e-Audio, 11:21:18
Narrated by: Stacy Gonzalez
Release Date: September 5, 2023
Published by: Simon & Schuster Audio
Read from: September 14-15, 2023
Milagro Street, #2
Source: Library’s Libby
TW: Death, Addiction, Emotional Abuse, Toxic Relationship, Misogyny, Domestic Abuse, Gaslighting
For Readers Interested In: Adult, Romance, Magical RealismGillian Armstead-Bancroft—Pride of the East Side and once-perfect bruja, wife, and mother—is going to spend her summer getting good at being bad.
The first time she left Freedom, Kansas, behind, she did it by doing everything right.
This time, she’ll hide from the large Mexican American family welcoming her home and work in secret to break the curse that’s erased her magical life. Only by doing it all wrong can Gillian get herself and her two children away from the ghosts of her hometown by summer’s end.
Nicky Mendoza is an answer to her prayers. He was the practical solution to the problem of her virginity when they were younger, and now, as a gorgeous artist in town for only a weekend, he’s the ideal man to launch her down the path of ruination.
But Gillian isn’t the only one who’s cursed.
Nicky has been plagued by his furtive, enduring love for her as long as he’s been haunted by his cadejo, the phantom black dog that stalks his psyche. He’ll stick around to be whatever Gillian needs him to be this summer—but he won’t touch her. Touching her, then watching her leave again, would ruin him for good.
*MY THOUGHTS*
After reading the first book in this series I was SO EXCITED to read the rest of the series. Never mind that it wasn’t even written yet lol I just knew I needed it. And I was right to be excited, because this was SO. GOOD. Honestly, it’s my favorite of the two. If you haven’t read it yet, do so now!
Ok so first things first, the characters were amazing. I LOVED Gillian, but she frustrated tf out of me in some places. I really wanted to hug her and then shake her. Like I really wanted to make sure she got the help she needed (because Lordt knows she needed some therapy) but I also felt so bad because of what she had gone through. Now the weirdo that was Nicky, I just wanted to shake him. Because whyyyyyy did you lie like that? It was so unnecessary lol But when all the details of his life came out, it made more sense. I really felt like he needed a hug too because what he went through with his brother was so real. And when I say real, I mean I even got a little teary when it got to that part.
The spice tho?! I didn’t even own this audio, but I definitely went and made bookmarks when I heard something I liked. I don’t think I’ve ever done that before. One thing this book taught me tho, was Nicky was like that song, “we can do it anywhere” because he was always ready to go. And for whatever reason that worked for me. This might be a little weird to admit, but I get too bored when things stay the same or it’s always in a bed, but I think they were everywhere BUT a bed, so this was exciting. And it wasn’t always like basic places either. Like the locker room bench? Yeahhhh I’ll just leave that right there lol
The last thing I wanted to talk about was the magical realism part. It was with her job as a bruja. She used her powers for good all the way around. But it really made me feel bad for her too because she was using all of these good things for all of these people, but she couldn’t see the good she could get for herself. But when things started happening at the end, that’s when I was clapping for her. I was happy she finally realized what she was worth. A booktoker I know Mytae said it best, “it was a magic that was familiar.” No I’m not Latinx, but I am Catholic. And this was a little like the candles on the altar kind of thing we do to some of the saints and the Virgin Mary. And the way everything happened, I would have hoped that’s the way the saints would react, to help the hurt and all that. And the scene where it happened?! Like omg I loved it so much I had to re-listen to it. I imagined the sounds of the wind whipping around and the yelling. I didn’t have to imagine the crying because the narrators were AMAZING. They really put their all into the end and it made that scene SO GOOD. I loved it.
This book really was my favorite in the series so far. I am TERRIFIED of how the next book is going to be. I don’t even know who she’s going to be with? I’m hella curious as to where she was while she was gone. But for now, I guess I just have to wait. But Harlequin if you want to let me know in advance, I’m not arguing lol
Overall, I give this
