Sandra C. Lopez's Blog, page 283

Review: FAMOUS by Kate Langdon

“As I crouched in the muddy grass, with my arms firmly planted in the cow’s colossal femininity, it was glaringly evident my life had been turned upside down.” (46)
Samantha Steel had never let anyone infringe on her “Single Girl Metropolitan City Life”…until Jerry walked into her life. But living with him didn’t turn out half as bad as living with all his STUFF. That seemed to be the straw that broke the camel’s back (and very nearly Sam’s vertebrae when she slipped on his mother’s God awful cake.) And just like that: Out with Jerry!
I enjoyed Sam’s stern and sarcastic sense of humor. She’s the fiercely independent gal that I am. Yeah, I can’t figure out why women would put themselves through the torture of marriage and motherhood either. Occasionally, however, Sam did have a tendency to babble on and on about fashion name brands and vanity trends. Yawn.  In fact, the whole trio (Sam and her two ding-bat friends) often engaged in mind-numbing and superfluous conversations on clothes, wine, and men—most of which did not have to be documented in the book.
It seemed to take forever to get the meat of the story—the part where Sam hooks up with Alistair, a famous football star. Then her world starts spinning out of control. Cameras constantly flashing in her face, being hated by audiences, and being locked up in her apartment 24/7—her life was in chaos. Much of this was filled with that British back-lash dialogue, which was basically anger directed at the whole “bloody” world. I’ll admit that it became quite dull after a while. When does she get to the farm already? I wondered.
Upon reading more about Sam, I concluded that she was not only a smart and pragmatic businesswoman, but she was also a shallow, uppity broad.  For God sakes, who can’t cook an egg?
I was expecting the “country farm girl” half to be a little more stimulating than what it was, but it seems that the most exciting part was at the very beginning. But it looks as if though time in the countryside may have gotten her off her high horse.
Ultimately, this was on okay book with some humorous references mixed in.

My rating: 3 stars

Review: BREAKING THE PLAN by Jessica Calla

The plan: Violet and Olive to be together forever.


But she decides to break the plan


Violet decides to study abroad for 8 weeks in Vienna, thus, being the first time they would be apart since preschool. To Oliver, it just sounded like an opportunity to date other guys.


I agreed with Violet that Oliver can be very extreme. In fact, space would do them both good.


It’s college: Violet was choosing herself over him. What’s the big deal?


Oliver was too needy and Violet was too dependent. She needed this trip.


Story is written in the POV of Taryn (Violet’s roommate) and Oliver. The deal: Oliver gets Taryn to help him get Violet back in exchange for help in her studies.


This is just like Can’t Buy Me Love—party girl falls for the nerd. It mostly consists of lessons in being cool and Oliver vowing to get Violet back and not fall for Taryn’s womanly wiles.


An okay story.


My rating: 3 stars

Review: CELEBRITY by Melinda DeRoss

For Kendra, it wasn’t just the million dollar advance she was getting to turn her novel into a movie, it was the value and appreciation she would get for a writing a literary masterpiece. But then it hit her…What if the movie didn’t capture the same vision of the story and characters? Any author would care. After all, it was her story. That’s when she decided that she would be involved in every aspect of the film.


So she leaves her cheating boyfriend and heads for L.A. to fulfill a life-long dream; she was about to be part of the “Live Fast, Die Young” motto. They say Hollywood changes people and the number one rule is: It’s very expensive. Heck yeah!


Like a butterfly, Kendra was fragile, lonely and lost (which made her getting a butterfly tattoo symbolic of her new-found resolve and freedom.) I admired Kendra’s boldness, fierceness, and impulsiveness. It gets a little too detailed concerning the house restoration, the history museums, and so forth. When do they start filming?


Smart and witty overall. It gets even more complicated when Kendra gets involved with a celebrity and becomes a paparazzi meal.


My rating: 3.5 stars

Review: WHO NEEDS REALITY? By Lia London

Milo has had a crush on Jill. The two have always been friends, but their timing was always wrong. Still, the two remain tight, even as far as taking an acting class and watching a lame soap opera together.


A new reality show called Who wants to be a Soap Star? calls out for auditions and Jill wants in. And guess who she wants by her side?


This story takes the reader behind the scenes of reality TV, which can lag a bit. I mean, we’re dealing with casting calls, getting into character, the audition, the taping, etc.) Not so interesting for me, but I adore the two characters though.


A sweet romance of the actress and the geek.


My rating: 3 stars

Contest Giveaway

Contest Question: What’s the 6th story in the table of contents of Single Chicas?

