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What does the Greek word Opa mean? According to some it is a word or pronouncement of celebration; the celebration of life itself. It is another way of expressing joy and gratitude to God, life, and others, for bringing one into the state of ultimate wisdom.

Stacey Lane Bryant has three rules. She doesn’t drive; she doesn’t travel; and she most definitely will not date. From the outside, this odd-ball, thirties-something, single black woman is simply a creature of habit who has been beaten down by the tragedies of life. However those on the inside know that she’s the widow of esteemed astrophysicist Drew Bryant, a highly sought after best-selling romance author and a devoted cat lover. The rules are simply designed to keep her safe and keep her sane.

However, someone didn’t tell the Greek bombshell, Dr. Hunter Fourakis, that rules weren’t meant to be broken. While at his favorite pub, he eyes Stacey and instantly falls under her spell. Only, his rusty moves don’t get him far with the brilliant introvert, who quickly leaves just to get out of his grasp.

What is meant to be will be, and the two run into each other in another chance encounter. This time Hunter is able to convince Stacey not only to go out on a spur-of-the-moment date with him but also to consider an unorthodox proposal that would benefit them both.

Hunter’s late wife was killed while serving in Iraq, and he mourns every year for two months and three days. The mourning period is usually miserable for Hunter, but this time, he wants to celebrate life. Stacey’s second romance novel is due to her agent in two months but is totally lacking motivation or passion, because she hasn’t gotten over her late husband. Considering that they both need someone for a short period of time to fulfill very specific needs, they agree to be each other’s help mate temporarily. Only as deprived widows, pressured professionals and lonely hearts, they find that while deadlines pass and mourning time ends, love lasts forever.

Read this romantic tale about two people who fight through tragic personal loss, family prejudices and age-old traditions to find good old fashion love in the second book of the Lonely Hearts Series, Finding Opa!

212 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 18, 2011

29 people are currently reading
335 people want to read

About the author

Latrivia S. Nelson

40 books619 followers
Latrivia S. Nelson (Latrivia Welch) is the author of Ivy's Twisted Vine (the largest modern interracial romance novel in its genre) and Dmitry's Closet, President of Nelson Pressed, Inc. (small marketing firm that strategically promotes self-published authors) and Public Relations Senior Specialist for the award-winning, highly-acclaimed firm, The Carter Malone Group (the largest female Public Relations firm in Memphis).

Nelson graduated from LeMoyne-Owen College (Memphis, TN) with honors obtaining a Bachelors Degree in business administration with a concentration in management (2003), Strayer University (Washington, DC) obtaining her MBA with a concentration in marketing (2007) and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Criminal Justice at Capella University with a concentration in organized crime.

As an observer of life, Nelson has enjoyed the numerous opportunities afforded her and writes about the wonderful and interesting people and places that she has encountered in her novels. She has been highlighted in Ebony Magazine, Elite Magazine (Memphis, TN), RSVP Magazine (Memphis, TN), the Commercial Appeal Newspaper (Memphis, TN) and numerous online publications.

Ivy's Twisted Vine first debuted in February of 2008 and has since been featured by over 500 bookstores, book clubs, individual reviewers, online publications and blogs. It has sold thousands of copies in the states and has become very popular in Europe and Japan.

Nelson is the proud mother of two beautiful children (Jordan and Tierra) and the wife of decorated US Marine (Retired) Adam Nelson. They live in suburbs of Memphis.

Go to www.latrivianelson.com , www.dmitryscloset.com , and/or www.dmitrysroyalflush.com to learn more.

