Anchored Hearts: An Entertaining Latinx Second Chance Romance (Keys to Love)
"A big-hearted, beautiful book about first love, second chances, and finding one's place in the world. An exceptional getaway of a book!"--Emily Henry, New York Times bestselling author of Beach Read
"Anchored Hearts has it all: undeniable chemistry, believable roadblocks, a heartwarming world, and a lush Key West setting that leaps off the page. Alejandro and Anamaría's love story is not to be missed!"--Mia Sosa, USA Today bestselling author of The Worst Best Man
A PopSugar Best Romance of April
Key West is the ideal backdrop for the summer read you need! Perfect for fans of Abby Jimenez, Jasmine Guillory, and Jen DeLuca, this gorgeous and stirring new love story from the author of Island Affair will touch your heart...
Award-winning photographer Alejandro Miranda hasn't been home to Key West in years--not since he left to explore broader horizons with his papi's warning "never to come back" echoing in his ears. He wouldn't be heading there now if it wasn't for an injury requiring months of recuperation. The drama of a prodigal son returning to his familia and their beloved Cuban restaurant is bad enough, but coming home to the island paradise also means coming face to face with the girl he left behind--the one who was supposed to be by his side all along . . .
"Anchored Hearts has it all: undeniable chemistry, believable roadblocks, a heartwarming world, and a lush Key West setting that leaps off the page. Alejandro and Anamaría's love story is not to be missed!"--Mia Sosa, USA Today bestselling author of The Worst Best Man
A PopSugar Best Romance of April
Key West is the ideal backdrop for the summer read you need! Perfect for fans of Abby Jimenez, Jasmine Guillory, and Jen DeLuca, this gorgeous and stirring new love story from the author of Island Affair will touch your heart...
Award-winning photographer Alejandro Miranda hasn't been home to Key West in years--not since he left to explore broader horizons with his papi's warning "never to come back" echoing in his ears. He wouldn't be heading there now if it wasn't for an injury requiring months of recuperation. The drama of a prodigal son returning to his familia and their beloved Cuban restaurant is bad enough, but coming home to the island paradise also means coming face to face with the girl he left behind--the one who was supposed to be by his side all along . . .
Anamaría Navarro was shattered when Alejandro took off without her. Traveling the world was their plan, not just his. But after her father's heart attack, there was no way she could leave--not even for the man she loved. Now ensconced in the family trade as a firefighter and paramedic, with a side hustle as a personal trainer, Anamaría is dismayed that just the sight of Alejandro is enough to rekindle the flame she's worked years to put out. And as famillia meddling pushes them together, the heat of their attraction only climbs higher. Can they learn to trust again, before the Key West sun sets on their chance at happiness?
"Vibrant...A stunning romance of first love found again."-- Kirkus Reviews STARRED REVIEW
"Oliveras' portrayal of family and social media ties are reminiscent of Alisha Rai's romances." - Booklist STARRED REVIEW
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Community Reviews
Anchored Hearts is a sweet second chance romance set in Key West that I couldn’t resist getting lost in, dreaming of tropical locals, palm trees, and warm sand between my toes.
When I read an excerpt on Bookish First, I was hooked and immediately requested it on Netgalley without realizing it was the second book in the Keys to Love collection. But it wasn’t a problem because each book can be read as a stand alone, focusing on different siblings within the Navarro familia. I already had the first book Island Affair on my TBR but now I’m even more excited to pick it up.
Anchored Hearts is Anamaría Navarro’s story, a character who’s easy to like. She has joined the family trade as a firefighter and paramedic but she’s also a part-time personal trainer, devoting her time to helping those in her community to make healthier lifestyle choices. She’d had dreams of traveling the world with her life-long friend turned boyfriend, Alejandro Miranda—a budding photographer—after high school graduation, but when her father had a heart attack she couldn’t leave the family she loved so much, assuring Alejandro she would join him later. Alejandro couldn’t wait to leave Key West, eager to escape the strained relationship with his own father who expected his son to work at the family restaurant, Mirandas. But when the weeks turned into months without Anamaría joining him, the miscommunication and hurt between the couple led to a permanent separation.
Twelve years have past since Alejandro, now an award-winning photographer, has been home to Key West for an extended visit, but a fall as he was trying to catch the perfect shot has forced him home to recuperate. Thanks to their close families and some meddling by Alejandro’s mother, these two find themselves back in each other’s orbits, unable to fight their unresolved feelings and frustratingly strong attraction.
I enjoyed this dual point of view story, which helped me to empathize with each character. Sometimes it can be frustrating knowing what both romantic leads are thinking but not saying to each other. Oliveras does a convincing job of making me understand the reasons these two have stayed apart, despite their very strong feelings for each other after so many years. She had me rooting for them and trusting they would evolve and learn from their mistakes.
I was also impressed with how well Oliveras developed her side characters. I could tell which brother of Anamaría’s the first book had been about—Luis—without reading a synopsis. I’m sure those who have read the first book will enjoy seeing Luis and Sara again. And I’m pretty sure by how this one ended, who and what a subsequent novel would be about, which was a fun tease.
While I enjoyed so much of Anchored Hearts, it wasn’t perfect—but nothing so big it pulled me out of the story. The author often includes street names and directions within the story—which would be great for someone who lived in Key West or travelled there often, but didn’t serve much purpose for me.
I’m happy I picked this one up, and I look forward to reading more by the author!
Thank you to Kensington Books and Netgalley for providing me with an advance copy.
Check out my review at A Book Wanderer
#popsugarreadingchallenge2021 (prompt #14 - A book set in a restaurant)
When I read an excerpt on Bookish First, I was hooked and immediately requested it on Netgalley without realizing it was the second book in the Keys to Love collection. But it wasn’t a problem because each book can be read as a stand alone, focusing on different siblings within the Navarro familia. I already had the first book Island Affair on my TBR but now I’m even more excited to pick it up.
Anchored Hearts is Anamaría Navarro’s story, a character who’s easy to like. She has joined the family trade as a firefighter and paramedic but she’s also a part-time personal trainer, devoting her time to helping those in her community to make healthier lifestyle choices. She’d had dreams of traveling the world with her life-long friend turned boyfriend, Alejandro Miranda—a budding photographer—after high school graduation, but when her father had a heart attack she couldn’t leave the family she loved so much, assuring Alejandro she would join him later. Alejandro couldn’t wait to leave Key West, eager to escape the strained relationship with his own father who expected his son to work at the family restaurant, Mirandas. But when the weeks turned into months without Anamaría joining him, the miscommunication and hurt between the couple led to a permanent separation.
Twelve years have past since Alejandro, now an award-winning photographer, has been home to Key West for an extended visit, but a fall as he was trying to catch the perfect shot has forced him home to recuperate. Thanks to their close families and some meddling by Alejandro’s mother, these two find themselves back in each other’s orbits, unable to fight their unresolved feelings and frustratingly strong attraction.
I enjoyed this dual point of view story, which helped me to empathize with each character. Sometimes it can be frustrating knowing what both romantic leads are thinking but not saying to each other. Oliveras does a convincing job of making me understand the reasons these two have stayed apart, despite their very strong feelings for each other after so many years. She had me rooting for them and trusting they would evolve and learn from their mistakes.
I was also impressed with how well Oliveras developed her side characters. I could tell which brother of Anamaría’s the first book had been about—Luis—without reading a synopsis. I’m sure those who have read the first book will enjoy seeing Luis and Sara again. And I’m pretty sure by how this one ended, who and what a subsequent novel would be about, which was a fun tease.
While I enjoyed so much of Anchored Hearts, it wasn’t perfect—but nothing so big it pulled me out of the story. The author often includes street names and directions within the story—which would be great for someone who lived in Key West or travelled there often, but didn’t serve much purpose for me.
I’m happy I picked this one up, and I look forward to reading more by the author!
Thank you to Kensington Books and Netgalley for providing me with an advance copy.
Check out my review at A Book Wanderer
#popsugarreadingchallenge2021 (prompt #14 - A book set in a restaurant)
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