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Snowed
Don't fall in love with the man sent to kill you...
Lorena Rubio lived a safe, simple life until she's kidnapped by Andres "Con" Conesa, right hand man for the drug lord who murdered her sister. Con must keep her at a cabin in the snowy Sierra Nevada Mountains until his boss can confirm or deny the rumor that she'd provided specifics about his drug cartel to the police. Their attraction ignites in the middle of this winter wonderland, but he's in deep cover for the FBI and has to remain there, and she refuses to attach herself to someone in the criminal world. When the boss arrives a few days and wants Lorena put on ice, Con's willing to blow his cover to save the woman he craves beyond reason, but he may be too late.
***This novella was part of the anthology "Snowy Days, Steamy Nights: Come in From the Cold" published in January 2015. I've made a few edits to this version of "Snowed," but otherwise the story is significantly the same. Enjoy!
Lorena Rubio lived a safe, simple life until she's kidnapped by Andres "Con" Conesa, right hand man for the drug lord who murdered her sister. Con must keep her at a cabin in the snowy Sierra Nevada Mountains until his boss can confirm or deny the rumor that she'd provided specifics about his drug cartel to the police. Their attraction ignites in the middle of this winter wonderland, but he's in deep cover for the FBI and has to remain there, and she refuses to attach herself to someone in the criminal world. When the boss arrives a few days and wants Lorena put on ice, Con's willing to blow his cover to save the woman he craves beyond reason, but he may be too late.
***This novella was part of the anthology "Snowy Days, Steamy Nights: Come in From the Cold" published in January 2015. I've made a few edits to this version of "Snowed," but otherwise the story is significantly the same. Enjoy!
124 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2015
14 people are currently reading
128 people want to read
About the author
Veronica Forand
27 books275 followersVeronica Forand is the award winning author of romantic suspense, romance, and thrillers. She won the Golden Pen Award for Romantic Suspense and the Bookseller's Best in Romantic Suspense.
Her experience includes attorney, international corporate tax consultant, college professor, university track and field coach, United Nations intern, homeschool mom, barista, waitress, and town road crew. When she isn't writing, she's a canine search and rescue handler with her dog Max.
Veronica is represented by Michelle Grajkowski of 3 Seas Literary Agency.
Her experience includes attorney, international corporate tax consultant, college professor, university track and field coach, United Nations intern, homeschool mom, barista, waitress, and town road crew. When she isn't writing, she's a canine search and rescue handler with her dog Max.
Veronica is represented by Michelle Grajkowski of 3 Seas Literary Agency.
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November 10, 2015
Snowed is by Veronica Forand and is both a stand alone and also a part of the Snowy Days and Steamy Nights: Come In From The Cold anthology.
Lorena barely gets through each day in San Diego. Her sister was a drug addict and was killed by Mendoza, a drug lord she had gotten involved in. After months of trying to prove his guilt, she has given up.
Andrés “Con” Conesa is an FBI agent but has been deep undercover with the Mendoza drug king for five long years. He has grown to care for Lorena in the time he got to know her when she was trying to save her sister. Now, though, Mendoza has ordered Con to kidnap Lorena and take her up to a remote cabin in the mountains because he suspects her of snitching.
Lorena has no idea Con is really an agent. But even though she thinks he is a criminal, she knows he won’t hurt her and the time they are together in the cabin bring them closer together. What will happen, though, when Mendoza gets there? Will he order Con to kill her? Will Con be forced to blow his cover?
“She was not only the woman who fed his dreams at night, but the one who made his job a waking nightmare.”
“You’re a pain in my ass, a thorn in my side, and an obsession that torments me every night.”
This story had romance, suspense, desperation and surprise. I loved it! Veronica Forand is a new author to me and I can't wait to read more of her books.
Lorena barely gets through each day in San Diego. Her sister was a drug addict and was killed by Mendoza, a drug lord she had gotten involved in. After months of trying to prove his guilt, she has given up.
Andrés “Con” Conesa is an FBI agent but has been deep undercover with the Mendoza drug king for five long years. He has grown to care for Lorena in the time he got to know her when she was trying to save her sister. Now, though, Mendoza has ordered Con to kidnap Lorena and take her up to a remote cabin in the mountains because he suspects her of snitching.
Lorena has no idea Con is really an agent. But even though she thinks he is a criminal, she knows he won’t hurt her and the time they are together in the cabin bring them closer together. What will happen, though, when Mendoza gets there? Will he order Con to kill her? Will Con be forced to blow his cover?
“She was not only the woman who fed his dreams at night, but the one who made his job a waking nightmare.”
“You’re a pain in my ass, a thorn in my side, and an obsession that torments me every night.”
This story had romance, suspense, desperation and surprise. I loved it! Veronica Forand is a new author to me and I can't wait to read more of her books.
February 14, 2016
ARC received for review
3.5 stars
Great way to start a day. An almost complete novella romance with a little drama and a sweet epilogue. No extra stars because it was so G rated for sex.
3.5 stars
Great way to start a day. An almost complete novella romance with a little drama and a sweet epilogue. No extra stars because it was so G rated for sex.
February 20, 2016
Andres "Con" Conesa is an FBI agent that has spent the last five years deep undercover as the right hand man to the drug lord, Mendoza. He's done everything in his power to protect Lorena Rubio over his time spent undercover. He met her when she came to try to get her sister out of a life of drugs. Unfortunately that never happened and Mendoza shot and killed Lorena's sister.
After losing her sister Lorena tried to get the police involved and get Mendoza arrested but Con went behind her back to protect her keeping the police from believing her. If Mendoza believed she was a threat he would've easily taken her out just like he had her sister.
Now that Con's case is coming to a close Mendoza knows there's a snitch and sends Con to kidnapped Lorena believing she's the one again talking to the police. When Con and Lorena spend several days locked away together in the Sierra Nevada Mountains they are forced to confront their feelings for one another.
Snowed is a novella length book that really packs a lot into a short read. Tons of suspense with what will happen with the drug lord. A rather nice budding romance between Lorena and Con, she thinks he's the nice bad guy but really being an FBI agent I was just on the edge of my seat dying for him to tell her the truth so she could fully trust him. And with an action packed, emotional conclusion to bring it all together.
I was a little surprised that the eventual "steamy" action between the characters ended up a more pg-rated or more implied sexual encounter than actually happening, not that it hurt the story though. But for those that don't like a lot of graphic sex involved this one should be right up your alley.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
After losing her sister Lorena tried to get the police involved and get Mendoza arrested but Con went behind her back to protect her keeping the police from believing her. If Mendoza believed she was a threat he would've easily taken her out just like he had her sister.
Now that Con's case is coming to a close Mendoza knows there's a snitch and sends Con to kidnapped Lorena believing she's the one again talking to the police. When Con and Lorena spend several days locked away together in the Sierra Nevada Mountains they are forced to confront their feelings for one another.
Snowed is a novella length book that really packs a lot into a short read. Tons of suspense with what will happen with the drug lord. A rather nice budding romance between Lorena and Con, she thinks he's the nice bad guy but really being an FBI agent I was just on the edge of my seat dying for him to tell her the truth so she could fully trust him. And with an action packed, emotional conclusion to bring it all together.
I was a little surprised that the eventual "steamy" action between the characters ended up a more pg-rated or more implied sexual encounter than actually happening, not that it hurt the story though. But for those that don't like a lot of graphic sex involved this one should be right up your alley.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
February 29, 2016
2.5 stars rounded up
Lorena is kidnapped from her home by Con, the right hand man of the local drug lord, the same drug lord that had murdered her sister. Her emotions are all over the place, she has always gotten along well with Con but he is giving off very mixed signals, her gut tells her she can trust him but his actions say otherwise.
For me, this felt like I arrived in the middle of a series and had missed the first book, but apparently not. We get much of the backstory from their inner thoughts and some very short conversations while they are stuck in an isolated cabin waiting for the drug lord to arrive.
This is a very short novella and the ending while sweet, felt very rushed.
*Received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Lorena is kidnapped from her home by Con, the right hand man of the local drug lord, the same drug lord that had murdered her sister. Her emotions are all over the place, she has always gotten along well with Con but he is giving off very mixed signals, her gut tells her she can trust him but his actions say otherwise.
For me, this felt like I arrived in the middle of a series and had missed the first book, but apparently not. We get much of the backstory from their inner thoughts and some very short conversations while they are stuck in an isolated cabin waiting for the drug lord to arrive.
This is a very short novella and the ending while sweet, felt very rushed.
*Received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
April 2, 2016
This story begins in the middle, and that’s never a good place to start a story.
A short book that desperately needs to be longer, mainly because it’s missing huge chunks of the story. It opens with Con showing up at Lorena’s door and kidnapping her. That’s a great hook for a story, but then you figure out that they have a history of actually being pretty close at one time until all hell broke loose, her sister was murdered and Lorena did everything in her power to get Con’s boss arrested for the murder.
If she had known Con was an undercover agent, I might have bought her falling for him as written. Because I was missing the formation of their connection the first time, it was hard to believe that she would hop in the sack with him after he kidnapped her, waved a gun at her, threatened to kill her, and broke her nose (even if that last bit was an accident). It was just too far fetched with not enough substance there to latch on to.
It definitely had an interesting plot line but was missing too much to really pull it off. If the story had been more developed, I think it would have been a much better read, but as presented it was just okay for me.
Spice’s Rating: 3 Stuck In The Middle Stars
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
For this review and more, check out http://edgyreviews.com
A short book that desperately needs to be longer, mainly because it’s missing huge chunks of the story. It opens with Con showing up at Lorena’s door and kidnapping her. That’s a great hook for a story, but then you figure out that they have a history of actually being pretty close at one time until all hell broke loose, her sister was murdered and Lorena did everything in her power to get Con’s boss arrested for the murder.
If she had known Con was an undercover agent, I might have bought her falling for him as written. Because I was missing the formation of their connection the first time, it was hard to believe that she would hop in the sack with him after he kidnapped her, waved a gun at her, threatened to kill her, and broke her nose (even if that last bit was an accident). It was just too far fetched with not enough substance there to latch on to.
It definitely had an interesting plot line but was missing too much to really pull it off. If the story had been more developed, I think it would have been a much better read, but as presented it was just okay for me.
Spice’s Rating: 3 Stuck In The Middle Stars
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
For this review and more, check out http://edgyreviews.com
February 18, 2016
ARC provided by the Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Fast paced novella that is currently free on Amazon and well worth your time. Some suspense, hot romance and the expected HEA, though that was in doubt until the end. I enjoyed the one other book I read by Veronica Forand - Untrue Colors and this one is great too.
Lorena is coping as best as she can with her dead end job and crappy apartment. Her sister was murdered by the drug lord, Mendoza, and the police will do nothing about it. On top of that she can't stop dreaming Mendoza's second in command, Andres "Con" Conesa, who was kind to her even though he was unwilling to help her get her sister away from Mendoza.
Con has been ordered by Mendoza to kidnap Lorena and keep her on ice, literally. He is at the end of his long FBI undercover assignment with the Mendoza Cartel and all he wants is to wrap it up and see the thug behind bars. He does not want Lorena in the middle of what ever comes down. He has found himself in a no win situation. How can he keep Lorena safe and not blow his cover?
Fast paced novella that is currently free on Amazon and well worth your time. Some suspense, hot romance and the expected HEA, though that was in doubt until the end. I enjoyed the one other book I read by Veronica Forand - Untrue Colors and this one is great too.
Lorena is coping as best as she can with her dead end job and crappy apartment. Her sister was murdered by the drug lord, Mendoza, and the police will do nothing about it. On top of that she can't stop dreaming Mendoza's second in command, Andres "Con" Conesa, who was kind to her even though he was unwilling to help her get her sister away from Mendoza.
Con has been ordered by Mendoza to kidnap Lorena and keep her on ice, literally. He is at the end of his long FBI undercover assignment with the Mendoza Cartel and all he wants is to wrap it up and see the thug behind bars. He does not want Lorena in the middle of what ever comes down. He has found himself in a no win situation. How can he keep Lorena safe and not blow his cover?
March 2, 2015
If you like to sleep with one eye open, this is the book for you. Lorena thought she had escaped the world of drug dealers after her sister died at the hands of her violent drug lord boyfriend. Lorena had fashioned a nice quiet life for herself until Con shows up and kidnaps her. Is he trying to protect her or kill her?
I always read Veronica Forand’s stories with a defibrillator nearby. This one is packed with tension and one fear gripping scene. But the hot hot hot love between the two main characters softens the blow. The short story fulfills the promise of a fun ride
I always read Veronica Forand’s stories with a defibrillator nearby. This one is packed with tension and one fear gripping scene. But the hot hot hot love between the two main characters softens the blow. The short story fulfills the promise of a fun ride
March 2, 2015
Snowed by Veronica Forand is a twisty, heart stopper of a read that'll have you flipping the pages until the final sentence. I'm trying to not give too much away since the meat of the story is the suspense plot line which weaves perfectly with the romantic angle. Ms. Forand understands exactly how to grab hold of a reader and keep them on the edge of their seats, wanting, anticipating, and guessing the ending. For thrills, chills, and sexy escapes pick up a copy of Snowed.
****I received an Advance copy of Snowed by the author in exchange for an honest review.****
****I received an Advance copy of Snowed by the author in exchange for an honest review.****
April 25, 2015
Snowed has absolutely wowed me! Starting right out with a flurry of activity pulling me in almost immediately with surprises that I never anticipated (I didn’t read the synopsis) which very quickly drew a smile from my lips. It was so full of romance, suspense and danger with turns and uncertainty which left me fidgeting in my chair as I continued flipping through the pages.
Since the death of her sister by Mendoza, her sister’s crime-boss ex-boyfriend, Lorena has been on her own, keeping her distance from that dangerous world. That is until Con, Mendoza’s right hand man, unexpectedly shows up at her apartment and kidnaps her. Con has always caused Lorena confusion with moments when he would show caring towards her making her attraction to him grow, and at others, when he was a fierce criminal seemingly displaying no concern or emotion. Con has been infiltrated in Mendoza’s world for five years working for the FBI in hopes of bringing him down. But Lorena has always been a soft spot for him as well, and his attraction to her making it difficult for Con to remain committed his assignment. But when the time comes and he is faced with the decision of either protecting Lorena or focusing on his loyalty to the job, will Con risk everything to save the woman he loves?
I must admit that my biggest mistake when I started reading Snowed was that I didn't begin until late in the evening which, unfortunately, didn't proffer me the time to get through it in one sitting. Hugh mistake! Because Snowed left me trying to get to sleep with visions of the plot and story continuing to run through my head and waking up the same way. This was a fabulous and entertaining story and despite being a novella was chock full of so much detail I never once felt I was missing anything - that is except for more pages to read. I continued to fight the urge to flip to the last page so I could find out how the story ended and Snowed definitely left me wanting more, more, more!! I would recommend that before picking up this book to start reading that you ensure you have plenty of time to get to the end, because once you begin, you aren’t going to be able to put it down.
I've already one-clicked on Amazon and downloaded Ms. Forand's other novella and am anxious and looking forward to more from her in the future. I loved this!
Since the death of her sister by Mendoza, her sister’s crime-boss ex-boyfriend, Lorena has been on her own, keeping her distance from that dangerous world. That is until Con, Mendoza’s right hand man, unexpectedly shows up at her apartment and kidnaps her. Con has always caused Lorena confusion with moments when he would show caring towards her making her attraction to him grow, and at others, when he was a fierce criminal seemingly displaying no concern or emotion. Con has been infiltrated in Mendoza’s world for five years working for the FBI in hopes of bringing him down. But Lorena has always been a soft spot for him as well, and his attraction to her making it difficult for Con to remain committed his assignment. But when the time comes and he is faced with the decision of either protecting Lorena or focusing on his loyalty to the job, will Con risk everything to save the woman he loves?
I must admit that my biggest mistake when I started reading Snowed was that I didn't begin until late in the evening which, unfortunately, didn't proffer me the time to get through it in one sitting. Hugh mistake! Because Snowed left me trying to get to sleep with visions of the plot and story continuing to run through my head and waking up the same way. This was a fabulous and entertaining story and despite being a novella was chock full of so much detail I never once felt I was missing anything - that is except for more pages to read. I continued to fight the urge to flip to the last page so I could find out how the story ended and Snowed definitely left me wanting more, more, more!! I would recommend that before picking up this book to start reading that you ensure you have plenty of time to get to the end, because once you begin, you aren’t going to be able to put it down.
I've already one-clicked on Amazon and downloaded Ms. Forand's other novella and am anxious and looking forward to more from her in the future. I loved this!
February 17, 2016
Andres “Con” Conesa is quite the con man. Not only has he tricked a nefarious mafia drug lord into making him his second in command, but he’s conned himself into thinking he’ll be able to walk away from Lorena Rubio when his FBI undercover assignment to bring this criminal down is over. Of course, winning her over isn’t likely going to happen either. Let’s see, kidnapping her at gunpoint and taking her to a secluded cabin so the drug cartel can get their hands on her isn’t exactly going to work in his favor. Then there is that pesky little detail the FBI isn’t completely against ordering him to kill her if necessary to keep his cover until the mission is complete.
Poor Lorena doesn’t know what to think. After pleading with the police for months to press charges against the mobster live-in boyfriend who murdered her sister, she had resigned herself to never seeing justice served or seeing Con again, whom she had spent time with while visiting her drug using sister. After many trips to the mob mansion begging her sister to leave and start a new life, Lorena never dreamed the mob would one day point their finger and guns at her accusing her of being a snitch.
As an avid mafia romance reader, I am quite impressed this author managed to pack so much emotion and drama into such a short novella. There are even some twists and turns at the end that I definitely did not see coming.
If you are looking for a quick, undercover/mafia romantic read, you might want to consider this one. The author’s writing style flowed and was very engaging. Even though I am usually not a fan of novellas, I feel she delivered a whole story in only 124 pages.
Title: Snowed, Author: Veronica Forand, Pages: 124, stand-alone, HEA, undercover agent romance, no cheating, no love triangle, some mafia violence.
(This review is based on ARC generously provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest, unbiased opinion. No compensation was paid to the reviewer nor is there any affiliation between the reviewer and author/publisher.)
Poor Lorena doesn’t know what to think. After pleading with the police for months to press charges against the mobster live-in boyfriend who murdered her sister, she had resigned herself to never seeing justice served or seeing Con again, whom she had spent time with while visiting her drug using sister. After many trips to the mob mansion begging her sister to leave and start a new life, Lorena never dreamed the mob would one day point their finger and guns at her accusing her of being a snitch.
As an avid mafia romance reader, I am quite impressed this author managed to pack so much emotion and drama into such a short novella. There are even some twists and turns at the end that I definitely did not see coming.
If you are looking for a quick, undercover/mafia romantic read, you might want to consider this one. The author’s writing style flowed and was very engaging. Even though I am usually not a fan of novellas, I feel she delivered a whole story in only 124 pages.
Title: Snowed, Author: Veronica Forand, Pages: 124, stand-alone, HEA, undercover agent romance, no cheating, no love triangle, some mafia violence.
(This review is based on ARC generously provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest, unbiased opinion. No compensation was paid to the reviewer nor is there any affiliation between the reviewer and author/publisher.)
October 17, 2015
Veronica Forand gives us a novella length trip on the suspense train with SNOWED.
Set mostly in mountain cabin near the California/Nevada border, the plot centers around Lorena, a receptionist who ekes out an existence in a rundown area and Andres, the local drug lord’s right-hand man.
Both the characters of Lorena and Andres are well-developed and there’s plenty of backstory regarding how they met became acquainted. We can see the heat building from the very beginning. Con is the hero we all love to hate and Lorena is the heroine we all want to be. Supporting characters are lacking with the exception of Mendoza, the drug Lord we all love to hate.
The plot contains more action than I ever expected in a novella length book of this type. Yet there’s a great balance between the suspense and the romance elements in the story. Even the though I guessed at the ending and was mostly correct, I was pleasantly surprised with the twists the Veronica Forand adds to keep the reader on her toes.
Definitely one of my best reads of 2015!
Heat level: 3.5
Rating: 5 stars
Set mostly in mountain cabin near the California/Nevada border, the plot centers around Lorena, a receptionist who ekes out an existence in a rundown area and Andres, the local drug lord’s right-hand man.
Both the characters of Lorena and Andres are well-developed and there’s plenty of backstory regarding how they met became acquainted. We can see the heat building from the very beginning. Con is the hero we all love to hate and Lorena is the heroine we all want to be. Supporting characters are lacking with the exception of Mendoza, the drug Lord we all love to hate.
The plot contains more action than I ever expected in a novella length book of this type. Yet there’s a great balance between the suspense and the romance elements in the story. Even the though I guessed at the ending and was mostly correct, I was pleasantly surprised with the twists the Veronica Forand adds to keep the reader on her toes.
Definitely one of my best reads of 2015!
Heat level: 3.5
Rating: 5 stars
February 17, 2016
The first time I saw this cover I knew I had to buy the book!
Don't Fall in Love with the Man Sent to Kill You
So far as taglines go, this one caught me, hook, line, and sinker :)
And I'm so glad it did. Con makes a believable anti-hero, a man placed in an impossible situation who tries to protect the woman he cares about without blowing his cover and probably getting them both killed.
The action is fast and furious and will keep you turning the pages long past midnight.
I give Snowed 4 lovely kisses
First posted on http://jacqbiggar.com
Don't Fall in Love with the Man Sent to Kill You
So far as taglines go, this one caught me, hook, line, and sinker :)
And I'm so glad it did. Con makes a believable anti-hero, a man placed in an impossible situation who tries to protect the woman he cares about without blowing his cover and probably getting them both killed.
The action is fast and furious and will keep you turning the pages long past midnight.
I give Snowed 4 lovely kisses
First posted on http://jacqbiggar.com
May 1, 2015
"Snowed" by Veronica Forand is my first book by this author and it will not be my last. I usually don't read Romantic Suspense, but I thoroughly enjoyed this story. The book kept me enthralled from start to finish, and I really didn't want to put it down because the action packed scenes that the author described made me want to find out what was going to happen next.
March 13, 2015
Snowed by Veronica Forand was an intriguing read filled with suspense. I loved Con and really liked Lorena. This book kept me guessing to where I had no idea how this story was going to play out....and that's a good thing. Great book!
September 20, 2019
Excellent story!
This is a pretty quick read. It's intense from the first word until the last and it's a little violent. There is a hint of steam, but it's tasteful and lovely. Great ending.
This is a pretty quick read. It's intense from the first word until the last and it's a little violent. There is a hint of steam, but it's tasteful and lovely. Great ending.
February 28, 2018
A good, fun ride...
January 31, 2016
✩ ✩ ✩ ✩ FOUR-STAR ✩ REVIEW ✩ ✩ ✩ ✩
⚠ MY THOUGHTS ⚠
Judging a Book by it's Cover:
I totally judged this book by it's cover MODEL, I'm not going to lie... if he's on the cover, chances are I'd buy it. LUCKILY, I was able to peel my eyes away from him to read the synopsis & the plot sounds great, too. Now, back to the model.... *wink*
Looking Deeper:
Third person POV. Con works for the largest drug cartel bosses in Southern California, or so it seems. Lorena's drug-addicted sister was just killed by Mendoza and he is looking at Lorena as a liability, a loose end. He charges Con to take her into isolation until further notice. Time spent together draws them closer, but when Mendoza ultimately gives the kill order, will Con be able to continue following orders or will everything go to hell?
The lead characters were rather solid. Their chemistry was quiet, natural. There were a few minor secondary characters, but for the most part, the novella focused solely on Lorena and Con. Dialogue was believable, interaction was realistic. The plot, for being so short, was still dynamic and full feeling. Ms. Forand's writing style was extremely smooth and enjoyable. There were not a lot of conflicts, but rather one big one with minor issues intertwined throughout. All of the conflicts were resolved in a timely manner. Predictability was low. The conclusion was solid and satisfying. Overall, it was a very quick read that satisfied the Romance and Suspense categories in a well-blended plot.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rating: 3.75 [R] ~ Score: 4.2 ~ Stars: 4
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
⚠ MY THOUGHTS ⚠
Judging a Book by it's Cover:
I totally judged this book by it's cover MODEL, I'm not going to lie... if he's on the cover, chances are I'd buy it. LUCKILY, I was able to peel my eyes away from him to read the synopsis & the plot sounds great, too. Now, back to the model.... *wink*
Looking Deeper:
Third person POV. Con works for the largest drug cartel bosses in Southern California, or so it seems. Lorena's drug-addicted sister was just killed by Mendoza and he is looking at Lorena as a liability, a loose end. He charges Con to take her into isolation until further notice. Time spent together draws them closer, but when Mendoza ultimately gives the kill order, will Con be able to continue following orders or will everything go to hell?
