All Rhodes Lead Here is definitely Mariana Zapata’s MO perfected.

-Multi-dimensional, capable, independent female MC ✅
-Tall, brooding, cinnamon roll male MC ✅
-supporting characters with nothing but good intentions and love for the MC ✅
-the slowest burn possible ✅
-“you’re mine” trope ✅

One thing I found to be a bit different in Rhodes, vs. most of Zapata’s other books was that the tension between the MC’s (Aurora and Rhodes) slow burn build up came secondary to the resolution of Aurora’s main storyline. I liked that Aurora came full circle and it wasn’t glossed over.

I think the timeline and several week/month time jumps were well done, and gave a realistic time span for the MC’s to have relatable amounts of personal growth and time to actually deeply fall for each other.

Overall this story was cozy, but emotionally complex as well as quirky and funny.

“If I could leave a review, it would be ten stars easy”

I just need a moment while I collect my heart and emotions that have been scattered about. There are not enough words to describe how wonderful this book truly is. It’s amazing what this author did with 26 letters and some punctuation marks. She gets better with every book I read. She captures the reader from start to finish with an amazing story that grips your heart and characters that are unlike any others out there.

Aurora is resilient and strong. She could have been portrayed as a damsel in distress, but I’m so happy the author developed this character as a strong, independent woman. She spent the last years losing herself in someone else who didn’t appreciate her, so it was refreshing to see her living for herself and finding her wants and needs. It was really enjoyable going on this character building journey alongside her.

Tobias and Aurora are the best kind of slow burn romance. I love how the author takes her time in describing their relationship, building a foundation that requires the slow breaking down of walls that have been built up, and allowing both of them, along with the reader, to fall along with them. There are little moments that make this book. Through small interactions, it’s filled with this undeniable chemistry that burns the pages and seconds that leave you over analyzing the things that were left unsaid. This author has an amazing talent where the mundane scenes take your breath away.

What I love most is that this takes place in Colorado. The descriptions of each scene made me feel as if I was right there breathing in the fresh air, seeing the beautiful landscape, and experiencing everything as if I was right beside Aurora.

What was most enjoyable was getting to know the friends and family as well as the main character. She has a way of making her characters feel accessible and human by capturing emotions that are felt to every reader. This book was beyond phenomenal and if you haven’t read it yet, you are doing yourself a disservice.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the ARC

Absolutely loved this story!! Grumpy Tobias. Sweet aurora. Amos. Will be rereading this many, many times!
Birds, bats, music! Love. I wish I was more articulate here lol

As always Mariana delivers only the best of slow burns out there. Perfect. I love the new cover and the bonus content!!

The banter, her jokes that he didn’t laugh at, the friendships and bonds in this book.. ugh I loved them so damn much😭 Grumpy/ sunshine done SO PERFECTLY😍❤️ But honestly, finding out why his nickname for her is “Buddy” was so funny, I just adore them so much❤️

Give me all the Mariana Zapata slow burns especially with a grumpy single dad and enemies to lovers vibes. I spent most of the book just smiling and being happy for the characters as they overcoming their individual issues to grow into a healthy, loving coouple.

Although this is classified as a romance, I do think it has more a woman finding herself, building a found family, and claiming her identity. The bonus scenes include truly cement their relationship and Aurora's growth as a person.

All Rhodes Lead Here follows Aurora, a broken hearted songwriter who decides to return to her roots in a small town in Colorado to start over. After renting a apartment online, Aurora soon finds out she had no idea what she was in for, with a broody landlord and his musical teenage son. 

The book follows topics of love, loss, and growth against the backdrop of beautiful southern Colorado.

I was really excited to see the book was set in Colorado, as I think Colorado is underutilized and underrated for its potential to add to a plot.

Aurora and all of the other characters were love-able, with several laugh out loud moments I enjoyed. The utilization of Aurora’s hiking to symbolize her growth and self discovery was a unique approach.

There were some sections of the book I would have liked to seen fleshed out or expanded upon. I would have loved to see Aurora return to songwriting with her newfound self and happiness.

Although I loved the slow burn, once the characters fell in love, I wish there were more parts dedicated to their relationship instead of being skated over. The bonus content provided in this addition was exciting and I really enjoyed it!

I wish there was more representation of the Native American community that is so important to that area of Colorado! The author briefly mentions one of the characters is Native American but it would have been cool to see more representation and parts dedicated to this aspect!

I enjoy this author’s writing! Although this wasn’t my favorite book by the author (with that title going to From Lukov with Love or Wait for it), it was exciting to read a book departing from the typical Texas setting.

I get it now. The classic Mariana Zapata slow burn?! How I still have hair follicles, I have no idea. 😂 I kept checking my kindle % absolutely baffled at my progression. It definitely helps that the character(s) really helped drive the plot for me. And I didn't even mind the single POV (*gasp*). I think if I got a POV from theee Tobias "Tobers. Daddy. Dilf. Grumpy Silver Fox." Rhodes I might have straight combusted.

Aurora "Ora" De La Torre, though at times immature (for a 33 year old, ma'am 💀) she was so funny I let it slide. Her inner-musings, especially on her hikes, were hilarious. She was just so damn likable.

But it was a little hard to consider this a romance... personally. While there were romance elements, this felt like something else entirely. A book about grief, friendships, found family, timing, etc. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed this one and am looking forward to being continually and lovingly tortured by MZ for many books to come 🫶🏼 Thank you to Netgalley & Avon books for the eARC!

Hot single dad!! Do I need to say more!?! I read this book many times throughout the years and it still shocks me how good is it. Mariana zapata writes the most believable romance stories. And the bonus scene.. wow there is just something about a grumpy quiet man that smiles. I love this book and I’m so happy it got picked up by a publisher.

Like all the other Mariana Zapata books I’ve read, this one was just as wonderful. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. It had such delicious tropes such as, slow burn, age gap, single parent, small town and grumpy/sunshine. Aurora and Rhodes chemistry was off the charts amazing and I love their relationship so much! This story was absolutely beautiful and this book was such a wonderful and cozy read!

This is one of those stories where the setting is its own main character. It was just such a heartfelt book and throughout my reading it literally had me blushing, wanting to cry, giggling and swooning. Undoubtedly, this one one of the best books I’ve read this year. And I would highly recommend it to everyone who loves the slow-burn romances set in a small town with the sunshine/grumpy trope!

The slowest of slow burns, as always from Mariana Zapata. She writes a stoic male main character better than almost anyone today, and no exceptions here! Mooooore.

I picked this up after loving The Wall of Winnepeg and Me.  It was quite the standout, but I did enjoy it.

What WORKED:
grumpy/sunshine
age gap
forced proximity
single dad
working overtime for the glimpse of a smile
slowest burn ever

What DIDN'T:
This is very much a ‘Kari’ issue, but the author used some variation of “his gray eyes” 65 times (yes- I searched) and it was so distracting. I felt like Ed Rooney in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off ” He’s been sick 65 times”

You know I cannot resist a Mariana Zapata, because she is the absolute queen of the slowest slow burn you’ve ever witnessed in your entire life and you are just simply along for the ride.

Like FLWL, there’s so much more to this story than the romance. In All Rhodes, the main storyline is constantly wriggling below the surface in a way that leaves you second-guessing and a little bit broken-hearted. And then there’s Rhodes, grumping it up in a way that’s endearingly obvious to everyone except Aurora (also typical of Zapata’s writing style - fmc’s who are borderline painfully oblivious to any and all advances until the final hour).

Aurora is returning to the last place she truly considered home, to start over and learn who she really is after the crumbling of her all-encompassing relationship. She has nothing but the belongings that fit in her car, and a desperation to feel safe but a little untethered.

However, when she arrives at her rental unit, she discovers that Tobias Rhodes had no intention of being her landlord - or a landlord at all - but rather his teenaged son, Amos put their above-garage space up without his permission. With a frantic determination that surprises even her, Aurora manages to convince Rhodes to let her stay, with the promise that he won’t even notice she’s there.

However (of course) the two seem incapable of ignoring each other - Aurora admittedly ogling him in secret and game warden Rhodes (used to spending long periods of time in the woods) seemingly irritated by the very existence of another human within 100 yards of him.

But as Aurora slowly begins expanding her world to the hiking trails surrounding her newfound home base, and her reasons for returning to Pagosa Springs become known to Rhodes and Amos, Aurora finds herself in an unlikely but earnest friendship with the father-son duo that starts to feel a lot more like family.

I first read this book over a year ago, so it was so nice revisiting one of my faves again.

