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My Review:Title: Island Affair
Author: Priscilla Oliveras
Series: Keys to Love #1
Published by: Zebra
Release Date: April 28, 2020
Format: eARC
Pages: 352
Genres: Contemporary, Romance
Potential Triggers: View Spoiler »
Source: NetGalley
Reading Challenges: Lenoreo's 2023 Backlist Reader Challenge, Lenoreo's 2023 COYER Chapter 1, Lenoreo's 2023 Diversity Reading Challenge, Lenoreo's 2023 Netgalley and Edelweiss Challenge
Find it: Goodreads ✩ Amazon ✩ B&N ✩ Google ✩ Kobo ✩ iBooks ✩ IndieBound ✩ Book Depository
My rating:
Blurb:USA Today bestselling author Priscilla Oliveras launches a new romantic comedy series set in Key West, Florida and filled with humor, Latinx culture, and fun family dynamics perfect for summer beach reading…
Sought-after social media influencer Sara Vance, in recovery from an eating disorder, is coming into her own, with a potential career expansion on the horizon. Despite the good news, her successful siblings (and their perfect spouses) have a way of making her feel like the odd one out. So, when her unreliable boyfriend is a no-show for a Florida family vacation, Sara recruits Luis Navarro—a firefighter paramedic and dive captain willing to play the part of her smitten fiancé . . .
Luis’s big Cuban familia has been in Key West for generations, and his quiet strength feeds off the island’s laidback style. Though guarded after a deep betrayal, he’ll always help someone in need—especially a spunky beauty with a surprising knowledge of Spanish curse words. Soon, he and Sara have memorized their “how we met” story and are immersed in family dinners, bike tours, private snorkeling trips... sharing secrets, and slow, melting kisses. But when it’s time for Sara to return home, will their fake relationship fade like the stunning sunset... or blossom into something beautiful?
I received a free copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.
3.5 stars — This was definitely a cute romance, but in the end I was bummed with the hero’s refusal to look at his own issues until he really had no choice.
Luis has the nickname of “Saint Navarro”, and he’s definitely the kind of guy always trying to help others, which is admirable. I did appreciate his easygoing nature, and his passion for his hometown. But wow…the guy is stubborn. And has a bit of that toxic nature where he’s too proud to seek help or listen to the many people who love him who want to see him actually figure his shit out. Watching him ice out anyone who tried to address his issues was…NOT admirable. Honestly, even when Sara was talking to him about her OSFED, and asking him to trust her, he just wouldn’t say anything and I was disappointed in him.
Sara was a much more interesting heroine. She’s driven, but it comes from a different place than just ambition. My heart ached for the scars she had from childhood…I thought they were really interesting, because the hurts she suffered were not intentional, and I think so many of us can relate. I appreciated seeing her struggle to accept how her family had changed, and let down some of her walls — I think I would have been bummed if that had been easy, because it becomes habit after awhile. Basically her growth was very believable.
They were pretty cute together. I wasn’t blown away, but I did enjoy their teasing and banter. I was surprised that it was fade to black, but it worked okay for me.
I will say that I honestly don’t understand how they’ll make it work in the future. I would have liked an epilogue or something, because they didn’t address any of that long lasting stuff. Ah well, it is what it is.
I was hoping you were going to like this one more. Oh well!