Sandra C. Lopez's Blog, page 131
March 18, 2023
Review: KILLER DRESS by Nancy McGovern
Photographer Dani was returning to her hometown of Innocence, CA for her sister’s wedding. What would a wedding be without awkward tension and a slap in the face?
Evidently, there was something going on between the bride and her long-time best friend.
This one was a little slow with wedding talk and family. For crying out loud, we don’t get to the dead body until chapter 5. Apparently, the bride was a suspect.
This case was a pretty fair read with witty commentary, but it was just too mild and too slow for my taste.
An okay read.
Rating: 3 stars
March 17, 2023
Blog Tour: ICARUS OVER COLLINS by Hector Duarte, Jr.
Icarus Over Collins
by Hector Duarte, Jr.
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GENRE: Contemporary Fiction (Bilingual Spanish/English)
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BLURB:
After her friend Sandy Mangual tragically falls to his death, Bailey Cohen discovers images of his grisly corpse have been uploaded and shared through social media, by someone very close to her.
Fed up, in a stagnant relationship with an emotionally-abusive boyfriend, Bailey enlists the help of quiet, unnoticed, underappreciated Bernardo Castillo, who works the luxury Miami Beach high rise in which she stays.
Bernardo will have to dredge up the shady past he’s long worked to tamp down in order to set off on a journey of vengeance that will reshape and morph each person engulfed along its way.
Icarus Over Collins is a short, punchy revenge story as cracked and slivered as hot Miami pavement.
Tras la trágica caída accidental de su amigo, Bailey Cohen descubre que imágenes del cadáver han sido clandestinamente descargadas a redes sociales. Por alguien muy cercana.
Bailey contara con la ayuda de Bernardo Castillo, empleado del condominio lujoso en Miami Beach cuya Bailey habita.
En nombre de su amigo fallecido, Bernardo y Bailey tendrán que excavar sus pasados umbríos en camino hacia la venganza. Un viaje que reformara a todos envueltos.
Icarus Over Collins es un cuento de venganza tan caluroso y rajado como las aceras bordeando todo Miami.
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EXCERPT
Se muy bien porque
the Manguals nos pidieron este tipo de “favor”. Somos misfits.
Especialmente este tipo right here. Con poco más de cuarenta sobre el lomo, que carajo tengo to show for it? No house, no car, no job, no country. Un gitano wandering the Earth. Like. . . ¿Como se llamaba el show Americano con el chino que no era chino? Kung Fu! That’s who I am. El tipo from Kung Fu. ¿La gran diferencia? I’m not going around helping people or making a difference. So far, lo único que he hecho en estos Estados Unidos is try to blend in and disappear.
As immigrants like me are expected to in cities like Miami. Work, exist, be grateful at having the opportunity to live en una ciudad with such big beautiful buildings and cars big as tanks barreling through the widest roads I’ve ever known. Open the tap; agua limpia, fria, y gratis. No reason for anyone to die of thirst en estos Estados Unidos. Be grateful for the wage given under the table because immigrants are off the books and if the government catches us being paid por debajo la mesa, Adios, pipo. Ese Tio Sam es un hijo de puta en cuanto cobrando lo que se le debe.
So, shhhh. Calladito. Don’t ask too many questions, keep any complaints aqui en medio de la garganta. Remember, it’s a system. None is perfect. Every system needs oil and fuel lubricating the motor. Pistons that keep it churning.
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
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Hector Duarte, Jr. is a writer/educator out of Miami, Fl, where he lives with his wife, son, and cat. His fiction has been published widely online and in print, like the recent anthologies Pa Que Tu Lo Sepas: Stories to Benefit the People of Puerto Rico, and Shotgun Honey Presents Volume 4: Recoil. In September of 2018, Shotgun Honey Books published his full-length short story collection Desperate Times Call. He welcomes you to follow him on Twitter.
https://cinnabarmoth.com/hector-duarte-jr/
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/63308671-icarus-over-collins
https://cinnabarmoth.com/icarus-over-collins-hector-duarte-jr/
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/icarus-over-collins-hector-duarte/1142641430
https://www.overdrive.com/media/9403116/icarus-over-collins
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GIVEAWAY
Hector Duarte, Jr. will be awarding a $10 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Blog Tour: MOON LIFE by Marlene Fabian Stiles and Hank Fabian
MOON LIFE
by Marlene Fabian Stiles and Hank Fabian
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GENRE: Science Fiction
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BLURB:
It is the year 2051 and the International Space Institute has just sent two rival astrobiologists to search for extraterrestrial life on Europa, the mysterious ice moon of Jupiter. What they encounter could not only revolutionize science, it might make one of them the most famous person on Earth. Or does the Universe have other plans?
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Excerpt One:
Sure enough, Bikman returned alone the next day and held out an empty bilum.
Gnesh sounded exasperated. “We can’t give him any more. What are we going to eat?” Spreading his empty hands Charlie said, “I have nothing more to give you.”
Bikman’s eyebrows shot up.
“You ‘no sabe,’ right?” Charlie leafed through his dictionary. “Someday I’ll have to teach you some English.”
“Or you’ll learn Tok Pisin,” Gnesh teased.
“Nogat…nogat… mo. Nogat mo,” Charlie read aloud. When Bikman stared down at his empty sack, Charlie relented and took a small headlamp out of his pocket. “Here, for you.”
“I hope you have another one,” Gnesh muttered as Charlie showed the chief how the headlamp worked.
Bikman smiled and held out his hand again. “Givim one thousand dollah.”
The astrobiologists looked at each other. “He knows some English,” Gnesh said. Charlie turned back to the chief. “Why one thousand dollars?”
Bikman grinned. “Baim president.”
Charlie’s jaw dropped. “You want to buy our president?”
Gnesh rolled his laughter into a hoarse cough. “He’s not kidding, Charlie. I read about a tribe that tried to buy Lyndon Johnson back in the 1960s.”
Charlie was curious. “Why baim president?”
“President bringum kago. Kago gutpela.”
Charlie phrased his response carefully. “No thousand dollars. Now baim president one hundred thousand dollars.”
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AUTHOR Bios and Links:
The family that writes together stays together, so siblings Marlene Fabian Stiles and Hank Fabian co-authored a science fiction adventure that explores Jupiter’s moon Europa as two rival astrobiologists race to be the first to find extraterrestrial life. This discovery should ensure the winner fame and fortune, but the Universe has other plans.
Hank is the guy walking around with a long lens camera and binoculars, a tourist of the world fascinated by every creature that moves and every plant that grows. He teaches biology and helped devise a college genetics program. As a scientist he likes to work with facts, so there's a possibility that the creatures he’s created actually exist!
Marlene is the president of a nonprofit, The I Will Projects, dedicated to advancing educational venues that include a middle school aquaponics program in partnership with the Boys and Girls Club which received a NASA grant. She writes in multiple genres and also has published “Elderchild,” an Alzheimer’s narrative written in the first person. She shares Hank’s love of the natural world and is dazzled by the interconnectivity of all living things.
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21747101.Marlene_Fabian_Stiles
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21747100.Hank_Fabian
Hank Fabian Amazon Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0B9HTNXX7/about
https://www.amazon.com/Moon-Life-Hank-Fabian-ebook/dp/B09BPMVX44/
Hank Fabian did a really fun TV interview recently:
https://rossmoortv.com/CablecastPublicSite/show/3428?channel=1
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GIVEAWAY
One randomly drawn winner will receive a $25 Amazon/BN GC. Please use the following code for your post.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
March 16, 2023
Blog Tour: THE FOREVER HEART by Diana Bolianaz
The Forever Heart
by Diana Bolianaz
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GENRE: Literary Fiction/Romance/
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BLURB:
Liza is a beautiful nineteen-year-old girl who comes from a strict Mennonite background. She lives at home with her mother, brother and domineering father. When Liza meets Melvin, a handsome young Black journalist, they fall madly in love. She has to keep the relationship a secret from her family because she knows her father would never approve. When Liza becomes pregnant, her world is turned upside down.
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Excerpt One:
Liza’s mom was a fanatic about cleaning. Obsessive, you might say. Everything had to be “just so.” Liza thought her mom went overboard most of the time. Her mom was fifty now and seemed to be getting pickier the older she got. Helga had short, curly, greyish-white hair. She was about five-feet-two inches tall and squarely built. She came from a German Mennonite background, just like Klaus. She was an excellent cook and loved to bake. Liza loved her mother’s cooking. Helga always stocked the freezer full of food and lots of baking. Her favourite trick around Christmas time was to put all the baking in special containers in the big freezer in the basement and label it “liver” so no one would find and eat the delicious treats she hid so cleverly. Or at least she thought she did. Everyone knew her little tricks, and soon the “liver” started to disappear. Liza blamed the disappearance on her brother, and her brother blamed it on her. They were careful not to leave any trails of crumbs anywhere. When Helga would find the empty containers, she would just sigh and bake some more. Liza went into the kitchen, picked up her purse and keys, and said, “Mom, can I use the car for a couple of hours? I want to go and meet Sarah at the mall.”
Sarah was Liza’s best friend and had been since kindergarten. “What about dinner? It’s almost ready.”
“I’ll grab something at the mall.”
“Fine, dear, just be home by nine.”
“Thanks, Mom! See you later.”
Of course, she wasn’t meeting Sarah. She couldn’t tell her mom that she had to go shopping for an outfit to wear for her hot date on Saturday night. Liza never had trouble finding clothes or spending money, and this day was no exception. In only a few hours, Liza managed to buy a sweater set, a pair of capri pants (even though it was the end of spring and not super warm out yet), and strappy sandals to die for—not Manolo Blahniks, but they were hot, and more in line with Liza’s budget. Helga was already looking out the window to see if Liza was nearing home when she pulled up in the driveway. Helga looked at her watch. It was 8:55. She waited for Liza as she came through the back door. “Liza, I was beginning to worry.”
“I’m okay, Mom. Just shopping. And you know what girls are like when they get shopping!”
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Review: 19-year-old Liza hasn’t been the same since she saw HIM at the coffee shop. Around him, she became this giddy schoolgirl. It seemed like the perfect beginning to the perfect love story. Except…she was white and he was black. Her strict father would never approve of such a match.
The diary narrative was simple with the authentic voice of a shy, lovelorn teenager. It was rather tame, lengthy, and slightly repetitive. The pace is quite slow and doesn’t progress the story very much. The story, overall, is pretty mild and gentle with suitable drama within the family dynamics. It’s when the complications arise in this sticky love situation that things get a little more interesting.
The cover was plain and simple. Nothing too appealing with just a cursive text in white on top of an off-white background. It’s certainly not eye-catching and can easily be overlooked with all that white space.
Although this was a bit too long, this was a fairly nice interracial romance.
Rating: 3 stars
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Diana graduated from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor of Education. She is currently working as a high school substitute teacher, affectionately known to her students as "Miss. B."
Diana's greatest joy is spending time with her family. She loves country music (especially the old stuff), champagne and Nanny's perogies. With help from above, she will venture to make some soon.
Amazon buy link: https://www.amazon.com/Forever-Heart-Diana-Bolianaz-ebook/dp/B0BQZGFC2K/
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GIVEAWAY :
Diana Bolianaz will be awarding a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC, to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
March 15, 2023
Blog Tour: HELLO SPAIN, GOODBYE HEART by LoLo Paige
Book 1 of The Wandering Hearts Series
Travel Romance
Date Published: 01-23-2023
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Travel writer Dayna Benning tours Europe to write a feature story for a travel magazine. Along the way, she helps her bestie scatter her husband’s ashes. When Dayna accidentally sprinkles Alex Mendes with dried rose petals intended for the deceased, she senses a chemistry with the silver fox airline pilot. Just one catch—he wears a wedding band. Embittered by her divorce, Dayna refuses to be a homewrecker, like the woman who ruined her marriage. Alex and Dayna go their separate ways, but she’s mystified when serendipitous signs point her toward him at every turn. Determined to find out why, she learns Alex is a widower. Dayna hopes for a second chance at love…but her resentful heart stops her. Can she forgive those that broke her heart the first time? And for that matter, can she forgive herself for her failed marriage? Unless she finds a way to piece together her fragmented heart, Alex will forever remain a fantasy.
EXCERPT:
Hello Spain, Goodbye Heart Excerpt for Promotion January 2023
By LoLo Paige
Everything slid to slow-motion as an impossible tide rolled toward Dayna. She couldn’t dispel the feeling she was walking away from something wonderful. Her chest clenched, and a familiar heaviness anchored her heart.
She felt like Meryl Streep in the truck behind Clint Eastwood at the end of Bridges of Madison County, when Meryl was torn between staying in the truck with her husband or jumping out to run after Clint—knowing if she didn’t—she’d lose him forever.
This is insane!Dayna had only known this guy for a couple of hours, didn’t even know his last name. Her heart mashed into a roiling mix of confusion. The romantic notion of being on a European vacation had clouded her mind with impossible fantasies.
A hole opened in her heart. Mariko and the bus blurred. Choices, choices. But which were the right ones? Dayna reminded herself of the wonderful people she had yet to meet on this trip, and Alex was only the first of many.
As the bus pulled away, he stood on the boardwalk, smiling and waving, as if he’d known her all her life. She pressed her palm to the window, watching him grow smaller, and the bottom fell out of her.
If only.
About the Author
LoLo Paige is an award-winning author who writes romantic suspense, thrillers, and romantic comedies. Her romantic comedy, Hello Spain, Goodbye Heart won an RWA chapter award for best romance in 2020, and her romantic suspense romances about wildland firefighting have garnered several independent publishing awards in for best romance. She's also a former wildland firefighter and books from her Blazing Hearts Wildfire Series have been featured and reviewed in Publishers Weekly Booklife Magazine. Her true story about escaping a runaway wildfire won a 2016 Alaska Press Club award. Her books have ranked No. 1 on Amazon Bestseller Lists in global markets, including the U.S., Canada, and Australia. Lolo has decades of theatre experience acting in stage comedies, and comedy is her first love.
Contact Links
TIKTOK: @lolopaigeauthor
Purchase Links
a Rafflecopter giveaway
March 13, 2023
Blog Tour: THE ADVENTURES OF LEFTY AND RIGHTY: THE WINDY CITY by Lori Orlinsky
Book Details:Book Title: The Adventures of Lefty & Righty: The Windy City by Lori Orlinksy
Category: Children's Fiction (Ages 3-7), 38 pages
Genre: Children's Picture Book
Publisher: Mascot Books
Release date: Mar 7, 2023
Content Rating: G for everyone.Book Description:
Do you ever wonder what happens to socks that get lost in the dryer? Join Lefty and Righty for the adventure of a lifetime as they sneak out of the laundry room with a destination in mind: a White Sox game! But with so much to do in The Windy City, will they make it to the game in time? Through their fun-filled day, they’ll discover the sights, sounds—and even the tastes—of Chicago, all while encountering a few surprises along the way!Buy the Book:
Amazon ~ B&N ~ IndieBound
Mascot Books
add to goodreads
Review: This is the story of two socks that fall out of the dryer and stow away in a pair of jeans to take a tour of the Windy City. What adventures await them?
