This was a fun, sexy read! I loveedddd Rocco and the Gotham Exiles. It was awesome how Julia came up with that idea and how well it worked for them! Let talk about the sexual tension between these two! Despite being on opposite sides of a work thing. They made it work and it was amazing. I loved the friends and her family hahahaa so so funny!

So usually Adriana’s books make me hungry. This one was no different. But this one also had the added bonus of making me horny because holy moly, this book is hot y’all. And amidst all the hotness is one super sweet hero and an ending that made me cry.

Julia is a native New Yorker who relocated to Dallas for her boyfriend, only to find out he’d been cheating on her and was leaving her stuck with the lease on their new apartment. Julia decides to make the best of it, helped along by her kickass job working for a non-profit funded by a luxury department store. But when the department store decides to go public, all of their charitable programs are in danger of being cut. And the person who is going to make the recommendation about whether or not to make said cuts just happens to also be a New Yorker, and a super sexy one at that. Rocco is only in Dallas temporarily, to nail this job and earn a promotion so he can help his sister and niece escape a very toxic situation with their parents. Julia and Rocco have an immediate attraction to one another, that only grows as they form a tight bond with the other former New Yorkers living and working in Dallas. But the conflict of interest is intense. Rocco needs to find a way to make these cuts in order to secure his promotion, but making those cuts will cost Julia her much loved job. Along with some *steamy* sex scenes, we also see Julia and Rocco face some tough family drama, but in the end they (of course) are able to find a way to work it all out and live happily ever after.

So have I mentioned how hot this book is yet? Seriously, I was fanning myself during some of these scenes because yowza do Julia and Rocco have some tangible sexual tension. For a minute, I was so wrapped up in the sexy times, I almost didn’t notice just how much my heart was squeezing at the real emotional connection between the two characters. Rocco has that whole I’ll never be good enough for you thing going on, which I am a total sucker for, and he won me over with his devotion to his sister, Julia, and the cat he rescues from a parking lot (for reals). In addition to all of that magic, there is a strong found family in this book which is another one of my favorite things ever. Basically, reading this made me happy, and these days, what else is there?

Overall Rating: 4.5 stars

Another new-to-me author that makes me want to read more of her books. While this story was a bit of a slow starter for me, once it gained momentum, I didn’t want to put it down. And that was by the 25% mark, so it didn’t take all that long.

Julia and Rocco are both amazing characters. Tough, kind, funny, compassionate, smart. They tick all the boxes. They are desperately attracted to one another in a physical sense well before they even get past knowing each other’s names. And each thought the other wouldn’t be interested for a variety of reasons, plus neither was looking for a relationship.

After years of on again/off again with the same guy, Julia suffered the ultimate betrayal when he left her for another woman…after she had totally rearranged her life for him. So, it’s no wonder that she’s gun shy. There are a few times I think she’s a bit too resistant to giving love another try, but it’s understandable so I tried not to hold it against her.

Rocco wouldn’t mind some love in his life, but he doesn’t understand what that really means. He’s always been one to give love and care and security, never one to get the same in return. And he has a sister and niece back in New York relying on him to get out of a bad situation. Rocco is such a generous and kind person, it doesn’t even occur to him that his sister can or will adjust to his wants so he doesn’t have to give up the things he wants in order to help her. It’s so black and white for him.

Once Rocco and Julia start being thrown together, the train starts picking up speed. So much so that you know it’s going to barrel out of control sooner or later. Their ragtag group of friends Julia is responsible for getting together becomes a beautiful family. I love them all and really enjoyed their interactions. They were like interfering siblings, teasing and pushing the couple together while also being extremely supportive.

There is so much to love about this story. It’s beautifully sweet one moment, and on fire the next. The chemistry is obvious from the first moment we see Julia and Rocco interact. Not only were the friends given a ton of depth, so were both families. The author did an amazing job of writing the love of Julia’s family and the unpleasantness of Rocco’s. I could feel both in my gut.

I’m really looking forward to reading some of this author’s earlier stories. She definitely has a way with words.

I loved this book, I am here for this romance. I have grown a fond appreciation for enemies to lovers trope. I think Adriana Herrera did a great job writing this. It is a very overly saturated trope, but she found a way to make it seem fresh and new. Thank you to Harlequin Books for gifting me a copy. I've never read Herrera's books before, but I am now a forever fan!

Julia Ortiz and Rocco Quinn should have been enemies not lovers. But their chemistry wouldn’t let them be. Adriana Herrera’s latest is high is heat and humor and humanity. Rocco is a management consultant hired to help the luxury retail company Julia works for get ready to go public. Julia runs much needed charitable programs threatened with extinction given the new emphasis is on the bottom line. Though their business interests don’t align, they get along in every other way and it’s a joy to watch them work things out.

