I read the first book in this series (West Side Love Story) earlier this year and thought it was really well written with lots to enjoy. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this second novel by Priscilla Oliveras. New readers do not need to read the first book, West Side Love Story, to enjoy this latest book though. It works well as a standalone novel and you will not feel lost with in the story or characters at all as this book has it’s own set of independent characters and it’s own plot.
The thing that caught my eye about this one (besides having read the first book and the author) was of course the beautiful cover and the promise of a unique and untold story. I love that Mariachi plays a big part in these books. It feels like something new and different with a lot of cultural flavor and I loved the sound of a romance formed on the road as part of a Marachi tour.
This is my second book by Oliveras and I was not disappointed. I am eager to pick up other books by this author but this series has been a real delight to read. I know she has written some other standalone novels, a couple of which have been on my radar for quite some time, all of which have been fan hits so if you are looking for your next read you might want to check her out as well as this book, because I liked this one even better than West Side Love Story!
Summary
Dreams come true for an untamable rising star and a mariachi idol in a rousing romance about passion, fame, and family by USA Today bestselling author Priscilla Oliveras.
Ambitious San Antonio singer Catalina “Cat” Capuleta gets the chance of a lifetime when she joins superstar heartthrob and fellow mariachi Patricio Galán on his seven-week concert tour. Demanding and arrogant, Patricio challenges Cat on every level, as an artist and as a woman. But headstrong Cat is determined to be his match. No matter how seductive Patricio’s baritone voice, Cat’s eyes are only on the prize: success and making her familia proud.
No woman gets under Patricio’s skin like Cat. Her talent mesmerizes. Her passion is thrilling. And her drive, stemming from an old unhealed family wound, exposes a vulnerability he secretly recognizes in himself.
When the duo hits the road, the sparks don’t just fly—they detonate. Stage by stage, as each reckons with the past—and with each other’s quick-fire personalities—they bring crowds to their feet, and Cat’s long-held dreams come true. Will their road romance go up in flames? Or could making music together kindle the most rapturous love song of their lives? (summary from Goodreads)
Review
Any time I see things in the summary like ‘no woman gets under XXXXX skin like XXXXX’ I instantly get so excited. I love the enemies to lovers trope because I think it adds so much chemistry to the story and I just know that I will love it. So when I saw something similar in this summary I was even more excited to read it! And through out the book the chemistry between Cat and Patricio (Galan) was satisfactory! I loved them together and I felt like their chemistry was only enhanced by the enemies to lovers troupe. They each have some emotional baggage to sort out but their passion and desires come together really well in this book and I felt super connected and invested in their romance and of course their individual careers within the book too.
In addition to the wonderful chemistry between the characters, I really liked how much culture was represented in this one. I loved the music references along with the customs unique to the Hispanic culture. I felt the same with the other book in this series, and I just love the authenticity and dedication to representation within her books. I felt like I was in a telenovela with all the drama and excitement as well we the rich culture of the Mexican people. I absolutely loved this book for that reason (among many others!). If you are looking for a book that has rich culture and an excellent depiction of mariachi and the Mexican culture this is a fantastic option for you!
As I mentioned earlier, I really liked the first book in this series but that I liked this one even more. Both are great books but this one felt more relaxed and confident in a way that West Side Love Story was not. West Side Love Story was a solid start to the series, but I felt like we needed to explore the family dynamics more for it to really jive, but this book things felt more flushed out and developed. The chemistry was better, the backstory and progression of both Cat and Patricio’s careers within the mariachi world was better and this one just overall felt more confident and less constrained by the classic Romeo and Juliet angle. This was an excellent read and I am looking forward to more books from Oliveras in the future!
Book Info and Rating
Format: paperback, 284 pages
Publisher: November 1st 2022, by Montlake Publishing
ISBN: 154034426
Free review copy provided by publisher, Montlake Publishing in partnership with the Tall Poppy Writers/Bloggers, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and in no way influenced.
Rating: 4.5 stars
Genre: romance, women’s fiction, chick lit
The Lit Bitch 