Cover Image: All Rhodes Lead Here

All Rhodes Lead Here

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Member Reviews

This book was ENTIRELY too long. But I did love the slow burn between our protagonists and the Colorado setting. I read this one during a weekend that I also did a lot of hiking, but again.... needed a tighter edit.

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4.5 stars | 2 spice

I am normally not a fan of longer romances but THIS BOOK captured my attention immediately. I absolutely adored the plot of this book and quickly got drawn in to not just the MCs lives but the side characters as well. I would say this bordered on women's fiction because it had romance, friendship, family and more.

I loved how Aurora and Rhodes slowly grew on each other and how we got to watch their relationship blossom. Zapata wrote a book that finally felt like a REAL relationship if that makes sense. They took their time, this was spread out over several months and we got to watch them gravitate towards each other and grapple with their feelings.

I love a good grumpy MC and Rhodes gave us just that. The age gap didn't feel creepy and I adored the relationship she got with his son. ALSO THE BACKSTORY ON HIS SON - GET READY TO SOB BECAUSE I KNOW I DID.

The length of this book worked perfectly with the story itself and didn't make you feel like it was dragging on. I am actually sad I haven't read this sooner. I highly recommend this for fans of slow burn, age gap and stories that really draw you into the romance and the whole town.

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I've been having meh reactions to Zapata's previous work, and I was hesitiant about All Rhodes Lead Here. If you're familiar with her previous work, you'll know that every single one follows the same formula: sad but tough female protagonist, stoic/tough male counterpart with the slowest burn in the history of any romance. This one was better than the others, I'll give it that, but I can't do the pace of these anymore.

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I loved this book so much! The character building is excellent. You will fall in love with all of the characters in this book. The romance was definitely a slow burn! They didn't have their first kiss until 13 hours into the book! There was only one love scene, so If you don't like books to be overly spicy, this is a good one!

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Alright this might officially be my favorite Mariana Zapata book. I was nervous going into this because I’ve had mixed experiences with Zapata’s books and this was going to be my last chance and I’m so glad I read it. I loved these characters and this story. From the second we met Tobias Rhodes I knew I would love him and he did not disappoint. Zapata is the slow burn queen and this book did it perfectly. The only criticism I had was that the nickname Tobias gave Aurora was “Buddy” everytime he said it I wanted to die a little but it was easy to overlook bc of how much I loved everything else. 4.5/ stars!

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4.5 stars!! This was my first book by this author and I was really immersed in the story! I loved Aurora, Rhodes, and I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Amos!!!! It was fun following them on their journey…it was definitely a slow burn for the romance, but Aurora & Amos clicked right away which I loved!

There were some parts of the story that were SO funny, and others that were SO emotional! It was told from Aurora’s POV and she was SO likeable!

The epilogue was gold! The best! I felt satisfied!

I ended up listening to the book (my mind couldn’t focus xo), and the narration was perfect! The writing was engaging and flowed perfectly! I will definitely add some more of her books to my TBR pile!

Highly recommend if you like sunshine vs stoic characters who bring out the best in each other!

“Buddy….”<—— ❤️

Even though I ended up listening, I need to thank Net Galley and the author for the ebook in exchange for an honest review!

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This book was super cute!! I liked the slow burn romance and character development a lot, but if I’m being picky the end to the romance fell flat for me. It felt like there was all this beautiful emotional build up but a lack of sexual tension, so when they finally slept together it was out of nowhere and threw me off guard. But other than that minor thing I thought the storyline was lovely and I appreciated all the side characters a lot!

🌈Queer rep: none

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I wanted to like this book but just didn't. The characters had no chemistry whatsoever. The age gap was 10 years but felt more like 30. It wasn't good.

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This was good time. I enjoyed the slow burn between the two leads. There was something missing in the middle but overall I enjoyed this read. What I enjoyed most was the setting in this story, it really enhanced the book. I definitely recommend.

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A heartwarming slow burn romance. I loved the grumpy/sunshine element and the witty banter. I will be seeking more of this author’s work.
Many thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

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Admittedly, this is the book that started it all: my Mariana Zapata obsession. I could write a love letter over her entire library. Seriously, though--this book was charming. And, yes, you have to be okay with slow-burn to enjoy this author. But she just does it so well. 

I loved the two main characters Ora and Rhodes. Ora was quirky and not afraid of much. Rhodes--well, Rhodes was great at a withering stare. But sometimes that's all you need.

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I’m serious when I say this but I NEED him, so bad. please please please. The perfect slow burn, and it just was good reading the progression of their relationship. It was an easy read I was worried it was going to drag because of how long it is but the story went by fast.

also…ANGEL?!!!? I was punching the air fr. This is going in my favorites shelf.

Than you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!!

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This is the first book I've ever read by Mariana Zapata and I definitely think I will be reading more as soon as I can! I enjoyed the funny banter, and the humor, the description of the characters, and the hard aspects of life that were being dealt with from divorce, manipulation, and loss of a mother through adoption, and moving on with life. I think she captured the aspect of small town life well and that she did a great job of easing into all aspects of their relationships. I truly loved the step-child relationship she formed with Amos and I could see aspects of the relationship I have with my stepdaughter also which was nice to have represented. I also enjoyed them having kids later in life. I'm on track to be having my first child in my 30s and at times it's a terrifying thought, but seeing others do it is kind of beautiful also. I enjoyed the book from start to finish, even though I was slightly intimidated by the amount of pages!

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3.75 stars

Pros:
This was an easy read. The main character, Aurora, is quirky and fun and loveable. Rhodes is surly and quiet. Amos is a delightful side character. The small town setting is always a win. The storyline is interesting and unique enough. The found family themes are heartwarming.

Cons:
Every SINGLE time Aurora comes in contact with Rhodes, we have to hear her inner dialog about how manly and handsome he is. Every. Time. That always takes me out of the story because it feels heavy handed and repetitive, and borderlines on objectifying. We get it. The man is handsome. Let’s move along.

Some of the dialog didn’t work for me and felt a bit forced or inauthentic. This is especially true of the first (and almost only?) explicit scene of the book. The tone did not match the characters, in my opinion, considering the story is largely sugary sweet and this was decidedly not. It was gratuitous and off-putting. And lastly, this book is just TOO long, which is common with Zapata’s stories. The last 40% drug on for me.

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Huge thank you to Avon/ Harper Voyager, Netgalley and the author for including me in this wonderful rerelease of #AllRhodesLeadHere.
It was a huge honor . as to me no one writes a slow burn like Mariana Zapata. I also listened to this in audio ; when I saw that Sebastian York was the narrator with Amanda Ronconi ; SebYo like we call him on Bookstagram is in my auto listen list! Harper Audio.. you picked perfection with Sebastian York; he is the only one who does Age Gap like nobody else! HE WAS Tobias Rhodes!

With this book you get:
tropes:
slowwwwwwwwww burn MZ style.
age gap
single dad: teen son that idolizes her
grumpy x sunshine
small town romance
found family
lots and lots of hiking ; if you dont want to go hiking at the end of this book in the wilds of anywhere.. who really are you?

Grief was the final way we had to tell our loved ones that they’d impacted our lives. That we missed them so, so much... I had to live, but I could also remember along the way. The people we lose take a part of us with them… but they leave a part of themselves with us too.”

Ora went back to this town after a 14 year relationship with her boyfriend Kaden ended. She explains it as her person was her mom, and when she lost her , no one could fill that hole in her. She stayed with Kaden ,with him stealing her music, her talent and not giving her anything in return. I was estatic when his mother showed up unannounced wanting her to come back and she stood up for herself.
There was a lot of this book her learning about herself., and knowing she deserves to be happy. I loved her interaction with Rhodes son, how she gave of herself ; and interest in his musical development.

But the highlight of the book to me was midway. When she went hiking ; that long hike up the mountain in her mother's journal ; Ora really thought if she hiked everywhere her mother did maybe she might find her . There was a sudden storm she gets caught in, and the struggle she had to get back to her car in the dark lost soaking wet and freezing I felt. I was scared for her; But she perseveres and Tobias met her halfway home. He came looking for her. He finally admitted to himself that losing her was not something he could accept., and it was more than he was a Forrest ranger, he knew he loved her ... finally.

"The hand on the back of my head swept down my spine, palming the small of my back, and there was no way I was imagining the fact he hugged me tight. “Don’t ever do that again, Aurora. Do you hear me? I know you can do this all by yourself, but don’t.”

”i’m fine not being the first person she’s ever loved because i know i’m going to be the last.”

“I don’t know how anybody would let you walk away, and it isn’t going to be me. Not today. Not tomorrow. Not ever. Are we clear?”

This is going down in a list I call slow burn classics, but it is also one I will feature over and over again with Single Dad trope..
Because Single dads are my kryptonite.

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I love her books, her writing and the slow character development. This one did not disappoint. I loved the relationship between the main characters and the young man. This author knows how to move the reader from enemies to lovers and grumpy & sunshine and I love it.

Thank you for the advance copy.

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This is the definition of when a slow burn WORKS. The FMC and MMC are adults with real adult problems and they take their time truly getting to know one another. The book is the FMC's--it's her journey, her story--but that doesn't mean that the MMC is underdeveloped. I loved them both and will read this author again in the future.

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Aurora returns after a long time away from home hoping to start new. When she gets to her rental, she's in for a rude awakening when the hot and grumpy landlord actually doesn't know she's staying there. Turns out his son was the one who booked it and she begs her way into staying there until she can find steady footing. As she hikes trails her mom used to and rebuilding the community she left behind, her small but growing relationship with her hot neighbor/landlord is something special.

this book was better than any other mariana zapata book i have read but much too long. it should not have been that long. a 3.5 star overall.

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*2.5 stars rounded up*
I was excited for this one, because I loved "From Lukov With Love." However, habits of Zapata's that didn't bother me in that book bothered me here. The introduction to the FMC just seemed to drag on forever without being particularly compelling, and even after the introduction of the MMC, nothing about the book seemed to grab me. Nothing about the book was particularly objectionable, but nothing caused any anticipation either. I'm sure it would appeal to others, but it just didn't hit for me.

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I was really excited to read Mariana Zapata. But this just wasn’t for me. Something about the style of writing maybe. I tried to push through, hoping it would click. But I got about 20% in and I still didn’t feel like anything was happening to pull me in to the story. I’ve heard so many good things about the author, it just wasn’t for me

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