Blog Tour Review & Giveaway: 8 Weeks – Bethany Lopez

Title: 8 Weeks
Series: Time For Love #1
Author: Bethany Lopez
Release Date: March 24, 2014
Reviewer:  Shannon

Is eight weeks enough time to earn back the love of someone you’ve betrayed…the only one you’ve ever loved? Shelly has been in love with Cal since they started dating in eleventh grade. Despite everyone saying that the odds were against them, they got married after graduation and built a life together. Now, six years later, she is faced with the ultimate betrayal. Devastated, her first instinct is to call it quits… After a drunken binge at his best friends’ bachelor party, Cal betrays the one person who has always been there for him, his wife, Shelly. Terrified and realizing she might divorce him, Cal must come up with a way to prove to her that his love is true… Cal asks Shelly for eight weeks. Eight weeks to convince her that their marriage is worth the fight. Will Shelly be able to trust him again, or will their marriage end the way many others do when faced with opposition… In divorce? 8 Weeks is book 1 in the Time for Love series, but can be read as a stand alone.

Rating:

Reviewer’s Thoughts

This book brought all sorts of emotional responses as I read it.  One, did Cal cheat or not.  Even though he couldn’t remember what happened that night in Vegas, it looked damning.  I generally don’t find myself sympathizing with a character if they’ve been involved in cheating, but it was hard not to feel back for Cal because of how beaten up he was.  I will say, he fessed up immediately even when he knew it was probably going to end the life he loved. I went back and forth with Shelly.  I could understand her reaction and completely sympathized with her.  But she ran without ever asking questions.   If that were me, I would have asked why (repeatedly).  I may have separated myself from Cal, but I don’t think I would have been quite as rash as Shel was. I really enjoyed Cal and what he was willing to do to win Shel back.  Demanding those dates, one a week for every year they were together, was brilliant and proved to Shel that despite what happened in Vegas, what they had was worth salvaging. I really enjoyed the pace of this story and most of the characters.  I look forward to reading more in this series. Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00J68HSV6 iTunes – https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/8-weeks/id824527046?mt=11 Smashwords – https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/409863 Barnes & Noble – http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/8-weeks-bethany-lopez/1118708064?ean=2940149279555&itm=1&usri=2940149279555 Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18665874-8-weeks  

Cal’s POV

“Jesus,” Cal exclaimed, running his hands through his hair in frustration. “I want you to do what you want to do … I always have. If you want to tattoo your entire body, shave your head, and dye yourself blue … go for it. I’m not your ruler, Shelly, and I can’t believe that you’ve ever thought that I would dictate what you could or couldn’t do.”

          “It’s not like that …” I said, trying to explain, but the hurt radiating off of Cal was palpable, and it suddenly didn’t seem like anything I’d say would help.

          “It sure as hell seems like that, doesn’t it. Is that what you think of me, of the last six years of our relationship?” Cal took a step closer to me, his voice low so as not to broadcast our fight to the entire restaurant. “No wonder you’re so quick to give up … I thought we were in a partnership, Shel. I’ve never expected you to ask my permission to do anything. I love you, for who you are, and I want you to do what makes you happy.”

          My heart pounded loudly in my chest, and I felt a mixture of regret and fear running through me.

          “Cal, you’re taking this the wrong way. Yes, I’ve always wanted to do the things I’m doing now, and I didn’t because I didn’t think you’d like it.” His eyes narrowed at that, and I rushed on, hoping to make him understand. “Not because you wanted to dictate what I did or didn’t do, but because you liked me so much the way I was that I didn’t want to change anything. I wanted you to find me attractive …”

          Cal’s face smoothed out at my words, and when I was finished, he stepped even closer. Close enough that I could smell the mixture of sweat and grease on his body, and see his chocolate eyes darken as he said, “Never doubt how attractive I find you, Shelly. You were hot as hell before, and you’re hot as hell now. There isn’t anything that you could do to your appearance to make me not want you. I want you every minute of every day, Shelly. I promise you that.”

Award-Winning Author Bethany Lopez began self-publishing in June 2011. Since then she has published various YA and NA books. She is a lover of romance, family, and friends, and enjoys incorporating those things in what she writes. When she isn’t reading or writing, she loves spending time with her husband and children, traveling whenever possible.   a Rafflecopter giveaway