This was just ok for me. I liked the female lead. I loved how the author incorporated culture, complex family dynamics, and "world building" into the book. I did not love the male lead and I did not feel like there was much in the way of relationship building. Chemistry yes, foundation for a HEA, no.

Anchored Hearts is a second-chance romance set in the Florida Keys - a place I really want to visit. It's the second book in the Keys to Love series (Island Affair is the first book), but I don't think it's necessary to have read the previous book (although you should because it's great as well).

This book is fun and funny and heartfelt and there's a nice slow burn. Alejandro and Anamaria are just....sigh!...so good together. Of course, they gotta figure that out for themselves...sometimes the hard way. The secondary characters are interesting and engaging as well. The storyline is steady-paced and kept me swiping the pages. I highly recommend this fun and fizzy novel from a wonderful Latinx writer.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. I also won a paperback copy. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias.

This was a sweet, second-chance romance with a Latinx family. I loved the cultural details brought into the story, making it feel like I was right there with the characters. I liked the characters, and I enjoyed their romance, and the steam that came with it!

This is the second book in the series, and I haven't read the first, but it didn't detract from my enjoyment of this book.

I was provided a gifted copy of this book for free. I am leaving my review voluntarily.

This was such a fun novel about second chance romances. High school sweethearts went their separate ways following graduation, but after a tragic accident they are forced to come face to face again. With a little help from some meddling Cuban mothers. :) Set in the tropical paradise that is Key West, and filled with spicy family drama, Oliveras delivers a steamy romance with a touch of warmth and funny quips. I couldn't stop turning the pages to read more about Ale and Anamaria. It is the perfect light and fun romance novel to read poolside this Summer!

Thank you Netgalley and Kensington for the eARC of “Anchored Hearts” by Priscilla Oliveras.
…
Who is ready to take a trip to Key West? Meeeeeee! Since this isn’t happening, Anchored Hearts will have to suffice.

Pros
Second chance romance trope (my fave)
Spanish dialogue
#2 in series, can be a standalone
Key West setting
Strong female lead
Cuban Latinx culture

Cons
I finished this one before the first one but I am loving #1 and need to finish Luis and Sara’s love story <3.

First, I want to thank NetGalley and Kensington Books for an ARC copy to read. After reading Island Affair I knew this would be a series I return to. As the second book in the series, it did not disappoint!!! One of the things I love is that she intertwined Spanish and English in a way that is comprehensible and doesn’t take you out of the story. It really brings the Cuban culture in Key West to life. You jump right into the story from page one and I was here for it!! The dual POV keeps you turning the page and quickly devouring the story (don’t let me reading dates fool you, my kindle died in the middle and I had to wait for a replacement). I am hoping the breadcrumbs at the end means the next book is the younger brother!!! How long must I wait for book three?

I loved the first book in the series but I just couldn’t get into this one. The writing just could stick with me and I have been trying to read it for months.

I loved the first book but unfortunately the slow burn of this one did not hook me. I am in the minority so I would still recommend to other romance readers.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of the second installment in the Keys to Love series. Not only is this one a slow burn but it's also a second chance, childhood friends to lovers book with a strong emphasis on family. All the tropes!! I love the Key West setting and am feeling all the feels about missing travel and the ocean. Oliveras does a great job describing the setting to the point where I could almost smell the salty air and onions and peppers in the wind.

I loved Annamaria. She is a strong, independent badass who loves her family and works super hard. Alejandro is her brother's childhood best friend and her ex-boyfriend. The relationship ended on a not great note so when the two reunite, it's not under the best circumstances. Throw in some meddling parents and pesky siblings and the circumstances seem worse and worse.

I enjoyed how the story progressed and most of the loose ends got tied up but there was one plot I was upset to not see how it ended. I also really hope for Enrique's book because I have so so many questions.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. It was a good read, a little slow overall and I just needed some more closure on a couple of things but I recommend it, especially if you need a beach trip and can only go in your head.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

RATING: 3.5 stars

Who doesn't love a storyline of "right person, wrong time" and the longstanding "unexpected" love story between them. Admittedly, I am someone who is not a fan of predictable storylines. Unfortunately, this story was. Who doesn't want this story to maybe happen to them? Meet the old high school crush and ends up in steamy romance?

