Title: Anchored Hearts
Author: Priscilla Oliveras
Genre: Romance
Published On: April 27, 2021
Publisher: Kensington Books
Source: digital (Netgalley)
Pages: 352
Synopsis:
Award-winning photographer Alejandro Miranda hasn’t been home to Key West in years–not since he left to explore broader horizons with his papi’s warning echoing in his ears. He wouldn’t be heading there now if it wasn’t for an injury requiring months of recuperation. The drama of a prodigal son returning to his familia is bad enough, but coming home to the island paradise also means coming face to face with the girl he left behind–the one who was supposed to be by his side all along…
Anamaría Navarro was shattered when Alejandro took off without her. Traveling the world was their plan, not just his. But after her father’s heart attack, there was no way she could leave–not even for the man she loved. Now ensconced in the family trade as a firefighter and paramedic, with a side hustle as a personal trainer, Anamaría is dismayed that just the sight of Alejandro is enough to rekindle the flame she’s worked years to put out. And as motherly meddling pushes them together, the heat of their attraction only climbs higher. Can they learn to trust again, before the Key West sun sets on their chance at happiness?
My thoughts
(Spoiler free)
Anchored Hearts is a sweet second chance romance set in Key West that I couldn’t resist getting lost in, dreaming of tropical locals, palm trees, and warm sand between my toes.
When I read an excerpt on Bookish First, I was hooked and immediately requested it on Netgalley without realizing it was the second book in the Keys to Love collection. But it wasn’t a problem because each book can be read as a stand alone, focusing on different siblings within the Navarro familia. I already had the first book Island Affair on my TBR but now I’m even more excited to pick it up.
Anchored Hearts is Anamaría Navarro’s story, a character who’s easy to like. She has joined the family trade as a firefighter and paramedic but she’s also a part-time personal trainer, devoting her time to helping those in her community to make healthier lifestyle choices. She’d had dreams of traveling the world with her life-long friend turned boyfriend, Alejandro Miranda—a budding photographer—after high school graduation, but when her father had a heart attack she couldn’t leave the family she loved so much, assuring Alejandro she would join him later. Alejandro couldn’t wait to leave Key West, eager to escape the strained relationship with his own father who expected his son to work at the family restaurant, Mirandas. But when the weeks turned into months without Anamaría joining him, the miscommunication and hurt between the couple led to a permanent separation.
“…Alejandro had boarded that plane to Spain. Off to seek fame and fortune on his own terms. Without his father’s blessing. Without her.”
Priscilla Oliveras, Anchored Hearts
Twelve years have past since Alejandro, now an award-winning photographer, has been home to Key West for an extended visit, but a fall as he was trying to catch the perfect shot has forced him home to recuperate. Thanks to their close families and some meddling by Alejandro’s mother, these two find themselves back in each other’s orbits, unable to fight their unresolved feelings and frustratingly strong attraction.
I enjoyed this dual point of view story, which helped me to empathize with each character. Sometimes it can be frustrating knowing what both romantic leads are thinking but not saying to each other. Oliveras does a convincing job of making me understand the reasons these two have stayed apart, despite their very strong feelings for each other after so many years. She had me rooting for them and trusting they would evolve and learn from their mistakes.
I was also impressed with how well Oliveras developed her side characters. I could tell which brother of Anamaría’s the first book had been about—Luis—without reading a synopsis. I’m sure those who have read the first book will enjoy seeing Luis and Sara again. And I’m pretty sure by how this one ended, who and what a subsequent novel would be about, which was a fun tease.
While I enjoyed so much of Anchored Hearts, it wasn’t perfect—but nothing so big it pulled me out of the story. The author often includes street names and directions within the story—which would be great for someone who lived in Key West or travelled there often, but didn’t serve much purpose for me.
I’m happy I picked this one up, and I look forward to reading more by the author!
Thank you to Kensington Books and Netgalley for providing me with an advance copy.
(All quotes are taken from the advance copy and are subject to change in final print.)
Rating:
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About the Author
Priscilla Oliveras
PRISCILLA OLIVERAS is a USA Today bestselling author and 2018 RWA® RITA® double finalist who writes contemporary romance with a Latinx flavor. Proud of her Puerto Rican-Mexican heritage, she strives to bring authenticity to her novels by sharing her Latinx culture with readers. She and her work have earned praise from the Washington Post, New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, Redbook, Publishers Weekly, and Booklist, among others. Priscilla earned her MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University and currently serves as adjunct faculty in the program and teaches the online class “Romance Writing” for ed2go. While she’s a romance genre junkie, Priscilla also considers herself a sports fan, beach lover, and Zumba aficionado, who often practices the art of napping in her backyard hammock.
A Song For A Book
I’ve chosen “Back To You” by Selena Gomez as my song for Anchored Hearts. The lyrics are just too perfect.
Took you like a shot
Thought that I could chase you with a cold evening
Let a couple years water down how I’m feeling about you
And every time we talk
Every single word builds up to this moment
And I gotta convince myself
I don’t want it even though I do
You could break my heart in two
But when it heals, it beats for you
I know it’s forward but it’s true
Won’t lie, I’d go back to you
Have you read Anchored Hearts? Will you be adding it to your TBR? Let me know in the comments!
Happy Wandering!
This sounds really cute! I’m glad the book has a Latinx flavor to it, too. I got to visit Key West a couple years ago, and I loved the trip. This could be a fun way to revisit that vacation. 🙂
Oooh, I bet you would enjoy it even more since you’ve been to Key West. It’s definitely somewhere I’d love to visit. 🙂
I didn’t get to spend as much time there as I would have liked, but it was a really fun vacation nonetheless. 🙂