The first several chapters of this book are compelling and urge you to read further. It starts out with a real bang (if you know, you know), and it has a lot to recommend it. I will say that with such a strong opener, I think the book meandered a bit later on.

Thanks to Carina Press for a preview of After Hours on Milagro Street.
I was sucked in as soon as I started to read. This is the first book I am reading of Angelina's. I can say that I am a huge fan. I only read five chapters, and I can honestly say that I am counting down the days until I am able to read the whole book.

Ok, this became super explicit in the first chapter, which was not the vibe that I'd gotten from this book. This one most certainly isn't for me, but based on skimming the rest of the sampler, I think this might be interesting for people who like enemies-to-lovers with a lot of spice.

Angelina M. Lopez is bringing the HEAT with After Hours on Milagro Street! The first five chapters have me completely hooked. The chemistry between bartender Alex and professor Jeremiah crackles in this rivals-to-lovers romance. And can we talk about how bad ass Alex is?! Seriously, she might just be my new hero. And her family! I LIVE for big, loud, loving families. Excuse me while I go buy After Hours on Milagro Street and research Angelina's backlist!

WOWZA. This book is SO HOT??? The tension between Jeremiah and Alex is so high!! I read this in one sitting because I simply couldn't put it down!

Well, I'm sold. It's already complicated having to share a space with someone that you don't like, but that person also being someone you may or may not have hooked up with? I can't wait to read more of Alex pushing Jeremiah's buttons while they live together! haha. Of course, while they're also battling an attraction for each other. So from the beginning we already have: strangers to one night stand to dislike to roommates to lovers. I never realized that I liked this combination of tropes but here we are!

I read this preview last night and downloaded the book to listen to today. I'd already purchased it for my library, but hadn't pciked it up to read. I listened to about 5 hours today, so I'd say it's an interesting and fun book so far!

Thank you, Netgalley and the publisher for gifting me this preview/eARC of After Hours on Milagro Street!
This book is best described as Spicy, Diverse, and WILD!

Nothing like starting off with a BANG!! (pun intended.) I’m very intrigued by Alex and Jeremiah. Alex seems like a refreshingly unique character and I’m looking forward to reading the rest of her story!

~ First five chapters delivered thanks to NetGalley. ~

Thank you to Netgalley and Carina Press for the excerpt.
While I'm not a constant reader of romance, After Hours in Milagro Street had caught my attention by its title, and after reading the description I decided to give it a try.
That's not a decision I regret.
The main characters first interactions were hilarious and made me want to see more of their relationship, Alex had an intense personality that was very remarkable and Jeremiah had a softer and more discreet one, which gave a nice contrast.
The revelation at the end of the first chapter about it truthfully being haunted was also what won me over.
The descriptions of the scenery were awesome, giving the idea of melancholy, something that, had once been great and spirited, was dusting away abandoned, but in some way also hurt, gave a fantastic touch on the story.
The family relationship was also one of the major surprises, it felt well fleshed out, different dynamics with each sibling and the interactions with her mother were also believable.
From the excerpt I read, this is totally a book I would continue to read.

I was hooked almost instantly! I definitely wished it was more than just a sample but quickly added it to my Christmas List!

One of my most anticipated releases of the summer! This sampler gives a great taste for the book and makes me want to read the rest!

Thank you to the publisher for providing this ARC sample.

Wow this one really started off with a bang! All puns intended. It was unexpected and definitely welcome.

The absolute TORTURE of this only being the first five chapters! I've heard a lot about this book but I didn't realize how much chemistry and banter I was missing out on!! Excuse me while I go get my hands on a copy of this right now.

The preview provided is definitely intriguing and showcases the spice level that is present in the book as a whole. It was certainly enough for me to be excited to read the rest of the book.

