Sandra C. Lopez's Blog, page 125
April 21, 2023
Blog Tour: BOOK TOUR MADNESS by SJ Slagle
Mystery
To Be Published: 4/11/23
A Widow Writer Mystery
Jaynie Floyd, a celebrated mystery writer, has a book on the New York Times bestseller list. It’s wonderful news and her agent wants to send her on a book tour to promote it. However, Jaynie is newly widowed and doesn’t want to go. As she works through her grief, a myriad of problems arise with family and life.
Once she finally decides to go on the book tour, partially to escape, all hell breaks loose. One of the other authors on the tour is murdered and Jaynie’s instincts as a mystery writer are called into action. Soon she is chasing down leads and suspects, all the while avoiding requests from police and family to keep out of it. Her skills and curiosity take Jaynie into dangerous territory, from which she may not escape. Bodies pile up as she gets closer to the truth. Truth that could make sure she bothers the killer no more.
Book Tour Madness is a story of survival after the death of a spouse, mixed with an old-fashioned murder mystery.
About the Author
SJ SLAGLE started her career as a language arts teacher. When she began writing, her initial interest was children’s stories, but then she moved on to western romance, mysteries and historical fiction. She has published 30 novels. Her website is www.sjslagle.com. SJ has established Twitter and Facebook fan bases, and a quarterly author newsletter.
SJ Slagle has written several western romance series including: THESE NEVADA BOYS, RANCHER, and THE WESTERNERS, as well as mystery series: FLOYD SISTERS MYSTERIES and SHERLOCK AND ME. All her books are distributed in digital, paper and audiobook formats.
Her first historical fiction novel, LONDON SPIES, was awarded a B.R.A.G. Medallion in 2018. She was given the Silver Award with the International Independent Film Awards for her screenplay called REDEMPTION. She conducts writing/publishing symposiums in her local area.
SJ Slagle lives and works in Reno, Nevada.
Contact Links
Purchase Link
a Rafflecopter giveaway
April 20, 2023
Blog Tour: WATER AND BLOOD by N.K. Carlson
Water and Blood
by N. K. Carlson
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GENRE: YA Fantasy
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BLURB: Clasheson a pirate ship, battles on a castle wall, and an ancient secret unfolds. Whenlife or death is at stake, one side must make a sacrifice to win.
After fleeing the Elven capital, Reith and hisfriends must race across Terrasohnen to warn the dwarves of the Shadow's longreach. Each new revelation brings even more questions and Reith has so much tolearn about Shadows and his mysterious sword. Time is against Reith. Deathstalks him in the desert, mountains, and sea, and the ever present darknesslooms large over all.
Will they reach the dwarves in time to prevent moredeath? Or will the Shadow's destruction be too great, consuming everyone in thekingdoms of Terrasohnen?
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Excerpt One:
“So, if a fightis coming, what then? What does find me mean?” Reith asked.
“I have noidea,” Romulus said. “I have a suspicion that the Voice belongs to a Guardianof Light, or even the God of Light. You have a destiny, Reith.”
“Why me?”
“All chosen bythe God of Light for one task or another ask that question. It is beyond ourwisdom. The God of Light has purposes and plans we can know nothing about. Hehas written the story of Terrasohnen on the world, and we are following alongas best we can, though the ending is hidden from our eyes. But as for yourquestion, I do not believe the God of Light calls someone unless he purposes toaccomplish something in and through them.”
“So you think Iwill be successful in whatever this is?”
“I don’t thinkit, I believe it. I have faith in the God of Light. I think he or someonespeaking for him is speaking to you, so I trust that he will be with you.”
“Easy for youto say,” Reith said, “You’re not the one facing fighting and finding.”
“Perhaps notfinding, but certainly fighting.”
They rode on insilence for a few minutes.
“You promisedto return the favor,” Reith said. “Tell me about you.”
