Ah, that was sweet! Was I reading a Hallmark movie in novel form? Yes. Did I know exactly what was coming at every turn? Also yes. Did I care, though? Nope! Tempting descriptions of food, a close knit small town, and a found family are what I needed. Also, the main characters were giving Pride and Prejudice vibes, but that might just have been me.

My main interest in the story, however, was Gabby's relationship with her biological father, who 'abandoned' her mother before she was born, never tried to make contact even though he stay informed about his daughter's life through a friend, before turning up at her mother's memorial service. Apart from the reunion - and the gift of a house - I identified completely with Gabby's mixed emotions and fear of rejection:

When I’d gotten older, I’d figured that my birth father hadn’t wanted me or my mom. And even though I was curious, I told myself I didn’t care. When a friend asked me if I would be sad if I ever found out that my birth father had died, I told her that I wouldn’t because why would I care about the death of a stranger?

I thought Gabby was unnecessarily prickly with Raul, her father, after accepting his offer and moving to his small town, and of course her treatment of 'Mayor Paz' was thinly veiled attraction, but I loved the therapeutic conversations with Lola, her neighbour ('Knowing where you come from becomes more important as we get older') and her growing pride in her paternal family, including the 'adelitas' , or female soldiers in the Mexican Revolution, who inspired the novel (I'd love to read more about them!) ( )

This book was so much more than I expected. Gabby is a young chef with a ton of student debt. After her young mother’s death, she finds she’s even further in debt, courtesy of her mom. At her mother’s funeral she’s confronted by her biological father. He makes her an offer she has no intention of accepting. After an attempted sexual assault at work, though, she finds herself without other options and heads to New Mexico.

Gabby was a strong character with the will to work, a strong love of family and a need to express herself through her food. I loved watching her character grow more confident and open to her newfound family and friends. The food and recipes sounded amazing, and Diego was the perfect love interest for her.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for this ARC. ( )

4 out of 5 stars.

Firstly, many thanks to NetGalley and Montlake for the opportunity to read this e-ARC!

The story follows a Mexican American woman in her late thirties who, after the loss of her mother, is reunited with her biological father - much against her will. After some to and froing, and some difficult situations and choices, Gabby takes up his offer of moving down to Sonrisa, New Mexico, where his abeula's home is in need of some TLC for being put on the market.

There is a real rich heritage and culture to this story, and that has to be one of its main successes. The story of the Adelita's and the La Revolucion, giving the birthplace and history of a town that sounded like a dream of a community to live in - it all serves to make a reader feel a lot of warmth towards it. Gabby has been born and raised in America, educated at an all-white religious school, and doesn't speak Spanish fluently. For her, this is an opportunity to return to her roots, to learn about that half of her that she never knew and the family she knew knew on her father's side.

Though this is definitely a romance, it's also a lot more than that. At it's heart, it is a story about grief, growth, and forgiveness. It's about learning, and become the person you are supposed to be.

It really is a heartwarming tale, and one that I enjoyed reading. There are many strong female characters throughout, and the main men of the book are so easy to fall for! Gabby, at times, can come across as rude; especially when she first gets to Sonrisa and has no interest in getting to know anyone or anything about it. But, as frustrating as these moments can be, you come to understand her and her point of view. It makes her growth into someone who takes charge of her life and makes the decisions without sway from others all the better.

This one was a bit of a surprise for me. I hadn't expected much, but it really delivers. A sweet, sometimes poignant tale that is perfect for a cosy read. ( )