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5 stars
297 (38%)
4 stars
257 (33%)
3 stars
161 (21%)
2 stars
38 (4%)
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9 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
Profile Image for Kimberly .
88 reviews
December 15, 2011
I'm not going to start this review off with a synopsis but jump right into the review.
There are so many things to discuss about this story. First off, the lead character's name is Stacy Lane Bryant. Lane Bryant? Really? Of all the names in the world, the lead character is named after a clothing chain. I was disappointed by the lack of imagination. This was the just the habinger of things to come.
I did not like the explanation by the author excusing the actions and thoughts her characters take in the book. Why was this necessary? You wrote the book, now stand by it. Don't ask for a pass, because that states to me, the reader, that you, the writer, are not confident of your story or characters.
On page three, the second full paragraph-the first sentence did not match the rest of the paragraph.
On page 15, Stacy's agent's last name is Morrow. Is that Morrow as in the book publisher? Again, not creative at all.
On page 17, the thrid full paragraph, Stacy goes for a check-up due to her mother dying of cervical caner. And remember that it is cervical cancer. That'll be important later. Of course, Stacy, would get check-ups every year.
On page 25, I thought it was realistic that Stacy attempted to drown her sorrow in alcohol. I liked this point.
A couple of points previous I made a point that Stacy's mother died of cervical cancer. On page 51 though, she died of ovarian cancer. Which one is it? As the saying goes, the devil is in the details. I get very upset when author's don't bother to reread their manuscripts. They want us the reader to buy thier books, but don't take the time to put out a quality product.
Durning sex, for the first time, the Stacy and Hunter are in love. Wow, that was fast. They were only dating, hanging out, or whatever you want to think, because the author does not give a clear definition as to what they are, for one month. And in love already? Really? REALLY?
I really had a hard time with Stacy being an author. I don't think the writer challenged herself on this one. Again, another cheat that detracts from the book. It's not adding anything to the story. It does not matter that Stacy writes books. She could have been a painter, clothing designer, or anything that was creative. The loss of a spouse would stop all that creative flow.
And why didn't Stacy think Drew's death was her fault? She was driving, afterall. That would have added some more complexity to the character and another much need deminson.
There are too many grammical mistakes in this text to list.
At the end of the book, I did not understand the tie in to the Greek term Opa. It's only used in the beginning of the book as an explanation, and not listed again until the end. The title does nothing to move the plot along or help the reader get stay grounded in a very complex narrative. And there is nothing complex here.
This book had very strong over tones of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding." It seemed as if that was the guiding hand of this book. Does the author know anything of Greek culture that is not generalized?
This book also reminded me of the "Love Happens" with Jennifer Aniston. A movie about a man who has lost his wife and finds love again. He, like Hunter, is a helper-greif counselor, who has never been to his wife's grave. This movie was also set in Seattle.
My reading partner stated three things about this book. One, the author is self published. Two, the proof reader was lacking to let a lot of errors slide in book. Thridly, she did not feel the author had control of the text when she could not use common phrases correctly. My partner also stated she was glad this book did not take up too much of her time.
For me, there was no answer to the so what question. I did not get emotionally involved with the characters, so I really didn't care what happened to them. Also, what color is Hunter's hair? Is it dark sable or copper? It's problems like this that take away from the story.
I'm glad I did not pay for this book. I would've been very upset if I had.
The love scenes were flat. They could have been in Boon and Mills romance novel. And not one of thier racier ones.
I would recommend this book to no one. Sorry.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for ♡Meme♡Reads love♡.
436 reviews144 followers
July 1, 2011
Well this was a surprise from Latrivia. Finding Opa was a wonderful read though short it was, it still packed a unforgettable punch. My my this woman can write she is so creative, she makes you truly believe the stories she writes. I actually felt like I was reading someones biography, this book had me crying laughing getting frustrated and shouting for joy. I truly felt like I was going through every emotion in this. SPOLIER ! There was one part in the book where the couple are in the bathroom taking a pregnancy test and he's in there with her and she's sitting there peeing and he takes the stick from her and looks at it and tells her the news she jumps up from the toilet panties down and pee drops on the toilet seat she grabs tissue and wipes herself...Mind you all this happens with her man infront of her... I thought it was awesome they way she put that in there it just made their relationship so real to me, so realistic. I know that must have been a bit much but you have to read it to know what I'm talking about. That being said I truly enjoyed this book and am so sadden that I have nothing else by Ms. Latrivia to read I can not wait until her the next book..

Here's my couple... Happy Reading :)
Profile Image for Tiffany.
422 reviews18 followers
October 21, 2016
I liked the plot, some what. I like longer books and I like complex characters. I enjoyed the book but I wanted...more.
Profile Image for Cherryl.
2,145 reviews1 follower
July 14, 2018
What an emotionally charged story!

