Sandra Carrington-Smith's Blog, page 2
July 3, 2012
Book giveaway on Goodreads! Enter today for your chance to win a copy of Killer in Sight (A Tom Lackey Mystery)
If you are on Goodreads, you can enter for a chance to win a copy of Killer in Sight (A Tom Lackey Mystery). .goodreadsGiveawayWidget { color: #555; font-family: georgia, serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; background: white; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget img { padding: 0 !important; margin: 0 !important; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget a { padding: 0 !important; margin: 0; color: #660; text-decoration: none; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget a:visted { color: #660; text-decoration: none; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget a:hover { color: #660; text-decoration: underline !important; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget p { margin: 0 0 .5em !important; padding: 0; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink { display: block; width: 150px; margin: 10px auto 0 !important; padding: 0px 5px !important; text-align: center; line-height: 1.8em; color: #222; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; border: 1px solid #6A6454; -moz-border-radius: 5px; -webkit-border-radius: 5px; font-family:arial,verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; background-image:url(http://www.goodreads.com/images/layou... background-repeat: repeat-x; background-color:#BBB596; outline: 0; white-space: nowrap; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink:hover { background-image:url(http://www.goodreads.com/images/layou... color: black; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; } Goodreads Book Giveaway
Killer in Sight by Sandra Carrington-Smith 
Killer in Sight by Sandra Carrington-Smith Giveaway ends July 11, 2012.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
Enter to win
June 28, 2012
FREE BREAKFAST ON SATURDAY JUNE 30!
Join me at The Waffle and Pancake House in Garner, NC, this saturday, June 30th, from 8:00 am until 11:00 am. The address is: 3909 S. Wilmington St., Raleigh, NC 27603 Purchase a book and eat breakfast on me! Coupons for a free breakfast will be distributed at the time of purchase. You can choose one of these items: -A big waffle and coffe -Pancakes and coffee -A sampler breakfast (eggs, bacon and grits) and coffee.
June 22, 2012
"Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" -- The Play (A Review)
The human drama knows no boundaries of space and time, and nobody – young or old, rich or poor, man or woman – is ever completely immune to it. The Pollitts, a respected southern family who proudly owns a plush cotton plantation in 1950’s Mississippi, appear to have everything one can desire, money and power, but unfortunately, they cannot buy happiness. Maggie and Brick Pollitt carry the weight of a marriage wounded by guilt and poor choices; Big Daddy and Big Mama, the heads of the Pollitt dynasty, struggle to keep up appearances, but they are also trapped in a marriage devoid of love; Gooper and Mae Pollitt, Big Daddy’s eldest son and his wife, strive to win a place of leadership in the plantation and a corner in the old man’s heart. When the family comes together for Big Daddy’s 65th birthday, many truths hidden behind the gold-plated façade of southern pleasantries finally explode for all to see, and many conflicts are brought to the surface to be cleansed and healed. The story, which was made popular by Elizabeth Taylor and Paul Newman, who starred in the 1958 blockbuster film Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, finds its origins in a play of the same name by Tennessee Williams. Before being landed by Taylor and Newman, the roles of Brick and Maggie were offered to Ben Gazzara, Elvis Presley, Lana Turner and Grace Kelly, who turned them down. The Broadway production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof opened on March 24, 1955. The lives and conflicts the Pollitts endure in the play are set in a different era, but they easily apply to modern life, and the stage performance is as timely today as it was in the 1950’s when it was initially produced on stage. Lucky for me -- and for many other spectators who filled the audience seats -- this year’s production, brilliantly directed by Ira David Wood IV, was offered at Theater in the Park in Raleigh, NC. The whole play is breathtaking. Aside from the charming setting of a beautiful southern plantation, and a timeless storyline that offers a cocktail of daring topics such as homosexuality, sibling rivalry, resentment, and profound unease worn with a smile, what made the play truly enjoyable was the stellar performance the actors gave. My heart ached for Maggie, as she tried her best to shake her grieving husband from his guilt-ridden reverie and save him from the clutches of alcohol; I felt compassion for Big mama, doing all she could to preserve the image and the integrity of her family, and ultimately, I could almost taste the pain Gooper grew up with, knowing he would never match up to his brother in his parents’ eyes, no matter how desperately he tried. Sarah Bousquet and Rob Rainbolt dazzled the crowd with their spellbinding performance as they brought Maggie and Brick to life; Brook North and Erin Tito, in the roles of Gooper and Mae were brilliant; Bonnie Roe and John T. “Jack” Hall were awesome as plantation owners; Annabel Bloom and Noah Zevin were priceless as Dixie and Sonny, Gooper’s children; and finally, Mike Rumble in the role of reverend Tooker, Randy Jordan in the role of Doctor Baugh, Dempsey Bond in the role of Lacey, and JaCynthia Wallace in the role of Sookey, all delivered perfectly polished performances and likeable humor. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof will come alive on stage again at Theater in the Park on Pullen Drive in Raleigh, NC, on June 23 at 7:30 pm and on June 24 – the final performance – at 3:00 pm. http://www.theatreinthepark.com/cat_o...
