Author Interview: ‘Single Chicas’ by Sandra C. Lopez

About the Book:

Perfection is a Barbie doll, and, unless you’re looking for a guy with a fake smile, a hard head, and no genitalia, then you’re better off NOT being perfect―Single ChicasSingle Chicas is a collection of stories about modern Latinas being in, out, and around the zany hurdles of relationships. One woman receives strange calls from a lonely soul, another seeks advice on how to love herself, and another wakes up in a parallel universe to a man she’s never met. These chicas will make painstaking effort to survive the complexities with humor and grace. Once again, López dazzles audiences with her brilliantly candid craft. Smart, witty, and funny, these stories will explore the true endurance of singlehood.

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Purchase Links:

Amazon – UK / US

Author Interview:

1: Tell us a little about yourself and what got you in to writing?

I started writing my first book right out of high school. My first novel was about a 14-year old Mexican-American girl growing up in an impoverished neighborhood with the aspiration of going to college. Being that I was still a teenager, I had that raw, teenage voice that my editor deemed valuable to the story. And, from then on, I just kept on writing.

2: Do you have a favourite time and place where you write?

I write whenever inspiration strikes (or whenever I have the time.) I don’t particularly have a favorite place. Heck, sometimes I don’t even have a pen and paper with me when an idea comes to me. In those cases, I’ve had to use whatever was around—post it, napkin, etc.

3: Where do your ideas come from?

The world is my canvas. My observations and experiences go into my craft.

4: Do you have a plan in your head of where the story is going before you start writing or do you let it carry you along as you go?

A little of both. At the beginning, I have some idea of where I’d like the story to go, but then sometimes that can change when I read through it again. At that point, the story takes a life of its own.

5: What genre are your books and what drew you to that genre?

I write in the genres that I, myself, am interested in.

6: What dream cast would you like to see playing the characters in your latest book?

My latest book, Single Chicas, was described as a Latina version of Sex and the City, so I kind of picture Sofia Vergara in it because she’s fun, flirty, and sassy.

7: Do you read much and if so who are your favourite authors.

I real A LOT and I like A LOT of authors. I don’t have a favorite because asking a reader to pick a favorite author is like asking a mother to pick a favorite child.

8: What book/s are you reading at present?

I’m reading a series called Tough Justice: Countdown, which is about a female FBI Agent on the hunt for a serial bomber in NYC.

9: What is your favourite book and why?

Again, I bring up the mother analogy.

10: What advice would you give for someone thinking about becoming a writer?

Read anything and everything that you can get your hands on, and just keep on writing.

11: What are the best Social Media Sites for people to find out about you and your work?  

Website: www.sandra-lopez.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/Sandra-Lopez

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/1656820.Sandra_C_Lopez

Blog: www.sandrasbookclub.blogspot.com

 

About the Author:

Sandra Lopez is considered one of today’s influential Latina writers in young adult literature.Her first novel, “Esperanza,” a teen fiction novel, was published in March 2008 WHILE she was still in college! “Beyond the Gardens,” is the sequel to her engaging and inspirational heroine, Esperanza.

She travels as much as she can and is currently at work on her next book.

To find out more about her books, please visit her website at http://www.sandra-lopez.com

Book Blitz: ‘The Itching Scars – To Court Death and other stories’ by Mohy Omar

Author: Mohy Omar

Genres Psychological/romance short stories 

 

A collection of short stories dealing with different kinds of scars we keep. They never said being human could be this hard. They never told us about the scars we would carry. They only told us that this is what it means to be alive.

 

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Purchase Links: 

Amazon – UK / US

About the Author:

 

An indie author. Been writing all my life and just got into publishing. Also I’m still trying to find my place in the world.

 

Author Links:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/MohyWrites

Twitter: @akamohy

Tumblr: shatterandmend.tumblr.com

Book Review: ‘Acadia’s Law’ by Tracy Ellen

Title: Acadia’s Law (Undying Love Series Book 1)

Published: 20^th July 2014

Author: Tracy Ellen

Facebook: www.facebook.com/TracyEllenauthor

Twitter: @TracyEllen01

 

Synopsis:

A SMART, GUTSY HEROINE & A HERO HOT ENOUGH TO DIE FOR!

Except Acadia King has no intentions of dying soon for a man or anything else.

Rave reviews for Acadia’s Law, Book One in the Undying Love Series, a paranormal/science fiction/ horror/apocalyptic-romance you won’t want to miss!

