Nadine Gonzalez

Good book. Rafe has returned to Royal for the first time since he left at seventeen. The son of a wealthy rancher, he and his father have had a strained relationship. Rafe is a self-made man, wealthy in his own right, and the owner of two high-end hotel properties in Florida. Taking advantage of his return to Royal, he plans a new property there. Thanks to his experiences, Rafe has no plans to become a family man and keeps his relationships short and superficial. As the story opens, he arrives at the Cattleman's Club to make some connections at the current event, then leave as soon as possible. His plans are derailed when he spots a woman in red at the champagne tower and is immediately drawn to her.

Eve is the sister of Arielle, the woman who died shortly after giving birth to a son. She never told Eve who the boy's father was, and when circumstances made it impossible for Eve to take care of him, she came to Royal looking for Micah's father. All she has is a clue from Arielle's diary - he's a member of the TCC. A health crisis for Eve put the baby in the care of Cammie Wentworth, where he has remained during Eve's illness and recovery. Eve is determined to get well enough to take him back until his father can be found. Meanwhile, as the book opens, she's gone to the TCC for a night out.

I loved the first meeting between Rafe and Eve. Even though he's told himself he doesn't have time to get involved with a woman, Rafe can't stay away from her. From teasing her about her gazing at the champagne tower to whisking her out when it collapses, his attraction and fascination are undeniable. Their conversation later led to a passionate night together that neither could forget. Even after Eve takes a job working for Rafe, they can't stay away from each other. I enjoyed seeing Rafe's more light-hearted take on life as he helped Eve learn how to have fun.

The more time they spend together, the closer Rafe and Eve become. Rafe doesn't want to see an end to their affair and slowly realizes that what he feels for her is more than physical. But he has made it clear that he is not interested in a family. Eve has never hidden her plan to regain her health and take back Micah to raise herself if his father isn't found. I ached for both when it came to the point where Eve had to decide - stick to her plans or give in to Rafe. She loves him, but she also loves Micah, and he needs her. Rafe can't see past his fears of failing as a parent to see that he already loves both of them. I loved the conversation with his father that opened his eyes and laughed out loud at his subsequent conversation with his sister. Eve also went through some self-reflection, looking at her fears and motivations. I loved the ending, with the scene in the baby-gear-filled car being honest, open, and romantic.

In the search for Micah's father, the investigative journalist Sierra has uncovered a possible clue in Arielle's diary. It is quite likely that the series's final book will answer the question everyone is asking: Who is Micah's father?… (más)

Good second chance romance. Attorney Alexa took a leave of absence from her Miami job to help her family back in Texas. While there, she encounters her high school nemesis, Jackson. They were competitive all through school, with Alexa frequently coming out on top, earning her the nickname "Alexandra the First." She never knew that he'd had a crush on her all through school, and his competition was a way to get her attention. Jackson is now a successful and confident man who still has a thing for Alexa.

I love their first meeting at the TCC charity barbecue. Alexa was manipulated into attending by her mother and would have preferred to skip it. Instead, she's hiding in a cabana by the pool when Jackson finds her. He'd seen her arrive and was determined to make her notice him this time. I loved their banter about their past as he challenged her to a chess game and later to experience the barbecue cook-off. Alexa notices that her high school rival has become a handsome and charming man but isn't interested in starting a relationship with anyone. Meanwhile, Jackson refuses to give up on getting closer to her.

I liked Alexa, but she frustrated me at times. She is intelligent, independent, and loyal to those she loves. But she is so hung up on being the best at everything that she misses out on life. That need to excel also hides the insecurity she experiences because she feels that she is the odd one out in her family. As the book goes on, we see how she puts up a front, even with them, as she hides the issue she has at her job. When she meets Jackson again, she doesn't expect her instant attraction to him. Though she tries to resist, citing her intention to return to Miami and disinterest in starting a relationship, Alexa can't help rising to his challenges to step outside her comfort zone. I liked watching Alexa blossom under Jackson's attention, learning how to relax and have fun. But part of her can't help but hold back her troubles, refusing to look anything but a winner. I wanted to shake her for not confiding in him whenever he tried to find out what was bothering her. When the truth came out, Alexa had to decide what was more important - her pride or her feelings for Jackson.