Stacey Lane Bryant was an emotional cripple after the accidental death of her astrophysicist husband Drew. She felt responsible for his death and shut off from the world until she met Dr. Hunter Fourakis. She tried hard to shut him down when they met but he ended up helping her with her writer's block instead. I almost fell out of my chair when he turned out to be her OBGyn. I thought I would die laughing at the irony of it.

It turned out that Hunter and Stacey had more in common than she thought. Hunter was also a widower. Together, they managed to heal from their grief and help each other come back to life and feel alive again, something they thought would never happen again, they fell in love with each other. They needed each other. They missed the closeness that they had with their spouses, but this, their love was well worth the wait. With each other, their desire finally returned to full life.

There was only one BIG problem, his family. They were strict culturist Greeks. They can almost expected Hunter to marry a. No one was good enough for their Hunter, including his deceased wife Corina who was Greek but grew up from the wrong side of the tracks. Everyone woman they tried to set him up with was too concerned about appearance and prestige, it made him sick. Stacey was the only thing that was giving him balance in his life. She helped him with the closure he needed with Corina. He did the same with Stacey, by helping with her anxiety surrounding Drew's death.

Latrivi wrote a heartbreaking story that turned into a sweet love story. It was about how people deal with grief in their own ways and how they get normalcy back to their lives with the support of the people they love. I just love how Stacey put his family in check with grace and elegance. With her being a writer having an extended way with words, they did not even realized they were being handled. She just had to let them know that she was more accomplished in her life than they all were put together. She was not an ordinary African American woman let alone an ordinary person. She was Dr. Hunter Fourakis' angel who gave him his HEA and his opa.
5 reviews5 followers
May 30, 2011
This book was by far the best book that Nelson has written. Finding Opa! was different from what I expected in that the characters do discuss race, money, family, etc. There is also racial friction and a lot of love. Overall, I think this was her best work. Better writing, better editing and a great mature storyline.
Profile Image for CLorraine.
1,737 reviews16 followers
May 18, 2020
Sweet story...

I pretty much enjoyed this sweet romance. I was sorry we never got to meet her father. His family was awful .......at least his father was. The story ended rather abruptly. When did his father do that 180? But overall, a good solid story, both of them were strong and damaged at the same time.
Profile Image for raeneysa.
359 reviews
June 23, 2011
wow Ms latrivia really hit home with the lonely heart series book two can't wait until she put out another one. this book is yet another inspirational if she was considering to make her book into movie i would definitely want to go see it in the movie theater.
1,562 reviews2 followers
July 2, 2019
Excellent

A really great read. Excellent storytelling, the book flows along a a good pace, the pages turn themselves. Down to earth subject matter covered from both points of view. Culminating into a very good story. I recommend.
Profile Image for Fern.
749 reviews13 followers
July 18, 2021
A beautiful story of two people who have endured tragedies and found love. I am glad that Hunter and Stacey have found each other and have their HEA.
Profile Image for --karen Green-berry.
558 reviews14 followers
August 20, 2014
Hunter and Stacey- BRAB Online Book Club

I absolutely love Hunter and Stacey's story. They had both list their spouses tragically and found it difficult to move on. Hunter was an OB/GYN and Stacey a popular romance writer. He grieved every year around the same time for his wife and she suffered from writer's block, trying to write a romance novel while lacking passion in her life.

They made an agreement to help each other get over that difficult period in their lives, but little did they know that would be the best decision they would ever make to heal their wounded souls.

I loved how the story developed, I loved the dialogue which was downright hilarious at times. It was a sweet romance that touched every romantic bone in my body. I love that they got their HEA and that his family came around to accepting their love.
Profile Image for Shelby P.
1,320 reviews33 followers
June 8, 2012
Ok so they found opa! but the author never explained what opa! means. I guess we're just suppose to assume it means happiness, contentment, wtf? This is my second book by Latrivia Nelson. I enjoyed her "Ugly Girlfriend" way better than this.

I found that I did not care for the characters in this one,Stacy and Hunter. I was looking forward to the confrontation between the families. That was the highlight of the book for me and the confrontation wasn't that great. Oh I would never name my child after my husband's dead first wife. Not gonna happen.

