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La Familia #1
Saving La Familia
Can smart, scrappy Dina Salazar find the heart and strength to overcome her hatred of an ex-fiancé so that she can fulfill her immigrant grandmother’s wish and rescue a long-lost cousin in Mexico?
A smart, scrappy teacher is called upon by her traditional Mexican-American grandmother to help a relative in Mexico escape the clutches of a dangerous cartel. Reluctantly, she agrees, but in coming to her grandmother’s aid, she needs the help of The Hated One, an ex-fiancé who broke her heart years before. Together, they must devise a plan to rescue her desperate, long-lost cousin and her cousin’s child. To do so, Dina Salazar must enter the dreaded turf of the Zetas, a ruthless Mexican drug cartel. Such a mission is not for the faint of heart!
SAVING LA FAMILIA by Donna Del Oro, about a latina teacher who's recruited by her Mexican-born grandmother to save her cousins from a dangerous Mexican drug cartel. It's a romantic-suspense comedy with many "buen dichos"!
A smart, scrappy teacher is called upon by her traditional Mexican-American grandmother to help a relative in Mexico escape the clutches of a dangerous cartel. Reluctantly, she agrees, but in coming to her grandmother’s aid, she needs the help of The Hated One, an ex-fiancé who broke her heart years before. Together, they must devise a plan to rescue her desperate, long-lost cousin and her cousin’s child. To do so, Dina Salazar must enter the dreaded turf of the Zetas, a ruthless Mexican drug cartel. Such a mission is not for the faint of heart!
SAVING LA FAMILIA by Donna Del Oro, about a latina teacher who's recruited by her Mexican-born grandmother to save her cousins from a dangerous Mexican drug cartel. It's a romantic-suspense comedy with many "buen dichos"!
- GenresRomantic Suspense
398 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2022
About the author
Donna Del Oro
25 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 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 9, 2022
This book has been in my TBR pile for quite some time, largely because after downloading it, I realized it had a first-person narrator. Never a fan of first-person narration, I've had a tendency to leave those books at the bottom of the stack. However, I've read a couple of decent ones lately, so I decided to give this one a go. I'm glad I did. Or maybe I wish I hadn't. Ack, I'm of two minds with this one.
On the one hand, I really like Dina, the heroine and narrator of the story. She's smart about everything but men (more on that later), valiant, and funny. She especially shines in her willingness to go the extra mile to help bring her cousin and her son to the States to get away from the cousin's cartel-boss husband. Nuts and somewhat unlikely (her being part of a DEA plan), but it's fiction, so I decided to go with it.
On the other hand, her taste in men? Gaaaaaaaah, I just cannot accept a "hero" who cheats, even if said cheating is in the past. I just...uuuuugh. I kept waiting for some kind of reveal to redeem Rick--an unknown misunderstanding, a revelation that they "were on a break" at the time, perhaps a roofie slipped into his beer the night of the cheat--but I never got one, at least not to my satisfaction. There's an effort made ("He's so generous! A real caballero!"), but for me, just no. Yick. Feh. Nope.
Far more interesting was the story to rescue Teresa, Dina's cousin. I think the story could have focused only on that, with the Rick part left off. (Though I suppose that Rick part was necessary to give weight to the slightly subliminal theme about the power of forgiveness.) Anyway, the escape from Mexico...though a lot of it seemed far-fetched, it was still exciting enough to keep me reading. Er, at least reading those parts.
It's true. At about 60 to 70 percent in, I was so fed up with Rick (and creepy Steve, but I won't get into him here) that I nearly gave up and logged a DNF. Instead, I flipped past the whole middle part about Dina and Rick and went straight to the rescue. And I don't think it really made a difference.
So overall, I'm giving it 3 stars though it really skirted the line several times (and I was relieved to finish it). Romance purists might want to take a pass, but those looking for a more general piece of fiction might enjoy it.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher and Netgalley. I'm writing this review voluntarily, and it reflects my honest opinion. Thanks!
On the one hand, I really like Dina, the heroine and narrator of the story. She's smart about everything but men (more on that later), valiant, and funny. She especially shines in her willingness to go the extra mile to help bring her cousin and her son to the States to get away from the cousin's cartel-boss husband. Nuts and somewhat unlikely (her being part of a DEA plan), but it's fiction, so I decided to go with it.
On the other hand, her taste in men? Gaaaaaaaah, I just cannot accept a "hero" who cheats, even if said cheating is in the past. I just...uuuuugh. I kept waiting for some kind of reveal to redeem Rick--an unknown misunderstanding, a revelation that they "were on a break" at the time, perhaps a roofie slipped into his beer the night of the cheat--but I never got one, at least not to my satisfaction. There's an effort made ("He's so generous! A real caballero!"), but for me, just no. Yick. Feh. Nope.
Far more interesting was the story to rescue Teresa, Dina's cousin. I think the story could have focused only on that, with the Rick part left off. (Though I suppose that Rick part was necessary to give weight to the slightly subliminal theme about the power of forgiveness.) Anyway, the escape from Mexico...though a lot of it seemed far-fetched, it was still exciting enough to keep me reading. Er, at least reading those parts.
It's true. At about 60 to 70 percent in, I was so fed up with Rick (and creepy Steve, but I won't get into him here) that I nearly gave up and logged a DNF. Instead, I flipped past the whole middle part about Dina and Rick and went straight to the rescue. And I don't think it really made a difference.
So overall, I'm giving it 3 stars though it really skirted the line several times (and I was relieved to finish it). Romance purists might want to take a pass, but those looking for a more general piece of fiction might enjoy it.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher and Netgalley. I'm writing this review voluntarily, and it reflects my honest opinion. Thanks!
March 10, 2022
Read my review on NovelsAlive.com by clicking the link below. It is also posted in full.
https://novelsalive.com/2022/03/10/4-...
Saving La Familia by Donna Del Oro has a lot of action throughout. There were twists and turns to the story filled with Mexican-Americans and their culture, lots of secrets, past hurts, family and friends, jobs and businesses, successes and failures, drugs, cartels, family connections, loving, and love. It’s also a chance at a second-chance romance for the main character, Dina. I love the sweetness of the cover, although there was some darkness throughout.
Saving La Familia is fast-paced and has several storylines woven together even when they don’t seem to be. At the start of each chapter, there are quotes by different characters that shed some light on what’s to come.
The cultural details rounded out the story nicely. This is Dina’s story through and through, and much of it deals with her relationships and interactions with her family, extended family, past boyfriend Rick, best friend Lisa, and others. Dina seems to be in over her head to help save a cousin and her son who lives in Mexico that she and the rest of the family didn’t even know existed. But she wants to make her grandmother proud since the cousin Dina’s grandmother’s newfound granddaughter who needs help, and they’re all caught up in a dangerous situation.
I loved how Dina and Rick’s romance was portrayed and how Rick always seemed to be there for Dina’s family. But is Rick worth a second shot after the way he treated Dina in the past?
The family dynamics were realistically depicted. There was a lot of Spanish sprinkled throughout, which was translated for the reader. The villains were truly evil and added another layer to the story.
There was nice closure as well as a hint of how their lives turned out. There were several happily ever afters. Ms. Del Oro is a new-to-me author. I hope to read some of her other romances and have added a few to my TBR pile.
With genuinely seat-of-my-pants suspenseful action, tender moments, and realistic characters, Ms. Del Oro has struck an outstanding balance with her La Familia series, and I look forward to reading the next books in the series.
https://novelsalive.com/2022/03/10/4-...
Saving La Familia by Donna Del Oro has a lot of action throughout. There were twists and turns to the story filled with Mexican-Americans and their culture, lots of secrets, past hurts, family and friends, jobs and businesses, successes and failures, drugs, cartels, family connections, loving, and love. It’s also a chance at a second-chance romance for the main character, Dina. I love the sweetness of the cover, although there was some darkness throughout.
Saving La Familia is fast-paced and has several storylines woven together even when they don’t seem to be. At the start of each chapter, there are quotes by different characters that shed some light on what’s to come.
The cultural details rounded out the story nicely. This is Dina’s story through and through, and much of it deals with her relationships and interactions with her family, extended family, past boyfriend Rick, best friend Lisa, and others. Dina seems to be in over her head to help save a cousin and her son who lives in Mexico that she and the rest of the family didn’t even know existed. But she wants to make her grandmother proud since the cousin Dina’s grandmother’s newfound granddaughter who needs help, and they’re all caught up in a dangerous situation.
I loved how Dina and Rick’s romance was portrayed and how Rick always seemed to be there for Dina’s family. But is Rick worth a second shot after the way he treated Dina in the past?
The family dynamics were realistically depicted. There was a lot of Spanish sprinkled throughout, which was translated for the reader. The villains were truly evil and added another layer to the story.
There was nice closure as well as a hint of how their lives turned out. There were several happily ever afters. Ms. Del Oro is a new-to-me author. I hope to read some of her other romances and have added a few to my TBR pile.
With genuinely seat-of-my-pants suspenseful action, tender moments, and realistic characters, Ms. Del Oro has struck an outstanding balance with her La Familia series, and I look forward to reading the next books in the series.
March 8, 2022
Delores “Dina” Salazar must aid a cousin she’s never met who is escaping the clutches of a drug cartel in Mexico. To help her cousin, Dina needs the assistance of her ex-fiancé, a man she despises after he cheated on her during their engagement.
Yes, I’ll admit, finding out why the ex-fiancé, Rick Ramos, got dumped did disturb me a little. And it might bother some readers, even trigger some, but I forged on, wondering if he could redeem himself, not only in Dina’s eyes, but in my eyes.
Read more here: https://t.co/gy3Ucbb5rL
Yes, I’ll admit, finding out why the ex-fiancé, Rick Ramos, got dumped did disturb me a little. And it might bother some readers, even trigger some, but I forged on, wondering if he could redeem himself, not only in Dina’s eyes, but in my eyes.
Read more here: https://t.co/gy3Ucbb5rL
March 27, 2022
Interesting and engaging adventure plus romance. Intriguing characters. Lots of bits of wisdom. Enjoyable page turner. I would prefer the sexual references deleted, but that is just me. I like my romances squeaky clean. Bilingual persons would probably enjoy the grandmother's sayings even more than I did. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley.
February 21, 2024
This is a smart, romantic-suspense story with a delightful Latina heroine, whose loyalty to family sometimes overrides her common sense! This book has won two awards, the Silver Falchion in 2022 for Best Comedy-Suspense and the Bronze Award from the International Latino Book Awards in 2023!
March 12, 2022
AMAZING!!!!! That's all I really have to say about this book! A must read! Loved it!
May 23, 2022
Good read
Great backstory for the characters and fascinating plot. There is a detailed cultural heritage, which was interesting to read through. Enjoyable read.
Great backstory for the characters and fascinating plot. There is a detailed cultural heritage, which was interesting to read through. Enjoyable read.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews