Who Would Like This Book:
Dive into a deliciously slow-burn romance set in a tattoo shop and sprinkled with motorcycle club (MC) vibes! Mariana Zapata delivers on her signature gradual build, letting the chemistry simmer between a grumpy, possessive hero and a sweet, sassy heroine. If you enjoy boss/employee dynamics, found family among quirky side characters, or stories with a bit of edge but lots of heart and humor, this one’s for you - especially if you’re a fan of Kristen Ashley or enjoy character-driven romances.
Who May Not Like This Book:
If you’re impatient for instant romance or need action-packed plots, the ultra-slow pacing might test your resolve. Some readers found the heroine a bit naive and the hero too alpha or even controlling. The single POV (only the heroine’s perspective) may leave you wanting more insight into other characters, especially the broody lead. There’s also criticism from those who found it too formulaic or noted repetitive moments. And, yes, if repeated pet names make you cringe, brace yourself for a lot of ‘babe!’
About:
'Under Locke' by Mariana Zapata is a slow burn romance novel that revolves around the characters Iris Ritz and Dex Locke. Dex, a member of a motorcycle club called the Widows, owns a tattoo shop where he hires Iris to work. The story delves into their evolving relationship, filled with loyalty, humor, and deep emotional scenes. The book is narrated from the heroine's perspective, showcasing the growth and development of both main characters as they navigate love, loyalty, and overcoming past demons. The writing style is described as fantastic, with a mix of funny and emotional scenes, creating a well-rounded story with excellent secondary characters.
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Notes:
Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
There are some medium content warnings related to emotional themes such as grief and references to past relationships.
Has Romance?
The romance is a significant and well-developed element of the story.
From The Publisher:
He was my boss, my brother's friend, a Widow, an ex-felon, and a man I'd seen casually with a handful of women. But he was everything that gripped me, both the good and the bad. Worst case scenario if things turned awkward between us, I could go somewhere else. I'd gotten over epic heartbreak before, one more wouldn't kill me. - After moving to Austin following six months of unemployment back home, Iris Taylor knows she should be glad to have landed a job so quickly... even if the business is owned by a member of the same motorcycle club her estranged father used to belong to. Except Dex Locke might just be the biggest jerk she's ever met. He's rude, impatient and doesn't know how to tell time. And the last thing they ever expected was each other. But it was either the strip club or the tattoo shop. ... she should have chosen the strip club. - "Babe, I've handpicked everythin' and everyone in here. I know what I want and I get what I want," he breathed. "And I keep what's mine.
Ratings (92)
Incredible (14) | |
Loved It (33) | |
Liked It (22) | |
It Was OK (16) | |
Did Not Like (4) | |
Hated It (3) |
Reader Stats (139):
Read It (99) | |
Currently Reading (1) | |
Want To Read (22) | |
Did Not Finish (2) | |
Not Interested (15) |
2 comment(s)
I love Mariana Zapata books and this is only Mmc is I am not the fan of. His character is not good-anger problems or he is too much rude in my opinion. And kind of ow( they are not together) but I didn’t like how he explained her. But he had very good moments too. Just not enough for me.
Three stars is a generous round-up here. I honestly wasn't a huge fan. Lead male character was a alpha-hole manwhore with a shitty tendency to lash out at the lead female.
Lead female character was OTT childish. Her narrative honestly read like YA - loads of melodramatic bullshit that made me not like her very much. It also made it hard to buy she'd been through all this serious shit in her past - it is damn hard to imagine a 25 year old who lived that life and somehow landed with the naivety and emotional maturity of a 15 year old.
It also had all the worst motorcycle club shit that generally makes me not like that sub-genre: rampant misogyny, total manwhores, all women aside from the lead female being total mean girls, etc.
So this was the first Zapata book I really, really struggled to enjoy.
What can you read after
Under Locke?
About the Author:
Mariana Zapata began writing love stories soon after she learned how to spell. She probably shouldn't admit that she started sneaking romance novels from her aunt's bookshelves way before she was old enough to even understand what it meant when a man flipped up a woman's skirt. (Don't tell her mom.) Luckily, she learned to love the process of two people falling in love instead of all the other juicy stuff. Mariana lives in Houston, Texas with her longtime boyfriend and two beloved (and emotionally manipulative) Great Danes, Dorian and Kaiser. When she's not pretending to write, she's reading. You can usually find her burning somewhat edible experiments in the kitchen or cracking jokes at the expense of her family members.
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