I loved Jackson. He is intelligent, successful, and determined. He remembers his competition with Alexa fondly because he had her attention. Though he thought he was over his crush, he realized he still had feelings for her as soon as he met her again. I loved his determination not to miss his chance with her this time. It was fun seeing how he knew what buttons to push to get her to follow his plans. He also paid close attention to what she said, which enabled him to pull off the sweet surprises at the cabin. The "prom night" was especially moving. Jackson could tell that something was bothering her and was frustrated by his inability to get her to trust him. I felt his pain when he discovered it and understood his hurt and anger. His need to do something was evident, and I loved what he did, even though he didn't get the reaction he wanted from Alexa. I liked that he didn't give up on her or their relationship. His big moment at the end was terrific as he faced her, and they finally talked things out.

There is a little progress on the series storyline of the claim on her family's ranch and that of their friends. Alexa's grandfather, Augustus, has memory problems, making getting details from him challenging. Information is uncovered about an oil survey, but Augustus claims to have no memory of it. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series and getting to the bottom of the mystery.

#netgalley… (más)

A good book that combines the art world and Miami's vibrant, multicultural city. It is the beginning of a big week of art events in the city, and Angel is sent to deliver a painting to the art gallery's mysterious client. She arrives to discover that the mystery man is none other than up-and-coming Hollywood star Alessandro (Sandro) Cardenas. She's a little star-struck and attracted to the sexy star, but she holds it together enough to deliver her spiel about the painting.

Sandro, who usually spends all his time either in Hollywood or on the set, came to Miami mainly to find out who is forging and selling his late grandfather's paintings. His sudden attraction somewhat hinders his concentration on this delivery to the woman delivering the artwork. After agreeing to purchase the painting, he invites Angel to stick around for the party he's giving, hoping to get her into his bed.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Angel and Sandro. Still recovering from the end of her last relationship, Angel gives in to the chemistry, thinking it is a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence. After a passionate night together, she sneaks away before Sandro awakens, preferring to avoid an awkward morning after. Sandro is disappointed that she's gone but has plans to see her again. Seeing him find ways to "accidentally" run into her at various art events was rather sweet. It doesn't take long before they spend all their free time together.

But both Angel and Sandro have baggage that keeps them from being fully open with each other. Angel is an artist who has lost confidence in herself, primarily due to the lack of support from her family. Being with Sandro boosts her self-esteem, even though she knows it will end all too soon. Sandro enjoys the results of years of hard work and often seems full of himself, but sometimes feels like an imposter. Acting comes easy to him, so he isn't always sure he deserves the fame. He can't forget his past - abandoned by his parents and raised by his grandfather, he feels compelled to uncover who is forging the paintings.

I enjoyed seeing Angel and Sandro together as she introduced him to the "real" Miami. It was fun to see them participate in neighborhood events far from the glittering affairs he was used to. The more they got to know each other, the stronger their attraction grew, followed by feelings neither was ready to admit to. Sandro's guilty feelings over not telling Angel the truth about his interest in the paintings begin to wear on him, but he isn't sure how to come clean. When the truth comes out, Angel is devastated by the betrayal. It takes time apart and some emotional self-examination for them to see that they belong together. I liked the ending and seeing the compromises on both their parts.

Family plays a big part in both Angel's and Sandro's lives. Angel is an artist at heart, but family expectations have her questioning her talent and future. I ached for her as she mourned the loss of her dreams, but I also wanted her to tell her parents to back off and let her live her own life. Sandro has his memories of his grandfather, but he also has a brother and niece who live in Miami. He and his brother aren't close, and no matter how he tries, the gulf between them is too wide. They disagree vehemently with each other over the disposition of the paintings. Sandro's niece seems spoiled, flighty, and more than willing to take advantage of her uncle's fame and fortune. Both of them rubbed me the wrong way.

The mystery of the forged paintings was easily solved once Sandro and Angel put their minds to it. Since several of the paintings were sold through the gallery where Angel worked, the detective work wasn't all that hard. I felt terrible for Sandro, but I was slightly irritated that he let the culprit get away with it.… (más)

Sizzling Miami Romance. This is an incredible tour of Miami through the eyes of a megastar - who wasn't always - and a struggling artist. As the two come together, we see most sides of Miami from its glittering glitz of the mega-famous to the down-in-the-dirt seediness of its struggling working class - and everything in between. Gonzalez does remarkable job of showing the breadth of the hispanic community's lives in that city - and tells a solid tale of mystery and intrigue while building what is ultimately a romance novel. All tied up in less than 200 pages, making this a solid July 4th vacation read no matter what your plans for the weekend may be. Very much recommended.… (más)