June 10, 2012
Read Killer in Sight (A Tom Lackey Mystery) and ...
Read Killer in Sight (A Tom Lackey Mystery) and review it on Amazon by July 11, 2012, to win a $25 Amazon gift card! The winning review will be chosen at random among all the reviews posted on Amazon until July 11, 2012 at midnight. The winner will be announced on July 12, 2012 on the group WRITERS AND ARTISTS SHARE! and on Sandra's blog, and will also be notified via Amazon. This contest applies to both editions, paperback and digital. Copies of Killer in Sight can be ordered from Amazon using the following links: Paperback: http://www.amazon.com/Killer-Sight-T... E-Book: http://www.amazon.com/Killer-Sight-L...
June 3, 2012
"Absolute Authority" by David Workman -- A Book Review
For someone who loves to read, there is no better treat than to stumble into a breathtaking plot impeccably delivered. Absolute Authority is just that, plain and simple – a spellbinding tale ripe with so many twists and turns that I couldn’t wait to turn the page to see what would happen next. For the record, I don’t usually read spy thrillers, but there was something so compelling about the cover that I felt drawn to it immediately. I never regretted it. This book is so well written and suspenseful that Tom Clancy himself would be impressed by it, and the writing style is so clean and rich with visual expressions that it creates its own literary symphony. To my knowledge, this is the first novel Workman has released, but I certainly hope it won’t be his last. A page-turner, the ending of which will leave you speechless and begging for more. This book is available on Amazon.com and On Barnes&Noble.com 
May 26, 2012
Reviews and blurbs
Good morning everybody! Great news this morning...after struggling with some formatting issues, Killer in Sight is finally on its way to the printer. I can't wait to hold that baby in my hands! :-) So far, Killer is already available on Kindle for $.99 and it is downloadable for free in the Kindle Lending Library. These are some of the reviews it has earned: 5.0 out of 5 stars Great Suspense, May 23, 2012 P. Scarboro (Youngsville, NC USA) This review is from: Killer in Sight (A Tom Lackey Mystery) (Kindle Edition) I don't normally read murder suspense books but I couldn't put this one down. I feel like this must be exactly how the police go about solving a crime. Sandra Carrington-Smith gives the many characters personality and weaves them all so wonderfully into the mystery. From the first page I was hooked and couldn't decide on who did it until all was revealed. I particularly loved how she wove the super natural into the story without it becoming the main thrust; just like real life. 5.0 out of 5 stars Killer in Sight, May 22, 2012 M Johnson This review is from: Killer in Sight (A Tom Lackey Mystery) (Kindle Edition) This is an excellent book. From the first page, to the last, it will keep you in suspense. The twists and turns, will keep you guessing as to who committed the murder. Sandra Carrington -Smith made the story come to life. Kudos to her!! 5.0 out of 5 stars "Killer in Sight" | Book Review, May 21, 2012 Milena Rimassa - This review is from: Killer in Sight (A Tom Lackey Mystery) (Kindle Edition) Sandra Carrington-Smith's latest novel opens with a kaleidoscope of rapid-fire images that viscerally transport you through the last moments of a dying woman's life. Impossible to put down from word one, I had to - if only briefly - to get a glass of water, a slug of Scotch and make a call my own daughter, roughly