Kiss Me, Catalina

Kiss Me, Catalina swept me off my feet! Romantic and heartfelt, I adored Catalina and Patricio. I’m always a little nervous about the follow-up book in a series, but I had nothing to worry about here. While this is the second book in the Queens of Mariachi series, each one can be read as a stand alone. But I recommend reading them both! You won’t want to miss any of the Capuleta familia. It was so nice to jump right into this story, picking up mostly where the first one left off, familiar with the characters and setting, which allowed me to read for pure enjoyment.

Each novel in the Queens of Mariachi series is a reimagining of a William Shakespeare play and broadway musical. While West Side Love Story tackled Romeo and Juliet and West Side Story, Kiss Me, Catalina is inspired by The Taming of the Shrew, and therefore the musical Kiss Me, Kate. Unfortunately, I have never read or seen either of Kiss Me, Catalina‘s inspirations, so I had nothing to compare it to. But now I’m curious about checking out the source materials.

For a shorter book, Oliveras does a great job creating a slow-burn feel. I found myself cheering when these two finally managed to kiss, but there’s plenty of romance and steaminess leading up to the moment. For me, it’s just the right amount. No dragging out of the story, no slump in the middle, just enough build-up and then the well-earned climax and resolution. Perfectly paced.

Oliveras always impresses me with her characters. They’re well-rounded, flawed, and unique. I also love that Catalina and Patricio are so similar. They both have troubled pasts with their fathers, big egos, and stubborn rules about not dating fellow band members. I mean, come on! We all know that’s not gonna last!

In this book we get to travel with Catalina and Patricio on their tour buses, seeing parts of Texas as they perform in various concert venues—some that I’ve actually visited! And as they travel to Patricio’s beach house in Puerto Vallarta, the beautiful setting mirrors the blossoming romance. They wrap up their tour in Las Vegas, a place I’ve visited twice, which always helps books come to life even more for me. It’s part road trip book and part beach read, which are two of my favorite tropes.

Oliveras gives the readers a few scenes with the wonderful Capuleta family, and hints at who will be the focus in the next story, giving readers plenty to look forward to.

Priscilla Oliveras delivers another delightful and swoon-y romance, and I couldn’t help but unwind, becoming immersed in Kiss Me, Catalina!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to Priscilla Oliveras and Netgalley for providing me with an advance copy.

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#popsugarreadingchallenge2022 (advanced prompt #5 - A duology (2) )

Such a fun, fiery, and flirty story!
Cat is now one of my all-time favorite leading ladies. Her tenacity is so amazing. Imagine being a newbie in the music industry and still having the audacity to stand up to the big men and fighting for what is right. GAH! I love her. I love that she made Galan loose his tongue (we would say that in Spanish for anyone that has their daylight shocked out of them)
They're dynamic is so fun and flirty. I love that Cat used to crush over him and is now singing and songwriting with him. I love creative couples in their element creating art together.
The thread of family is still important in this novel, making family proud, and making your wins, everyone's wins is also a beautiful element to this book! I loved it so much!