I was fortunate to receive an ARC of this book just as I was packing for a trip to the Keys! How fun to read this sweet little second-chance romance when I could see and experience the locale so beautifully described. But it is so much more than just a romance - the author explores themes of family expectations, women's career issues, and making peace with the past - the past as individuals and as a culture and community. I look forward to the next installment of this series whenever the last Navarro sibling decides it's time to settle down.

A cute second chance romance with interesting characters. I liked the setting of the place and I liked Alejandro's family relationships. It was also slowburn which I don't usually like. I enjoyed seeing how the two main characters grew, both professionally and towards one another. Overall it was a fun beach read and would recommend it.

This novel is a lovely romance, an excellent exploration of the meaning of family and, most of all, a gorgeous meditation on home. How Ms. Oliveras fits all this into one novel is a testament to her talent.

Anamaría and Alejandro were childhood sweethearts. Anamaría remained in Key West, treading water, for many years but has recently seen her career kick into high gear. Alejandro has been running from his home since he was a teenager and only a freak accident that caused a broken leg has brought him back to Key West.

The chemistry between these two sizzles and it is nice to see them as the equals they weren’t as teenagers. In many ways, Alejandro is the one who needs to do the emotional growth in this novel. He needs to stop running and he needs to reconcile with his father.

What really makes this novel stand out, in my opinion, is the descriptions of the close knit Cuban-American community on Key West. Ms. Oliveras writing is amazing and she really brings this community to life.

Finally, the way the novel acknowledges the sacrifices of Cubans and Can ban-Americans was so well done. I cried alongside the Cuban-American elders at the end of this book. It was, a good as the romance was, the most moving part of the novel for me. I highly recommend picking up this book. It is so layered and well written. I loved it.

This book absolutely blew me away! I absolutely loved the multi-layered story of family, friendship, pursuing passions and love. I would say this book is far better than a traditional romance because it gave so much more to think about. I really enjoyed the writing, the mixing of language, the pace. My only complaint is I would have just loved more! I’m absolutely blown away by Priscilla Oliveras and cannot wait to read more by this author.

I love a good reunion story. Alejandro returns after being away from 10 years, but he comes back injured after an accident while taking photos. His ex-girlfriend, Anamaría, didn’t leave with Alejandro 10 years ago but has built a wonderful life for herself in his wake. She’s a paramedic and firefighter, and is starting her own fitness company. So, the LAST thing Anamaría wants to do when her mom calls is to help Alejandro - of all people - when she is in a good place. But, with two moms that love to meddle... the cards are stacked up against both Anamaría and Alejandro.
This is a story of reconnection, both familial and romantic! Read this is you also are facing serious wanderlust and are dying for sunshine!!

Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Books for the ARC ebook! Well done, Priscilla Oliveras!

I loved that this book was focusing on Cuban families and also really liked the author interspersing Spanish throughout. Learned some new words that were NOT covered in school :-) I had a hard time connecting to the characters. They were the epitome of a slow burn, but that's not my favorite romance scenario and I found myself getting frustrated a lot with the choices they were making and miscommunications that had happened.

Overall, I loved the culture of this book, but wish I had connected with the characters a bit more.

I loved the last book in this series so I was really looking forward to reading a new story from the same universe. The characters were likeable and the descriptions of Key West and all of the Cuban food had me so excited to travel again. Even so, I couldn't get into the story and get excited about the leads and whether they would end up together.

Actual Rating: 3.5

A huge thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for an honest review. Why didn't I read Island affair last year? Pinch me, someone! This is a slow burn second chance romance between Award-winning photographer Alejandro Miranda and Anamaría Navarro. It takes place in Key West after Alejandro breaks his leg and returns to his parent's house. It just so happens that they knew each other as kids and were crazy about each other. It was interesting watching them rekindle their love again. The book also focused on family *sigh* and you can't read this book and appreciate family and the dynamic of the Cuban American family.

Anchored Hearts by Priscilla Oliveras is the absolute perfect escape. One of the strongest parts for me was the gorgeous descriptions of the setting, it felt like I was being swept away on my own island vacation. Oliveras uses such beautifully vibrant language when describing Key West, like she's painting a picture in your head. I love both Alejandro and Anamaria. I thought their own personal struggles, as well as their struggles with each other, were so well-drawn and relatable. And while I loved the two main characters, I was equally fond of their families. I am a sucker for big families, and I loved feeling like I was part of the crew as I read this book. I think everyone is in need of a vacation at this point in time, and Anchored Hearts reads like a vacation in book form. It was the perfect escape!

