Do you love slow, slow burns? If so, this is the book for you! The story follows Vanessa as she works for the Wall of Winnipeg (aka Aiden). Both have baggage which they slowly reveal throughout the story. You will fall in love with all the side characters too.

Yes this is a re-read but I will forever re read it always, such a good read. Since these have been a huge fan and have read all her books. I would not miss a book! They are all 5-star WINNERS. A huge fan, I anxiously await her next book, and she is so much fun to follow on social media. A TOP thriller author!

Mariana Zapata is now my favorite sports romance novelist (as someone who has been devouring the genre lately). A slow burn that gives way to a lot of spice, and one that I see myself buying for my personal collection.

This was...chef's kiss. Aiden is everything you want in a man...though not at first but man oh man, when he gets there.... It's books like these that make me want erase it from memory and reread it again for the first time. One of MZ's best for sure.

This book was published previously but I somehow missed it the first time. I’m glad I found it this time. An excellent slow burn romance.

The Wall of Winnipeg and Me is a slow-burn romance novel by Mariana Zapata. The novel follows the story of Vanessa Mazur, a personal assistant to Aiden Graves, the top defensive end in the National Football Organization. Vanessa has been working for Aiden for two years, but she has never received any appreciation or respect from him. She decides to quit her job and pursue her own dreams of becoming a graphic designer. But she is shocked when Aiden shows up at her door, begging her to come back. He has a proposition for her: he wants her to marry him for immigration reasons, and in exchange, he will pay off her debts and help her with her career. Vanessa is reluctant to accept his offer, but she eventually agrees, thinking it will be a temporary and businesslike arrangement. But as they spend more time together, pretending to be a happy couple, they start to develop feelings for each other that they can’t deny.

This book is a delightful and addictive read that will make you laugh, cry, and swoon. The author does a great job of creating realistic and relatable characters who are flawed but lovable, strong but vulnerable, and sarcastic but sweet. Vanessa is a feisty and independent heroine who has a passion for art and a soft spot for Aiden. Aiden is a handsome and successful hero who has a hard exterior but a gentle heart. The chemistry between them is undeniable and adorable, with a lot of banter and teasing. They must overcome their own insecurities and fears, as well as the obstacles and challenges that threaten their relationship.

The book also explores the themes of family, friendship, loyalty, trust, and communication. Vanessa and Aiden have to deal with the consequences of their fake marriage and the impact it has on their lives and careers. They also must face their own family issues and past traumas that affect their personalities and choices. They are supported by a cast of secondary characters who add humor, drama, and depth to the story. Some of them are friends, some are enemies, and some are both.

The Wall of Winnipeg and Me is a sweet and funny romance novel that will keep you entertained and engaged until the end. It has everything you could want in a contemporary romance: humor, emotion, passion, conflict, and resolution. It also has a unique and creative twist on the sports romance theme, with references to football and fitness. If you are looking for a new romance novel to warm your heart, look no further than The Wall of Winnipeg and Me by Mariana Zapata.

The Wall of Winnipeg and Me has to be one of the best books I’ve read this year. I picked up this title a couple years ago and loved it, but rereading it has brought back so many memories and warm, fuzzy feelings from one of my favorite tropes. Aiden and Vanny are hilarious, and their relationship development is some of Mariana Zapata’s best work. The marathon scene at the end ALWAYS gets me! And Zac! Great book. 5/5 stars.

🖤💚 The Wall of Winnipeg and Me Review 💚🖤

Thank you so much to Mariana Zapata and netGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book!

The Wall of Winnipeg and Me is a standalone contemporary sports romance. Vanessa is a personal assistant to Aiden, the best defensive end in professional football…but she’s had enough. He’s rude, standoffish, demanding and after two years - Vanessa has had enough of Aiden’s shit. She finally feels like she can move on with her own hopes and dreams, until one day she finds a Aiden desperately banging on her apartment door…

I absolutely adored this book! Vanessa was such a vibrant character who is learning to stand up for what she believes in and what she wants! Aiden is such an adorable and complex character. I loved the dynamics he has with Vanessa and their story was amazing to read

Overall this was a 5 star read for me - I loved it! This is the second book I’ve read (and loved!) from Mariana Zapata but I absolutely plan on reading more of her backlist soon! This book was a slow burn, but the tension to get there was amazing! Two flames for spice!!

If you’re a fan of grumpy sunshine, gentle giants with a size difference, and marriage of convenience tropes, absolutely pick this one up!!

Review will be posted to Amazon upon publication.

4.5 Team Zapata-The Best Becoming the Best Stars
* * * * 1/2
For those who may not be familiar with the writings of Marina Zapata...reading, the blurb could lead you to believe this was another romance book by "football player needing a pretend wife" and after 200 pages.... they admit they are in love ... the end. This book is nothing like that and this is due to the style of Zapata's writing. She never does anything easy... or glossed over.

This is the premise, a sort of fence to wrap around all of the other intricate parts of this tale. There is so much, it is hard to know where to start without giving you the story...

What I will do is tell you my impressions of what I felt was so important while reading this...

You have two people who would seem opposites in how they have lived...but I saw so many things which tied them together...Their determination to better themselves, the stubborn streak of not wanting to say sorry or admit error, and then the never quitting... of committing fully. These two were each a force in their own right. Both held so much in...so when they finally let the other know what they are feeling and thinking ...it is all the sweeter.

Vanessa had a horrible childhood...and she somehow survived it. She spent some of it in foster care and she was so lucky to have had decent caretakers. Her foster dad gave her tools to see things more clearly... to assist in handling her temper and also comfort in showing her the way to do things is to do the best you can. These sage talks of fatherly wisdom held her together for the rest of her life. They were her mantras and got her through the roughest times.

The most impressive thing about Vanessa and how Zapata created her...was her feeling of real... of a person you could believe existed...she didn't roll over for Aiden, and she held a grudge much longer than any romantic character I ever met...which meant normal in real life terms. She was determined and felt pain like us. She also felt insecure about where she stood in this relationship because Aiden gave nothing away.

Aiden... how can I discuss him without mentioning how every description reminded us of his muscles having muscles. I've never been up close and personal with a professional football player...but Aiden hit the mark for me in so many ways. He was the purest... not the player. He had a schedule, a plant-based food diet, and dedication that was legendary. He would seem to others stoic, uncommunicative, and unapproachable. Beneath that fortress was a huge heart and intelligence...an understanding of what is important in life... and what isn't. It was his singular focus which was his strength but also a weakness, too.

When Aiden finally realizes the wrongs he did to Vanessa, he sincerely apologizes. His experience in positive personal relationships has caused him to be a bit backward in understanding how things should work. Yet, he makes real efforts and that is the way he endears himself to us.

There are many moments of pure joy... joy in knowing someone who you thought had no clue as to how to show affection or caring.... just did. And it is the little things that bring these feelings of overwhelming joy....just like in real life.

The other factors in this story have to do with eliminating toxic people from your life. PERIOD. They may have changed, recovered but sometimes...things have happened which cannot be forgiven...and with no understanding of why things "can't be forgotten" by those who did them then it is better to walk away and be ok with it.

As I said earlier, this is not a cute quick little romance. This is a meaty, slow build-up to a true relationship between two very complex people. All of the secondary characters are there for a purpose and work perfectly to move the story along. It is not a light read. It brings up abuse, domestic, and child. It will stir up feelings for these two and sometimes frustration....but always concern and care.

Marina Zapata has talent...heart and the ability to share all of it with us...aren't we lucky.

Let’s just throw it out there from the start: Winnipeg and Me is THE rom-com book. It’s at the top of the list— every romance list needs to have this on it. If you’re only going to read one romantic comedy book, make it be this one. It’s a funny slow burn story that makes you laugh and swoon. It’s steamy and sweet and you’ll devour it in a day.

I fell in love with this book a few years ago and jumped at the chance to reread the new version! I would read it again and again.

The Wall of Winnipeg and Me has fans…
If you know, you know! If you don’t… READ IT.

loved this romance and while this was a marriage of convivence and that she really had feelings for him. Loved his room mate and hope that he gets a book too. I loved that he supported her and her job.

The QUEEN OF SLOWBURN ! I absolutely LOVE this book. I’ve read it before and I’ve read it again now and guess what I’ll be reading it in the future too. The way that the author writes her character really shows the chemistry they have. Over all of you like sports romance, slow burn, and good writing this is for you!

I first read Vanessa and Aiden's story a couple of years ago so I was super excited to re-read it with the bonus content/ epilogue. Mariana Zapata's slow burn story still does not disappoint. The marriage of convenience/ forced proximity works so well here.

Vanessa just quit being Aiden's assistant so she can focus on her own graphic design work while trying to make a small dent in her astronomical student loans. Aiden needs her back with him and needs to be married to her for a visa. He offers to pay her student loans, she agrees, and their relationship unfolds and grows as they get used to being married to each other.

Both Aiden and Vanessa are multifaceted and it was a delight to read their backstories while also seeing their burgeoning chemistry. You get to see how they fall in love and why.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon for this eARC.

I had a lot of fun with this one, especially because it deftly avoided a lot of cliches that generally pop up in sports romances (not that those can't be fun too). First off, Van and Aiden are given a lot of time to explore their relationship with both themselves and each other, which I loved. While this is very much a slow-burn book, it absolutely pays off with the deft character work with both of the leads. We really get to experience Aiden coming out of his shell the same way that Van does, which is a beautiful arc for him. Also the more time you spend with Van, the better. She's a great lead and her backstory broke my heart a little.