One of the highlights of this story for me were the characters. Individually, I wanted to be friends with them both! Their large families, the culture they are part of, and the description of their lives and experiences kept me engrossed throughout. I did think there was a bit of a stretch at some points of the story - that the characters as a couple had not been developed enough to reflect the chemistry they were intended to have.

I also have a hard time with stories that have differing points of view if they are not clearly identified - or we don't know from the start that there will be a flow between the characters viewpoints. A storyline like this would have benefited from the chapters being identified with character names identifying the point of view for the respective chapter.

I will say, I do think the author did a good job making the storyline somewhat believable in the sense of the breakup being due to miscommunication or the challenge of rekindling after not seeing one another for over a decade. I truly enjoyed the writing, though the the *storyline* did not strike me as my favorite I have read in the past.

I would recommend this novel to friends, though do not feel it would be on the top of my "must-read-now list".

Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Rating: 9/10
Steam:🔥🔥
Publisher: Zebra/Kensington

I visited Key West in 2016, and it's so beautiful. I fell in love with Key West again after meeting Luis Navarro’s Cuban family while reading Island Affair. This first book is Luis and Sara’s love story. I saw the sequel Anchored Hearts was publishing, and I was ready to dive back into Key West and the Navarro family. Anchored Hearts is a second-chance romance for Luis’s little sister. Anamaria Navarro’s high school sweetheart Alejandro Miranda returns to Key West to recuperate from his leg injury. There is so much fun drama and meaningful family moments in this story. It gave me all the feels. I wanted more steam and details.

I love how this book is written with a combination of English and Spanish, which gives an authentic flair to the story. The characters naturally translate Spanish with their responses or internal dialogue. I want to travel back to Key West so badly now after finishing this sequel.

Thank you, Kensington Books and NetGalley, for this gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.

This second chance romance trope was such a sweet story, just like the first in the series! I loved the heavy emphasis on family and culture throughout this book, and Annamaria was a strong female lead. I'm hoping we get a 3rd in this series! I can already see the chemistry brewing between Enrique and (hiding for spoilers).

I love how Priscilla Oliveras created these dynamic family units among this beautiful setting of Key West. The Navarro and the Miranda families are so special, and their complex relationships provide great storylines. Her descriptive location of Key West makes you feel like you're right there with the characters and the food descriptions were just as good! I've got to try Ropa Vieja. One of my favorite things about this book was her use of Spanish! She sprinkled it in so effortlessly and consistently added descriptive text after, so we could understand it! I feel like my own elementary level of Spanish improved slightly after reading this!

From the first paragraph, I knew this book would be a good one. I immersed myself into the book from the first chapter and I cannot say enough good things about this book! Honestly amazing! The writing is incredible and the plot is just one to die for. I am absolutely obsessed with this book. My favorite part would have to be the character development throughout the book. Character development is something I look forward to and this book did not disappoint. I am obsessed with the cover to! The feel of the whole book is just my favorite.

There were some really great parts of this book where I enjoyed the writing. I loved the dual perspectives which help you get a sense of the characters. I also liked that this book was very atmospheric, using the surrounding area as metaphors for feelings and emotion. I also love that this book took place in Florida, my home state!

Some of the things that took away from the story for me
I felt like this storytelling got off track sometimes, or over explained a situation, but then glossed over moments I would like to have seen expanded (like the intimacy)
Both MC had a ton of flashbacks throughout the book that told of their history, but there was no mystery to leave you wanting more. Their history was very linear so it didn't have that addicting quality while you're waiting for something to be revealed.
There was not a lot actually happening since this was a character driven novel with a ton of internal dialogue. At one point I was a third through the book and Alejandro and Anna Maria had basically seen each other twice at his house.

Overall I liked the concept of the story, but it just wasn't for me.

3.5 STARS

I really enjoyed this book until I got to the first sex scene. It starts to get good. Then the chapter ends and time skips. It irritated me. It totally brought me out of the book. I tried to get back into it. I just can’t forget that betrayal of ripping something I was so ready for out of the book. It’s a good story. So good. Just go in knowing that it is going to happen and don’t have your hopes up.

