From Lukov with Love

De: Mariana Zapata

Narrado por: Callie Dalton, Teddy Hamilton

If someone were to ask Jasmine Santos to describe the last few years of her life with a single word, it would definitely be a four-letter one. After 17 years - and countless broken bones and broken promises - she knows her window to compete in figure skating is coming to a close.

But when the offer of a lifetime comes in from an arrogant idiot she's spent the last decade dreaming about pushing in the way of a moving bus, Jasmine might have to reconsider everything. Including Ivan Lukov.

©2018 Mariana Zapata (P)2018 Mariana Zapata

I only wish it was longer

I only wish it was longer. I love all of Zapata's books. I love that there's no big, stupid misunderstanding between the main characters and that the hero loves the heroine for a lot longer and earlier than the heroine knew...but she doesn't find out until the timing is right of course, and then it makes her and our, the reader, hearts feel good.

This book was hard to put down. The first time I read it I went with only 2.5 hours of sleep and finished it in two days (it normally takes me two weeks to finish a book due to life invading...for this book, and all of Zapata's books, I shoved life aside so I could read like I was a kid again, and the lack of sleep was so worth it). Anyway, Ivan was amazing and supportive, but didn't put up with Jasmine being anything but her best...just as a partner should be...cue the swoon. This will be a book I reread again and again.

Zapata knows how to deliver the feels, I tell ya.

Were I to rate this on how the ending made me feel it would be 5 stars. No doubt. However, there's this pesky little thing called Kulti that I always compare everything of hers to and this fell short of that, though I still did really like it.

And she did a follow up! Kinda. Sorta. Jasmine is Ruby's sister from Dear Aaron; not necessary to read that before this, though.

It's no secret that MZ has a formula. Sure she changes up some of the details but you can bet the farm she's going to slow burn the becreepis out of you. There will be conflict. The female protag will have some sort of body/self-image issue. There will be family drama of some sort.

It's a good formula. A solid formula. I dig her formula. I especially dig it when she goes enemies to lovers like she did here and in Kulti and in Winnipeg.

But... you knew it was coming... that formula does have l'eau de one trick pony wafting off of it. The pony's still cute as all get out and will usually worm it's way into the feels zone but... still.

I like Jasmine. Just not as much as I loved Sal. And, p.s., she sounded A WHOLE LOT like Sal.

Ivan... *scratches head* IDK I feel like even though all of Kulti was told through Sal that I still got Kulti, y'know? Ivan was like a ghost image of Kulti. Even though I could tell he had feels for her, I still really wanted (and at times was frustrated by not getting) his POV which was something that wasn't problematic for me in Kulti.

Though it could've been that I wanted to hear more of Teddy. Because Teddy.

I also was frustrated by there not being a whole lot of competitive events which is also prolly on me since I'm kind of a nerd when it comes to figure skating.

Before it sounds like I hated the thing, which I absolutely did not, I will say Callie and Teddy go together like peas and carrots, peanut butter and jelly, macaroni and cheese. I absolutely loved how this was produced with Teddy doing all the Ivan speaking parts even though there's no Ivan POV. IDK how they did it but it sounded like they were together recording it and I loved that. They're both phenomenal in their abilities and they both bring it every time which has made them staples for me in the audio game.

Recommend to MZ fans.

Queen of the slow burn

First off let me start with how much I LOVED the narration.  I don’t know why more books can’t be done in this format.  It is just 1000X better.  If you are going to pay for a male and female narrator, don’t waste them.  Brovo Zapata!

The only reason this audiobook is getting a 4 star instead of a 5 is that Jasmine was in her head so much during the story.  The self monolog was honestly driving me nuts.  This is my 7th book from Zapata, and I’ve never had this issue before.  So I’m not sure if I was just not in the mood for it or if it was just this story.  But I wanted more story less monologing AKA thinking.  

Once again Zapata proves to be the queen of the slow burn.  Another thing  I’ve realized is that in the man usually fall first and the woman is oblivious.  It makes for a delicious story and From Lukov with Love was no different.  But Zapata did put a spin on this one making them enemies in the beginning with so much fun witty banter.  

Overall I really enjoyed the story, and I will continue to look for books from Zapata, I always enjoy the slow burn.  Especially when it's coming from her because I know she will do it right.  

Good but repetitive.

I actually liked this book, but I didn't love it as much as I have some of her others. The narrators are great, but many phrases and arguments felt repetitive. Additionally, while there were many slow burn moments that I loved, I didn't see enough markers to show the couple falling in love, and those are what I usually enjoy in Zapata's books. That all said, I still enjoyed this story.

Great story, loved the book

I really love Mariana Zapata stories. They make me laugh and cry and get so involved in the life of the protagonist. I love getting an inside view of the personal strength, dedication and perseverance of the main character and challenges she overcomes. The sub characters are well developed too and add so much richness to the story. Keep writing and I will read more. I recommend her books.