Gabriela and His Grace is the third and final book of the The Luna Sisters standalone series.

Gabriela is excited to return home to Mexico after being abroad in London. She is surprised that Sebastian Brooks, the Duke of Whitfield, will be accompanying her on the the voyage. Gabriela can't stand the Duke and it seems that the feelings are mutual. But after several weeks on the ship and in Mexico, Gabriela and Sebastian's relationship develops into something neither of them expected.

The end of a series is always bittersweet. I loved being able to see Ana Maria and Isabel's continued happily ever afters in this last book. I was eager to see how Gabriela and Sebastian's relationship would change after seeing their interactions in the previous two books. I am happy to say that I got what I wanted in this book!

Gabriela and Sebastian's fiery chemistry is brought to the forefront in this installment. I enjoyed being able to see that chemistry turn from hate into a love that is passionate and sweet. From Sebastian's point-of-view, it was clear that he was into Gabriela before he even realized it. When Gabriela made it known to him that she felt the same way, that slow burn turned into an inferno in the bedroom.

It's clear that Liana De la Rosa did a ton of research on Mexican history for this book. I appreciated that historical and political matters are big part of the Luna Sisters' stories because I learned a lot about those tumultuous times. I can't wait to see what De la Rosa has next for us.

I really enjoyed this enemies-to-lovers historical romance!

Steam level: 🔥🔥🔥

thank you so much for the approval- i cannot wait to dive in, this is one of my most anticipated reads of the year! i will be sure to leave a review on GR/retailers to come! 💞

On a voyage home, Gabriela is under the protection of the Duke of Whitfield. The foes must navigate their own feelings while handling familial obligations and financial woes.
I liked Sebastian as an MMC. He was very protective of Gabby. I enjoyed Gabby's character once she stopped running.
This was a decent read. I would recommend to anyone who likes forced proximity and the enemies to lovers trope.

I really wanted to like this book, but I often found my eyes glazing over while reading and not really absorbing what was going on. I may come back to this one when I'm in a different headspace, but for now this is a DNF.

Today I’m reviewing the third novel in Liana De la Rosa Luna Sisters series, Gabriela and His Grace. Up until this point, Gabriela has made her appearance in the other two novels showcasing her “hellion” spirit as a woman who will not tie herself to the mold of societies definition of a fine lady. Plus De la Rosa includes the history between France’s occupation of Mexico and how the Luna sisters seek refuge in the UK. I love when authors take slices of history and interweave it into their novels to showcase a period of time in our human history that deserves to be acknowledged and remembered.

Even though this book takes a very long while to find its footing, the pacing was incredibly slow, and Gabriela’s story seemed marooned as she made her way to Mexico, I did enjoy the slow burn between Gabriela and Sebastian. Once you see Gabriela back in Mexico trying, with little success, to gain her father’s favor, you start to wonder why she went back in the first place. After some time passes Gabriela realizes she is a pawn in a game of her father’s own making where he gains more power and prestige by marrying her off to the highest titled man. Thus she flees back to London only to find herself without a chaperone or a place to stay aboard the ship that will take her back home. Enter the Duke of Whitfield.

To be honest, the setup in the beginning didn’t feel urgent enough for Gabriela to leave London. There was no catalyst to push her towards going back to Mexico, besides the mention of her reputation being in question. I almost wish the book started in Mexico and De la Rosa would have painted a more vivid picture of 1800s Mexico and Gabriela’s relationship with her country of birth and juxtaposing her old self with her new self and her experiences in London.

Like a marathon runner who wants to quit early, but can’t because they’ve trained for this moment and needs to push on, keep reading, as the book does pick up towards the end with a sudden twist! Gabriela and His Grace is one of those romances where you keep reading. The ending is worth it.

A satisfying conclusion to the Luna sisters series! Liana is such a brilliant writer, combining expansive Mexican historical context and commentary with themes of romance, family, and community. Although, I felt like we were missing some of that fiery connection between Gabby and Sebastian that we experienced in the first two books of this series, I was still pleased with both the romantic and steamy moments between them. I'm so sad this is the end of the Luna sisters' stories, but my was it an absolutely joy to read about these amazing, intelligent, and brave women. And Berkley, I hope you know that readers DO want historical romance. This genre is NOT dying. And we want historical romance with BIPOC characters!

Xoxo

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)

-m/f historical romance
-frenemies to lovers
-slow burn
-forced proximity

I just love this series so much. The politicla intrigue, the relationship of the sisters and the family dynamics. Just so dissapointed this series is over. I loved getting the glimpses of the other sisters happily ever afters while we got Gabriela's and her rakish love. How these two shifted from not so friendly to flaling for each other. The sexual tension was delicious.

i absolutely looooved this!! i really enjoyed their banter - they were so funny together and really supported each other in the best way. this is a first by this author but it won't be the last! thank you netgalley for the arc! this is the perfect summer book to help out of a slump.

Luna sisters omg I already miss you. This series was wonderful and dramatic and, as a Mexican, these stories are filled with so many familiar struggles, tough conversations and expectations.

I have been anticipating Gabby and Sebastian’s story for a while now and they did not disappoint!! These sisters and their love stories are so reminiscent of the novelas I devoured as a kid!

Gabriela and His Grace is the third and final book in The Luna Sisters series, and it follows the youngest Luna sister, Gabby, as she travels back to Mexico unbeknownst to her parents. Accompanying her is a rakish duke she detests, Sebastian Brooks, whom she’s never forgiven for insulting her years ago. As Gabby reunites with her sister and sees her parents for the first time in years, she also begins to question her place in the world, and as her feelings for Sebastian grow and her return isn’t what she hoped, she also must consider a very different future than she expected.

I thought this was a great ending to the trilogy, and it highlighted many of the elements that I loved in the first two books. The rich history and layered and complicated characters are well-crafted, as are the messages about gender issues, being true to yourself, and embracing change. The Luna sisters have such a wonderful bond, and since some time has passed from the start of the series, we really get to see how strong their connection is. Like the characters and romances, this relationship is layered and compelling, and highlights the unique love between siblings.

At first, I didn’t really love Sebastian as much as the men in the first two books. He’s definitely less mature, and I didn’t understand why he kept a certain secret from her. I think he self-sabotages because he doesn’t feel worthy of her, and I’m glad he grew and changed by the end of the book. In fact, the more I think about this story, the more I think that was the main point - people can grow and change and learn. Sebastian and Gabby learned this lesson and became even better versions of themselves. Both also prove that there is more to them than meets the eye.

Overall, I enjoyed the love story between Gabby and Sebastian, though I hated the incident that initially soured Gabby toward Sebastian. I can totally understand why it took so long for him to win her over. Something else that won her (and me) over is his staunch support of her as an intelligent and capable person. His views on gender in general were great.
The epilogue is a lovely conclusion to the story, and I love that we get to see what’s happening with so many of my favorite, and even a few of my least favorite, characters.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkeley for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

The Luna Sisters series ends with a bang—and a swoon! Liana De la Rosa has long been an automatic-buy author for me, and Gabriela and His Grace is a fitting, fiery finale to a groundbreaking historical romance series that centers Latina heroines in a genre that rarely makes space for them.

This one’s packed with favorite tropes: enemies to lovers, forced proximity (hello, sea voyage!), grumpy/sunshine, and the ever-satisfying duke meets his match. Gabriela, the youngest Luna sister, is bold, brilliant, and tired of being underestimated. Sebastian, the broody but broke Duke of Whitfield, needs a lifeline—and gets a hurricane in a gown instead. Their chemistry is barbed and blazing, and their banter is everything you'd hope for in a romantic sparring match.

But what elevates this from steamy historical to must-read status is its heart. Gabriela’s devotion to her country, her refusal to shrink herself, and the backdrop of 1860s Mexico offer a rarely-seen, much-needed perspective in historical romance. It’s deeply refreshing to see stories like this—about power, politics, and Latinx pride—told with such care and passion.

Is it perfect? YES. I'm so sad to see this series end but it’s an unforgettable, fiery, and fiercely feminist end to the Luna Sister's story. Bravo, Liana.

What do you mean this is the last book of the Luna Sisters?! Of course it was absolutely amazing!! This book as well as the two previous ones will forever hold a special place in my heart. As a Latina reader, is so hard to find characters you can relate to deeply & culturally.

This book had me crying and giggling the whole time. I’ve been looking forward to Gaby’s story and it did not disappoint. Love how strong & passionate she is! Liana is absolutely one of my favorite authors. She just has this incredible way of immersing you in the story with her writing. The pacing of the book felt just right and I can promise you will have a great time reading it.

This book is definitely a must read!

This is the final instalment in the Luna sisters trilogy and I have thoroughly enjoyed every one. The three sisters have distinct voices and stories, so you don't feel like you are reading the same book over and over again. I appreciate the Mexican history and politics sprinkled throughout the novel, and it makes me want to learn more about that time in Mexico. I am sad the trilogy is over and would love to see Liana De la Rosa write more novels within the Luna sister's world.

I love a good romance—historical or contemporary. But what I really enjoy is a novel that takes me to a place and/or time that I don’t know much about, then brings it to life for me. “Gabriela and His Grace” (the third and last of Liana De la Rosa’s series featuring the Luna sisters) does that.

The background to all three novels is the Second Mexican Empire of the 1860s. What Emperor Napoleon III of France thought he was doing when he established his puppet, Archduke Maximilian of Austria, on the Mexican throne, I can barely imagine, but it was an imperial age and Napoleon no doubt felt the push to compete with the British in India and perhaps even his own uncle of the same name. In any case, Maximilian’s arrival was greeted with joy by monarchists and considerably less than joy by supporters of the ruling president of the Mexican Republic, Benito Juarez.

The Luna sisters and their parents are on the side of Juarez, but they have spent the two previous books in London after being shipped off for their own safety by their parents. Since her marriage, Isabel, the second sister, has returned home with her British husband. Gabriela, the heroine of this novel, decides to return as well after a harrowing incident in a London drawing room. Naturally, since this is a romance, she has no sooner set foot on the boat than she discovers one of her fellow passengers is Sebastian Brooks, the eleventh Duke of Whitfield, with whom she already has a contentious relationship. And if you can’t guess where things go from there, well, you need to read a lot more romances.

Although definitely on the steamy side, this is a fun story, well told and richly brought to life. You might even learn some Mexican history along the way. I know I did.

I look forward to interviewing Liana De la Rosa on my blog (link below) after the book comes out at the end of August.

Mexican heiress Gabriela is the youngest daughter in the powerful and politically connected Luna family and is the only one who remains unmarried. In exile in London for the past few years due to the French Occupation in her homeland, she is determined to be more than a pretty face, cultivating relationships with the English nobility in support of her nation’s cause.

Reluctant to wed, Gabriela finds herself the target of opportunistic suitors, so she decides to return to Mexico. But what she doesn’t contend with is that the arrogant rake, Sebastian, the Duke of Whitfield, will be accompanying her on the long voyage.

Having gotten off on the wrong foot when they first met, they’ve spent years trading barbs in mutual disdain. As their travels bring them together, they learn they have a lot more in common than they ever imagined.

This third and final installment of the exhilarating Luna Sisters series is a tender and steamy Victorian love story, and a gratifying culmination of the loveable trio of sisters’ stories. De La Rosa once again showcases her unmatched skill in mixing romance and historical fiction with a spotlight on Latinx characters.

Gabriela and His Grace delivered on the slow burn between Gabby and Sebastian that has been happening since book one of the Luna sisters. I love a well done reformed rake, especially when the rake in question is a duke with daddy issues. I just can't help myself. But it's important to know that Sebastian was never a rake in the taking-advantage-kind-of-way (which in my opinion CANNOT be reformed) just in that his lack of self worth lead him to be flirtatious and see many women. That kind of character back story makes the emotional pay off here even better! Gabby is also so stubborn, and so ready to fight for her friends and her family that I think her forgetting to ask for help when she needs it, paired with a stubborn partner who is absolutely going to fight for her happiness no matter what, that is just so beautiful. I liked that both characters here also worked through parental issues that could not simply be resolved, because I think historically this is true---not every bad father can have a major turn around by the end of the book and come to their senses. Sometimes characters have to step away and break the cycle themselves, acknowledging that they cannot fix their parents, no matter how much they might want to. Just, the emotional depth to this book, paired with the steam, and the FINAL pay off of the slow slow three book long burn, make it one of my all time favorites. I loved it so much.

Side note, this book contains my favorite good girl to date, which is the delicious good girl of a man complimenting a woman on having punched an asshat in the face. THE GOODEST GIRL!!!! I can't wait to get my hard copy of this and put it on my shelf next to my beloved copy of Ana Maria and the Fox and Isabel and the Rogue.

Thank you so much to Liana De la Rosa , Berkley, and Netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

5/5

Gabriela Luna Valdés has long felt the odd one out. As her eldest sisters have all married and gone on to contribute politically to Mexico back home and abroad, Gabi cannot help but feel adrift. After many years away from Mexico, Gabriela intends to return after a scandal leaves her with no other choice but to flee London altogether. Who should be called to provide a watchful eye on the ship bearing her home but Sebastian Brooks, the Duke of Whitfield, and Gabriela’s nemesis. But outside of the expectations of London society, Gabriela and Sebastian soon discover how little they actually know each other, and the sizzling chemistry underlying their years of hatred. Put simply, Gabriela and His Grace is historical romance perfection. Liana De la Rosa focuses on the end years of the illegal occupation of Mexico by the French as her heroine travels home to a world transformed, and I loved the windows into a part of history long uncovered within this genre. Liana De la Rosa entwines this tumultuous time in Mexican history with an exploration into home and how we can stand for our communities and ourselves. The hate to lovers arc is built up around this with the slowest of slow burns. I love seeing characters removed from their comforts so much that the facades come down and that is central to this romance. Liana De la Rosa really works to make Sebastian and Gabriela see one another, and that in contrast to their upbringings makes for some truly delicious tension. As an aside I don't think I will be moving on from the sharing-one-bed-on-a-boat scenes, they were really so so hot (thank you Liana De la Rosa). This was a scrumdiddlyumptious romance and I will be yelling about it more in time.

This review is now on my blog, a longer feature to come closer to publication!

The book was enjoyable and the characters lovable BUT the story dragged. I found myself bored with the first 50% of the book. My issues were (1) too much focus on historical/political context (2) relied heavily on the pre established antagonizing relationship of Gaby & Whitfield from books 1 & 2 (3) we did not get enough of quick witted sarcastic Gabby. I had high hopes for this book but it did not deliver the serotonin kick that books 1 & 2 did. Overall it was good and decent end for the Luna Sisters Series. I just wanted more out of Gabbys story.

Wonderful as always. I was very excited for Gaby's story and it did not disappoint. Loved that this one took place in Mexico. I am sad the series is over.

4.5 stars!!
Oooohhh, I knew Gabriela and Sebastian were going to be HOTT! Antagonists to lovers is one of my favorite tropes, and these two had four years of pent up slights, banter and animosity to overcome before they could get their HEA. I appreciated how we spent time in Mexico, and learned more about the Luna parents, and why the sisters weren't close at the beginning of the series. Seeing Ana Maria and Isabel become more confidant, plus Gabby coming into her own with their support was wonderful. This was a slow burn — I wasn't expecting that! — BUT when Gabby and Sebastian eventually KISS, I was yelling FINALLY to myself. In some ways this story mirrored the first book with how it's paced, a quick marriage and then finally confessing their feelings to each other. Isabel's book is my favorite (because I'm most like her), but Gabby's story and the epilogue wrapped up the Luna sisters' journey, while also sharing insight into the Franco-Mexican war. Although I know Liana isn't writing historical romance next, I hope she'll have the opportunity to come back to it because she deserves to continue to tell stories about people who share her heritage, and we need more diverse voices to show people with the same backgrounds that they matter! Thank you to Liana and her ARC team for the free book, and I can't wait to read her upcoming contemporary!

- antagonists to lovers
- Mexican FMC
- moderate steam
-WDTK? Chapter 17