Answer can be found here when you “look inside”: https://www.amazon.com/Single-Chicas-Sandra-C-Lopez-ebook/dp/B01KG85F1Y/


Enter for a chance to win $10 Amazon card. Three contestants with the correct answer will be randomly chosen. Contest ends December 30 2019.



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Review: TALL, DARK, AND CHARMING by Erika Wilde

Daisy knew that Aiden was sex on a stick. As his co-worker, she shouldn’t care about his “Black Book” status, but she wasn’t immuned to her dirty fantasies about him either. Her life has always been predictable and boring…until a deal is struck for one night and one night only—no commitments, no expectations, just hot, steamy sex.


“I don’t want anything complicated and messy to interfere.”


How about a surprise pregnancy then? Ooopsie!


Although the pregnancy was a shock to both, since neither never planned on settling down, neither wants to their back on their responsibility.


It was sweet how Aiden decided to be all in whether he had Daisy or not. He was so strong and protective.


A sweet and swoon-worthy romance.


My rating: 4 stars

Review: INSTANT ATTRACTION by Lauren Blakely

Hook-ups between friends, acquaintances, and long-time and short-term crushes.


A mom playing match-maker for her son. To get back at his mom, he claims to be seeing someone that he’ll bring to his sister’s engagement party. Could a co-worker/friend be the answer?


Together, they spin a fake fairy tale.


This almost reads like an interview between friends concerning Gavin and Savannah’s budding fake romance. They often spout on what they have with their wife/girlfriend. Oh brother.


I thought this would be several stories in one, but it just seems to center on one blooming romance. Why even have the different POV’s then? Why not just concentrate on the main duo?


It’s an okay read, I guess.
My rating: 3 stars

Review: WILDEST DREAMS by Savannah Kade

Jenn is in a “booty-call” situation with the unattainable Walker Booth. But she tries to break it off and goes for the safe, boring  Clarke, even though she can’t help wanting Walker. Funny how Jenn overreacts to Clark’s refusal to sleep with her. Her plan was to marry the perfect guy (Clark) and have kids soon (especially since she’s nearing 40.) However, outward appearances can be deceiving when Clark doesn’t turn out to be the guy she thought he was when she catches him with the decorator. So then she goes back to Walker.


And surprise=she ends up pregnant!


This started off as a great read up until Jenn finds out that she’s pregnant. I thought it would just get better at that point, but the rest of it just turned out to be one woman’s journey of an unexpected pregnancy, which was pretty blasé. It gets pretty boring half-way through. Don’t be fooled by the image of the lover’s embrace on the cover because there’s no sexual heat in it.


My rating: 3 stars

Review: ROOMIE WARS by Kat T. Masen

Zoey is roommates with Drew, who went from geek to chic and looked so GOOODDD.


While Drew is healthy-eating, gym obsessed nut cake, Zoey drowns herself in junk food, sweatpants, and dateless nights in front of the TV. The two were like fire and ice—different personality types that managed to get along. They can’t stand each other (quirks and idiosyncrasies) but yet they can’t live without each other.


Dialogue was snappy and witty. Characters were relatable, especially Zoe, who often escapes into the world of fiction, not limiting herself to just one genre. If only Zoe could learn to trust men again, since the betrayal with her ex was such a devastating blow to her self-esteem.


As a joke, Drew ends up kissing her, which spirals them both into awkward confusion. After all, roomies don’t kiss. It’s a code you live by.


Story basically consisted of roomies forever at war with their confusing feelings and sudden urges. Suddenly they don’t know how to act around each other. Characters go on and on, obsessing and complaining about each other. Each can’t stand the Code Red, the code indicating when one is getting lucky. It drives them mad with jealousy.


Book had a few typos. Ok story overall.

My rating: 3 stars

Review: HEAT EXCHANGE by Deana Farrady

Janey, forcing herself out of shyness, was taking the initiative to ask men out, but she keeps getting rejected every time. What’s wrong with her? She’s a 29-year old virgin and a Plain Jane, so guys naturally don’t go for her.


Suddenly, she gets stuck in an elevator with a gorgeous hottie named Nyall, who professes not doing relationship and just sex. She pours her lame love life (or lack thereof) to him and he volunteers to teach her all about sex.


Right away, Nyall is a cocky bastard, who claims to be such a know-it-all with orgasms and how to make a woman swoon. I mean, the guy actually has references in regards to his sexual experience and prowess.


The whole thing is a sex lesson. No substance really. You don’t really see these two together. It was just a business arrangement.


My rating: 2 stars