Love, Forgiveness, and Forever

Anchored Hearts brought the nostalgia and emotional connection that is essential to a great second chance romance. I was immediately drawn into Anamaria and Alejandro's world. Ms. Oliveras did a wonderful job of building a sense of community in which this story unfolds. Family love, loyalty, and expectations are major factors in both AM and Ale's lives. A family fracture drove Ale away and AM's family anchored her to Key West. As AM and Ale delved into old memories and feelings, they were able to gain perspective that was missing in their youth. Their friendship began to transform and renew itself. The transition from flirting and fun to passion and promise was organic. This story was emotional and introspective and rounded out in a satisfying HEA. I am enjoying getting to know the Navarro Family and can’t wait to watch Ernesto fall hard.

The Navarro family has my heart. They’re home to me. They remind me so much of my mom and just everything that has been engrained in my life reflects the love The Navarro’s give the rest of their family. I loved Island Affaor, but man, Anchored Hearts stole mine.

I loved that there were many different conflicts and family situations happening. That’s why I love the Navarro family. It was not all about Anamaría and Alejandro. I am not a big second chance lovers kind of reader, but if they are all done the way Priscilla Oliveras does them, I’ll just keep reading them. 😂 I was majorly frustrated with how stubborn A’s were, but I cannot fault them because of how much hurt they’ve been in. Also, like my fam, we are capital “S” stubborn, so I get it.

Overall, loved it. You don’t NEED to read Island Affair to read Anchored Hearts, but c’mon, you do need both books in your life. Thank you so much Kensington and Bookish First for the gifted copy! Anchored Hearts is out 04/27/2021!

What a delightful visit back to a festive Key West and our favorite Cuban family. This second chance romance has lots of lover’s sparring and meddling mothers.

Alejandro has returned home after 10 years with a smashed-up leg, sustained from an extreme photo journalistic fall. Anamaria has a side business focusing on healthy food and living with a budding social influencing gig. She does not have time to moon over her high school sweetheart – their mothers have LOTS of time to concoct happenstance connections for these two ex-lovers. That is really the gist of most of the story – how these mamas connive is delicious. This romance has a slow burn as Alejandro and Anamaria almost missed their connection for the fear of where they would end up. He is an all around the world guy and Ana will not move from Key West.

Ana finally gives in to the new and improved relationship with Alejandro and that’s when things start rocking. Alejandro also has major daddy issues – but the love and respect he has for his father comes thru in a stunning art exhibit of his pictures while in Cuba. Literally brought me to tears when show is debuted, and all the older folks see the display.

Their HEA is a sweet treat in the end – which throughout the story had me befuddled as to how our authorette Priscilla was going to wrap up. This book is the second in Oliveras’ “Keys to Love” series, but holds it’s own as a standalone story. Island Affair was a fabulous story and does lay out some of the family dynamic in Anchored Hearts. I think that Oliveras teased us with her next couple as well. Angsty artist Enrique and feisty agent Natalia? That would be another fun read – can’t wait!

I received this ARC from the author and Kensington Books via NetGalley for my honest review.

3 out of 5 stars!

This second-chance romance features a hero who returns to his hometown due to a personal injury and the heroine he left behind. From the vibrant community and the personal connections each have with each other and their families, the couple must face their own personal issues individually and together to move forward with their lives.

Though I hadn't read the first book in this series, it wasn't a deterrent for the enjoyment of this book. I really liked the book covers of this series. The characters and the community were colorful and varied. Yet due to the visceral emotions that certain characters invoked within me, my enjoyment of this book wasn't as high as I expected it to be. But it's still a good addition to this Priscilla Oliveras series.

**Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions and thoughts in the review are my own.**

This is the third book I've reviewed by Priscilla. Each one takes a little bit to get into because she mixes Spanish and English together so I have to read a little slower until I get used to the style. This is not to say if you don't know Spanish you should pick her stuff up, she explains the words through the point of view voice for each phrase she uses. I find it refreshing after I spend a little time getting my mind adjusted to it. Please don't let this scare you off or you'd miss a good story.

In Island Affair our main topic is how to have family a main priority and still be able to pursue your dreams of adventure. She deals with this top very well. Many of our younger people are electing to stay closer to home because they rely on their family so much, while older generations have just grabbed the adventure and sometimes left their families behind. Then there are those that use adventure as a way to put distance between themselves and their family. So we have two people who want adventure in their lives, one just left and never came back, and one realized just before leaving her family was more important than adventure. When they were young, they both thought they couldn't have both adventure and family, but as we all grow and change over the course of our lives, they discovered they both wanted to have it all. Therein lies the trick of it all, finding a balance of both and not on the extremes of either. I think this situation is a lot more common than we realize so it made for a good topic.

Overall I love the cover, but it still makes me think I'm getting a rom com and I'm not so a little juxtaposed for me on that. This story is serious and there is a lot of heartbreak both have to deal with to come together for their HEA. They've had their hearts stomped on by the other and one his family so it's a lot to work through. Of course, we start the book with them thinking they are all good and over it but soon realize they have a lot to work out personally. I'm not a going back kind of girl. I tried that once with my ex-husband and it didn't go well. So I've only ever lived in the same location once, although we've moved like a million times I think. I've never re-dated anyone, with the exception noted above. So for me them getting involved in this story I wasn't sure how I felt about it.The chemistry was written off the charts so that made it feel more comfortable for me.

The part I loved the best was when each had the epiphany that they were willing to sacrifice some of what they loved (adventure/family) to be with the other person. They also realized that was what made them love the other more too. I'm giving this a 4.5 of 5 because the way she wrote the story and the topics she delved into resonated with me in a positive soul searching way. If anyone knows me, I'm an adventurer and a family girl. There is a lot of hard work to find the balance to have both in your life and I appreciate she showed that in the story

4.5 of 5 This will post to the blog on 4/27

This is a new author to me, but I will certainly be looking out for her work in the future. Alejandro and Anamaria were high school sweethearts and had dreams of traveling the world together, until she stays as her dad took ill, and he left to travel on his own, and he is now an award-winning photographer. When a leg injury forces him to return home to recuperate, the last person he wants to see is the girl he left behind. Anamaria is now a firefighter and paramedic, with a side job as a personal trainer. Can these two have a 2nd chance at love, even with their meddling mother’s? This is a well written story which is a sweet story, with drama, family, and love, which all leads to an enjoyable read. I look forward to reading more from this author and I recommend this story for all.

Thanks to Zebra for the opportunity to review the book for an honest opinion.

The setting, atmosphere, and community really stand out in the story. It's easy to follow how each of the main character's interact and work together, along with other members of the community, as many come from the Cuban diaspora of the 1950s and 1960s. Honestly, the community aspect was one of my favorite. Almost a tropical small town setting.

I also loved the way the Spanish was incorporated. No italics, just an answer or question from the next paragraph or speaker. I want to be immersed in the world. Oliveras did a fantastic job of setting up places like the Navarro dinners and Miranda restaurants. It felt really well done.

For the romance, I was lukewarm. Anamaria was a more developed character than Alejandro and had a stronger arc, I think. Ale felt a bit flat with his constant refrains and unwillingness to bridge old gaps, letting old wounds heal. I wanted more for AM because she knew herself after the couple's first breakup. Finding her voice and efforts. I loved watching her journey.

Honestly, his lack of development dropped the book down. He needed more emotional development after 12 years away from home. Ending seemed super rushed given the relationship between them. Had Ale been more mature and worked within the romance, the book would have been 4 stars.

This is a sweet romance. High school sweet hearts Annemaria and Alejandro have been apart for years. When Alejandro gets injured during a dangerous photo shoot, he ends up at home in Key West. There's a lot of meddling by his mother and Annemaria's mother. They keep pushing these two together. This story had a lot of back and forth between the couple. It's definitely a slow burn and seems to focus more on relationships than romance, to me. I got a little bogged down in the detail, so it took me awhile to really get into the story. I preferred the first story related to this one with Luis in it, Island Affair. Anchored hearts is a sweet romance and I love the setting. This would make a good beach read. 3.5 stars

3.5 Stars
Anchored Hearts is the perfect rom-com for the summer with the Key West location and steamy chemistry of Alejandro and Anamaria!

Alejandro and Anamaria dated years ago until Alejandro left the island to follow his dreams to become an award-winning photographer. Anamaria stayed behind because her family is everything to her.

Alejandro hasn’t been home since he left those many years ago, but returns when he sustained an injury while on location that entails months of recovery. With Alejandro home the tension is high between him and his father, a man that wanted his son to stay on the island to work at the family restaurant, not traipsing around the world.

Alejandro and Anamaria’s families are still close and with Alejandro on the island to mend, their families try to force the two back together. Will they be able to put the past behind them and rekindle their love?

Such a fun read! This is second book of a series, but can be read as a standalone. I loved the drama between Alejandro and his father and it was cute how their families were trying to get them back together. If you are a fan of second chance romances this one is for you.!

Thank for to the publisher and Netgalley for an arc in exchange for my honest review.

Oliveras gives us a slow burn second-chance romance with leads who still have lingering feelings for each other. Anamaria is a firefighter medic with a burgeoning fitness business. Alejandro is a globe-trotting photographer guilted into returning home to his hometown to assuage his mother's and his abuela's concerns over his broken tibia. When they meet again--not through fate but the meddling of their mothers, which could be considered a kind of fate--it's hard not to recall what they used to be to each other, especially when seeing one another instantly reignites emotions each long thought dissipated.

With second chance romances, time is a pivotal element. Anamaria found herself during their separation, growing into the person she was meant to become. Alejandro is an award-winning photographer. When we meet him, nothing about him has changed very much except for his career accomplishments. Despite the twelve years apart, the emotional growth for him happens within the pages whereas Anamaria's already done most of it outside of the book's present timeline. The family dynamics were heartwarming, Alejandro and his father's complicated relationship aside. I loved how family was a positive consideration as opposed to being viewed as a hindrance. Loving where you're from was also seen as a positive attribute that I appreciated.

Priscilla Oliveras's writing flows so effortlessly, transitioning from the past to the present to feelings both old and new. I loved it. The descriptions are mesmerizing, and the longing between Anamaria and Alejandro over what was and the instances of what could have been packs a punch. I enjoyed the book a lot.

I loved this second chance romance. AM needed to be brave enough to embrace her dreams, and Ale needed to be brave enough to realize his aren’t exactly what he thought they were. Mostly though, they needed each other.

I love this series, this author and I love Annamaria. I just never connected with Alejandro and didn't think he grew up enough, fast enough to have a significant enough grovel to make me believe he deserved Annamaria. This is also likely because I struggle with the second chance trope. In this case I totally believed and appreciated that they had both always loved the other and what drove them apart at 18 felt realistic. I just couldn't get past my feeling that Alejandro had basically remained a stubborn 18 yr old up until the last 30% of the book. I get that his father was unreasonable, but I just couldn't empathize enough for 12 yrs. However, I loved going back to Key West and the Navarro family. The way the author paints this community with such vividness totally makes this Midwest girl feel transported. And now I really want Enrique's story...

I was compelled to read this book from the start but about half way through, I just wanted some resolution with the two main characters. The story was a bit too drawn out for my liking.

Taking place in Key West, Florida, this second chance romance between Alejandro Miranda and Anamaría Navarro is a slow burn but wonderful story. While they knew each other since children and had feelings then, things were never truly explored as they went their separate ways after high school. Now is their time to see what can be and see if what they had is still there. The big hero of this story is learning about Cuban American history and the families. The descriptions of the vibrant location come through in this book and made me want to take a trip to the keys. If this book does’t get you excited about the though of love and travel then you’re missing out.

~3.5⭐Rating~

The last thing Anamaría wanted was to come face to face with the boy that broke her heart when she was already dealing with a lot but as luck would have it Alejandro is back in Key West to nurse an injured knee. With the two high school sweethearts thrown back together old feeling begin to resurface but will these two be able to find their way back to each other or will their broken trust be to fragile to be be put together again?

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"It had been so long since she’d felt his lips against hers. Tasted what she thought was the sweet promise of a future together."

Anchored Hearts is the second book in the Keys To Love series and once again we get some amazing depiction of the beautiful Key West and an indept look into the Latinx community. I loved that once again family was such a big theme throughout the book, this time with a bit more hardship.

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I absolutely loved Anamaría, she was a complete sweetheart that never truly got over her first love. I loved the way the entire Navarro family rallied around Anamaría supporting her in her dreams and passions. Alejandro on the other hand was not one of my favorites, I just found that he was a bit to petty and held on to the past for way to long. Yes her father was a total troll, trying to force him into the family business but holding this grudge for so long was a bit much for me. As for being angry with Anamaría for not abandoning her family in their time of need was way to petty for me.

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Overall Anchored Hearts was a super slow burn romance, that was light in the romance department but a great depiction of right person but wrong timing. Definitely worth reading and checking out the perverse book. Hopefully we get to go back to the Navarro household for the next sibling.

I loved this book. From the moment that I started reading this awesome book I was taken away to another world. It moves along at a great pace which made for an easy enjoyable read. You will love the characters and by the time you are halfway through you feel as though you know them personally and you want to see them achieve their dreams. This is a must read and it needs to be on your list of TBR for this year. There is no doubts about it.

Je remercie l'équipe de Grey's promotions, Netgalley et Priscilla pour ce service presse.

Je ne connaissais pas du tout la plume de l'auteure et j'ai été agréablement surprise.

La narration est à la 3ème personne et grâce à cette narration, je me suis téléportée en Floride, à Key West. LA Floride fait rêver et il y a beaucoup de communauté, dont la communauté cubaine.

Priscilla, outre la romance de seconda chance, parle de la famille. Parle du passé des cubains, ceux qui ont fui le régime Castro pour venir aux Etats-Unis, où comment ils ont du s'intégrer dans un nouveau pays, où ils ont essayé d'apporter leur culture ici. Chacun a inculqué cette notion à leurs enfants.

Alejandro avait un rêve, faire le tour du monde, voir du pays, être photographe. Il a tout quitté pour réaliser ses rêves et lorsqu'il revient blessé, il doit faire face à ce qu'il a laissé: à son ancienne petite amie et meilleure amie, à sa famille, à son père qui n'a jamais accepté sa décision, qui est une honte pour sa famille, qui a déshonoré sa famille. Alejandro sait qu'il reprendra la route. Il ne peut pas rester ici. Son père n'acceptera jamais ses choix et ses rêves.

Est-ce que ça le touche? Bien sûr. Qui ne rêve pas d'entendre "je suis fier de toi, mon fils". Depuis son retour il voit ses parents se déchirer, car sa mère est de son côté, elle est bien ravie de le voir de retour et elle aimerait que les hommes de sa vie s'entendent. Mais vous pourrez sentir qu'ils sont imposants, qu'ils veulent se mêler de tout, et sa mère aimerait qu'il renoue avec la douce Anamaria.

Anamaria devait partir avec lui, mais la vie en a décidé autrement. LA crise cardiaque de son père lui a fait prendre conscience que sa vie était ici, avec sa famille. C'était le rêve d'Alejandro, pas le sien. Désormais, elle a sa propre vie ici, une femme très active et elle sait que le revoir va la bouleverser.

Elle aimerait qu'il comprenne ses choix, elle ne peut pas s'attacher encore à lui car il repartira et elle restera ici. Mais tous les deux vont se fourvoyer.

Leur famille respective va les inciter à passer plus de temps ensemble, il va découvrir quelle femme elle est devenue et elle va pouvoir compter sur lui lorsque son travail nécessitera un photographe.

Alors que sa carrière commence à décoller, Anamaria fera-t-elle le choix de vivre une seconde chance avec lui?

Alejandro fera-t-il la paix avec son père? Son père le comprendra-t-il enfin?

Partez découvrir cette romance de seconde chance, découvrir la culture cubaine en Floride.

Actual review 3.5 stars

This is the second book in this series but either could be read as a standalone (but they are better together). I’ve read both and they are nice light beach books. The setting of this story is beautiful and it makes me nostalgic for the last vacation I took which ended with a day in Key West. I like the culture infused and I did finish the book feeling like I’d spent some time with a chaotic and loving Cuban family. The plot was super predictable but let’s face it this genre typically is. I did like since they had history it wasn’t so much a love at first sight deal which always feels a little more forced to me, The best character by far was little Lulu (our male protagonist Alejandro’s niece). The lack of communication was frustrating at first because I just wanted everyone to talk and work things out so much sooner, but when they did finally get there it was sweet. I definitely got and appreciated the hints of a third book in this series and look forward to learning more about those characters.

This book made me miss traveling with my whole heart! I’m ready for a trip to the Keys now! I adored Alejandro and Anamaria. Both full of passion for their calling and each other. High school sweethearts separated by life’s choices thrown back together after a freak accident made for a great love story.
Thank you Netgalley and publishing house for this early copy to review.

I loved the Key West vibes filled with Cuban Latinx fusion in Island Affair and couldn’t wait for book 2 Anchored Hearts. It didn’t disappoint!⁣
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We return to Key West, dreaming of the beach and sunsets, smelling the Cuban food that Alejandros parents prepare. Mmm! ⁣
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This time we get better acquainted with Anamaria Luis’ amazing firefighter sister from book 1. Not only is she a bad ass boss babe, she is so kind hearted but also a spitfire that holds her own. Anamaria is so involved in her community as a firefighter, a fitness and nutrition role model on social media, in her church, and in her community. She is always helping out her family and friends anyway she can. ⁣
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Alejandro is an amazing photographer who ran away from his family and Anamaria after not taking over the family business. He returns after an injury, that requires his family to care of him, and realizes that maybe he was immature and selfish when he left.⁣
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This story was so sweet, filled with amazing banter, beautiful descriptions of Key West, filled with community and family, and a second chance romance filled with chemistry and heat.⁣
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Also how gorgeous is this cover! All the beach vibes!⁣
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Thank you @kensingtonbooks for an ARC for my honest review!⁣
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