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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
19/05/25
changed from five stars to four stars on reread. still love the story but not as much as i loved it the first time i read it a few years ago.
changed from five stars to four stars on reread. still love the story but not as much as i loved it the first time i read it a few years ago.
I don’t have much to say because I took like a 3 week break between reading the first 75% and last 25% so it’s not all completely fresh, but I liked it well enough. Fun characters and an interesting enough plot to keep reading. It was pretty good I guess.
Iris is a big fat Mary Sue, Dex is an unrepentant shithead and somehow it still works. I skipped the epilogue, I am so tired of every romance ending with a fucking baby (especially when the main characters make no sense as parents)
I’m making my way through this authors whole backlog and so far nothing has quite compared to the Wall of Winnipeg or Rhodes. This makes me a bit sad, but that’s my fault not the authors :)
I’m making my way through this authors whole backlog and so far nothing has quite compared to the Wall of Winnipeg or Rhodes. This makes me a bit sad, but that’s my fault not the authors :)
Under Locke: ★ ★ ★ ★
Mariana Zapata
“Babe, I've handpicked everythin' and everyone in here. I know what I want and I get what I want," he breathed. "And I keep what's mine.”
It’s not a secret that Mariana Zapata can do no wrong and Under Locke is yet another example of that.
When Iris’ brother Sonny leaves home to deal with her father’s issues with the law and rival gangs, Iris’ grumpy boss and ex-felon Dex Locke is the last person she expected to step in to help.
Iris is such a sweetheart and such a loveable character. An absolutely sweet and positive girl who is trying to make the best of a bad situation and so generous with her time and her love. She’s a genuinely good person who I loved reading about.
The hero, daddy—I mean Dex Locke is unlike any other Mariana hero. Posessive doesn’t even begin to describe him. His innate sexuality, the cool, suave manner that he just exists, and the way he would do anything for his Ritz is absolutely heartwarming for this rough around the edges tattoo artist. He doesn’t want anyone looking at her, touching her, doing anything with her and I’m so so so here for it. Absolutely loved this man even though at times I wanted to smack his head for how stupid he was with the shit he said because of his hot temper.
This is also unlike any other Mariana book in that it is honestly pretty spicy! And the spice, y’all… so so worth it. Dex for real had my thighs clenching—
Plot-wise, I feel like it didn’t entirely grasp my attention but it was very interesting and unlike anything I’d ever read in Mariana books. But still, super good and the romance was so easy to root for.
There’s a reason why Mariana Zapata is my favorite author. Because she makes the burn worth it. And I fucking love getting burned.
Mariana Zapata
“Babe, I've handpicked everythin' and everyone in here. I know what I want and I get what I want," he breathed. "And I keep what's mine.”
It’s not a secret that Mariana Zapata can do no wrong and Under Locke is yet another example of that.
When Iris’ brother Sonny leaves home to deal with her father’s issues with the law and rival gangs, Iris’ grumpy boss and ex-felon Dex Locke is the last person she expected to step in to help.
Iris is such a sweetheart and such a loveable character. An absolutely sweet and positive girl who is trying to make the best of a bad situation and so generous with her time and her love. She’s a genuinely good person who I loved reading about.
The hero, daddy—I mean Dex Locke is unlike any other Mariana hero. Posessive doesn’t even begin to describe him. His innate sexuality, the cool, suave manner that he just exists, and the way he would do anything for his Ritz is absolutely heartwarming for this rough around the edges tattoo artist. He doesn’t want anyone looking at her, touching her, doing anything with her and I’m so so so here for it. Absolutely loved this man even though at times I wanted to smack his head for how stupid he was with the shit he said because of his hot temper.
This is also unlike any other Mariana book in that it is honestly pretty spicy! And the spice, y’all… so so worth it. Dex for real had my thighs clenching—
Plot-wise, I feel like it didn’t entirely grasp my attention but it was very interesting and unlike anything I’d ever read in Mariana books. But still, super good and the romance was so easy to root for.
There’s a reason why Mariana Zapata is my favorite author. Because she makes the burn worth it. And I fucking love getting burned.
So bad and yet so addicting. Dex might be the worst MZ character of them all!
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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:
Yes
3⭐️ nothing special really, was fun to read but it took me a while to get into and i got bored occasionally, the ending was just a bit boring and tbf there wasn’t much plot overall but i really enjoyed the characters and the funny dialogue that actually made me laugh
I'm really glad that I read Kulti and From Lukov With Love first, because if I had started with this one, I probably wouldn't have ready any of the others.
Friends i’m so sorry for what i’m about to say.
Every god damn ounce of feminism in my body left when I read this book. If Dex Locke told me to bark then suddenly I’m the most annoying dog on this planet. He is easily the worst guy ever but I had alexa playing that should be me on repeat. I would gladly be emotionally abused by him anyday
Every god damn ounce of feminism in my body left when I read this book. If Dex Locke told me to bark then suddenly I’m the most annoying dog on this planet. He is easily the worst guy ever but I had alexa playing that should be me on repeat. I would gladly be emotionally abused by him anyday