3.5 stars

I received an ARC from the publisher and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.

Anchored Hearts is the second in the Key West-set Keys to Love series. It can work as a stand-alone. Once again, Priscilla Oliveras brings her signatures of culture and equal focus on familia and romance to the table, and while I wasn’t blown away by this one (having similar issues as I did with the first), it’s still a fairly enjoyable read.

While I can’t say I found the romance super memorable, I did like both Anamaria and Alejandro. They have a pretty straightforward second-chance romance: the relationship fell apart due to choices they made years ago, and are now older and wiser, yet still have feelings for each other.

The family dynamics are also great, and informs the romance in a compelling way. Anamaria has shown her devotion to her family by giving up on her and Alejandro’s shared dreams to care for her father following his heart attack and is now a firefighter like others in her family, while Alejandro is contending with the fact that he is returning to his family injured after leaving on somewhat bad terms.

This is a fairly lighthearted read, perfect for the warmer weather of spring and summer. If you love a sweet contemporary romance, you’ll surely like this one.

This was a fast-paced romantic comedy and the characters kept me captivated throughout. Although the happy ending was obvious from the beginning, I loved the romantic build up and the story was continuously moving forward. This would be an excellent beach read! I did not read the first book in the series, but had no issues following the characters, so you can just pick this book up and read it, although I'm excited to read the first story since I really enjoyed this one.
Thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks for an early copy! After reading Island Affair, I couldn’t wait to see what else the author had up her sleeve and this was no different! I enjoyed every bit and can’t wait for more!

Second chance romance! Anamaria and Alejandro were high school sweethearts and had great plans to travel the world together- but then her father had a heart attack and she didn't leave with him. Now, she's got s great job as a firefighter and an online fitness training business. He's forced home when he breaks a leg and. of course, they find themselves back in each other's orbit. This is distiguied from most of the genre by the emphasis placed on their boisterous families. I gotta tell you- I almost liked the family portions more than the romance! I loved the setting and wish Oliveras would have committed to the Spanish phrases. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. It's a light, fun read.

This book was just an okay read for me. I think maybe I just don't connect with this author. I liked Am asa female leas a lot. She is smart, kind, and loving. Ale was harder for me to like as the male lead.

I really appreciate how seamlessly this author incorporates culture, language, and traditions into her books.

The love story itself was just a bit lacking.

I absolutely loved Anchored Hearts, it's the perfect summer-type read with loads of culture, which I loved.

I love the "second-chance" trope in romance books and this was the perfect one. I loved the slowburn, the setting, the family dynamic as families aren't as easy as a lot of books show us, their meddling was wonderful and made me laugh so hard, I loved that it was filled with lots and lots of culture and we got to see what Cuban families are like up-close, how they meddle in their kids' lives, how they love them and try to keep families together, etc.

Overall, it was a beautiful light-hearted romance with lots of culture and family and a definite recommend:)

Anchored Hearts is the second book in the Keys to Love series.
I enjoyed reading this second chance romance book. I really liked how the author wrote about different generations of the Cuban family and their dynamics. However, I would have loved a little more action and a little more dialogue. Also, I could predict what was going to happen from the beginning.

This is book two of a series, but it can be read as a standalone. I didn’t read the first book but I understood this book perfectly!

What a perfect summer read! I love a second chance romance and this book does that so well! The slow burn romance is great. I love the Latinx rep! The meddling families made me smile! The island setting is perfect for a summer beach read! Not much steam but overall a good light romance book!

Thanks to NetGalley, Kensington Books, Zebra for the digital advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review.

Flipping these pages sent me straight back in time, to summers spent in one of my favorite places of my home state. The family dynamic, meddling Mamis, protective, prideful Papis, reminded me of my own Cuban-American family(except my meddlers are my Tias!)
These elements alone were enough for 5 stars for me, but then AM and Ale themselves had this beautiful rekindled romance, all grown up this time, and in the midst of realizing their dreams, and that heightened my experience even more.
I didn’t read the first book of the series, and while it didn’t impact my reading experience, I have to go back and read, simply for more of these families, and this beautiful place.

Priscilla Oliveras's ANCHORED HEARTS crafts a second chance romance with lovers to root for and two endearing Cuban families who are as loving as they are meddlesome. Oliveras's culturally rich descriptions and robust characters make for an immersive read.