Rod “Ram” Ramaldi is a pro football quarterback newly arrived in the Twin Cities to begin the next phase of his career. Acadia King is a young widow out for the evening at a hotel cocktail bar for the first time in years. With nothing to lose, she’s about to hook up with Rod, a perfect stranger–a perfectly sexy but totally inappropriate, much younger stranger. Acadia’s also about to discover her inner badass when a group of people in the bar suddenly turn into violent crazies and start attacking the other patrons.

As the attacks become more widespread, Acadia soon realizes she has everything left in life to lose. Determined to make it home, Acadia brings along a few survivors from the hotel, including Rod. But the violent crazies aren’t the only deadly predators roaming the land. Can Acadia and Rod survive in a world gone insane overnight? Get your copy of Acadia’s Law today and see why fans are saying this adult series is the apocalypse and love done right!

 

Review:

When Acadia agrees to go out on a date (well she says date but really she is just going to see if anyone takes her fancy) after her friends convince her its time to get back out there after the death of her husband she goes along with it thinking ‘well what’s the worst that could happen?’ If by worst you are thinking crazed people attacking everyone and those seemingly dead coming back to life as zombies you would be correct. She does get to work her inner minx before the real crazy stuff happens though so it’s not all bad at the beginning. After doing a circle of the hotel bar she has gone out of town to she spots her target. Well his hotness kind of grabbed her attention and wouldn’t let go, good job it goes both ways then. He might be with a group but no one looks paired up so it’s not long before she makes her move. She sure works fast getting him hooked but it’s when he gets her in the lift that things start to heat up in a very fun way. Now this would be the point to get into a room and have hours more fun but a lack of key card brings them back to the hotel bar.

Now this is where things start to go a little crazy, very fast. A group of people – the same ones she assumed were either drunk or high when she spotted them earlier – comes into the room with blood all over them. Always the practical one she tries to express her fears about them to Rod, her lift hottie, insisting they all leave while showing her gun in her purse in the process. After the initial shock of the people in the bar its not long before people rush to help the blood covered ones – including two of the girls from Rod’s table. He stops one getting close but isn’t quick enough for the other. Queue crazy time as its like a switch has been flipped and the brutal attacks start.

Talk about graphic craziness and what do the guys do, they run straight into the thick of it leaving Acadia with one very scared woman clinging to her for dear life. It’s a fight to get out but that’s just the start of it. She knows she just wants to get home but now feels like a mother hen with getting Rod, his two friends T-Bone and Ray Dean, and Barbara there too. When she says her place is like a fortress she means it but work needs to be done to make it even better protected. Its like a call to arms when she wants everyone rounded up. Love that she has a kind of ‘what to do if’ folder with ways to deal with certain attacks or events. Shame she doesn’t have a ‘what to do in the event of a zombie attack’ but hey she can improvise. She has gone into mission mode from the moment she is home but that doesn’t stop Rod wanting some answers about who she really is. Zombie attack or not he clearly still wants her and is constantly trying to win her with his charm and very good looks. Think its funny how she thinks he is too young for her (11 years to be exact) when she was 25 years younger than her husband. She can’t think straight around him but he won’t be giving up that easily, no matter the craziness that follows.

A very interesting group of people coming together on the farm getting battle ready for what’s to come. She can hold about a hundred but many more would cause too much attention. It might not just be the zombies they need to keep out either but the non-bitten too – especially those on bikes.

Interesting read that gets you gripped quickly as after that first attack its full speed ahead. Lots of characters mentioned which might make you feel a little lost at times but its to help set up the rest of the series. Suspense and romance read with zombies and crazy bikers thrown in for good measure – talk about a crazy ride. Lets see where it takes us next.

4 out of 5 stars

Book Review: ‘Keepers’ by Kenechi Udogu

Title: Keepers (The Mentalist Series Book 3)

Published: 19^th December 2016

Author: Kenechi Udogu

Facebook: www.facebook.com/KenechiUdogu

Twitter: @KenechiUdogu

 

Synopsis:

The dust appears to have settled after the brief descent of the Progressive Empaths on Sandes. But, if there is any truth to Anthony’s story, Gemma and her friends know they might soon have to face the mysterious Keepers. Myth or real threat, one thing is certain; running is no longer an option, for any of them. Can Gemma protect the ones she loves without forming an unlikely alliance?

 

Review:

Our band of misfits are preparing for the final showdown. Russ, Gemma, her dad Paul, Laura and Peter. It seems Anthony and his Empath army isn’t the only thing they need to worry about now though as the Keepers are coming to play their part. Are they friend or foe? Only time will tell.