“I am Romulus,firstborn son of King Koinas, heir to the throne of the elves. My mother diedseven winters ago. I am the only remaining child of her and my father. He shallbe furious that I have gone, but it is for the best. I was raised in the palaceof Sardis and had the greatest tutors in history, mathematics, law, military strategy,astronomy, jousting, archery, and swordplay. As prince, I felt a great concernfor my people, that all would be treated with fairness and justice. I havetaken an interest in hearing the grievances of my people against one anotherand against the crown, which I did my best to decide equitably. I know rulersdo not choose their monikers, but Romulus the Just has a nice ring to it. Ihope to live up to it. And now, I am afraid that the greatest threat to thekingdom and my people is my father, and so I am on this quest beside you,fleeing from his wrath to a foreign land to beg for aid.”
“Sounds bleak,”Reith said, not really knowing what to say to the prince.
“It’s not asbleak as one might think. The God of Light is with us. We saw that at the funeralpyre for Kydar. And when the God of Light is with us, who can oppose us?”
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Topic: Whatdrives the characters in your story?
What a question! It really comes back towhy do any of us do any of the things we do? And even deeper than that, whatdoes it mean to be human, living in a complex world with competing goods and aplethora of options set before us?
Let’s look at a few of my characters andsee what motivates them, what drives them. We’ll start with Reith, our 16year-old human protagonist. When we meet Reith at the beginning of “Shadow andSword,” he is simply focused on doing the next right thing in front of him. Hedoesn’t have a long term plan, he doesn’t seek selfish gain, he just looks afew feet ahead and does the next right thing. As he moves about the world, hebegins to establish an identity that is separate from what he does, and hestarts to figure out who he is. So, in the narrative, he continues to do thenext right thing, but the motivation, the drive shifts from duty to identity.He begins to identify with goodness itself. While his actions look outwardlythe same, inwardly, there’s a transformation happening.
Now let’s look at our main villain, theGray Man. We learn more about the Gray Man (his real name is Solzar) at the endof “Shadow and Sword” and even more in “Water and Blood.” Without giving toomuch away, Solzar has a Freudian childhood trauma that shapes him and makes himsee the world in a certain way. The evil he does is a direct result of thattrauma, and it turned him into the villain he is today.
All of the characters have complexpersonalities and personal histories that shape how they view and react to theworld. Some are dealing with issues with their fathers, who either arecompletely absent or are emotionally absent. Some are responding to tragedy andpicking up the pieces of their lives after everything shatters. Some charactersare running from their pasts and the bad decisions they made. Most of thecharacters are earnestly trying to be the “good guys” in the story, and to livein light of goodness and beauty and truth. While they don’t always succeed inbeing good, most of the characters have a trajectory toward goodness.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
N. K. Carlson is an author living in Texas.Originally from the Chicago area, he graduated from the University of Illinoisbefore studying at Logsdon Seminary, where he graduated with a master ofdivinity degree. He has published two books.
The Things that Charm Us and the Smelly Gospel(which was co-written with Drew Doss) both came out in 2020.
His love of writing began in elementary school wheneach student was given a blank white book to fill with a story. In college, hetook an interest in blogging and writing novels.
https://www.facebook.com/nkcarlson
https://twitter.com/nkcarlsonauthor
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/water-and-blood-n-k-carlson/1142920220
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1956183884
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GIVEAWAY
N. K. Carlson will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawnwinner via rafflecopter during the tour.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
April 19, 2023
Blog Tour: MY DEAD TRUE LOVE by Kim Pierce
My Dead True Love
by Kim Pierce
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GENRE: Metaphysical & Visionary; Women'sFriendships
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BLURB:
When a newspaper reporter’s fiancé diesabruptly, she questions how he could just cease to be.
Dogged by unbidden thoughts, odd coincidences andunexplained phenomena, Ann Stewart becomes obsessed with finding out whatreally happens after we die and whether her beloved Gregory is still out there.She finds her answer, which takes her and a close-knit coterie of women to theedge of the cosmos—and the core of their own hearts.
Based on a true story.
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Excerpt One:
“It was definitely Gregory,” Connie declared, forcingherself to return to the vision. “As clear as if he were standing next to me.Smiling.”
“If you saw him”—and I still wasn’t believing—“did he seeyou? Did he see me?”
It made no sense, but I had to know more.
“I don’t know. I tried to un-see him. I really did,” shesaid, turning to me, something akin to terror twisting her face. “This ‘seeing’is a part of me that triggers so much shame—and reactivates the trauma. Likeshell shock.” Red mottling crept up Connie’s neck and onto her cheeks.
She saw him. The words slid off my brain as if she werespeaking in tongues. What did that mean?
“Could it have been your imagination?” I offered wanly, notwanting that to be the case.
“Yes, I suppose it could.”
Neither of us believed it.
I waited.
“What would it mean for you to ‘see’ him?” I pressed.
Tell me. Even if it makes no sense.
“That there’s something wrong with me,” came her acridreply. “Deeply, terribly wrong. At least that’s what my father would say. And alot of other people who make judgments about what I can do.” She slammed the carinto park a little too aggressively.
“There’s nothing wrong with you,” I said, getting out of thecar.
Connie shut down.
“I need to go home for a while,” she said.
Tell. Me. More.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Review: Your plane just landed. You’re scanning the sea of passengers for the one face belonging to one true love. Then the gut-wrenching truth hits you square in the face: he died.
Ann’s world swirled around her. “There were no feelings. No feelings. No pain.”
But mostly Ann was in shock. After all, Gregory was the model of perfect health. How could he have had a heart attack? And how could this be classified as an “unexplained death?”
Death…what was death?
“Never’ is the mantra of grief: Never. Never. Never.”
The narrative was well-versed and easy to read. The words were emblems of strength and poetry. They were full of grief, emotion, and loss. Such power behind those words. Story takes the reader through a woman’s grieving process and personal obligation to the deceased. Although artistically rendered, at times, the progression can be rather slow. In fact, the whole thing was long and slow. It gets a little interesting when it would seem that Ann didn’t quite know Gregory as well as she thought she did.
But ultimately, the story traces the entire emotional baggage of the grieving process. Eventually, story takes on a philosophical approach as the main character tries to figure out if there was life after death. It’s mostly questions without answers. Story was certainly deep and thought-provoking. The literary prose was definitely 4-star quality, but, personally, I’m not that into philosophy and the read was too drawn-out for my taste. And that’s why I give this 3.5 stars. It’s good for the mass of readers, some of which may even get something out of this book.
Rating: 3.5 stars
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
KimPierce is a former Dallas Morning News writer and editor who completedthe Writer’s Path fiction program at Southern Methodist University. This is herfirst novel, inspired by events surrounding the death of her fiancé in 1998.She lives in Dallas, Texas, with her partner and three cats.
MyDead True Love links:
https://www.facebook.com/people/Kim-Pierce-Author/100085084524074/
https://www.instagram.com/kpauthor123/
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/my-dead-true-love-kim-pierce/1142397885?ean=9798218048150
https://books.apple.com/us/book/my-dead-true-love/id6443627137
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/my-dead-true-love
https://www.scribd.com/book/597756249/My-Dead-True-Love
https://www.thalia.de/shop/home/artikeldetails/A1066454149
https://www.angusrobertson.com.au/ebooks/my-dead-true-love-kim-pierce/p/9798218048167
https://shop.vivlio.com/product/9798218048167_9798218048167_10020/my-dead-true-love
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GIVEAWAY :
Kim Pierce will be awarding a $50 Amazon or Barnes andNoble GC, to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
April 18, 2023
Blog Tour: MID-FLIGHT by Lisa Wilkes
MID-FLIGHT
by
Lisa Wilkes
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GENRE: Sci-Fi Romance
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BLURB:
2037was a really bad year.