But what really shines in this is the love story between Van and Aiden. At the beginning, I was genuinely skeptical that I would love this pairing, but I shouldn't have doubted Mariana Zapata. The amount of care and quiet moments that lead to the two falling for each other is so well-written and handled perfectly. You really get to see every step of the way of these two falling in love and why they eventually can't be without each other.

All in all, I loved this and maintain my love for Mariana Zapata novels.

ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! Mariana Zapata is the queen of the slow burn!

I had only read one of her books before and now I’m hooked. Give me all her back log! Aiden Graves is such a great grumpy quiet and determined character. I absolutely LOVE the small subtle changes in the characters that brings them closer.

Vanessa is a great multifaceted character that you can’t help but absolutely cheer for. She is strong intelligent and has such a great heart and is the perfect sunshine to his grumpy.

The marriage of convenience and forced proximity tropes were excellently developed and shown.

Loved this book!!!

Thanks to Avon/NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Wall of Winnipeg and Me is one of my favorite slow burns.
I have reread this numerous times over the years when I'm in a book slump.
I just adore Aiden and Vanessa's story.
This new version includes an extended epilogue with snippets into what their life is like in the future. It was perfect and everything I hoped for.
I will always recommend this one!
This new cover is adorable and captures the MCs perfectly.

I have always been a huge fan of Mariana Zapata’s books, so when I saw that The Wall of Winnipeg and Me was being traditionally published with bonus content I was so excited. Vanessa Makur is a graphic designer who works for football player Aiden Graves aka “The Wall of Winnipeg”. As his personal assistant Vanessa feels a sense of loyalty towards him and doesn't want to quit until she’s finally had enough. But now Aiden offers Vanessa something she can’t say no to and ends up married to him.

Vanessa is a character who is filled with so much love and care. She makes sure to show those who she cares for that she is there for them. She has never received the love she deserves to have and has been mistreated for most of her life. But then a person like Aiden finally begins to show her what love should be like. Aiden Graves who constantly has his guard up and does not have time for a relationship due to his career. Seeing both Vanessa and Aiden’s guards come down because of one another and the love they show each other is so beautiful.

I must warn everyone that you must be prepared for a SLOW BURN story that is 100% worth it. There will not be one moment where you are bored because Vanessa and Aiden’s story is everything but that. If you have already read it, read it again! The bonus epilogue provides an even better ending to their story. Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this eARC!

This was a really good read. I now understand why everyone calls Mariana Zapata the queen of slow burn. I normally don’t like slow burn romance as much but this just changed my mind. Aiden and Vanessa our main characters were great. The tension and chemistry between then was worth the wait. I loved the marriage of convenience plot, I thought it was a great way of bringing them together.

I also really appreciated the slow burn because I was really able to see their relationship develop, how they fell in love and their progression as individuals. I though Aidens and Vanessa’s back stories were sad especially with the parental issues they had. This was my first book by the author and honestly I need to read more. There were some phrases especially the ones about aidens size and body that I wasn’t to fond of but overall this was a really good read.

I definitely recommend this book especially if you like:
- Slow burn
- Forced proximity
- Marriage of convenience
-Boss/employee
- Grumpy/sunshine

Thank you Avon and Netgalley for this arc for an honest review.

If you need a slow burn romance, MZ really won't disappoint you. It was so slow so good that you won't get bored reading it. Aiden was really a mysterious and hard to understand character, honestly I didn't really like him, I stayed for Vanessa! I love Vanessa, she's a survivor and a strong one! I really liked her friends circle and really was glad how supportive they were of her. Even though the ending was a bit rushed, but overall I really enjoyed reading this book and will be looking forward to other books by MZ!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Vanessa has been professional football star Aiden Graves' personal assistant for two years. In those two years, he has been nothing but professional and curt towards her. Vanessa has decided to take the next step in her career and she quits her thankless job as Aiden's assistant. After she quits, Aiden asks her to marry him so that he can obtain residency status. His offer is one that she can't refuse and they begin a friends to lovers romance through their marriage of convenience.

The beginning of this book portrayed Aiden and Vanessa's relationship as strictly professional. Aiden was a jerk to Vanessa and I was curious to see how Mariana Zapata would turn their relationship into a romantic one. The length of the book allowed for Zapata to slowly develop their relationship over time. As they adjusted to domestic life with one another, the awkwardness of the boss/employee dynamic melted away into a best friends dynamic. I enjoyed seeing grumpy Aiden come out of his cold hard shell. I especially liked it when he was protective over Vanessa and took care of her because she took care of him for two years as his assistant. The role reversal was cute!

For those of you who enjoy steam, a bit of a warning - the steamy scenes in this book don't come until nearly the end of the book. I normally like them to happen faster, but I appreciated the tension and story development before it got to that point in their relationship.

Pick this one up for a sweet and slow-burn marriage of convenience romance!

Steam level: 🔥🔥🔥
⚠️: partner abuse, mention of foster care & sibling abuse