I voluntarily read an early copy.

Anchored Hearts by Priscilla Oliveras is a second chance romance. This was a quick and fun story. The chemistry between the main characters was very good and the author really did a great job of bringing the sights and sounds of Key West alive. Thanks Netgalley for my ARC.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for a honest review.

Also, a huge Gracias to Priscilla for writing me and recommending me her new amazing book.

•• What's this about? ••

Twelve years ago, Anamaría and Alejandro's lives changed when Alejandro left his hometown Key West, looking for a new life away from his past. Anamaría decided to stay with her family, even when it was her dream go with Ale.

Twelve years later, Alejandro is back in Key West after an accident. Anamaría is not prepared to see him. But when Ale's mom calls her to check his injuries she can't say no.

Seeing each other again reminds them how much they missed each other during those years. And how second chances can change your life if you take them.

•• What do I think about it? ••

This is a second chances, slow romance novel. At the beginning, I thought it wasn't my type. But I loved the hole story.

I loved so much how Anamaría and Alejandro started again as friends. Knowing each other after the time they were separated.

As always, I love the Latinx culture in the story. I love the references, and the quotes in spanish. Everything is perfect.

About the story, I loved that both Anamaría and Alejandro were always focused on their dreams. Sometimes love isn't as important as the things you have in your life. That's something I really loved about the story.

In general, the hole story is so romantic, funny, and with a great message. I enjoyed so much this book. And I'm so grateful with Priscilla for the great recommendation.

I was looking forward to this one but it sort of fell flat for me.

I enjoy second chance romance about 50% of the time and this one just didn’t do it for me. The cliche plot devices you can sometimes find in romance novels can either be great or horrible and I felt the latter with this one.

I didn’t connect to Anamaria or Alejandro enough to really root for them and in the end that’s why I’m reading romance.

I liked the family aspect (especially the mamas), the culture, the Spanish dialogue but in the end that wasn’t what I was there for. I’d you LOVE second chance romance you might enjoy this more.

I enjoyed this book, although second chance romance isn't my favorite trope. I do want to go back and read Island Affair since I hadn't read that before this book. Then I will read this again!

Anamaria Navarro’s life has treated her unfairly and after Alejandro abandons her, she decides that it won't be enough to break her spirit because she has to be there for her family as well.

This story is about second chances and above all how you can encounter those fears that keep you away from happiness.

Ana is a very complex character, filled with all the spice of a Latina and full of the pride that characterizes us. The story takes us to the growth of both characters, in order to find a balance and to achieve what they really want.

Alejandro did not stop to wait for his love, he ran to learn to walk with her. His life went on, he fought for his dreams but the most important lesson he will learn will be to learn from his mistakes to avoid them and to forgive from the bottom of his heart.

They both have to learn to forgive and to value those sacrifices that in life we all have to make at least once.

The writer has a wonderful spark that I think we should admire. Congratulations Priscila.

“Princesa, I screwed it up before. But there’s never been any doubt about what I want. You.”

::Español::

A Anamaria, la vida la ha tratado injustamente y después que Alejandro la abandonara, ella decide que no será suficiente para derrumbar su espíritu porque tiene que estar para su familia también.

Esta historia trata de las segundas oportunidades y sobre todo cómo puedes encontrarte con aquellos miedos que te mantienen lejos de la felicidad.

Ana es un personaje muy complejo, llena con todo el sazón de una latina y llena del orgullo que nos caracteriza. La historia nos lleva a un crecimiento de ambos personajes, para poder encontrar un balance y poder lograr lo que de verdad quieren.

Alejandro no se detuvo a esperar su amor, él corrió para poder aprender a caminar junto con ella. Su vida siguió, luchó por sus sueños pero la lección más importante que aprenderá será aprender de sus errores para evitarlos y perdonar desde el fondo de su corazón.

Ambos tienen que aprender a perdonar y a valorar aquellos sacrificios que en la vida todos debemos de realizar al menos una vez.

La escritora tiene una chispa maravillosa que considero que debemos admirar. Muchas felicidades Priscila.