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Salutis Meae
I always thought that I would never see past the age of nineteen.
Growing up the way I did, that was normal. It was normal for parents to plan their kids' funerals.
But I was able to get out of that life and create a better one for my family and myself. Even if I was still being seen as a lowlife.
Most people saw the tattoos and the clothes and would steer away, most people except her.
Savannah Campbell. The cheerleader. The rich girl who had no business getting involved with the boy from the bad side of town, but she didn’t care. I hated her until I didn't and in a short period of time she became my everything. Including my salvation.
We were happy.
That is until everything I feared came knocking and brought everything down.
Now I have to ask, if I was able to live past the age of nineteen…
Am I going to live past tonight?
Growing up the way I did, that was normal. It was normal for parents to plan their kids' funerals.
But I was able to get out of that life and create a better one for my family and myself. Even if I was still being seen as a lowlife.
Most people saw the tattoos and the clothes and would steer away, most people except her.
Savannah Campbell. The cheerleader. The rich girl who had no business getting involved with the boy from the bad side of town, but she didn’t care. I hated her until I didn't and in a short period of time she became my everything. Including my salvation.
We were happy.
That is until everything I feared came knocking and brought everything down.
Now I have to ask, if I was able to live past the age of nineteen…
Am I going to live past tonight?
374 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 5, 2023
About the author
Jocelyne Soto
24 books204 followersJocelyne Soto is a writer, born and raised in California. She started her writing journey in 2015 and in 2019 she published her first book. She is an independent author who loves discovering new authors on Goodreads and Amazon. She comes from a big Mexican family, and with it comes a love for all things family and food.
Jocelyne has a love for her mom’s coffee and writing. In her free time, she can be found reading a romance novel off her iPad or somewhere in the black hole of YouTube.
Jocelyne has a love for her mom’s coffee and writing. In her free time, she can be found reading a romance novel off her iPad or somewhere in the black hole of YouTube.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
January 5, 2023
This whole book was a total surprise to me as I knew nothing about it except the synopsis. The story follows Lucas a single father who has left the gang to create a better life for his family. He meets Savannah st his new school and pegs her for the typical rich cheerleader. I enjoyed the character growth that both go on throughout the story and felt like we really get to know them well. There are some of the dramas involving the school friends and I would have liked a little more of that and seeing Savannah's have a more present visible role in the story. I loved their relationship both the romantic aspect and the romantic one. This was an enjoyable book that I would recommend.
January 22, 2023
This felt like a book that was written looked over once and then published. There was no real evidence of an editor with constant basic spelling mistakes, grammar errors, and continuity issues. I found all the author could do was show and not tell. The girl is very clearly written as not like other girls but like we never get her backstory. There’s months of the story skipped in favor of weird scenes that I feel like were pointless. The cliffhanger at the end was honestly just like ok.
March 13, 2023
Adorable, plus mielleux pas possible. Le mec nous lâche des petits mots en espagnol là j’adore
January 8, 2023
ARC kindly provided for the author in exchange for an honest review
I didn't really know what to expect from Salutis Meae when I started it and WOW! It became one of my favorite books by Jocelyne Soto, with which she gave me her most beautiful, tender and interesting couple so far, a story that apparently offers nothing new but has the best twists in its plot and that I honestly didn't want it to end because I completely fell in love with Lucas & Savannah.
Since I read Fake Love I've been waiting to know more about Lucas and I have to say that his character was a complete surprise: he's a guy with Mexican heritage, ex-gang member who becomes the bad boy of the university when he decides to get his life back on track, he has a very interesting, painful story and a complicated life, but he always tries to do what is best for him, his mom and Mia, his little daughter who's absolutely adorable and with whom he shows that he's the perfect father! Also, what I loved the most about his character was the maturity of his relationship with Celeste, Mia's mom, the healthy communication between them and how good friends they are, and I honestly think we need more of these plotlines when it comes to the single mom/dad trope. And without a doubt what made me fall in love with Lucas was his personality: I loved his attitude upon arriving at USC and facing Jason, his slightly aggressive way of flirting with Savannah, his kindness, big heart and how easy it is for him to show his love and how important the people close to him are.
Savannah is just as complex a character as Lucas: the rich & popular girl who dates the president of a fraternity, but deep down she has to hide her true personality to survive her circumstances. Actually Savannah loves art, have a heart of gold, is mature, kind, tender and she discovers the way to be who she is when Lucas enters her life, and although her relationship with her dad isn't perfect throughout the book, I loved how Jocelyne developed their bond, especially towards the end, plus I LOVED everything about her relationship with Celeste & Mia.
Lucas & Savannah have one of my favorite love stories ever, and my current #1 from this author! One of the things I liked the most was the way Lucas always let Savannah know what he thought of her, and how in the midst of all of that he ended up judging her the same way Jason and his friends did it with him, that felt very real to me, plus it helped me see the growth of their relationship throughout the book. As I already said, Lucas & Savannah were one of the cutest & most tender, I loved the way they became family, support and courage to each other and how they were their strength in the most difficult moments.
🥀Lucas: 5/5
🥀Savannah: 5/5
🥀Plot: 5/5
🥀Love story: 5/5
🥀Secondary hcaracters: 5/5
🥀Universe: 5/5
🥀Cover: 4/5
🌶️: 3.5/5
🇪🇸
ARC amablemente proporcionada por la autora a cambio de una reseña honesta
No sabía muy bien que esperar de Salutis Meae cuando lo empecé y WOW! Se convirtió en uno de mis libros favoritos favoritos de Jocelyne Soto, con el me dio su pareja más linda, tierna e interesante hasta el momento, una historia que aparentemente no ofrece nada nuevo pero tiene los mejores giros en su trama y que sinceramente no quería que terminara porque me enamore por completo de Lucas & Savannah.
Desde que leí Fake Love he estado esperando saber más de Lucas y tengo que decir que su personaje fue una completa sorpresa: él es un chico con ascendencia mexicana, ex pandillero que se convierte en el chico malo de la universidad cuando decide reencaminar su vida, tiene una historia muy interesante, dolorosa y una vida complicada, pero siempre intenta hacer lo mejor para él, su mamá y Mia, su hija pequeña que es absolutamente adorable y con quien demuestra que es el padre perfecto! Además, lo que más amé de su personaje fue la madurez de su relación con Celeste, la mamá de Mia, la comunicación saludable que hay entre ambos y lo buenos amigos que son, sinceramente creo que necesitamos más de estas tramas cuando se trata del trope de la madre/padre soltero. Y sin lugar a dudas lo que me hizo enamorarme de Lucas fue su personalidad: me encantó su actitud al llegar a USC y enfrentar a Jason, su manera un poco agresiva de coquetear con Savannah, su amabilidad, gran corazón y lo fácil que es para él demostrar su amor y lo importantes que son las personas cercanas a él.
Savannah es un personaje igual de complejo que Lucas: la chica rica & popular que sale con el presidente de una fraternidad, pero que en el fondo tiene que esconder su verdadera personalidad para sobrevivir a sus circunstancias. En realidad Savannah ama el arte, tienen un corazón de oro, es madura, amable, tierna y descubre la manera de ser quien es cuando Lucas entra en su vida, y aunque su relación con su papá no es perfecta a lo largo del libro, me encantó el desarrollo que Jocelyne le dio a su vinculo, especialmente hacia el final del libro, además de que AMÉ todo sobre su relación con Celeste & Mia.
Lucas & Savannah tienen una de mis historias de amor favoritas de la vida, y mi #1 actual de esta autora! Una de las cosas que más me gustó fue la manera en la que Lucas siempre le hizo saber a Savannah lo que pensaba de ella y cómo en medio de todo eso él terminó juzgándola de la misma manera que Jason y sus amigos lo hicieron con él, me pareció algo muy real, además de que me ayudó a ver el crecimiento de su relación a lo largo del libro. Como ya dije, Lucas & Savannah fueron de los más lindos & tiernos, me encantó la forma en la que se convirtieron en la familia, apoyo y valentía del otro y como fueron su fuerza en los momentos más complicados.
🥀Lucas: 5/5
🥀Savannah: 5/5
🥀Trama: 5/5
🥀Historia de amor: 5/5
🥀Personajes secundarios: 5/5
🥀Universo: 5/5
🥀Portada: 4/5
🌶️: 3.5/5
I didn't really know what to expect from Salutis Meae when I started it and WOW! It became one of my favorite books by Jocelyne Soto, with which she gave me her most beautiful, tender and interesting couple so far, a story that apparently offers nothing new but has the best twists in its plot and that I honestly didn't want it to end because I completely fell in love with Lucas & Savannah.
Since I read Fake Love I've been waiting to know more about Lucas and I have to say that his character was a complete surprise: he's a guy with Mexican heritage, ex-gang member who becomes the bad boy of the university when he decides to get his life back on track, he has a very interesting, painful story and a complicated life, but he always tries to do what is best for him, his mom and Mia, his little daughter who's absolutely adorable and with whom he shows that he's the perfect father! Also, what I loved the most about his character was the maturity of his relationship with Celeste, Mia's mom, the healthy communication between them and how good friends they are, and I honestly think we need more of these plotlines when it comes to the single mom/dad trope. And without a doubt what made me fall in love with Lucas was his personality: I loved his attitude upon arriving at USC and facing Jason, his slightly aggressive way of flirting with Savannah, his kindness, big heart and how easy it is for him to show his love and how important the people close to him are.
Savannah is just as complex a character as Lucas: the rich & popular girl who dates the president of a fraternity, but deep down she has to hide her true personality to survive her circumstances. Actually Savannah loves art, have a heart of gold, is mature, kind, tender and she discovers the way to be who she is when Lucas enters her life, and although her relationship with her dad isn't perfect throughout the book, I loved how Jocelyne developed their bond, especially towards the end, plus I LOVED everything about her relationship with Celeste & Mia.
Lucas & Savannah have one of my favorite love stories ever, and my current #1 from this author! One of the things I liked the most was the way Lucas always let Savannah know what he thought of her, and how in the midst of all of that he ended up judging her the same way Jason and his friends did it with him, that felt very real to me, plus it helped me see the growth of their relationship throughout the book. As I already said, Lucas & Savannah were one of the cutest & most tender, I loved the way they became family, support and courage to each other and how they were their strength in the most difficult moments.
🥀Lucas: 5/5
🥀Savannah: 5/5
🥀Plot: 5/5
🥀Love story: 5/5
🥀Secondary hcaracters: 5/5
🥀Universe: 5/5
🥀Cover: 4/5
🌶️: 3.5/5
🇪🇸
ARC amablemente proporcionada por la autora a cambio de una reseña honesta
No sabía muy bien que esperar de Salutis Meae cuando lo empecé y WOW! Se convirtió en uno de mis libros favoritos favoritos de Jocelyne Soto, con el me dio su pareja más linda, tierna e interesante hasta el momento, una historia que aparentemente no ofrece nada nuevo pero tiene los mejores giros en su trama y que sinceramente no quería que terminara porque me enamore por completo de Lucas & Savannah.
Desde que leí Fake Love he estado esperando saber más de Lucas y tengo que decir que su personaje fue una completa sorpresa: él es un chico con ascendencia mexicana, ex pandillero que se convierte en el chico malo de la universidad cuando decide reencaminar su vida, tiene una historia muy interesante, dolorosa y una vida complicada, pero siempre intenta hacer lo mejor para él, su mamá y Mia, su hija pequeña que es absolutamente adorable y con quien demuestra que es el padre perfecto! Además, lo que más amé de su personaje fue la madurez de su relación con Celeste, la mamá de Mia, la comunicación saludable que hay entre ambos y lo buenos amigos que son, sinceramente creo que necesitamos más de estas tramas cuando se trata del trope de la madre/padre soltero. Y sin lugar a dudas lo que me hizo enamorarme de Lucas fue su personalidad: me encantó su actitud al llegar a USC y enfrentar a Jason, su manera un poco agresiva de coquetear con Savannah, su amabilidad, gran corazón y lo fácil que es para él demostrar su amor y lo importantes que son las personas cercanas a él.
Savannah es un personaje igual de complejo que Lucas: la chica rica & popular que sale con el presidente de una fraternidad, pero que en el fondo tiene que esconder su verdadera personalidad para sobrevivir a sus circunstancias. En realidad Savannah ama el arte, tienen un corazón de oro, es madura, amable, tierna y descubre la manera de ser quien es cuando Lucas entra en su vida, y aunque su relación con su papá no es perfecta a lo largo del libro, me encantó el desarrollo que Jocelyne le dio a su vinculo, especialmente hacia el final del libro, además de que AMÉ todo sobre su relación con Celeste & Mia.
Lucas & Savannah tienen una de mis historias de amor favoritas de la vida, y mi #1 actual de esta autora! Una de las cosas que más me gustó fue la manera en la que Lucas siempre le hizo saber a Savannah lo que pensaba de ella y cómo en medio de todo eso él terminó juzgándola de la misma manera que Jason y sus amigos lo hicieron con él, me pareció algo muy real, además de que me ayudó a ver el crecimiento de su relación a lo largo del libro. Como ya dije, Lucas & Savannah fueron de los más lindos & tiernos, me encantó la forma en la que se convirtieron en la familia, apoyo y valentía del otro y como fueron su fuerza en los momentos más complicados.
🥀Lucas: 5/5
🥀Savannah: 5/5
🥀Trama: 5/5
🥀Historia de amor: 5/5
🥀Personajes secundarios: 5/5
🥀Universo: 5/5
🥀Portada: 4/5
🌶️: 3.5/5
February 1, 2023
I've said it before and I say it again... Jocelyne Soto never disappoints!
She's one of those authors who I know every time I pick one of her books I'm instantly going to get addicted to the story and I'm going to savor every single word. Salutis Meae wasn't the exception. I loved every single thing about it and my heart is so satisfied!
Lucas and Savannah were everything! From the moment I read the premise I knew I was going to love the story: I mean, a cholo and a cheerleader? Aaaaaahhh... my damn heart!!!! It was the perfect love story with all the Lady and the Tramp vibes that I didn't know I needed! Not only these two were hot as hell but they were also sweet AF! It had everything I wanted to read: Steam, sweetness, emotional moments, action... I am still so high on them I don't even know where to start!
First, Lucas... OMG that man! Alpha-roll is the best way to describe him. His protective and bad boy vibe made me fan myself so many times... I'm telling you, from the very first moment he laid eyes on Savannah, I felt my ovaries melt!!!! He was such a flirt and cocky outside of his little circle but once he was alone with Savannah or with his family, he was the sweetest, most caring man ever. A true good man at heart and the best father. My heart hurt for him and his past and I loved how he genuinely wanted to build a better future for him and his family. I also loved the matured co-parenting relationship he had with Celeste. Him with little Mia? Swooning for hours!
Savannah was such a badass. I hated what she had to go through and how much she felt like she needed to sacrifice herself to please others. I loved how real she was and how much I was able to feel and see things the way she did. Every time she was mad, sad I was. Every time she swooned, I did. I loved how quickly she understood and was able to empathize with Luca's situation and how she welcomed Mia into her life. They were just the perfect little family and I couldn't stop smiling any time they were all together.
Both of them were "don't judge a book by its cover" personified and I loved how little by little they discovered how much they had in common and how perfect they were together even when their lives were so different. I really loved the relationship they formed and how they learned to communicate with each other and understand where the other person was coming from. It was the sweetest thing to read and also the hottest... these two, really get to it and it was pure fire!
Aaahhh my heart is so full and I can't wait for this paperback to join the rest of Jocelyne's books in my shelf. Salutis Meae is available now in KU! And if you haven't read anything by Jocelyne, her backlist is amazing, don't miss out.
A million thanks to Jocelyne Soto for gifting me an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
She's one of those authors who I know every time I pick one of her books I'm instantly going to get addicted to the story and I'm going to savor every single word. Salutis Meae wasn't the exception. I loved every single thing about it and my heart is so satisfied!
Lucas and Savannah were everything! From the moment I read the premise I knew I was going to love the story: I mean, a cholo and a cheerleader? Aaaaaahhh... my damn heart!!!! It was the perfect love story with all the Lady and the Tramp vibes that I didn't know I needed! Not only these two were hot as hell but they were also sweet AF! It had everything I wanted to read: Steam, sweetness, emotional moments, action... I am still so high on them I don't even know where to start!
First, Lucas... OMG that man! Alpha-roll is the best way to describe him. His protective and bad boy vibe made me fan myself so many times... I'm telling you, from the very first moment he laid eyes on Savannah, I felt my ovaries melt!!!! He was such a flirt and cocky outside of his little circle but once he was alone with Savannah or with his family, he was the sweetest, most caring man ever. A true good man at heart and the best father. My heart hurt for him and his past and I loved how he genuinely wanted to build a better future for him and his family. I also loved the matured co-parenting relationship he had with Celeste. Him with little Mia? Swooning for hours!
Savannah was such a badass. I hated what she had to go through and how much she felt like she needed to sacrifice herself to please others. I loved how real she was and how much I was able to feel and see things the way she did. Every time she was mad, sad I was. Every time she swooned, I did. I loved how quickly she understood and was able to empathize with Luca's situation and how she welcomed Mia into her life. They were just the perfect little family and I couldn't stop smiling any time they were all together.
Both of them were "don't judge a book by its cover" personified and I loved how little by little they discovered how much they had in common and how perfect they were together even when their lives were so different. I really loved the relationship they formed and how they learned to communicate with each other and understand where the other person was coming from. It was the sweetest thing to read and also the hottest... these two, really get to it and it was pure fire!
"The rich blonde girl was never supposed to fall for the brown boy from the bad side of town." He says, leaning into my touch.
"Well too bad, it happened. I love you Lucas Reyes, with every single thing that I have."
Aaahhh my heart is so full and I can't wait for this paperback to join the rest of Jocelyne's books in my shelf. Salutis Meae is available now in KU! And if you haven't read anything by Jocelyne, her backlist is amazing, don't miss out.
A million thanks to Jocelyne Soto for gifting me an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 28, 2023
Salutis meae = my salvation
Have I cried to a JS book before? No idea but I did cry with this one. Especially, in the last 10% or so. Big fat tears, y'all.
Salutis Meae released back on January 6 because I got behind on another ARC I was reading and went on low reading mode for whatever reason. When that happens I know I'll be going into a reading slump. What a great way to start the year, huh?
Lucas and Savannah are polar opposites. Savannah is your typical Californian white girl with rich parents. Lucas is your typical opposite side of tracks Latinx boy with gang affiliations. He's left all that behind. Luca now attends college and has the cutest little girl.
Savannah and Lucas start off with a rocky relationship. They didn't like each other for being polar opposites who didn't quite understand the other side of the tracks. Savannah made it well known to him that she didn't like him and vice versa. But they did begun to open up with each other. Lucas' little girl, Mia, was very welcoming on Savannah (Mia always stoled the show).
Between through rocks at each other, there were also hearts.
❈•≫────≪•◦ 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕 ◦•≫────≪•❈
• college romance
• enemies to lovers/hate to love
• forbidden romance
• forced proximity
• gang relations
• grumpy x sunshine
• single dad
January 15, 2023
Lucas, after realizing that he is going to have a daughter at age 18, does what he can to walk away from his life that gave him the vengeance that he needed at 13. He has a new path in life that includes him starting at USC to pursue his dreams of opening and running his own business. He was not expecting Savannah. The cheerleader. The rich girl. The light to his dark. These two were polar opposites and do not come from the same world. So why can't they stop thinking about each other.
Don't judge a book by it's cover and opposites attract at its finest. Lucas came from a world that requires you to be hard, on the offense and unbreakable. But when it came to Hannah he was soft, patient and kind. His heart . . . he is a piece of work. I adored the way that he adored Hannah and how gentle and patient he was with her. I loved how Hannah let herself be herself when she met Lucas - how him being by her side made her feel comfortable with being her true self. These two gave each other the perfect balance and I think that is what my favorite part about this book was. Hannah gave Lucas the light that he needed to battle his dark. Lucas was her pillar to give her the strength to fight for herself. I truly adored this story. In bad need of an editor but it was an amazing story.
Don't judge a book by it's cover and opposites attract at its finest. Lucas came from a world that requires you to be hard, on the offense and unbreakable. But when it came to Hannah he was soft, patient and kind. His heart . . . he is a piece of work. I adored the way that he adored Hannah and how gentle and patient he was with her. I loved how Hannah let herself be herself when she met Lucas - how him being by her side made her feel comfortable with being her true self. These two gave each other the perfect balance and I think that is what my favorite part about this book was. Hannah gave Lucas the light that he needed to battle his dark. Lucas was her pillar to give her the strength to fight for herself. I truly adored this story. In bad need of an editor but it was an amazing story.
January 7, 2023
Lucas and Savannah story was absolutely everything. This has to be one of the top books of 2023. One of the best enemies to lovers I’ve read in a long time.
Lucas and Savannah story didn’t start in the best way. Lucas being from the wrong side of the tracks. Savannah being a rich girl you would think this relationship wouldn’t work. I just love how much devotion Lucas has for his three year old Mia. When he found he was going to be a father he got out of the life (being in a gang) and did what any good father would do. He changed it around for the better. Savannah was a happy surprise to him and vice versa. He brought out the best in her. And Lucas let her explore some things. She never would of done on her own. With out giving to much away, these two relationship grew with each chapter. This story had me hooked from the beginning, that prologue had me diving right in.
Jocelyne did such incredible job writing story. She keep writing them, and I’ll be reading them. She has become one of my favorites authors.
Arc provided for honest review.
Lucas and Savannah story didn’t start in the best way. Lucas being from the wrong side of the tracks. Savannah being a rich girl you would think this relationship wouldn’t work. I just love how much devotion Lucas has for his three year old Mia. When he found he was going to be a father he got out of the life (being in a gang) and did what any good father would do. He changed it around for the better. Savannah was a happy surprise to him and vice versa. He brought out the best in her. And Lucas let her explore some things. She never would of done on her own. With out giving to much away, these two relationship grew with each chapter. This story had me hooked from the beginning, that prologue had me diving right in.
Jocelyne did such incredible job writing story. She keep writing them, and I’ll be reading them. She has become one of my favorites authors.
Arc provided for honest review.
January 9, 2023
I received an ARC copy of this book and I’m glad I did! I LOVE The Flor de Muertos series and Powerful Deception so I was excited to read this one. I really enjoyed this book!
Lucas is a 22 year old starting to get his life back on track by going to college to get a business degree at USC. Savannah is a 20 year old getting a business degree that her dad wants her to get and dating a really crappy frat president, who treats her like garbage(shocking lol). They end up meeting in a business class but savannahs then boyfriend tried to push Lucas’s buttons.
The two finally end up together once she leaves her boyfriend. They kept saying they “hated each others guts” but I didn’t get that vibe of hating each other more of just didn’t care for the other person.
With Lucas’s past coming back towards the last half of the book, he has to make a decision to either go back to that life or turn it down.
I really enjoyed this book! I’m normally not a college romance reader but this book was really good!
Lucas is a 22 year old starting to get his life back on track by going to college to get a business degree at USC. Savannah is a 20 year old getting a business degree that her dad wants her to get and dating a really crappy frat president, who treats her like garbage(shocking lol). They end up meeting in a business class but savannahs then boyfriend tried to push Lucas’s buttons.
The two finally end up together once she leaves her boyfriend. They kept saying they “hated each others guts” but I didn’t get that vibe of hating each other more of just didn’t care for the other person.
With Lucas’s past coming back towards the last half of the book, he has to make a decision to either go back to that life or turn it down.
I really enjoyed this book! I’m normally not a college romance reader but this book was really good!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 7, 2023
Wow, what a gripping story! Savannah and Lucas' story quickly had me intrigued and captivated by their story throughout and never let go. I devoured it pretty quickly though I didn't want to. But I just couldn't put it down. It was so damn good! I mean, just how much Lucas' character developed so much and I could clearly see it was amazing. I loved him so badly, especially after seeing him with his baby girl. And Savannah fits right in with their little family. I loved this even more than I anticipated.
February 2, 2023
REVIEW COMING SOON!
October 2, 2023
I discovered Jocelyne Soto this year and put a bunch of her books on my tbr because they all look so good. And I finally picked one up and Salutis Meae is such a great and underrated book.
This is Savannah and Lucas‘ story and they meet in college, but they are very opposite. While Savannah is coming from money, she is trying to make her dad happy, but those choices aren’t necessarily making her happy. Lucas is a young father, and he comes from the wrong side of town and has a past with gang activities. He wants to provide a good life to his daughter Mia and does everything for it. And that was beyond admirable. A lot of people have prejudices against him and that was so sad to see because he is amazing and every time he calls Savannah ‘Corazón‘, I was swooning so hard.
At first, Savannah and Lucas don’t even like each other, but they are such a stunning couple. I loved how they grew together as a couple and family with every page. If you love the found family trope, you need to pick up this book. In addition, this story shows a good example of how co-parenting can work with good communication and giving each other grace. Absolutely adore this book and I already can’t wait to pick up more Jocelyne Soto books.
4,5 stars.
This is Savannah and Lucas‘ story and they meet in college, but they are very opposite. While Savannah is coming from money, she is trying to make her dad happy, but those choices aren’t necessarily making her happy. Lucas is a young father, and he comes from the wrong side of town and has a past with gang activities. He wants to provide a good life to his daughter Mia and does everything for it. And that was beyond admirable. A lot of people have prejudices against him and that was so sad to see because he is amazing and every time he calls Savannah ‘Corazón‘, I was swooning so hard.
At first, Savannah and Lucas don’t even like each other, but they are such a stunning couple. I loved how they grew together as a couple and family with every page. If you love the found family trope, you need to pick up this book. In addition, this story shows a good example of how co-parenting can work with good communication and giving each other grace. Absolutely adore this book and I already can’t wait to pick up more Jocelyne Soto books.
4,5 stars.
January 8, 2023
I generally stay away from college/young adult kinds of stories. The blurb sounded intriguing so I dove in. What an amazing 5 star story that had me hooked from the first page to the last one. It was so much more than a college romance.
Savannah is playing a role but when her eyes clashes with the tattooed new guy, she doesn’t want to be playing that role anymore. Lucas shows her she is so much more then her beauty and last name. Lucas has his own struggles to deal with. But with the help of Savannah she will make him see that he’s good for her.
This was an intense ride that kept me on the edge of my seat kind of story. I loved every minute of it. The characters were mature and have seen a side of life they shouldn’t have seen. She’s the rich girl, he’s the former gang member from the wrong side of the track. But they are made for each other. It was addicting and intriguing. Bottomline, this is a must read.
Standalone told in a dual POV with an HEA. I strongly recommend this story.
January 17, 2023
Ayy! This book!! Omg! I loved it so much!
I truly loved the opposites attract!
I enjoyed this single dad trope! Lucas love for his daughter and all he does for her omg! Melted my heart!
The main character in here Lucas was such a cinnamon roll and I legit didn’t see that coming and I loved it so so much. Their relationship is so dang beautiful! Legit goals!!
Gotta say I cried 3 times!! THREE TIMES!
It was emotional!
I’m always going to be a sucker for the inner dialogue, when you see as you’re reading that they have feelings or attractions!
It was spicy at times and it was delicious!
From begging to end I was hooked with this story. I fell I love with so many characters in this. The way savannah falls in love with Mia (Lucas daughter) ahh that made me so happy.
Also bonus baby mama (Celeste) Ayy I love her 😍
She gave off the best bi energy 😘
That sure as hell was a fun added bonus to this story
Over all this was such a good read! ❤️
I truly loved the opposites attract!
I enjoyed this single dad trope! Lucas love for his daughter and all he does for her omg! Melted my heart!
The main character in here Lucas was such a cinnamon roll and I legit didn’t see that coming and I loved it so so much. Their relationship is so dang beautiful! Legit goals!!
Gotta say I cried 3 times!! THREE TIMES!
It was emotional!
I’m always going to be a sucker for the inner dialogue, when you see as you’re reading that they have feelings or attractions!
It was spicy at times and it was delicious!
From begging to end I was hooked with this story. I fell I love with so many characters in this. The way savannah falls in love with Mia (Lucas daughter) ahh that made me so happy.
Also bonus baby mama (Celeste) Ayy I love her 😍
She gave off the best bi energy 😘
That sure as hell was a fun added bonus to this story
Over all this was such a good read! ❤️
January 22, 2023
My Review:
5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️/5
This was an instant 5-star read when I started it. I loved every second of it.
Lucas has gang relations which you find about at the very beginning of the book but he left and started raising his daughter. He doesn't go back because he cares about his family. He starts college and focuses on getting a degree in business.
Savannah is a rich girl who goes to the same college as Lucas. They instantly got off on the wrong foot in the beginning. Savannah was in a nasty "relationship" That her father constantly forced her into because he thought it was good for her. Savannah left her ex, Jason.
Lucas and Savannah started dating. She loved Mia and formed a relationship with Celeste who is Mia's mother. This story is amazing. I loved how they co-parented in this book. They always out Mia first no matter what. Jocelyne (thank you for making this book I'm in love with it)
5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️/5
This was an instant 5-star read when I started it. I loved every second of it.
Lucas has gang relations which you find about at the very beginning of the book but he left and started raising his daughter. He doesn't go back because he cares about his family. He starts college and focuses on getting a degree in business.
Savannah is a rich girl who goes to the same college as Lucas. They instantly got off on the wrong foot in the beginning. Savannah was in a nasty "relationship" That her father constantly forced her into because he thought it was good for her. Savannah left her ex, Jason.
Lucas and Savannah started dating. She loved Mia and formed a relationship with Celeste who is Mia's mother. This story is amazing. I loved how they co-parented in this book. They always out Mia first no matter what. Jocelyne (thank you for making this book I'm in love with it)
April 18, 2023
I would like to preface this review by saying that this my first Jocelyne Soto book and i really enjoyed the overall plot. I really liked Lucas character, he was such an amazing guy and he just genuinely loved the people in his life. He was also willing to put himself in harmful situations in order to know that he was making the right decision for the people he loved. I liked Savannah and thought she was a good character it was really good to see her growth and really flourish in to a strong woman who fought for those she loved and fought for herself and what she wanted. I enjoyed Mia, Celeste and Sandra as characters too. I couldn’t give this book a higher star rating because there was quite a few spelling/sentence mistakes that unfortunately did detract me from the story. I also felt there was some things that probably could’ve used more answers to at the end of the book. Overall this was a good book with a good plot line and good characters.
February 2, 2023
4 stars
ARC COPY REVIEW
Opposites attract, enemies to lovers, contemporary romance, single parent, troubled pasts, cartel, college romance, slow burn romance, single dad, gang history, co-parenting, interracial romance, hate to love, forbidden romance, second chance romance, steamy
this was another story by this author that I have read and enjoyed because it had some of my favorite tropes (single dad, enemies to lovers, opposites attract, forbidden romance) and I appreciated that one of the main characters was a minority (Mexican). These two claim to hate each other but we all know that the line between love and hate is gonna be crossed.
ARC COPY REVIEW
Opposites attract, enemies to lovers, contemporary romance, single parent, troubled pasts, cartel, college romance, slow burn romance, single dad, gang history, co-parenting, interracial romance, hate to love, forbidden romance, second chance romance, steamy
this was another story by this author that I have read and enjoyed because it had some of my favorite tropes (single dad, enemies to lovers, opposites attract, forbidden romance) and I appreciated that one of the main characters was a minority (Mexican). These two claim to hate each other but we all know that the line between love and hate is gonna be crossed.
February 3, 2023
it’s so sweet
This one was definitely one of the sweeter stores for Jocelyn. It does have its moments of getting intense and dramatic but the relationship between Lucas and Savannah is definitely a good, healthy, sweet one. They lean on each other and learn from each other and put in the work to keep their communication open and honest, they have their bumps but they work through them together.
The only thing really would be that it maybe needed another round of edits just to get the last bits of typos, but it doesn’t affect the story itself so it’s just details at that point
This one was definitely one of the sweeter stores for Jocelyn. It does have its moments of getting intense and dramatic but the relationship between Lucas and Savannah is definitely a good, healthy, sweet one. They lean on each other and learn from each other and put in the work to keep their communication open and honest, they have their bumps but they work through them together.