The lead characters were rather solid. Their chemistry was quiet, natural. There were a few minor secondary characters, but for the most part, the novella focused solely on Lorena and Con. Dialogue was believable, interaction was realistic. The plot, for being so short, was still dynamic and full feeling. Ms. Forand's writing style was extremely smooth and enjoyable. There were not a lot of conflicts, but rather one big one with minor issues intertwined throughout. All of the conflicts were resolved in a timely manner. Predictability was low. The conclusion was solid and satisfying. Overall, it was a very quick read that satisfied the Romance and Suspense categories in a well-blended plot.
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Rating: 3.75 [R] ~ Score: 4.2 ~ Stars: 4
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February 19, 2016
Lorena’s sister was killed by Mendoza, the drug lord who fed her addiction. Since her death, Lorena has been seeking justice. When the drug lord suspects Lorena of being a snitch, he sends his number two, Con, to take her away and dispose of her. The problem is, Con is an undercover Fed and has developed feelings for Lorena during the time he’s known her. When he takes her away and Mendoza finds out who the real snitch is, the bullets will fly.
This novella is part of a series but can be read as a stand-alone, which is what I did. Not having any background on the characters from the previous books, I could tell they had been introduced earlier on. That being said, the author does a good job catching us up on what had already taken place. Because of its shorter length, the story does move along pretty fast, not leaving a lot of room for detail. Due to this reason, I felt the suspense was only lukewarm. There’s one sex scene and it’s skimmed over, so no pages-long description. The climax is satisfying, although a bit of a head scratcher as the Feds pretty much left Con and Lorena out to dry when things went down. It seemed like poor planning from my perspective. With all of that being said, this is a nice read if you’re looking for a way to spend an afternoon.
My thanks to NetGalley and Barclay Publicity for the opportunity to read and review Snowed by Veronica Forand.
This novella is part of a series but can be read as a stand-alone, which is what I did. Not having any background on the characters from the previous books, I could tell they had been introduced earlier on. That being said, the author does a good job catching us up on what had already taken place. Because of its shorter length, the story does move along pretty fast, not leaving a lot of room for detail. Due to this reason, I felt the suspense was only lukewarm. There’s one sex scene and it’s skimmed over, so no pages-long description. The climax is satisfying, although a bit of a head scratcher as the Feds pretty much left Con and Lorena out to dry when things went down. It seemed like poor planning from my perspective. With all of that being said, this is a nice read if you’re looking for a way to spend an afternoon.
My thanks to NetGalley and Barclay Publicity for the opportunity to read and review Snowed by Veronica Forand.
July 19, 2016
This is a pretty short book, but unlike most novellas you're not left with a disconnect to the characters. Despite the shortness of the book, the author does a great job at developing both of the main characters as well as a few of the more minor characters.
Con is deep undercover for the FBI, trying to bring down a major drug ring. He is a dealer's right hand man - he does anything that is asked of him including kidnapping Lorena. Despite their history together, he can't blow his cover to her so he is forced to let her believe that he is a no good criminal despite everything in him wanting to protect her from his boss.
Lorena just wanted answers; she wanted to know how her sister died and who was responsible for her death. She tried going through the police, going as far as suggesting Con's boss was responsible and likely involve in drug trafficking. When she gets no answers, she realizes there is nothing she can do to get the answers she so desperately wants. Just when she stops asking though, Con's boss' shipment is raided and he blames Lorena.
This short, but action packed novella makes you realize that you can't always judge a book by it's cover.
** ARC received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review **
Con is deep undercover for the FBI, trying to bring down a major drug ring. He is a dealer's right hand man - he does anything that is asked of him including kidnapping Lorena. Despite their history together, he can't blow his cover to her so he is forced to let her believe that he is a no good criminal despite everything in him wanting to protect her from his boss.
Lorena just wanted answers; she wanted to know how her sister died and who was responsible for her death. She tried going through the police, going as far as suggesting Con's boss was responsible and likely involve in drug trafficking. When she gets no answers, she realizes there is nothing she can do to get the answers she so desperately wants. Just when she stops asking though, Con's boss' shipment is raided and he blames Lorena.
This short, but action packed novella makes you realize that you can't always judge a book by it's cover.
** ARC received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review **
June 26, 2015
Lorena tried to save her sister from Mondoza and the drugs. Sadly, you can't save someone who doesn't want to be saved. She misses her, especially since her sister was the only family she had left. However, Mondoza isn't a man you want on your bad side, and Lorena made too much noise to the police. She finds herself kidnapped by Con, Mondoza's second in charge.
Con is tired. He's been undercover for the FBI for over five years and he's ready to take Mondoza down. Posing as a drug dealer/enforcer is exhausting and now he has to worry about Lorena. He's always been attracted to her and being stuck with her in a tiny cabin may push him too far. But he knows Mondoza wants her dead and Con knows he's it's only a matter of time before he shows up.
This book was a very fast read. The characters were okay and we get both POVs. It's also a pretty clean book. 3.5 stars for me
Con is tired. He's been undercover for the FBI for over five years and he's ready to take Mondoza down. Posing as a drug dealer/enforcer is exhausting and now he has to worry about Lorena. He's always been attracted to her and being stuck with her in a tiny cabin may push him too far. But he knows Mondoza wants her dead and Con knows he's it's only a matter of time before he shows up.
This book was a very fast read. The characters were okay and we get both POVs. It's also a pretty clean book. 3.5 stars for me
July 18, 2016
*I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
After her sister dies, Lorena Rubio is just trying to get on with life but can’t when the past catches up. Undercover FBI agent Andres “Con” Conesa kidnaps Lorena and whisks her away to a remote cabin in the middle of nowhere. Even though sparks fly, Lorena thinks Con is a criminal and wants nothing to do with him. However, when passion flares, Con must find a way for them both to survive.
Verdict: What a nice quick novella to end the night with. The story flowed nicely, the chemistry between Con and Lorena was lovely, and it had a suspenseful beginning with a sweet end.
After her sister dies, Lorena Rubio is just trying to get on with life but can’t when the past catches up. Undercover FBI agent Andres “Con” Conesa kidnaps Lorena and whisks her away to a remote cabin in the middle of nowhere. Even though sparks fly, Lorena thinks Con is a criminal and wants nothing to do with him. However, when passion flares, Con must find a way for them both to survive.
Verdict: What a nice quick novella to end the night with. The story flowed nicely, the chemistry between Con and Lorena was lovely, and it had a suspenseful beginning with a sweet end.
February 12, 2016
A great, short read that didn't have me struggling with the details or the suspension of disbelief, right up until the stuttering climax and hasty resolution that didn't quite do the story justice. Yet I liked the snarky humour, the believable characters and the effort to portray all shades of grey in the book, enough to wish that Con/Lorena had more time of their own.
*ARC by netgalley
(still grateful, mind)
*ARC by netgalley
(still grateful, mind)
May 17, 2016
Snowed was a cute take on the infiltrating the mob stories. I liked the characters, they were believable, which is sometimes hard to find in these types of stories. I liked the HEA. I wish that there had been a little more backstory, I felt like I was just on the outside looking in for the whole book.
February 23, 2016
This was just an okay read for me. You cannot judge a book by its cover. Things are not as they seem for this couple. There is danger and strong chemistry that helps this couple snowed in, act on their feelings, fall in love, and get their HEA.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher for an honest review.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher for an honest review.
April 21, 2015
4 and 1/2 stars. This is not a story I would normally read. I almost put it down, but I kept reading regardless and I did enjoy it. I took 1/2 a star off because there was not enough heat and the bedroom scene was a "made for TV" scene. I like my stories HOT!
February 26, 2016
Such a cute little book !
It has the cartel, fbi, undercover people, and a girl who gets falsely accused.
What more could you want ?!
Yes this book has it all !
Would i reread it? Probably not
Do i recommend it for a short little read? Yes !
It has the cartel, fbi, undercover people, and a girl who gets falsely accused.
What more could you want ?!
Yes this book has it all !
Would i reread it? Probably not
Do i recommend it for a short little read? Yes !
April 9, 2015
Great novella. Just a nice romance, with a bit of suspense. I really enjoyed this story and read it start to finish in one sitting.
April 13, 2016
3.5*
Snowed was a good, quick read that had cute banter between the hero and heroine. It is a complete standalone, written in third person, with a HEA.
Snowed was a good, quick read that had cute banter between the hero and heroine. It is a complete standalone, written in third person, with a HEA.
March 11, 2016
I really enjoyed reading Snowed. The story was well paced, and I enjoyed the character’s interaction. I look forward to reading more by this author.
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