All Rhodes Lead Here by Mariana Zapata ~ Review

All Rhodes Lead Here by Mariana Zapata

Source: KindleUnlimimted.

Losing people you love is hard.

Aurora De La Torre knows moving back to a place that was once home isn’t going to be easy.

Starting your whole life over probably isn’t supposed to be.

But a small town in the mountains might be the perfect remedy for a broken heart.

Checking out her landlord across the driveway just might cure it too.

Goodreads | Amazon

*Available through KindleUnlimited!*

I am always excited for new Mariana Zapata books. She's one of my favorite authors. An auto-buy and an auto-read. So when All Rhodes Lead Here released the Friday before Easter, I spent the weekend savoring it. And let me tell you that I absolutely LOVED IT, I LOVED IT SO MUCH, Y'ALL.

I don't even know how to get my thoughts together to form sentences in paragraphs that are organized and make sense. It's why it's taken mem a couple weeks to even try writing this review. So instead I think I'm going to do a little list of specific things that made this book such perfection.

- The main character, Aurora. She's kind and laid back and self aware and she cries. She cries sometimes, not in a dramatic way or anything, but in a way that I thought was genuine and just made her sweet character all that much more realistic to me. I loved her.

- Amos. He's such a little sweetheart, and I think I enjoyed the bond and friendship he formed with Aurora somewhere around as much as I enjoyed the romance. It was the kind of thing that warmed my heart and put a smile on my face.

- Rhodes, of course. He's gruff and a bit of a grumpy hero, but as Aurora grows on him, he easily grew on me. And it was so natural. Like I blinked and BAM I was head over heels for Rhodes. I especially love how caring and sweet he could be for Aurora. Double especially because he had to learn gentler behavior because that was what Aurora needed.

- All the friends. Clara and Jackie. Yuki and her sister. Johnny. All of them. While Aurora, Rhodes, and Amos were the focus, their friends (and family) added to the world beautifully.

- Aurora's connection to her mother. The way she still deals with her grief so many years later. Just lovely.

- The ROMANCE. The way this book has my whole heart, I cannot even say. I mentioned Rhodes learning to be gentler, but he also learns to show affection regularly. He decided he was devoted and that was that, he was in and ready for the long haul. He said things and MEANT THEM. He proved he meant them. He backed them up. It's a slow burn, but that means they had a foundation built strong like a Taylor Swift bridge. 

I could probably gush about this book all day, but I need to stop somewhere. It's probably obvious at this point, but I adored All Rhodes Lead Here. As of right now, it is the best book I've read this year. Honestly, it just might be my new favorite MZ book...though I have to think about it because that's a big decision. But it's definitely up there with Wait For It for me! I'll just have to re-read the paperback I already bought until I know... :)

5 stars - A new all-time favorite!

What Are You Currently Reading? (11)

Hi there, friends! It's been aboooout a month since I last did one of these posts, so I figured it was time for another. Since then, I've been my regular mood-reading self. Meaning, I mostly spent time reading whatever I could get to hold my attention as I waited for the next Mariana Zapata book because that was released a couple of weeks ago and her books are auto-reads for me.

So yeah. I think that kind of makes it obvious what I'm about to say I'm reading this weekend, hmm?

First up...

All Rhodes Lead Here by Mariana Zapata

Losing people you love is hard.

Aurora De La Torre knows moving back to a place that was once home isn’t going to be easy.

Starting your whole life over probably isn’t supposed to be.

But a small town in the mountains might be the perfect remedy for a broken heart.

Checking out her landlord across the driveway just might cure it too.

Goodreads | Amazon

*Available through KindleUnlimited!*

How much I've read: nothing yet, lol

Thoughts: As I'm writing this, the book JUST released earlier today, so I haven't had the chance to start it yet. But I'm so excited!!! The perfect way to spend my long holiday weekend. It's on my Kindle, waiting to be started. And goodness knows this is going to be a good one, as pretty much all of MZ's books are!

I'm also reading...

Broke Down by Sharan Daire

My car broke down on an icy road in the middle of nowhere. I’ve got no money in the bank, no place to stay, and no food for my kids. Can it get any worse?

Sure. A police car pulls up.

The county sheriff calls his twin brother to tow my car for repairs that'll probably cost more than the beater is worth. They say don’t worry about it. They only want to help.

Sure they do.

These gorgeous guys just happen to have two friends who own a luxurious motel called Little Cypress Lodge. I walk into this incredible hotel and it's like I've entered a new fantasy world. It's warm, there's plenty of food for my kids, and they say I can stay. For free. As long as I need a place.

The four of them even want to hire me to do some modeling work for their new fashion line. Crazy, right?

Me. The broke down, homeless single mom.

If I can keep up the act long enough to make some deposits on a new place, I can start a new life for me and my kids. If I don't lose my heart first.

Goodreads | Amazon

*Available through KindleUnlimited!*

How much I've read: 101 pages / 32%

Thoughts: This is such a fun RH brain candy read. Which is exactly what I was looking for when I picked it up. Things are really just starting to get rolling, but I'm enjoying the characters so far, and I'm looking forward to finishing the story! I'll probably finish it after I read ARLH though... because idk if I can help myself long enough to finish this one first, even though I am really liking it...lol

That's what I'm reading this weekend! What do you think? And I'd love to know what y'all are reading?! :)

A StuckInBooks Giveaway ~ All Rhodes Lead Here by Mariana Zapata

Hi there, friends! So I've had a ridiculously busy week at work and my brain is mush. So even though I wanted to write a review for today, there's no way I'm coming up with anything coherent right now lol. But also! Mariana Zapata announced her next book. Which means my reading life is currently in MZ limbo while I wait for it to release. I'm re-reading Wait For It (my fav) for now as I bide my time.

And so I thought I'd do a giveaway for the one thing my reading brain can focus on at the moment. Obviously I don't know when the book will release, so if the giveaway ends before the book releases then I'll just send the winner their book once it does, no big deal. Cool? Cool. 

Check out what we know about this book, and more about the giveaway, below! :)

All Rhodes Lead Here by Mariana Zapata

Losing people you love is hard.

Aurora De La Torre knows moving back to a place that was once home isn’t going to be easy.

Starting your whole life over probably isn’t supposed to be.

But a small town in the mountains might be the perfect remedy for a broken heart.

Checking out her landlord across the driveway just might cure it too.

Goodreads

- ebook copy

- International

- winner will be selected when the giveaway ends:

*if the book is released, the winner will receive their prize once they respond

*if the book is not released yet, then they will receive their prize on release day

- enter through the Rafflecopter below! :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hands Down by Mariana Zapata ~ Review

Source: KindleUnlimited.

Hands Down by Mariana Zapata

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.

Goodreads | Amazon

*Available through KindleUnlimited!*

Mariana Zapata is one of those authors that, when she releases a book, I drop everything else on my TBR and read it. She's one of those authors where, when she announces a book, I don't even need to read the synopsis to know I'm going to read it. She has such a solid track record with me that I trust her to write books that will make me happy. And here she is, yet again, delivering a book that made me deliriously happy with Hands Down.

While I've read The Wall of Winnipeg and Me and did, in fact, adore Zac, I was not one of the people who felt he needed a book. Sometimes there are characters that I like to just leave as friends to the main characters. In Zac's case, it was mostly because I knew his habits and wasn't sold on him being a romantic lead. 

Allow me to lol as I remember how wrong I was...

Because y'all. I'm glad we ended up getting a story for Zac. He was so kind in Winnipeg, but in Hands Down we get to really know him and he's not just kind--he's golden. And he's matured--which is what he REALLY needed for me to enjoy him as a hero. It was perfect how he did while still keeping his strong sense of humor.

Bianca was also from another MZ book, The Best Thing. I didn't remember much about her but I do remember thinking we'd probably get a book about her. I just had a feeling. And she's another one I'm glad we got a book for, because I loved Bianca. She's awesome and nice and clever and has a humor to match Zac's. And she's a great friend, even when she's not sure of how that friendship will work out. 

The romance was of course one of MZ's spectacular slow burns. Friends to lovers. With a little sprinkle of second chance vibes--though I don't consider this one second chance because Bianca and Zac were never a couple when they knew each other before, just friends. It's in this where Zac really shined. He was an amazing friend. Proved himself as a solid partner. And I smiled so much reading these two together. They mesh to well. They're funny and cute and I love them.

The supporting characters were also enjoyable. Boogie was cool, and I loved that Bianca had his support. Connie was funny. That said, CJ was totally my fav. Like I said before, I'm okay with some characters staying friends to the MCs, but I wouldn't say no to seeing more CJ in the future.

Overall, Hands Down is for sure going to be on my list of favorite books of 2020. Mariana Zapata has given us another delicious slow burn that made me so happy. Now just to re-read this one as many times as necessary until the next MZ release... 

5 stars - A new favorite that made me so happy!

The Best Thing by Mariana Zapata ~ Review

Source: KindleUnlimited.

The Best Thing by Mariana Zapata

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.

Goodreads | Amazon

Mariana Zapata is one of the few authors that is not only an auto-buy for me, but also an auto-read. The day a book by her is released, I am ALL OVER IT. This was true with The Best Thing. So it's safe to say my expectations were high, along with my anticipation. And while The Best Thing was very good and I did enjoy it...I have to admit that it's not my favorite MZ.

There is a whole heck of a lot to gush about. The biggest for me was the shy, gentle giant of a hero, Jonah. I can't get over how much of a sweetheart he was. Though Lenny's perception of him in the beginning of the book pointed him toward being an asshole, that is the farthest from how he actually is once we get to know him. He's kind and caring and sweet and I am head over heels. He's also a big rugby player who's incredibly shy, so that was cute.

I was also a fan of Lenny. She's strong, independent, and confident. And she's realistic. And fair. And honestly just a really commendable person. I got a kick out of her family, too. They're funny and loyal and I was never bored when they were around.

Well, I wasn't bored in this book at all. In fact, I flew right through reading it in the time I had. Not out of the ordinary for me with a book by Mariana Zapata. Her books tend to be well written to the point where even when things are moving slowly (her slow burns are to die for), I'm still super into the characters and their story. I will say that with The Best Thing, she did something that hasn't happened for me in...gosh, I don't even know how long: She made me cry. I rarely cry reading books, and if I hear a book made people cry I either scoff (because I know it's not going to get ME) or I run (because I fear it might get me and I am not here for that). But this one got me and I'm not even mad that it did. It was so freaking GOOD.

But as I said in the beginning of this review, this isn't my favorite MZ. So now I'll explain the two main reasons why:

1. The second chance aspect of the romance. As a whole, the romance wormed its way into my heart. I adore Jonah and Lenny as a couple. They're so cuuuute. But they were second chance. And as a trope, this one is pretty hard sell for me. Partly because it requires the couple having been together before and breaking up--which means they are apart and with other people in that time and I HATE that. This wasn't an issue with The Best Thing, though, so no worries there. The other part of my dilemma with second chance romances, however, is that it requires the couple to have a history outside of the current story being told. And in order for the current story to be told we either have to have flashbacks to catch us up, or we kind of get thrown in with little memories to give us the lay of the land but not much else. I'm not a fan of either of these options. (The Best Thing went with the latter, if you're curious.) So that took a tad bit away from the story for me.

2. While I was very invested in Lenny and Jonah and Grandpa Gus and Peter and this whole book, I wasn't as into it as I would have liked. I was reading it and enjoying it and my heart was happy, but I wasn't complete and total trash for this book. Which I feel weird criticizing, but there are books I've been like that for. Some MZ books even (Kulti and Wait For It, to drop some names). This one just wasn't. Which doesn't mean it was a bad book, it just was not up there with those favs.

2.5. This is a little aside that didn't quite fit in either of the two categories but I still want to mention: I wasn't entirely sold on the whole missed connection thing Lenny and Jonah had going on. He broke his phone, didn't check his email, whatever. She missed what he tried to contact her. There were explanations for everything, and the characters themselves admit that their excuses are weak, so it's not like this is a huge plot whole of a big deal, but as I said--I wasn't entirely sold.

Overall, The Best Thing isn't quite the perfect read, but it made my heart so happy. The romance was sweet, I adore the love interest, and the family dynamics were so beautiful. I felt so many feels for this book, and I loved it. While not Mariana Zapata's best, it's for sure worth a read!

4 stars - A sweet read that made my heart so happy!

On the first day of Christmas, Stuck In Books did a giveaway...

Stuck In Books is pleased to present day one of the twelve days of Christmas...giveaways!


One of the best books Jess read this year...



“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.

Goodreads | Amazon

- paperback copy

- INT

- enter through the Rafflecopter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Kulti by Mariana Zapata ~ Review

Source: Purchased.

Kulti by Mariana Zapata

“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 twenty-seven-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 that 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.

Nothing could have prepared her for the man she got to know.

Or the murderous urges he brought out in her.

This was going to be the longest season of her life.

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

It's about time I finally sit down and write a review for this one. I read Kulti in June...so yeah, like 4 months ago. And for that entire four months this book has been on my mind and in my heart. Which is funny because I was so nervous to pick it up. I first heard about Kulti at Apollycon 2017 in Orlando, where Tessa Bailey could not sing this book enough praises. Val and I both bought it after hearing the hype and Val, who is obviously smarter than me, read it not too long after. I, however, held out until this past June. Which I now kick myself for because it's SO GOOD.

But why? Why is this book so good? Let me list the ways.

- Sal, the MC. She's awesome. She's a kickass soccer player. She's nice. She's cool. I genuinely enjoyed her narration and getting to read her story.

- The slow burn. Mariana Zapata is basically the queen of the slow burn romance. They build in the most perfect way and then by the time the couple gets together it is a match that was clearly meant to be and you as the reader are so invested. The FEELINGS in my HEART, y'all! 

- The enemies to friends to lovers. This goes hand in hand with the slow burn point, and wrapping these two points together would mean that the romance as a whole us just a huge homerun. A grand slam, if you will. But that's the wrong sport here, isn't it? :) But really though, Sal and Kulti going from their hostility in the beginning to friends.....to ahhhhhh more was magnificent.

- KULTI. He slays me. That's all there is to it. I'm writing this right now and all the ways I adore Reiner Kulti are running through my head and I wish I could read this book again for the first time because I have so much love. And this point is really something because at the beginning of the book, I was so not sure about this guy. He had to grow on me throughout the book but WOW did he succeed in doing that. 

Honestly? I'm not sure how else to put into words how amazing this book is. It's literally everything I want in a romance. I love it so much.

Overall, Kulti is one of my favorite books of all-time and a major contender to be my favorite read of 2018. It's a top notch romance, my friends. If you haven't picked it up yet, I highly recommend fixing that immediately--you won't regret it!

5 stars - I am in love. One of my favorite books of all time!

A StuckInBooks Giveaway ~ Kulti & The Wall of Winnipeg and Me by Mariana Zapata

Today Jess is giving away ebooks of two of her favorite sports romances!

“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.

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

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?

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

- One winner

- Ebook copies

- International

- Enter through the Rafflecopter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway