Sandra C. Lopez's Blog, page 64

Review: ALONE FOREVER by Liz Prince

 

This was kind of like a sketchyversion of South Park. Thought the panels were much too wordy and thehandwriting wasn’t too legible. Eh, thought it be better than this.

 

Rating:2 stars

Blog Tour: CONFLICT OF INTEREST by Dean L. Hovey

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

Dean L. Hovey

 

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GENRE:  Mystery/Police Procedural

 

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BLURB:

 

Whenthe body of a missing cheerleader is found in a ditch, the local police turnthe investigation over to the Pine County sheriff’s department, fearing thatthe girl’s relationship with the son of a local politician could compromisetheir objectivity.

 

Uponarriving at the scene, Sergeant CJ Jensen quickly finds herself embroiled inthe politics of the girl’s murder and kidnapping. Calling in Pam Ryan to assistwith the investigation, the two veteran officers dig into the girl’s obviousrelationship with the politician’s son. While the boyfriend’s shaky alibi seemspaper thin, their interviews with the victim’s friends have them questioningother aspects of her life.

 

Amissing laptop computer piques their interest, making them think the murderer’smotive may be buried in her on-line activities.

 

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Excerpt One:

 

Deputy Teddy Lawrence, recently appointed Field TrainingOfficer and senior Kanabec County night shift deputy was on patrol with thecounty’s newest hire. Teddy, a homebred Mora boy, was now in charge of showingthe ropes to the sheriff department’s rookie, Kayla Peterson. She was fresh outof Alexandria Technical College’s nine week “skills” training course, and shewas eager to be patrolling northwest of Ogilvie.

 

Kayla stretched and asked, “Why do we even check thisdead-end road to Ann Lake Wildlife Management area? No one drives out here thistime of year. There’s not even access to the lake from this side.”

 

“I’ve caught high school kids drinking, smoking dope, andnecking out here. It’s also the perfect place to ditch a stolen car or to dumpan unwanted appliance or garbage,” Teddy replied. Noticing a rolled-up carpetlying in the ditch, Teddy pulled the unit over.

 

Kayla looked around, trying to discern the reason they’dparked. “Why did you stop? All that’s here is some old carpet the road cleanuppeople will bag up when they come through. It’s not a police issue.”

 

Teddy got out of the car and led Kayla to the ditch. “Lifeout here is boring, Kay. You might as well check this out. Maybe the ownersrolled a piece of mail inside with their address.”

 

“Yeah, right. Maybe they left a note admitting they werelittering.” The rookie hesitated at the edge of the ditch, looking at the dirtywater trickling down the gully. When she realized Teddy wasn’t following her,she asked, “You’re not coming with me?”

 

 

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Review: It all began with the body of themissing cheerleader. Kicking off with a dead is always a good start. Whatfollowed right after was a lot of procedural tactics, random names, and lengthyprose. It gets better when they actually start looking into the crime andinvestigate. The fact that their main suspect was a county attorney’s son was aconflict of interest. The juicier stuff comes when we find out that the deadgirl was pregnant and was caught in bed with the son’s father—the countyattorney. Oooh!

This case wasn’t like an orange;it was more like an onion. “Every time we peel a layer, we find another layerinside it.” This was definitely an interesting case.

I honestly found this to be anengaging read. Of course, some of the interpersonal storyline and dialogueinvolving the team of investigators really didn’t do much for me. I mean, ithad nothing to do with the case and it only slowed the whole thing for me. Whenwe actually did talk about the case, some of the narrative was much tooprocedural and repetitive, which, again, slowed things down.

Overall, this a pretty good read.It started off as a solid 4, but then I knocked it down to 3.5 stars for thelong length and excessive narrative. The best part was the ending.

All in all, this is worth a read.

Rating:3.5 stars 

 

 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Dean Hovey is a Minnesota-based author with three mystery series.He lives with his wife south of Duluth.

 

Dean’s award-winning* Pine County series follows sheriff’sdeputies Floyd Swenson and Pam Ryan through this police procedural series.

