities: Real Ghazals in English. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. Website: http://www.racheldacus.net
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RachelDacusAuthor
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/racheldacusauthor
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Return-Lerici-heartwarming-siblings-Invisibles-ebook/dp/B0CBY5PQSH/ref=sr_1_1
a Rafflecopter giveaway
February 1, 2024
Blog Tour: SCORN OF SECRETS by B. Truly
Scorn of Secrets
by B. Truly
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GENRE: Young Adult Urban Romance
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BLURB:
Flowers in the Attic meets The Family that Preys
Madison
Whenthe rising tides of my life peak, I’m left struggling with the currents of thestorm. My dad is a gambling addict, and it costs him everything. Mama bouncesback quickly from the havoc Dad’s addiction causes. She proves this by gettinga new man. Her Rico Suave is just the tip of the iceberg—she moves us acrossstate to live with him and his two sons.My older sister has no problem fittingin. Although I'm the total opposite—I am not a social butterfly. Taught to makethe best of even the worst situations, maybe I should give my new family achance.
Mylife finally seems to be back on track until a dreadful night, shatters mydreams. My world is flipped upside down because of the consequences I must nowbear. Thinking about that night torments me. For my sanity, I must keep thedoor to my darkest memory locked. No one will believe me if I set the truthfree—not even my own sister.
Justin
Afterthe heartbreak my future stepsister has suffered, I understand Madison beingskeptical of her ready-made family. As we get to know each other better, welearn were two birds of the same feather. Our chemistry is undeniable, but ifwe tempt fate, will our relationship oscillate in the balance?
Lifeseems to be falling into place until one night changes everything. What happensto her that she can’t even look me in the eyes. It’s like somehow, my face hasscorned her. I want to be the key to her secret. But Madison won'tconfess—desperate to keep her darkest secret locked away.
Recommendedfor 16+ due to sexual content and language. Some content dealing with sexualassault may be disturbing.
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EXCERPT (Exclusive Audio)
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
B. Truly haswanted to be an author since she was fifteen years old, and she’s grateful tohave accomplished this dream. She has very vivid dreams and a wild imagination.She likes to read, watch tons of TV shows, and movies. She is addicted toromance and gets a thrill out of suspense. She writes YA and New Adult andAdult Romance, Urban, Dystopian, Sci-fi, Post-Apocalyptic, Romantic Suspense,and Paranormal genres.
B. Truly hasthree wonderful children and a husband who defines the person she today. Sheworks full-time as an Ultrasound technologist in Sugarland, Texas.
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7276631.B_Truly
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/BTruly
Amazon BuyLink:
https://www.amazon.com/Scorn-Secrets-B-Truly-ebook/dp/B091BR68YG/ref=sr_1_1
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/scorn-of-secrets-b-truly/1144273331Chirpbooks: https://www.chirpbooks.com/audiobooks/scorn-of-secrets-by-b-truly
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/audiobooks/details/B_Truly_Scorn_of_Secrets?id=AQAAAEDiP1V_pM
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/audiobook/scorn-of-secrets-1
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GIVEAWAY
B. Truly will be awarding a $10 Amazonor B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
a Rafflecopter giveawayBlog Tour: THE MURDER OF CROWS by KC Bear
"We're definitely not good, but we ain't all bad, either"
The Murder of Crows
Crooked Halos Book 3
by KC Bear
Genre: EroticRomance
Mercy
Eight years ago, he promised he'd be back for me. Hepromised he'd take care of me. But he lied. And I was left to pick upmy own shattered pieces.
Then, all of a sudden, he was back. Ihated that he looked so good, that his endless and insistent need tofix me made it harder to hate him. No, somewhere in there, while wemade a family all our own and he showed off his Daddy colors, myinnocent childhood crush on him turned into love.
Jensen
Itold her I'd be back for her. It took me eight years, and when I didfind her again, she was pissed at me. She had every right to be,sure, but nothing she said or did would keep me away or run me offagain. I had lots of hurts to apologize for and issues to helpheal.
So, I vowed to heal her. With laughter, forgiveness,trust, a new family --- and orgasms. What I hadn't planned on doingwas falling in love with her.
The Murder of Crows isa novel of about 70K words. It is the continuation, and conclusion,of Mercy and Jensen's story from Merry Christmas, Soldier (but can beread as a standalone). There are triggers, listed in the front of thebook, or you may contact the author. It's not intended for anyoneyounger than 18 years of age. It ends with a Happily Ever After.
Happy Valentine’s, Biker
Crooked Halos Book 2
He's a maverick, rough and ready.
She's sweet, scared anddesperate with an underlying fire.
When they meet, is it onenight?
Or is she his light?
Psycho
I hadone job, and I did it. Kick ass and take names, just like always. Iwas beyond exhausted, ready to fall into bed and call it a night.Then, I saw her.
Every bit of darkness within me wantedher, and not even the abuse she'd been through that night with herscumbag boyfriend would stop me from getting her.
I'dfound my prey, my Sunshine, and nothing would stop me from claimingwhat was mine.
Not even her.
Happy Valentine's, Bikeris a prequel novella under 15K words and is book 1.5 in the CrookedHalos series. It's not intended for readers under 18 years of age orwith certain triggers (see author for details).
Merry Christmas, Soldier
Crooked Halos Book 1
Merry Christmas, Soldier is an 11K novella written in first personpast tense. It is a taboo romance with an 18 year age gap betweenthem; all characters are of legal, consenting age.
Jensen is inthe military, and Mercy was born premature; if any of that mightpossibly be a trigger, proceed with caution.
It is a prequel,which means there's more to the story --- and yes, it ends on acliffhanger...
There is cussing, slight kink, and sexualsituations. Again, proceed with caution.
This is not intendedfor anyone under the age of 18.
Murder of Crows:
Two siblings reunited after 8years. She’s still mad at him for leaving and he wants a second chance. Atfirst, you think that this was just a brother-sister relationship. Nice n’simple, right? After all, he just wanted to take care of her and, as her legalguardian, he was obligated to do so. But then we get to the dirty talk thatmakes one think that this relationship was beyond platonic and makes you wonderif they really were siblings. The two kept referencing each other as brotherand sister while also entertaining sexual fantasies about each other. Mmm…I wasglad when it mentioned early on that they were adopted siblings. It’s still ataboo fetish though.
For a good while, the two spend agreat deal of time wanting each other. But first thing’s first: take care ofher. I liked that Jensen was so protective and caring toward Mercy. Jensen wasreally more of a hero than anything else. It didn’t seem like he could reallybe good for Mercy, but he seems to fulfill every sexual outlet in her. Somescenes get a little kinky, which only revved up the sexual tension in thestory. I wasn’t too swept up by the separate character narratives as they didn’treally lend too much to the story. It was mostly just crude dialogue that wasslung back and forth. Now I wasn’t personally offended by any of the languageor the sex, but the story just didn’t quite leap out at me.
This was a fairly interesting andmildly entertaining read. It was pretty good, but not too great.
Rating:3 stars
Little bit sweet, whole lotta naughty, always HEA
KC Bear has beenwriting as a hobby her entire life and one day decided to give thevoices in her head life of their own.
While she does onlyhave a few little book babies out, she's got more ideas than she cancount! With ideas for stories ranging from romance that blurs theline into erotica, women who love other women, supernatural romance,and everything in between, she's sure you'll find something to enjoyas soon as she gets it put out into the world!
As a proudsubmissive, BDSM plays heavily into her novels with darker themes ofsadomasochism, unconventional relationships with menages, and cursingthat could make a sailor blush; but you can be sure they're all alittle bit sweet, whole lotta naughty, and always have a HEA.
When she isn'twriting or creating entire worlds in her head, she spends her days inKentucky on their 10 acres with her very own Dominant and Pandora,the spoiled cat.