A ride on the train. A hot dog with all the trimmings. A trip to Soldier Field and Field Museum. Take a ride on a water taxi and take in the pier at the top of the wheel. See a dinosaur and see a penguin. But, wait. You can’t visit Bean Town without seeing the Bean.
“White Sox vs. Cubs, it was off to the races. Who’d hit the most balls and run the most bases?”
“Their day had been fun—absolutely perfection.”
Loved the illustrations! They were so comical and adorable. I liked the sketchy renditions and the animated expressions. They just came alive for you.
Filled with fun rhymes and colorful scenery, this book is just fun and a pure joy. It’s like you’re right there with these guys in all the excitement. But it seemed this book also kind of serves as a simple travel guide—an inspiration to check out the Windy City, where there is so much to see and do…apparently.
“Lefty and Righty each gave a small grin, exciting for their next day out to begin.”
A nice read and a great exploration of a new world. An excellent book and highly recommended for kids. Where would the next adventure take Lefty and Righty?
Rating: 5 stars
Meet the Author:
Award-winning children’s book author Lori Orlinsky lives in. . . you guessed it . . . Chicago! Lori is the mother of three little ladies, who are small but mighty. At 5’1”, she wishes her children’s picture book, Being Small (Isn’t So Bad After All), was around when she was growing up. Lori also wrote The Tooth Fairy’s Tummy Ache and Balloons for Tiger. Her latest book, The Adventures of Lefty and Righty: The Windy City, was inspired by her daily struggle to find matching socks when they come out of the dryer.
connect with the author: website ~ instagram ~ facebook ~ youtube ~ goodreads
Lori Orlinsky's ADVENTURES OF LEFTY AND RIGHTY Book Tour Giveaway
Blog Tour: WHEN TIME STANDS STILL by Diane Martin
When Time Stands Still
by Diane Martin
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GENRE: Children's fantasy/mystery
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BLURB:
Three siblings, Megan, Nicholas, and Brooke, think they are going on an uneventful family vacation. They couldn't be more wrong! They find themselves investigating the mysterious disappearance, many years ago, of their great-great-uncle Jack.
After being spirited away to a foreign land, the siblings wonder if they will ever solve the case, let alone get home again. Back at camp, where time stands still, their baby brother Tanner just might have found the missing piece that unlocks an old family mystery.
“When Time Stands Still” became an Amazon.ca Best Seller reaching #1 on the Mysteries & Detective Stories for children chart (December 2022).
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Excerpt One:
It’s one of the best times of the year! Days of sunshine and freedom await. School was finally out, and the summer holidays were begging for a bit of adventure and lazy days. Every year for Megan, Nicholas, Brooke, and Tanner, their escapades and respite took place while camping at Rainbow Falls with their parents for a couple of weeks. It was a long drive there, about four hours; however, the kids didn’t mind because they always had such a great time there. Mom’s family has been travelling to this particular site for many generations, and the kids could understand why! There was so much to explore. Their special camping place was a semi-secluded location set in the mountains with an abundance of colourful wildflowers and a wide variety of wildlife. But before they could go, there was much to be done. “Brooke, that’s mine!” Megan snapped, snatching the little photo book from her younger sister’s petite hands and causing a photograph to fall out. Anger was starting to bubble inside Megan, and her deep blue eyes seemed to turn almost black. Her tanned skin transformed to a rosy red as she closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and continued to pack, praying Brooke would go away.
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Review: Megan and her siblings were on their way to their family’s magical camping place. Unfortunately, things were delayed due to a long packing chore and a lot of sibling quarreling. Finally, they were on the road, where their mom tells them a story of a family mystery—the strange disappearance of Uncle Jack and what his younger sister, Hazel, was keeping inside. Ah, intrigue!