 

Dean’s Whistling Pines books are humorous cozy mysteries centeredon the residents of the Whistling Pines senior residence. The protagonist isPeter Rogers, the Whistling Pines recreation director.

 

In Dean’s latest series  hisprotagonist, a retired Minnesota policeman, is drafted into service as aNational Park Service Investigator after a murder at a National Monument.

 

* “Family Trees: A Pine County Mystery” won the 2018 NEMBA awardfor best fiction.

 

https://bookswelove.net/hovey-dean/

 

 

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GIVEAWAY

 

DeanL. Hovey will award a $15 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.

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Blog Tour: NO GOOD DEED by January Bain

 

NO GOOD DEED

January Bain

 

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GENRE:  Psychological Thriller

 

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BLURB:

 

Agripping tale where good deeds intertwine with hidden crimes and a quest fortruth…

 

KatieKelly finally has the career and house of her dreams, but it’s a life built ona shaky foundation. Everything she holds dear could be stripped away in asplit-second if the truth were to become known and her secrets exposed. Herbest friend, Sadie, is also involved in hiding the past. The pair have managedto move on since that day of reckoning that occurred when they were justteenagers, by helping others to escape bad situations.

 

Whena young woman runs to Katie and begs for her help, Katie is compelled to cometo her aid and hides her in a safe room, locked away from her abusiveboyfriend.

 

Butthen the past rises up and threatens to derail her best efforts to help theyoung girl, exposing her and her best friend to the vulgarities of fate as thegirl is discovered to have an unexpected agenda, harboring secrets of her own.Katie is left with few choices. With her entire life crashing down around herears, she must act to save not only herself, but her dear friend as well. CanKatie stop the past from destroying all hopes for a future?

 

Discoverthe chilling consequences of one woman's altruism in the face of hidden crimes.Join Katie Kelly as she navigates the shadows of her past, compelled to make achoice that could change lives forever. Grab your copy now.

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ExcerptThree:

 

I peeked out the window, keeping a sharp eye on the houseacross the street. I’d met the woman who lived there when Quinton and I movedin. Katie Kelly. Like I could conjure her up, the front door opened and sheappeared on her front step wearing running gear.

 

She was the only neighbor I’d met so far. She’d taken itupon herself to come over and introduce herself. If only Quinton hadn’t comeout right then, I might have spent some time with her, gotten to know her. Ibit all around my thumbnail, tearing a strip of skin clear off. The pain wasimmediate and brough a wash of tears to my eyes I blinked away. At least it wasa torment I caused myself.

 

I heard Quinton’s bike start up in the attached garage, thedistinctive vroom-vroom thrumming in my veins. I hated that bike and everythingit stood for. It was what had brought us together in a moment of shared passionfor flouting the rules.

 

When he swung the hog out onto the street to follow in thesame direction as our neighbor, I ducked back out of view. Please don’t let himbe harassing her. It would be like him though. Always had to be seen as thetough guy. He even had me call him by his nickname when we were alone, Top Dog.Silly stupid name.

 

He’d been a minor contender in his wrestling division backin college and don’t you forget it. Phttt.

 

Of course, he had his good points, I thought, remindingmyself to calm down. He found decent housesitting jobs that kept a roof overour heads. And he’d acquired some good connections over the past year thatoffered opportunities for our business. That was something else I was neversupposed to talk about, the kind of business we were in, if I knew what wasgood for me. Still, he did what he had to survive, same as any man would do ifpushed to the wall, right? I couldn’t be with a wimp, someone who couldn’t helpprovide, no matter his lot in life or his bad beginning. I’d overcome ahorrible upbringing I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. And yet I was stillstanding, trying to become better.

 

That reminded me of the list. I pulled the folded sheet ofpaper from my pocket Quinton had me write in my own handwriting this morningand reread it out loud.

 

“Ashley’s Self-Improvement List:

 

Never let anyone know any details about us.

 

Don’t talk back to the Top Dog.