-`ˏ 3 stars ˎ´˗

Storyline: -`ˏ 7/10 ˎ´˗
Anamaría and Alejandro, high school sweethearts dream to explore the world together. But after her father’s heart attack, Anamaria decided that it was better to stay and learn the family trade as a firefighter and paramedic. While Alejandro decided to leave and never come back. A few years later, Alejandro suffered a leg injury on one of his photographic trips, forcing him to return home to recover and meeting people he doesn't want to see. One of these people being always and still beautiful Amamaria who got his pants continuously twitching.

Characters: -`ˏ 5/10 ˎ´˗
The story seems to concentrate more on Alejandro’s perspective. As far as I’m concerned, he's an extremely petty and childish little man. One might think that all those years he has explored the world, he would gain wisdom and maturity. . NOPE. I applaud him for pursuing his dream, but his way of handling it was pathetic. Your girlfriend's father had a heart attack and could have died and you’re angry that she does not want to follow you on a journey across the world? She must cut her family ties because you’re having problems with your own? Make no mistake, Alejandro's father is overbearing, pushing his son to follow in his footsteps in the same manner as he follows in his father's footsteps. However, I wish they would handle it differently and not let so many years pass. For it to get to a point where having a near-death experience is more tolerable than being with your family, that's sad. Our sweet little Anamaria still grappling with the first lovers' syndrome, spent many years allowing him to influence her judgment in his absence. I’m happy that her family and friends are so supportive and help her get out of her funk and pursue her passion and dreams.

Atmosphere: -`ˏ 3/10 ˎ´˗
To put things in perspective, have you ever force your dolls to kiss without considering rather or not they want to? Maybe they just want to casually hang out by the beach house as friends instead, or maybe not interact at all. That was the feeling of the book. Two people forced to be lovey-dovey when it's not meant to be, regardless of however you want to look at it. Using past and current sexual attractions as a mechanism although their life trajectories are parallel.

Language: -`ˏ 5/10 ˎ´˗
This story is a slow burn . . come back 3 hours later wondering if you turn the oven on.

Enjoyment: -`ˏ 6/10 ˎ´˗
If you disregard the romance or lack of it, the book is quite enjoyable. You get a good sense of Cuban-American culture. How people came to a new place with faith, dreams, and determination. Trying not to lose the memory of their origin and carry on the history from generation to generation. How to manage/not manage family expectations while pursuing your own dreams. I like the meddlesome mamas, their wild antics were creative and hilarious, although I believe they did push somethings a little too far. Friends and family members were so supportive in helping the main characters accomplished their dreams. As much as it pains me to admit I did like how the ending came together. Some of the characters earn redemption, in spite of there being a lot of things that remained unfinished and unexplained.

I absolutely loved this book. I received a complimentary copy of the audiobook from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. It took me a little longer to finish the audiobook but it was a wonderful book about a photographer who is injured and has to go home to heal. His ex-girlfriend remains on the island where they grew up. Their mothers conspire to get them back together, which leads . . . Well, you will have to read the book. Great beach read.

Ay Dios mio! So cute!

I love to read stories that are based around different cultures and Cuban culture is a new one for me! I love reading about the different foods, how the family relationships work and generally learning about the culture. I personally adore how there were bits of Spanish spoken every once in a while, it really elevated the culture even more and allowed the reader to be more immersed in the story.

One thing that I personally loved is how the main characters, Anamaria was a firefighter and a fitness trainer while the other main character Alejandro was a photographer. You don't usually see a woman in this line of profession in books but it was so refreshing to see it in this one! Also, the passion that was written about Alejandro's love of photography really resonated with the love surrounding it.

Perfect for those who love slow-burn, large families that have many entertaining opinions, and two people who never stopped loving each other!

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the earc in return for an honest review.

I made the decision to DNF this book at the 25% mark. Unfortunately, the first quarter of the book failed to draw my attention in.

When I requested this book I was stoked to read a story set in Key West (being from Florida myself ) and centered around Cuban culture. I instead found myself trying to keep up with the dialogue and neither invested in the plot or characters. After reading a fourth of the book I expected for either one of those two to grab my attention but that just didn't happen.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for allowing me to read an early copy of this book!

When I read Island Affair, there was no indication it would be a series, so I was very pleased to find about this one.

Where back with the Navarro family, this time with Luis's sister Anamaría, whom we met in the first book. Alejandro, her ex, also friend, neighbor, is back in town to recover from an injury, and his presence brings a lot of turmoil for her and his family.

I loved the atmosphere in the island setting and in the social/cultural interaction of a large Latinx family, with their friends and neighbors, and how everything relates to one another.

Cant' wait for the next one!

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

After listening to Island Affair, I was happy to be able to head back to Key West and drool over Miranda's. Well, and also visit with Luis's family again through his sister's - Anamaria - story. This second chance romance had such good chemistry and banter.
Anamaria has moved on from her teenage love and heartbreak. She's turning her side hustle into her dream job of teaching others proper nutrition and exercise. But her heart betrays her when Alejandro comes home from an on-the-job injury, requiring help. With meddling mamis and endless forced encounters, Anamaria and Ale agree to reconcile and part as friends.
The supporting cast made this book completely enjoyable. I loved the protective brothers, the intruding and/or hostile parents, the cameos from Sara and Luis. I am looking forward to visiting Anamaria's family again and hoping Enrique gets a story equally as fun and diverting. I want to come back for more!
Thank you to Kensington Books and Netgalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.

A sweet second chance romance with lots of family conflict and a lush setting that's perfect for an escape from winter isolation in colder climes. My favourite element of this particular story was the Cuban history woven into Alejandro's photographic journey. The images conjured were beautiful and evocative, and for me, the real Anchored Heart of the story. For those wondering, while characters and settings from book 1--Island Affair--appear in book 2, Anchored Hearts isn't reliant on that material, and this book can be read as a standalone.

In the acknowledgements, Oliveras writes, "My hope is that you dive into the books in my Keys to Love series and feel as if you’ve traveled to Key West, made some new friends, came to appreciate island life and the Cuban-Latinx culture, and were able to forget about life’s stresses for a while." I think she nailed it.

Thanks to NetGalley for a arc copy for a honest review.

Anchored Hearts is a 5 star read... I need to read Island Affair..

Happy Reading
Lisa

As a Key West interloper (I've been a few times and cannot wait to go back), this book gave me such a jolt of being back there and feeling all the sunny, humid vibes. Someone get me a pina colada!

Priscilla Oliveras crafts a family dynamic that is charming and complex, full and so very real. I felt like I knew these people, could find their restaurant on the island, walk in, and recognize them from her descriptions.

Alejandro and Anamaria have in-depth compelling arguments for why they broke up, yet they cannot deny the white-hot need still crossing through them. It's easy to fall back in need with each other, but can they figure out being in love for more than just his brief stay.

Much as I liked hanging out with Ale and AM, watching them get more and more honest and realistic about their mutual goals, I also loved the late addition character of Natalia (who I hope is going to be in book three with Enrique?? Please, please, please, let there be a book three and let it be about them!). She is AMAZING.

There is a lot to unpack in this book, from family expectations to feeling stuck in your ways, just because they have been set for you for so long. Cultural pressures to follow in the family business and the value of an artist. There is more. Machismo. Women's place in this world. Father's unbending wills and stubborn sons.

I do think that Alejandro being in a wheelchair and being restricted by its use became a bigger issue than it should have been. It felt like the wheelchair use by an able-bodied person could have been handled with more sensitivity.

There is not really a black moment, we head toward the confrontation throughout the book and I like this approach, it isn't as common in Romance as the sudden fight. The resolution, for me, needed more logistics and closure, I loved the sentimentality of the closing scene, but wish for an epilogue, but truly I wish for book three in which these characters show back up and I get to know more about their adventures.

Overall, Oliveras wanted us to escape with her to the island and this book took me there and made me feel the sand of Higgs Beach between my toes.

Anchored hearts is a Exes to lovers romcom set in Key West. It focuses heavily on family dynamics and Latinx culture, similar to Priscilla Oliveira’s first book. I liked the rhythm and the overlap in families from the first book, while focusing on new characters.

I did find the first third of the book to have a lot of situations where there was a lot of writing about how the characters felt or what they thought they should do, instead of actually having them act out. It made that portion of the book seem a little passive.

Overall it was a quick escape! ⭐️⭐️⭐️

I was a fan of the first book in the series, Island Affair, and when I saw that there was a second book coming out I just had to read this one as well. This was a bit of a slow burn romance-wise, but once we get into the meat of the story, we see this second chance romance really heat up. These are the kinds of stories that I love to read as a way to wind down and relax with a great book that transports me to another place as beautiful as Key West.