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

New Favorite MZ Slow Burn

Ok, first I should preface this review with the fact that, although I have read many amazing books in the past 6 months, I have not felt compelled to leave a review. Mariana is an automatic buy for me, I have all her books in both kindle and audio versions and I have lost count of how many times I have re-read them.

From Lukov With Love has officially moved into the number one spot of my favorite MZ books. I Love Jasmine's scrappy attitude, and Ivan (Vanya) was a total dream once we moved past his defenses. This book was... just perfect. I loved every minute of the almost 15 hour book! I haven't giggled and laughed that much while reading in a long time. The dual narration really added so much to the story, and Teddy Hamilton is a perfect voice for Ivan. Thanks Marianna for continually putting out such quality, well researched concepts, and amazing characters to fall in love with!

Ijlove this author

Mariana Zapata is such an amazing author, she is definitely on my automatic buy list. This is sort of strange for me because her books are often a little bit slow, and the details are a little bit over explained, and the characters are a little bit too flawed where they can start to be frustrating and not so likeable.
The genius of this author is that with all that, I couldn’t put the book down and weirdly wanted more.
I found myself googling pairs ice skating to know a bit more

Hmmm

Overall, I like this audiobook. The narrator's did an excellent job. It's a light read missing elements that I have come to loathe in romance fiction. However, there is something the writers does that is a problem for me.

Our heroine is grumpy and bitter in the beginning. She has been given several reasons to feel this way. She has self worth issues, a learning disorder, and difficult relationships outside of her romantic one. She is flawed but still relatable.

Ivan, the man in this book starts off a bit of a jerk but is shown through actions to be the opposite. Yay, because I'm tired of brooding, self centered, egomaniacs for love interests in romance. Although there is a make narrator this isn't a dish perspective narration. The audience does not get to see the world through Ivan's eyes.

So what is my issue with the writing? Zapata is constantly either getting on a soap box to lecture about feelings, morals, or her personal philosophy then goes into exposition mode, telling but not showing, her character's motivations. Exposition, according to most textbooks on writing, should be avoided so when it is used it is impactful. But in this book it is a constant refrain. Often these soap box/exposition parts don't make much logical sense, and their fallacies take me out of the story. It is as though she wants to reach a certain quantity of words and so she packs the text with these empty pockets of spaces and exposition that could have been replaced with something more substantial. I've read many of her books and all of them have this problem but this one is probably the worst offender. If it showed instead of taking so often and did not include so many misplaced personal philosophy bits it would be a splendid book.

Should you buy this audiobook? Overall, if you like romance, main characters with flaws, and side stories with substance and don't mind and overt use of exposition then yes.

Slow burn romance at its finest!

When figure skater Jasmine Santos, who does not get many opportunities to compete, sees her chance to close, a new door opens. For a decade, Ivan Lukov has been the bane of her existence, but he needs a partner and Jasmine would be crazy to let that opportunity slip from her fingers, even if it means working side by side with her favorite enemy.

Thoughts:
If I could pinpoint where my love for slow burn romance started, it would be here with this story and unforgettable characters. Mariana Zapata, as always, exceeded my expectations.

This book not only has an epic love story but also well-defined main characters. We get a main female character who is fierce and doesn't give up even when she's breaking. Jasmine Santos sets the record for a main female character. I couldn't help but root for her and admire her, and even her grumpiness was endearing. As for Ivan, he was a force of nature. Picture the perfect book boyfriend with incredible physical and mental strength.

Now let's talk about the chemistry. These two characters barely touched, and yet the whole book felt like it was lighting up. Additionally, the side characters were unique and added to the book's allure.

Overall, this is the perfect slow burn romance with the enemies-to-lovers vibe that will leave you wanting more and crowning Mariana Zapata as the queen of all slow burn romances!

Let me take a second to praise the duet narration. Callie Dalton, as always, does a marvelous job. Teddy Hamilton brought our beloved Ivan Lukov to life, and it was beyond my wildest dreams. This was the perfect audiobook!

Slow Burn!

I love everything Mariana writes and I love her slow burn. Money well spent to listen to her books!

I really liked it!!!

my first time reading from this author and I want to read more. I really enjoyed the story and the narrators. Loved the characters including the side characters.

Love love love this story

Great story, great characters, great narrators! This is a very enjoyable book to listen to.

A must read!!!

I was so upset when this book ended!! I loved the storyline and the characters banter, the only thing I missed was having Ivan point of view.

perfect

omg i love the narrators! the writing hit me right in the feels! more please!

Great read

Loved this book! It had a great storyline and the heroine was HILARIOUS! Greatly narrated story.