I LOVE ME SOME MARIANA ZAPATA and this book DID NOT disappoint. I love the slow burn, sweet, wholesome vibes of this book. Tobias Rhodes is the ultimate book boyfriend. It was an emotional rollercoaster and I will FOREVER be re-reading this book. Thank you MZ for yet another fantastic read! It was sweet, it was emotional and made my heart flutter. I could not put this book down and neither will you!

Where are all my slow burn romance fans at? This book is for you. I loved this one. There is so much I adored about this book. First, you have a small town in Colorado. The outdoor setting really captured me. Aurora moves back to this small town when her relationship of over a decade ends. Her memories of living in Colorado with her mom have always stayed with her. She ends up working in an outdoor gear store and going on tons of hikes. As a fan of all things nature, this was great! Then, you have the biggest grump that ever was. I fell for single-dad Tobias from first grunt. He is grouchy yet kind. He has a great teenage kid. He is a good person. There was so much to like. Finally, you have a finding your way aspect to this. While our main characters are not in their 20s, they both begin to imagine new lives for themselves and decide to go for it. It was refreshing to see two people stop accepting their circumstances and decide to reach for what they want at an age where so many seem to think you should have it all figured out.

Aurora and Tobias have this slow friendship that builds in such a believable way. It was a delight to watch. I highly recommend this book and cannot wait to read more from this author.

All Rhodes Lead Here is my first Mariana Zapata and it will not be the last. I adored our main character, Aurora, and rooted for her the whole way. There was so much going on in her life than just the romance and Zapata interconnects our love interest, Mr Rhodes, with Aurora's struggles without it feeling like he's just shoved into her life to magically fix it. He helps her deal with things but in a supportive and loving way. You can feel how much he adores her.

The slow burn of it all was glorious. Watching them build a deep friendship and enjoying her growing bond with teenage Amos was so lovely. It made Rhodes and Aurora's first kiss at over 70% in that much better. I even had a moment of worry that they were going to kiss earlier in the book and was so relieved when they didn't. The stars were not fully aligned yet!

The side characters were fleshed out and felt real. I loved Aurora's relationship with all of them and was so happy with how at home she felt. Her relationship with Amos felt natural and real. His quiet way of showing affection was realistic, which I'm sure anyone who knows a teenager will attest to. Also, shout to out the supportive BFFS, Yuki and Clara. I haaate when MCs don't have any friends or family in romance books. I just loved the relationships in this.

One of my issues was that it is a long book that takes a while to get going. Once it does though it doesn't drag at all. My other nitpick was only that tears were being shed by Aurora just once or twice too many for me. Though I do get that it could be that she's been repressing a lot of feelings for over a decade and is finally letting them out. Finally, I did not mind the "Buddy" nickname, I just wish it had been explained earlier cause it was head scratching for most of the book.

I really need a Mr Rhodes.

Thank you to Avon & NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 Stars

This was such an excellent slow burn romance and had all the hallmarks of what I love in a story.

We have a grumpy but loyal hero and a sunshiny heroine that has truly made lemonade out of the lemons life has thrown her way. We have the great outdoors and camping/hiking. Forced proximity. Found family. A missing person mystery subplot. I absolutely enjoyed it.

I will say, even for a proper and well done slow burn, I felt like the story was a bit longer than it needed to be and was sometimes repetitive, but overall I enjoyed it and found myself thinking about the story and characters when I wasn’t reading.

The audiobook narration was great and was super unique in that it was two narrators doing one POV. Anytime the hero’s dialogue happened, we had the male narrator delivering his lines. Super different from most audiobooks, but I liked it!

I knew going in this was going to be a slow burn, but I didn't realize how nervous I was going to be. Honestly, at a couple points, I wasn't sure they (or me) was going to make it!

Ora is such a wonderful human being. Despite what she's been through, she seems to be open, caring, honest, and overall kind. She lost her way a bit, but ultimately her heart never changed. I loved seeing her dig into who she truly is and just settle with all the people that brought out the best in her. When she moved in next to Rhodes and his son, I honestly wasn't sure any of them would make it. The chasm between them seemed to be too large to travel, but somehow Ora did it.

Rhodes was a character that even though I wanted to knock upside his head a time or two, I really kind of admired. Stepping up for his kid, protecting his community, and just being as strong of a person as he was. I know that opening up or letting happiness in was truly difficult for him, and the first time he laughed ... it made the whole story for me. And once he started randomly calling Ora "angel" ... *swoon.*

Not only did I fall in love with this little family, I also fell in love with the town. Ora's friend Yuki - hilarious and wonderful. Everyone needs a Yuki! Also, her friend Clara and Jackie, and well, almost everyone else I encountered in town made me want to move there.

This book really pulled me in and made me feel at home. I felt their love growing down to my bones and it caused me to be dissatisfied with several storylines for many days after. There's something about the worlds and the love that this author creates that always makes me long for it well after the story is done. All the feels. I also would love to go back and re-live this story as if hadn't already read it.

3.5 stars

i've read a few mariana zapata books at this point and i think this is my second favorite behind the wall of winnipeg.

it had the usual tropes the author writes about but honestly i didn't mind because she knows how to do them well (age gaps, grumpy sunshine, slow burn, etc).

overall this book was a fun time and gave me the hit of romance i was looking for at the time.

thank you to Netgalley for the review copy as usual!

It has been years since I last read a Mariana Zapata slow burn. Y-E-A-R-S. Her books are just so intimidating for me. All the waiting!

All Rhodes Lead Here hooked me from the start. Immediately Rhodes is the grump to the sunshine, Aurora. He’s her reluctant landlord, after his son rented out their garage apartment without permission, but his exterior begins to thaw after she helps his son in an emergency.

It wasn’t until 40% in that she stopped calling him Mr. Rhodes. It was the slowest of the slow, but the character development and the relationship progression was just on point. I loved how so much of this story wasn’t about the romance, it was about Aurora’s personal journey and the friendships she makes along the way. The side characters were all well-fleshed out, and they felt integral to the story.

Like every Mariana Zapata book, I loved it. But…maybe I’ve matured a little bit? Because I honestly couldn’t stand some of the humor. Literally potty jokes. Farts. Diarrhea. Urine. ALL THE TIME. That really took away from my enjoyment of All Rhodes Lead Here. So for the first time in history…I have rated a MZ book as 4 stars. But despite all that, I’m happy to have revisited this author.

Thank you to Avon Books for the review copy.

This is my third time reading this book, and I can tell you that it still holds up to my original rating. I do think it leans a bit towards women's fiction, considering how heavily it focuses on Aurora healing from the past and becoming stronger as an individual. That's not a complaint- just something to be aware of going in. Rhodes makes my heart so warm and melty, and Amos is my favorite quiet teenager. This book started my MZ journey, and it will forever be a favorite from this author.

This book is amazing!  I went into it expecting a super slow burn romance with my kryptonite - a grumpy single dad instead I found something more.  I’m going to be honest this is one of the times I’ve found myself unable to formulate my thoughts.

Aurora has dealt with a lot, she’s faced loss, heartbreak, and drama.  She’s ready for an escape and rents a room and returns to the town where she lived with her mother.

Ora is a delight. She’s witty, funny, and full of sunshine. The book is written in her PoV and her inner monologue was entertaining. It’s no wonder everyone instantly loves her. 

Can I stop to mention Rhodes?  My gosh, this man was perfect. He goes from OTT grump to softie.  His protectiveness, endearing nicknames, and sweet gestures were top-notch. 

This book is sweet and heartwarming with a tiny bit of steam at the very end. There is some heartbreak and the drama is low. The plot focuses more on the characters and their relationships. I loved the strong found family feel of the story.

⛰️ grumpy/sunshine
⛰️ close proximity
⛰️ small town
⛰️ loss of a parent
⛰️ outdoor adventures
⛰️ found family
⛰️ single dad
⛰️ age gap
⛰️ slow burn

This may be the slowest slow burn romance I have ever read but the payoff is so worth it. Aurora and Tobias relationship is full of tension, banter, and tender care taking. He's the strong, silent type who only is soft for her. The small town has a full cast of loveable characters and the ex boyfriend plot was handled well.

Single POV, Spicy, Small Town, Age Gap, Single Dad, Grumpy x Sunshine

Rhodes. RHODES. A silver fox for all time. An outdoorsy hunka hunka with a heart of gold. If you liked that Captain America wood chopping scene, this book has that energy sprinkled through it and the age gap and slow-burn worked for me.

This is a chunky boy but I thoroughly enjoyed it and I have loved getting to know Aurora/Ora and all these characters.

It was sweet. I loved Aurora’s character growth. I loved grumpy Rhodes and his love language is definitely acts of service!

I love Marianna Zapata's writing and was so happy to get an e-arc of this edition of this book. I like her writing style, and the way she brings the characters and story to life. This was an enjoyable and emotional read. Thank you Netgalley for an arc of this book.

I love a good slow burn and I mean it can be sloooooow and that’s okay with me, but this wasn’t that. Let’s just say I felt the length of this book and not in a good way. I was bored to tears and by end the was skimming. This book certainly had its moments. I loved Aurora’s relationships with Am and Jackie. I loved the overall closure that Aurora got by the end of the book. I loved Aurora and Rhodes as the leads, but it just wasn’t enough for me to love this book as a whole. I will also say that MZ nicknames are hit or miss for me. Angel?? Loved it. Although Aurora thinking that Rhodes was just mistaking that for her name made her sound dumb. Buddy…just no, even after the explanation. It was weird especially since Aurora called Rhodes Mr.Rhodes for a while like she was addressing her best friend’s dad.

