A heartfelt and sweet love story that goes down easily! While not my favourite of this author's work, I always enjoy the warmth with which she writes characters and their communities.

This is an office romance set in Dallas. Julia ia a New Yorker who moved to Texas for a boyfriend, but then he dumps her. She swears of men, but meets Rocco who is dealing with family drama. The chemistry on page is great. The characters are fun and lively.

Here to Stay
Dating in Dallas, Book 1

I Picked Up This Book Because: Seemed like a good idea at the time.

Media Type: Audiobook
Source: Everand
Dates Read: 4/27/24 - 4/30/24
Rating: 4 Stars
Narrator(s): Almarie Guerra, Sean Crisden

The Characters:

Julia Del Mar:
Rocco Quinn:
Gotham Exiles, Julia’s Family, Rocco’s Family

The Story:
A very enjoyable if somewhat predictable story. I loved the characters. I want to hang out with the exiles. This was my first read from this author but will not be my last. I also really enjoyed the narrators as it was my first time hearing them also.

I really thought this was going to work for me but I struggled to enjoy the workplace conflict to bring them together.

I wanted to love this becuase I do love Adriana's writing and story telling so much but it just fell flat for me overall.

Workplace romances are always risky, heck even workplace friendships can be risky from my experience. But when the person you’re interested in can affect whether or not your job exists, that’s not a good mix.

I loved the characters in this story, and not just Julia and Rocco, but all of the Exiles, Julia’s family, the Sturm twins, and Rocco’s sister as well. The sense of fun, affection, found family and belonging was so strong throughout the book.

This was also a very realistic book. Both Julia and Rocco are aware of why they should stay away from each other and avoid any entanglements. They both face the possible issues of their relationship head on and know that things may not end favorably.

Both characters have their flaws and baggage from their pasts, though I feel like Rocco’s baggage was a bit heavier than Julia’s, maybe because she has such strong familial support as well.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story and am looking forward to my next Adriana Herrera read!

Disclaimer: I received an eARC of this book through Net Galley on behalf of the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

When I think of women'sfiction, I think of books just like this one, that gives all the feels. This is a perfect book to snuggle up with on any day.

Such a heartfelt and charming story! I could not stop smiling the entire time I was reading it. I love both Julia and Rocco. Their playful banter and subtle flirting was a joy to read. I also loved the relationship Julia has with her crazy but loving family. It was fun learning about both Dominican and Puerto Rico culture too. The book also dealt with bigger issues such as family dynamics (blood and found), social and work issues. I really enjoyed this book and I am hoping that others in the Gotham City Exile group will get their own books too.

Thank you to NetGallery and to Harlequin Trade Publishing for giving me a copy for.a honest review.

"Here to Stay" by Adriana Herrera was truly a delightful read. This book affirmed my love for workplace Romances. I loved Julia and her passion for her work, it was inspiring. I found her dynamic with her family heartwarming and compelling. The workplace romance is certainly the main aspect but many things go with it such as the depiction of different family structures. I cannot get enough of romances that display the dynamics of Latine families. Julia's family was lovely and I enjoyed how they were supportive but also flawed. Herrera makes sure to also depict that not all families have healthy relationships and the work it takes to overcome generational family trauma.Then we have found family, which is a trope that I enjoy reading, and how as you grow older and make a life of your own this type of family can bring comfort. The novel's investment in depicting these different types of family dynamics made it much more than just an office romance. I liked the dual POV from Julia and Rocco because each voice was distinct and they had arcs besides the own in their workplace. The pace of the romance itself was good as well. I feel like in some others that I have read it develops really fast, but this one had a steady pace despite both characters being attracted to one another from the very start of the book. I cannot wait to read the next installment and wonder who it will focus on! Hopefully we get to see Julia and Rocco again because their dynamic was very sweet.

I was enraptured by Julia and Rocco's chemistry. Their banter is quick witted and punchy, and I found myself wanting to return to them moments after having put story down. I'll definitely be reading more from this author.

This was actually my first Adriana Herrera and it won't be my last. I really enjoyed this cast of characters and loved reading a few chapters each night to wind down before bed. There were a few things that I had to suspend my beliefs for (like the crappy co-worker that for sure would have been fired long ago) and the annoying people you love to hate, but the Gotham Exiles were fun and I just really enjoyed these characters. I'm sad it took me so long to finally read it!

I started reading the book, but was not drawn in & decided not to continue reading. Thank you for the opportunity to review this book, but it unfortunately just didn't work for me to continue with it.

Due to various concerns, I am unable to fairly review this book. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review Here to Stay.

I loved the Dreamers series, but I couldn't get into this one. Maybe because there was less slow burn. Thanks to the publisher for the review copy.

Fantastic book!
Really enjoyed the main characters as well as the secondary ones. The feelings I got throughout reading were so good. The whole "found family" aspect really got me.
The food? Yes! Julia's family? Adored them all!
I hope there will more from the side characters in this book. I want them all to get their HEA's.

I THOROUGHLY enjoyed this, but Julia and Rocco's inability (or refusal) to communicate fully with each other got on my ever loving nerves! But their romance and chemistry felt real and intense, the friend group in the book is phenomenal (I sort of want a book for each and every one of them), and the issues discussed are so real and relevant. Rocco is the perfect combination of sensitive and strong and Julia is the kind of woman I want as a bestie IRL. While this is not my first Adriana Herrera book, it did solidify her as a must read author for me and I can't wait to see what she gives us next! 4 out of 5 wine glasses.

A workplace romance with enticing characters with real chemistry, this book was a fast but enjoyable read.

This is a difficult one for me because I love Adriana's books, but even an OK book from her is wonderful. As always, she creates wonderful found families.

Overall I really enjoyed this book. The language was a little much at times and had me feeling like abandoning it a few times. But once I got past that it was good. Not a book I would have picked up on my own.

I absolutely loved this book. The chemistry between the main characters was perfection. Adriana Herrera wrote and wonderful romance.

3.5 stars Fun, quick to read. But I could not get into the overall story. It was cute of course, as contemporaries are, but eh.