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Saving The Fool
If it looks too good to be true, there’s probably a catch...
Summer is a time for teachers to relax, take time for themselves before the start of the new school year. But Dina Salazar, a Latina school teacher with an inquisitive mind, finds herself with a mystery on her hands, one that involves her brother-in-law, Jesus. Jesus is lovingly referred to as “el tonto”, or the fool, by the family, and yet somehow this fool has latched on to a job that is not only lucrative, but ridiculously easy. Every Friday night, he drives a van filled with excited gamblers to a faraway casino. While they risk their money, he sits in a hotel room, eating and drinking at his employers’ expense, then drives them back in the morning. All for a cool two thousand dollars! What is wrong with this picture?
As if this isn’t bad enough, Dina’s on-again, off-again relationship with fiancé Rick Ramos seems to revolve around his custody fight with his ex—the one he cheated on Dina with—for a little girl who isn’t even his. Dina is torn between wanting to support Rick and not having maternal feelings for the difficult child. Enter private investigator Gil Luna, and all bets are off! Can they save Jesus from himself... and, if so, at what cost?
Summer is a time for teachers to relax, take time for themselves before the start of the new school year. But Dina Salazar, a Latina school teacher with an inquisitive mind, finds herself with a mystery on her hands, one that involves her brother-in-law, Jesus. Jesus is lovingly referred to as “el tonto”, or the fool, by the family, and yet somehow this fool has latched on to a job that is not only lucrative, but ridiculously easy. Every Friday night, he drives a van filled with excited gamblers to a faraway casino. While they risk their money, he sits in a hotel room, eating and drinking at his employers’ expense, then drives them back in the morning. All for a cool two thousand dollars! What is wrong with this picture?
As if this isn’t bad enough, Dina’s on-again, off-again relationship with fiancé Rick Ramos seems to revolve around his custody fight with his ex—the one he cheated on Dina with—for a little girl who isn’t even his. Dina is torn between wanting to support Rick and not having maternal feelings for the difficult child. Enter private investigator Gil Luna, and all bets are off! Can they save Jesus from himself... and, if so, at what cost?
238 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 22, 2024
1 person want to read
About the author
Donna Del Oro
24 books201 followers"Master of Smart, Romantic Thrillers" and "Award-winning author of Mainstream Fiction"
My pen name is Donna Del Oro and I live in Northern California near the Sierra Nevada foothills and Folsom Lake. After retiring from high school teaching, I decided life was too short to waste. Thus, began a journey doing what I'd been wanting to do for many years--write fiction. I sold my first novel, OPERATION FAMILIA, right away and this book went on to win an award for the Best 2010 Latino Books into Movies Award. Following that first sale, I published three more women's fiction books, then branched out into writing my first love, romantic thrillers. This year, 2012, saw the launch of A BODYGUARD OF LIES and THE DELPHI BLOODLINE, both ebooks and available on Kindle, Nook, Apple, and elsewhere. If you have read any of my books, I welcome your input. Leave me a review on Amazon and your name goes into a pile for a $50 gift card at B&N, my favorite bookstore. You can email me: donna@donnadeloro.com. Thanks for dropping by!"
When I'm not writing, I sing with a Sweet Adeline's chorus, the Sacramento Valley chorus. Check out this link to find out about this exciting chorus of women singers!
My pen name is Donna Del Oro and I live in Northern California near the Sierra Nevada foothills and Folsom Lake. After retiring from high school teaching, I decided life was too short to waste. Thus, began a journey doing what I'd been wanting to do for many years--write fiction. I sold my first novel, OPERATION FAMILIA, right away and this book went on to win an award for the Best 2010 Latino Books into Movies Award. Following that first sale, I published three more women's fiction books, then branched out into writing my first love, romantic thrillers. This year, 2012, saw the launch of A BODYGUARD OF LIES and THE DELPHI BLOODLINE, both ebooks and available on Kindle, Nook, Apple, and elsewhere. If you have read any of my books, I welcome your input. Leave me a review on Amazon and your name goes into a pile for a $50 gift card at B&N, my favorite bookstore. You can email me: donna@donnadeloro.com. Thanks for dropping by!"
When I'm not writing, I sing with a Sweet Adeline's chorus, the Sacramento Valley chorus. Check out this link to find out about this exciting chorus of women singers!
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 31, 2025
I rated this book 4 stars. To know the reasons for this rating, please visit: https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...
Thanks and may The Force be with you!
—Your friendly Goodreads neighbor 👉 Expat Scribe 👈 the author of:
1] The Invisible Cyber Bully: What it's like to be watched 24/7
2] My Mother, the Good Witch Doctor: How Mom helped princesses with dyslexia
3] The Anti-Bully Manual: How to fight bullies the cyber way
Thanks and may The Force be with you!
—Your friendly Goodreads neighbor 👉 Expat Scribe 👈 the author of:
1] The Invisible Cyber Bully: What it's like to be watched 24/7
2] My Mother, the Good Witch Doctor: How Mom helped princesses with dyslexia
3] The Anti-Bully Manual: How to fight bullies the cyber way
April 11, 2025
Teacher and amateur sleuth Dina Salazar knows her brother-in-law, Jesus, is up to no good. After her school’s choir director supposedly commits suicide, she thinks the death and Jesus’s new lucrative job might be related. Add in her no-good boyfriend, Rick, and Dina’s troubles are only beginning.
Dina was an interesting character. She’s smart, sharp, and determined to figure things out, and soon uncovers a money laundering operation. There’s danger in the form of cartels and drug lords, which really piqued my interest. The book is well-written and flows well, though it was a little slow in the beginning.
For readers who like suspense and mysteries, Saving The Fool is an entertaining read.
4 Stars
Dina was an interesting character. She’s smart, sharp, and determined to figure things out, and soon uncovers a money laundering operation. There’s danger in the form of cartels and drug lords, which really piqued my interest. The book is well-written and flows well, though it was a little slow in the beginning.
For readers who like suspense and mysteries, Saving The Fool is an entertaining read.
4 Stars
February 11, 2025
I'm a big fan of the amateur sleuth trope, and this book does a good job with it. It follows amateur detective Dina Salazar as she inadvertently discovers a money laundering crime ring in Silicon Valley. The plot is well-crafted, the characters are well-rounded, and the writing is sharp.
If I could make a small suggestion, it would be about the pacing. At times, the narrative felt a bit slow due to some lengthy descriptions. Streamlining these sections could quicken the pace and add momentum to the plot, making the story even more engaging and dynamic.
If I could make a small suggestion, it would be about the pacing. At times, the narrative felt a bit slow due to some lengthy descriptions. Streamlining these sections could quicken the pace and add momentum to the plot, making the story even more engaging and dynamic.
January 4, 2025
This book will give you a little bit of everything. Well put together and will keep you intrigued. The plot and characters are well balanced which make the book in general flow great!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews