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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
Maldeamores is as taboo as it gets and I loved it all!
Best friends growing up, cousins by birth, neighbors by their mothers choice. Belén and Luciano have what you would call an unconventional relationship. Belén knows her love for Lucky is forbidden but she doesn't know how to love otherwise. She knows he's it for her, and she wants to be with him.
Lucky has spent his life fighting his feelings for Belén. There's a family secret about her parents and she doesn't know about it. When she finds out, she'll realize that her love for him is even more forbidden that she thought.
Lucky and Belén's story takes place over years. Within that time frame we get lust, love, heartbreak and so much more. Mara White writes forbidden like nothing I've ever read before. You feel for Belén's struggles even though it's not something you'd ever venture to create for yourself. There was one scene that just didn't sit well with me regarding Belén and sex and lust, and overcoming a hurdle for herself. It was HOT, don't get me wrong, but I felt like it was just out of place and out of character for this sweet girl.
The epilogue of Maldeamores was EPIC. I mean, what the heck! It's left off as there doesn't need to be a second book but with Malentendido's release just around the corner, I really can't wait to get back to the neighborhood with my favorite cousins.
Best friends growing up, cousins by birth, neighbors by their mothers choice. Belén and Luciano have what you would call an unconventional relationship. Belén knows her love for Lucky is forbidden but she doesn't know how to love otherwise. She knows he's it for her, and she wants to be with him.
Lucky has spent his life fighting his feelings for Belén. There's a family secret about her parents and she doesn't know about it. When she finds out, she'll realize that her love for him is even more forbidden that she thought.
Lucky and Belén's story takes place over years. Within that time frame we get lust, love, heartbreak and so much more. Mara White writes forbidden like nothing I've ever read before. You feel for Belén's struggles even though it's not something you'd ever venture to create for yourself. There was one scene that just didn't sit well with me regarding Belén and sex and lust, and overcoming a hurdle for herself. It was HOT, don't get me wrong, but I felt like it was just out of place and out of character for this sweet girl.
The epilogue of Maldeamores was EPIC. I mean, what the heck! It's left off as there doesn't need to be a second book but with Malentendido's release just around the corner, I really can't wait to get back to the neighborhood with my favorite cousins.
This book involves a very taboo subject of a romance between cousins. In addition, there are some sex scenes which are outside the comfort zone of many readers. What is beautiful and makes this work is the raw and gritty setting of cousins living in Spanish Harlem, the powerful heartache and love sickness described by Belene, and the sacrifices made by Luciano.
The things in this book that worked for me in particular were some of the imagery of Belene's glass heart, Luciano's fire, and love sickness. I really liked the urban setting which felt real to me. The life of newly immigrated Dominican mothers added to the depth of the setting. The book is emotional and many times my heart hurt for Belene and Lucky.
My rating is a 3 as I did not feel particularly connected to the characters, Belene was not convincing to me as being as smart as she is portrayed, and some side characters, particularly Jeremy felt one dimensional. The ending was fantastic, and I am glad I read it.
The things in this book that worked for me in particular were some of the imagery of Belene's glass heart, Luciano's fire, and love sickness. I really liked the urban setting which felt real to me. The life of newly immigrated Dominican mothers added to the depth of the setting. The book is emotional and many times my heart hurt for Belene and Lucky.
My rating is a 3 as I did not feel particularly connected to the characters, Belene was not convincing to me as being as smart as she is portrayed, and some side characters, particularly Jeremy felt one dimensional. The ending was fantastic, and I am glad I read it.
ARC provided for an honest review.
I've not read any other books by Mara White so I came to read it with no preconceived ideas. Right from the first page of the prologue I was hooked. Luciano is born in a heat wave - true I was sat in my boiling hot conservatory reading but I could smell and feel the heat it was so well described.
"A heat wave scorcher that brought the caps off the fire hydrants and every one out in the street."
The story focuses on an immigrant family living in New York. There are no father figures but two strong mothers bringing up their kids Luciano and Belen to be respectful citizens. The dynamic of the family including the relationship with the black sheep Aunt Hemi is brilliantly expressed. It felt real - like I could go to New York and find the exact same family in an apartment block.
I fell in love with Luciano (in my head Ryan Guzman) I felt his love and protection and I also felt his conflict. How could Belen not fall for him?
"To a girl with no father and a hard-working, somewhat absent, single mother, to have someone say they'll always protect you is mind alteringly huge. A man who cares about me and promises to care for me is like a kiss from the pope. It's like winning the lottery, or getting to walk on the moon."
Let's get the I word out there. INCEST! Strictly speaking it isn't incest to have a sexual relationship with a cousin but in some cultures some family groups it really is frowned upon. It is taboo - but come on, there is a whole heap of stepbrother and even stepfather romances all over Amazon right now.
Bless Belen she tried to exorcise her demons, she really did. My heart broke for her. And Oh My Days quite a way to give up the V card (a must read scene).
"We love deep down at the bottom of a well, where my glass heart bears his name and neither one of us, ever, feels any shame."
I think Mara White's writing skills are fabulous. She showed me she is not afraid to tackle a difficult subject matter. She got right to the nub of the characters and she wasn't afraid to flip the story on its head.
Loved it. Heart and soul. Now I'm on a search for red sea glass...
I've not read any other books by Mara White so I came to read it with no preconceived ideas. Right from the first page of the prologue I was hooked. Luciano is born in a heat wave - true I was sat in my boiling hot conservatory reading but I could smell and feel the heat it was so well described.
"A heat wave scorcher that brought the caps off the fire hydrants and every one out in the street."
The story focuses on an immigrant family living in New York. There are no father figures but two strong mothers bringing up their kids Luciano and Belen to be respectful citizens. The dynamic of the family including the relationship with the black sheep Aunt Hemi is brilliantly expressed. It felt real - like I could go to New York and find the exact same family in an apartment block.
I fell in love with Luciano (in my head Ryan Guzman) I felt his love and protection and I also felt his conflict. How could Belen not fall for him?
"To a girl with no father and a hard-working, somewhat absent, single mother, to have someone say they'll always protect you is mind alteringly huge. A man who cares about me and promises to care for me is like a kiss from the pope. It's like winning the lottery, or getting to walk on the moon."
Let's get the I word out there. INCEST! Strictly speaking it isn't incest to have a sexual relationship with a cousin but in some cultures some family groups it really is frowned upon. It is taboo - but come on, there is a whole heap of stepbrother and even stepfather romances all over Amazon right now.
Bless Belen she tried to exorcise her demons, she really did. My heart broke for her. And Oh My Days quite a way to give up the V card (a must read scene).
"We love deep down at the bottom of a well, where my glass heart bears his name and neither one of us, ever, feels any shame."
I think Mara White's writing skills are fabulous. She showed me she is not afraid to tackle a difficult subject matter. She got right to the nub of the characters and she wasn't afraid to flip the story on its head.
Loved it. Heart and soul. Now I'm on a search for red sea glass...
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I was very excited about this book. It seemed like such a promising taboo, dark love story. When I started it I was pleasantly surprised because the author took us back to the past. We first meet Luciano and Belen when they are small children. They are cousins and the grew up together. Things change when they start growing up. They start noticing each other and Belen cannot stop thinking about her cousin. Twisted emoptions and jealousy spring throughout their teenage years but Luciano is determined not to let their feelings consume them. He stays away from Belen in hopes that they will remain friends and cousins; family.
But things are not easy because Belen keeps pursuing Luciano with no success.
Their forbidden love keeps getting stornger despite their choices.
I have to be honest and say that I liked the first 30% of the book. I liked the premise, I liked the writing style, but something did not click after that. I had several issues with this book and I think it had real potential to be a solid 5 star read. The execution fell a little flat for me.
I expected something dark, edgy and forbidden but I got none of those things. Yes, their love is taboo. Yes, they are cousins but the immaturity of the characters really put me off. I couldn't connect to Belen after that 30% of the book. The sexual encounters were not sensual at all for me. I found several scenes unrealistic and near the end I was fed up with the back and forth scenes between our MC.
I expected the ending to have a shocking twist and satisfy me, but sadly I found it lacking. After everything the characters went through that ending gave me no satisfaction at all. I expected a big boom, but no.
I have nothing against the writer's writing; on the contrary. I think her writing is great but the way this plot was handled was just not for me. The biggest issue for me was that I couldn't connect to the characters; I wasn't invested in them.
The theme is about a taboo love story, but I got none of the dark atmosphere that usually accompanies dark reads.
Interesting plot, great development of their early years together, but I was disappointed at the execution.
Since this was my first Mara White book, I'll check her other work as well.
It was an okay read, but I think it had potential to be great.
3.50-3.75 Stars from me.
RELEASING ON JUNE 22nd...
*I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.*
But things are not easy because Belen keeps pursuing Luciano with no success.
Their forbidden love keeps getting stornger despite their choices.
I have to be honest and say that I liked the first 30% of the book. I liked the premise, I liked the writing style, but something did not click after that. I had several issues with this book and I think it had real potential to be a solid 5 star read. The execution fell a little flat for me.
I expected something dark, edgy and forbidden but I got none of those things. Yes, their love is taboo. Yes, they are cousins but the immaturity of the characters really put me off. I couldn't connect to Belen after that 30% of the book. The sexual encounters were not sensual at all for me. I found several scenes unrealistic and near the end I was fed up with the back and forth scenes between our MC.
I expected the ending to have a shocking twist and satisfy me, but sadly I found it lacking. After everything the characters went through that ending gave me no satisfaction at all. I expected a big boom, but no.
I have nothing against the writer's writing; on the contrary. I think her writing is great but the way this plot was handled was just not for me. The biggest issue for me was that I couldn't connect to the characters; I wasn't invested in them.
The theme is about a taboo love story, but I got none of the dark atmosphere that usually accompanies dark reads.
Interesting plot, great development of their early years together, but I was disappointed at the execution.
Since this was my first Mara White book, I'll check her other work as well.
It was an okay read, but I think it had potential to be great.
3.50-3.75 Stars from me.
RELEASING ON JUNE 22nd...
*I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.*
Jesus I loved this book. One I'm a taboo reader. But this book was so much more. It was heartbreaking. A love so deep and connected that should happen, that everyone is fighting to control but no matter what the universe says it needs to happen. And even if you love reading taboo you are rooting for this couple not because of that, you are rooting for them because the author managed to build a love you can't help but root for. If this this would typically be your hard limit I almost think this book would have you rooting for the two characters as well.
I'm kind of reeling for the book and really just want the next one to see where it goes so that about all you're getting from me for the moment. Just my first few quick thoughts.
I'm kind of reeling for the book and really just want the next one to see where it goes so that about all you're getting from me for the moment. Just my first few quick thoughts.