by Priscilla Oliveras
Series: Matched to Perfection #2
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Zebra Shout - Kensington Publishing
Publication Date: March 27th 2018
Source: ARC received for review
Lisa's Rating: ★★★
Cris' Rating: ★★★
The Fernandez sisters have always had big dreams, and the talent and drive to pursue them. And in this sunny, spicy new series, each one will discover that success is that much sweeter when love follows . . .
Rosa Fernandez doesn't act on impulse -- she's the responsible one, planning her career with precision, finally landing a job as the librarian at conservative Queen of Peace Academy, confining her strongest emotions to her secret poetry journal. But she's been harboring a secret crush on dreamy Jeremy Taylor, and after one dance with him at her sister's wedding, Rosa longs to let loose for the first time. She deserves some fun, after all. So what if she doesn't have a shot with Jeremy, not with his wealthy pedigree and high profile lifestyle. But one dance leads to one kiss, and soon Rosa is head-over-heels . . .
The adopted son of a prominent Chicago lawyer, Jeremy has a lot to live up to -- especially with his birth father in prison -- the perfect example of a bad example. With a big promotion and a move to Japan in the works, Jeremy is worlds away from settling down. But sweet, steady Rosa is a temptation he doesn't want to deny himself, at least for now. Yet when their simple fling turns complicated, everything they've both worked for is threatened -- except the red-hot intimacy they've found together. Can forever really grow from just-for-now?
I loved Priscilla Oliveras’ debut novel, His Perfect Partner, so I was pretty stoked when I got approved for the sequel ARC. While Her Perfect Affair didn’t manage to charm me the way its predecessor did, this book still has some strengths I appreciate.
Her Perfect Affair follows the second Fernandez sister, Rosa. Rosa’s the straitlaced one of the three sisters, the rules follower and ‘good girl’, until one night she decided to follow her heart and get together with Jeremy Taylor, a close friend of the family and a man she’s been crushing on for years. Like the first book, I really love that this book is unapologetically Latinx, from the Spanish integrated in the dialogues, the food, the strong familial bonds… I’ve always found myself easier to relate to ethnic families in lit seeing that I came from one myself, and it thrilled me to find similarities in a culture different than my own. I adore the tight bond between the Fernandez sisters. I love how they love and support each other despite their differences. I also love Rosa’s poetry club kids, they’re all standout characters on their own.
That being said, I wish I was more invested in the romance since that’s the thing I came here for. I love both Rosa and Jeremy as individual characters, but I had mixed feelings about them together. Jeremy, especially, has my heart—he was so kind and earnest, and he tried so hard, this man. Rosa was his ride or die, and it kind of pained me to see his sincere efforts constantly rebuffed. He simply couldn’t do anything right in Rosa’s eyes. I wanted to be understanding of Rosa’s insecurities regarding Jeremy, but the push-and-pulling got a bit tiring halfway through the book. I was amazed by Jeremy’s endless patience.
Overall, I was slightly disappointed that I didn’t love Her Perfect Affair as much as I wanted to, but I’m still sticking around to see Lili, the youngest Fernandez sister, gets her HEA.
Cris' review:
This was my first book by Priscilla Oliveras, though I wish I'd read His Perfect Partner, because Yas and Tomas and Maria sounded perfect together and cute as hell. Either way, so this was my first book by the author, and I was encouraged to request it by Lisa, who had read and liked the first book of the series.
I enjoyed quite a few things in this book, such as the story. The story and plot were strong, I really like the friends to lovers vibe going on here, and I liked the connecting between Jeremy and Rosa, and how much his support meant to her, even before the events of this book took place.
Another strong point for me was the importance of family, and their role within this story. I really enjoyed seeing Rosa interact with her sisters, how they supported her, and also brought Jeremy into the family. Same has to be said for Jeremy's family. I was worried for a hot second there, but his mom and dad were amazing and so supportive of him and his decisions.
But I'm rating this book 3 stars, so you know that something was off for me. My major issue was the pacing. I liked Oliveras writing style, but the pacing just didn't quite work for me. It's not a secret that I'm not a fan of the 3rd person POV, but it was more than that. It always felt like the writing took the longest time and route to go from point A to point B. Sometimes, a thought was initiated on a page, and concluded 4 pages later, because the narrator would get lost inside their own head. Sorry, but it just didn't work for me.
My other huge issue is the massive lack of communication between Rosa and Jeremy. While I understood Rosa's fears and her hang ups, she never tried to have an honest conversation with Jeremy. In fact, she started pushing him away right away, and would jump to conclusions without giving him the benefit of a doubt. I felt like Jeremy was never allowed to truly express how he felt, and that led to them dancing around each other and their feelings until the 97% mark. It was a bit infuriating.
While I really liked that this book is "unapologetically Latinx" (like Lisa said), I was not a fan of all the catholic guilt brewing inside of Rosa. I was happy with the development and reactions by other people, but some reactions were just too much for my agnostic brain to take in.
Overall, it was a enjoyable story, that dragged on a little bit too much. I did like the family a lot, and I'll possibly check out the rest of the series.
Rafflecopter for Her Perfect Affair Blitz Giveaway:
Priscilla is offering one (1) lucky Grand Prize winner a prize pack containing a $50 Amazon Gift Card, an XL shirt featuring the book cover, a Spanish fan with Priscilla’s website, and a coffee mug and coaster with Priscilla’s logo. Two (2) Runner-Up winners will receive an eCopy of His Perfect Partner (Matched to Perfection #1)! To enter, simply fill out the Rafflecopter below:
Excerpt:
“Buen provecho,” the old man murmured.
