Very cute cover, and mouth-watering food references, but I'm sad to say this was disappointing; 2 stars.

I found the setting and Mexican-American cultural aspects, like plentiful food and Spanish phrases, very well-developed and fun to read. Carolina's hobby of dancing with the Ballet Folklórico was a cool inclusion, and the farming stuff.

The romance? Not nearly enough to save the book for me, even added to what I liked above. I got off to a bad start with our leading man, Enrique, who had an unpleasant "voice" to read through during his POVs. Early on, he says something dismissive to Julieta (who I gather is from the first book I haven't read) when she mentions saying Latines versus Hispanics to be more inclusive. That was annoying. And then came the other parts of the story I disliked.

Carolina's family is very heteronormative and very "traditional" about gender roles. It was to the point that if it was going to be drilled in that much, why not make the main romance queer and defy all that? Definitely off-putting for me as a reader. Also, too much Catholicism, between Carolina talking about it and the event they attend playing Mary and Joseph...Not fun to read for me.

The technical side of the writing was also kind of meh. At one point, back to back sentences describe Carolina as smelling something good in the kitchen, though she can't recognize it, though she has a "good nose". This contradictory passage was conflating strength of sense of smell versus scent recognition. Weird.

Not a book I had fun reading, but I'm sure it'll find its readers.

The series name, Love & Tacos? How could I pass that up??
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This book is definitely a cultural read. You are going to learn a lot about the culture of the Mexican Americans. I love the fact that Carolina, the female lead, is a landowner and a business owner. Very difficult to do in this arena, but she is positively depicted as a strong leader in many ways.

The story also dives into stereotypical familial issues that tend to make me a little crazy. I personally would have a terrible time living in that sort of situation, but I appreciate the fact that it’s addressed in this book.

The author tells a wonderful story that includes romance and relationship-building along the way. I love their connection and the respect between each other that had to grow right along with the development of the relationship.

I appreciate that they’re both strong independent people with goals and care for the community. Strong family ties and structure make this an interesting read. The two main characters have a lot to learn about each other and do so with a little bit of heat and spice built in too.

There were definitely some frustrations for me being who I am. I appreciate and enjoyed the ending but what her father did I have a really hard time accepting, especially because of what she gave up in order to get back into the family. That type of ending really bothered me.

Overall Kiss Me, Mi Amor is intriguing and engaging. A sweet romance with strong family ties.

This was a really fun spin on the fake dating trope. Very good for fans of Tessa Bailey or Jasmine Guillory. The hot sauce is definitely the spiciest part of the story, but still a very fun read!

I liked this one, but didn't LOVE it. The story and characters are fine, just not particularly memorable. I feel like in theory the story has lots of potential, but I wasn't really vibing with the writing style. It felt very wordy without much actually happening.

This is the second book in the Love & Tacos Series. It follows middle brother, Enrique Montez of the Taco King empire, player & ladies' man, and beautiful Carolina Flores, the agricultural hotshot with a very traditional and extremely religious family, who has never been kissed or even dated.

Both Enrique and Carolina are great characters who battle with familial expectations early on in the book while simultaneously seeking to change those expectations and the gender roles that are traditionally put on them. I felt Enrique's obvious admiration for Carolina to be delightful. I’m so glad he stood up for her, and she did the same for him. Love was blossoming and I was so pleased for both of them.

I did not agree with Carolina's parents' conventional old fashion beliefs and raising the kids the way they do. I was so glad the author decided to change her parent's views. That being said, the story was intriguing and cute on more than one occasion so I would recommend it.

I really liked the first book in this series, flaws an all. Alana Quintana Albertson did a great job with this book, I think it was better. The story was fun and dramatic and had lots of my favorite tropes!

There is so much that I loved and enjoyed about this book, most especially the Mexican-American characters and all of the Mexican traditions mentioned. I also loved the fake-dating trope and the amazing chemistry that came with it. The love story between Carolina and Enrique begins long before either of them realize it. I always enjoy fake-dating romances for this reason.
The heroine comes from a family of strawberry farm workers, and the hero comes from a chain-restaurant owning wealthy family. Which gave a very natural opposites attract and a hint of enemies to lovers, since their families do not like each-other.

Carolina is a strong-willed, independent, and ambitious woman. The last thing she is looking for is to fall in love, especially with her strict and traditional Mexican parents that have extremely high expectations of her. As a Mexican-American myself, I was able to relate quite well, and really sympathize with the heroine and the family drama/dynamics. Religion is something that is mentioned throughout the book as Carolina and her family are Catholic. I am NOT religious but I did grow up in a strict Christian household, and with Catholicism being a big part of the storyline it did trigger me a bit. I will say this, Catholicism IS the biggest religion in Mexico, but not all Mexicans are Catholic. I make this point because I wouldn’t want the Mexican culture to be associated with a specific religion, as the Mexican people practice more than one. I am open-minded and accepting of everyone, which is why I still give this a 5/5 star since I loved it so much!

You can expect:

* Based in Southern California
* Fake Dating Trope
* Family Dynamics/Family Drama
* Book #2 In It’s Series
* Traditional Mexican Parents
* Swoony Romance
* Set Around The Holidays
* Strong-Willed Heroine
* Opposites Attract
* Shakespeare Retelling

2.5 stars - While I really liked the setting and the ideas of the plot (traditional first gen family in the US, family owned businesses, ethical agriculture, etc.), there was so much telling rather than showing in the writing that everything felt pretty flat. That included both the romantic dynamic between the leads and the family dyamics, so that made the overall impact of the story diminished

gosh this story made me love, love even more. Alana Quintana Albertson did a great job with this story. I really enjoyed this author's other book and this one also didn't disappoint. SO GOOD!

Kiss Me, Mi Amor was a great, immersive read.

I loved the setting and the characters.

Carolina was such a strong willed heroine and I admired her. I loved that Enrique would let her take the lead and didn't try to "tame" her. Enrique was a cool dude and he was book boyfriend material for sure. I thought the romance was a whirlwind one but I didn't mind the instalove. I think they had wonderful chemistry and fun dynamic. I enjoyed the romance a lot.

I think readers will sympathise with the family dynamics and expectations, I know I definitely did. I also liked seeing the lives of the farm workers and the farm. It was so different from my life and I liked being about to glimpse into different walks of life.

A quick read filled with romance, family drama and great characters.

This book was absolute perfection! This is the second in the Love & Tacos series and follows middle brother Enrique.

Enrique and Carolina seem like opposites in all ways at the beginning. But over time the ambition they both have makes them realize they have more in common than they may think.

Carolina not having any desire to date anyone, partially because of being career driven partially because her traditional Mexican parents have high expectations for her family life and settling down. But when the gorgeous, Enrique walks in for a business meeting she wasn’t even aware was on the schedule, she instantly is attracted to everything about him. But, instead of allowing herself the attraction she reacts with hostility. But when Enrique offers to play Joseph to her Virgin Mary in the town’s Las Posadas celebrations, Carolina finds him hard to resist.

Carolina and Enrique start fake dating (FAVORITE TROPE COMING AT YOU) when her father falls ill and the inevitable romance, swoony inner monologues, and falling head over heels begins.

Having a change up here with a strong, independent, and ambitious female character was seriously my favorite part! I loved the mix of culture that we see in book one of this series too.

All I can say is this is a 5 star read and I am beyond grateful for being able to be one of the first readers to review. Thank you Berkley Romance, Berkeley Publishing, and Netgalley for this E-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

*early work perk read* A joy to read on many levels--the romance, the holiday traditions, and it will definitely make you want to move to California like, yesterday.

A Taming of the Shrew retelling featuring the smooth-talking heir to the Taco King empire who wants to partner with the gorgeous and hardworking farm owner who never saw him coming. Enrique Montez is the middle child and heir to the Taco King empire. He wants to make a change in his career and pursue something more, besides his love of yoga and his family, he wants to change. When he discovers Carolina, he knows he wants to work with her to not only improve and educate himself on ethical farm practices but how to innovate and take his business to the next level. The only hitch is that Carolina didn’t actually agree to meet him and that her sister had responded to his business email to meet up... but now he’s here and he’s willing to do anything to get her to hear him out... even pretend to be her boyfriend. Carolina has grown up in a household that is set in strict tradition, in fact she’s never dated anyone in her 23 years and her little sister is not allowed to date until she does. Her family wants nothing more than for her to get married and thats the last thing she wants. Yet when Enrique shows up and actually changes her views on men she suddenly finds that she can’t resist the charming and sweet man. Yet her family’s expectations and strict rules begin to wear her down and if she doesn’t take a stand... will she ever be able to escape and claim her independence and freedom? Enrique came to find a business partner and vowed not to mix business and pleasure, yet something about Carolina makes him wants things he never expected. This story was definitely an interesting modern day retelling of The Taming of the Shrew, and it did start off good but it fell a bit flat for me towards the end. Carolina is dealing with an extremely difficult family situation and as Enrique asks her, is it family love or is it just abuse? The way she is treated by her family was really hard to read and the way it impacted her way of thinking was rough, I did feel bad for her. Enrique and Carolina did have a pretty fast relationship but what really get me was the final act break up/makeup thing, it just felt so eh and the quick make up and resolution just didn’t make it feel all that worth while. Overall, if you are looking for a modern day Shakespeare retelling, definitely give it a try.

*Thanks Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group, Berkley for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

This was a heartwarming romance and follow up to Ramon and Julieta! I love Shakespeare retellings, and The Taming of the Shrew retellings are definitely one of my favorites to read due to the banter and chemistry between Katherina and Petruchio's counterparts. Additionally, Katherina is a character I always relate to and empathize with in these retellings, as the oldest child and eldest daughter in an immigrant household myself, and the case was no different with Carolina's daughter. So many of her experiences as the eldest daughter in her Mexican American household matched mine so well, and my heart broke for the way she sacrificed so much of her freedom for her parents' satisfaction,

I would say that these themes mentioned above were probably my favorite part of the novel. The romance was also super sweet, but felt very fast paced for my taste. Enrique and Carolina definitely have a whirlwind romance, and I was very surprised to see them exchanging I love you's after spending just a few days with each other. I think I would have appreciated their romance more if it took place over a longer period of time, and Carolina had some time to experience her freedom on her own before immediately falling head over heels for the first man she dates.

Overall, I think fans of Latinx romances with vibrant references to Mexican traditions and values will definitely love Kiss Me, Mi Amor! I'd rate this 3.75 stars rounded up.

I am so excited to dive back into Ramon and Julieta's universe by reading another Love & Tacos book while devouring shrimp tacos and nursing a margarita for a more fulfilling reading experience!

This time, the main story revolves around Enrique Montez, the middle brother of the Montez Klan, and Carolina Flores, a quite likable character in the enemies-to-lovers and sunshine-meets-grump tropes.

Enrique is the heir to their Taco King empire and desires to switch up the business by meeting with production suppliers, which leads him to the Flores Family and its rueful, strict owner, Carolina Flores. He arranges a meeting and farm tour, but he doesn't think through that his family members also want to join him when he realizes the meeting is scheduled shortly after Christmas.

Enrique is a soft-talking, diplomatic, and friendly person who thinks he can charm anyone with his sweet talking and negotiation skills. However, he fails at his job when it comes to Carolina, who is tough and extra rigid, seeing bullshit from miles away.

Carolina is raised by traditional Mexican parents who push her to get married and have children, but Carolina has no intention of doing what people say. She ignores dating and is looking for her significant other, despite her sister Blanca arranging a meeting with Enrique behind her back. When she lays her eyes on him, she cannot resist his charms, just like a moth to a flame. However, she denies her feelings and acts extra rude around him. Normally, this kind of behavior would push a regular guy away, but luckily Enrique is not ordinary and can't easily be intimidated. On the contrary, he's extremely intrigued by this strikingly passionate woman.

When Carolina's father's health deteriorates just before the town's traditional Los Posadas celebration, she reluctantly acts like Enrique is her boyfriend to give her father the moral support he needs. That fake dating trope helps Carolina to think freely about what she truly wants to do with her life, her real dreams, passions, and how to make a plan to follow them. The more time she spends with Enrique, the less she can act like she doesn't have feelings for him. She starts falling so deep.

Just like the characters in the first book, Ramon and Julieta, Carolina and Enrique suffer from the antics of their rigid family rules that prevent them from finding their own freedom to pursue happiness. Their families' controlling manners suffocate them and bring out different reactions: Enrique turns into a people pleaser and softer negotiator, while Julieta turns into a rebel denying her chance to find her significant other.

Overall, it was an engaging, enjoyable, thought-provoking adventure that helped us explore more about Mexican culture and traditions. I enjoyed the second book in the series, and if the author decides to write more, I'll happily read and enjoy each of the sequels as well.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this heartwarming book's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

The second book in the Love and Tacos series features the middle brother of the Montez Group, Enrique, who no long finds work as challenging and wants their business to switch to ethical produce suppliers who treat employees fairly and want to make a difference. Enrique finds inspiration in the example of Carolina Flores, owner of Flores Family Farm, and sets up a meeting and farm tour with her. Since the meeting is to occur shortly before Christmas, the rest of the family (Montez and Campos combined) decides to go with him and enjoy a family vacation as well.

Unlike Enrique and his easygoing, peacemaking nature, Carolina has a reputation for ruthless, no-nonsense devotion to work. Against the views of her very traditional Mexican parents, who expect her to marry and have children right away, Carolina has no interest in dating, and when the handsome Enrique shows up for a meeting she knew nothing about (arranged by her sister Blanca), she feels attraction to him but reacts with hostility. The only thing that softens her reaction is his offer to act as Joseph to her as-yet-unaccompanied Virgin Mary in the town's Las Posadas celebration.

But when Carolina's father falls ill before Las Posadas, her concern for him leads her to lie about Enrique and claim him as her boyfriend. And once she starts fake-dating Enrique, Carolina discovers that she's ready to break free from her old life and find out who she really wants to become and what she really wants from life.

Having enjoyed the family dynamics from the first book, Ramon and Julieta, I was eager to continue the family saga. Both Enrique and Carolina are substantial characters, already grappling with family expectations from the beginning of the book but finding ways to change those expectations as well as their expected gender roles. I especially appreciated how Enrique demonstrated his respect for Carolina, often by stepping back and letting her lead instead of speaking over her or acting in her defense when she could defend herself.

I confess I struggled with the very traditional attitudes of Carolina's parents, something I fortunately never had to endure in my own family. But I really appreciated how the author avoided demonizing such attitudes and resisted painting them as stereotypical for the Mexican community, and the final resolution for the Flores family felt genuine and healing.

Shoutout to Tiburon, who proved himself to have hidden depths in this story! And extra shoutout to all the farmworkers who grow and harvest the foods we bring to the table. They deserve better -- yes, even and especially the immigrants and the undocumented workers who do the lion's share of this work -- and we need to demand better on their behalf.

Thank you, Berkley Romance and NetGalley, for providing an eARC of this book. Opinions expressed here are solely my own.