Love & Tacos Series: Book 2
Publication Date: July 4, 2023
It turns out that a fake relationship is the perfect recipe for a love that sizzles hotter than Santa Barbara’s spiciest salsa—when it’s between enemies.…
Enrique Montez, smooth-talking heir to the Taco King empire, is man enough to admit that he made a critical error when he underestimated Carolina Flores. The agricultural hotshot should have been an easy conquest—who would turn down the chance to partner with California’s largest fast-food chain? But instead of signing her name on the dotted line, Carolina has Enrique eating out of the palm of her hand, and when fate steps in with an unexpected opportunity, Enrique is willing to do whatever it takes to capture her heart.
Growing up as the daughter of farmworkers, Carolina spent her youth picking strawberries in the fields of Santa Maria and vowing to improve the lives of people like her parents. Now, as one of only a few Latina farm owners, she has no time for romance and she’s certainly not about to let the notorious Montez brother anywhere near her business—even if just being near Enrique makes her skin tingle.
But she is willing to let him help get her overinvolved family off her back. When Carolina’s father and her lovelorn sisters mistake Enrique for her (nonexistent) boyfriend, she reluctantly agrees to a series of pretend dates to their town’s traditional Mexican-American holiday celebrations. Soon the fake feelings turn real and both Carolina and Enrique must convince each other to take a chance on love before their vacation romance is over.
Kiss Me, Mi Amor is the second book in the Love and Tacos series by author Alana Quintana Albertson. Not having read the first book, Ramon and Julieta, I was definitely at a disadvantage due to the many repeat characters as well as their history. It took a while for me to sort everyone out and get into the flow of the story.
I learned a lot about Mexican culture and holidays since the main characters and their large and extended families are Mexican-American. It was interesting to put things into perspective that I’ve heard or read about and see how their traditions were embraced by the families.
The family dynamics, especially the respect for Carolina’s father and his beliefs, play a major role in the story. While Enrique and Carolina are the main characters, he was often overshadowed and less front and center than I thought he should be.
Enrique comes from a dysfunctional family and works in the family business. Carolina is a farmer and a landowner and has no plans to fall in love or marry. It was fun to watch them take two steps forward and one back as they were getting “help” from various family members, especially since it is a fake relationship, or is it?
The story was sometimes repetitive and had many stories told. All of the characters have a depth to them. What you see, however, is not what you get.
There were a few unexpected twists and turns and some characters’ actions and reactions. There was some closure with a chance at a happily-ever-after in the offing, but I wish the ending was handled differently. It wasn’t the romance I was expecting at all.
Kiss Me, Mi Amor is a pleasant summer romance read, though I recommend reading the first book in the series for a better reading experience. 
Alana Quintana Albertson is a Latina bestselling romance and mystery author (#3 in entire Amazon store) with over one million views on her Se7en Deadly SEALs romantic mystery serial on Radish. Alana Albertson holds a Masters of Education from Harvard University and a Bachelor of Arts in English from Stanford University. She’s the former President of Romance Writers of America’s Contemporary Romance, Young Adult, and Chick Lit chapters. A recovering professional ballroom dancer, she lives in San Diego, California, with her husband, two young sons, and six rescue dogs. When she’s not spending her time saving dogs from high kill shelters through Pugs N Roses™, the rescue she founded, she can be found watching episodes of Cobra Kai, Vida, YOU, or Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team.
