I found this such a difficult book to rate because I really struggled with Alex for at least half the novel. She was just so mean to everyone around her. Of course as we learned more, I understood why. But the anger made the novel difficult to enjoy. Jeremiah on the other hand was an interesting mystery as we learn more about him and his history. Overall, I wish the first half of the novel had been more like the second half. I liked the mysticism and as my husband is Mexican, I loved the references to his beautiful culture and also the hard-working nature of the Mexican-Americans in Kansas. This was a great love story (although the steaminess right off the bat in the first chapter was slightly off-putting for me with absolutely no back story), but with also a lot more depth into beautiful and complex cultures.

Thank you NetGalley and Carina Trade for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

I REALLY enjoyed this grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity, opposites attract, dual POV story set in small town Texas and a local bar that means so much to a big-hearted Mexican American family! I'm very excited to see where this series goes as it started off strong with incredibly memorable characters and a great combination of family secrets and steam. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

This opposites attract romance delves into a period of American history and a cultural legacy that deserves more attention. Lopez’s narrative weaves a colorful story of a community that thrived and prospered under oppressive circumstances, and is struggling to survive in an era of Rust Belt gentrification.

Alex is coming home because she feels like she’s out of options. Revitalizing her grandmother’s bar seems like the perfect way to get her mojo back.

Professor Jeremiah Post is her grandmother’s tenant. He wants to protect and preserve the traquero culture and use the bar as a focal point to promote cultural awareness. He thinks Alex is there to exploit the opportunity and transform the space into a tourist attraction.

They first meet in the dark bar over whiskey and have a hot and heavy bang that will have you reaching for a fan and a bucket of ice water. But the bang between virtual strangers becomes even more significant when Alex learns that her grandmother calls the lanky, self-contained professor “guapo pobrecito” and has basically adopted him. Alex feels threatened by her grandmother’s affection for this stranger who doesn’t share their history, and she’s not about to let him usurp her place in the family.

The more they indulge in a contest of wills, the higher they fan the flames of their mutual attraction. When they find out that they could lose the family bar to greedy developers because of delinquent property taxes, they have to band together. The Torres family history is full of secrets that could change the future of their community, and it’s up to Alex and Jeremiah to uncover them.

This is an insightful contemporary romance that tackles the serious social issues of gentrification, classism and institutional racism. It’s full of heart and feeling and features a strong heroine and a man who doesn’t let her strength intimidate him. Instead he is drawn to it and celebrates it.

I can’t say enough about this book! NetGalley had it preview on read now and the first five chapters had me hooked! I was grateful to have been approved for the full story.

This story has everything! A little mystery, a lot of spice, radium and a strong love of family and culture.

The author brings so much of herself in this story. It’s clear how much her culture and family have not only shaped her, but America as well.

I enjoyed reading about the history of traqueros and how they have shaped their communities. In this story Alex works to keep her culture prominent in their community. Even though the Mexicans had a strong influence there is still discrimination today.

There is a great cast of characters in the story and the chemistry between Alex and Jeremiah is 🔥.

The author did a wonder job on this book and I look forward to reading more from her.

Thank you NetGalley and Carina Press for the opportunity to read and review this story.

Alex, the baddest bitch in bartending, is back in town and ready to temporarily take over her grandmother’s bar in the small Kansas town where she grew up. The two wrenches in her plan are the rich, evil, racist family who has always made her life difficult and Jeremiah, the dorky but hot college professor who wants to turn the old building into a museum of Mexican culture (and could possibly have white savior complex). Once Alex and Jeremiah agree to team up to find a legendary document that could ruin both of their plans, they begin to see past the surface and start to actually enjoy each other—you know beyond the smoking hot chemistry they’ve had from the beginning.

I’m not gonna lie—I did not like the first half of this book. I hate the people who claim female characters who do the same things male characters get away with are unlikeable but come on! I just felt like her interactions with Jeremiah amounted to her kicking a puppy. Alex is truly awful for a good long while. Yes, she did have her reasons and was fighting some of her own demons, but she kind of went past merely unlikeable to pretty awful for a while. Once we got past all of that, I really liked the rest of it. I was fascinated by these pockets of Mexican immigrant families who have such a long history along the railroad. The mystery of the inheritance of the historic building was interesting and kept the story moving along well. Also, Alex and Jeremiah were HOT together. Check it out, but go in expecting some uncomfortable friction. Thanks to Netgalley and Carina Press for the eARC. Available today. #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookreview #steamyromance #angelinamlopez #afterhoursonmilagrostreet @netgalley #carinapress

This is a hookup to rivals to lovers story following amazing bartender Alex as she comes back to her small town from Chicago and Professor Jeremiah Post. After Alex’s grandmother falls, Alex and her sisters decide they want to buy their grandmother's bar, relieving her of the big responsibility while keeping the bar within the family. What they didn’t realize, is that their grandmother already had some offers, including an offer from Jeremiah.

