Mariana Zapata - Hands Down

Before he was Big Texas, he was Zac the Snack Pack.
Bianca Brannen knows time--mostly--heals all wounds. Including those your once loved ones might have unintentionally given you. (Those just take longer.)
She thinks she’s ready when a call has her walking back into her old friend’s life. Or at least as prepared as possible to see the starting quarterback in the National Football Organization. Before the lights, the fans, and the millions, he’d been a skinny kid with a heart of gold.
Waltzing out of Zac Travis’s life should be easy. Just as easy as he walked out of hers.

Comment: This is the 11th book by this author that I try. Except for two, one below and one above, I have placed all the books in the four star level and that is pretty much what I imagined going into this one. Sadly, despite being very illustrative of the author's usual style, I've found it a little less captivating than others.

Bianca Brannen is working part-time at a gym, dreaming of the day her co worker can find another job so that she, too, can quit and dedicate herself solely to her vlog, which is finally allowing her to pay the bills. Before that happens, she has to endure the new obnoxious boss and in the meantime her best friend and cousin VBoogie asks for her help and that is why she finds herself at the house where Zac Travis is currently living. Zac, a professional football player, seems to go through a hard time in his career, and she is certain he won't remember her from their younger years, since it's been 10 since they last spoke. She does give him the message and somehow they slowly reconnect. But for Bianca he had always been more than a friend, why revisiting all those feelings now, she wonder, could it be that he feels something too?

This author has a very recognizable style. She writes in first person, from the POV of the heroine and all her books feature people with interesting dynamics and plenty of professional/work related situations. I have enjoyed pretty much all the books' premises but two of my favorite stories have been about heroines who fin their HEA with an athlete. Therefore, I was quite hopeful regarding this one too.

Unfortunately, things didn't quite go that way, although at first I was confident they would, especially since Bianca wasn't having a good time at work. I thought the hero would join the gym and then lots of longing and stuff would happen which, with the despicable boss there, could make for interesting interactions and situations. Plus, I have previously enjoyed one or two other plots featuring main characters working at a gym, so...

Well, it turns out that being at the gym was more a side note for Bianca, to add to some frustration in her life, rather than it being a specific element for the development of the main plot. This means that the "meaty" part of the story is the slow reconnecting between her and Zac and the worries in their lives about other things. For Zac we understand he isn't feeling very confident with how things are and for Bianca all the worries about Zac and her vlog, which is now a real money maker for her. I mean, I cannot say these things are bad, only they felt a little boring to me.

When I think about the other books by the author that I liked more, part of the fun, even more than the slow burn romances, was the character interaction and the situations the characters had to deal with. Somehow, in those books, all these things seemed competent but interesting, they allowed me to have a certain notion of the characters, which is great if the story is told in first person. Sadly to me, I didn't think Bianca was that stimulating as a protagonist. In fact, there were times I felt things were very repetitive (and not only due to the book's length) because she wasn't that charming.

I wasn't very interested in her work thoughts, nor in her rehashing what had happened or not with Zac... well, basically I wasn't too taken by her. She is cute and easy to sympathize with, as are all the author's heroines, but Bianca sometimes felt a little whiny. I'm aware I'm being unfair, but that's how she read to me. Perhaps this would be solved by having the hero's POV but while I tend to like and identify with heroines who don't act confident and who have some self esteem issues, this time I couldn't get there with Bianca.

A huge part of these novels is to savor the slow burn romance. In some novels, things were quite well done, to the point that when they finally admit tehir feelings, it's like a "aha" moment. Here, it was another less positive aspect, for I didn't see any chemistry between Bianca and Zac. I don't think the author has managed to convey this properly with Bianca's POV and adding the fact this is, in part, a "friends to lovers" type of romance, with a little bit "lovers reunited" (although they had not been a couple ten years ago, they were emotionally close), two tropes I don't care much about, reading this romance novel was not very fun.

Despite these more negative aspects, the story is still fluid, the pages are easily turned with always some kind of element to grab me when I thought it would be boring again - I especially liked the vlog stuff - and, of course, there is a HEA at the end. Also, the cover is not really suitable, since there isn't much sport going on.

This author's books are long and I don't have much time to re-read but this, sadly, will probably not be a choice if I ever were to do it.

Grade: 6/10

Mariana Zapata - The Wall of Winnipeg and Me

Vanessa Mazur knows she's doing the right thing. She shouldn't feel bad for quitting. Being an assistant/housekeeper/fairy godmother to the top defensive end in the National Football Organization was always supposed to be temporary. She has plans and none of them include washing extra-large underwear longer than necessary.
But when Aiden Graves shows up at her door wanting her to come back, she's beyond shocked.
For two years, the man known as The Wall of Winnipeg couldn't find it in him to tell her good morning or congratulate her on her birthday. Now? He's asking for the unthinkable.
What do you say to the man who is used to getting everything he wants?

Comment: So far, out of the 13 books GR says Mariana Zapata has published, I've now read 9. As it always happens with any author who has published many books, of course I've liked some more than others, and this one, which I know it well liked by the majority of people who like the author's work, sadly didn't end up on my top favorites.

Vanessa Mazur has been the assistant of the famous Canadian football player Aiden Graves for two years and while she has been paid more than fairly and has managed to juggle her work for him with her own design business, she is now ready to quit. When she learns the taciturn Aiden and his agent Trevor discussed her, and Aiden didn't seem to defend her from Trevor's rude opinions, she feels she can give up on the great paycheck now that her finances are more or less balanced.

The problem is that Aiden was used to her, even if he didn't express himself, and a slightly bureaucratic issue with his VISA makes him look for Vanessa and ask her to marry him and he sweetens the deal by telling her he will give her a house after the time necessary for them to be legally bound, plus he will pay her students' loans, a debt she had not shared with her closed ones. Now Vanessa feels she can finally get a better control of her finances and life, but at what price for her heart?

This author certainly has a unique style and beyond the "slow burn" types of plots all her books have, the most obvious detail is her first person female narrators. I usually don't like this much in romance but when well done, it's not so annoying. Of all the books I've read by the author, I'm now used to this choice and sometimes I can even overlook it if the plot is fascinating, but sometimes it's too glaring. In this book, there were times where this tactic felt so unfair...I say this because the heroes are distant and grumpy per nature, when compared to the heroines, but not having their POV makes them feel extremely poorly developed and here that just seemed more obvious.

Vanessa, as heroine and narrator, is a sympathetic character, she has faced some traumas in the past - all the author's heroines face some difficulty or challenge - mainly psychological due to her family issues, but also some physical. As the story develop, we are slowly given information on what and how, and the consequences to Vanessa's self esteem, but since she is telling us the story, most time she seems to be a friendly and sometimes bubbly type of person, even when she's being mad or annoyed at something.

The heroines in mrs Zapata's books are always approachable and this is practically a requirement, otherwise how could these stories be palatable since the heroes are quiet and silent figures? I think the reader is supposed to infer a lot from the heroine's descriptions, but there are scenes and situations where this fails to be obvious and there are times I felt Aiden was too distant for too long. Some of his actions, such as looking for Vanessa to propose the marriage deal, felt a little out of character. This is what can happen if we only have one side of things or if some things are deliberately not shown.

Most of the story is about the evolution of Vanessa and Aiden's relationship, but to be fair I need to say they aren't demonstrative people and it can feel as if the romance is non existent. When they finally get together for real, the story ends one chapter and one epilogue later, so... of course the fun is in that, in seeing or noticing the little things that can make them become closer or that make them think about one another differently. Since, as I've said, this is not that obvious, I can understand how the pay off feels  weak for some readers.

The main reason why I like these stories is because the heroines do face some inner issues, they usually have complicated situations in their lives and/or past, and I do like plots where people get the upper hand after having problems. I was rooting for Vanessa, independently of her rich husband of convenience. It is true he does help, but once she starts living with him, I could see the improvement in her life and in her emotions and I felt happy for her.

Comparing this book to the ones I liked more by the author, I'd say the difference is precisely the evidence of the hero's feelings, both in actions and in dialogue. Somehow, the ones I liked more seemed to have had more page time...or perhaps it was only an impression.

Nevertheless, this was a story I had a good enough time reading, I knew what to expect even if I'd change a few details and this made it worth it for me. I'll certainly read the other books by the author in the TBR at some point, and I hope the dynamics and the premises will play out more to my personal taste.

Grade: 7/10

Mariana Zapata - The Best Thing

Some things are easily forgiven. Other things… not so much.
Lenny DeMaio made herself a promise: she was done.
Done thinking about him.
Done worrying about him.
Done reaching out to a man who clearly didn’t want to be found.
Too bad no one gave Jonah Collins the memo.

Comment: Another book by this author I finally read. I realized that, now, I only have two of her books to read and I do hope she will publish something in 2021 as well. Her style is pretty constant (first person female narrator with a slow burn relationship) but I keep reading to see the little things, the small details that make each story special.

In this book we meet Elena "Lenny" DeMaio, who recently took over the management of Maio Gym, specialized in MMA athletes as she goes on her daily life but that is quickly turned upside down with the appearance of rugby player Jonah Collins, someone she met in Paris and where they got to be really close. However, Jonah had an injury and disappeared and Lenny wasn't able to contact him to know what happened and for them to talk. Now he is in her office and she believes he finally got the several messages he left him all those months ago but it turns out, he didn't. Although she can't understand how someone just ignored communication for so long, she goes with it but after all that time is it still possible for their relationship to work out?

As expected, this is a story told by Lenny and we only get to know other character's opinions/motivations through her eyes. I find this tactic a good one to prolong the doubts of how the couple will be together in the end but sometimes, things seem to just be chewed and chewed and feel repetitive. I also think that the hero's POV would be welcome because there are things just just feel too partial if shared only in a conversation the heroine has with the hero. Sure, they can say what they feel but it's not the same as having access to more of the guy's thoughts.

This story also follows the pattern of the other plots: heroine has an opinion/impression of the hero and throughout the book, their relationship changes and she gets to think of him differently. It takes quite a while for that to happen and we often get many scenes with the characters' interactions and where they re together somehow. This obviously helps in creating the notion they are becoming closer but things usually get to a certain point where it feels like they walking around in circles. In what I think this book is slightly different is in how Lenny and Jonah get together again. I won't spoiler it but it was a nice diversion from the usual and it woked as distraction from the fact the heroine, again, had family issues.

Another interesting change from other books was how friendly, shy and reserved the hero was. He was not an arrogant alpha whose attitude would only be obvious after he got together with the heroine. Jonah has reasons to be quieter and I liked how he believed the heroine instead of just wanting to confront her, especially when he was away for so long. His reasons for this were also understandable but at the same time, in this modern age of easy communications, it felt a little forced, just so the plot could keep the secrets until the heroine made them possible to be told. 

Since we only see things from Lenny's perspective, it's also true that no matter how many qualities Jonah has, he still reads as very under developed. Some things are said and taken from granted but we don't really spend enough time with Jonah to see those things confirmed. Unlike other books, I also don't think the tension was done as well as it could to indicate Lenny and Jonah were reaching that unbearable point where they just couldn't help but be together. Their journey was more on the sweet side and although I don't mind it, I still think it could have had a few more sensual scenes before intimacy. 

I should say that the secondary characters who support Lenny (namely her grandfather) were very well done. I think the author does unity quite well but the antagonists are always too... distant emotionally, which means all the "villains" are guilty of not caring enough about the main female protagonist. This tactic can feel rather repetitive too...

Although this story isn't perfect, I still liked to spend time reading and turning the pages. For those who like slow pace, this works well but if you don't, this will feel a bit boring. I think it's very readable but yes, it could use a bit more sparkle...

Grade: 7/10

Mariana Zapata - Wait for It

If anyone ever said being an adult was easy, they hadn't been one long enough.

Diana Casillas can admit it: she doesn't know what the hell she's doing half the time. How she's made it through the last two years of her life without killing anyone is nothing short of a miracle. Being a grown-up wasn’t supposed to be so hard.

With a new house, two little boys she inherited the most painful possible way, a giant dog, a job she usually loves, more than enough family, and friends, she has almost everything she could ever ask for.
Except for a boyfriend.
Or a husband.
But who needs either one of those?

Comment: This is another book by Mariana Zapata that I had in my TBR. I suppose it is safe to say I'll end up reading all her books at some point. Her style is known to be a slow burn type of novel, where the relationship between protagonists is more focused on the emotional content than in the physical.

In this book we meet Diana Casillas, cousin to a protagonist of another book and best friend of another, whose story I haven't read yet.

Diana is raising her two young nephews after the death of her brother and, a little later, of his wife. She has made some mistakes in her past but now she is a grown up taking charge of her responsibilities and she takes it very seriously to educate the boys properly. When the story begins, they had just moved into a new house and that first day Diana happens to help a neighbor.That is also when she meets Dallas for the first time, for he is the guy's brother but when they meet again he doesn't seem to like her much for some reason.

One of her nephews likes to play baseball and he registers in a team. Of course, one of the coaches happens to be Dallas and a cousin of his which means most of the plot revolves around how often they interact. With time, though, as they get to know each other, both realize the other person is so much more than physical appearance or a first impression. Will they ever admit they like one another as more than friends?

Once again, I liked a book by the author. Even the one I liked less was not a bad book but there are some techniques I obviously prefer more and these plots where heroines aren't as one dimensional or as simple as they appear but instead hide quite a complex personality are my favorites. Diana is a good example for she kept mentioned her past choices, how silly she was before a responsibility she has embraced came into her life, and in the end I kind of liked a lot.

It's already a given this author favors the 1st person narrator and I do prefer when it isn't so, especially because it's not as exciting when we can't know what the other protagonist is thinking but also because at some point it seems things don't happen because the heroine is so clueless it can seem ridiculous. Nevertheless, I still liked the "voice" of Diana and I liked how dedicated she was to both her nephews and what she perceived as her willingness to do the right thing.

Dallas is the typical hero mrs Zapata creates, always so enigmatic, perhaps not as "alpha" as other heroes, but a guy who still maintained the distance, who seemed to not be on the same page with the heroine (until it was obvious to the reader) but who had all the required personality traits to be hero material. I would say he was slightly more approachable than the protagonist of other novels because his attitude towards those around him did seem more cordial than that with the heroine but in the end, of course it was special how he demonstrated his care and feelings for Diana and even for the boys too.

The two kids have very unique traits, they are not just props to keep things moving. The fact this is a slow burn and that Diana loves her nephews also helps in developing their personalities. There is time and page count to make them seem realistic...well, sort of because they do give the vibe they are too well behaved most of the time. Still, I could buy it considering the kind of background the author has created for them and how special is their bond with Diana too. The last scene of the book involves the youngest kid and Dallas and it was very sweet.

At times it did feel the pace was a little too slow, eve for the author. Some situations seemed to drag, to be repetitive and I can understand the need to make a point but having just one POV can have this effect if a lot of things are not that captivating or if nothing major happens in terms of action. Yes, the feels and the emotions re all there but sometimes it felt weird how much repetitiveness existed.

Still, this was a good book, I like the style so I can dismiss the things I don't like as much and there's a HEA that felt quite fulfilling. Not everything is perfect, Diana doesn't have all the negative things that happen to her or that influence her magically solved. But the important ones are quite an adventure for her and the boys and they do deserve happiness.

I'm eager to read another but I need to space them, otherwise I'll run out!

Grade: 7/10

Mariana Zapata - Luna and the Lie

The problem with secrets is that they’re too easy to keep collecting.
Luna Allen has done some things she would rather no one ever know about. She also knows that, if she could go back in time, she wouldn’t change a single thing.
With three sisters she loves, a job she (mostly) adores, and a family built up of friends she’s made over the years, Luna figures everything has worked out the way it was supposed to.
But when one of those secrets involves the man who signs her paycheck, she can’t find it in her to regret it. Despite the fact that he’s not the friendliest man in the world. Or the most patient.
Sometimes there are things you’re better off keeping to yourself.

Comment: I've decided to go through this author's complete work and I'm actually a little apprehensive that I only have three more books to go before I'm stuck in waiting mode so I have been delaying the read of the books. This way I'll have books to read for this year and the next but I wish the author would hurry but then again, she is as a slow writer as slow are her romances; I guess one needs to wait for god work!

In this book the heroine is Luna, she works in what one might consider a man's world for she paints cars in a car shop. There's some method to her work, she is good at it and she is especially thankful to her boss, a man who helped when she needed the most, who has helped while she worked and raised her younger sisters and to whom she feels she owes everything.

That is why she bears with a co-worker she dislikes, whom she knows cheated on one of her sisters and also why she keeps her sunny disposition with the new co-boss, Ripley, a many who doesn't seem to like anyone.

Luna knows she is in a good moment of her life but everything changes when she receives a phone call regarding her life before she arrived at Houston. Will Luna be able to cope and to hold on despite what it seems to be the world against her?

I don't tend to like books in the first person, especially romances because - I've said before - often it means just one POV doesn't allow the romance to feel balanced.

I'm already used to this author's work so I o manage but the feeling of something lacking never disappears. The heroines this author develops are incredible and extremely likable to me, but it does get a little odd at times when they only understand the hero right at the end - even though the reader get it sooner by reading between the lines.

For me, this means the romance gets to a point where it seems very one sided and the guy's feelings seem to come from nowhere, even if we know they have been simmering all through the narrative.

Obviously, the same tactic happens here and we get so much focus on Luna, the hero does come across as being a bit too harsh in his dealings with her. I must confess there were two or three scenes where he acted and behaved like a possessive jerk and he had no reasons for it - since we follow Luna's actions all the time and know her thoughts are correct.

Anyway, overall the romance was slow as the author promises every time, there was plenty of time to make the main couple interact, slowly know things of one another... Again, the hero has a background...I can understand why, the contrast with Luna and the happiness they achieve feels more validated but.... if he is such a smart guy why couldn't he have gotten his bearings way sooner, before causing himself and others so much worry? (He is 41 during the narrative) Oh well...

Luna's personality and live is, of course, the main focus of this story.

I liked Luna because she was a heroine who was a little down on her luck, with some self esteem issues and who keeps thinking about the good things in her life to avoid thinking about what was and is worse. I sympathized with her immensely, thinking about the sacrifices she did and how some people, namely two of her sisters through the novel, didn't seem to recognize it or at least count on her in a way that would be obvious they trusted her.

I could feel how the negative thoughts would crowd her head and could bring her down but often she kept a smile on her face and carried on.

The fact she was so likable and down to earth is also why I feel she could have had a slightly better hero to counterbalance her. It's not that he is bad per se, but some scenes here and there and the why he is perceived as having been a "bad boy" felt a little disappointing. I wish she could have had a hero that was a little sunnier in disposition. I don't mind the slight age gap nor the fact they aren't very alike in some things but I do wish the balance between them could be a bit more obvious.

There are some situations that dragged a bit in the middle. One would expect this in a long slow burn novel but most times it doesn't even feel time is passing by while reading. To notice some of the tactics used to delay revelations or explain why the characters take too long to add one information to the other to understand things is never a good element but for the most part I could overlook it, as long as I could still be carried along with Luna's emotions and feelings and how she attempted to have a brave front but sometimes couldn't.

I liked her and her personality and that is why I didn't mind the details I liked less.

Everything considered, this was an enjoyable story, not my favorite by the author but it did match many of the boxes I usually look for in romances.

Grade: 7/10

Mariana Zapata - Lingus

Most people would describe Katherine Berger as a responsible girl with a big heart, a loyal friend who takes care of those close to her, and the possessor of a wicked sense of humor. There was something about her that most people didn't know. "My name is Kat Berger, and I love porn."
When twenty-five-year-old Kat is dragged to a porn convention by her best friend, she's both embarrassed and nervous. The last thing she ever expected was to meet someone who makes her laugh like no other. This is a story about acceptance and friendship, and a love born out of the most unexpected of places.

Comment: This is the first book published by this author, who got known for her slow burn romances. I've liked all the books by her I've tried so far and I was quite curious with this one as it would feature a theme not often seen in romances (unless it's erotica or with erotic content), which is the porn industry. Sadly, I think one detail overpowered everything else in my enjoyment of the story.

In this book the narrator is Katherine Berger, a young woman who, along with her closest friends, actually likes to watch porn. When the story begins she is being dragged into a porn convention, something she has always wanted to do but at the same time she still feels a little embarrassed and the idea of finding someone who knows her makes her feel shy but her friend quickly tells her everyone else will be in the same position so the embarrassment can be mutual.

While waiting for her friend to get an autograph of a porn star, Kat sits on the side and she has a weird meet cute with a guy who tells her he's waiting for a friend too. As they talk through chance encounters through the day, Kat discovers she has a great time with him and they become friends as the story progresses. However, will Kat be able to deal with the whole porn world influence?

In general terms, I'd say it can be a little obvious how this was the author's first book. The structure is pretty much the same, we have the slow burn evolution of the romance by having the main characters interact often in diverse situations where we get to see how meant for each other they can be and how their relationship sets in more than just sexual attraction. However, the way this was written did seem a little less polished, less complimentary on the characters and the things they say than in her more recent - and more well thought, in my opinion - work.

The theme is quite interesting. I confess I don't have any interest in watching porn nor does this get into my mind whatsoever, it doesn't bother me it exists but I don't have any specific interest in looking for it. This means it would be a novelty for me to read about someone who likes it but I think, for all this was a very particular preference, the heroine didn't spend much time sharing why she liked it or why it was something she spent time with outside of the basics.

This means that, for me at least, the porn industry here was not as much the focus but the notion it is something very different and handy in this situation.

Part of the conflict is how Kat deals with having a friend she develops a very good relationship with, still working in the area. We don't have much details besides the difficulty it is for partners of those workers to deal with the jealousy, the doubts, the complexes of measuring up. This is all understandable and I can't decide if I think the information was just enough because the author didn't want this to be the huge focus of the story (opposed to the romance) or if she didn't want to go too much into something that is already obvious anyway.

The romance is, of course, slow. We get to see them be together many times as friends, doing things together or just talking. Since the author's trademark in the narration is having only the heroine's POV, some things are obviously a little one sided and not that easy to balance out, although it's interesting to read somethings through the heroine's eyes already knowing the hero has to be falling in love too but some scenes are supposed to be doubtful nevertheless. I don't like the first person that much in romance because it can be a bit silly to guess in scenes what we already have to take for granted...

Anyway, the romance is cute as one would expect and the fact they don't discuss the porn that much felt natural if they didn't want to acknowledge where things were going between them but considering the way they met, it was also rather disappointing.

The story would probably be slightly better than average for me (if one thinks about the star grading in goodreads, this would fall into 4 in my personal scale) if not for one detail. Kat is a woman who likes porn and she even attended a porn convention. I must agree with other readers, then, in being negatively impressed by how she would describe other women in the same convention, especially if their clothing and make-up were more obvious. Why would this matter to her, since she was there in the same capacity as herself? 

I suppose this would be a way for the reader to have something to balance out the fact Kat was quieter, just an average woman who liked something people tend to categorize others for. But then, if so, why would Kat be so mean and negative about other women? This was repeated here and there somehow so no escaping it, in my point of view. It really removed some of the fun and novelty of reading about someone who enjoys watching porn.

In the end, this is a good story, with interesting details and theme and characters captivating enough too. I just think there was way too much negativity and not enough discussion on the merits/favorable aspects of porn, for instance. 

I liked reading the book but it was not as cute or fun as other books by her were before, for me.

Grade: 6/10

Mariana Zapata - Under Locke

He was my boss, my brother’s friend, a Widower, an ex-felon, and a man I’d seen casually with a handful of women. But he was everything that gripped me, both the good and the bad. Worst case scenario if things turned awkward between us, I could go somewhere else. I’d gotten over epic heartbreak before, one more wouldn’t kill me.
After moving to Austin following six months of unemployment back home, Iris Taylor knows she should be glad to have landed a job so quickly... even if the business is owned by a member of the same motorcycle club her estranged father used to belong to. Except Dex Locke might just be the biggest jerk she’s ever met. He’s rude, impatient and doesn’t know how to tell time.
And the last thing they ever expected was each other.
But it was either the strip club or the tattoo shop.
… she should have chosen the strip club.

Comment: I've become a fan of Mariana Zapata's books, not because they are all perfect (they aren't completely, for me) but because I do like the idea of slow burn stories and how she puts the emphasis of the story on characterization. This was next on my reading list by her.

In this story we meet Iris Taylor, the half sister of Sonny, who found her a job after her old one ended. The problem is that the job is at a tattoo shop, owned by a guy she remembers being not too nice. Since Iris is a difficult position, financially speaking, she decides to accept the job even if she dislikes the fact the owner, Dex, as her brother Sonny and a few others in the circle of people she will have to mingle with, are part of a motorcycle club. She has had the experience of her and Sonny's father being a member of a not so cool one and how her mother took her away from that to protect her.

Although things aren't as dire as she imagined, there is some trouble regarding her father's old schemes but she and Dex do develop quite a friendship. Will she be able to trust Dex and to trust what matters is those you care about and not just what they do for a living?

When I think about motorcycle books I imagine mayhem, crime, drugs, women treated as objects and people who like to pretend they are stronger and more important than others because they have expensive bikes. It's quite a reduced and often unfair vision, I am fully aware.

The books in the genre I had read before have not made me change my mind so, with so much to read, this is a theme I avoid conscientiously. 

I'm, however, very glad this book by Zapata was not as dramatic or exaggerated as I imagined and that, in fact, it was all more about the character's relationships and not the actions/routines of those part of the motorcycle club.

Thankfully for me, the scenes with actual motorcycle business weren't many and when they happened, I could be selective in th things I cared about so it wasn't so bad to read this book. I'm just glad the motorcycle club featured here had no specific business apart from a bar and some minor details.

Most of the focus was on Iris, since she is the narrator (I still think it's this author's major writing flaw: just the heroine as narrator, so reductive when it comes to romance development) and I'm just very pleased she is a likable heroine, and someone whose personality I liked and someone I could be interested in being friends with, were she real.

The story is slow, as expected, but that leaves a lot of room for the relationships to develop in a believable manner and for the important details of each protagonist to have time to be expanded, such as Iris' past and why she wears longer sleeves and Dex's increased interest in her and in her safety.

I liked how they were together and how things between them evolved. I was actually surprised to see how gentle he was in some occasions.

Like I said, I didn't like much the motorcycle stuff. I also disliked how Iris, someone with issues when it comes to the dynamics of the club and what it means decides to go to their enemy of sorts to try reason. I can understand the need she had to help or to do something but...come one, why was this here except for drama and to force some moves to happen quicker? It was really silly and putting myself in Iris' shoes, with the sort of things we know about her past, her personality, it was really dumb. Oh well, nothing is ever perfect.

After everything is solved, of course there's an HEA, there's a credible closure to practically all situations and emotions involved and I was happy enough things ended up well. The secondary cast of characters was likable to spend time with as well and the epilogue was sweet.

Grade: 7/10

Mariana Zapata - From Lukov with Love

If someone were to ask Jasmine Santos to describe the last few years of her life with a single word, it would definitely be a four-letter one.
After seventeen years—and countless broken bones and broken promises—she knows her window to compete in figure skating is coming to a close.
But when the offer of a lifetime comes in from an arrogant idiot she’s spent the last decade dreaming about pushing in the way of a moving bus, Jasmine might have to reconsider everything.
Including Ivan Lukov. 

Comment: I had recently read Dear Aaron by this author and a secondary character in that book was Jasmine, a younger sister of the then protagonist Ruby.

I was of course delighted there would be a book for Jasmine although the connection is simply the family one as what happens in this book takes place years after what happens in Dear Aaron. I was simply glad I would be able to see some characters again, even if for just a little bit of time.

In this enemies-to-lovers plot, the author tells the story of Jasmine Santos, a 26 year old who has dedicated her life to figure skating, something much more demanding, both physically and financially, than what people think. Jasmine has had a good career but never to the point of being brilliant, not when she was competing in singles, nor when she went to pairs.

Jasmine is now at a point where she is thinking of, or aware others think that, retiring and maybe dedicate herself to coaching. Only two things make her hold on, which are the eagerness to win or try to win something before that and, of course, to prove to Ivan Lukov, her sort of enemy, she is better than her numbers say.

Jasmine has been friends with Ivan's sister and despite the Lukov name and money and fame in figure skating, she isn't dazzled by Ivan's charms and they butt heads every time they meet. But now it seems Lukov has a proposition for Jasmine... will she accept it?

I actually liked this book much more than Dear Aaron. The dynamics between Jasmine and Ivan felt much more likable and interesting to follow than those of the other couple.

Once again, the story is told from the heroine's POV, and I liked following Jasmine's thoughts. I think the is a character that is easier for the readers to connect with because of her drive and personality.

A huge part of the story is very focused on Jasmine's evolution as a character so it isn't a surprise to notice how she goes from seemingly so angry and almost defeated to the much happier person in the end.

I've said before that my biggest issue with this author's work is how all her heroines always have the only POV of the book. It can be so reductive in how things are perceived because just one narrator might not have the best POV for specific scenes. I wished the hero could have air time too, even if the majority of the situations can be understood from what is on going and unseen on the page. Still, in this story I didn't miss it that much because of the amount of dialogue and group situations Jasmine was involved with. It did seem as if she had more interaction with others to balance her single voice.

The romance felt almost perfectly done for me. Yes, much needs to be read between the lines but I think the author managed to convey the important parts well.

I really liked how the relationship between Jasmine and Ivan evolved. They felt like enemies but of course it's more of a role they play to not seem weaker in front of the other but as things went forward and Jasmin especially had to deal with some emotional issues, it was truly cute to see Ivan help her. I think the author included more than enough scenes where they need to rely on one another and where Jasmine trusts him to help or just support her and that achieved a lot.

It can be complicated to explain why some things/stories work out better than others for each person. I feel this one worked out very well for me. The dynamics, the pace and the content seemed to be aligned good enough and I did cherish the time I spent reading this book, especially with such a cute epilogue that made me wish I could be pat of these character's lives.

This book is the first I grade the highest this year and of all the books by the author is now my favorite too. I do hope the ones I haven't read yet will be as positively surprising. It also helped the idea of figure skating is one I feel interested in. But most of all, I liked how the characters behaved, how they acted and reacted and I just feel glad they followed the path they did.

Grade: 9/10

Mariana Zapata - Dear Aaron

Ruby Santos knew exactly what she was getting herself into when she signed up to write a soldier overseas.
The guidelines were simple: one letter or email a week for the length of his or her deployment. Care packages were optional.
Been there, done that. She thought she knew what to expect.
What she didn’t count on was falling in love with the guy.

Comment: This is the third book by Mariana Zapata that I try. I enjoyed the other two enough to keep wanting to read more but comparing my overall feelings on it, of the three so far this was the one I would say is the weakest.

In this book we meet Ruby Santos, a young woman who is registered to correspond with a soldier in active duty as part of a program to help overseas soldiers to have a bit of connection to home. At first it seemed the soldier paired with her was not responding but a few weeks later after hr first letter, he did reply when she was about to give up.

From then on started a slow exchange of information, the two of them started to get to know each other, they started to confide and trust each other too and when it was time for Aaron, the soldier, to return home at the end of his deployment they mention meeting each other. When the time really comes though, can Ruby do it? Or if all her expectations prove to be a disappointment? What if Ruby isn't exactly as she claimed in her letters and Aaron feels like all their talking was a mistake?

The potential for this story is very good. Having had pen pals myself, I know how easy sometimes it was to share things with someone not there in your face to judge you. Of course it helps when they only got my version of events. I never corresponded with a guy though, all my letters were to female school friends during the summer holidays. 

But this romance by mrs Zapata had potential and if I could I'd divide the story in two parts: before and after they meet in "real life". Practically half of the story is the letters/email format of the exchange between them and the second part when they meet each other and start interacting for real.

As one might expect, the romance is slow burn but during the first part is actually great because that is how the reader also gets to know them and how they think. On one hand, it's cute to see them share things lie that but it's also complicated to imagine feelings can develop so quickly like that just by words on paper. I think this part of the novel as done as well as it could, considering the obvious lack of face-to-face conversation and how people base a lot of their opinion on facial and body language.

Then the second part... I think it was too much on the NA side although the characters are adults in age. I mean, their behavior in a house for the holidays, where Ruby goes to so she can meet Aaron and some of his friends...everything is proper, feeling like I'd say is relatively realistic, but there's something missing in how they are around each other besides the obvious awkwardness of knowing who that person is but not really yet a solid part of that person's life. I could sense Ruby's lack of comfort but she did try her best to be friendly to everyone else while sort of battling her feelings for Aaron which, at this point, we he reader are told, are stronger than just friendship.

This leads me to talk about the factor that downgraded this story for me. That are obvious things we are supposed to have, such as the slow burn romance and happy ending for them. 

However - and for me this is a major issue - we only have the heroine's POV. Ok, I get it, it's the author's trademark style and I should be used to it. Ruby is a god enough narrator and her "voice" wasn't too bad overall. 

The problem is, while Ruby is narrating her side of things of course the reader has to infer stuff not only about herself, in the things she doesn't say, about the romance, in the things she sort of says and about Aaron, in the things she only describes. Normally, this wouldn't need to be a problem but since there's only so much Ruby can tell about the other characters and Aaron's POV, some steps seem very silly and childish on her part. For me, it got to the point where Aaron stopped being a character we actually got to know independently from Ruby's loving eyes. 

Therefore, when they finally talk about their feelings it was like the reader knew about them, Aaron knew about them but the narrator describing everything was caught unaware! How silly!

Despite this, I did like the novel and most of it has interesting details to support the not so perfect aspects. The author clearly knows how to set the stage to develop a slow burn romance and her protagonists have many strengths. It's just such a pity the narrator is first person... I can only imagine how much stronger and addictive these stories would be in third person.

Grade: 7/10

Mariana Zapata - Rhythmn, Chord and Malykhin

Twenty-six-year-old Gaby Barreto might be a lot of things (loyal, sarcastic, one of the guys and a pain in the butt depending on which family member you ask), but dumb isn’t one of them. When her twin brother invites her to go on tour as his band’s merch girl, she isn’t exactly screaming at the top of her lungs with joy.
With no job opportunities pounding on her door, an ex-boyfriend she would still like to castrate, and no end in sight to moving out of her parents’ house in Dallas… it would be dumb to say no to the chance of a lifetime. Two bands, three continents, one tour. Spending the next ninety-plus days with three beloved idiots and eight complete strangers shouldn’t be a big deal, right?
If only the singer of the headlining band didn’t have tattoos... a great personality… a fantastic body… and if he wasn’t so funny….
Let’s be real: Gaby never had a chance against Sacha Malykhin.

Comment: Last year I've read a book by Mariana Zapata and it was quite appealing to me so I decided to try her other stories as well and this month I picked this one. Musicians as main characters aren't always my preference but once in a while it can be great and i certainly hoped for that with this one.

In this book we have the story of Gabby Barreto, a young woman whose life seems to be ruining around her, especially after a break-up with a guy she had been with for a long time. To try to let go of her problems and because she is out of a job, she accepts to help with the tour of her bothers' band. For three months, they will be traveling in a shared space with another band her brothers' will open for. Gabby thinks it will be just like the other times she did it but this time the other band's singer is Sacha Malykhin and he becomes one of her best friends pretty quickly. But is it only friendship between them?

As expected, after having read one book and having also read other comments and reviews, I knew this would be a slow burn romance and it ended up being quite enjoyable.

In comparing with the other book by the author I've read, the balance between slow burn and acknowledgement of the protagonist's relationship felt a little better in this one. Yes, it takes many pages for them to develop their feelings properly, to the point of the reader could think "is it time already they admit it?" but when it happens, we still have some pages to bask in that and in the little scenes about their HEA. I just felt the other book I've read it took a long time for feelings to be acknowledged and there wasn't enough page time with them after.

However, I must say I hoped for fireworks when they finally said what they were feeling and I think the scene could have been even more emotional. Well, maybe a little bit more angsty so that we could say "finally".

The plot isn't complicated and it revolves a lot about the bands' tours. What makes the story fulfilled and rich is the constant details provided about the characters', their thoughts and difficulties... and this is quite admirable since the story is told in first person by Gabby. 

Usually I don't like 1st person that much in romance - so limitative - but the author has done it well here. Of course, this means we can only guess so much of what they are actually thinking but the author has talent to let us read between the lines without making like the narrator (Gabby) isn't that clever she describes one situation which is obvious to us but not to her.

There are some situations I think weren't  as interesting but I can understand why they were included like the cliché need to add doubt and jealous through misunderstandings or misused words which could have been easily explained with communication. But I can also accept this a working tool to leave the protagonists having anxiety because in real life we don't always just talk, we probably stay alone thinking until something happens and finally things are explained. Only that, in novels, to read about this can be a little annoying.

All in all, this is worth it for the relationships between some characters, the use of contemporary themes among the crazy world of musicians (I'm thinking about Gabby's body issues) and several other details which can be interpreted as being important or not as much by us but everything together makes up for a fluid and easy read. It felt easy to just keep reading.

I'll definitely keep reading her books.

Grade: 8/10

Mariana Zapata - Kulti

“Trust me, I’ve wanted to punch you in the face a time or five.”
When the man you worshipped as a kid becomes your coach, it’s supposed to be the greatest thing in the world. Keywords: supposed to.
It didn't take a week for 27-year-old Sal Casillas to wonder what she'd seen in the international soccer icon - why she'd ever had his posters on her wall or ever envisioned marrying him and having super-playing soccer babies.
Sal had long ago gotten over the worst non-break-up in the history of imaginary relationships with a man who hadn't known she'd existed. So she isn't prepared for this version of Reiner Kulti who shows up to her team's season: a quiet, reclusive shadow of the explosive, passionate man he'd once been.

Comment: This author became quite the hype these past years and some friends of mine have enjoyed reading her books so I naturally added one title to see what was about it that caught so many people's attention when it came to the author's voice. This book has been in the pile for about three years but I finally got to it.

In this book we have Sal Casillas' story. She is a 27 year old soccer player in the US and when the story begins, she and her team mates are extremely enthusiastic about the coming of Reiner Kulti, a very famous ex-player from Germany who has been a veritable success until his retirement.

Kulti is now 39 and was invited to coach the woman's team where Sal plays but he doesn't seem very participative at first. This seems like a disappointment to Sal because she started playing in her school team when Kulti was beginning his professional career so throughout her teenage years he was her biggest idol and crush but his attitude now makes her realize he isn't who she thought he was.

However, a speech she says to him after she hears him treating her father with indifference is the staring point to a change in their relationship..suddenly they are friends and confidants... but will Kulti ever be just a coach around sal?

The books by this author are known by it's slow progress on romance development. The characters do get to know one another quite well before any carnal or deep emotional feelings are expressed and put in practice. This can make the story look romantic, special and the pace can be both sweet - we get to fall in love with the characters and frustrating - if their connection is so strong and nothing happens. I think the author has managed to do a great job balancing these things and in my POV, the romance was cute and a delight to observe.

Still, this long paced romance can also look a little too much like a childish situation. Often the characters would interact in scenes I sincerely couldn't envision 27 and 39 year old doing, like when Kulti went on a break with Sal to her parents' house so he wouldn't be alone. The situations they seem themselves in are clearly meant for us to realize how they were in sync and falling in love but sleeping in bunk beds in one room and struggling with sexual tension like that just felt so immature and unlikely to happen to grown ups.

My biggest problem, however wasn't that because I could put it in the main context of the romance plot. What really bothered me the most was the fact we only get Sal's POV in a first person narrative! Why can't authors realize that in romance this is tremendously limitative?!

While Sal is a charismatic narrator, so many situations seem downplayed or not explored to the maximum just because we can't know what the other character was thinking. Yes, inferring, reading between the lines is quite interesting but so many scenes just lose impact. In a romance, having both their POVs just enhances the experience and when they finally admit things we can cherish and not just be happy the other one was in the same mind place.

I felt Kulti was such a captivating character but because he only spoke in dialogue scenes, much of his past was not developed and many things were left to wonder about. Maybe they aren't that important but I would have liked to know about them anyway.

The secondary characters were interesting enough. I think they did their role as necessary.

One comment about the other female characters: Some readers complain the way the heroine sees other women (regarding their views of Kulti as a powerful man whether because of his looks or his money) is depreciative and wrong to women as a rule. I didn't see it that way, having Sal thinking some less positive things about other women isn't different from anyone's inner thoughts about whatever. I often call names to other people in my head while driving lol

As for Sal's friends, they seemed funny and supportive.

Overall, I liked reading this because most of the time we have Sal interacting with Kulti in situations that can be understandable considering their jobs. It could be much better though. Nevertheless, I consider this a positive story for me because I did like reading it, I didn't want to put the book down and the scenes after they admit their love are often sweet and the dialogues very romantic. The epilogue is cute but could also be more detailed (for me).

Grade: 8/10