I really enjoyed this steamy romance. The main character is a feisty woman and the male character is definitely swoon worthy. I found the descriptions of the Dominican culture really made the story more interesting and authentic. The food descriptions were amazing! The secondary characters added more dimension and were impactful and entertaining. This was a great book that I read in one sitting. I found that the story had a lot of depth and I loved seeing Julia’s character evolve.

All kinds of mixed feelings.

The good:

- The first half of the book. I enjoyed learning about Julia's work, watching the found family come together, and the 'totally not falling for hot coworker, nope!' vibes.

- Love the Dominican culture, the Spanish not in italics, and Julia's family.

The not-so-good:

- The black moment that pushes Julia and Rocco apart bugs me so much. Just a touch of communication would have helped - and considering Julia is a social worker I was expecting her to do better. I almost DNFed at 70% but pushed through.

- It may be because I'm reading an unedited proof, but "dipped my head" and "lifted a shoulder" seemed to pop up every few pages. Also a lot of teeth sucking.

- A "random" comment in conversation foreshadows the conclusion. Some people may not notice but was dead obvious to me, and it revealed the one last puzzle piece I hadn't guessed at yet. GAH.

After a fun and enjoyable first half I was disappointed with how the conflict worked out, but I still want to read on in the series because YAY found family.

CW: discussion of past trauma, emotionally abusive parent

Adriana Herrera is killing it in the social justice romance genre game, I'm looking forward to stories about the Gotham Exiles moving forward, and I'm excited that this features the voices of women (the Dreamers series features mostly male protagonists). The main character was eerily similar to a few friends I know that live in Dallas (one of which relocated from NYC!) and work in a nonprofit/public sector that focuses on serving underrepresented youth.

Julia del Mar Ortiz is a great lead -- she's an extremely confident woman who despite being dumped by her boyfriend after making a move for him, is unmatched when it comes to her work ethic and her own badass beauty. She meets Rocco Quinn, who should be her enemy (or at the very least, someone she doesn't make lustful eye contact with every time he walks by), since he has been brought to her company to make cuts before the company goes public. However, he's a sweet little softy with a complicated backstory, so her internal social worker can't help but go for it.

I enjoyed this read a lot. I love the situations that Herrera puts her characters in, when it comes to making tough decisions, and there is always a focus on healthy communication (even though you still get that anxiety-producing romance twist towards the end). I like my romance books to be open door but wow, this one definitely goes into a LOT of detail, and makes up for the fact that it's a slow burn for the most part in the later half of the book. I also wish that for a book that focuses on 'found family' that you got to know that found family a little bit more -- the friendships aren't highlighted in this book other than in parties and some texts. They definitely care about each, but I don't get a sense from this first book about why beyond the fact that they all lived in NYC once. Hopefully this becomes more clear later in the later books.

Anyone who knows and loves Herrera will appreciate this latest addition, and I think it's also a great book as an intro to her writing! If you love found family, social justice, steamy romance, and delicious Dominican food, you will definitely want to stick around the world of Here to Stay. Thanks to NetGalley for the early review copy, all opinions are my own.

I am a fan of Adriana Herrera's books, and this start to a new series is absolutely wonderful. Julia and Rocco are on opposite sides at work, but there is a spark between them that they cannot ignore. How can one resist New Yorkers building new lives in Texas? The Afro-Caribbean ethnicity present in Ms. Herrera's work adds layers to the story and the characterization. I cannot wait to see more of these characters in their own upcoming stories.

***ARC Provided by the Publisher***

DNF at 33%

I liked the characters in this, and there were a lot of them which ultimately ended up being the issue I had and is the reason I have chosen to DNF this title.

There were too many other people that I felt the central relationship between Julia and Rocco ended up getting a little lost in the crowd and I never felt like I was getting to know either of them.

I really enjoyed this book! It grabbed my attention from the very beginning! This one was quite a slow burn for me, but there were other things going on the book that held my attention. This was my first Adriana Herrera book and it won’t be my last! I would definitely recommend this book!

I’ve gotta be honest – despite being an Adriana Herrera fangirl – I was wary of this one because it was described as a romance taking place in the high fashion industry and…that’s not anything I care about. I envisioned lots of brand name speak and I was going to take a pass. I’m so glad I didn’t because this is low on fashion and high on community, second chances, found family and two wonderful people that deserve love.
Julia del Mar Ortiz followed her boyfriend from NYC to Dallas, TX then he dumped her and went back to NYC leaving her with a pricey apartment. It hurt and she’s struggling but she does love her new job running a charitable foundation for high fashion Sturm’s department store, helping the children and families suffering from abuse and the immigration system.