LexiBrennan’s best friend was killed in a plane crash. Two weeks later, anintergalactic crisis threatened the fate of humanity. Authorities responded bylaunching a genocide.
Lexiopposed this vicious attack. Then again, what could she do? An eccentric flightattendant drawn to glamorous trysts, she felt powerless to incite change.
Untiltragedy struck close to home. Suddenly, Lexi was forced to acknowledge thewidespread atrocities. She uncovered a network of lies along with anopportunity to restore basic human rights. To protect others, Lexi would haveto launch a movement that could destroy everything important to her, including herpromising new romance.
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Excerpt One:
Wordlessly,Lexi grabbed her purse and darted for the exit. She needed to see it. She hadto know for sure.
The midnightsky was pierced by jagged red veins. A thousand burgundy fingers tore throughthe stratosphere like lightning etched in the wrong color. Puffs of smokedotted the horizon, mushroom clouds rising toward the ominous red ether. Fromthe descriptions and images in Lexi’s VirtuAlarms, it appeared Santa Fe hadgotten off easy. Other cities looked like they’d been struck by an atomic bomb.
The world wasblazing. The sky was breaking apart in pieces.
AutoScan—JorgeRodrigues, I didn’t see your texts ‘til just now. They’re grounding all planesimmediately? Scary stuff. Wish I was there with you. Where’s your planelanding?
With arapid-fire double blink, Lexi sent the message.
Jorge’sresponse flitted across Lexi’s cornea. His words felt frantic. Can’t get down.Capitol Hill is burning. Dense population, nowhere to land. 80 miles fromDulles Airport. I don’t think we’ll make it.
Lexi read thelast sentence and crumbled. She fell to her knees on the hot New Mexicoconcrete, sirens blaring in the distance and meteors crashing to the groundwith a fiery scarlet vengeance.
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
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Lisa Wilkes has spent 13 years as a flight attendant, jettingacross the globe and collecting inspiration for her writings. Her debut novel,Flight Path, is a fast-paced romance laced with serendipitous encounters. Thisbook follows a daydreaming stewardess as she learns to navigate a new terrain:unconditional love.
In her second novel, Mid-Flight, Lisa transports readers to theyear 2038. A flight attendant begins to unravel after her best friend is killedin a plane crash. In the throes of unspeakable grief, she uncovers a politicalploy to decimate one-fifth of the population. To combat this sinister plan, shemust risk everything. Including her breathtaking new romance.
Lisa’s writing is provocative and timely, with a focus on societalissues and powerful internal conflict. Flight Path’s readers will appreciateMid-Flight's emphasis on hope and redemption, while newcomers to Lisa’s workwill be drawn to the power of her storytelling.
Links:
Website: http://www.lisamichellewilkes.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19785791.Lisa_Wilkes
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Lisa-Wilkes/author/B082437W4Q?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisa.castignetti
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travelisa1984/
Etsy https://lisacrafts4acause.etsy.com/
Readers can buy directly through the author's website, www.lisamichellewilkes.com
Here's the Amazon link: Mid-Flight: Wilkes, Lisa: 9781487436506: Amazon.com: Books
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GIVEAWAY
The author will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN GC.
a Rafflecopter giveawayBlog Tour: MY NAME IS LIGHT by Kelly Anne Manuel
My Name Is Series
Children's Book
Date Published: 07/25/2022
Publisher: Balboa Press, a division of Hay House, Inc.
"My Name Is Light" is the newly minted Book Two of Kelly Anne Manuel's "My Name Is" Series.
In this story the Child is invited on a journey into Nature where a discovery is made with the help of the Animal Kingdom and a joyful celebration result. The Child is curious and Nature, as in real life, does not disappoint.
