I know MZ writes sports romances, but as someone who played soccer for the vast majority of her life, I was so excited for Kulti and getting to see MZ's take on the soccer world. Reiner Kulti is arguably THE best and most famous male soccer player of all time, and he agrees to coach Sal Casillas's women's professional team in Houston. He is her coach; she is the player. There's an element of forbidden romance in this way, but the way MZ writes it makes it really work. This is because for the bulk of the book, Kulti and Sal are friends. They start of as sort of enemies, or at the very least, two people who really don't like each other and don't think they need each other. But the friendship that blooms is so beautiful, and they become the only true thing each other has. It's clear that Kulti really has never had anyone he trusts and no one to support him for who he truly is and not just his talents and fame and money, but he finds that in Sal, and I think that's why he values what he has with her so much. So much so, that he does anything and everything to protect her, even at the expense of himself. The building of that friendship makes it so sweet when they finally do get together, because you can feel how much they love each other, on the deepest of levels. It's a slow burn, maybe even the slowest burn she has ever written but trust me when I say it is worth it. Sal is just THAT GIRL, the one you root for and relate to and laugh and cry and get angry right alongside her. I LOVE that she had not only Kulti, but others in her life to support her and encourage her to explore the possibilities and not just accept the hand she has been dealt. The details that went into this book were also so well done and spot on and added so much to this book. The epilogue (and bonus scene on her website) just made me swoon and wish for more of Sal and Kulti and everyone else in their extended world.

I feel like I can't do this book justice with my review. This is seriously one of the best books I have ever read, and it's definitely Mariana Zapata's best book to date. This story touched my heart in so many ways and there were certainly tears shed at the end. Aurora is fresh off of a bad break up and decides to start over in a very familiar place - a small town she once lived and grew up in and the same town where he mother msyteriously vanished while hiking years ago. Upon arriving, she thinks she's rented a garage apartment from an actual landlord, but it turns out that the person she rented the apartment from is just a kid named Amos, and his father Tobias Rhodes, is furious with him for going behind his back and renting out their place to a stranger without his approval. But, Rhodes agrees to let Aurora stay... much to his chagrin. Turns out, it was exactly what everyone needed all along.

This was a beautiful story about finding a family and love in the most unlikely of places, a story about two broken people who need each other, a story about a woman's self discovery and a culmination of small moments that lead to big happiness.

MZ's world building is forever top tier. The sheer amount of detail that is in this book is amazing. You have the scenery, the secondary characters, the backstory, the slow burn and friendship and the romance... it's all just so well written. It's a long book but because of the way MZ tells this story, it sure doesn't feel like it. If it seems like too much, it's actually not enough. Aurora's character growth is outstanding, and something I really haven't come across before. As always, it's a slow burn, but I think this book, more than any of her others, really makes you feel like that slow burn was so worth the payoff in the end. Tobias Rhodes is the man of all men, and he just screamed the word home. Their chemistry together was palpable and two people who were truly meant to find each other.

I might be addicted to MZ's books and I am more than okay with that.

I wasn't sure how I would feel about this one going into it, but I was pleasantly surprised. I love that Emerson and his friends started a sex club that's inclusive and friendly to all, and it's a shameful thing. A place where people can feel safe and are able to explore their sexuality and kinks. I'm not too familiar with BDSM or its components, but this felt like a great introduction into the world and you can see just how normal this all is, even though others may not think so. The most important thing is consent, and the author and the characters make this clear several times throughout the course of the book.

I thought this would all just be sex, sex, sex and then some more sex. And while sex was a huge part of it, I was actually very invested in the plot and the main relationship between Emerson and Charlotte, which I think both were done so well. I loved that both Emerson and Charlotte grew leaps and bounds in this book, and there is so much depth to these characters. I loved their relationship and really wanted them to get their happy ending, despite the obstacles. Overall, I enjoyed this book and cannot wait for the next one in the series.

I liked this a lot more than I thought I would. I mean, stepsiblings hooking up and falling in love? Sounds strange, but when you get context during the book, it actually really works. And it's HOT. I especially loved Garrett's transformation and journey that he went through. Mia went through quite the adventure and grew so much too. Together, two people who thought they didn't need each other and really hated each other find out just how much joy and happiness and similarities they can find in each other. I took off a star because I do feel like one certain character should have been honest about their secret MUCH sooner before taking such a huge thing from another character, and said other character forgave much too easily and it was never really discussed again even though it was a HUGE deal in my opinion. Overall though, I loved Garrett and Mia's story and have been loving those series when I really didn't think I would. So good!

This is the first time I've ever read a poly/throuple/threesome romance of any kind. This absolutely blew my mind and just killed me in the best way. I was weary and didn't know if my delicate and pretty vanilla heart could handle this. But honestly, I loved it so much. I thought it was just going to be sex and three people just being greedy but it was so much more than that. A beautiful story of three people who love each other more than anything and who find happiness in their trio. The smut scenes were so flipping HOT. They were done so well, and actually contributed to the plot as well. The plot was centered around these three discovering their relationship and then trying to navigate and I really liked it. Also, I really liked one character's journey of self discovery and finding their sexuality, and the struggles and inner turmoil that came along with that. It was so perfect and I honestly want to read this one again!

I had high hopes for this installment because all of the other books in this series have been great. I'm here to tell you that this book does not disappoint! I've never read a femme domme before, so this was new to me but it was so good. I loved that Maggie discovered this side of herself that she never knew existed but was there all along. And Beau had a wonderful journey of self growth and really came into his own and his self discovery was top notch. I was worried about how I would feel about him in this book because of this behavior and character in the first book, but he was very unexpected and everything I wanted and needed and more. As always, the spice was so hot I almost burned myself! Highly recommend checking this series out.

This is the first book by Catherine Cowles that I have read and I can honestly say, I was not disappointed. I love books like this, where the plot is just as enticing as the romance and it sucks you in, to the point that you cannot put it down because you want to know more. It was suspenseful and heartbreaking, but also heartwarming and enjoyable all at the same time. I really loved the enemies to lovers trope that we got with Hayes and Everly, although that pretty wuickly dissolved when Hayes got over himself and gave Everly a proper chance. I really loved the world building and every single one of the side characters that we get insight to. Everly had such a tragic back story and it was refreshing to see her overcome and become part of her found family. Overall, I loved this and cannot wait to continue the series.

This was such an angsty installment but I'm here for it. I was so excited to read Hadley and Calder's story after their introduction in the first book of this series. In the first book, they seemed just a *little* more than friends (even thought they claimed to be only childhood friends) and I knew this would blossom into something more. Boy, did it ever! I absolutely love the single parent trope and this was no exception. I just adored Birdie and Sage and their relationship with Hadley, but also with their dad and Addie too. It was so amazing to see Calder be so supportive of Hadley, no matter what she wanted to do or who had things to say about it. I LOVED when he stood up to her family (specifically her mother) for her; it made me swoon, because I feel like no one had ever stuck up for her like Calder did. I was really into the plot too, both with Hadley and Calder's ex. Hadley and Calder's chemistry was so electric and I just adored their epilogue. I'm ready for the next book!

I just loved this book so much! I seriously couldn't wait for Beckett and Addie's story. I just KNEW it would be great, and it definitely was. This is easily my favorite book of the series. This is a roommates to lovers book, and I think it was done so well. Addie has such a tragic back story, but she is such a fighter and an amazing person. I can't believe how strong she was after all that she went through with her father. I loved that Beckett chose to befriend her first, instead of just rying to jump in, even though he liked her from the very beginning. He knew how vulnerable and sensitive she was due to her history, but he also never treated her like she was this fragile thing. He saw her beauty and her strength and how she didn't let it break her. I love how Beckett helped her enjoy even the simplest of things, like getting her driver's license. Their relationship was just so pure and was founded on such a deeper level than just lust or even like. I loved the mystery and the suspense that we get as part of the plot. I really loved everything about this book and highly recommend it.

Another great installment in the Tattered & Torn series! I really loved this one. Laiken and Boden are two broken people who find each other in the most unlikely of places and create a beautiful love story while helping each other heal. I absolutely loved the mystery and suspense in this one, and I truly never knew what was going to happen next. I'm a big fan of books that have not only romace, but a plot too that sucks you in and keeps you begging for more, and wanting answers. As always, I love how Catherine Cowles builds her big world in this small town and how much we get from not only the main characters but the secondary characters as well. I get so invested in everyone! I also loved the chronic pain representation we got from Laiken and how well Boden stepped up for her. I truly adored this book and asbolutely cannot WAIT for Shiloh and Ramsey's book!