Romance: one open door

Thank you to Avon for the gifted book. My thoughts are my own.

5/5 stars
1.5/5 spice

Tropes:
Strangers to friends to lovers
Slow burn
Trauma/healing
Protective hero
Grumpy/sunshine
Single dad
Single POV

The slowest of the slow burns but honestly I'm not mad about it. I really enjoyed the personal journey Aurora went through. I think that was more important that her finding love. Overall, I loved the grumpy/sunshine trope with this one. This was my first book with this author but I'm definitely interested in reading more.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and offered voluntarily.

Trigger/Content warnings:
Mentions emotional abuse, extortion, divorce, and death of parent. Sexual content

This is such a comfort book! It's a ~very~ slow burn romance, which I have come to expect from Mariana Zapata, that lets the reader feel involved in the every day lives of the characters, from the mundane to the extraordinary. I love feeling fully absorbed in a character's world and that definitely happened for me here. Aurora is quirky and adorable, always willing to help and give 1o0% of herself to people. Rhodes is very reserved and quiet, giving mountain man vibes. He's protective and shows his care largely through his actions. This is definitely a grumpy x sunshine situation which I am absolutely a sucker for! They move from kind-of enemies to friends to lovers over many many pages which honestly makes the romance much more realistic in my opinion. And of course they are both described as flawlessly attractive but humble. which is less realistic but ya know, it's fiction and I'm cool with it. Amos is a great character too and he really pulled on my heartstrings with his shy mannerisms and the way he just refers to both his dads as dad, considering them equally his regardless of blood or who he lives with. The dynamic Aurora and Amos have is so sweet and I love that she wants to pull him out of his shell and support him regardless of any kind of relationship with Rhodes, even when she thinks Rhodes totally hates her -- it's such a genuine connection. The main characters are all just good people which I love to see. Aurora's dynamic with her ex's mom was so interesting to me and the way she tried not to hate her (she is VERY hateworthy) because she loved her son was so totally an Aurora thing to do. Having lost her mom at a young age, it made me sad that she was with someone who's mom was awful to her. Her optimism and helpfulness towards people was very refreshing but I really loved seeing how she established boundaries and learned to save that kind of unconditional love for people who deserve it. There are so many layers to her that unravel throughout the book and she's one of my new favorite characters for sure. Amos and Rhodes also have great character development and I loved seeing how Aurora interacted with them individually. Those scenes where she's falling a little in love with them both and they're doing the same with her are so wholesome. It's not just a romantic love story but a family love story -- it gives all the happy, lovey, found family vibes.

If you're looking for a good long comfort read, check this one out! It has a cute new cover and comes with bonus content.

Thank you NetGalley & Avon for the digital ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was my first book by Mariana Zapata - I admittedly am not usually a fan of super long books and slow burns, so I had been hesitant to pick up any of her books even though I've seen rave reviews. I really enjoyed the story and character development between Aurora, Amos, and Rhodes. There were definitely parts that felt repetitive (how many times will she go hiking alone and get hurt?) so I still maintain that no contemporary romance needs to be 600+ pages.

I listened to audiobook of this one, narrated by Amanda Ronconi and Sebastian York. Even though the book is written in single point of view from the female main character, the audiobook has male narration for the male dialogue which made it super engaging to listen to.

Content flags: missing person; parental death

*ARC Review*

4.5 stars

Mariana Zapata does not miss. She is the queen of slow burn, high quality romances. The story moved beautifully and sucked me in. I loved the characters and the small town charm of the story. I am not sure how someone could take a grump and turn him into a cinnamon roll but she did the impossible. Loved this, it was like a warm hug.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance reader copy of this book, The lesson about living with grief resonates and is forever necessary. Sometimes super sad and sometimes super happy, this author messes with emotions. It took a while to get into this story, but the recovery was a great one. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5

I have been seeing this author all over my social media and BookTok and now I know why. The book was very enjoyable and I read it in one sitting.

After her divorce, Aurora De La Torre is ready to start over, and she chooses to move back to the small town where she grew up, the same small town where her mom went on a hike and never returned. After a bit of a rental mix up, Ora finds herself living in a garage apartment owned by Rhodes, a man who really does not want her there. She finds herself wanting to know more about her handsome landlord and wanting to break through that tough exterior and get to know him more.

I am typically someone who doesn't love a super slow burn romance and does not think romance novels should be over 400 pages. Mariana Zapata proves me wrong in those beliefs every single time. This is a sllloooooww burn. I mean the MCs don’t even kiss until 77% into the 600 page story. Yet, I didn’t find myself bored or annoyed while waiting for them to get together. The chemistry and the tension was done so well I stayed invested and rooting for the couple. The character development was so good, I felt like I really knew the characters and had a solid understanding of their back stories. And somehow those 600 pages flew by so much faster than I ever would have anticipated.

Thanks to Avon Books and NetGalley for the advance copy.