C.J. Ives Lopez's Blog, page 14

The Bay Area Butcher

The Bay Area Butcher by Brian O’Sullivan

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I did not read the first book in the series before reading The Bay Area Butcher.

I was unaware there was another book before reading this one.

I was pleased that I was able to follow along without having read the first, but intrigued enough that I want to go back and read the first.

The storyline is very well played out in this book and the characters are strong.

I found myself trying to stay awake to read further to find out what was coming next.

I felt like I had it figured out a couple of times until the reveal and I was floored.

A good read for the crime junkies out there, you will enjoy this one for sure.

Go checkout The Bay Area Butcher for a great read.



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Joyce Reynolds Ward

Today in the spotlight, we are featuring Joyce Reynolds-Ward

Joyce is a hybrid author of Science Fiction and Fantasy and has published over 20 books, with the most recent named below.

The Martiniere Legacy series

Inheritance, Ascendant, Realization

Related Books

The Heritage of Michael Martiniere

Broken Angel: The Lost Years of Gabriel Martiniere

Justine Fixes Everything: Reflections on Mortality

Reissuing the Netwalk Sequence Series

Life in the Shadows now available

Netwalk in April

Netwalker Uprising in May

Netwalk’s Children in June

Learning in Space in July

Netwalking Space in August

Goddess’s Honor series

Beyond Honor

Pledges of Honor

Challenges of Honor

Choices of Honor, and Judgment of Honor

Soon to be released

A Different Life–What If? (An alternative world Martiniere Legacy story)

Beating the Apocalypse, and more.

Joyce’s Inspiration – Nature or something quirky that happens around me.

Joyce’s Professional Bio

Joyce Reynolds-Ward has been called “the best writer I’ve never heard of” by one reviewer. Her work includes themes of high-stakes family and political conflict, physical and digital sentience, personal agency and control, realistic strong women, and (whenever possible) horses. She is the author of The Netwalk Sequence series, the Goddess’s Honor series, and the recently released The Martiniere Legacy series as well as standalone Klone’s Stronghold and Alien Savvy. Samples of her Martiniere short stories/novel in progress and her nonfiction can be found on Substack at either Speculation from the Wide Open Spaces (writing), Speculations on Politics and Political History (politics), or Martiniere Stories (fiction). Joyce is a Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off Semifinalist, a Writers of the Future SemiFinalist, and an Anthology Builder Finalist. She is the Secretary of the Northwest Independent Writers Association and a member of Soroptimists International.

Favorite Quote

“When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.” Hunter S. Thompson

Favorite book Cyteen by C.J. Cherryh–because it helped inspire my approach toward uploaded personalities.

Engage with Joyce to learn why and how she writes these outstanding books.

LINK BELOW!

Twitter–@JReynoldsW1

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CK Timber

Today in the spotlight, we are featuring CK Timber

CK is a hybrid author of fantasy adventure stories and much of what I write today is in that genre. I’m finding a new love affair with cozy mysteries as well. Although I write for adult audiences, some of my work falls into clean wholesome MG/YA, and there is almost always a time travel component.

Self-published

Pen Pals: A Romantic Short Story (contemporary romance)

Darian’s Quest (fantasy adventure)

The Merge (a paranormal time travel romance) – (collaborative work with Jesse Bond)

Published with Crazy Ink

Awakening Angel’s Trumpet (MG/YA fantasy mystery)

Hellfire, Charm & the Shifter Witch (MG/YA fantasy mystery)

The Passion Fruit Files: Murder on Independence Day (paranormal adult cozy mystery fantasy) – releasing July 3rd.

CK’s Inspiration – Originally, I was heavily swayed by Terry Brooks and Tolkien. But I have to say, Jean Auel, Anne Rice, and James Mitchner have influenced me over the years as well.

CK’s Professional Bio

CK Timber is an author of Paranormal Romance, Cozy Mystery, Time Travel, and Epic Fantasy Adventure short stories, novellas, and novels. Along with her other works, she penned a collaborative novel with author Jesse Bond. A horse trainer and massage therapist by trade, CK Timber jumped ship to follow her lifelong dream to write adventurous stories for young and old alike. At sixty-seven years of age, she writes clean, fun, adventurous bodies of work for Middle-Grade readers, and cheek blushing content for adults.

Favorite Quote “If people stayed in their own back yards, and focused on their own business, there would be no wars.” ~ my dad

Favorite book Torn between different books from several of the Shannara series. Let’s go with the Druid of Shannara by Terry Brooks. It was my first among his books, and it checked every box. Fantasy, epic world-building, adventure and travel, epic battles, tons of magic. Flawed, yet likable characters who save the day.