 

Always smile when you’re with the Top Dog.

 

Be a perfect girlfriend for the Top Dog.

 

If the Top Dog asks for a drink, bring him one quick with asmile.

 

Remember you’re nothing without me.

 

I don’t know why I tell you these things because you neverchange…”

 

Tears filled my eyes and I swiped at them. Could I do this,make it work? I chewed on another ragged cuticle, imagining all kinds ofscenarios for this playing out. My job. Putting stuff in the right place, underthe best light possible. But I didn’t have a crystal ball telling me how tofigure things before they happened. Well, I just had to work at not taking thelist too personally. It was only meant to help me after all. I blinked awayanother wash of tears and concentrated on what I should work on first. Read abook, finish grade twelve, or get my hair done?

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

January Bain is an award-winning author who firmly believes thatstories unite us, that good stories help us to discover the commonality of thehuman experience by supporting values, empathy and understanding. She writeswith her heart, mind, and soul, hoping that her novels will touch your life,giving you moments of freedom as you fly with her to other worlds.

Bain has had the pleasure of select novels being turned intogames, and her work is also available in different languages.

January and her husband live in rural Canada on peaceful acreagewhere a variety of wildlife comes to visit regularly and expect to be fed andpaid attention to.

 

Blog Address - http://januarybainjourney.blogspot.ca/  

Twitter Name – https://twitter.com/JanuaryBain 

Facebook Page – https://www.facebook.com/january.bain

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JanuaryBainAuthor/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6437282.January_Bain

Instagram: January Bain (@january.bain) • Instagram photos andvideos

TikToc: januarybain (@januarybain) | TikTok

 

Buy link for No Good Deed: https://www.amazon.com/No-Good-Deed-Psychological-Thriller-ebook/dp/B0CZG4GVFF/ref=sr_1_1

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GIVEAWAY

JanuaryBain will award a randomly drawn winner a $25 Amazon/BN gift card.

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Blog Tour: THE BIG COMB OVER by J.P. Rieger

 

THE BIG COMB OVER

J.P. Rieger

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GENRE:  Family satire; Farce; Magical realism

 

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BLURB:

 

Threenephews and three eccentric uncles.

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It’s2050 and Robbie Elders has all but forgotten about his oddball, religiousfanatic uncle, tim tim. He’s taken up the latest fad, genealogical researchbased solely on DNA. But Robbie’s “inconclusive” DNA results are unsettling. Hecrashes back to his childhood, back to his world of comic books and tim tim.

 

“Iopt for posh and London” declares Lady Florence Stour. It’s 2019 and time for aRoyal Wedding. Robbie’s uncle, Stef, is engaged to Lady Florence, a distantmember of the British royal family. Stef’s Baltimore clan have been invited,but Robbie’s mom and dad can’t attend. They’ve entrusted Robbie and bigbrother, Doyle, to their mom’s two eccentric brothers, uncles Roy and Roland.Roy, a weathered waterman with a severe Baltimore accent, lives for Marylandblue crabs. Roland, a mildly hypochondriacal actor, lives to survive the Karenshe unavoidably encounters. And then there’s Desales, Roy’s smart aleck, teenageson. He lives to prank. They’ve descended upon London. What could possibly gowrong?

 

Meanwhile,tim tim has been coaching Robbie on “the mission.” A silly religious fantasyaccording to Robbie’s atheist parents and the therapists. Or perhaps not?Things are not always as they appear in The Big Comb Over.

 

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ExcerptTwo:

 

“Thanks, bud! So, how has your travel thing worked out? Youhad said you were doing, like, covered bridge destinations?”

 

“Well, yes. I started with that because, you know, a lot ofpeople really connect with covered bridges. There’s a peacefulness.  A return to simpler times and virtues. A lotof people like that.”

 

“Sounds nice.”

 

“But I’m not the only agent with that idea. There areactually a lot of travel consultants doing covered bridges. Old railroad linesare also big these days. Anyway, I upped the ante. I’m now working in acousticsound barriers.”

