MarianaZapata – A Take from Two Cities

WHEN GRACIE MET THE GRUMP by Mariana Zapata

Of all the things that could have landed in her yard… it had to be him.

For most people, finding a half-naked superbeing in their yard might be a dream come true.

Unfortunately for Gracie Castro, it’s the exact opposite.

Especially when he’s grouchy, rude, and shows no signs of leaving anytime soon.

But when a hero of mankind needs you, you do what you have to.

Even if it compromises everything you know.

And totally changes your life.

Title : When Gracie Met The Grump
Author : Mariana Zapata
Format : eBook
Page Count : 638
Genre : Contemporary Romance/Sci-Fi elements
Publisher : Self Published
Release Date : September 15, 2022

Reviewer : Micky
Rating : ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Micky’s 5 star review

Headlines:
Superhero grumpster
Banter and biccering
Slow-burn (shocked, I know)

Utter glee was my main emotion reading this book. It was certainly a surprising blurb but honestly, Zapata wrote the socks out of this strange set up. The injured superhero appearing in Gracie’s already secretive and strange life prompted a complete explosion of circumstances. What went from a strange meet-grump, moved into a high stakes scenario. I was here for it all.

Because my gut said this man wasn’t a ball of sunshine. I had a feeling he wasn’t even a night-light.

The plot was greatly crafted, strangely belieavable with a sense of The Incredibles to it. The characters of both Gracie and Grump (you’ll have to read to find out more of this illusive character) were a complete double act. They were so similar in some ways and yet so polarised in others. Their chemistry developed slowly and boy, did it build. The eventual connection between these two was one of my favourites, up there with Kulti, Winnipeg, Lukov and Rhodes for me.

The family in this book was intriguing and Zapata writes brilliant families and funny characters; this book was no exception. Unusually, unless I’ve missed some easter eggs, this book had no relation to any of her previous standalones.

I’m on board with Zapata going off-piste from her usual kinds of concepts, because I loved this creation hard.

ALL RHODES LEAD HERE by Mariana Zapata

Losing people you love is hard.

Aurora De La Torre knows moving back to a place that was once home isn’t going to be easy.

Starting your whole life over probably isn’t supposed to be.

But a small town in the mountains might be the perfect remedy for a broken heart.

Checking out her landlord across the driveway just might cure it too.

Title : All Rhodes Lead Here
Author : Mariana Zapata
Format : Ebook
Page Count : 551
Genre : Contemporary Romance
Publisher : Self Published
Release Date : April 1, 2021

Reviewer : Micky
Rating : ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Micky’s 5 star review

Headlines:
Grumpster (hot cross-cinnamon roll)
Grief
New beginnings
Bats
All the feels

Mariana Zapata made my reading weekend and filled me up with all the good feelings, the journey, the investment and I would like to read this again…now?

All Rhodes Lead Here is aptly about a journey towards something. Aurora (Ora) was finally returning to her childhood home town to start afresh, a place of grief but once a place of happiness. This outdoorsy gal (me) loved that this book homed in on hiking, nature and wild animals as a backdrop. They brought hilarity but also danger.

One small step for Aurora De La Torre, one giant leap for the rest of my life. I wasn’t going to let anyone ruin it. Not even Game Warden Moody.

Grumpy Rhodes (hey, yeah – Zapata excels at the grumpster, so what) was a little rude, a lot stern and a great dad. Amos his teen was such a huge part of this story and his relationship with Ora was everything. Rhodes himself had a journey and all I will say is yes, slow burn and I’m a little singed around the edges from the sparks.

Whilst this story was about fresh starts, it was also a slow unravelling of Aurora’s past and there were two clever stories I needed answers on and I was invested the whole of the book on those past issues. Aurora was a gorgeous character inside the most, outside also but her heart was infectiously lovely.

I burnt through these pages in the way that Mariana Zapata knows how to lead me. I wasn’t disappointed in a thing and everything felt unique to this story. I loved it, I savoured and devoured it simultaneously, I will be re-reading and audioing as soon as I can. Go get!

THE BEST THING by Mariana Zapata

Some things are easily forgiven. Other things… not so much.

Lenny DeMaio made herself a promise: she was done.
Done thinking about him.
Done worrying about him.
Done reaching out to a man who clearly didn’t want to be found.

Too bad no one gave Jonah Collins the memo.