the age of the book's victim, Tracey Newman. I also had to come back. Immediately. The same morbid curiosity that compels every one of us to rubberneck for glimpses of details at the scene of a horrific car wreck had me retrace Tracey's last jog in the North Carolina woods into the arms of her killer with a second reading of the first page. My ankles burned with her cuts. My stomach curdled as she observed her own impending demise depicted in the author's hyper-real montage of Tracey's final random thoughts, sensations and emotions. I strained to see the killer through her fading eyes and thought to myself, "Great set-up, Sandra, you really got me." Tracey was dead and the story begins. Ms. Carrington-Smith weaves together multiple back-stories that cannot be taken at face value. First, there is a love story between the detective handling Tracey's case and his long-time photographer girlfriend. Through their relationship, we peek into a complex and inspiring dynamic between these two people. Secretly, I couldn't help say a prayer that the detective would not be killed in the line of duty. Then, there is a universe of brilliantly crafted who-coulda-done-it characters. As the story unfolds, we learn that each has intersected with Tracey in unexpected ways. The author delves into universal themes ranging from the complexities of infidelity, abandonment, sexual orientation, victimization, redemption - and perfectly weaves each character's back story into the context of this murder/mystery. Magically, each character's demons are exorcized through their relationships with Tracey. Then, there is the author's unmistakable moniker - the other realm. In this book, Lily, a spirit stuck between this world and what lies beyond, holds the key to solving Tracey's murder. 5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Read - Hard to Put Down!, May 20, 2012 J. Wall "lens addict :)" (Eastern North Carolina) This review is from: Killer in Sight (A Tom Lackey Mystery) (Kindle Edition) As a professional photographer, I found this story to be incredibly believable, and one I was unable to put down easily. Carrington-Smith's characters are so lifelike and have taken on personalities of their own. Without giving away too much, I will say that things are not always as they seem and some of the plot twists may shake you up a bit. I know they did me. This was a riveting story; you will find it appealing if you enjoy crime mysteries with a twist. Other reviews and blurbs... “Killer in Sight places ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances in a very believable way.” ~Tracy White, law enforcement officer. “A fast-paced, suspenseful ride. Carrington-Smith’s spellbinding words grab you from the start and don’t let go…” ~ Victoria Roder, author of Mystery Suspense Bolt Action. “Sandra Carrington-Smith turns the police procedural on its head with Killer in Sight. A must-read.” ~Donald Vaughn, Triangle Area Freelancers “With a cast of intriguing, complex characters and a plot full of twists and turns, Sandra Carrington-Smith serves up a murder mystery to be read from beginning to end in one sitting.”~ Deborah Marshall, 2011-2012 President of the Missouri Writers’ Guild “Sandra Carrington-Smith's “Killer in Sight" grabs you from the beginning and won't let go. It was a wild ride I thoroughly enjoyed. A must read.”~Regina Williams, Storyteller Magazine I hope you will be willing to give Killer in Sight a chance...:) HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY, EVERYBODY!!!