Website* Facebook* FB Group*Instagram *Bookbub *Amazon* Goodreads
Followthe tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
$10 Amazon
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January 31, 2024
Blog Tour: THE SECRET COTTAGE by Kate Ellington
The Secret Cottage
by Kate Ellington
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GENRE: Historical Romance
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BLURB:
Isabel Tate yearns for the simple pleasuresshe took for granted before scandal rocked her family two years ago. On MayDay, she's determined to forget her troubles and enjoy herself at the Claremontfamily's annual festival.
Meanwhile, Robert Claremont steels himself to begincourting the haughty heiress next door, but his bashfulness is only oneobstacle to winning her hand. Despite a deep sense of family obligation, hedreams of choosing his own bride.
Captivated by each other from the moment they meet,Robert and Isabel are kept apart by a misunderstanding until a chance encounterleads to friendship and more.
With opposition on all sides, they must overcomeinconceivable odds to claim happiness.
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Excerpt One:
Isabel turned her horse into the woods, directing him to agurgling stream under a canopy of trees. The forest was quiet but for thesplashing of the water, bird songs and the rustle of branches. They hadn’t beenthere long when Isabel heard a new sound. Hoofbeats and muffled voices. Sheurged her horse closer to the road, and easily heard the riders' conversation.
“What makes you think she came this way?” a man asked.
A deeper voice answered, “Merely a guess. It seemed as gooda place as any to look, but I'm thwarted again.”
“Let's turn back, we can look for her tomorrow.”
“I'm sitting for the portrait tomorrow.”
Isabel's pulse quickened as she recognized the deeper voice.Robert Claremont. So he’d been looking for her. Why hadn't he come to thehouse? She started back toward the stream, but suddenly reason left her and sheguided her horse through the trees, emerging just as Robert and his companionrounded the bend going in the opposite direction. They hadn't seen her.
Isabel paused for a moment, thinking what to do. Go backhome and hope he came to the house soon? Or seek him out for herself? Herreckless side won. Spurring her horse to a gallop, she chased after them.Robert turned in his saddle and Isabel was delighted with the look of shock onhis face as she sped past him and who she could now see was Mr. Kensington.
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Kate grew up in a woodsy New England town where summer days at thelake seemed to last forever. She read her first historical romance at ageeleven when a teacher challenged her to find a book in the library written byan author she’d never heard of. Thus began a life-long love of love stories.
After graduating from college with an art degree she settled inthe Pacific Northwest, where she currently resides with her family.
Kate wrote her first romance when she was sixteen, then set herpen down for years until another story floated into her head out of the clearblue sky. She jotted it down, just for fun, but soon it took on a life of itsown.
kateellington.com
https://www.facebook.com/kateellingtonauthor
Amazon buy link: https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Cottage-Kate-Ellington/dp/1509253661/
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GIVEAWAY :
Kate Ellington will be awarding $20 Amazon or Barnesand Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
January 30, 2024
Blog Tour: ROCKETSHIP RIDE by Franco D'Auria
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will award a $10 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner.Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
Come for a journey through the minds of two loving brothers as they explore the world around them using their imagination!
Join them in their rocketship as they barrel through space, meet with remarkable aliens, get in and out of extraordinary situations, and find the time to enjoy the company of amazing friends and family.
Let them take you on this incredible journey, and hopefully they inspire you to have your fantastic adventures too!
Review: Take a ride in this beautifullyillustrated story about two boys having fun with their imaginations. Iespecially liked the cute and funny expressions on their faces. And theplanetary sceneries were just awesome. Each scene depicted a rhyme of some sort,which was adorable, of course, and it certainly related to rocketships. Thewhole thing certainly was a rocketship ride. There was very little story to it.It was mainly short rhymes and great pictures.
It's a nice rocketship ride.
Rating:4 stars
About the Author: Franco D'Auria discovered a passion for writing and world-building through his long career as a game designer for HitGrab Labs. Lending his voice to the game MouseHunt and its whimsical fantasy world of Gnawnia, his imagination was bursting for new creative outlets.
What started as an innocent request from his children to sing a bedtime song about rocketships gradually evolved into this book. It celebrates the boys' love of books, their special relationship as brothers, their adventures with family, and the spark of imagination that they share.
Buy Link: https://amazon.com/dp/1779412479
a Rafflecopter giveaway
