Release Date: November 3, 2021

Summary

He’s the hot new Spanish teacher.

I’m the principal.

That spells trouble with a capital T.

My story is simple. I’m one of the lucky ones. I had a man who rocked my world. I loved with my whole heart. Then, I lost. But at least I’d loved, and I had a son to keep his father’s memory alive.

I never thought I would be interested in a man again. Between herding a teenager toward manhood and running the highest-ranking elementary school in Azalea County, I didn’t have time for anything more than a fictional book boyfriend.

Then, Mr. Morales strolled down my hall and hola’d his way straight to my starved libido.

Work used to be my sanctuary. Now, every day is sweet torture.

I can’t lead a staff meeting without picturing him naked. One smile renders me speechless. I’m swooning in the halls, and it’s not because one of the students brought tuna fish for lunch.

I may be hot for teacher, but I’ll never have another man in my life. Especially one like Mr. Morales who’s more trouble than he’s worth.

Don’t miss out on this steamy romantic comedy set in the small town of Mossy Oak, North Carolina, where you’ll find the best bookshop in the world, a gold-medal winery, and an abundance of book boyfriends.

Review

Gabriella is a single mother who’s the principal of an elementary school. Busy raising a teenage son and being in charge of a school; Gabi has no time for a personal life.
Fernando “Joey” is the Spanish teacher who captures everyone’s attention. He is the one person who can see through Gabi’s “Iron Lady” persona and sees who she is.

XOXO, Valentina is the second book from the Blue Ridge Book Club series but can be read as a standalone. I had never read anything from Jill Brashear before, so I didn’t know how I’d feel.

I don’t think I was in the right headspace while reading XOXO, Valentina.
Maybe if I had read it at a different time when I felt better, I would have enjoyed it more than I did. But, instead, it was as if I was going through the motions reading. I wasn’t interested a lot of the time and couldn’t focus on what was in front of me. I don’t think it has anything to do with Jill Brashear’s writing or XOXO, Valentina itself, but moreso to do with me. I think I will give XOXO, Valentina, another chance when I can. If not, then give Jill Brashear another chance, at least.

The book reviews included in XOXO, Valentina was different, something I hadn’t seen before and enjoyed. There are books about book clubs, but not ones with book reviews in them, or at least the ones I had read. The side characters were fascinating—especially the ones in the book club. I would have loved to see more of the book club aspect since XOXO, Valentina, is part of the Blue Ridge Book Club series. Maybe it was more prominent in the first book, Love, Lacey Donovan? I haven’t read it yet, so I don’t know.

Gabi and Joey’s relationship is always so hot and cold. There was so much back and forth, and I felt like I kept getting whiplash. No relationship is perfect, but If they had talked to one another, there wouldn’t be any miscommunication. I don’t mind a slow burn, but I would like some angst along with it. Unfortunately, there wasn’t enough angst to keep me interested the whole time. There were moments when I lost interest, but not enough to stop reading altogether. I enjoyed XOXO, Valentina overall and want to read more from Jill Brashear.

I received XOXO, Valentina in exchange for an honest review, but that does not impact my review in any shape or form.

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