Engage with CK

to learn why and how she writes these outstanding books.

LINK BELOW!

https://www.facebook.com/ck.timber.77/

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AFTER I BREAK

After I Break by Melissa Sercia

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Talk about catching your breath in your throat make your eyes bulge out of your head steamy heart-throbbing vampire romance.

Holly cow from the first page until the last I was gobsmacked with this book. I literally wanted to have some vampire come bite my neck after this, seriously.

I loved how the author intertwined the authentic Italian words and flavors within the book. Melissa knew what she was talking about and didn’t add fake nuances for flavor, there was plenty of that with these characters. I literally saw the end and was heading right to Amazon for the next book.

I was left with a sense of unfinished business along with a yearning to know so much more about so many characters. I couldn’t find a part of this book that I didn’t like. I won’t lie the beginning scene of Ozi threw me for a loop, but by the second I was totally in love with him and forgave the first scene.

Great job and I can’t wait to read more.

I’m hooked.



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Rise Of The Phoenix

A Review by CJ Ives Lopez

Rise of the Phoenix by F.D. Fair

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I felt so many parts of this book.

I don’t know if I ever wanted someone to be together more than when I was reading this book.

I connected so much with the female main character of this book and Felt so much of her emotions that I literally bonded with her.

I went through so much of what she went through earlier in my life that I found myself in tears at moments and also angry and so many emotions. I loved the character development along with the plot and how it played out.

I could see so many side character stories from this book that I literally wanted to hear about every single character’s backstory in their own book LOL, but there was just enough in this one that I didn’t feel like anything was left out.

FD did a great job of telling the story and bringing you into this world.

The HOT scenes WERE HOT and I had to swallow my saliva a couple of times before I got caught with my mouth open and went out looking for a man exactly like the male main character.

Golly wolly I need a wolf in my bed LOL. Great job for the author and I am looking forward to book #2, which just came out last month so I better get to it.



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Samantha Michaels

Today in the spotlight, we are featuring Samantha Michaels

Samantha is a Self Published author of Contemporary Romance

Samantha Michaels has four books published.

Leather and Lace

A Second Shot at Love

Pet Shop Passion

Rockin’ Spring

Samantha Finds Inspiration from rock music combined with her own experiences.

Samantha’s Professional Bio

Samantha Michaels was born in 1973 in the small town of Abington, PA, and was raised and still lives in Hatboro, PA (both suburbs of Philadelphia). She is married to her high school sweetheart and they have a rescue dog, a beautiful Black Lab named Holly. When she’s not writing or working at her full-time job, she enjoys watching her Philly sports team (hopefully) win, listening to heavy metal/hard rock music, reading, and spending time with friends and family. Her love of reading began at a young age, thanks to her mother and Sesame Street. Her mom read to her constantly, and by three years old, she was reading on her own and hadn’t stopped. This eventually turned into a love of writing. She was writing for herself and then for a small group of friends, one of whom told her she should be writing books. She took her friend’s advice and has since published several romance books with plenty more on the way.

Favorite Quote “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” Eleanor Roosevelt

Favorite book I have a favorite series, The Chet and Bernie series by Spencer Quinn. The mysteries are fun and the books are all written from the dog’s POV!

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Engage with Samantha and learn why and how she writes these outstanding books.

LINK BELOW!

www.facebook.com/groups/270627468085925

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Rose Adams

Today in the spotlight, we are featuring Rose Adams

Rose Adams is a Self Published author of Contemporary Romance and has written eight books

Bikers in Love Series

Brick’s Premade Family

Bear’s Curvy Waitress

Slick’s Summer Education

Rider’s Secret Crush

Lucky’s Court Date

Data’s Second Chance

Junior’s Safe Haven

Crow’s Sassy Woman

Rose finds inspiration in life, dreams, and the voices in her head.

Rose’s Professional Bio

Wife, mother, home school teacher, I wear many hats including that of an author. I write romance- steamy with a happily ever after.

Favorite Quote Progress doesn’t make perfect, progress makes permanent.

Favorite book Doc’s Deputy by Lisa Oliver. I love the dynamic between Doc and Deputy Joe in the story, the emotions are so real, heart-aching, and hopeful at the same time.

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Engage with Rose Adam Author and learn why and how she writes these outstanding books.

