25 Years To Life - Book Blitz and Giveaway

​Love through the Ages: Every Generation has its Story 

25 Years To Life
The Hopeless Romantics Book 1
by CJ Ives Lopez
Genre: Sweet Contemporary Romance 

In a heartfelt journey through small-town Iowa, a forbidden love challenges destiny, unveiling secrets that could alter the course of many lives.

The emotional, family drama romance "25 Years to Life" captures the essence of forbidden love and the relentless pursuit of truth. Shelly and Esteban, torn apart by societal norms and personal sacrifices, leave behind a legacy of mysteries and unspoken promises that threaten the fabric of their family.

The story unfolds in the lush fields of Iowa, where Shelly and Esteban's love blossoms against all odds. Their deep and undeniable connection faces the ultimate test when external forces and cultural divides pull them into separate worlds. As the years pass, the silence around their separation grows heavier, casting long shadows over their loved ones.

Without revealing the identity of their offspring or the intricacies of their hidden past, the narrative weaves through the challenges and emotional scars left in the wake of their unresolved romance. The ripple effects of their love story set the stage for a powerful tale of discovery, identity, and the enduring strength of love.

"25 Years to Life" is a poignant exploration of love's complexity, the weight of secrets, and the healing power of truth. This novel invites readers into a world where past and present collide, offering a lens into the hearts of those bound by love and separated by circumstances. For fans of deeply emotional narratives and stories of love against all odds, this book promises a journey of heartache, redemption, and the infinite possibilities that come with uncovering the truth.


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​"Esteban was a dream come true, yet I couldn't help but feel a sense of guilt as if I were betraying Todd and all my friends. Thoughts of how to tell Todd and others about Esteban and me swirled in my mind. I refused to keep someone I cared about a secret because that wouldn't be fair. Esteban brushed off the blanket, allowing me to sit, and that small gesture warmed my heart. In these little acts of thoughtfulness, I realized no one had ever treated me with such care before. I reflected on the past six years with Todd, questioning if he truly loved me. Did he take me for granted because he had grown accustomed to me? Perhaps this break was exactly what we needed. I deserved to be treated with care and respect, just like Esteban showed me. Dusting off a blanket so I could sit comfortably and walking on the outside of the sidewalk to protect me from passing cars—these were the small gestures of a gentleman, the type of man I had always longed for. My father had been my protector, and now, in Esteban, I found someone who respected me enough to let me be bold, daring, and speak my mind. Todd hadn't done those small things, and it was time for me to find someone who would."

CJ Ives Lopez, a proud 20-year Air Force veteran, originally hails from Festus, Missouri, before relocating to Indianapolis, Indiana. After her distinguished military service, she founded The Authors Porch, leading the organization for four years before refocusing on her writing. As a best-selling, multiple award-winning author in various genres, including heartwarming children's stories under her Pen name Auntie Nann, CJ's literary journey is a testament to the transformative power of pursuing dreams. Explore CJ's captivating literary world and inspiring journey as she dives into diverse worlds with multiple pen names. at www.cjiveslopez.com.


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What inspired you to write this book?
25 Years to Life was born from another book that is about to come out in November. The book I’m talking about is Broadway or Bust, which is being turned into a trilogy. 25 Years to Life is within the Hopeless Romantics world and it’s the parent's story from Broadway or Bust, which is the ACE Trilogy (Angelica, Camille, Estelle). 25 Years to Life is Estelle’s Parents' story, and Estelle comes out in the book and the second half of the book is told from her point of view. It’s told from her mother's point of view when she is Estelle’s age, then turns to 25 years later Estelle’s point of view on Estelle’s 25th birthday. I was inspired because, in the beginning, these three girls, Angelica, Camille, and Estelle, came to me, these three Best Friends, and were telling me their story (they are characters, by the way, but in my world, they are my besties LOL) and as everything unfolded, their parent's stories were coming to me too. I’ve got parents, siblings, and all the family’s stories and Christmas stories coming alive in my head, and I couldn’t stop. I stopped for a while because I got jumbled up about who was who and which story to tell first, but I felt this sense of urgency to tell Esteban’s story, so that is why 25 Years to Life came out under CJ Ives Lopez and the other stories will come out under Clara Jay.

