Wait for It

"I've never gone back on my word or my vows, even with someone who didn't deserve it. I'd want that person I end up with to know they don't ever have to doubt me...I always figured I'd grow old with someone, so I need to make the next one count since it's for keeps...She wouldn't be my first, but she'd be the only one who ever mattered. I think she could wait for the time to be right. I'd make sure she never regretted it.""I wanted you to see how seriously I would take spending the next fifty years with the girl who's keeping my heart for herself."I will read anything this woman writes! Zapata is the queen of slow burn - naturally building the friendship and chemistry between characters in a way that grabs hold of you (and your heartstrings) and doesn't let go until the very end.Diana is raising her two nephews after they lost their parents to tragedy. Starting over in a new neighborhood, she and her boys slowly get to know their neighbors, including Dallas - a gruff, tattooed man who keeps giving Diana a wide berth, until he becomes her nephew's baseball coach. The two slowly build a tentative friendship, but Dallas is in the middle of a divorce and Diana has been burned in the past and is focusing on her boys. But as their friendship - and attraction - grows, they begin to see and draw out the best of each other, learning that the best things in life are worth waiting for.I loved this one so much! I resonated so much with Diana as a mom. I laughed out loud and cried for her, in the reality of raising small humans and the struggles of a single mom. Dallas was SUCH a swoon-worthy hero, a man of real character and steadfast faithfulness and love. And there are also some wonderful cameos from Kulti, Under Locke, and The Wall of Winnipeg and Me (Diana is Val's BFF).Read if you love:⚾ Slow burn⚾ (Kind of) Enemies-to-friends-to-lovers⚾ Age gap⚾ Single mom⚾ Cinnamon roll MMC⚾ Precocious kids⚾ Indomitable FMC⚾ Quirky side characters

4.5Diana and Dallas's story was beautiful. It wasn't my usual read but maybe because of that I appreciate it even more. Mostly because this is not only their story but also the story of the little family Diana has formed with her two nephews now under her guardianship ever since her brother died.Diana had to grow up fast when she became the guardian of Josh and Louie. She had changed her life and made a home for the two young kids, putting their needs first. Her mother might think she isn't the best option but she must have realized Diana is the best available option. Lucky for her she does have help from both the kids' grandparents or otherwise she wouldn’t be able to truly make it on her own. Yet its still difficult. She isn't sure what she is doing is the right thing half of the time but what she does know makes her in my eyes the best kind of mother – one who first loves and believes in her little guys.Finally two years after taking them they move together to a real house in a small town where her hair dresser buddy has a business. Their move works out quite well, until 5 years old Louie hears a commotion outside and that’s how she meets Jackson and his brother Dallas. Its not the best start for sure! I don’t thing neither of them had a good impression of one another but as the weeks go by, Diana and the kids find their routine and the brothers from across the street are almost forgotten, yet when they become 11 years old Josh's baseball coaches Diana finds Dallas can't stand her and acts like a total jerk.It takes them time to work it out between them. I loved seeing them get closer. Once the cards were on the table Diana and Dallas becomes friends and since as with all of Mariana's books we only get Diana's voice we could see how she was falling for him little by little and through his actions its obvious he is even more far gone than she is, yet as Dallas hints throughout the book multiple times he is a married man. Even if he can't stand his wife and hasn’t seen her for more than a year, before she pops out in front of his house, they have nothing in common and neither want a relationship together. But before Dallas can move on some things needs to be closed.With the length of this book as well as knowing Mariana from past novels I knew this is going to be a slow burn. VERY slow burn but I was okay with It because I enjoyed every bit of the ride. I felt a part of this family, of Diana's decisions. She isn't perfect and though she is tough as nails she can be broken easily when pressed on her vulnerable spots, and being a mother of two when you are less than 30 and still struggling with your own demons isn't easy. Yet with the people she finds herself surrounded by it gets easier somehow. I was VERY mad at her mother most of the book. She felt ungenuine in her behavior. She loves her daughter and grandchildren in her own way for sure, but for me her behavior is NOT love. It might be commitment and behaving 'as you should' but I don’t think she TRULY loves her daughter not like her daughter loves her nephews. I also don’t think Diana loves her mother. She might be used to her but she is mostly scared of her and her reactions to everything. I think she is a real bad influence on her daughter.. I would have loved to see SOMETHING change there..The boys' story is a bit more complicated than seen at first. There are a few unresolved issues to be talked about and it takes time till we understand all of it. There was one issue that was actually left a bit unresolved and I'm not sure what I feel about that.. But I guess with Diana in the picture, and little by little Dallas, it really doesn’t matter. Turning the pages we see how this family of 3 turns into a family of 4 with Dallas being a great fatherly figure for the boys and for awhile just a good friend to Diana, the one she needs even more than "just" a lover.I could say so much about this book. It was a long ride into a beautiful forming couple AND a family. Though I wasn’t sure about Dallas' at the beginning, took me no time to warm up to him once I realized his reasons. He is firstly an honorable guy and it shows in everything he does. Diana is a wonderful person. I loved how she raised her little boys. With all her insecurities she was everything they needed. No one is perfect. But we also don’t need prefect.As always a great read by Marina. I Know it's going to have a special place in my heart and not only because I read half of on my vocation in the beautiful Holland (while in the World Dog Show).The first book I've read by Mariana was "The Wall of Winnipeg and Me". I LOVED it so it's no wonder I decided to start from the beginning and go through all of her books. I"m a bit over half way through now :) Unlike the previous ones we got in this one a TREAT! A little dot from the MCs of both "The Wall of Winnipeg and Me" AND "Kulti". I loved the way the connection was made with the family connection between Sal and Diana and well it's been a while since I've read "The Wall of Winnipeg and Me" so I actually forgot our Diana had a big role in it as Van's best friend. I think getting the audio book is going to be a MUST because re-reading ANYTHING is highly unrealistic for me.. but I DO miss Van and Aiden.Tags: Contemporary (MF) RomanceMore @ Ultra Meital Reviews.