I love this book. So much. Of course this features the Mariana Zapata signature slow-burn that I enjoy a lot. It was so sweet, tender, and heartwarming. I loved watching not only the relationship grow between Rhodes and Aurora, but also between Aurora and Rhodes' son Amos (single dad!). Even though this was a slow-burn, I felt the pacing was just right. Aurora had been through so much over the years, so it was really nice watching the natural progression of her character growth.

And Rhodes, well...Rhodes is still one of my favorite grumps ever 🫠

As with MZ's other books, the little details– the sweet nothings– are what really do it for me. "His sock-covered foot nudged mine beneath the table. I swore that was better than most kisses I’d gotten over my life."

I adore Rhodes+Aurora, I adore Amos, and I adore this book. Plus that bonus chapter was just perfect. Go read it!

This book has to be my favorite Mariana Zapata book....ever. And I know lots of people may say that, but honestly I worship this woman's writing like it's nobody's business. Ora and Rhodes fit together like puzzle pieces, and nobody can tell me they were not meant to be together. I am normally not a fan of the single father trope, but GIRL this book changed my view on that. Amos's impact on Rhodes and Aurora's relationship was everything my heart needed.

This book was paced beautifully, and I ate it up every time that I was awake. The characters relationship never felt rushed, and it also never felt like 'insta-love". This was such a mature romance that had me in its grasp the whole time I was reading.

If you liked anything Mariana Zapata has written, this is for you. If you like slowburn, friends-to-lovers, small town, single parent book....this is written for YOU!

5/5 stars for All Rhodes Lead Here :)

I originally read this book when it came out in 2020 and it was one of my favorites that year. When I heard it was going to be traditionally published, I was happy for Mariana Zapata. It's one of her best books and deserves more readers and recognition. I was also happy that I had the chance to reread it and read the new bonus content. Below is my original review (which still holds) and my added thoughts on the bonus content. 

All Rhodes Lead Here… Sigh. I’m in love with this book. In love, people. I just finished all 608 pages and I already want to reread it. Mariana Zapata took us on a journey with this one. It started out as a book dealing with Aurora’s past grief, moving on, and finding her place in the world. That finding her place turned into finding love, friends, and family. It was such a sweet read.

Aurora was straight up sunshine. For someone who had lost so much, she had a pleasantly positive outlook. Even when she struggled, she was able to push herself by staying positive. Rhodes, on the other hand was a storm cloud. He had this gruff exterior. I loved how Aurora chipped away at it to get to his fluffy center. Their romance was the slowest of slow burns, but it built in a way that felt natural to the characters. Aurora and Rhodes were pure magic together.

As always, Mariana Zapata included a cast of characters to help support Aurora and Rhodes that I adored. Amos, Rhodes’ son, added so much to the story. So did Aurora and Rhodes’ friends and other family. There wasn’t one person (well, maybe Kaden) who I wouldn’t want a book about. I need Zapata to keep writing book in this Colorado setting because I need Clara and everyone else to find love.

All Rhodes Lead Here is one of my favorites from Mariana Zapata. I’ve loved all of her books, but this one was a standout. There’s not much else to say about it without gushing too much, so I’ll say this again — I loved it!

As for the added bonus content... It was so much fun to get another glimpse into a special moment for Aurora and Rhodes. People, like me, who read this book as an indie release will love the extra, short chapter included in the traditionally published version. I smiled hard while reading it.

All Rhodes Lead Here: ★ ★ ★ ★ . 5

Mariana Zapata

Slow burn and grumpy/sunshine are just second-nature for Mariana Zapata and really, no one else does it like her. When Aurora moves back to her old home after a bad break-up, her older, game warden (and hot) neighbor, Tobias Rhodes, is... well, not happy, to say the very least.

I don't want to say too much about the story because there's some secrets the reader must uncover themselves, of course, but the romance? Let's talk about that.

Aurora is a really sweet, independent, relatable, and amiable character. She's generous and kind, she loves people and always has a smile on her face. She's polite to everyone, loves to learn, and is not one to turn her nose up at anyone. Trying to start fresh in her hometown, Aurora is just another girl doing her best to keep her head above water.

Rhodes is, of course, grumpy and cold at first, but even at the beginning, I could tell that this man was innately good–letting Aurora stay, helping her with her job, her car, etc. As he learns more about Aurora and puts aside his own misconceptions of women like Aurora, he opens up much more and is one of the sweetest men ever.