 

Chris saw Roland’s puzzled look.

 

“Okay. So, it’s interesting. You know you drive along theBeltway or other highways and see they’ve put up all those sound barrier walls,right? That way it’s not so noisy for the people in their houses. The walls areall prefabricated and look about the same. But I noticed, every now and then,they stick a door in one. I always wondered why. I learned that it’s so thatthe highway people can get access for maintenance or to get to fire hydrants orwhat have you.”

 

“Yes?”

 

“So, I had been curious about that and thought, ‘You know,if I’m curious about that, other people will be too.’”

 

“Okay.”

 

“So, I surveilled various sound walls throughout thestate—mostly around Baltimore—and made a list of the most interesting ones withdoors. Some of them have been around like twenty years, so they have, like, ahighway patina. A lot of them have plants and vines growing around them,randomly, but sometimes in very beautiful ways. So I reached out to some of thefolks whose homes are affected to get a tour, as it were. The coolest thing isthe ‘before and after.’ You know, you listen first with the door open. At peaktimes the noise is unbelievable. But once you close that door, there is animmediate calm. Much more peaceful. Very Zen. And like I said, the naturallyoccurring flora and fauna are quite amazing. Besides the plants, there werethings like rodents and birds nesting near the doors. Some right on the wallsabove the doors. You could tell because of all the droppings.”

 

Roland blinked twice.

 

 

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

J.Paul (J.P.) Rieger is a born and bred Baltimorean and mostly retired Marylandattorney. As such, he’s well acquainted with the quirkiness and charm ofBaltimore’s unique citizens. He’s author of Clonk!, a police farce set inBaltimore and published in 2023 by Apprentice House Press (LoyolaUniversity-Baltimore). He’s also author of The Case Files of Roderick Misely,Consultant, a mystery novel featuring a wannabe lawyer anti-hero. The Big CombOver, a slipstream comedy of manners featuring three nephews and their threeeccentric uncles, is Paul’s third novel. Paul is married and lives in Towson,Maryland.

 

Website:http://www.jpaulrieger.net

 

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GIVEAWAY

Arandomly drawn winner will receive a $25 Amazon/BN gift card - a Rafflecoptergiveaway.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Blast: EXILES by L.J. Ambrosio

 

Welcome to the Launch Day Book Blast for EXILES, a Literary Fiction/Coming of Age by L.J. Ambrosio, organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will award a $20 Amazon/BN GC, an autographed copy of the book, or a dragonfly necklace to three randomly drawn winners. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

In this final chapter, Ron's story concludes from Reflections on the Boulevard (2023). Michael's wish was for Ron to exile himself in the heart of Paris with its beautiful culture and citizens as they protest and fight for the soul of the city. Ron's journey is met with life-affirming friendships and lessons along the way. The final book in the Reflections of Michael Trilogy, which started with A Reservoir Man (2022).

Read an Excerpt

Ron, weak in the legs from forgetting the spirit of his youth, had been managing bookstores more than living life. His legs pumped forward. but with the awkwardness of an old man who had forgotten how to walk. In a few seconds he was up to speed and ran faster to catch the thief.

Near the corner, Ron had missed his opportunity to slow and check for other people walking, so he slammed into a group of women. He especially blasted into an old lady whose groceries flew into the sky, and a yogurt splattered against a wall and the faces of the other women. She turned to condemn her assailant, but he was already on the next block in pursuit of the thief.

He spotted the thief at the Notre Dame Hotel, out of breath, leaning against a pillar. Surprised at the thief’s choice to stop here, he slowed down and let his feet pound the street into a halt.

Ron grabbed at him but still missed his shoulder.

“Give me the book back!” he said, very loudly.

The thief just shrugged his shoulder, a mocking smile. His smile made the act of chasing him through the streets feel silly, as if this were a game that had been played and he took it too seriously.

The thief looked at Ron and asked, sarcastically, “What language are you speaking?”

“What do you mean? I am speaking French!”

Our thief laughed, turned to a random man who walked down the street, and said, "This young man thinks he is speaking French Go ahead say something to this stranger; he will tell you are speaking some other language other than French!”

“I will call the police,” Ron said firmly.

About the Author:
Louis J. Ambrosio ran one of the most nurturing bi-coastal talent agencies in Los Angeles and New York. He started his career as a theatrical producer, running two major regional theaters for eight seasons. Ambrosio taught at 7 Universities. Ambrosio also distinguished himself as an award-winning film producer and novelist over the course of his impressive career.



Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ljambrosioauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorlambrosio
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/louis.ambrosio
Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/ljambrosio
Blog: https://ljambrosio.blogspot.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCI2XkCETDOj_VUtCFcB74ig

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Exiles-Reflections-Michael-Trilogy-Book-ebook/dp/B0CW1MWJMX/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1

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Blog Tour: GET OUT OF HERE by Tanith Davenport

GET OUT OF HERE

Tanith Davenport

 

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GENRE:  Erotic Romance

 

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BLURB:

 

Sheran away from her life – straight into his arms.

 

Photographygraduate Starla Brower has always regretted not running away from her abusivehome when she had the chance, as her older sisters did—especially her sisterElectra, who fled with band Torque Converter six months ago. So when shedecides to hitchhike away, she’s shocked to find Electra has arranged for theband to pick her up. And when lead singer Valen Lesellane rescues her from agang of thugs by announcing she’s his fiancée, Starla goes along with it. Whynot?

 

Theband’s manager, Mike, is furious at this turn of events and the press attentionit receives, but Starla finds Valen’s impulsiveness to be infectious and histouch to be irresistible. Before long she has regained contact with her othersisters and finds herself finally able to be happy, both with Valen and withher family.

 

Butwith her parents pursuing her and Mike fiercely against her relationship withValen, can their unexpected engagement last beyond the bus tour?

 

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ExcerptTwo:

 

“It’s just so weird hearing from her after all this time. Ithought she’d cut all contact, like Daisy.”

 

Electra sighed.

 

“I think they were worried Mum and Dad would force us totell them where they were. You know they’d have taken it out on us if we’drefused to show them our phones.”

 

“They did that anyway.”

 

Starla had been much younger when Daisy and Juno had left,but she remembered very clearly how her parents had reacted. Her father hadscreamed at them for hours. Her mother had taken her belt to them. She hadn’tresented it at the time—she’d just been glad her sisters were out of it, eventhough she had missed them terribly.

 

Electra leaving, on the other hand—that had been worse. Andas Electra looked at her, she had a feeling her sister was realising it.

 

“What happened to you after I left? Anything?”

 

“Well, I was the only one left. So yeah.”

 

“What?”

 

In response, Starla pulled up her sleeve to reveal a large,partially healed burn scar on her forearm.

 

“They held the iron down on me.”

 

A dark expression crossed Electra’s face.

 

“Did they take you to hospital after?”

 

“No. I went by myself. Pretended it was an accident. I don’tthink they believed me.”

 

“That’s what we do, isn’t it?” Electra shook her head. “WhenAaron noticed my scars, I just told him I was clumsy as a kid. That’s how theygot away with it. Nobody ever tells the truth about it.”

 

Starla’s answer was cut off by the door flying open,revealing Valen standing there with an expression somewhere between shock anddisgust.

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Tanith Davenport began writing erotica at the age of 27 by way ofthe Romantic Novelists' Association New Writers' Scheme. Her debut novel"The Hand He Dealt" was released by Totally Bound in June 2011 andwas shortlisted for the Joan Hessayon Award for 2012.

 

Tanith has had short stories published by Totally Bound, NaughtyNights Press and House of Erotica. She loves to travel and dreams of one daytaking a driving tour of the United States, preferably in a classic 1950s pinkCadillac Eldorado.

 

Tanith's idea of heaven is an Indian head massage with a Mojito ather side.

 

http://www.facebook.com/TanithDavenport

http://www.twitter.com/TanithDavenport

http://www.tanithdavenport.blogspot.com

Amazon UK: https://tinyurl.com/4nb2yyx6 

Amazon US: https://tinyurl.com/4x5h5pdb 

Books2Read: https://books2read.com/u/ml6gvA 

 

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GIVEAWAY

 

TanithDavenport will award a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: THE SHOWHOUSE KILLER by Katy Pierce

 

A dead stepson, hung from a swingset. Murder or suicide? Hired by the boy’s mother, Carlee was tasked to findout. Right away, she notes that the grieving mother was manic, temperamental,and very suspicious. Meanwhile, the ghost of the 8th Grade Killerwas still haunting her. Was she being stalked by a copycat or the actualkiller?

 

Backtracking into the troubledlife of the boy’s last days, Carlee finds the case more and more interesting.There are various angles in this case, but one angle had to do with possiblenefarious activity in the real estate agency, where the boy was an intern. Justhow crooked and dirty was the real estate business? And what was the connectionbetween this case and the 8th Grade Killer? It all boils down to agood mystery that makes you think.

 

Rating:4 stars

Review: JUST ONE NIGHT by Kyra Davis

For just one night, studious and conservative Kasey becomes a sultry vixen. For just one night, she has hot sex with a random stranger. It was just supposed to just one night. The dream would end and then it was back to reality. But then the dream smacks into her reality and ends up being a new client for her corporate job.

He continues to lure and seduce her, but she’s adamant in her stance and in her relationship with her boyfriend. A passionate affair begins.

The words were softly poetic—so deeply meaningful and cleverly expressed. In the prose, we see the conflicting emotions of a woman torn between love and lust, between passion and practicality, between her boyfriend and her lover.

“Dave sees the aspiration of what I want to be while Mr. Dade sees the woman I’ve been running from.”

“Pride and shame smash into each other, causing an avalanche of less comprehensible emotions.”

When she finally decides to break-up with Dave, she gets the most surprising and the most public proposal. Man, I hate that. What could you say with everyone just watching you? You have to say “yes.” What happens when the truth finally comes out? What Kasie returns to in Dave was certainly cold, mean, and degrading. In exchange for his silence, she goes back to her prison to be kept, to be controlled, to be punished. The character brings up such great examples of being ostracized from work, family, friends, and community, which was why she does whatever Dave wanted. Dave was humiliating and torturing her. No way would I put up with that. I would rather have nothing and the whole truth out than be bullied by him. But Kasey wasn’t that strong.

“Do I really value my bruised and battered pride over my freedom?”

Writing is so deep and smart. It’s so pensive and philosophical. I like when she finally gets that fire in her belly and becomes the warrior that can win her way—not his way. Kasey is a woman that unleashes her primal sexuality, forceful nature, and utter power.

Surprisingly and insatiably addicting! Full of lust and power. You just can’t get enough of it. Just one night is not enough. You want more.

Rating: 5 stars

Review: ROMANTIC SECRETS by Monique DuBois

 

“The wrong person at the wrongtime, mistaken for her roommate by a crazy stalker.” It was a good opening,right?

 

Her cousin’s last FB post wasabout her getting into the escort service, which intrigued our main heroine,Abby, because she too enjoyed nameless, faceless sex. And to get paid for it?Abby immediately books her first escort gig with a handsome billionaire. Not abad way to get paid. Unfortunately, the first night didn’t go as planned andAbby gets fired. Fortunately, she finds instant success as a top realtor inManhattan.

 

Story does take a while to explainthings. When do we get to the romance and suspense? There was too muchdilly-dally. We honestly don’t get some action until like 90% into the book.Geez, what a rip! What a disappointment!

 

Rating:2 stars

Review: ROMANTIC LIES by Monique DuBois

 

This book had a lot of the sameproblems as the first book. All talk and no action, and I expected a lot moreaction coming from Ms. DuBois. How can you even call this a romantic suspense?Nothing happens. I’m SO GLAD I got this through KU.

 

Rating:1 star