Writing isn't easy and writing a romance book is an especially tough job. Things are even tougher when your book is a slow burn as you have so much to develop as far as the romance goes which is where Mariana Zapata comes in.
If you're a romance reader, you're probably familiar with the author. She's written so many romances, all of them slow burns and all of them quite long. That's part of the reason why people talk about how she's the queen of slow burn and it's a title Zapata has earned amidst all of the titles she's written.
Zapata published her debut novel: Lingus over a decade ago but over time, she has garnered a reputation for changing things up. While I have yet to read Zapata's entire catalog, I've read a majority of her books, and one that I always notice is that she doesn't tend to do the same thing twice. If anything, she tends to sway in the opposite direction.
For those who haven't heard of Lingus, you might recognize Zapata from her other titles including The Wall of Winnipeg and Me, All Rhodes Lead Here, and From Lukov With Love. While two of those books are focused on sports, it's football and figure skating which truly doesn't get as much love in the romance genre at all.
Mariana Zapata proves that sometimes bigger is better.
The thing that makes Mariana Zapata such a beloved writer is that she gives you everything. She paints a picture of these characters, what they're going through, and how they've gotten there. It might seem like overkill if you haven't read her books before but it truly improves the story. Seeing why these characters act the way they do and why they make certain choices is key to developing a good romance.
The other aspect I appreciate is that even though it tends to take forever to get to the romance part, it feels earned. We see how much these two have fallen for each other and finally seeing them get together is excellent. Aside from the romance, it's just amazing to know two characters so intimately and see them get their happily ever after. It's such a wonderful feeling and it feels like you truly earned it.
That's not to say shorter romances don't give you the same feeling, but finishing a Mariana Zapata book feels like a marker of success. Even if you normally like longer books, there is no denying a Mariana Zapata book is a commitment. No matter which one you start with, you're bound to fall in love with her characters and her writing. While it might seem daunting at first, she's truly one of my comfort authors.
The first book I read by Zapata was The Wall of Winnipeg and Me which is still one of my favorites and a book I've revisited as well. The book has also gotten picked up by Avon along with All Rhodes Lead Here. No matter what version of her books you pick up, you're in for a real treat as long as you can handle the slow burn.