Eamon is the head of a Keepers group, a group who happens to contact/kidnap Gemma. They can’t understand why Anthony wants her so much but something else that intrigues them is that she has an Orb – one that turns orange. After an accident from a school trip Gemma wakes up finding herself tied to a chair, not one to panic now as this isn’t her first time she tries to figure out a way to escape. She gets a shock when she meets the ones who took her, none more so than meeting Eamon. He has a striking resemblance to someone and soon reasons for the battle brewing slip into place. They keep saying she is safe with them but the fact they won’t let her leave is ringing warning bells to me. She shouldn’t worry too much though as the rest of the gang are on there way.

They are stronger together, none so more than Russ and Gemma being Sentient Twins. Everyone from all sides think Gemma is something special, powers stronger than most. A danger to some if not trained properly so I think lessons might be on the cards further down the line. They may get away but it seems too easy, like they have played a part in a bigger game they don’t know the rules of yet. Seems they are done hiding and waiting for an attack. Its time to act first rather than waiting if they ever want to live a normal life – well as normal as they can get anyway. Its when they go on a road trip that they add someone new to the group. Jose, a fellow Keeper, who at times was a voice of reason and at others had people wanting to smack him for being closed minded. He, along with his fellow group, know change is coming but need to find a better way to make it so. Anthony and his Empath army still seem to be a few steps ahead, along with the Keepers, and its all our guys can do to keep up. The path they are on could go two ways. One causing a cull and the other stopping it, at least until someone else tries to cause trouble that is.

Nirmayi, a member of Anthony’s army, can see visions of the future, always two outcomes so lets see if the one she wants is the one that should come to pass. What she shares can be subjective. She sees more but only divulges enough to get the outcome she really hopes for. Seems Gemma has more to her than anyone knew. She along with Russ could be used as a weapon, they just don’t know for which side. Which one is the lesser of two evils, only time will tell? The journey they are on slowly builds until you get one hell of a showdown. You get to see what others are really capable of and the true reasons behind other peoples’ motives. Some aversions might come true no matter how much Gemma might have tried to stop them. Make no mistake the battle will see danger coming their way, lets just hope they can come out the other side.

Now Erin is one Empath the Keepers should keep a closer eye on as her anger could cause more problems down the line. I did think Peter was going to play a bit more of a part but was good when he stepped up to help at the start. Great group of characters though that worked well together throughout. Jose was a fun addition to the group when off on their road trip. These Keepers though are sneaky and it seems the real game – though calmer for the time being – has only just begun. Lets hope our two lovebirds can handle it and nothing else tries tearing them apart.

4 out of 5 stars

I received a copy of this book from the author for my honest review.

Release Blitz: ‘Just an Illusion’ by D. Kelly

Title: Just an Illusion – EP

Series: The Illusion #3

Author: D. Kelly

Genre: Contemporary/New Adult Romance

Release Date: June 21, 2017

Blurb

Lives are turned upside down …

Everything was perfect before life came to a screeching halt.

When devastating loss flips Amelia’s world on its axis, she loses her spirit. Mel isn’t the only one hurting, though; the members of BAD are also struggling to find their way after that tragic night.

Life goes on …

Amelia’s friends move heaven and earth to help ease her sadness. Knowing she’s on a dangerous precipice, they fight through their own pain to bring her safely to the other side of her grief.

Love can conquer …

Amelia knows bottling up her feelings isn’t helping anything. With love at her fingertips, all she has to do is reach for it. Mel’s loved ones desperately hope she can once again find her way to happiness.

Can Amelia overcome her fears to let love in again, or will she let the weight of that night continue to drown her in sorrow?

Just an Illusion – EP is book three in The Illusion Series

 

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Author Bio

D. Kelly, author of The Acceptance Series, The Illusion Series, and standalone companion novels Chasing Cassidy and Sharing Rylee, was born and raised in Southern California. She’s a wife, mom, dog lover, taxi, problem fixer, and extreme multi-tasker. She married her high school sweetheart and is her kids’ biggest fan.

Kelly has been writing since she was young and took joy in spinning stories to her childhood friends. Margaritas and sarcasm make her smile, she loves the beach but hates the sand, and she believes Starbucks makes any day better.

A contemporary romance writer, D. Kelly’s stories revolve around friendship and the bond it creates, strengthening the love of the people who share it. For all things D. Kelly, you can visit her website: http://www.dkellyauthor.com

 

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