To be completely transparent here- I was expecting to be eh about this book. I heard a few mixed reviews and this book wasn’t calling out to me. Until I hit a weird slump and I needed something different. So I finally listened to the audiobook AND I COULDN'T STOP LISTENING! Friends to lovers is a trope that few can make it feel like they truly were friends before they even crossed the line to lovers- this one did it perfectly in my opinion. Diana is the guardian of both her nephews after tragedy hits her family- and moves into the neighborhood where you got broody baseball couch Dallas Walker & well the rest is pretty much history.I fell in love with Josh and Louie (the nephews) and absolutely loved how slowly Dallas became a friend to the two boys as well. With any of MZ’s slow burn expect tension & build up before any spice. But this story truly did not need the spice. I reveled in watching the dynamic between Dallas and Diane - and the interactions between the boys and Diane. I felt like I was watching those tv shows that you know the two MCs will be together eventually BUT the lead up is by far the best part. The audiobook was well done -so if you're an audiobook babe then I would highly suggest getting it!Overall, MZ delivered in this one. I thought I read the holy trinity (Lukov, Winnipeg & Kulti) but this made it to the circle of MZ gold for me!

Every time I read a book by MZ, it becomes my new favorite. This did not disappoint. It was an emotional read for me, but the humor was top notch. Excellent read.

Daisy's life is just a little bit too full at times. She has been given guardianship of her dead brothers two children and sometimes she finds it hard. She loves the boys and woe betide anyone who isnt nice to them because Daisy will fight all the way. She has just moved house when her youngest tells her some guys are fighting outside and Daisy being Daisy, she goes outside to break it up because three to one doesnt work. The guy who she saves isnt that grateful. She meets his brother Dallas, and she thinks he is a lovely looking guy, but she backs off when she finds out he is married. He turns out to be is the new coach for her eldest and when she is backed into a corner by another mum, she is banned for two weeks. Dallas is drawn to her and they quietly become friends. Its a good length of a story and you really get to know the characters.

I just love this author so much.. I don’t think much can beat The Wall Of Winnipeg but this is a close second!Our two leads are Diana and Dallas, the tension between these two is boiling hot! It’s slow burn, filled with banter, tears and laughter!The relationship between Diana and the boys is incredible! I love the banter they share, so much love between them all. She is the best ‘mum’ aunt I have ever seen, she will do anything for them, she will fight anyone who says they aren’t hers and they are super cute!Diana is beautiful, strong as hell, sassy and so funny! I loved her! When her brother passes away, she becomes the Guardian to his two boys and what a choice she is!Dallas is strong, silent and grumpy type! I really loved him and how he came through for the boys and how much he loved them.I actually read and listen to this in audiobook (which honestly I am not always a fan of them) but the narrator was amazing! I am also not normally a fan of single pov but I really enjoyed this one same and Wall of Winnipeg, it was her story about her struggles and love. I really, really enjoyed it!!

As a lover of single parent romance, I really enjoyed reading this book. It was heart touching and emotional, and I loved Diana as the lead character. Josh and Lou, the two kids, were both cute and fun but also had me tearing up once, twice... or maybe a few times.I was so happy when I realised this story was taking place in Austin, back to where Under Locke was set - and we were treated to some familiar faces. Trip features throughout, and there's also a small cameo with Dex. We also got updates from Vanessa (Diana’s best friend) and Aiden from the Wall of Winnipeg, as well as Sal (Diana’s cousin) and Rey from Kulti. This makes me even more glad that I'm reading all the books in the suggested order, but I don't think it's essential.For anyone that doesn't love single parent romance, this could be a challenging read. The plot is primarily character-driven and focuses on Diana working through her emotions and supporting her two nephews - most of what happens could be considered relatively mundane. There is some spice, but not until around 94 per cent, and even then, I found it kind of awkward.For me, I appreciated the emotional pay-off of this book. Diana’s growth and seeing her come into her own as a parent made it five stars.

I read this book lying next to my husband in bed and he kept looking over at me confused because one minute I was balling my eyes out and the next cackling with glee.This book has brought me out of my reading slump. It is beautifully written, the plot is well thought out and the emotions you feel from the narrative are genuine. I feel in love with Diana and Dallas; the relationship growth felt natural and unique.The fact that the story kept unfolding, and you kept learning new things about the characters past, the families past and the day to day things happening…well it all felt natural, and as the reader you didn’t feel rushed, you felt like you were part of the story.I sobbed in the epilogue.Read this book!

Diana is one of the best female characters.. she is funny, a touch crazy and such a fantastic aunt to her 2 boys, Josh & Louie. Dallas starts off grumpy & stand-offish. Then he starts to look out for Diana and the boys... and their friendship grows and develops into something more.If you like your characters to get together early and have a lot of action then this book isn't for you.. this is a long book and a slow burn get together near the end type of book.I would have really liked a book about Trip. I liked him in this and the book about Iris & Dex (Under Locke).