Title : The Best Thing
Author : Mariana Zapata
Format : ebook (KU)
Page Count : 493
Genre : contemporary romance
Publisher : Indie
Release Date : August 7, 2019

Reviewer : Micky
Rating : ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Micky’s 5 star review

I devoured this book in the best way I know how, on holiday, with my full and undivided attention, just what any Zapata book deserves. THE BEST THING gave me all the things I love from my favourite Zapatas – family and friends, the slow burn build and all of the stomach-crunching feelings. What was special about this book was that it went a direction that Mariana hasn’t gone before and it worked so darn well.

This story has a split sport context of MMA and rubgy…hello…this is fine by me. What a picture was painted, I loved the home of Maio House. This book delivered on some of the best characters I’ve read from a MZ book, Lenny (Elena), Jonah, Grandpa Gus, Mo (special squidge to the stomach here) and Peter. Each of these characters had my heart and all equally, I cannot favour one over the other.

Lenny was a woman let down, let down in the biggest way. Each chapter start gave a very brief past context to the ways in which Lenny had been let down and the more that the book progressed, the more those chapters starts kicked me in the gut. Jonah was the guy, THE GUY and it’s amazing how my heart, mind and affections moved towards understanding him. This big, bumbling, shy and gorgeous creature was swoon-heaven but guess what, Lenny was a champion MMA fighter, she could totally kick his ass with a foot swipe and her mouth.

There was nothing he could do that I couldn’t fight. There was nothing he could say that would possibly hurt me. I had prepared for this.

What was it that he wanted to explain? Why had he disappeared? Why hadn’t he called me back? What hadn’t he wanted to be part of…my life? Why he’d decided to come back now?

The unexpected element of this book was thrilling to me and this aspect was written so well, my heart was warm and cozy, wrapped up in the family-ness of this book. Sorry for the vagueness but it is necessary.

This second chance story with a deep connection at the heart, was fantastic. It was written with a style that just seemed to appeal to my mind and heart. I saved the last 6% for my flight home and what an idiot I am because that epilogue had my eyes sweating on take off. That said, that epilogue was just right for me.

Go read, go love, go savour.

LUNA AND THE LIE by Mariana Zapata 🎧

The problem with secrets is that they’re too easy to keep collecting.

Luna Allen has done some things she would rather no one ever know about. She also knows that, if she could go back in time, she wouldn’t change a single thing.

With three sisters she loves, a job she (mostly) adores, and a family built up of friends she’s made over the years, Luna figures everything has worked out the way it was supposed to.

But when one of those secrets involves the man who signs her paycheck, she can’t find it in her to regret it. Despite the fact that he’s not the friendliest man in the world. Or the most patient.

Sometimes there are things you’re better off keeping to yourself.

Title : Luna And The Lie
Author : Mariana Zapata
Format : Audiobook
Narrators : Callie Dalton & Gomez Pugh
Length : 17 hours
Genre : Contemporary Romance
Publisher : Indie (Audible)
Release Date : 20 April 2019

Reviewer : Micky
Rating : ★ ★ ★ ★

Micky’s 4 star review

I waited to read LUNA AND THE LIE until the audio book became available because Mariana Zapata’s audios are something special to behold, if you are fan of the author. This one was a little different in terms of narration but more on that later.

Luna herself was a quiet, strong, hurt woman. Mother to her sisters who were now grown and daughter to someone unmentionable with a whole can of worms that shouldn’t be opened. Years ago, when she needed it most, Mr C, one of her bosses gave her an opportunity and Luna ran with it to become head painter in a car body shop.

There was another boss, Rip (Ripley) and he was a fierce, monosyllabic, big man with a temper problem at work. Rip was shrouded in mystery, his past, his present, his family. The deep tenor of his grunts and words certainly helped paint the picture of the man he wanted people to perceive, a hard, hard man.

This story was full of family and work family and I really enjoyed the vibe this brought. Luna’s sisters were something but more than that Luna’s love for them and others, was something bright and vibrant. The story between Luna and Rip was slow, slow burning as those who’ve read Mariana Zapata might guess and whilst this was an everyday story, I just lived it alongside them.

Callie Dalton is MZ’s usual female narrator and she rocked the game, I’d say her proportion of the book is 90% and Gomez Pugh’s contribution was mainly in dialogue. I cannot tell you how well this worked. Overall this was a superb narration experience.

A solid and enjoyable listening experience with a memorable story to tell.