She gave him a shy smile of thanks as she reached for the proffered champagne flute, then sidled away from the bar.
Jeremy fell into step alongside her and her heart rate blipped with glee.
“What did he say when he handed you your drink?” he asked. “Good something, right?”
She nodded, remembering Jeremy’s recent decision to start learning Spanish. “Literally it means, ‘enjoy your meal,’ but in this sense, it’s more like, ‘enjoy.’”
“Well then”—leaning closer to her, he clinked his flute against hers—“buen pro-pro—”
“Provecho,” she finished, her belly flip-flopping at his chagrined smile.
They walked a few more steps before she worked up the courage to ask, “So, um, where’s your date?”
The tall blonde who’d been his plus-one was the epitome of old money and high class, a glaring reminder that Jeremy came from a wealthy, established Chicago family. Rosa, on the other hand, came from a small town on the Island, her parents having transplanted from Puerto Rico to the Humboldt Park area of Chicago when they were first married, then later to Oakton in the suburbs.
She and Jeremy, not to mention his date, weren’t quite the same pedigree.
“Cecile?”
“Uh-huh. Is she your . . . ?” Rosa let her voice trail off, wondering what his response might be.
“Family friend. I mean, we dated years ago, but decided we’re better as friends.”
Rosa breathed a soft sigh of relief.
“Anyway, she ditched me a while ago.” Jeremy brushed it off like his date leaving him behind didn’t bother him. “Her parents are hosting a charity event over on Michigan Avenue and she wanted to put in an appearance.”
“You didn’t want to go?”
“And miss this fun?” He jutted his chin out at the people dancing to a well-known merengue hit. Couples packed the floor, some more seasoned and coordinated than others, but all having a great time.
They reached an empty table and Jeremy pulled out a chair for her.
“I haven’t seen you out there,” he said. “How come?”
He sat down to join her, his muscular thigh inadvertently brushing against hers. Tingles of awareness danced a cha-cha down her leg.
“Um, well.” Hyper-attuned to his nearness, it took Rosa a second to find her words. “This is more Yazmine and Lilí’s scene. I guess I tend to be a much better party planner than a partygoer.”
“I wouldn’t necessarily say that.” Jeremy’s lips quirked as he slid her a teasing glance. “I seem to recall you play a mean game of charades.”
Rosa laughed, remembering Lilí’s birthday this past spring. It’d been their first family celebration since Papi’s death, so Lilí had kept it an intimate affair at home with the three sisters; Tomás; his six-year-old daughter, Maria; Jeremy; and a few other close friends.
She and Jeremy had wound up on the same charades team. That night, they’d been on a similar wavelength or something, quickly guessing each other’s clues before anyone else.
Lilí had cried foul play.
Yaz had dubbed them the dynamic duo.
Rosa had soaked up the shared moment, their uncanny connection. Later, she’d composed a few verses about it in her private poetry journal.
“By the way, Yaz mentioned how you stepped in to help so she wouldn’t stress as much today. Everything turned out great.” The pleasure in his bright smile, directed right at her, made Rosa’s pulse skip.
She ducked her head, embarrassed by his praise. “It wasn’t that much.”
“Right,” Jeremy answered, his tone dripping with disbelief.
She peeked at him from under her lashes. At some point in the evening, he’d shed his suit jacket and rolled up his shirt sleeves, revealing his muscular forearms. As always, she was drawn by his ruffled dark blond hair and square jaw. But even more so by his friendly eyes and the easy camaraderie they shared.
He took a swig of his champagne, eyeing her over the rim.
What did he see when he looked at her?
Other Books in the Matched to Perfection series:
His Perfect Partner
Ad executive Tomás Garcia shouldn't even be thinking about his daughter's alluring dance teacher, Yazmine Fernandez. Burned by a shattering divorce, he's laser-focused on his career and giving his young daughter, Maria, the secure home she deserves. Plus, he's certain that with her talent, Yaz will be leaving Chicago and heading back to Broadway as soon as she can. But Yaz's generous spirit and caring concern are sparking a desire Tomás can't resist and doesn't want to let go . . .
For Yaz, good-looking workaholics like Tomás simply can't be part of her life ever again. She owes it to herself to get back her confidence and fulfill the dreams her papa could not. She's glad to spend time with Maria and taste the family life she feels she can never have. And she's sure that she and Tomás can keep their attraction under control because there's so much at stake. But each unexpected intimacy, each self-revelation, makes the fire between them grow hotter with every step and every risk to their hearts . . .
Now a double finalist for the 2018 RWA RITA Award -- Best First Book and Contemporary Romance: Mid-Length categories!
About Priscilla Oliveras:
PRISCILLA OLIVERAS writes sweet contemporary romance with a Latinx flavor. Proud of her Puerto Rican-Mexican heritage, she strives to bring authenticity to her novels by sharing her Latinx culture with readers. Her debut release, His Perfect Partner, and the second book in her Matched to Perfection series, Her Perfect Affair, both earned Starred Reviews from Publishers Weekly and Booklist. Since earning an MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University, she serves as English adjunct faculty at her local college and teaches an on-line course titled “Romance Writing” for ed2go. Priscilla is a sports fan, a beach lover, a half-marathon runner and a consummate traveler who often practices the art of napping in her backyard hammock. To follow along on her fun-filled and hectic life, visit her on the web at http://prisoliveras.com/, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/prisoliveras or on Twitter via @prisoliveras.
Have you guys read this book or the first one of the series? What are your thoughts?
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