Angelina M. LopezRecensioni
Autore di After Hours on Milagro Street
Recensioni
Full Moon Over Freedom (Milagro Street #2) di Angelina M. Lopez
Hello Fellow Readers,
Hot and spicy romance featuring Latino Main Characters? Sign me up! The only regret I have is that I did not read the first book in the series After Hours on Milagro Street as I am totally missing out. So let us talk about how Gillian gets her witchiness back. A divorcee with two children and an ex-husband who is refusing to help unless she signs over her family's business, you can say that Gillian is cursed. Now back in her hometown, she runs into Nicky, the one who got away. Of course, now he's (still) hot, engaged, and successful. I could have done without him being engaged as I felt it was unnecessary, still Gillian and Nicky's chemistry was hot, and when the spice hit I rejoiced, it was steamy.
Two things I really love was how Lopez was about the realistically make Gillian's growth look. At first, I didn't know if I was going to like Gillian, as she did seem a bit dull but eventually you learn to love her. The second thing was how well Lopez captured the Latino community and how they banded together. People tend to write our community as loud and noisy but they don't convey how helpful and protectful we are to those we love. The side characters were all amazing, and I can't wait to see what the next book has in store.
Overall, A romance must read.
Alex verbally bullied Jeremiah nearly every time they meet for the first third or so of the novel, she just seemed mean. It took me a solid chunk of time to reluctantly get on board with their developing relationship. My struggles with Alex’s cruelty were similar to the struggles I’ve felt with some of the more extreme alpha heroes in romances, where I question why I should want the heroine to end up with someone so awful, so I guess on the plus side, this flipped gender dynamics we’re accustomed to in some romance novels, however, like those relationships, part of me questions whether it’ll be truly happily ever after for a couple when one of them is so capable of bulldozing the other if things don’t go their way.
Being purposely hurtful to someone who’s done nothing to deserve it is definitely a personality trait that doesn’t sit well with me, but there were other aspects of Alex’s character that I really did like, the way she stands up for herself and others, her personal style, and even though it wrapped up too quickly in the end, for a significant portion of the story I found Alex’s very strained relationship with her recovering alcoholic dad really compelling, I would have loved it had the novel dug into that even further.
Overall, more family interractions (including Jeremiah, I loved his longing to be a part of Alex’s family) would have been welcome as the ones there were in this story, rate among my favorite moments of the novel, although admittedly, I’m still confused as to what else Alex thought her family could have done to fix a certain situation she got herself into as a teen, it did seem like of the two bad options presented to her parents, they went with the far more preferable one so I didn’t entirely understand Alex holding that against them when the other option would surely have been much more scarring.
The other standout part of this read for me was cultural, learning about the railroad workers, families living in boxcars, etc., aspects of Latin history in America that I hadn’t known about. There’s something to be said for a book that simultaneously entertains and teaches, the author did a sound job of tying historical information into this fictional story without making it seem like research just being regurgitated onto the page.
...these two could set the vineyard on FIRE!
Alright, I made mention before, but let me say it again...
...ADULTS ONLY...
...for this one has language (blame the rockstar, mostly), situations (compromising to say the least), and scenes that will definitely not suit those that prefer no higher than blush worthy levels of heat.
We've got two VERY STRONG characters with equally STRONG reputations...and I can't say I mean the last part in the best of lights. She's known as the party princess, but those ways aren't as recent as some would like to imagine. He's known as the washed up rockstar that can't keep it in his pants, but...okay, well he sort of still is in that phase so I guess some perceptions are accurate. Anywho, introduce a drunken night, loose lips that sink ships, and you've got a scandal that could make one a rising star again and the other go down in flames. Good thing PR people are paid the big bucks to turn these challenges into opportunities, then again...maybe not. Him and her in the same country is bad enough, but in the same room, you'll be dodging daggered glances from her side while he tries to find his way back into her good graces. The pro-mance could work, but, umm....yeah...things kick up several notches VERY FAST, and then it's the two of them not simply trying to figure out their own lives, but the reality behind #Aisha.
I gotta say, despite the hot and heavy times aplenty, and I mean we're talking present day and in the past, I was really glued to the page. I wanted to see if the PR "stunt" would work out and HOW. I wanted to know if the insidious letch that was the stuffed shirt winemaker of her area had everything rubbed in his face. I needed to see the her mom taken down several notches. I desired to see just where these two enamored yet broken souls would land and would it be together. We get a little, tiny bit technical on the winemaking side of things, but it shows the author did her homework, and gave additional credit to our leading lady...and even our leading fella, even if his dreams were more superstardom born than family legacy.
*ebook received for review; opinions are my own
Author: Angelina M. Lopez
Publisher: Carina Press & Carina Adores (Harlequin), Carina Trade
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Four
Review:
"After Hours: on Milagro Street by Angelina M. Lopez
My Assessment:
"After Hours on Milagro Street' was quite a read full of secret family lineage, with hidden treasures, a haunted bar, love letters, and omg twists and turns all over the place' including some sexy moments from the two main stars [Alex and Jeremiah] of the story. This was an excellent Mexican-American cultural read of the Mexican immigrant experience... What will happen when Alex returns home to run her grandmother Loretta's bar? I enjoyed how this author gave the reader a good read of love and family along with a good mystery and magical realism weaved into the story, hurt, loss, pain, and less, not leaving out the romance. Be ready for some complex and realistic characters that brought quite an interest and even some dysfunction to this family story. Also, there will be 'racism, alcoholism, and mentions of an abortion [of the past]' from this read. Pick up this read to see how well this author brings it out to the reader, where you will find an alpha heroine, a big family, ghosts, and even some hot sexy sex scenes.
Author: Angelina M. Lopez
Publisher: Carina Press & Carina Adores (Harlequin), Carina Trade
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Four
Revi"w:
"After Hours: on Milagro Street by Angelina M. Lopez
My Assessment:
"After Hours on Milagro Street' was quite a read full of secret family lineage, with hidden treasures, a haunted bar, love letters, and omg twists and turns all over the place' including some sexy moments from the two main stars [Alex and Jeremiah] of the story. This was an excellent Mexican-American cultural read of the Mexican immigrant experience... What will happen when Alex returns home to run her grandmothers Loretta's bar? I enjoyed how this author gave the reader a good read of love and family along with a good mystery and magical realism weaved into the story, hurt, loss, pain, and less, not leaving out the romance. Be ready for some complex and realistic characters that brought quite an interest and even some dysfunction to this family story. Also, there will be 'racism, alcoholism, and mentions of an abortion [of the past]' from this read. Pick up this read to see how well this author brings it out to the reader, where you will find an alpha heroine, a big family, ghosts, and even some hot sexy sex scenes.
Thanks to NetGalley and Carina Press/Adores for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
One Cruel Wedding Night-KA Linde
These were new to me characters but they definitely piqued my interest. The chemistry coming from these characters was fire and I was 100% invested in watching this story evolve. After discovering that they make several appearances in this author's previous works, I will be adding them to my TBR.
Two Turtle Doves -Skye Warren
I will take any chance to read about Gabriel and his Avery. ANY chance. This was a bonus story that I was not expecting to get in their world. It offered a perfect peek into the future for these characters. Highly recommend it to anyone that has read the Endgame series.
Goner- Fiona Cole
The Voyeur series by this author is one of the hottest series that I have ever read and has some of my all-time favorite characters in it (Ian and Carina). So, color me surprised that this book was going to take me back to cameos by my favorite characters but also include some SPICY and delicious scenes. This was almost too hot for such a short story. I wanted more and was actually pretty bummed that it was this short because I wasn't done with Atlas and Amara. I hope that the author expands this story in the future.
Four Calling Birds- Nana Malone
I am on the fence with this story because I felt a little lost with the characters and who they were because they were new to me. I am sure for fans of these characters from before that they wouldn't have been lost. Lucas was a prince but also a former jewel thief so I found myself scratching my head. While this story was not for me, I still admire the author for being able to write, which I could not do in a million years.
Five Golden Rings- Claire Contreras
I struggled with this story because I couldn't connect with the characters. It felt like there were a lot of details trying to set up who the characters were or fluff, so to speak, and then it was BAM straight to an instant connection between the characters. I have to think that this was because this was just too much story to fit into the length requirement for this Christmas collection. It is a shame because the story had potential. I hope that the author decides to expand it in the future because I think that will turn this into something more.
On the Sixth Day- Nikki Sloan
The characters in this story have come from a previous series of hers. They have been on my TBR since this author's books have been on my FYP of Tik Tok/BookTok. I can see why after reading this short story because it was steamy. OH. SO. STEAMY. I will be moving it up my list asap.
Swan Song- Giana Darling
Anything that this author writes is sublime. Regardless of the sub-genre, it becomes one of my favorites because of the special gift that this author has when it comes to writing. She paints a picture. This is particularly true with the Fallen Men series. Discovering that this book was going to be part of this world made me giddy. This story made me a bit sad because not only was it just a short time in this beloved world, but because I only got a taste of Swan and Curtains. This author left me dying to know more because this was just a prequel. I am not sure when these characters will get their story told in the series but I am eager for it. The angst was already forming and I just know that when it is their time for the story to be told that it will tug at my heartstrings.
My Present this Year- Sierra Simone
I was excited for this story because since I first discovered this author with the New Camelot Trilogy, I have been hooked on her words. I wanted this story to be more because it was taboo/forbidden. The premise was enticing but it was odd. For some reason, Nick and Nora just fit into this scenario too perfectly. Don't get me wrong, their steamy time was sexy, but somehow it lacked that spark of tabooness that I have come to associate with this author.
Nine Ladies Dancing- CD Reiss
WHA? I'm scratching my head because I am so confused. I LOVE this author. In fact, she is one of my one-click authors. So, color me surprised at this story. I'm kind of at a loss because it was that far out there. The book started pretty normally, but then things switched up and I had to pause and reread it to see if things were going the direction that they seemed. They were. It went even weirder after that. I had hopes that things would make sense by the end of the story. They did, and then it didn't. Definitely, not my favorite by this author. However, this story might live on in my head for a while so, in some ways, she succeeded at leaving her mark.
Ten Dirty Demands- Laurelin Paige
Donovan... Good Lord do I love this man. He is in my top book boyfriends. There is just something about this man. Getting a chance to dive back into his life with Sabrina? SIGN ME UP. I knew, instantly, once this story started that Donovan was going to bring the sexiness as a sort of repayment for a favor, a favor mind you, that was delicious in itself because it was so very out of character for him. The demands were kinky and titillating. I was a bit sad that the tenth demand was left as a maybe. Especially, as it is so rare to see him be vulnerable, and he so was in that moment. He sincerely wanted it. I hope that the author decides to continue this in the future because I think this would be a great segway into the future for these characters. I don't feel as if their story has finished.
Gift Me- M Malone
This was a pretty cute story. I was impressed by how this author managed to create such a complete story in such a limited amount of pages. It was very Hallmark movie-ish but that was okay because the happily ever after for Deacon and Noelle (great name for a Christmas story).
Twelve Drummers- Angelina Lopez
This story was very different. This is a new to me author so I wasn't sure what to expect. It definitely had some steam but felt a little jarring at times with the transitions. I'm on the fence with the story itself. However, I appreciated the culture that was tied into this story.
All in all, an interesting collection of stories that go towards a great cause.
Advance review copy provided for voluntary review consideration
This review is of the story "Ten Dirty Demands", by Laurelin Paige.
If you have followed Laurelin's Dirty Filthy Universe, you know Donovan is the ultimate Alpha-H*le, but Sabrina is the one that finally tamed the beast. Oh, make no mistake - he's no less alpha, and as demanding as ever. And this season, in exchange for bowing to Sabrina's will, and doing something he would never do for anyone else, he has some demands of his own.
The last demand was not one I would have expected out of Donvan Kincaid. Will Sabrina give him what he wants this time, or is it a line she can't cross - at least not yet.
What a great short story, and an amazing teaser for Donovan's book next year!!
BRING THEE DRAMA (thank you to Whiskey for the perfect phrase!). A princess and a rock star meet at 19/20 and fall madly in love. I don't know if it was the hero's approach, the heroine's receptiveness, the setting, or what but from their first meeting their chemistry worked for me. And clearly for them. Like a whole whole lot.
But mistakes are made when one is 19 and 20 and 10 years pass and Aish needs Sofia and Sofia needs Aish, and so a fake relationship is always the answer and the sparks fly and the hair and insults get flung and really, it's so much drama, but it was delicious.
I don't even know how I found this book's predecessor, but I kind of dug the dynamic in that one even though I didn't love it as much as this.
Now for the disclaimer. Definitely over the top. Think soap opera. Not for everyone.But this was really sexy, quite sweet, and a whole lot of angst. I didn't love the ending, but I don't really care
Lopez wrote some complicated characters amid the soap archetypes, however. I loved this heroine, 100%. She's prickly and angry and so so smart. But she also really likes sex and never fell out of love with Aish. Damn feels.
The Big Reveal at the end made me laugh because I saw it coming and it was 100% soap opera/telenovela. Just lean in.
Content Warnings: slut-shaming, bad parents, kidnapping, roofies, miscarriage, manipulation and gaslighting
Suzanne received a copy of this book from the publisher for review.
This is soapy and dramatic (I cried at the end) but I absolutely loved that Lopez repeated many times how much work Cenobia and Roman had done and were still doing to manage and overcome their past traumas. When something big is revealed about Cenobia and her younger brother, she makes sure to bring in a family counselor to help them all through it together.
This kind of care is not often present or emphasized in romance, especially notable given how many veterans, former foster children and assault victims are in these stories.
It’s also a good book. :)
#NetGalley #LushMoney #CarinaPress #AngelinaMLopez #Bookstagram
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