One thing I didn’t like in the beginning but appreciated by the end was that Alex was “grumpy” or unlikeable in a way I haven’t seen many romance heroines presented. It made me question my own internalized bias’ and expectations (especially as a Mexican American woman! So many things that I don't want my family to expect from me, and I’m expecting it from Alex??)

I also appreciated learning about Mexican history in the midwest. It is so fascinating to see how rich and long the Mexican history is here. I think as someone whose parents and grandparents more recently immigrated from Mexico (so most of my family is 1st or 2nd generation) it is easy for me to forget that there are 3rd, 4th, 5th + generations of Mexican American families!

After walking away from her job in Chicago, Alex is drawn back to her hometown of Freedom, where she hopes to buy her grandmother’s bar, Loretta’s, and breathe new life into it with the help of her two sisters. But on arrival she’s shocked to discover she’s not the only person who wants to buy Loretta’s - there’s a developer sniffing around with dubious motives, and her grandmother’s annoyingly attractive tenant, Jeremiah, who wants to turn Loretta’s into a museum. Alex and Jeremiah get off to a bad start, but when the developer begins to close in on the bar, they’re forced to work together to try and save Loretta’s once and for all.

I’ll start by saying I think this is incredibly well-written: it’s engaging, with lovely, evocative descriptions, good characterisation, and the whole thing is well-paced and well-constructed. The external plot of this book is very solid: it’s interesting with good twists and turns and I liked that the situation was messy and complicated with no easy solution for any of them. It came to a beautiful, almost magical conclusion; I thought the vague hints of the supernatural in this added a really nice touch to the book overall.

However, I did get off to a rocky start with this book. I found Alex quite an annoying and grating character for much of the book. I really wanted to like her but for the vast majority of this novel she came across as selfish and rude and I didn’t really like her. It felt like it took way too long to show her softer side - once I understood more about her past choices her personality made sense to me and I warmed to her, but I felt like her backstory was crammed in to the last few chapters in a way that felt like an afterthought. Similarly, whilst I thought Jeremiah was the more likable character, his backstory also felt a bit crowbarred in towards the end. I think in both cases their pasts and the trauma it led to could have been seeded through the book a bit better and more naturally, as the author did with other plotlines. Similarly I thought the actual ending was quite blunt - it was beautifully written as a conclusion, I just wish there’d been an epilogue to round things off a bit.

That said, I did think this had a really solid romance. It got off to a strong start - their first meeting was hot and steamy and took me completely by surprise and I liked that it wasn’t a perfect first encounter. Their dynamic was really fun and interesting and I liked how they played off each other. It was nice that she became more vulnerable around him and that he showed a stronger, firmer side when it came to her. They did suit each other and their chemistry was really hot. The sex scenes in this book are very well-written, very steamy and almost sensory in how they’re written.

Overall I think this is a very solid, well-written book; I thought the external plot was very good and I think the characterisations were as well. I just wish that the backstories for both the main characters had been worked through earlier; they came across a bit like afterthoughts in both cases and that muddied the ending a bit and impacted how much I liked Alex as a character. Still, the romance is very steamy and fun and I would recommend this to anyone looking for a sexy, hate-to-love romance.

Content Notes: Alcoholism (side character), violence, racism, racist language, on-page sex.

Synopsis: “Professor Jeremiah Post, the poor handsome man, is in fact standing in the way of Alejandra “Alex” Torres turning Loretta’s, her grandmother’s bar, into a viable business. The hot brainiac who sleeps in one of the upstairs tenant rooms already has all of her Mexican American family’s admiration; she won’t let him have the bar and building she needs to resurrect her career, too.’

This was a very fun and sexy contemporary romance. I love the concept and it is always refreshing to read about an interracial relationship with two individuals from distinct and contrasting backgrounds and outlooks.

I would definitely recommend this novel to anyone who is searching for a unique spin on a romance novel. I look froward to reading another book from this author!

A favorite of the year!
After Hours is Romance perfection. Angelina knows how to write a novel packed with luscious details and world building, and sizzling chemistry between the love interest.
I love that our leading lady is such a strong personality, I feel as if I can relate to her personality the most out of all the books I have read this year. The premise of the book is so good as well. The group of sisters keeping the family bar in business but also weary of other parties that want to buy the historic building. The family tension felt very real, so many strong woman in the family trying to plan how to save the company, just so good!
The love interest is an adorable nerdy professor, and I love that as he butted heads with her it sparked some passion in him.
This novel was delectable!

This is my first by this author and the writing felt different (in a good way) to me.
So maybe because of that, when i started this book I had mixed feelings - the first two chapters especially.

Jeremiah (I would have preferred for him to have a shorter name - nickname or pet name) and Alex - both are very different yet interesting characters. It took me a while to warm up to Alex. Once I warmed up to the characters and story development, I ended up enjoying this book.


Overall - a good story with mix of romance, culture and family drama.

This was such a delight to read. I love both Alex & Jeremy, they really balance each other out. Also Jeremy, whew, he may be shy, but he isn't shy in another aspect, if you know what I mean.

✨ PRINCEMAN REVIEW✨

What's the last book that shocked you? Where you went in expecting something but then were wow'd because it was something so much more? That's exactly what happened to me as I read After Hours on Milagro Street!

📝 This beautiful story follows Alejandra, a famous bartender who wants to revitalize her grandmother's bar. Unfortunately, Professor Jeremiah is in her way! He sleeps above the bar and has her whole Mexican American family's adoration. They are opposite in every way but must team up together to save this town's gathering place. This story is filled with love, family and a hint of mystery.

What I 🤍:
💪🏽Mexican American Representation
🧅 Heroine who Peels Back Her Layers
🥁 Unlike ANY Romance I've Ever Read
🎤 Authentic, From the Heart Writing
🔎 Mystery/Treasure Hunt

This is SOOOO much more than a contemporary romance. In reality, it's a love story to all Mexican Americans and their history in shaping the United States. Often these important voices are silenced and not talked about. This book not only highlights the history in the railroad industry, but also discusses topics of racism and 'white savior' attitudes. By far, this is one of the most moving romance novels I have ever read.

Prince's Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Steaminess: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Read If ➡️: You want to read a romance that represents the people in

Please read this book, and support @angelinamlo. We NEED more stories like this DESPERATELY in the published world. Representation matters! Thank you @netgalley and @harlequinbooks for an ARC of this incredible book!

🌟 #afterhoursonmilagrostreet is out 7/26!!!!

The hype, when it comes to this author is REAL and GOOD! This is my first book by her, and I will say I was LOVING everything about it. We meet Alex, The bad B* Bartender of Chicago. She is Latina, and fierce, but then all of that came crushing down, and she is heading back home to help save her families business. The whole time she’s there she is getting hit with curveballs, and I really felt for the girl. She is hard to like but I saw threw it all as a hurt woman, and she went through a lot. I loved how the author was able to make us disagree but agree with her ways and be able to accept her ways and understand them. And then we meet Jeremiah, what a man, he is not someone I expect for Alex, but opposites attract, and the way they first met, and their connection after is STEAMY AF, and funny as hell because Alex can be brutal at times, lol. All and all this book have a ton of steam, secrets, Mexican American history, treasure hunting, a little magic (don’t get put off by this its hella cute how the author adds this), and FAMILY, which is very important. Thanks Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book!!! Cant wait to read more from this author.

Angelina M. Lopez has crafted a diverse romance with a strong, smart, fiercely independent, brash female lead and a softer (but still huge and imposing-looking), shy, smart male lead. I'm not a fan of instant physical intimacy, and some of the passion doesn't feel quite as realistic given how quick things happen, but their chemistry is VERY strong--and the sex scenes are written with great detail (definitely a spicy book!)

But it's not just the romance that's noteworthy here. Lopez's characterization isn't one-dimensional and doesn't rely on stereotypes. The way she writes Alex, Jeremiah, and Alex's whole family is complex; I wanted to learn more about all of the characters and the town of Freedom, so I'm looking forward to her continuing this series.

I'd urge romance-lovers to pick this one up!

Another good read by Ms Lopez. If you are looking for strong Heroine with strong sex appeal this book has it.
Alex is not your typical woman. She has tattoos, she doesn't wear sexy clothes daily and she knows what she wants.
Jeremiah is a college professor, very reserved. They both come from completely different backgrounds. They started on opposite side but now they have a common goal that bring them together. The sexual tension is palpable and the heat is 5 🌶️. If you enjoy sassy woman this is good book to read.
I voluntarily reviewed this ARC on my own voluption. Thanks the publisher and netgalley for this book.

Oh, my freaking world!

This book was as hot as chili pepper and made me sweat throughout. The twist and turns from all around squeezed my heart. The relationship between the Professor (like I call him) and Alex was so sweet. Alex may seem mean and rude at first, but under all that tough exterior is a soft baby girl who just needs some more love.

Professor and Alex have been alone for a while, and when they meet for the first time, they let off steam. If you love steam, get ready to jump right in.

If you're into:
Rivals to lovers
Forced Proximity
Opposites attract
Alpha Female
Hot, Hot, Hot

Then I think you should read this.

Okay, I’m incredibly mad at this author. If I thought my standards were high prior to meeting Professor Jeremiah well.. now they are sky high and I won’t settle for less than a professor who acts exactly like this one.

After Hours on Milagro Street has it all… the romance, the intrigue, the passion & mystery. Though it took me a couple nights to finish just because while the chapters were short, it was a good sized book, I couldn’t get enough of it. This book gives you all the happy feels and I am all here for the feisty Latina. Being Mexican-American I found myself empathizing a lot with Alex and I adored her story of her coming back into a town that she’d left so long ago back with a family that were essentially strangers to her.. only to find something more than family on her return.

I absolutely loved this book and cannot recommend it enough!

5⭐
R for some serious steam! (The bedroom wall scene 🥵 iykyk)

One of my favorite romances of the year!! (Which is a bold statement for me!) If you like any of the following, you will love this book and should just go read it ASAP:
~~Rivals to lovers that's legit
~~Badass vigilante bartenders
~~Sexy nerdy professors who care about town history
~~Some seriously steamy scenes
~~A large welcoming Mexican American communidad with an interesting history
~~Treasure hunting and mysteries
~~Discussion about white appropriation of culture and history
~~A redemption arc that might make you cry (excuse me while I dab at my misty eyes)
~~Ghosts

Angelina created a true masterpiece in this book that had a little bit of everything from romance to history to mystery. I even got a little teary at one point. I loved how everything in this book fit together and Alex and Jeremiah were just wonderful together, but also the redemption arc and family reunion aspects were just so good?? This book was everything I wanted on a romance book. The writing was phenomenal, the story was perfect and I will be recommending it to everyone and trying to convince everyone to read it.

If you are looking for a complex, beautiful romance that will make feel and teach you things and stir your curiosity, you need this book.

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Alex comes home to Freedom, Kansas and is not a fan. She left 13 years ago and didn’t want to come home at all, but her grandmother had a fall and Alex had to help take care of the bar. She meets the tenant in the upstairs apartment of her grandmother’s bar and quickly realizes that he’s essentially a hot, gigantic, brainiac.

Jeremiah loves the Torres family - they’re everything he’s ever wanted and never had. When Alex comes sweeping back in to “save” her grandmother’s bar, Jeremiah doesn’t think she has the family's best interest at heart. And as the rich, intelligent, white man living renting her grandmother’s room, Alex doesn’t trust him either. However, secret deeds to the building, a ghost haunting the bar, raising debts, and developers looking to buy the building and tear it down push Alex and Jeremiah together more and more. They are also fighting an instant attraction to each other that neither of them want. But again, as they spend more time together they realize that there’s more beneath the surface than was first impressions reveal.

I ended up loving this book! While the beginning didn’t sweep me away right away, it quickly picked up and I loved every moment of it. I love how Alex and Jeremiah balance each other and bring out the best in one another. They are both desperately searching for home and they find it in themselves as well as with each other. One of my favorite quotes from the book is, “I don’t need you to be my home. I don’t need it. I thought I did, that I needed a home and family to value me. But I’m my own home.” Seriously guys! A wonderful book that definitely has some sexy moments in addition to all of the sweet ones. You should definitely pick it up.

Another book that starts with a bang. As in they bang within the first chapter. It's how we start to see that maybe Alex is a different kind of female main characters. She's brash and bold and unapologetic. She doesn't take crap from people and she tends to push them away and quickly. Jeremiah literally does not know what hit him in the middle of the night but oh do sparks fly between these two.

As the story develops, we get to know Alex and realize she's not as bitchy as she tries to seem and she has reasons for her cold exterior. She is actually quite an amazing character even when you aren't sure if you like her or not. I think that as Jeremiah and Alex work together, we get to know Alex through his eyes and start to see past the persona just as he is. I thought that was super well done.

Then in addition to the romance and super hot sex scenes, you get a little bit of a mystery and a little bit of a family saga and a tiny bit ghost story. I really loved going on this adventure and getting to know all of these characters. This was my first Angelina Lopez but if this is how her books are, she's got a new fan in me. If you do pick this one up, please read the author's note to learn a little bit more about Kansas and its history with Mexican Americans. It's really fascinating to me and I'm ashamed I didn't know about any of this prior to the book.

I was lucky enough to receive a gifted copy from Bonkers Romance but I think you should definitely pre-order this one. It publishes on July 26