When one of the Sturm brothers, Duke, decides to take the store public, the family and board members bring in a consultant, Rocco Quinn, to find where to cut costs, including Julia’s program.

You would think this would be an enemies to more romance but it’s not. Rocco is there to do a job and he’s thoughtful and professional about it. Duke tries to pressure him to cut the charitable arm but he’s equally attentive to the elderly twin Sturm sisters – Muffy & Mitzy (hilarious spitfires) who believe the charitable aspect is what makes the store attractive and profitable. Julia understands that it’s his job and just sets out to prove the program is worth saving. No petty squabbles or hijinks. But there are plenty of sparks, of course.

My favorite part of Here to Stay is how welcoming everyone was to Rocco. The staff could all hate him but they sensed that he was alone and lonely and pulled him in to their Gotham Exiles Club (a group of expat NYC’er co workers) and Julia’s family welcomed him immediately into the fold and never wavered in their belief in Julia. Herrera does a great job writing big, nosy, supportive families – both by blood and found.

The romance wasn’t easy. Julia doesn’t trust her instincts with men and Rocco has self confidence, verbal abuse issues from his parents (& sees a therapist!) so there’s a lot of back and forth before they give in. Even though I understood Julia’s hesitance, I thought she was a little too hot then cold to Rocco – knowing, with her background, how much that affected him - but thankfully she pulled her head out of her ass and was 110% there for him – as he was for her, knowing she needed support for her dreams.

And oh! Pulgo the cat that Rocco rescued! Too cute

Minor…minor…minor…quibbles but I thought this could have been a tad shorter and I got sick of hearing Julia say "Rocco fucking Quinn" but I still really enjoyed this one and wish it was a series. Lots of great supporting characters that could have been spun off into their own stories.

Julia left her family and the life she knew behind to move to Dallas with her boyfriend only to find out that her feelings for him were much deeper than his for her. She is determined to make a success of her new life and found her job of running a program to help immigrants fulfilling.

Due to a change in the structure of the company that employed her Rocco has been sent to decide if the cost of the program that Julia runs is worth the cost. As he and Julia find themselves on opposite sides their relationship started out filled with friction but as they get to know each other and their pasts the sparks fly.

This story includes some very important social issues that shouldn’t be overlooked, has a great group of secondary characters and both their families are captivating in very different ways. All in all I enjoyed this story and look forward to more stories set in this locale.

I was provided a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.

I haven’t read anything by this author before, but I’ve heard a lot about her books on a couple of the podcasts I listen to and I’ve been wanting lately to read one. I liked the description on this book a lot and was excited to read it. I liked it a good amount. The hero and heroine were so passionate and lively and it really made for an interesting read. I can see why her books are so popular because even beyond the normal romance plot line there were some important issues that this book dealt with: immigration and emotional abuse being the major ones. I loved hearing about the after-school programs Julia had organized and all the information about her background and her education. She was fiercely successful and it was so great to see such a strong female character in a romance novel. Julia and Rocco also had just the most adorable nicknames and it made me melt. Some of the plot was a tad off-putting for me because the main conflict was somewhat the result of communication issues – which isn’t my favorite. Other than that though it was a really enjoyable read and I’d recommend it!

DNF 37%

This has great chemistry between Rocco and Julie but at least for time being this romance wasn’t holding my attention. I think Herrera does a great job showing main characters working for social justice, and I liked Julie’s work with immigrant families. I was curious how things would be resolved regarding her job, especially because the men who hired Rocco’s firm seemed nefarious. Plus, as always with Herrera’s work, the family and chosen family dynamics were wonderful. But despite the elements I was enjoying, right now this story wasn’t holding my attention like this author usually does.

Julia is a transplant from New York to the deep South. Outside of the crazy temperature difference, and the sudden lack of love in her life, she's settling in with a fab new job, and a great apartment....but she misses her friends! She's not unfriendly; she's just missing those she knows and loves...so, taking the bull by the horns like any NYC gal, she sets up a gathering for other New Yorkers looking for that familiar connection brought about by dodging traffic, living in over priced small spaces, and treating driving like it's something you'd rather not do. Does it work? Sure...but there's a catch. Her new job is being reevaluated as the business makes some changes (significant ones!) and that puts her role on the line...oh and hello monkey wrench! The guy doing the eval's? Yeah...he's one of the displaced (who's also trying to take care of not only his life, but family!)...and he's not a hardship for the eyes (though neither is she!)...and he may feel the same way (major sparkage!)...and she can not seriously afford for anything to happen right now (ditto for him!)...but you know, heart's and wanting what they want and....yeah, things are about to get WAY MORE complicated than either of them need.

