“Good luck and welcome to the island.” Island Affair by Priscilla Oliveras

3.5 stars! And I missed finishing this before it was released...which was April 28, 2020. Oh well.

This was a light and fun love story. Set in Key West and has lots of glimpses of a more laid back lifestyle...is a story of 2 people who met by chance, decided to help each other out (well Luis helped Sara) by pretending to be a couple and falls in love. You know, thar kind of trope.

But it’s cute and Luis is great, though stubborn. Sara is interesting but has major issues with her family. Watching them, sorry reading them falling in love was cute. Nice little escape book for this time when the beach is not accessible to me.

And the cover is so pretty, I had to take a pic of it on my iPad for full color.

Thank you Kensington Publishing Corp for the arc of this book. Thanks also @netgalley for it.

Island Affair was a fun book, perfect escapist reading for these times. I really liked that Latin culture was weaved into the story, but I found the italicized Spanish to be a bit distracting. I realized that it's correct to italicize foreign words, but given that this is a novel that includes Spanish as an integral part of the character's essence, the italics' function to highlight that "foreign nature" seems jarring and I believe a bit of artistic license in foregoing that formatting rule would have been justified. Aside from that the Spanish was spot on, and I loved that. It's nice and refreshing to see us represented well.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Island Affair was just what I needed to snap me out of a recent reading slump. Priscilla Olivera's characters were easily likable and refreshing. I loved seeing the character development and the relationship growth between Sara, Luis, and their families. This book had a good balance of drama, flirtation, and romance. I loved the scenes with the Navarro family, especially their family dinner the first time they met Sara. Their loud voices, teasing, and stubbornness reminded me of my own family. The setting of this book also sounded incredible and I'm adding Key West as a place I'd like to travel to someday! I'm really looking forward to the next book in this series and would love to hear more of Enrique's story!

My review of this novel was published at All About Romance on April 28, 2020. The link can be found here: https://allaboutromance.com/book-review/island-affair-by-priscilla-oliveras/

I also published my review on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3178573979?book_show_action=false

The idea of this book was all there but the follow through wasn't that great for me. I had a really difficult time connecting with the characters and also seeing the connection between the characters. And the story was primarily written in third person, which isn't my favorite point of view.

Gotta love a how they met story that starts off as a hired date, in this case to impress Sara’s family. Her chance meeting with Luis is sure to result in some sparks between the two of them, as they pretend to be engaged during the celebration of her mother being cancer free.

How perfect that Luis is off from the fire station and needs a distraction - could there be something in it for him too? Maybe working through the very issues he’s been avoiding? Will they be able to keep both of their families from finding out the truth?

Great details in the writing, I’m especially impressed with the building of these two characters - the dual POV really helped keep the story moving. I loved how the characters flaws and obstacles were tackled & made them easy to enjoy, great quick read, thank you to bookishfirst for the first impression as well as Netgalley & Kensington Books for an ARC in exchange for my review!

I really enjoyed this. When I finished it at 2:20 this morning, I should have gone to bed. Instead, I went on Twitter to say how much I liked it, then went to Amazon to 'Follow' the author so I would know when her next book comes out.

I like the fake dating trope. I know people have said that he agreed to go along with the scheme too quickly, that's part of the trope. The book literally can't proceed until that's put in place, so it needs to happen quickly.

I really enjoyed it. I loved the descriptions of the scenery, esp the sunsets. I thought the couple worked well, I believed they would work through their problems together. And that they would each come out stronger individually and as a couple.

I still think Sara was far more forgiving than I would. Her parents, esp the mother, were so self centered and focused on their careers that they were emotionally/psychologically abusive. And then later we find out that it wasn't just Sara affected by it over the years. I'd have just walked away from the whole group and cut contact. But I apparently have a lower tolerance for bullshit.

Gah this is a perfect summer read!
How it makes me want to visit and perhaps move to the Florida Keys. The romance did move fast but I really enjoyed it! It was cute, steamy and romantic!
Luis was so dreamy and strong and gah I loved him. I loved reading about both of the main character's families and how they interacted with them.
This is a fun, steamy and a quick book to read during the summer by the pool or beach with some delicious Cuban food of course!

Sara needs a fake boyfriend real fast, when she meets Luis at the airport, he will be the perfect fit. Sara has arrived in Key West for a mandatory family vacation. Luis is off of work for the next week, so it will work out perfect. But will one week be enough for these two? They both have family issues that will come into play during the week.

This is the perfect read since so many of us are not able to vacation right now, with the wonderful descriptive writing of Key West it makes you feel like you are there. It is on my bucket list to visit. Loved the chemistry that Sara and Luis shared, very likeable characters. Both families are very important through out the story. Can't wait to visit again. I highly recommend this book.

Reminiscent of books like The Unhoneymooners, Island Affair tells the story of Sara and Luis. Sara has come to Key West to spend time with her family after her mother has successfully beaten chemo. Unfortunately for Sara, her long distance boyfriend, Ric, decides to stand her up. Luis comes to her rescue and offers to be her pretend boyfriend for the week.

Island Affair has comedy, romance, and some drama rolled in for good measure. I loved the setting of Key West and felt the author did a good job of helping the reader visual the setting. I do feel that the premise of the book was a bit far-fetched as far as believability goes but it was still a cute read. I’d give this one 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Fun, rom-com, beach read. Cute characters and good time.
Thank you Netgalley, Kingston books, and Priscilla Oliveras for the ARC.

This story was adorable and I adored the setting!

I really enjoyed reading about the main relationship and the family dynamics in this story but had some issues with the pacing. I felt it lost momentum somewhere in the middle but all in all I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read about the next!

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* This was just really not my cup of tea. I loved the cover tbh and romances tend to be hit or miss and ive never read anything like this so figured id try it. I was wrong.

Didn't care much for the characters, I really liked the cultural aspect of this but just all the characters are so nosey. bleh. I also really wasn't into how she got like forced into a corner about telling about her medical history to this dude even if hes her fake boyfriend, like sorry not sorry I don't care if your a doctor, theyre not your patient, they don't need to tell you their medical history and I also don't think what the family is doing is "Support" imo, much more like trying to control her.

There was just a lot of things in this book I really didn't care for, it wasn't horrible but I probs wont be reading many more books like this lol

Island Affair is set in the Key West, where a local firefighter with strong ties to the community crosses paths with a social media influencer who is in town for a week. Luis overhears a woman get stood up at the airport, and offers assistance. Sara is desperate to keep the attention on her mother during the family trip celebrating the success of her cancer treatment, so she asks Luis to pretend to be her absent, long-distance boyfriend. He is hesitant, but eventually agrees since he has been forced to take time off and can’t help the need to help.

Luis and Sara each have baggage when it comes to their family and their ability to trust. However, they surprise themselves by opening up to each other. Though they are aware that developing a feelings for a person who will be gone in five days is inadvisable, they can’t help the way their forced proximity (There’s only one bed!) brings them together.

This novel tackles heavy subjects and tricky family dynamics in a sunny, breezy setting. The two families are loving and complex. They each have different baggage that affects our protagonists’ ability to deal with their own family, as well as their new love interest. Though they are thrown together through extraordinary circumstances, the way each challenges and supports the other is grounded in the truth of loving relationships.

Priscilla Oliveras is able to weave the culture of the Navarro family and ambiance of Key West with a light, authentic touch. It was a lovely way to be transported.

CW: Eating Disorder, Descriptions of Trauma (car accident, and traumatic events in the context of first responder)

Island Affair by Priscilla Oliveras

Romance, Romance, Romance!

Author Priscilla Oliveras knows her stuff! This book gets you right away and has you falling for well manured Luis and silly but very lovable Sara. When I finished this book I had a big smile on my face and a heart that had expanded with so much love for these two characters. What I really enjoyed about this story was not just the romance part of it but also the darker sides of these two characters. Sometimes you can't outrun your past but you do find people that can help you heal. That is what this story for me at least was really about. I truly enjoyed every page of it and 100% recommend this feel good romancen.

5/5 Stars!

Thank you #NetGalley and #KensingtonBooks for this book in exchange for my honest review

This is a cute and simple read. I enjoyed the second half but the first half dragged a bit for me since it was so repetitive. The setting of Key West sounded amazing and made me wish I was there.

review // #HappyPubDay to this delightful new contemporary romance from #PriscillaOliveras. Thank you to @netgalley and Zebra Books for the e-ARC!
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Things I Loved: As someone who lived in Miami for two years, the South Florida setting and culture! Fake relationship trope. Slow build ups. Strong, driven female character with an innovative career. Latinx representation.
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So thankful I was approved for this e-ARC on Netgalley, as it was so refreshing and honestly felt a little different than so many other contemporary romance books. Maybe because I lived in Miami for awhile, I so appreciated the Cuban male character, the Key West setting, and the Spanish phrases sprinkled throughout. It is being marketed as the first in a new series, so I’m excited to see where this goes and what the author does next! {5/5 stars}
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CW: eating disorder.
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#bookstagram #bookworm #bookblog #reading #goodreads #bookreviews #library #newbookstagram #bookreview #bookish #IslandAffair #KeysToLove @kensingtonbooks #diverseromance #latinxromance

This was my first book by this author, and I'm definitely interested in continuing with the stories of Luis's siblings!

Luis Navarro is a firefighter, paramedic, and dive captain for the Key West Fire Department. He's a stand-up guy, ask anyone. He didn't earn the nickname San Navarro (which he HATES) for nothing. But, he's been emotionally closed off for the last several years, even from his big, close, Cuban familia. He went through a terrible ordeal, and he refuses to talk about it, or deal with it, so it just keeps getting buried, and then popping up at inopportune times, like at work. After a bad accident he worked a few weeks before, he's been in bad shape, and his Captain orders him to take a full week off. He's mad, but he knows there's not much he can do. Now, he just needs to find something to keep his mind occupied for the next 7 days.

Sara Vance is in a bind. She's just arrived for a big family vacation in Key West, but her boyfriend, now her EX-boyfriend, has decided not to show up after all. Sara has always felt like the odd man out in her family. Her 2 siblings are much older than her, and all her parents and siblings are doctors. Sara decided to go a different way, and she's now a fairly successful social media influencer. But, her parents, siblings, and their spouses, are all about to show up and she'll be the extra, again. She doesn't know what to do. Her mom has just gotten a clean, cancer-free, bill of health, after fighting for a while, so this trip is supposed to be nothing but R&R, with NO STRESS. Sara doesn't want her mom worrying about her, yet again. So, when she runs into Luis outside the airport, and he asks if she needs help, she's hoping to convince him to help her by being her fake boyfriend for the week. No big deal, right?!

Sara and Luis had big chemistry from the beginning, but they decided not to act on it, as to not further complicate their already tenuous situation with her family. They get along great, and due to their close quarters, they end up sharing more info with each other, more quickly, than you typically would with a stranger, which forces a close bond between them. They both really help each other deal with issues, within themselves, and within each of their families. They were really good for each other, and I enjoyed watching them slowly figure that out. There wasn't as much steam as I'm used to in my reads, but I enjoyed their connection. I feel like I would've FELT it more though, if we'd seen, instead of being told after the fact. That's just my personal preference.

Sara and Luis both had large families, each with their own myriad issues, and they really leaned on each other for help in dealing with them. They were truly there for each other, in a way neither of them had experienced in a long time, if ever, so they really cared for the other right away. When they each shared the issues that they have faced with each other, you could feel their bond forging tighter and tighter, and worried about what they would do when the week was over. I enjoyed Luis's relationships with his siblings, and how hard Sara tried to connect to her siblings, for really the first time in adulthood.

This was a sweet, heartfelt story about two people, with missing pieces, who fit together perfectly, if unexpectedly. They not only fit together, but fit into each other's lives and families, beyond what they ever expected. Also, Key West was really a character unto itself, and I enjoyed seeing Luis's love for his island shine through. I've never been there, and it made me long to see it for myself. I enjoyed the story, though I would've KILLED for an epilogue! I'm definitely interested in reading about Luis's siblings, and how they will find love in the Keys.

I really wanted to love this book, but it fell a little flat for me. I loved the main characters, the fun setting, and the budding romance. I had a difficult time with suspension of belief for the whole book, and felt like the writing was choppy and full of weird similes and descriptions. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t my favorite.

Synopsis:
When Sara's boyfriend Ric ditches her on her family's get together, she finds herself at a loss. She is nervous to be alone with her family and their criticism of her. Luis was just mandated a week long vacation when he overhears Sara's conversation of distress. He has always been the good guy and this time is no different. When Sara asks him to fill in as her pretend boyfriend, despite his hesitancy, he says yes. While he expected to have a difficult time lying to everyone, he didn't expect to fall for her or for her to challenge his emotional past. Together can they work on fixing their family issues and fool everyone into thinking their relationship is real? Can they fool themselves into thinking there is nothing going on between them?

Review:
4/5 stars. While I loved the easy banter between Sara and Luis, the challenges they gave each other, and the relationship they share, it seemed a little far fetched that this could really happen. I loved watching them grow and share their time together. It didn't feel they knew each other for only a week. As I finished it, I was left wanting more. I then saw the cover said "first in a new series". I'm excited to see what else Priscilla Oliveras can create for them and hope to watch their relationship grow further in future books. I laughed and cried throughout different areas of the book and I know most of you will too. I hope you pick this up as it's the perfect summer read.

THANK YOU NETGALLEY AND KENSINGTON BOOKS FOR THE ARC FOR MY HONEST REVIEW IN RETURN.