LINK BELOW!

https://linktr.ee/roseadamauthor

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Speechless

A Review by CJ Ives Lopez

Speechless by Ava Cates

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The most unassuming book I’ve ever read in my life.

Nothing about the cover made me think what was inside it was inside of it. Let me start by saying this cover is delicious. Seeing this cover made me want to go and buy turtle necks, throw my hair up in a messy bun, hang out on a lounge chair, read books all day with some tea, coffee, or hot chocolate and forget about the busy world.

I thought I would read a cute, cozy small-town farm romance that would have me all in the feels, and in some ways, it did.

I wish some things were more pronounced in the book in the beginning because I think that more readers would have been drawn to it had they known about these elements, just a tip for the author. These elements are like SHIT HOT and seriously made me think of many things.

Think Roswell meets Switched at Birth, but only she wasn’t switched at birth. That’s all I’m going to tell you because you will have to read it yourself.

OMG, Jeremy, sweet innocent Jeremy, wait until you meet him in the book. You will be just as sad as the Main Character, Julia, when you find out something about him. I know I was.

When I was about to 86% through the book (at least that’s what my kindle said), I thought I was getting whiplash and the author had lost her mind. I seriously thought, “Is she tired and forgetting her place.” The BOMB was dropped, and I’m like, OMG, are you SERIOUS?

Then I went to the next page, and it was the about the author page.

WTH, I can’t right now. I have to know more. It left you at a good place where you had some closure if you weren’t into the storyline, but I’m totally into it, so I have to know more.

Clever you are, Ms. Ava Cates, Touche!!!!!!!



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Courageously Broken

A Review by CJ Ives Lopez

Courageously Broken: A memoir of overcoming adversity and conquering the battle scars of life by D.A. Michaels

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Reading D.A. Michael’s book, make sure you bring a tissue is all I can say. I heard about her book and started following her before I read it, so I had a little insight into her life before knowing her back story.

When I picked up the book, I had no idea what I was about to get into, but when I did, honestly, I was even more in awe than I was by watching how she was a selfless person.

D.A started in life having a lot of odds against her, but you will find out is that this woman is the epitome of a fighter. I don’t mean she throws down in a bar; no, she has a mental toughness that you can’t teach someone. They are born with it and utilize it to become kinder than you can ever imagine.

At the beginning of D.A.’s book, I started with tears in my eyes and a heart full of rage, wanting to hurt the ones who hurt her, but by the time I hit the middle, my heart was full of pride in who she was becoming.

D.A. had the honor of working with our nation’s elite forces and didn’t just sit on her thumbs. No, she dug in and wanted to learn the down and dirty of what they did on their missions.

I found comedy in the most unusual places of her story and appreciated her viewpoints so much.

There were times when I thought the story was ending, yet it continued, and I never realized I was so intrigued with wanting to see where it was taking me that I looked up, and it was well past my bedtime.

I am thankful for D.A.’s service inside and outside of the military in keeping us all safe from the things that go bump in the night, and I am saddened that she had to go through what she did; however, I think it makes her uniquely kind and amazingly courageous beyond anyone I have ever known. This is a must-read and one you want on your shelf to read more than once to remind us that the human spirit is capable of so much.



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Maid For The Earl

A Review by CJ Ives Lopez

Maid for the Earl by Lisa Higgins

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Okay, so let me start with WOW.

I have been waiting for this book, and it was worth the wait. If you haven’t read the first book in the series, go ahead and read it. While you can read this one as a stand-alone, you don’t want to miss one moment in the series because it’s juicy, well-put-together, and simply irresistible. Did I just put that song in your mind? Yes, I did, LOL.

Here we go! By, I think, page six (I’m not sure my kindle doesn’t give me page numbers), I was saying “Oh Snap,” and by the last ten pages, I was saying “Shut Up.” There were no dull moments at all, Piece by Piece (did I just put the kelly Clarkson song in your mind? I hope so). It kept me wanting to turn the page and not put it down.

I read this book in two days and was thrilled when I turned the page expecting the review page to come up, and OH NO, IT DIDN’T. Instead, there were more snippets of what was coming next, and I was delighted.

I smell another bridgerton type series on my hands, but way better Did I say that? Yes, I DID, and if you are not reading this series now, you will be left behind when it comes out and left wondering where you have been its whole life!

That’s on you, not m. Anywho this author knows how to grab you, pull you in, and leave you just in the comfort head zone to fall asleep, dream a little dream, and wake up refreshed, frustrated, and happy.

Bravo!



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