Okay, I'm going, to be honest; I'm the type of person who reads a book MAINLY based on the book cover and description, and Angelina M.Lopez did her thing and served me something I was not used to, and I loved every single page.
Alex is not your typical Female Character. She's got a big tattoo on her arm, she's a bartender, and she dresses however she pleases and sleeps with whoever catches her eye. Despite that, she has heart and passion for her Granmo's bar after hearing her Granmo has fallen down the stairs in the bar. She comes back to the place where she left years ago. She must prove to her Granmo that she should be the one to own the family bar and not some business corporation or Jeremiah Post, the Assistant Professor at Dupen College (a small but super-rich college)
Alex has character, a backbone, and a sassy mouth to prove she's not the one or two, even three. She's going to do everything to prove to her family her dedication, even if it means sleeping in the upstairs room in the bar with the next-door tenant who has his own agenda for the bar.
Although this was a preview, It gives you a great introduction to what it's about, and it is impeccably beautiful written with some spicy scenes for my erotica fans.
You can definitely picture, if not relate and get a glimpse of the unity and family that goes into a Hispanic family, and their's just so much life, love, and character in all of the people in the story.
I enjoyed reading it, and I love how independent and head-strong Alex is portrayed. I can't wait for the book to be released so I can see how it all unfolds.

Having lived her entire life with the promise that one day her families bar would be passed on to herself and her sisters, Alex is understandably frustrated when she arrives one night to find that a man has moved in and jeopardized the entire future she had planned for herself. The professor has offered Alex's grandmother the possibility of a different future that excludes Alex's visions of updating the bar and making it more modern in order to draw a larger crowd and increase the small bar's income. Her grandmother offers her the option to prove that she is actually going to take this project seriously and gives her the spring to do so. This means Alex now has to live beside the man who is trying to take her future from her. The main characters in this book were intriguing but what really brings the story together is the family dynamics that were showcased in this preview. Definitely one I am going to pick up.

A racist ghost
A haunted building
And sexual tension screaming from the first chapter.
Not even the devil was going to stop me from reading this book after tasting the first five preview chapters.
Alex is such a tough, no nonsense, not afraid to give you the shit you deserve woman, a bartender and one of the best at that, and we have Jeremiah, oh so sweet Jeremiah. What happens when two "enemies" come together to fight for the haunted building they love.
A ton of fireworks that's for sure.

I finished this book in three hours, three hours!!! Definitely one of my top reads of the year

Sexual tension 100%
Amazing Plot 100%
Representation 100%

What more are you looking for please!!!!

From the preview alone, Alex is this rude, selfish and unlikeable character and a force to be reckoned with that I didn't particularly feel anything for. On the other hand, Josh seemed like this gentle giant who had somehow put down roots in a decrepit old building her family owns.

I wasn't hooked and didn't feel any chemistry between the two main leads. Further, I wasn't really comfortable with how they spent their first time seeing each other, with her pushing him on a chair and straddling him in what was described as a 'perfect landing', then her asking him for consent after. Like, what was that for? There was nothing perfect with what happened and this behavior shouldn't be tolerated or excused just because the roles were reversed. This definitely wasn't a meet-cute.

I don't think I will continue reading this book for the reason stated above. The scene just didn't sit right with me.

Still, my thanks to Carina Press & Carina Adores (Harlequin), NetGalley and the author for the chance to read this teaser.

✨3.75/5✨ (rounded up)

I received the first five chapters of this novel in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley!

First things first, I really enjoyed the Mexican-American culture that this book brought, I loved the character development and how big and loud the family is! What's not sitting well with me is how abrasive Alex was towards Jeremiah when they first met. Now, I'm all for sexy spontaneous scenes, but she basically forced herself on him in the first chapter and then asked for consent afterwards and that just doesn't sit perfectly well with me. I will have to make the decision to continue reading once the full book is available.

Pros:
- Alex's strong personality
- Mexican-American culture/references
- Use of Spanish in the book

Cons:
- Uncomfy sex scene
- Alex is kinda a Beezy

Also, ngl I thought this was a wlw book from the cover, wasn't until I read the description that I realized that the red suited character was Jeremiah, and not the lesbian of my dreams. Sigh.