What can we expect from you in the future?
I have moved all the Friendship Fiction books under Clara Jay, she writes the sweet make your heart melt and break and mend again all at the same time. She has The ACE Trilogy, with Book 1 coming out in October. That trilogy will have Christmas Story companions coming out each Christmas. From there, she will tell the rest of the Parents stories and eventually, you will know everyone in their family. You will know Camille’s Parents and Angelica’s parents. There are siblings stories. It’s going to be so much fun as paths cross over, and there is so much love and friendship because the parents were best friends, that’s how the girls ended up in dance class together.

Do you have any “side stories” about the characters?
Oh yes, all of the characters will have their own stories.

Can you tell us a little bit about the characters in 25 Years to Life?
in 25 Years to Life, I have:
Shelly is the main character. She’s from Iowa and graduating from college. She’s a sweet girl who never plans on leaving home.
Todd - Shelly’s boyfriend who is a small-town guy with a good heart and graduated college
Adriana - Shelly’s Best friend and ride or die and is Latina but was born and raised in Iowa. Her parents migrated there
Santana - Adriana’s boyfriend and the only other Latin family in the town and his family had migrated there as well.
Esteban—He is there for the summer doing migrant work and finds out about doing ranch work on Shelly’s farm. Shelly describes him to Adriana as some ‘Greek God’ standing in her kitchen, to which Adriana corrects her and says, ' He’s a Mexican girl, not Greek. '

How did you come up with the concept and characters for the book?
My husband is of Mexican descent and I live in an area that is 95% Hispanic. I love the vibrant community along with the story of migrant workers and immigration, to which my great - grandfather was an immigrant from Italy. I believe in telling stories that are culturally diverse because our world isn’t one or the other; it’s all the things. I’ve resonated with the Hispanic culture for the majority of my life, and I wanted to show characters that look like what I see almost every day when my children went to school down here, they were welcomed into the Hispanic culture like they had been here their whole lives and they were accepted more than any other place that we had ever lived. I find it important to show the beauty in everything. The book's concept was somewhat of my husband and me where we were friends losing touch and gaining connection again for six years before we actually met in person, then were inseparable and are married now for 12 years. Love finds its way when it’s meant to be, no matter how long you must wait for someone.

Where did you come up with the names in the story?
25 is how old Estelle is at the time when her story comes in. Life is how long they plan on spending their time together. It’s a play on the storyline, which I try to do with all of my stories.

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?
I loved writing about the discovery of Estelle and Lupe. It was that bond between her and her Tia that was so interesting to me. Could you imagine getting a call out of the blue and learning that you had a long-lost aunt who wanted to connect with you?

Tell us about your main characters- what makes them tick?
Estelle is the main character in the second half, but she is driven. She wants to succeed, and in the first half, her mother is the same. It’s neat how both of their personalities are the same, and Esteban is the same way. You can see a lot of the familiar parts of their personalities combined.

How did you come up with the title of your first novel?
My first book's name is a play on the storyline, but You don’t discover that until you read the story because it’s a spoiler if you knew ahead of time.

Who designed your book covers?
I designed 25 years to life, but Miblart has designed most others. It’s either me or Miblart.

If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?
I think I would have had Miblart do the cover, but I enjoyed the process of doing it myself. I love artistic expression, and I do it from time to time. I Love Miblart’s work, though, and continue to go back to it over and over.

If your book was made into a film, who would you like to play the lead?
Esteban in the future - Mark Consuelos
Shelly in the future - Kelly Rippa
Shelly in the past - Lola Consuelas
Esteban in the Past - Xolo Mariduena
Lupe - Rosie Perez
Angelica - Leilah de Meza
Camille - Xochitl Gomez

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