Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This is a tough review to write. There was so much I liked about the book. I loved the treasure hunt aspect, I loved Alex’s family, I thought Jeremiah was HOT. This is a well-written book with some important things to say about the way we value our cultural history as well as our personal histories and how we react if our pasts are taken away from us.

The problem I had was Alex. I know that there’s a swathe of books coming out now where the heroine is prickly and has no f’s to give. Most of the time I get that this can be a sign of strength and weakness simultaneously and that we, as women, can be whatever we want. Men have been allowed to be confident and break without being disliked for it. So why should women be likeable and smile all the time? They shouldn’t!

So, I am prefacing this comment with the statement that I like reading about women in books who are similar to the women know in real like. Flawed and tired of society’s constraints. What I don’t like is unnecessary cruelty and, at times, I felt Alex‘s character was cruel, vindictive and mean. While I can see her vulnerability and her past shaped her to be wary, I can’t champion someone who has little empathy. So, while I enjoyed how this book was written, I enjoyed the way the story unfolded - I would not read it again. It’s a personal choice and ultimately the reason why I can only give this book a 3.

I read this book so fast . It was so good ! I absolutely LOVED this book,
Enemies to LOVERS but with Mexican heritage, Yes literally one of the best books ive read this year

Included as a top pick in bimonthly July New Releases post, which highlights and promotes upcoming releases of the month (link attached)

Opposites attract! Mild-mannered professor Jeremiah goes toe-to-toe with tattooed bartender Alejandra to protect her grandmother's legacy.

This story is vibrant and super hot! It's a little romance, a little mystery, with complex, wounded characters.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

the minute I saw the cover I was absolutely won over and after reading? the author has gained a new fan.

being latina, this book spoke so loud to me and the female main character reminded me so much of the strong women I have had the pleasure to interact with and grow up alongside of. alex is a complete icon and we will forever stan!

jeremiah might seem like the quiet professor but when he gets into the bedroom? WHEW.

loved loved loved their attraction and how their chemistry was off the charts.

if you want a steamy and fast read then this is for you!

What a beautiful book. Beautifully written with wonderful characters and a storyline that won’t leave your heart anytime soon. What a great way to read about people of colors experience in America. It may be fiction but it is a reality. I loved the spice of Alex and Jeremiah’s relationship and enjoyed seeing how it progressed as well. There are many branches Lopez can go with follow up books as well.

Side note: book club recommendation. It’s as enlightening as it is entertaining.

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced reading copy! I loved pretty much everything about this book. I loved the characters, the town, the back stories, the angst, and most of all, I love an angry woman main character getting a happy ending. Alejandra (Alex) is a bartender in Chicago, who leaves her job in a blaze of angry glory on social media to return home to save her grandmother’s bar in Freedom, Kansas. There she meets a professor named Jeremiah, who has befriended her family, and is also competing with her to save the bar, to convert it into a historical museum. But as family and town drama unfolds, can they both save the bar and their budding relationship? I thought the writing in this book was breathtaking. The side characters hold up the main characters really well, and there is enough family and town drama to keep the story moving along, as the main characters get developed. There are a lot of great and well done Latinx representations and stories within this book. One of the best things about this book is that Lopez subtly and beautifully pulls you into the minds of these complicated, trauma filled, and full of life main characters. Jeremiah is super well done, but Alex is the star. Coined the “bitch of bar tending” from her social media presence, she’s hard to like at first, but as the reader gets to know her, her anger is so justified (I mean honestly, aren’t all women and marginalized people angry right now?) and we get to see this amazing, lovely, and full of life character unfold. This story is a steamy romance, with open door scenes, but personally I thought these were great, hot, and well done. This is, simply put, a great book. I recommend this story to everyone who loves great writing, great characters, Mexican families, and contemporary steamy romance.

This book was brilliant. It started with a bang - literally - and picked up even further around page 100. I deeply loved the “unlikeable” nature of Alex and her passionate, avenging angel ways! Her fighting everyone all the time is both so frustrating and so real. She is tough because she has to be and watching her learn to be vulnerable and being terrified to show her underbelly was a fabulous story! Jeremiah Post is a one hundred percent certified cinnadom. He holds firm boundaries with Alex that made me respect and like him even more. He is well aware of his status as a wealthy, cishet, white man and tries to use that privilege for good - by listening and trying to support the stories of those that wouldn’t otherwise be written. The supporting cast is brilliant - from the matriarch Loretta, to the parents and their own sets of issues and deep love, to the scene stealing primo Joe and the sister who I hope to see more of.

One more thing - The history and background of this story is deeply fascinating and never talked about and I honestly went on a deep dive to learn more about the traqueros and their lives in “boxcar barrios.”

Thank you to the author and publisher for my complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Heat Factor: How is Lopez so good at writing sex scenes that are emotionally kinda ugly but still so hot?

Character Chemistry: Boning → antagonism → cooperation → admiration → more boning, this time with feelings

Plot: Alex goes back to her hometown to take over the family bar, only to discover that her grandma is considering selling the bar to someone else. Also, there’s a scavenger hunt for some long-lost paperwork. And a ghost.

Overall: It prompted a lot of thinky thoughts, but the romance didn’t really hit for me.

Alex is the baddest bitch in bartending. She has a chip on her shoulder a mile wide, and she’s been playing it up for her fans for years. But now she’s out of her fancy Chicago job, so it’s time to head home to Freedom, Kansas, where she and her sisters will buy out her grandmother’s bar. (Freedom, Kansas, is the hometown of billionaire Roxanne Medina, the heroine of Lush Money.) Alex has big plans for the family business: she’s going to make it hip and happening, a destination on the plains, and then she’ll have the cred to run any bar in the country.

Unfortunately for Alex, her grandma is not impressed by her long absence and her whole savior complex, and has been considering selling the bar to one Dr. Jeremiah Post, who rents a room upstairs, and wants to turn the bar into a museum about the history of Mexican-American immigrants in the Midwest.

Cue the antagonism.

With bonus forced proximity, since Alex ends up in the other room upstairs.

So this story was pretty interesting, in that there was a lot going on. We’ve got discussions of racism (Alex is Mexican-American, Jeremiah is 100% East Coast WASP) which are handled with a lot of nuance; Alex’s take on the way she performs her bad bitch persona is especially good. We’ve got a lot of detail about the traqueros—Mexian and Mexican-American laborers who built a lot of the American railroad system, especially after the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. We’ve got a bit of a historical-suspense plot, where Alex and Jeremiah are trying to figure out what happened to the eldest son of the ton’s founder, as said scion’s descendants might be the beneficiaries of a secret second deed that would give them ownership over the bar (it’s complicated, and I did not understand the legality of it; lawyers can weigh in here, but I recommend just going with it). We’ve got a lot of family stuff that Alex has to wade through, like her estrangement from her father and her sisters’ lack of involvement in the bar-rehabilitation project. Plus there’s a ghost haunting the bar.

With all this other stuff, I felt like the romance got a little overshadowed. Yes, Alex and Jeremiah begin working together to defeat a common adversary, and in the process see each other as more than their outer shells. But something about their relationship didn’t quite sing to me. I suspect that part of my struggle was that it took a while for Alex to reveal herself to the reader—she’s definitely an unlikable heroine, and of course some of her rudeness is a front, but it’s not until quite late in the book that the reader is invited to see beyond her brash public persona. I must admit that I found her very off-putting in the first half of the book. However, I think the bigger issue is really that there was so much else going on that there wasn’t as much space for the romance. Alex grapples with her relationship with her hometown, her family, and her identity—when does she even have time to worry about her relationship with Jeremiah? Beyond the fact that she likes how big and tall he is, I mean.

I wouldn’t go so far as to say this book is women’s fic-y, because the romance is a central element of the story, mainly because of Jeremiah, who is completely and utterly smitten by Alex, even when they’re working at cross-purposes and he knows that she’s angry with him. The way Lopez handled his desire for affection and family was really lovely.

I do not want to give the impression that this is a bad book. On the contrary, this is a really rich, well-written, and interesting book. But! I do think that if our loyal smut readers have friends who read women’s fic and are romance curious, this would be a great book to recommend to them.

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.

This book was a beautiful story about family & the connections we can have with them sometimes. I enjoyed that this wasn't just about the romance between Alex & Jeremiah (although that was a scorcher). It was also about Alex & her family, the ties to the community, & Jeremiah trying to find a place in it as well. This book also seemed to be well researched & taught me some things along the way. Highly recommend reading this one!

Thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for advanced copy in exchange for my honest review

1.5 stars

From the very beginning I knew I wasn't going to like the heroine with the dub-con scene in chapter one that if we're honest, if that was Role reverse... just no.
But still I decided to pushed it and by the end I just didn't like this.
As much as I appreciate the multicultural aspects of this and the family relationships, the writing style felt odd and the main characters felt like a caricature of themselves.
Overall this wasn't for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

The best part of this book was actually the historical value. I learned a lot about my home state I never knew. I appreciated learning about the Mexican traqueros and how they built their lives in the United States.

I also enjoyed the mystery aspect of the story but I'll admit the supernatural parts were a little much for me.

Alejandra and Jeremiah's relationship was... interesting. It was definitely enemies to lovers and the forced proximity was wonderful but I think Alejandra's hatred was a little too venomous for me.

This was a great Latinx Own Voices book that will give you a lot to think about in terms of racism and perceptions.

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley. This is my honest review.

This was such a fun read. I loved the representation, the setting, and the characters. I will definitely read more from this author.

Romantic and sexy from the jump. Jerrmy and Alex were cute and hot! Loved the cultural and historical aspects of the story. Loved how the author broke with stereotypes and assumptions that people make about immigrant families and their stories. The plot overall was engaging and kept me interested. Will definitely buy this paperback.

Enjoyed this story of life in rural Kansas and the immigration storyline. Learned a lot about the Mexican immigration to Kansas and their work on the railroads.

What I Liked: It’s going to be difficult for me to put into words how much I loved this book but I’m going to do my best. To start, I can’t recall the last time I read a romance that had such a well-researched and vital plot. The description of this book doesn’t do it justice. It’s so much more than a woman trying to save her family’s bar and a man going against her. There is a history lesson within this book about the Mexican Americans who settled in the Midwest and built, not only the towns they inhabited but the railroad as well. Lopez manages to tell this true story naturally, through character conversations and using Jeremiah’s goal of turning the bar into a museum honoring Alex’s family and her ancestors. Nothing felt forced or out of place and the history of the town tied in nicely with the events happening in the current time.

The stars of this book, Alex and Jeremiah are some of the best romance leads I’ve read in a long time. Another review I read called Alex an “alpha heroine” and I couldn’t agree more with that description. She is known as the bitch bartender by reputation and due to an infamous episode caught on social media but she is skillful behind the bar and knows it. She has no intention of staying in Freedom any longer than it will take her and her sisters to rehab their Granmo’s bar and make it viable again due to her love/hate relationship with her hometown and its inhabitants. Acting as the perfect foil to her surliness, yet lovable self, is Dr. Jeremiah Post, quite possibly the most perfect romance hero. He’s a cinnamon roll* of a man, who has made Freedom his home and the Torres’ his adopted family. He’s so appreciative of the love and community he’s been shown that he can’t comprehend why Alex would have left in the first place, let alone be itching to get out of town as fast as she can. His heart and warmth practically leap off the page and yet he has a terrifically filthy mouth in bed which was *chefs kiss*. This book starts out with a bang *wink wink* and then relies on intense sexual tension disguised as hatred for most of the story. When Alex and Jeremiah give in to their attraction it’s fire and there is a scene between them that takes place entirely with a wall between them that is HOT. I won’t go into details but let’s just say that Lopez has a way with words!

All the relationships in this book have depth to them, from Alex and Granmo, to Jeremiah and Joe, and all the siblings. The love the family has for each other was evident and makes me excited for any future books in this series. The issues that Alex and Jeremiah face weren’t over the top or out of nowhere and they never acted out of character while dealing with their struggles. I wanted to read more about them and didn’t want this book to end.

What I Didn’t Like: If I had to nitpick, I’d say that the ending felt a bit rushed to me. I looked at my Kindle and saw I was 90% done and thought “but there’s still so much left to resolve!” Everything came together but it felt fast.

Who Should Read It: I think this would be a great book to recommend to someone who says they don’t like romances or someone who is new to the genre.

Review Wrap Up: If you couldn’t already tell, I loved this book. I thought the story was incredible, the characters were entertaining and real, and the romance was believable and hot. Lopez is a new author to me and I will definitely be reading her other books after this because I enjoyed her writing as well. I highly recommend this book.

Favorite Quote(s): “Her grandmother had a lot of love languages, but food was her most precious one.”
“He trusted Alex Torres. He was in love with Alex Torres. He was going to rail her through the mattress. ‘I trust you, too,’ he said. Then he pounced.”
“He was…trying to use his advanced mental capacity to work out how his love could feel mammoth, desperate and needy, to himself, and yet be worthless to the people he offered it to.”

I've read and enjoyed everything I've read by Angelina M. Lopez but let me just be completely honest - this might be her best work to date. She has really leveled up as a writer with this book, with its complicated and flawed characters, its complex and tightly woven plot, and layering it with her brand of high heat and steam.

Bartender Alex follows in the grand tradition of Lopez heroines - difficult and arguably unlikable and obviously, I loved her. She has reasons for why she is the way she is and peeling her character like an onion reveals that while her exterior is tough and crusty, underneath lies a heart as soft as a marshmallow, full of love and compassion for those she holds near and dear to her.

Professor Jeremiah is sexy and nerdy, from a rich east coast family that has never shown him the love he so desperately wants. When he finds that sense of belonging in Alex's family, he's not willing to let go much to Alex's dismay.

Set amidst a plot that involves a lot of history, a ghost, and a mystery, the book is both a history lesson and a steamy contemporary romance all wrapped up in one tight package. It's about family and belonging, about the power of the past impacting one's future, and how important it is to dig a little deeper to find the true nature of a person. Both Alex and Jeremiah harbor deep secrets and a lot of heartbreak and the way they slowly learn to open up to each other and trust each other is the reason this romance really works.

Content notes: racism, sexism, toxic family relationships, off page alcoholism, absentee father, minor character has an abortion and is shamed for it (not by the MCs);

Holy wow.

After Hours on Milagro Street by Angelina M Lopez is one of those reads—the sweep you away, seize you by the throat, grab your heart, fill your spirit kind of reads.

Alejandra Torres owns the “best b*tch in bartending” moniker she’s been dubbed with, and wields that persona to good effect, keeping admirers and adversaries alike at a distance. Alex has more than one chip on her shoulder but she’s come home to Loretta’s, her grandmother’s bar, both to personally regroup and to help preserve her family’s heart and legacy.

Professor Jeremiah Post is one of her grandmother’s tenants. His mild mannered exterior means he’s sometimes underestimated, and he means to use that to full advantage. He doesn’t trust the gorgeous, brash, prickly Alex, and he means to help make sure Loretta has whatever support she needs most.

Angelina M Lopez has written a page-turning story with vividly drawn characters, from Alex and Jeremiah to the huge and involved Torres family and those who’ve competing stakes in the future of Milagro Street.

It’s a real pleasure to see Alex and Jeremiah’s slowly unfolding friendship and more, and their interactions with Loretta and the rest of the extended family, and see their persistence and inventiveness pay off for their beloved family and property.

I understand this is the first of a series, and that thrills me more than I can say. Eagerly awaiting more! I sped through this read, enjoying every bit of Jeremiah and Alex’s hard won happiness and the respect and dignity given the Torreses and their rich history in Kansas and the Mexican American community there. Angelina M Lopez is an excellent writer, and After Hours on Milagro Street is an excellent read.

After enjoying Angelina M. Lopez’s Lush Money, I started following her on social media. She’s talked for a while about wanting to set a romance with Mexican-American characters in southeast Kansas, where she is from, because so many people are surprised to learn there are Mexican American communities in small Mid-western towns. Her new series, which begins with After Hours of Milagro Street, does just that.

Alexandra “Alex” Torres is coming home to Freedom, Kansas after years of being the Best Bitch in Bartending in Chicago. Her grandmother, Loretta, is in the hospital after a fall, and Alex has a plan to save the family bar, Loretta’s, on Milagro Street. Professor Jeremiah Post has found a home renting a room above the bar. Loretta has taken him under her wing, and he also has a plan for the bar – to turn it into a museum focused on the history of Freedom’s Mexican American community, starting with the Traqueros who built the railroads after the Chinese Exclusion Act caused a labor shortage. Each suspects the other of using Loretta for personal gain. They start off with a literal bang when they meet in the middle of the night.

Alex is driven with an explosive temper and a huge (well earned) chip on her shoulder. Her relationship with her family is fractious enough that it’s not unreasonable to think she may not have their best interest at heart. Added to that, Alex is available to save the bar because she was filmed having a spectacular blow out with her boss and is now unemployed. Alex’s suspicions about the very white, clearly from money, Jeremiah are rooted in the history of white people appropriating the history and struggles of others. It’s only when a larger threat to both their plans is revealed that they work together. The attraction simmering between them grows as they come to like each other.

Jeremiah is much quieter. Lopez doesn’t try to make him match Alex in force of personality. While he is quiet, he is also smart and perceptive. He is much quicker to let go of the rivalry than Alex, once he realizes that yes, she really does have a plan that will modernize Loretta’s without gutting it.

After Hours on Milagro Street is another example of the micro trope where a man and woman are directly competing for something and the woman wins both the prize and the man’s love. I would like to see more of it.

Racism and family history play big roles in the internal and external conflicts. There are ghosts, both metaphorical and literal.

CW: on page and historical racism, parental neglect, alcoholic parent, misogyny, the intersection of capitalism and racism.

I received this as an advance reader copy from Carina Press and NetGalley. My opinions are my own and freely given.

Alex and Jeremiah are both people who feel rejected by their families, and have done everything in their power to distance themselves from them. Not noticing the damage it has done to themselves. Alex has done that all the while protecting them along the way. She comes home to save the family bar.

One thing I was warned about and I will warn you about is Alex does come off a little mean in the beginning but you will instantly fall in love with her character and be rooting for her to win. Loved the Mexican - American representation mainly the reason I picked up this book. Give me all the Latinx reps there are there aren't enough of them and I will read them all! This also taught me a lot about how the Mexicans first settled in the Midwest and I loved how the author incorporated her family's story into the book and in turn educated all of us.

This book also touched on familial strife. How resentment lingers on, how family needs to lean on each other. This book reminded me that in the search of finding home, home is within ourselves, they were both finding a sense of belonging and they found that within each other.

This book is a must read!
TW: racism, alcoholism, abortion.

I received this as an ARC from Net Galley/ Carina Press in exchange for an honest review all words are my own.