The story grows from there and the connections forged, problems faced, and obstacles overcome are great, fantastic, couldn't have felt more realistic! The issue of the people not being representative of the people they are there for was truly felt. The fact that change comes from some taking small steps in the name of a bigger cause was noteworthy. The fact that the main characters were both of backgrounds and family histories that included multiple nationalities and heritages that they were proud of was definitely made known. My only issue was the language during parts of the book and the fact that the excessive use of such language was supposed to be indicative of the fact that a person was a "true New Yorker". Umm...maybe in some parts, but I wouldn't use it as a general classification and honestly, during those parts of the book, I was pulled away from what was happening to the point of distraction.

Overall, a good story that certainly adds to the diverse literature culture needed in the publishing industry...just be prepared for the language factor going in and take care to focus around it to take everything in. (or not, if it doesn't faze you!).

I really enjoy Adriana Herrera's books and I was excited to pick this one up. It stars Julia, a non-profit director, and Rocco, the consultant hired to get rid of her programs.

Julia recently moved from New York to Houston to follow her fiance. She finds out that he was cheating on her and decides to stay in Houston and make the most of the situation. She is a social worker who has worked hard to become a non-profit director for Latinx families. She misses her family but craves the freedom of branching out on her own.

Rocco is a consultant hired to determine if the fashion company that supports the non-profit foundation is ready to go public with its stocks. He is torn between the twin CEO's who support the non-profit and the CFO and other members of the family who want to go public to earn more executive bonuses for the board. Rocco is attracted to Julia but tries to keep distance because he needs to succeed at this job so he can get a promotion and better support his sister and niece.

I enjoyed the "found family" aspect of the book. Julia is lonely and decides to create an ex-pat New York friend group. Rocco joins the group, even though he is in Houston short term, and their friendship grows. Eventually, Julia decides to lower her guard and give in to her attraction. Of course, this leads to drama as Rocco is literally there to get rid of her job. There was a lot of drama here. Rocco acted like a martyr and Julia was wishy washy with her feelings for most of the book.

In the end, this book was okay. It wasn't my favorite of her books and honestly I think I like her gay romances better than her straight romances. I struggled with the connection between Julia and Rocco and it kind of fell flat.

Complementary copy given for honest review and opinion.
Great book about romance and culture. It did drag on some but it was a good read. I enjoyed it.

I absolutely loved "Here to Stay" by Adriana Herrera, a sweet, funny, emotional, and well-written story featuring incredibly well-developed, relatable main characters and a fantastic slow burn romance. Both Rocco's and Julia's misgivings about starting a relationship were completely understandable, but eventually neither of them could resist the pull of their attraction. It was easy for me to root for them, both individually and as a couple, as they worked to overcome the obstacles that stood in the way of their HEA.

Rocco was a man with many layers, and it was interesting to see each of them revealed over the course of the story. He came across as very cool and confident when he first met Julia at work, but beneath that he was so sweet and almost shy. He was also fiercely protective of the ones he loved, especially his younger sister and toddler niece. Rocco fit in very well with Julia's family, who I adored. They may have been a little overwhelming at times, but it was obvious how much they loved and supported each other. I especially appreciated how warm and welcoming they were as soon as they met Rocco. It was like he was already a part of the family from the first time they met him. Julia herself was smart, funny, compassionate, and hard-working, and more than a match for Rocco in every way.

In addition to Rocco and Julia's romance and getting to know Julia's family, I loved the "found family" aspect of this book. The Gotham Exiles group that Julia created was so much fun, and the way they so quickly came together and supported each other was amazing. There were a lot of big personalities in that group, but I loved every one of them and the way that they seemed to complement each other. Julia's best friend in New York, Alba, was awesome too. She seemed like the very definition of a ride or die!

Overall, I highly recommend "Here to Stay" for all fans of contemporary romance. This was the first book I've ever read by Adriana Herrera, but it definitely will not be the last.

*ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

Julia hasn’t been living in Dallas very long, but she’s getting used to it. She loves her job, and she has a whole crew of NYC-to-Dallas exiles to hang out with.

And then Rocco shows up. He’s also from NYC, and he’s been hired as a consultant to advise on Julia’s job going from a privately owned corporation to publicly traded. Julia wants to hate him, since his opinion might mean her position (and the entire charitable foundation) being eliminated, but as they start hanging out, it gets harder for her to resist his charming ways.

Given that I love everything that Adriana Herrera writes, it’s no surprise that I loved this book. The banter between Julia and Rocco is top-notch, and there’s a lot of banter because it takes them a long time to finally hook up. So, attention all fans of the slow burn trope: we’ve got a winner here. But yeah, the banter is hilarious, and I was grinning throughout the entire book.

I loved the emphasis on family; even though Julia is living 1500 miles away from her family, they’re still a big part of her life. Julia’s amicable situation is a stark contrast from Rocco’s dysfunctional family, which makes his achievements more significant when the odds were against him.

Of course, it wouldn’t be an Adriana Herrera book is there weren’t over the top descriptions of food. Once again, reading about all that food made me hungry, and Herrera really needs to start putting recipes at the end of the books.

I mentioned the slow burn, but I didn’t get a chance to share that Julia and Rocco’s chemistry is H-O-T. Like off the charts scorching. Wow, do those two work well together. It was definitely work the wait.

I would absolutely recommend Here To Stay. This is a standalone romance, so there’s no backstory or previous books that need to be read in order to understand this one. It’s super charming and cute as hell, and you’re going to love it.

I received a copy of this book from Carina Press/NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I adored Here to Stay by Adriana Herrera!

Single and with her dream job on the chopping block, it's safe to say things in Texas aren't going according to plan for New Yorker Julia del Mar Ortiz. First her boyfriend dumps her and runs back to New York City for his side chick. Now a consultancy firm is looking for ways to make the high-end department store she works for more profitable before taking the company public and their first order of business is examining the charitable foundation Julia runs. If Julia has any hope of saving her job and the foundation that helps so many immigrant families, Julia will have to make consultant and fellow New Yorker Rocco Quinn see the foundation's true value. As Julia and Rocco spend more time together, the two enemies realize they have more in common than not and that fighting the growing attraction between them is going to be a losing battle.

The chemistry between Julia and Rocco jumps off the page from their first elevator ride together. The push and pull of the enemies-to-lovers trope at work in HERE TO STAY kept me turning the pages and I loved the banter between them. I couldn't help but root for their HEA!

I also loved the found family element in HERE TO STAY. You can tell Adriana Herrera to incredible care in writing each character of the Gotham Exiles Club to showcase their genuine affection for each other and deliver a wonderful take on the fish out of water trope. I'm keeping my fingers crossed we get love stories for the other members in the near future.

In addition to a wonderful found family, Julia also comes from a fantastic family. I thoroughly enjoyed all the hilarious scenes with her family and how they welcomed Rocco with open arms. Rocco's family situation was heartbreaking and that made his HEA with Julia even more impactful because he was finally getting the family life he deserved.

Thank you NetGalley, Carina Press and Adriana Herrera for the chance to read this digital ARC.

A talented author; I've read 80% of their books. I think this was too SJW for me. It takes away from the romance and at times it feels like the white heroes in her books are made to be too cool or go out of the way to be the beacon of allyship/honorary non-white.

I think Here to Stay just may be my favorite from @ladriana_herrera so far! If you’ve read any of her other books, you know that they are full of vibrant, hilarious, and endlessly supportive friend groups, a focus on family (found or otherwise), and deliciously detailed descriptions of food that will leave you feeling hungry for days. Herrera’s books will make you smile like an idiot and belly laugh and swoon and burn and cry—they are truly wonderful. Julia and Rocco are tied for my favorite couple with Nesto and Jude. Julia is selfless and driven in her personal and professional life, but keeps her heart fiercely guarded. Rocco is equally selfless and a self conscious sweetheart who is also an unexpected master of dirty talk and I am here. For. It. These two are strangers who feel an instant mutual attraction, but are unable to pursue one another due to a serious professional conflict of interest. The chemistry between them is 🔥 🔥🔥from the beginning and the tension MY GOD THE TENSION. I loved this one so much and I highly recommend it to all of you. It’s out next week so do yourself a favor and order it! Thank you so much to @ladriana_herrera and @harlequinbooks for the advanced review copy!

I've never picked up any of Adriana Herrera's other books, but I have heard tons of good things about her writing so I was excited to get a chance to pick up this one!

I immediately fell in love with Julia, her relationships with both friends and family and her internal dialogue. I loved the way Herrera wrote her characters and really gave them dimension. Throughout the book I was really invested in the relationships, as well as the company that Julia worked for, which says a lot about the story Herrera was telling.

I was rooting for Julia and Rocco from the beginning, especially the more we got to find out about him. I also really appreciated the representation of diversity and all the different personalities we got to meet throughout the story. I will definitely be picking up more from Adriana Herrera in the future!

¡Me encantó! I adored this funny, sexy, feel-good romance about the joys and trials of "real" families and found families. I couldn't stop smiling as these two compassionate, stubborn souls fall in love and find a home.