The tent scene? PLEASE. The standards are so goddamn high and I do not want a man who does not do this for me, period the end. AND THE B-WORD. Also, all his hugs. Ugh. He's a big teddybear, honestly.

Rhodes' son Amos is the one to thank for these two's meeting and I loved that shy, musically talented kid so much. Seeing his friendship with Aurora grow was so cute, and their relationship made me smile. The way she helped him and the way he trusted her to.

It might just be because this is my fifth Mariana Zapata book in a row, but some of the personality traits and storylines felt a little repetitive to me. Nevertheless, loved this story! So glad I read it. Don't know how Mariana Zapata does it time and time again, but I am a fan for life.

Rating: 4.5/5
Warnings: disappearance/death of parent (past), abusive bipolar parent (past), parent with depression, manipulative and toxic ex, grief

Looking for:
Grumpy/Sunshine
Single Dad
Age Gap (30s/40s)
Second Chance
Slowest of Slow Burns

I loved this book. That’s all. I genuinely cried. I might still make an aesthetic reel for it. If someone asks me for a full review it won’t come because I don’t know how to review these books but I’ll talk about it all day. Or literally all Mariana Zapata books. Probably one of my favorite…I really do love them them.

I love that Avon picked this one up, I didn't noticed many notable changes and the additional bonus material was just perfect.

Another stunning masterpiece by the queen of slow burn aka Mariana Zapata!

All Rhodes Lead Here was absolutely amazing! If it’s not clear already, I’m a huge fan of Mariana Zapata and have read her entire backlist so I’m very familiar with the way things progress in her books.

She writes these epic friends to lovers romance books that have the slowest of slow burns to exist and it just always so well with her unique writing style and this book was no exception.

Aurora was a wonderful protagonist with her own share of trauma, backstory and struggles. She is kind, loving , emotional, vulnerable and yet a very strong woman. I always love seeing how MZ makes us see the regular life of her characters before the love interest is introduced. I loved Aurora from the beginning and my heart broke with her every time she was struggling.

Tobias Rhodes was absolutely perfect love interest! He’s sweet, caring, protective, a wonderful dad (and grumpy but he complemented Aurora’s sunshine personality so well that I can never complain) I loved how slowly their relationship began and developed from dislike to mildly tolerating each other to being okay in each other’s company to liking one another to caring for another to can’t see the other in pain to loving one another to having these deep, beautiful connection with so much love, my heart was melting. And the best part is that this buildup of romance is so slow and natural that it feels inevitable that these two characters would fall for each other, that could be the only outcome. I also love how the focus of romance is always more on the emotional aspect instead of physical. It just makes it all the more believable.

I really loved Amos, he was such a good kid and his relationship was Aurora was also pretty amazing. All the side characters like Yuki, Clara, Jackie, Johnny and other were so nice as well! I love when books show the main characters having their own support system in friends and family!

The small town setting was another great aspect of the book! Though it wasn’t the main focus of the book but I still liked how Aurora started feeling right at home in this cozy town. The hiking/ adventure aspect was also pretty unique and I would’ve loved seeing even more of it because I really enjoyed those parts (despite being the laziest person on the planet)

Another thing I greatly appreciate about Mariana Zapata’s books is how little words of wisdom are sprinkled all throughout the story. I find them very relatable and the fact that they can be applied to literally anything you’re facing at that moment is just a cherry on top.
Here are some of my favourite lines:-

“Maybe you didn’t have to get over your fears completely to conquer them. Maybe if you just faced them in general that counted.”

“You could start over any day of the week, at any time of the year, at any point in your life, and it was fine.”

“Life didn’t have to be perfect for you to be happy. Because what was perfect really, anyway?”

“Love could be about money. It made things easier, that was for sure. But the best kind of love was about so much more than that. It was about giving the person you loved everything. The easy, effortless things, but also the hardest intangible stuff, the uncomfortable. It was about telling someone that you loved them by giving them everything you had and everything you didn’t because they mattered more to you than anything material ever would or could.”

If all of this doesn’t convince you to pick this book up ASAP, I don’t know what would.
Anyways, I for one, highly, HIGHLY recommend this beautiful book to every lover of romance books!

A huge thank you to Netgalley, Avon and Harper Voyager for my arc!