"My Name Is Light" begins with a Child in the great outdoors who notices something bright in their vision. The Child takes the opportunity to interact with a feeling of "light." The Animal Kingdom animates this exciting, fun, and playful adventure. The Child will learn to ask questions and see what fun adventures await when they engage actively in communication. The simple words take on new meaning as the illustrations pair perfectly with their presentation.
The Child will learn that Nature has so many wonders to explore. These wonders are available and ready for action once the Child actively engages with communication that relates directly to their own observations. Children will experience a lighthearted and fun story that will ignite their own imaginations.
Why not explore the author's theory Childhood is a time of playful fascination as well as learning? This fascination can be enhanced by literature that allows for pretend conversations. It is in Early Childhood that we learn how to connect and interact with others.
"My Name Is Light" offers a path to these connections that allows for observation, self-reflection, and play. Play is so important at this age and the Child who reads these books will be rewarded with the joy of witnessing play at its best.
Contact Link
Purchase Link
It's time for me to go now.
I'm so happy that we met.
Our lights joining together,
is a feeling I'll never forget.
April 17, 2023
Blog Tour: A HEART RESTRAINED by Jennifer Wilck
A HEART RESTRAINED
by Jennifer Wilck
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GENRE: Contemporary Romance
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BLURB:
CalebZeno, a wealthy and successful media mogul, refuses to allow emotions into anyaspect of his life, especially his entertainment corporation. When hiscompany’s lifestyle website runs into competition from a small boutiquecompany, the most logical solution is to buy out his rival.
FionaHamilton’s lifestyle website succeeds due to her loving and caring treatment ofher clients, who have become like family to her. She has no desire to sell toanyone, much less a tattooed, muscled, automaton.
Atodds professionally, Caleb and Fiona come together as a favor for Caleb’ssister. Sparks fly and sexual chemistry abounds. But Caleb can't let go of hisabusive past and be the man Fiona needs, and she is unwilling to riskindependence and financial security for anything less than a perfect happilyever after. Can they put their differences aside to find a viral kind of love?
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Excerpt One:
From the surf,Fiona stared in awe as Caleb removed his shirt. For the first time, sheglimpsed the black tattoos covering his shoulders, arms, chest, and upper back.He strode toward the water, powerful muscles bunching, bald head gleaming inthe early evening light. He looked like a cross between a Roman god and a bikerdude—awesome, powerful, and foreboding. She didn’t know whether to be intriguedor put off—she’d never been attracted to the tatted look, but Caleb pulled itoff.
She started asthe water lapped her feet, pulling the sand away from her. Why did she carewhether he had tattoos? He wasn’t her type. He was arrogant and high- handed,and he wanted to buy her company. Still, she couldn’t keep her gaze off him asshe ignored her stomach flutters. And he had gotten rid of her ants. He swam towhat had to be the middle of the ocean. Okay, maybe not the middle of theocean, but far enough from the shore no one could get to him unless they were astrong swimmer. She suspected he’d escaped on purpose.
She frowned asshe splashed in the water and hopped the waves.
“Is everythingokay?”
Fiona looked atLexie, who’d splashed over to her, and nodded. “Sorry, just thinking.” Aboutwork, about your brother...
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Review:
A competition between two lifestyle brand companies. His company was losing to hers. The only way to eliminate the competition was to buy-out. He wants to buy her company, but she refuses to sell. The attraction between the two was instantaneous, but the attraction was ignored with business in the mix. And it was also kind of hard to hate each other when constantly thrusted together in social situations. They would never be interested in each other. Total opposites. Well, a nosy sister would make them like each other by setting them up on a date.The charged tension between the characters was amusing. Whether he wanted to show it or not, Caleb had a sweet, soft side to him, which Fiona seemed to be taken by.
The narrative was easy and witty. It was a little slow in some areas with too many emphatic repetitions. The language was very romantic, and it was nice seeing the defenses go down with the characters. Can you really mix business with pleasure? Not without it getting messy.
A nice read with good drama and sweet romance. It’s like a telenovela.
