Along Came Amor by Alexis Daria got me back into romance just when I needed it the most. We are seeing so much Latine pain right now and it was important for me to also read about Latine love.

Plus watching Roman fully and completely love Ava was so perfect. I love when a man falls first and falls hard, especially when he is Latino and falls for a Latina. On top of it we get to see Ava struggle with the toxic nature of a large loving family who is too invested in your life. I'm not going to lie, that part got a bit too real. It helped me reflect on how I've been part of the problem without meaning to.

I appreciate seeing so much support for immigrants right now and I hope you have room not just for our pain but are open to Latine love and happiness. If you are, pick up one of the many wonderful books by Latina romance writers. Along Came Amor is a great one!

In Along Came Amor, Ava and Roman coming from opposite worlds are brought together by a teacher’s conference at one of his hotels. Roman is determined to make time for Ava whenever she needs him. Ava coming fresh out of a divorce, although it had been two years since they had separated, feels like relationships are just not for her. This book brings to the forefront the impact that the words of our loved ones have on our feelings, on the decisions we make and on how we decide to move in the world. Ava and Roman have incredible chemistry from the beginning, and the way that Roman tries to learn and understand not only Ava better but also his sister and his mom, shows how much he wanted to be there the right way for the women in his life. Ava's dilemma in the book is a bit frustrating, but also somewhat understandable, however immature it may feel to the reader at the moment.

In previous books in the series, we learned that Ava Rodriguez was unceremoniously dumped by her husband. When this book opens, the divorce has finally gone through and Ava is ready to turn her life around. To do that, she's going to get dressed up and go out, rather than staying in her room. She's not going to order rose; she's an all new Ava. At the bar is the owner of the hotel, Roman Vasquez and he is intrigued.
The two start a relationship. Well, Roman is interested in it building into a relationship. Ava just wants it to be physical. See, her family is incredibly overbearing and she doesn't want a repeat of what she went through with her ex. Which is a valid concern. Mostly. Ava is sort of spineless. And Daria gives her really good reasons for being so, but I wasn't entirely convinced that she had made the changes needed and I was really annoyed that SO MANY people told Roman to let Ava handle her own problems and he... didn't. He just decided not to listen to any of them.
Most of the book -- so delightful. Ending -- squishy.

Four and a half stars
This book comes out September 14th, 2021
Follows A Lot Like Adios
ARC kindly provided by William Morrow and Custom House, and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

This is the final installment in the Primas of Power series and I loved it just as much as the first two! On the day her divorce is finalized, Ava decides to drown her sorrows in the bar at a hotel. She meets Roman, the hotel’s owner and they agree to have a one night stand. After finding out that they are both in the same wedding party, they end up having a series of supposedly casual hookups, but feelings develop.

I love that mental health, healthy relationships and boundaries are such a big part of this book. Ava struggles as a people pleaser, who’s afraid to say no to her family and they take advantage. Roman is a workaholic, who never has time for his family, because he is working so hard to support them financially. Together they slowly work out how to be better and happier, both as individuals and as a couple.

4/5⭐
2/5🌶️

I loved Ava and Roman together. This may be my favorite of the series. We start of with Ava and Roman meeting as uninhibited strangers who don't realize that the closest people to them individually are close to each other.
I loved that they are in their 30s and 40s, have lived with but triumph and regret, and failed a couple of "life experiences." This had a lot of great tropes and the telenovela drama feels we get from the other 2 books in the series. This had great banter, a swoony MMC and a FMC needing to learn her voice.

Tropes:
🛎️Latinx
🛎️One Night Stand
🛎️Secret Relationship
🛎️Over-involved/Toxic Family
🛎️Family Doormat
🛎️Millionaire MMC
🛎️Divorcee

Thank you Avon and Harper Voyage and #netgalley for this ARC!

Book Blurb:
No strings

After Ava Rodriguez’s now-ex-husband declares he wants to “follow his dreams”—which no longer include her—she’s left questioning everything she thought she wanted. So when a handsome hotelier flirts with her, Ava vows to stop overthinking and embrace the opportunity for an epic one-night-stand complete with a penthouse suite, rooftop pool, and buckets of champagne.

No feelings

Roman Vasquez’s sole focus is the empire he built from the ground up. He lives and dies by his schedule, but the gorgeous stranger grimacing into her cocktail glass inspires him to change his plans for the evening. At first, it’s easy for Roman to agree to Ava’s rules: no strings, no feelings. But one night isn’t enough, and the more they meet, the more he wants.

No falling in love

Roman is the perfect fling, until Ava sees him at her cousin’s engagement party—as the groom’s best man, no less! Suddenly, maintaining her boundaries becomes a lot more complicated as she tries to hide the truth of their relationship from her family. However, Roman isn’t content being her dirty little secret, and he doesn’t just want more, he wants everything. With her future uncertain and her family pressuring her from all sides, Ava will have to decide if love is worth the risk—again.

Okay I loved this book! The story was really good and I enjoyed it enough to finish this in about 2 days! Once I picked it up I couldn’t put it down. Great story

This was my first book by this author and while I really enjoyed the overall plot, I felt like it was longer than it needed to be. It just felt drawn out to emphasize points. It was still an enjoyable read!

This book was too long, and I felt it. I have liked the other two in this series (4 stars for each), so I was excited to get this after a long wait. However, I felt like this was too much story for a romance. It had lots of layers, some of which I can appreciate, but some felt like we were circling over and over the same conversation. I can understand repeating a conflict point a couple times, but it got old to hear the same conversation over and over. I liked the climax and Ava’s growth that we eventually got. And while I recognize that this is the final book in the series, the continuous epilogue with many updates was not for me. Too much epilogue. I’m not upset I read it, but it wasn’t as good as the other two in my opinion.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this ARC!

Alexis Daria does it again! With her signature blend of sizzling chemistry, fierce Latinx family dynamics, and sharp emotional insight, Along Came Amor is an irresistible tale of second chances, steamy flings gone rogue, and learning to risk your heart after it’s been broken.

Ava Rodriguez is every woman who’s had to smile through disappointment and still find her fire. Fresh off a painful divorce and navigating the kind of family pressure only tías can bring, she’s determined to keep things casual. Enter Roman Vasquez—a devastatingly charming hotelier with abs for days and a hidden soft side that could melt steel. What was supposed to be a one-night penthouse rendezvous quickly spirals into something neither of them planned for… but oh, is it fun to watch them fall.

With a delicious twist (hello, surprise wedding guest!) and page-turning tension, Daria crafts a story that’s as sexy as it is sincere. Ava and Roman’s push-pull dynamic is perfection, and beneath all the flirty banter and rooftop kisses, there’s a vulnerable, aching heart at the center. Ava’s journey from hurt to healing feels real, empowering, and deeply satisfying.

💃 If you love messy families, confident women, and romance that’s equal parts fire and feels, Along Came Amor will sweep you off your feet—and maybe into a rooftop pool.

Perfect for fans of Tessa Bailey, Jasmine Guillory, and anyone who believes in one-night stands that turn into forever.

This series has been so incredibly fun to read. I think this was the best one in the series yet. I love these characters and love this series so much.

The chemistry is real between Ava and Roman. Their no-strings-attached situation was never going to work because they had such sparks between them from the beginning, they couldn't stay away. But I loved seeing more of the Primas in this story ( even if how the rest of the family treated Ava was deeply unfair). I'm glad she found someone to put her first

I am NOT ready for this series to be over!! Along Came Amor is a stunning compilation of all the family dynamics and generational trauma that these books have addressed, and while difficult, perhaps the most satisfying. It was spicy and full of satisfying character growth. I'll for sure be looking for anything else Daria writes!

in my opinion i felt this romance was missing alot if things. i felt like something i've already read.

Gosh, I adored this one! Along Came Amor is book three in the Primas of Power series by Alexis Daria and features Ava and Ramon. After a spontaneous (and not like her at all) one-night stand with Roman after meeting at a hotel bar, Ava is shocked to learn that he's the best man in her cousin's wedding, where she's the maid of honor. Determined to win Ava over for more than one night, Roman sets out to help Ava see how well they fit together - for more than just one night.

"I'm tired of fighting to be heard. I want someone to care enough to give me the space to think and speak without my having to beg for it."

This was so steamy and an absolute treat to read! Ava and Roman's chemistry and push and pull was electric, and I had a hard time putting this one down. The cousins, as always, were delightful and I'm sad to see this series end. Thank you, Avon Books, for the advanced reading copy, receipt of which did not impact my review.

Along Came Amor did not disappoint! I absolutely love this read.This is the final book to the Primas of Power series. If you haven’t dipped your toes into this series you are truly missing out. The chemistry and romance between Ava and Roman is exhilarating. I lived for their sneaky links and steamy nights.

Although tightly knit , Ava’s family was overbearing and not supportive. It was sad how she felt she was a failure over a broken marriage and that she couldn’t come clean about her new found love to her family in fears of being judged

It was bittersweet to finally see the ending to this wonderful trilogy. There's so much growth and acceptance in these women's stories but I have to say Ava's story was one of my favorites. To see the crushing pressure she's under from her family to always be the "Perfect" one and see how that's a double edged sword in that the praise you seek feels so empty without real emotion. You can give and give all the time but it can seem like it's never enough. Verses her relationship with roman in which her existence along is enough? Ava deserves it all.

Hopefully this author writes more in the future!!

If you wanna book where there is a team coming off the page because of the chemistry this book is for you. The characters are complicated, but the relationship itself has chemistry to burn. It’s really fun to see how they know they have chemistry, but they have to work through other problems in order to have a relationship that works.

I liked the story, but in many ways, I felt the FMC was a little cliché. Feeling unworthy of love, feeling pressure by family that only kind of existed.. I didn’t kind of believe that she wouldn’t deny or hide a millionaire hottie who loved her just to avoid potential heartbreak.. I feel that reason for her emotional baggage and abandonment issues just weren’t quite compelling enough. I did enjoy the relationship with her cousins, but the book felt like an afterthought to the first in the series.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Along Came Amor by Alexis Daria

I loved this final installment in the Primas of Power trilogy. Ava and Roman’s chemistry is as steamy as ever, and seeing Ava find her confidence, especially with her family watching, is truly moving. I’ve come to care so much about the “primas of power,” and I’ll genuinely miss this close-knit group. The blend of sizzling romance, heartfelt growth, and Latinx family dynamics made it a satisfying end—though I’ll be a little sad it’s over!

Would definitely read more from Alexis Daria—this one wrapped things up beautifully.

#AlongCameAmor #NetGalleyARC

Heat Factor: The cover does not lie–it’s steamy.

Character Chemistry: They are healing each other’s wounds and triggering major growth WHILE being secret smash buddies so both the emotional intimacy and physical intimacy are pretty intense.

Plot: Ava meets Roman the night she learns her divorce is final and ends up starting a secret fling with him; only it turns out she meets up with Roman the tighter the “real life” box she’s put herself in feels, and soon both Roman and Ava have to grapple with where they want this relationship to go.

Overall: The first part of the book drove me nuts but the resolution was SO DEEPLY SATISFYING (and I cried a real whole lot).

I snagged this book from Holly and now I feel terribly guilty for taking it because I’m pretty sure this would have been exactly the kind of romantic sob fest she loves so much.

Basically, Ava is recovering (sort of) from her divorce when she meets Roman in a bar (which he owns, of course). They end up talking, eating dinner, skinny-dipping, and hooking up before Ava leaves with Roman’s number, despite insisting it was a one-time thing. Roman is totally fascinated by Ava—she’s clearly trying to reclaim space for herself and Roman is absolutely fine letting her use him as a practice dummy for voicing her needs and speaking up for herself. Roman, on the other hand, is a wildly successful businessman and hotelier whose mother and sister are finally moving out as her sister prepares for college. He’s balking at the idea of being alone and the evenings he spends with Ava seem to give him a purpose and a direction…unfortunately, Ava has set up some pretty strict boundaries when it comes to communication, so Roman spends a lot of time just wishing he could talk to her and dropping everything whenever she reaches out.

This is the part of the book that drove me up a wall. Ava, at this point, is relating her fears about her family finding out, and over time we learn that Ava’s family situation is kind of a house of cards. As the story progresses, it becomes obvious that Ava isn’t imaging things, and her knee-jerk fear of her family knowing details about her inner life is not an overreaction—but for the entire first third of the book, what it feels like is that Ava is thoughtlessly using Roman to feel better about herself anytime something with her ex comes up while Roman is the saint who’s putting up with it.

I was really irritated by the dynamic but I realized two things: first, it became clear that this was about a family with a history of immigration/first generation transitions, and that means that the family dynamic is going to be uniquely complex. It’s not fair to read it and just insist Ava should drop her family like a ton of bricks, or cut off her Abuela, or go to therapy and set up some hard boundaries with her family because there are layers of trauma and love and anxiety and pressure going on here. Second, Roman feels annoyingly perfect because Ava is basically giving him the luxury of being able to swoop in and distract himself from his own choices. Roman’s getting something big out of this arrangement, too: he gets to be a hero and a healer without the risk of messing anything up, because it’s only one night here and there. Third, and most importantly…the author might very well be setting us up for a huge, cathartic resolution.

And I was RIGHT. When Roman and Ava are thrown together for a longer period of time without distractions, Roman’s insistence on swooping in and fixing everyone’s problems and Ava’s inability to have boundaries are brought to a head. All of a sudden, the two of them have to take all the emotional and physical intimacy they’ve been building and see where it goes.

The characters in this book develop slowly and then kind of all at once—Roman ends up having to really take a look at what he wants his life to look like and make room in order to give it a chance. In order to be with Ava, he has to completely let go of any semblance of a plan because Ava’s flat out not comfortable with pulling the trigger on a traditional relationship. Ava has to learn how to speak up, have boundaries, and (biggest, hardest lesson of all) to accept and ignore any disapproval or criticism those boundaries might bring. Any relationship with Roman will have no chance of success if she’s terrified of failing at it.

There are really three kinds of relationships that are being tested and examined in this book: familial, platonic, and romantic. All three come to a head in SUCH a dramatic and satisfying way. It’s a big, hot, public mess, friends. If you, like me, sob every time the family comes together at the end of Encanto and validates Mirabel’s experience, you will lose it in this book.

This is the third in a series, and so the ending involves a lot of threads being tied together and there’s a lot of big happy families with babies vibes going on, which, if this were a standalone might be a bit over the top…but I think if you read all three, it’s likely fitting. I think if you’re on vacation/doing a beach read, this would be a fantastic choice, especially if you’re on vacation with your family and they’re pushing all of the usual buttons.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.

This review is also available at The Smut Report.