The narrative was nice and easy, but rather long with dialogue that seemed redundant. With all the bantering and bickering, the story takes a while to progress. Pondering the mystery of their uncle, the kids eventually venture off into the woods, where the scenery gets lusher and more descriptive. Little clues lead to wild theories among them. Soon, the kids run into some scary and odd situations.
This was pretty interesting, although it wasn’t always clear what was going on. It was mostly a lot of dialogue. I liked the B/W sketches. It did have some good action and magical scenes.
Overall, this was a fairly nice read with a touch of magic and mystery.
Rating: 3 stars
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Diane Martin currently lives in Ontario, Canada, with her husband, Fab, along with two of their children, Brooke and Tanner. They have two Yorkie-poos named Cups and Chewie as well. Megan and Nicholas are all grown up and currently live in Alberta, Canada. The series Medallion Mysteries was born out of Diane's love for reading stories to her children when they were young. She also enjoys a great mystery! Her children were the inspiration for writing and they appear in the series.
Diane hopes her writing will encourage all children to use their imaginations and create their own stories!
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/when-time-stands-still-diane-martin/1142870929
https://www.amazon.com/When-Stands-Still-Diane-Martin/dp/0228855365
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GIVEAWAY
Diane Martin will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
March 11, 2023
Review: THE SHADOW OF YOUR SMILE by Mary Higgins Clark
A dying old woman with a secret. Only two weeks to live.
Monica was a pediatric doctor. Her dad was adopted and never knew his real parents. Now, both her parents were deceased, which meant her dad died without ever knowing.
Olivia, the old woman, still held on to the record of the son given birth by her nun cousin. Should she destroy it…or give it to her granddaughter—Monica?
Meanwhile, a hitman was stalking Monica.
Before Olivia could finally tell Monica the truth about her birth grandparents, she died. Now, Monica will never know. But did Olivia die naturally…or by something else?
Once again, MCH manages to weave several different elements and combine them into a compelling yarn of twists and turns. There are so many different characters, but the plots are so interesting that they keep you in tune with them all the way through. It was sad about the baby at the hospital. Would someone want the child whose mother was murdered and whose father was a suspect in the murder? Perhaps Monica could take her? But will she die before she can?
A nice wrap-up in the end and another good read!
Rating: 4 stars
Review: NOT LIKE HER by HK Christie
Selena was a bright student wanting to get away from her home situation of a drunk mother and all her loser boyfriends. She was waiting for the day she would turn 18 once and for all.
One night, she found her mother nearly beaten to death. She definitely didn’t want to be like her mother. No way, no siree
Soon after, she meets a college man with such aspiration that instantly sweeps her off her feet. A month into their relationship and they were head-over-heels in love. Whoa, talk about fast! But she would still not be like her mother. This relationship was different. It was real love. Mmm, yeah right!
He gives her a promise ring that said, “You belong to me.” Oh, that don’t sound good. This thing with Zeke was happening too fast. Watch out!
After returning home, Selena sees her nightmare come true. The next day, her mom is dead. After she moves in with the boyfriend is when she sees a whole new side to him. Yep, sounds about right.
Jealousy, rage, roughness. I knew it! Looks like he wasn’t Mr. Perfect after all. Her worst nightmare was becoming like HER. She wasn’t like HER.
A plan for escape—not so easy.
This was easy to read and easy to get into. Of course, it wasn’t that suspenseful and it kind of had a convenient ending if you ask me.
Still, this was a good read.
Rating: 4 stars
Review: GIRL HIDDEN by Kate Gable
An LAPD homicide detective was called to the scene of a crime…with her teenage sister in tow.
Story had a witty and snappy dialogue that I liked. The narrative was nice n’ easy, too. Unfortunately, I get half-way through the story and still nothing happens.
It’s all in the POV of the female detective, who talks about her sister, the way she was as a teenager, and the guy she’s hooking up with. Not much of a detective, is she? There’s virtually nothing on the case she’s working on.
This was an okay read, but I expected more.
Rating: 3 stars
