After Hours on Milagro Street

As a rule, I don't really like contemporary romance. I tend to find them one-dimensional — I prefer my romance with a side of adventure, magic, and/or history.

This is the best contemporary romance novel I have ever read.

Both main characters feel like real people with real wounds. And their love story is taking place within a multigenerational mystery on the plains. There is so much important history and present-day truth incorporated. It is an urban planning and academic romance! There's archival research and a local historical society, discussions of displacement and predatory real estate development, and the importance of community. It's about family and home and everyone pitching in with their skills to save a beloved institution, and to heal some fractured hearts along the way.

Even when I expected some of the twists, this book is so heartfelt and the execution was so strong that I was only delighted to have guessed right in some places.

If it weren't so spicy, I'd recommend it to my planning students :)

It took me a minute to warm up to Alex but I think the author did a good job of showing how she got to where she was at the beginning of the book.

I can't say enough about this book! NetGalley had it preview on read now and the first five chapters had me hooked! I was grateful to have been approved for the full story. 

This story has everything! A little mystery, a lot of spice, radium and a strong love of family and culture. 

The author brings so much of herself in this story. It's clear how much her culture and family have not only shaped her, but America as well. 

I enjoyed reading about the history of traqueros and how they have shaped their communities. In this story Alex works to keep her culture prominent in their community. Even though the Mexicans had a strong influence there is still discrimination today. 

There is a great cast of characters in the story and the chemistry between Alex and Jeremiah is 🔥. 

The author did a wonder job on this book and I look forward to reading more from her. 

Thank you NetGalley and Carina Press for the opportunity to read and review this story.