May 17, 2012
KILLER IN SIGHT, A Tom Lackey Mystery -- An Editorial Book Review by Milena Rimassa
Sandra Carrington-Smith's latest novel opens with a kaleidoscope of rapid-fire images that viscerally transport you through the last moments of a dying woman's life. Impossible to put down from word one, I had to – if only briefly – to get a glass of water, a slug of Scotch and make a call my own daughter, roughly the age of the book's victim, Tracey Newman. I also had to come back. Immediately. The same morbid curiosity that compels every one of us to rubberneck for glimpses of details at the scene of a horrific car wreck had me retrace Tracey's last jog in the North Carolina woods into the arms of her killer with a second reading of the first page. My ankles burned with her cuts. My stomach curdled as she observed her own impending demise depicted in the author’s hyper-real montage of Tracey's final random thoughts, sensations and emotions. I strained to see the killer through her fading eyes and thought to myself, “Great set-up, Sandra, you really got me.” Tracey was dead and the story begins. Ms. Carrington-Smith weaves together multiple back-stories that cannot be taken at face value. First, there is a love story between the detective handling Tracey's case and his long-time photographer girlfriend. Through their relationship, we peek into a complex and inspiring dynamic between these two people. Secretly, I couldn't help say a prayer that the detective would not be killed in the line of duty. Then, there is a universe of brilliantly crafted who-coulda-done-it characters. As the story unfolds, we learn that each has intersected with Tracey in unexpected ways. The author delves into universal themes ranging from the complexities of infidelity, abandonment, sexual orientation, victimization, redemption – and perfectly weaves each character's back story into the context of this murder/mystery. Magically, each character’s demons are exorcized through their relationships with Tracey. Then, there is the author's unmistakable moniker – the other realm. In this book, Lily, a spirit stuck between this world and what lies beyond, holds the key to solving Tracey's murder. Enjoy the ride.
May 15, 2012
10% of net sales from Killer in Sight to benefit Food-Aid.org
Good morning to all! I would like to invite you to watch the video trailer of my new novel, Killer in Sight. The book will be available in late May both as a paperback and as a digital download on Kindle, and it will also be part of the Kindle lending library. 10% of net sales will benefit Food-Aid.org, an organization whose focus is to fight world hunger and bring relief to disaster-stricken areas, so please help me spread the word by sharing the link with your friends and asking them to do the same. We can't save the whole world, but if we can help someone get a meal by simply reading a story and telling others about it, we all win. Thank you always for your continued support, and may God bless you and yours. Sandra
May 12, 2012
"Summer on Lake Tulaby" -- Book Review
When I first read the book description of Summer on Lake Tulaby, I was fairly sure I was going to enjoy the story, but it was a conclusion I could only draw on two facts: For one, I was already familiar with Susan Underdahl’s previous work and was a fan of her smooth, rich writing style. For seconds, Summer on Lake Tulaby was a murder mystery taking place in a small town, and in itself that combination promised delightful intrigue. The story starts at slow pace, and each character is so meticulously introduced that after a few pages I felt like I really knew all of them in person. Anyone I could imagine to meet in a sleepy town nestled around a frigid lake gradually entered the story and left a unique print. Through several chapters, I came to really know and see each of those people, not only from a physical standpoint, but also from the heavy emotions that bled through their daily actions. By the time I read half of the book and nobody had turned up dead yet, I wondered if maybe I was mistaken and this story wasn’t a murder mystery after all; I waited patiently, nonetheless delighted to read a book in which words cascaded as smoothly as soulful notes pouring out of a brassy saxophone. As I read, I found myself thinking of Susan Underdahl as the Louis Armstrong of the literary world. When the dead man showed up, I didn’t expect it at all, and I immediately went through the notes of different characters I had stored in my head, as my mind instantly shifted several gears in the desperate attempt to pinpoint the killer and restore the peace in Lake Tulaby and in the lives of those characters who were, by now, personal friends. Surprisingly, as I went through the list, each of them had a motive; each of them was ambiguous enough to be a murderer, and most of them had something to hide. From the time the victim is found, the story picks up considerable speed, and sudden, brilliant twists take the reader on a wild, unexpected ride. The end is breathtaking, and it was almost painful to read the last few pages because I knew my liaison with the characters was by now on borrowed time. Agatha Christy was the only writer I know of whose stories followed this very same model: All the characters were introduced at the beginning – the lives and vicissitudes of each person explained in minimum detail – then someone would turn up dead, and everyone was a suspect. In the end, in all the Agatha Christy’s stories I have read, the killer was always someone different than the person I would bet my money on, and her plots were always brilliant and intricate. Summer on Lake Tulaby was just like that, and I gasped when the identity of the murderer was revealed. Truly a fantastic read which will capture your heart before the mind has a chance to realize you are in for a real treat.