Absolutely loved this book!! Ale and AM were once a couple but their lives took different paths. A decade later Ale returns home with an injury, and AM was asked to check up on him. They become friends and their life has the possibility to pick up where it left off, or stay as it is apart,

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

Thank you to Kensington Books for this early copy via Netgalley!

I will admit that I hadn't read the first book in this series, so getting an early copy pushed me to do so. The first book was wonderful and such a great reminder of how wonderful Key West is and how much fun I had there.

Anchored Hearts picks up a few months after the first book and focuses on Anamaria and Alejandro, and their second chance at love. I adored these two. They both manage to grow and be vulnerable without any over-the-top angst. The conflicts felt real and natural. I loved the play between the main characters and their respective families. I also appreciated the author bringing in some competition for Alejandro, though maybe he shouldn't have been so easily sidelined.

I'm really hoping this isn't the end of this series (Enrique gets a book right? RIGHT?!) because these families are so warm and the characters are wonderful and I love how they weave the conch experience into the books. I can't wait to read more from this author.

I loved the idea of a romance set in Key West, but this wasn't for me. Possibly because it isn't quite beach read season or because the prose just didn't click with me. I'm sure this will be a great summer hit, but wasn't my cup of tea. Thank you for the opportunity to read it!

When it comes to romcoms, second chance romance is one of my favorite tropes and Anchored Hearts is a fun one! AnaMaría and Alejandro were high school sweethearts whose large Cuban families are extremely close. But when Alejandro flees Key West to pursue his dreams of being a photographer instead of taking over his family's restaurant, AnaMaría stays behind, becoming a firefighter and paramedic like her father and brothers. After 10 years apart, Alejandro is forced to return home to heal from an injury and face the woman he still loves.

Oliveras writes characters who jump off the page (I could see the meddling mamas and abuelas who try to force Alejandro and AnaMaría back together clearly in my head) and her descriptions of Key West made me want to hop on a plane there ASAP. I also liked how she wove Spanish throughout the conversations in a seamless way that even a non-speaker like me understood and her inclusion of the backstory of Operation Peter Pan, a program in the 1960s that evacuated Cuban children to the U.S. (I totally googled to learn more about it!) I was less interested in AnaMaría's fitness business but the steamy scenes at the end made up for it!

This is the second in the Keys to Love series but it works as a stand alone - I haven't read The Island Affair but ordered it as soon as this one was done. I'm looking forward to reading it and a future book #3!

3.5 stars rounded up

Thanks to Kensington/Zebra Books and NetGalley for this copy to review.

This is the second book in the Keys to Love series by Priscilla Oliveras. While this can be read as a standalone, I recommend reading the first book, Island Affair, first.

In Anchored Hearts, firefighter and personal trainer Anamaria Navarro (younger sister of the first book's hero) is given a potential second chance at love when her high school boyfriend, Alejandro, (now a world traveling, award winning photographer) comes home to recuperate from an accident that occurred on a photoshoot. He hasn't been home in over two years and he broke her heart when he left. Their Cuban mothers can’t help but scheme to get these two in the room and see what happens. Anamaria is on the verge of some incredible career opportunities and doesn't know what to make of Alejandro's reappearance and their continued sparks.

Both books in this series are full of extended family, close knit ties, love, some deeper themes (like making your family proud, living up to your potential, believing in yourself, healing past wrongs/misunderstandings), amazing descriptions of Key West, and delicious sounding food.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley fro an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

It took me a while to finish reading this book because I'm crazy busy with things to do, but whenever I picked up to read this book I read it very fast, so I can say that this is a quick book to read.
The story itself gave me the feeling of winding up but at the same time being fast, for me, the beginning of the book was too long but in the end, everything was resolved very quickly.
The romance that is the central point was very well developed, I like that they bring how sometimes we are too young to know what we want and understand each other but we can mature and can have another chance in love. Second chance romances are great because of that.
I had already read the author's writing so I knew I would like it.
I really liked the book and it touched me at the end when it talks about forgiveness, family, and acceptance.
The book kind of leaves a hook to have others in the series so I'm excited to continue if it happens.

I loved this book!!

I love the cool island vibes, the meddling mammies, and the true relationships between the characters. I have not yet read Island Affair, but look forward to going back and reading the author's fake dating romance.

Thank you NetGalley, Kensington Books, and Priscilla Oliveras for the eARC in return for an honest review!

Anamaría and Alejandro’s story in Anchored Hearts by Pricilla Oliveras, book two in her Keys to Love series, was an emotional, amazing, and heartwarming tale of a second chance for soul mates, destined to be together. Alejandro Mirando had a passion for taking pictures not for working in the family’s restaurant, much to the distress and anger of his “papi,” his father. Leaving home in Key West to explore the world, eventually becoming an award-winning photographer, was not an easy decision. He left behind the girl who was supposed to be along side of him along with his papi’s warning “never to come back” on repeat in his head. Ale wouldn’t be in Key West now if it wasn’t for a major injury that will require months of recuperation and physical therapy. Anamaría Navarro was heartbroken when Alejandro left without her; traveling the world was their plan, not just his. After her father’s heart attack, this devoted daughter could not leave; even for the man she loved. Following in the footsteps of her father and brothers, Anamaría became a firefighter and paramedic; while growing a side business as a personal trainer. Being told to visit the Mirando household to check out Alejandro, Anamaría is taken aback by the feelings that have reappeared by just the sight of him; flames she worked years to douse. With family meddling and pushing them together, their magnetic attraction and sizzling passion grows; despite their separation, despite the years, despite expecting Alejandro to leave as soon as he is able. Before Anamaría and Alejandro have a chance at happiness, they must learn to be honest with each as well as re-learn to trust again.

I loved this story. The love between two people, true soul-mates, separated through misunderstandings, fears, immaturity, and family. Anamaría grew, became stronger, more confident, and found her passions after Ale left. The need Anamaría had to give back to her Cuban community, offering classes and help to those around her. Alejandro had to come to terms with his own demons and the changes within his family and Anamaría after he left. Finding a way to connect and prove to his papi that he did not waste his life, Ale wanted his papi to be proud of him and accept him, Ale, for who he is. Ale did not want to leave Anamaría again, but until he settled things with his papi, he could not stay. The project he created to honor his community, his family, was well-thought out and amazing.

Ms. Oliveras wrote to the soul; the soul of her characters as well the soul of her readers. The love and descriptive visualizations she used in her writing brought her characters to life along with the amazing Key West sunrises and sunsets. This heartwarming, wonderful and amazing story was an emotional, latinx romance that should not be missed. This tale abounds with emotions, magnetic attraction, wonderful dialogue, and charming characters giving Anamaría and Alejandro a second chance to love and be together, forever. I highly recommend Anchored Hearts to other readers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

"No matter where our jobs take us, as long as our hearts remain anchored together, I'd say we're all good.

Anchored Hearts features two of my most favorite romance tropes - second chance romance and "the one who got away". These two tropes just really hit a sweet spot in my heart, and I've always been a fan, hence it got me excited to see both of them in one book. It also didn't hurt that this book is set in the beautiful area of Key West, Florida, and is full of Cuban influences.

The book tells about two high school sweethearts who had an awful falling out after Alejandro leaves the island to chase his dream of becoming a photographer rather than being tied down by his family's restaurant business, and leaving Anamaria behind. After 12 years, Alejandro suddenly finds himself back in his hometown after having a bad accident, and then has to endure the onslaught of meddling family members, and of course, crossing paths once more with Anamaria.

Anamaria and Alejandro were obviously very strong characters with tons of personality. I enjoyed that both were very goal-driven in their respective jobs, yet at the same time sensitive and soft-hearted towards their family and community. They were both a joy to read separately and together, although I did felt like this was more focused on Alejandro, especially since he has a beef with his father. Since the book was more family-centered than what I usually see in rom-coms, the build-up of Anamaria and Alejandro's romance was super slow burn, but it did give them a chance to reconnect and rediscover one another. It wasn't only until the last few chapters of the book that the romance aspect in their relationship took on an octave. It also wasn't as steamy as I expected it would be, but I don't mind it at all.

I have to commend the author for providing an amazingly detail world and atmosphere in her book. It was super evident that she had written the setting and details based from her own experiences, hence the Latin culture is very apparent. From the incorporation of Spanish in the characters' everyday language to the minute details such as the food and landscape were spectacular. It just made me really want to visit Key West and just immerse myself in the community.

If you're looking for a very sweet and feel-good book, then I do highly recommend this book. This is also part of a series, but each book can be read as a standalone. I'm definitely looking forward to reading Island Affair and the next book in this series.

One of my favorite books that I have read so far this year! I loved the storyline, the characters, and the fact that it was set in the Keys! The character development was on point in this book. The message that the author sent to readers was loud and clear. This book had so many entertaining, as well as raw moments.