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emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Domestic abuse
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent
Moderate: Infertility, Sexual content, Blood
Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Pregnancy
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Another slow burn masterpiece. The way Mariana Zapata builds the characters, makes you get to really know them and then slowly see the way their lives and relationships unfold is spot on. It makes you notice the small changes in their dynamics, language and actions so you follow along with the relationships so fully and become so invested in them.
Aurora was interesting, funny and kind and she felt like a character that was able to grow into herself more as the story went on but didn't fundamentally change who she was. I liked how she tried to stay positive but honestly was such a crier and was in tune with her emotions, she was grateful for what she had without dismissing her own past and pain. I liked how much she loved people, how fully and how willingly she showed it even after she had been burned by her ex. I also just like the idea of having a feeling and going with it, going back to her hometown and trusting herself that that was where she needed to be. Her relationship with Amos and Rhodes was so nice to watch unfold but I especially liked how close she was with Amos, how much she believed in him and just wanted the best for him.
Rhodes definitely developed and you could almost tell the exact moment that he let himself like Aurora and accept that he liked her through the change in language. He was a typical grumpy MMC, which I always love but also super sweet and really showed his feelings through his actions. I loved him even more when he warmed up to Aurora. Dude also acts his age which is unusual for a romance man. He loves his son endlessly and I enjoyed how he stuck up for him and protected him. Their relationship is sweet but not overly so, it doesn't feel fake.
I like how Aurora's mum is included in the story and how all the side characters really add something to it and feel like a proper little community. I also enjoyed how even in the end Aurora didn't want a lot and didn't want material things, she wanted a family, she wanted love and she wanted to be happy and content somewhere with roots.
Also, her ex boyfriend and his mum are awful and annoying every time, the man is an absolute man-baby idiot. I'm glad how things turned out for him. Her indifference is perfection.
Aurora was interesting, funny and kind and she felt like a character that was able to grow into herself more as the story went on but didn't fundamentally change who she was. I liked how she tried to stay positive but honestly was such a crier and was in tune with her emotions, she was grateful for what she had without dismissing her own past and pain. I liked how much she loved people, how fully and how willingly she showed it even after she had been burned by her ex. I also just like the idea of having a feeling and going with it, going back to her hometown and trusting herself that that was where she needed to be. Her relationship with Amos and Rhodes was so nice to watch unfold but I especially liked how close she was with Amos, how much she believed in him and just wanted the best for him.
Rhodes definitely developed and you could almost tell the exact moment that he let himself like Aurora and accept that he liked her through the change in language. He was a typical grumpy MMC, which I always love but also super sweet and really showed his feelings through his actions. I loved him even more when he warmed up to Aurora. Dude also acts his age which is unusual for a romance man. He loves his son endlessly and I enjoyed how he stuck up for him and protected him. Their relationship is sweet but not overly so, it doesn't feel fake.
I like how Aurora's mum is included in the story and how all the side characters really add something to it and feel like a proper little community. I also enjoyed how even in the end Aurora didn't want a lot and didn't want material things, she wanted a family, she wanted love and she wanted to be happy and content somewhere with roots.
Also, her ex boyfriend and his mum are awful and annoying every time, the man is an absolute man-baby idiot. I'm glad how things turned out for him. Her indifference is perfection.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I’ve seen this book around and now having read it, I know it'll be a book I’ll look back on and recommend. It’s partly a romance, but at the heart of it is a story about finding yourself and home again.
Aurora De La Torre has decided to return to Pagosa Springs, Colorado. It was a place she once called home many years ago before her mom disappeared while hiking, and where she hopes to start anew following her divorce from a famous musician. Never did she expect however, that in this small community she would have a new found family, let alone find love by way of a game warden named Tobias Rhodes.
At first, I worried that this was going to be too lengthy at 500+ pages, but as it got going I didn’t mind it. I noticed how much Mariana Zapata takes the time to really develop and flesh out her characters realistically without it feeling like it dragged on. I got to know who Aurora was and saw her growth throughout. Her hiking trips were not only a way for her to feel close to her mom, but were a reflection of her own self-journey to who she once was and towards who she is now. I also loved how she reconnected with her old friend, Clara, while forming new friendships with Amos, Jackie, and Rhodes.
I think what I loved most though, was how Mariana Zapata gradually builds Rhodes and Aurora’s relationship. There is a trust that forms naturally before they fall for each other that takes its time to breathe without forcing it or speeding it up too quickly. It's a slow burn to say the least, but the development is worth it because in that time you feel a genuine connection between them.
After enjoying this so much, I’m already looking forward to reading the rest of Mariana Zapata’s books, but this one will probably still be my favorite.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent
adventurous
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
i hecking love slow burn
what a lovely read, aurora’s journey with healing her grief and having some days that are harder than others is great
rhodes such a dilf fr 😚
what a lovely read, aurora’s journey with healing her grief and having some days that are harder than others is great
rhodes such a dilf fr 😚
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Excrement
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I really enjoyed this book i loved the kinda man that Tobias Rodes is 😍😍😍 i almost died when he called her after she left and asked very concerned where she was going and then he showed up to where she said she’d be before she hung up on him and told her how much he loved her and how his son told her they were mad but never wanted her to leave and they begged her to come back Tobias is every women's idea of a good man he was a gentleman he cared for her whereabouts and safety even mad at her he still couldn’t hide any concern he had for her i also loved when he ran to the hiking location she’d be at after she was out to late and he was such a grumpy man and lord have mercy when she got him in the mood ifykyk he was very spicy not insanely though but he was indeed spicy i loved the ending to when Kaden came after Aurora and she picked Thobias Rhodes over Kaden infront of both of them and then at the ending finding out that Tobias Rhodes and Aurora got married had a baby and she was pregnant i loved it so much this book was so good this was the first one i read by this author and i wasn’t disappointed i rated it 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Not all content warnings are about the main characters some are and some are about the characters you hear/see about in the book 😍😍😍🥰🥰🥰🙃🙃🙃
emotional
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
some incompressible plot points and a few icks but overall really enjoyable!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This isn’t a contemporary romance book, but it is - it feels more like a book about life. About coming to the middle of your life, confronting grief, rediscovering who you are, but all with sprinkles of romance throughout. The most loving parts of the book were when the romance and grief intersect.
I have my critiques with this book, like how it felt like a queer plotline for straight people. The angst felt lackluster.
But I enjoyed this, the pros outweighed the cons.
I have my critiques with this book, like how it felt like a queer plotline for straight people. The angst felt lackluster.
But I enjoyed this, the pros outweighed the cons.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment