All Rhodes Lead Here by Mariana Zapata

I found this on my drafts. Seems that I have not posted this back in April. Sorry about that.

I can't believe that I have never before made a post about Mariana Zapata's book. To be honest I have only read five books by her, but they all were amazing!

I think it was around 2016 or 2017 when I first heard about Mariana Zapata. The whole book community went nuts over The Wall of Winnipeg and Me. Still this day it must be the most known book by her. I haven't read it, though. It took years after hearing about her, before I actually read a book written by her.

My first book by her was Wait For It and I absolutely fall in love with her writing. Mariana Zapata is known as a queen of slow burn. You know that I usually skip sex scenes if there are too many for my liking. The whole story and characters mean more to me than steamy scenes. So after all this, I don't care that the main characters doesn't get together until 75-80% of the book. 

My second book by her was Dear Aaron. Absolutely stunning book. I loved how characters connected through e-mails and messages. The third book I read was Luna and the Lie, amazing book with cool characters. Then last fall I read From Lukov With Love, a beautiful story of two broken people.

When I heard about All Rhodes Lead Here I bought it immediately. It was a bit of surprise when this book was released. I read the book. I can not say that it was a fast read, because there's over 500 pages in this book, but it didn't take too long to read the book. I was hooked from the beginning.

This was a bit of grumpy/sunshine -book and I really liked it. I like how the characters felt drawn to each other. There were some drama, but it all ended well. This is a great book for all of you slow burn  lovers. The characters had back stories and I could see the view MZ was so vividly describing in this book. I want to believe this kind of love. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

All Rhodes Lead Here by Mariana Zapata

2021

The Sinner by Emma Scott

Thank you for Emma Scott and Valentine PR for giving me an ARC to read and review!

Once again I had the privilege to read new Emma Scott -book beforehand. I am incredibly thankful! 

The Sinner is a paranormal romance. I rarely, very rarely, read those, but I love the way Emma Scott writes so I had to give this book a chance. Once again the words she wrote left speechless. 

I have no idea how much I can actually write, because I am afraid that I might spoil this book. I didn't read the blurb before I started reading the book. But I read the blurb just now hoping it might give me some guidelines with this review. 

I believe for something. I don't know if it's God or karma or just some major force that's bigger than us, but I truly believe that there's something out there. That something is definitely good. But I also believe in bad. We see so much of the bad everyday. We see it in ourselves, we see it in our fellow people. Emma Scott used a term inner demons in this book and I totally believe in those, too. They are all our insecurities and I listen them way more than I listen any other people. 

I have been a bit in a reading slump for a while. But this week (it's Sunday now) I finished Hush, Hush -series by Becca Fitzpatrick (review coming soon!) and there were same themes as there is in this book. Yesterday my kid, the one with the special needs, wanted to watch the movie, Coco. You know that one, where the kid goes to the land of the dead? So, somehow my this week has been consumed with the greater questions. Maybe this is the time when I am open to think about all these things.

Okay, back on track. I read this book in a day. It's so addictive. I couldn't put it down. I felt myself in Lucy in so many ways. She is an introvert, shy and has very simple life. She listens her inner voice that calls her "silly Lucy". Then one day there's a dead man outside of her apartment. But as it turns out, he isn't dead and maybe he isn't a man at all. 

I don't want to give anything more away from the story. You need to read and experience it yourself. But I will tell you that once again Emma Scott has written a beautiful book that will break your heart. I cried, my heart ached for these lovers who seemed to be doomed to live in loneliness from one life to another. Sure there twists I could see coming, but it didn't bother me, since all was very well written. I bet that Emma have needed to done a great deal of background work for this book, but it have paid of, since all felt real. 

I liked that there was mentioned a character from other Emma's book. I liked that this book really made you think on what you believe. I liked how Lucy has named her house plant. I liked the side characters. I loved the main characters. I liked that there wasn't too much violence. 

I am grateful that I had the chance to read this book. I have read Emma's books since 2017, not for a long, but long enough to have learned to love her work. It feels like I'm repeating myself in here, but I love the way she writes, it's so beautiful. I am grateful for so many things tonight. Thank you for this book, Emma Scott! There are no words to describe how much your written words mean to me!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Sinner by Emma Scott

2021