Rating: 4 stars
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
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Jennifer started telling herself stories as a little girl when shecouldn’t fall asleep at night. Pretty soon, her head was filled with thesestories and the characters that populated them. Even as an adult, she thinksabout the characters and stories at night before she falls asleep or walkingthe dog. Eventually, she started writing them down. Her favorite stories towrite are those with smart, sassy, independent heroines; handsome, strong andslightly vulnerable heroes; and her stories always end with happily ever after.
In the real world, she’s the mother of two amazing daughters andwife of one of the smartest men she knows. She believes humor is the only wayto get through the day and does not believe in sharing her chocolate.
Jennifer Wilck is an award-winning contemporary romance author forreaders who are passionate about love, laughter, and happily ever after. Knownfor writing both Jewish and non-Jewish romances, her books feature damagedheroes, sassy and independent heroines, witty banter and hot chemistry. Jennifer’sability to transport the reader into the scene, create characters the readerwill fall in love with, and evoke a roller coaster of emotions, will hook youfrom the first page. You can find her books at all major online retailers in avariety of formats.
Website: http://www.jenniferwilck.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jennifer-Wilck-201342863240160/
Newsletter: https://www.jenniferwilck.com/contact.html#newsletter
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JWilck
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorjenniferwilck/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jennifer-wilck
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GIVEAWAY
JenniferWick will award a randomly drawn winner a $15 Amazon/BN GC.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
April 15, 2023
Review: ARKANSAS ATHLETE by Callie Love and Ann Omasta
Bristol was panicked, in labor,and stuck in traffic with her insensitive boyfriend. Then things go from bad toworse when her boyfriend accuses her of cheating and throws her out of the car.Now, she was in danger of giving birth on the side of the road. Fortunately, ahero comes in the form of a hunky star athlete.
With the baby in her arms, Bristolshares an unknowing connection with Lane. But should she get attached to a managain after what she’s been through? Still, Bristol accepts Lane’s offer tostay with her to help out with the baby. Of course, the predictability of theex’s return may ruin everything. Or will it?
A sweet and loving story!
Rating:4 stars
Review: ILLINOIS INNKEEPER by Ann Omasta and Callie Love
An inn on firedevastates the charming innkeeper. Perhaps the sexy female firefighter couldhelp ease his suffering. She’s always wanted something more, but he’s alwaysresisted. This time she’ll make an offer he can’t resist. Yowza! What a hotnight at the hotel! What a bummer to hear about Graham possibly being thelikely arson suspect for his own inn. Why would he set fire to his own inn—aplace where he lives and works?
Now Mirandadoesn’t seem to trust him anymore. Will this prompt Graham to share his secretwith her?
A sweet andcaring romance.
Rating:4 stars
Review: GEORGIA GUY by Ann Omasta and Callie Love
She wants him to fix the damagehis article has done to her family’s reputation. Then she wants him to find outmore to the story.
The hate was palpable between thetwo, but so was the attraction. Not only was the chemistry off the charts, butthe mystery of the family secret was equally captivating.
Can it really work between abillionaire heiress and an Average Joe?
The sweetest scene was when Alextold Joe that if she were his girlfriend, he’d be the only she’d see and thatshe’d be all his. Talk about powerful stuff!
A great read with romance andmystery!
Rating:5 stars
Review: THE BILLIONAIRE FLING: A CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE COLLECTION
A woman just wanted to get her newsafety app off the ground. Could a high-tech coder be willing to help fornothing?
One hot night with a Londonbillionaire.
Can two people fake an engagementfor the sake of her family?
A single mom wins a dinner datewith a billionaire.
These were nice, little storiesabout billionaire love. Most of them were pretty good, but, of course, I likedsome more than others. They were kind of sweet and swoony. In these stories,you’ll get wined and dined big time by these rich guys. After a while, thesebillionaire love stories tended to sound the same to me.
Okay reads for the most part.
Rating:3 stars