I think the relationship felt rush and the "I love you" rang false. Well I have "The Grunt" to read. We'll see how that stacks up to the others.
Profile Image for Darla.
332 reviews32 followers
April 10, 2013
This was the 2nd book in the author's Lonely Heart series, and I enjoyed it as well as the first. I enjoyed the story of Hunter and Stacey, and how after they suffered from similar traumatic loses that had left them both feeling numb and half alive, that they began to live again with each other. It was an enjoyable story, watching these two characters grow, and change and become the people that they wanted to, because they now had this other person in their corner supporting them. Nice story, short and easy read, I believe I finished it in one day. If you've read the author's 1st book in this series, then you might as well pick this one up as well. Nice fairytale romance.
150 reviews1 follower
July 24, 2022
Really enjoy this story!

I loved how the two of them took their time to declare and show their love for each other. Hunter being a widower and Stacey being a widow, they had a hard time dealing with the death of their spouses. Dealing with their feelings together pulled them closer. His family and their narrow minded view was sad and I was glad how Stacey stood up for herself. Would have love to see when she took Hunter to see her dad. This was a very good book and I am glad I read it. I have read most of Ms Nelson books over the last six years and have enjoyed them very much. Keep writing and GOD bless.
Profile Image for Lane.
1,329 reviews
April 8, 2015
Of all the books I've read by this author, I enjoyed this one the most. It is easy to sympathize with both main characters and their fight to live. Both characters were relatable. I did question why Stacy did not blame herself for what happened to her husband. I loved how Stacy held her own. Showing more strength as the book progressed.

There are inconsistencies and errors. These can get irritating. Though, not as bad as some of the other books. I found myself correcting while I read though. I also think the story could have been longer.
262 reviews11 followers
June 21, 2024
Excellent story. Very touching. You could feel their sadness. Their grief. Mother's day was everything and Stacey brought the receipts.

The biggest fault I have has to do with the lack of reconciliation and witnessing it. That's all I have to say. For this, I will give the story four stars. August 3, 2021

I was tempted to remove another star for that "epilogue". It hasn't aged well with time. June 21, 2024.
Profile Image for Connie.
590 reviews46 followers
May 4, 2013
It was a great story of two people who both lost someone trying to help each other. I liked the intensity of their relationship because they both needed someone, but it could have been more. It was missing something. I think the ending could use some extension to show how they resolved the parental issue before everyone was shown being all happy in the end.
Profile Image for luv2shp.
44 reviews
February 22, 2014
A cute & quick read? A few mistakes that can be overlooked. I was confused when reading the section when they visited Stacey's old house? Hunter brought a small hand gun to search a gated house with a security system. I thought, "did I skip a page." Looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
Profile Image for Tony.
1,668 reviews
August 25, 2011
This was a good romance novel. The dinner with Hunter's friends had me laughing until I cried. My only question to Ms. Nelson is, why didn't they ever listen to Stacey's neighbors CD? Not that it was important but I was curious.
Profile Image for Keysha.
101 reviews
August 20, 2012
Yes! Yes all day. They are both widows, there’s a meet-cute, love is conquering all sorts of obstacles and family problems. I’m not going to do a proper review on this one because I don’t want to give anything away. It’s really sweet how the story unfolds.
Profile Image for Tyeshia.
31 reviews
February 14, 2015
I read this book a few years ago, but every time I see the cover it reminds me how great a book this was to me. I loved the simplicity of their romance; it was something I could totally see actually happening, unlike a lot of books today. One of my favorite reads.
Profile Image for Deatrice Farrior.
265 reviews2 followers
July 5, 2015
Great Love Story

I really enjoyed reading this book. The main characters each went through a devastating loss. But, they found each other at the right time and they were meant for each other. This is a must read.
Profile Image for Claudia.
247 reviews
February 23, 2012
I loved this story ofvtwo damaged and wounded people,who found loved and healing in one another.
GREAT STORY!
Profile Image for Selena Lang.
664 reviews6 followers
May 21, 2012
These are short, but sweet romances that are fun to read. I think it could be a bit better if they were longer, more involved stories, but they are well written, quick reads.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews

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