Here to Stay by Adriana Herrera is a workplace romance centered on Rocco Quinn and Julia del Mar Ortiz. Julia is the programme leader for the clothing brand Strum's charity foundation and Rocco has been brought in to assess the company as the owners are pushing to go public as an IPO. I liked the concept working in finance and being interested in charity work I could vibe with both the roles that Rocco and Julia had. I also really liked Julia's character, her relationship with her family, her focus on her Dominican Republic roots and the Spanish that was scattered throughout the book. This was really warming and enjoyable and it felt homey that she had such a supportive and loving family (as so often in romance novels, the family of the MC are terrible).

However, this book just fell a little flat for me. I thought it could have done with a fair bit of editing down to tidy up some of the dialogue and draw in the relationship a bit more. I liked both Rocco and Julia as characters, although Rocco could be a little bit irritating at times. I just found some of the scenes really unrealistic for an otherwise fairly realistic novel in their relationship. I also felt like the pacing was really slow on this one. I really wanted to like it more, but sadly it just fell a little flat for me.

Thanks to Netgalley for the eARC.

I’ve enjoyed every single one of Ms. Herrera’s books, and this one is no exception. From her love of NYC to her relatable characters to the FEELS, this book is a treat!

Julia left her Dominican family in NYC to follow her boyfriend to Dallas… only for him to dump her and move back shortly afterwards. While her love life may be reeling, at least she loves her new job running an afterschool program for undocumented kids and their families as part of a department store’s charity foundation. But an IPO is on the horizon, and the board’s brought in consultants to give their verdict on how to get the company ready for it – and all signs point to them stripping the foundation of funding. Rocco knows finishing this job up quickly will get him back to NYC faster and get him the promotion he needs. If only he could keep his eyes… and thoughts… and hands… off Julia.

“Rocco had that lethal combination of boyish good looks and a slight edge. Like he could mow my lawn for me and then walk into the house and do unspeakable things to my body. And good Lord that was not the reel I needed going through my head right now.”


Julia’s my favorite kind of heroine. She’s smart, hardworking, and snarky, and she has a plan. Still smarting from her ex’s behavior, she’s sworn off romantic relationships in favor of focusing on finding new friends in Dallas. Enter the Gotham Exiles club, her attempt to connect with fellow ex-NYCs now stranded in Dallas. The only problem is that one of those exiles – even if only temporary – is Rocco, who she’s lusting over like crazy, and it’s obvious quickly that the attraction is returned. Rocco may act tough, but on the inside he’s an ooey gooey cinnamon roll – the type of guy who’ll rescue a probably flea-infested kitten. While he’s not Latinx, he grew up in Corona just like Julia, and his family background gives him a more empathetic perspective than your average white guy. What I think I loved the most about this couple is that while they’re both extremely competent at their jobs, they are absolute messes in their personal lives – and that’s OK! It’s something both need to come to terms with as part of their relationship. As for the steam level, this book is thirsty as all get out. There’s quite a bit of a slow burn as they navigate whether they could or should get into a relationship. But once we hit the “oh, I’ll just sleep with them once to get them out of my system” trope – I mean, we all know how that ends up, right? – it gets downright steamy.

“It’s great that you’re doing this with them. With poor kids, even when people are trying to help, the focus is always on food, or clothes, if they have a place to live. And don’t get me wrong—I know how necessary all those things are. It’s just nice to be seen as more than a problem to solve. For someone to remember you need oxygen in your lungs too, you know?”


Like most of Ms. Herrera’s books, it’s also a bit of a love letter to NYC, even though it’s almost entirely set in Dallas. And those NYCers of the Gotham Exiles club are a great example of found family. The secondary characters were well-rounded, distinct, and had some pretty hilarious interactions. Julia’s family, especially her parents, were especially well written, and just so amazingly supportive. The author’s background in social work, as usual, shines through here again, from the political shenanigans of every big foundation to the reminder that kids – especially kids with trauma backgrounds – need more than just food and shelter to thrive. As for that conflict, there’s a good balance and commensurate pacing between each character’s internal conflicts and the external conflict.

Overall, I enjoyed the heck out of this book and eagerly awaiting the next one. I’m honestly hoping that this will become a series with more from the Gotham Exiles!

I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

This is the first book that I’ve read from author Adriana Herrera and I must say that I enjoyed it. I enjoy finding new authors books to read.

Julia leaves NYC with her boyfriend for Texas who later leaves her and returns to NYC thus leaving Julia in Texas.
Julia and Rocco are both native NYC and find themselves in Texas. As the people say small world.

Rocco is the gorgeous handsome consultant that was brought in to downsize the company that Julia works for a charitable foundation that she is running and Julia’s will probably be the first job to go. Sparks are there from the beginning with Julia and Rocco and it makes for a great office romance.

If you like short romantic reads then this is book you should be reading that will you turning the AC on high. Why not pick up your copy today and find out for yourself.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC to review.

I found myself at first thinking that this was not going to be a very interesting read. For me, the beginning of this book was a little slow. You have Julia Ortiz moving to Texas with her boyfriend only to have him leave and leave her with a lease to the apartment. Already having a job she dives right in and sets up programs and as she has everything up and running she now has to have a suit from the company that provides the funding for all of their non-profit programs coming in to look and see exactly what it is that they do.
Turns out that the man she meets in the elevator and in the hall, Rocco Quinn is her downfall, or could be. He is the man from the company who is there waiting to be shown around so he can give the board of directors an honest assessment of the entire company and if they should take their company public on the stock market.
After meeting her they then next meet again at a small gathering that Julia has set up for all of the New Yorkers who have moved to Texas and want to get together. Here is when they want to be friends but at the same time don’t. it stays this way until her family from New York arrives and then he is invited to thanksgiving. It is after this that the story picks up as well as the heat between the two of them. The rest of the book is a fun fast-paced story with laughter, sadness and wondering what will happen between Julia and Rocco and with the company and the agency that she works for? A very good book with really good characters and little storylines inside the bigger ones, very much worth the read.

Heat Factor: It’s bordering on a slow burn, but not TOO slow.
Character Chemistry: There are so many ways these two are complimentary for one another that it’s hard to summarize.
Plot: Julia left NYC with her ex and moved to Dallas only to get dumped and left with a spacious apartment and a new job at a charitable foundation she absolutely loves. However--the consultant hired to take the company affiliated with the foundation public is super dreamy, etc, and it’s a big hot mess because Julia and Rocco want to make a big hot mess with each other while their jobs are on the line. It’s a whole thing. Hard to explain. Better just read it.
Overall: This book was really, really good and I highly recommend it.

First of all, I spent this entire book hungry. Like, I had to keep telling myself to stop thinking about Dominican food. (“This is a ROMANCE, not a COOKBOOK, get WITH IT, INGRID!!”)

So eat something before you read it. PSA handled.
This is what I loved about this book--these poor loves are genuinely in a pickle. Julia’s job does tremendous good in the community, and it’s a non-profit that is run really well. As a reader, it’s understood that Julia knows that the nonprofit world can be fickle and it’s not like she’s going to hate Rocco if he can’t save the foundation. But for him to see it and appreciate it and understand the value and then recommend they cut it? It just feels wrong. And Rocco...this guy had my heart all knotted up. If he saves his job, the foundation gets cut. If he cuts the foundation, his sister and her daughter lose the security his job has been providing. Just a really excellent quandary.

Julia and her family are warm and loveable. As a major introvert from a Midwestern family, I was jaw-to-the-floor aghast when her whole family showed up from NYC as a surprise and stayed with her in her apartment but I mean, they cook all this food and then they go outlet shopping, and I kind of felt like I would have willingly participated with enthusiasm if I had the opportunity to? I felt like I was actually invited into a real person’s life, and it was warm and accepting and someone kept handing me plates of food...mmm...

While the book description involves a “smart-mouthed consultant”, I will say that that is not how I would describe Rocco. He starts out on the aloof side of the spectrum, but it’s short lived. He’s a complicated cinnamon roll, honestly. Also, you know how many reviews we have on this very site suggesting characters go to therapy? Well, ROCCO IS IN THERAPY. And it’s not presented as a big deal or even as an integral part of the story. He’s in therapy because he had a complicated and difficult childhood, and emotionally responsible adults who have that kind of baggage GO TO THERAPY so they can have healthy relationships and make good choices. And it’s not a big deal at all, and in fact I would argue that the way the author executes this makes Rocco a significantly more interesting and sexy character. (He can check your budget AND check his emotional responses in an argument. It’s hot.)

(Admission: Did you know that when I read that Rocco was in therapy I actually physically punched in the air like a lunatic winning an imaginary race because I was so gosh darn excited about seeing this in a sexy romance? Now you do.)

I closed this book quite a while ago and I’m still thinking of all the little signs I saw that Rocco and Julia are going to grow all old and grey together--so I can’t help but highly recommend it.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.

This review is also available at The Smut Report.

Here to Stay is my first novel from Adriana Herrera. It was really cute and different from what I've been reading lately. Julia is a New Yorker by all standards, but for the last year she's been living in hot Texas after she moved for her boyfriend's job. Shortly after the bf up's and leaves her for his ex and Adirana's world comes crumbling down. She enjoys her job, but she doesn't know how to feel now that she's been told that her company may be on the chopping block. The person to make that decision is the ever so handsome Rocco, who she can't seem to stop thinking about.
Rocco also feels the same way, but both of them know that they shouldn't be feeling like this. It just won't work, but pretty soon they both give into their desires and the flame burning between them only intensifies. Especially after Adriana starts a group for relocated New Yorkers.

The family trope in this book was amazing. There's nothing better than reading about families whose bond is so strong. It makes me happy while reading. I wouldn't mind seeing some backstories from everyone because it's just that interesting. The chemistry between Rocco and Adriana made the writing so much better and dynamic. Herrera did a great job and I wouldn't mind reading more form her. Huge thanks to NetGalley, Carina Press, and Harlequin Blog Tours for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much to Carina Press and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
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I loved this novel! It involves a few of my favourite things: dual perspectives, slow burn, a wonderfully loud family dynamic, found family, workplace romance and our two protagonists are strong, capable and go through great growth and development as the story unfolds. Content warnings below.
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Julia del Mar Ortiz moved to Dallas from NYC for a dream job...and to be with a man who then quickly left her. Rocco Quinn, also from NYC, is a consultant hired by a high fashion department store to assess if their charitable foundation is worth keeping when they go public. Julia happens to run this foundation and needs to convince Rocco that helping others is worth the funding the foundation receives. Julia and Rocco are brought together outside of work hours when Julia forms a group of Gotham Exiles, ex New Yorkers who have moved to Dallas, so foster the formation of friendship in her new home.
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I loved the friendship group the Gotham Exiles formed and I loved seeing Julia’s family and the Latinx humour, culture ( and food!) and seeing Rocco’s interaction with his sister and niece. I loved the focus on receiving support for trauma and good communication. I am really looking forward to reading more of Herrera’s works in the future!
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CW: abusive father- verbal abuse towards wife and children ( present day and through memories) parental alcoholism, possible deportation of undocumented mother with separation between parents and children, racism, false accusations of theft, therapist crossing line (inviting patients to dinner),

Julia del Mar Ortiz had moved to Dallas for her boyfriend who then dumps her. The only good thing to come out of is that Julia found her dream job working for a charitable foundation run by a high-end store. Things are now looking up until she hears that the store may go public, which means they may cut the foundation. A team comes in to assess and just her luck, the man she must deal with is hot, and a handful!

Rocco Quinn is in Dallas to assess a company thinking of going public. When he meets the beautiful Julia running the foundation, he quickly is torn between what he should do and what he must do. Life is not simple for Rocco and he needs his job. Will he cave to the pressures of the board? Or will he do the right thing and lose it all?

Adriana Herrera has a hit on her hands! This story has all the ingredients for the perfect story. The main characters are so well written, but it is the supporting characters that steal your heart. Julia’s family is such fun, the twins from the store are hilarious and then there are those that tug at your heartstrings. I loved every page and got drawn right into the story and could not put it down. Thank you so much to the author Adriana Herrera, Harlequin and NetGalley for an advanced copy of the book to review. It was fabulous! All opinions expressed for this review are unbiased and entirely my own.

this book was so fun! it was my first by this author and i really enjoyed it. lots of drama, but it worked well and i understood why it was needed. the characters were great and it was fast paced. loved the ending.

This was a cute romance novel. It's about a woman who just relocated to a new city and is left by the man she moved to the city for/with. She adjusts to her new life and starts settling in meeting new friends at work. She instantly has a connection with a man where there is a conflict of interest. They try to fight it through most of the book (which got on my last nerves. Just bang already lol). The book starts off slow but makes up for it with excitement at the end.

A cute office romance between the head of a fashion company’s charitable foundation, and the consult, hunky Rocco, that holds her job in his hands.

Julia is determined to hate him for the sole fact that he could shut down the program and send her packing back to New York. No, she’s drawn the line and even though she is tapped as Rocco’s point of contact for the department, Julia won’t let her obvious attraction blind her to the fact that he’s the enemy.

There’s tons of physical attraction starting from the very first, so the slowburn became a little frustrating. It’s hard to come up with reasons why they shouldn’t already be together when they are both lusting after each other hard. So my least favorite device, miscommunication, makes a ton of appearances.

Despite having some pacing issues, I really love the setup and the eventual HEA!

If you’re looking for a delightful read about transplants from NYC to Dallas, look no further than Here to Stay. The description calls it an “enemies to lovers” but I actually disagree. There is professional conflict between Julia and Rocco because Rocco’s job is to essentially cut Julia’s job. However, there is always a burning attraction between the two and never really antagonism between them personally. Adriana Herrera is an expert at creating great friend and family groups and she’s excels with both Julia and Rocco’s families as well as the Gotham exiles friend group. Rocco is the perfect sweet and supportive cinnamon roll hero who just has the most adorable moments. Everything he does is to help and support his sister and niece and I just love that. Julia took a risk moving to Dallas with a boyfriend and was burned. She is very hesitant to let Rocco in and their professional issues do not help. The chemistry between them, though, is too strong to ignore and I loved seeing them give in and start to fall in love. Overall, a terrific and delightful read!

*Received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is phenomenal! Am I surprised? No. Am I ecstatic to add a new contemp to my list of my all time fave romances? Yes!

The premise is Julia del Mar Ortiz moves to Dallas with a dirt dude who gaps it, and she's left to pick up the pieces in a brand new city. Luckily, she has a job she loves, with the social arm of a fashion company. Our guy Rocco Quinn is a consultant, just there to do the books, make some recs, and head back to NYC to get his sister out of a shit sitch. BUT THEN.

Here to Stay whimsically, consent-ily, funnily, and dramatically embroils you in Rocco and Julia's lives, ambitions and insecurities; and you really do start to feel like a part of their friend group (and anyone would be so lucky to have friends like The Exiles).

Rocco is my new fave contemp hero. He's a hottie and a genuine sweetheart -- an *actual* good guy, no Awards For Good Boys stuff here. He's also one big walking raw feeling, especially when it came to his newfound friendships. His softness had me in knots. The first line of chapter 19 I squealed out loud, SQUEALED, on account of his perfect little heart.

Like that wasn't enough, once the sexual shenanigans kicked off he shrugs the soft boi cloak and reveals himself to be, like, the dirty-talking God of the female orgasm? I expired.

It's hot stuff.

Julia is wonderful too. This is extreme professional competency porn. Plus, find me a feminist who is into men who can't relate to the difficulty of navigating the line of giving magnetic men too much of yourself or not enough.

I enjoyed learning about Dominican and Puerto Rican culture, especially in the family scenes and in the food chat, and the pet names phone call really had me melting.

I thought this was a thoroughly perfect feminist romance. I laughed, I squealed, I cried my mascara off.

This is going on the reread shelf.

Ever move cross country for a guy and then get dumped for your efforts? Well that is what happened to Julia. While she might have loved to move back to her beloved NYC, she loves her job! Getting to work at a company that thrives doing charitable work, which she is now in charge of running, can you say dream job.

However on of the siblings of the company wants to take the business public to an IPO, and they bring in consultants to evaluate the company's charitable giving, and position to bring it public. Enter Rocco, a fellow New Yorker, he is riding on this job to go well so he can get a promotion and help his family. It doesn't help that he finds Julia attractive, but he tries to keep his distance. I loved the camaraderie in the group Julia creates of the exiled New Yorkers. Each character was supportive, and sweet, funny, and intrusive when they needed to be. I love the sharing of Julia's family and her culture. How loud, sweet, loving, and caring they were, accepting Rocco into the fold when they meet him. It is the kind of family we should all hope to have, and want to be apart of.

This was my first book from this author and I enjoyed this book so much it certainly won't be my last.

Here To Stay follows the story of Julia who is a social worker who helps run a non profit program at Sturm’s. When her program is at risk of being cut, she’ll have to do her best to fight to keep it. She has to team up with Rocco, her “enemy” and crush to prove that her program is needed for the community all while not falling for him. Both are making a home away from home and they find commonplace in coming from their New York backgrounds.

Julia has such a bright personality that shine through. She’s hard working and passionate about providing resources to those in the non profit program. This one of reasons why Rocco is so drawn to her as a person. Even though they come from different backgrounds they share a lot of common experiences. They fall for each other.

I also love the variety of characters in this group. The group of friends that come together cleverly named the “Gotham Exiles” find comfort in each other, their background, and being away from their home base, New York. Each of them is out of their comfort zones and they are a source of support for each other. Their group text and conversation had me smiling and admiring their tight knit friendship.

As for the romance! Woo boy! The steam level in this book was so spicy! Rocco and Julia have got it bad for each other. They fall hard for each other, but also recognize that they both have to work through thing in their pasts to develop a solid relationship. I loved that Rocco was so kindhearted and caring, he’s just a softie at heart. He doesn’t have a huge support system like Julia does and it was so sweet how she and exiles got him to open up and support them.