The Perfect Date: not so perfect

The Perfect Date by Evelyn Lozada is the story of a hard-working single mother who is used to challenges. As a pregnant teen who was abandoned by her son’s father and losing her mother soon after, Angel has learned to deal with everything with a small support system. Angel Gomez’s goal in life was to finish nursing school and provide for her 7-year-old son. Love is not in her plans. Caleb “The Duke” Lewis is a star pitcher for the Bronx Bolts whose escapades made him a common topic in gossip columns. As he is trying to get back into the game and keep a low profile socially that Angel doesn’t recognize him when they met twice in the same day. When Angel fails to fall for his usual charm, he decides she’s perfect.  She is the perfect woman for his plot to fool the tabloids into thinking he has changed his ways. But as the charade begins, it soon becomes apparent that something else could be there. Will they be able to play their part? Or will love find a way in?

The Perfect Date started strong for me. I loved Angel’s Puerto Rican sassiness and her commitment to her son and her school. Unfortunately, the book fell with each chapter. I found myself not caring about Duke and his issues. I found some of the language to be very harsh and abrasive at times. I kept telling myself that it was how some people talked but it irritated me. I don’t allow people to talk like that around me in real life so why am I reading it. I really wanted to love The Perfect Date as I love romance novels, but I didn’t even like it. I do not recommend The Perfect Date.

The Perfect Date

will be available in paperback and eBook

on June 11, 2019

Death of Nation: a scathing look into 9/11 and its aftermath

Death of a Nation: 9/11 and the Rise of Fascism in America by George W. Grundy is a scathing account of the events leading to 9/11, the events of the day and the aftermath. Mr. Grundy argues that the events of 9/11 have been falsely portrayed. His premise is that the attacks were carried out by entities within the U.S. government and the military. Everything from the wars in the Middle East to the rise of ISIS to the election of Donald Trump. He discusses the timeline of 9/11 and the inaction of individuals and inconsistency in the statements made in the days following the tragedy. He asserts that the World Trade Center was a controlled demolition. The main premise is how the US government reacted with wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the Patriot Act and Guantanamo Bay all have led to fascism in America. He asserts that anyone who believes the official report and that the government had no part in the 9/11 terrorist attack is blind.

I don’t know anyone who truly believes that the government tells the American public the truth. There never really has been transparency in government (even though some may have tried). It reminds of a line from the movie, Tommy Boy (1995), Ray Zalinsky (played by Dan Aykroyd) says “What the American public doesn't know is what makes them the American public.” Some of the American didn’t want to know. The grief and shock of watching the events unfold overwhelmed them that they didn’t pay attention to what happened afterword. While I do not agree with all of Mr. Grundy’s assertions and many of his assertions sound a lot like conspiracy theories, however; he does bring up valid points and shows the lasting effects of that horrible day. I recommend this book for those who are interested in reading an in-depth analysis of a day many of us cannot forget.

Death of a Nation:

9/11 and the Rise of Fascism in American

is available on Amazon

in hardcover and on the Kindle