The only thing really would be that it maybe needed another round of edits just to get the last bits of typos, but it doesn’t affect the story itself so it’s just details at that point
February 1, 2023
I really enjoyed this book! I went into it blind after joining Jocelyne's ARC team. Lucas & Savannahs story are opposite who definitely do attract each other. The co parenting of Lucas & ex was amazing. I enjoyed how the author didn't make one of them a bad person. The story was very intriguing & keep me wanting more which is always a win with 2 characters I didn't except to end up lovers like they did.
January 10, 2023
Absolutely loved getting to know Lucas! Especially since he was a minor character in a previous book by Jocelyne. Getting to hear all about his past, how it's impacting his future, and finding out how he and Savannah come to be, it was all so good.
I loved the opposites attract trope in this book, as well as the bit of suspense element. Loved this setting, and the majority of the story!
I loved the opposites attract trope in this book, as well as the bit of suspense element. Loved this setting, and the majority of the story!
April 16, 2023
good story plot
This plot was really good. I loved the characters and the story and their development.
But the editing. Sweet lord. Between missing words, wrong words, misplaced names, and misspellings, sometimes it was difficult to understand.
That said if you can get by then, this is a must read because I loved the story.
This plot was really good. I loved the characters and the story and their development.
But the editing. Sweet lord. Between missing words, wrong words, misplaced names, and misspellings, sometimes it was difficult to understand.
That said if you can get by then, this is a must read because I loved the story.
January 24, 2023
i felt like i was reading a wattpad book the whole time i was reading this. it wasn't bad but just not really what i'm into anymore. the fade to black moments...ridiculous. they also were wayyyy too close to the baby mama if you ask me.
March 29, 2023
This book was such an unexpected reading experience for me. I don't think I have read this sort of plot in a romance. Ngl It made me feel hesitant at first. But I'm glad to find myself engrossed in the narrative as it goes.
January 6, 2023
wow
This was another great book by jocelyne Soto! Loves the characters and pov. Can’t wait to read move books in 2023 from the author
This was another great book by jocelyne Soto! Loves the characters and pov. Can’t wait to read move books in 2023 from the author
February 2, 2023
• ARC review🎉
• Actual rating: 4.5/5⭐️!
• If there’s one thing about Miss. Soto, it’s that she never misses the mark🫡. And the way she made me add another one of her book boyfriends to my list… LUCAS REYES😫❤️🔥!
• Salutis Meae follows the story of Lucas and Savannah. Tropes within this book are strangers to lovers, enemies to lovers, friends to lovers, grumpyxsunshine, age gap, college romance, gang life, single dad, reformed gang member etc😮💨!
• If there’s one thing you should know about me, it’s that I love a good reformed storyline ESPECIALLY if it has to do with gang life or the mafia life🤤! I EAT IT UP EVERY SINGLE TIME (cough cough the Chicago franchise on NBC🔥). And this time is no different, Jocelyne served it up to me on a hot platter and I couldn’t STOP!
• LIKE UM HELLO THE OPENING SCENE LITERALLY MIRRORING LUCAS’S DAD’S - don’t even start with me because the way I had tears in my eyes😪.
• Lucas and Savannah come from completely different worlds. Classic boy from the wrong side of the tracks and the goody goody rich girl who has hidden trauma/pain. How Jocelyne flipped the story on its head was not only making Lucas a reformed gang member, but also a single father who has a healthy coparenting relationship with his baby mama… NOW TELL ME WHEN HAVE YOU EVER SEEN THAT IN MEDIA?!?¿ I digress, but Lucas and Savannah cross paths when he gets accepted into USC (I think😵💫) and they share a class together. From the beginning, there’s tension between them, but of course there’s road blocks ahead of them because Savannah has a boyfriend (who’s a dirtbag, racist and whom she hates) and Lucas really isn’t looking for a relationship, he’s just trying to focus on his studies and family. But of course, nothing goes as planned as Lucas and Savannah inevitably and even unwillingly take a liking to each other and start up a relationship regardless of all the shit and prejudice that is being thrown towards them.
• Something I HEAVILY appreciated about this book was its narrative on gang life and “life” after it. When most people think about gangs they usually think about black/African Americans. Just like when people think of mafia they automatically think of Italians, cartels they think of Mexicans or people of Latinx descent etc. But, Jocelyne shedded light on the fact that all of these organized crime units truly have no discrimination and it can happen to ANYONE for MULTIPLE reasons. There’s a misconception on gang life and gang members, many think they’re just straight criminals and there’s nothing more to them - when obviously that’s not the case, and not Lucas’s. Lucas joined the gang life at 14 after his father was murdered in their front lawn after a hit gone wrong. When the police didn’t serve justice, he looked to another source for justice, his local gang. Having the story based in East Los Angeles weighs heavily within the book and it very much so gives me Ryan Atwood and Marissa Cooper vibes from The O.C. (Ryan was from Chino, CA and Marissa was from Orange County). With telling Lucas’s story, Jocelyne shedded light on the fact that sometimes people feel like they have no other option but to join the life and how even while being apart of the life you don’t wanna end your life there.
• I gave this a 4.5/5⭐️ because personally I would’ve loved a little more backstory with Savannah and her father and the whole debacle with him forcing her to be with her shitty ex boyfriend. I also would’ve liked to see a little more gang life action on the pages, like I understand that he’s reformed and trying to move on with his life and obviously I love that for my mans🤪 but I would’ve liked a little more action when it came to either the flashbacks of the gang life or even when the gang life started to come back up for Lucas.
• All in all, I absolutely loved this book, I feel like it handled the topic and themes within it well, and it was beneficial for many people who are effected by gang life and gang violence. I highly recommend this book and all of Jocelyne’s other books (ESPECIALLY MY FLOR DE MUERTOS SERIES - y’all know I’ll never stop talking about my babies😭).
• Actual rating: 4.5/5⭐️!
• If there’s one thing about Miss. Soto, it’s that she never misses the mark🫡. And the way she made me add another one of her book boyfriends to my list… LUCAS REYES😫❤️🔥!
• Salutis Meae follows the story of Lucas and Savannah. Tropes within this book are strangers to lovers, enemies to lovers, friends to lovers, grumpyxsunshine, age gap, college romance, gang life, single dad, reformed gang member etc😮💨!
• If there’s one thing you should know about me, it’s that I love a good reformed storyline ESPECIALLY if it has to do with gang life or the mafia life🤤! I EAT IT UP EVERY SINGLE TIME (cough cough the Chicago franchise on NBC🔥). And this time is no different, Jocelyne served it up to me on a hot platter and I couldn’t STOP!
• LIKE UM HELLO THE OPENING SCENE LITERALLY MIRRORING LUCAS’S DAD’S - don’t even start with me because the way I had tears in my eyes😪.
• Lucas and Savannah come from completely different worlds. Classic boy from the wrong side of the tracks and the goody goody rich girl who has hidden trauma/pain. How Jocelyne flipped the story on its head was not only making Lucas a reformed gang member, but also a single father who has a healthy coparenting relationship with his baby mama… NOW TELL ME WHEN HAVE YOU EVER SEEN THAT IN MEDIA?!?¿ I digress, but Lucas and Savannah cross paths when he gets accepted into USC (I think😵💫) and they share a class together. From the beginning, there’s tension between them, but of course there’s road blocks ahead of them because Savannah has a boyfriend (who’s a dirtbag, racist and whom she hates) and Lucas really isn’t looking for a relationship, he’s just trying to focus on his studies and family. But of course, nothing goes as planned as Lucas and Savannah inevitably and even unwillingly take a liking to each other and start up a relationship regardless of all the shit and prejudice that is being thrown towards them.
• Something I HEAVILY appreciated about this book was its narrative on gang life and “life” after it. When most people think about gangs they usually think about black/African Americans. Just like when people think of mafia they automatically think of Italians, cartels they think of Mexicans or people of Latinx descent etc. But, Jocelyne shedded light on the fact that all of these organized crime units truly have no discrimination and it can happen to ANYONE for MULTIPLE reasons. There’s a misconception on gang life and gang members, many think they’re just straight criminals and there’s nothing more to them - when obviously that’s not the case, and not Lucas’s. Lucas joined the gang life at 14 after his father was murdered in their front lawn after a hit gone wrong. When the police didn’t serve justice, he looked to another source for justice, his local gang. Having the story based in East Los Angeles weighs heavily within the book and it very much so gives me Ryan Atwood and Marissa Cooper vibes from The O.C. (Ryan was from Chino, CA and Marissa was from Orange County). With telling Lucas’s story, Jocelyne shedded light on the fact that sometimes people feel like they have no other option but to join the life and how even while being apart of the life you don’t wanna end your life there.
• I gave this a 4.5/5⭐️ because personally I would’ve loved a little more backstory with Savannah and her father and the whole debacle with him forcing her to be with her shitty ex boyfriend. I also would’ve liked to see a little more gang life action on the pages, like I understand that he’s reformed and trying to move on with his life and obviously I love that for my mans🤪 but I would’ve liked a little more action when it came to either the flashbacks of the gang life or even when the gang life started to come back up for Lucas.
• All in all, I absolutely loved this book, I feel like it handled the topic and themes within it well, and it was beneficial for many people who are effected by gang life and gang violence. I highly recommend this book and all of Jocelyne’s other books (ESPECIALLY MY FLOR DE MUERTOS SERIES - y’all know I’ll never stop talking about my babies😭).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 9, 2023
🌟🌟🌟🌟/5 and 🌶🌶.5 / 5
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started Salutis Meae. I gathered from the blurb that it would likely have darker themes and potentially some tragedy. I remember Lucas from Joceclyn’s book Fake Love, which released last year. We were briefly introduced to him when his cousin Jen comes to the LA area. 𝑊ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑏𝑜𝑜𝑘𝑠 𝑑𝑜 𝐶𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑛𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑦 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑏𝑜𝑡ℎ 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒𝑡𝑒 𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠.
⚠️𝔹𝕖 𝕒 𝕣𝕖𝕤𝕡𝕠𝕟𝕤𝕚𝕓𝕝𝕖 𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕𝕖𝕣 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕔𝕙𝕖𝕔𝕜 𝕒𝕝𝕝 𝕥𝕣𝕚𝕘𝕘𝕖𝕣 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕔𝕠𝕟𝕥𝕖𝕟𝕥 𝕨𝕒𝕣𝕟𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤.⚠️
I was pretty much hooked after reading the prologue. You get one of those “present day” happenings with a cliffy and then the story starts rewinding all the way to the beginning. This story covered so many real world / life topics. Both Lucas and Savannah learn that the age old saying “can’t judge a book by its cover” is still true. Appearances can be deceiving and almost everyone has an inner battle going on.
Salutis Meae is an enemies to lovers, wrong side of the track romance. Lucas our MMC, was shaped by a tragic event that happens to him as a teenager. That event leads Lucas down a play that not many can ever come back from. Lucas battles each day to make the better choice and do what is right for his family. It is because of this decision he finds himself at USC in a class with Savannah and her less than stellar Boyfriend Jason. Jason and his “A typical Frat boy” friends immediately judge Lucas. They judge him by the color of his skin, the clothes he is wearing, and the tattoos that they can see. They make it their goal to make him as uncomfortable as possible. Savannah is lumped into this due to her own choices and a “deal” she has made. Her outward appearance of indifference and silence kick starts the enemies to lovers bit.
I really loved that both Lucas and Savannah had to learn not to judge each other when both of them instantly felt judged by the other. Their character growth together and individually was great and clearly visible throughout the story. I loved how open and honest Lucas led his life, for the most part, and how he encouraged Savannah to do the same. Lucas is definitely a cinnamon roll hiding as an Alpha. I mean he can be alpha when he needs to be. I loved his relationship with Savannah, his daughter and his ex. It was also refreshing to read about a healthy co parenting relationship. More often than not those relationships are always troublesome in books.
I thought the spice was very sweet and fit the story very well. It wasn’t overbearing or unrealistically done for this particular story.
Thank you to Jocelyn Soto for a copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started Salutis Meae. I gathered from the blurb that it would likely have darker themes and potentially some tragedy. I remember Lucas from Joceclyn’s book Fake Love, which released last year. We were briefly introduced to him when his cousin Jen comes to the LA area. 𝑊ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑏𝑜𝑜𝑘𝑠 𝑑𝑜 𝐶𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑛𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑦 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑏𝑜𝑡ℎ 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒𝑡𝑒 𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠.
⚠️𝔹𝕖 𝕒 𝕣𝕖𝕤𝕡𝕠𝕟𝕤𝕚𝕓𝕝𝕖 𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕𝕖𝕣 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕔𝕙𝕖𝕔𝕜 𝕒𝕝𝕝 𝕥𝕣𝕚𝕘𝕘𝕖𝕣 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕔𝕠𝕟𝕥𝕖𝕟𝕥 𝕨𝕒𝕣𝕟𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤.⚠️
I was pretty much hooked after reading the prologue. You get one of those “present day” happenings with a cliffy and then the story starts rewinding all the way to the beginning. This story covered so many real world / life topics. Both Lucas and Savannah learn that the age old saying “can’t judge a book by its cover” is still true. Appearances can be deceiving and almost everyone has an inner battle going on.
Salutis Meae is an enemies to lovers, wrong side of the track romance. Lucas our MMC, was shaped by a tragic event that happens to him as a teenager. That event leads Lucas down a play that not many can ever come back from. Lucas battles each day to make the better choice and do what is right for his family. It is because of this decision he finds himself at USC in a class with Savannah and her less than stellar Boyfriend Jason. Jason and his “A typical Frat boy” friends immediately judge Lucas. They judge him by the color of his skin, the clothes he is wearing, and the tattoos that they can see. They make it their goal to make him as uncomfortable as possible. Savannah is lumped into this due to her own choices and a “deal” she has made. Her outward appearance of indifference and silence kick starts the enemies to lovers bit.
I really loved that both Lucas and Savannah had to learn not to judge each other when both of them instantly felt judged by the other. Their character growth together and individually was great and clearly visible throughout the story. I loved how open and honest Lucas led his life, for the most part, and how he encouraged Savannah to do the same. Lucas is definitely a cinnamon roll hiding as an Alpha. I mean he can be alpha when he needs to be. I loved his relationship with Savannah, his daughter and his ex. It was also refreshing to read about a healthy co parenting relationship. More often than not those relationships are always troublesome in books.
I thought the spice was very sweet and fit the story very well. It wasn’t overbearing or unrealistically done for this particular story.
Thank you to Jocelyn Soto for a copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.
January 5, 2023
I received a copy of this book from the publisher/author to review for Stephanie's Book Reports.
I always thought that I would never see the age of nineteen. Growing up the way I did, that was normal. It was normal for parents to play their kids' funerals. But I was able to get out of that life and create a better one for my family and myself. Even if I was still being seen as a lowlife. Most people saw the tattoos and the clothes and would steer away, most people except her. Savannah Campbell. The cheerleader The rich girl who had no business getting involved with the boy from the bad side of town, but she didn't care. I hated her until I didn't and in the short period of time she became my everything. Including my salvation. We were happy. That is until everything I feared came knocking and brought everything down. Now I have to ask, if I was able to live past the age of nineteen..Am I going to live past tonight?
This is the story of Savannah and Lucas. The second that you read the Prologue you are going to be hooked and have to know what is happening. I know that I was. These two met when they were in college. Lucas was there because he wanted to give his daughter the best life possible. But he is always looking over his shoulder because he got involved with people he should not have after the death of his father. Now he is turning over a new leaf and has a dream of opening his own business. He is a mechanic and really loves and is good at it. Savannah however does not want to be at the school that she feels like she got into only because of her last name. She has a terrible boyfriend that cheats on her all the time that she would love to have not in her life anymore. And, she would love to be away from her fathers influence and his dream of her working in his company one day. Or I guess I should say he wants her to take over the business. She is certainly stuck in a mess. The second that Lucas walks into school the first day she is drawn to him. He is certainly different from the boys that Savannah is around because of Jason her horrible boyfriend and his frat buddies. However he is nice to her the first day but from then Lucas thinks he has her all figured out and he couldn't be way more off base if he was from Mars. For half the book you get to watch their relationship and feelings for one another grow. But things are going one and secrets are being kept. The main question now is when it all comes out will it all blow up or will people lose their lives. You have to read to find out but I really enjoyed reading this book.
I always thought that I would never see the age of nineteen. Growing up the way I did, that was normal. It was normal for parents to play their kids' funerals. But I was able to get out of that life and create a better one for my family and myself. Even if I was still being seen as a lowlife. Most people saw the tattoos and the clothes and would steer away, most people except her. Savannah Campbell. The cheerleader The rich girl who had no business getting involved with the boy from the bad side of town, but she didn't care. I hated her until I didn't and in the short period of time she became my everything. Including my salvation. We were happy. That is until everything I feared came knocking and brought everything down. Now I have to ask, if I was able to live past the age of nineteen..Am I going to live past tonight?
This is the story of Savannah and Lucas. The second that you read the Prologue you are going to be hooked and have to know what is happening. I know that I was. These two met when they were in college. Lucas was there because he wanted to give his daughter the best life possible. But he is always looking over his shoulder because he got involved with people he should not have after the death of his father. Now he is turning over a new leaf and has a dream of opening his own business. He is a mechanic and really loves and is good at it. Savannah however does not want to be at the school that she feels like she got into only because of her last name. She has a terrible boyfriend that cheats on her all the time that she would love to have not in her life anymore. And, she would love to be away from her fathers influence and his dream of her working in his company one day. Or I guess I should say he wants her to take over the business. She is certainly stuck in a mess. The second that Lucas walks into school the first day she is drawn to him. He is certainly different from the boys that Savannah is around because of Jason her horrible boyfriend and his frat buddies. However he is nice to her the first day but from then Lucas thinks he has her all figured out and he couldn't be way more off base if he was from Mars. For half the book you get to watch their relationship and feelings for one another grow. But things are going one and secrets are being kept. The main question now is when it all comes out will it all blow up or will people lose their lives. You have to read to find out but I really enjoyed reading this book.
January 6, 2023
What you can expect:
🌹 Suspenseful Romance
🌹 Single Parent
🌹 Opposites Attract
🌹 Enemies to Lovers
“Salutis Meae...It’s Latin for my salvation...”
Lucas and Savannah have really become one of my favorite couples so far in 2023. It’s a story I’ve thought about a lot over the years and have lived it myself in a lot of ways. Reading a book by a Hispanic author like myself really hits home because it feels like the stories are even more relatable that way. Take Lucas for example. Lucas is my father, my brother, my primo, and in some ways, even a reflection of myself. Savannah is the embodiment of a culture that we long so much to be accepted by, embraced into, but often not good enough to be a part of.
Lucas is a self-described former cholo. He loves to work on cars - especially custom cars – painting murals on their hoods. But he’s also worked extra hard to put himself back into college to provide for his mama and his baby girl, Mia. He wants to give them a better life, a life that was almost destroyed when they lost his father.
Savannah is the stereotypical white girl – cheerleader, wealthy daddy, slimebag boyfriend. But she’s not content with that life. She doesn’t need nor want her daddy’s money and she can’t stand the boyfriend he’s pushing her to be with.
The day a cholo walks into their college classroom is the day their lives change, for better or for worse.
Ms. Soto delivered in so many ways. It was an inner-city contemporary romance with a touch of suspense and a barrio feel. She gives Lucas and Savannah an insightful approach that makes every reader understand their differences and what’s at stake. They also both grow in their characters, are not afraid to change, and embrace their differences thanks to the love they find with each other.
I’d highly recommend this book and can’t wait to read more from this author. 💖
🌹 Suspenseful Romance
🌹 Single Parent
🌹 Opposites Attract
🌹 Enemies to Lovers
“Salutis Meae...It’s Latin for my salvation...”
Lucas and Savannah have really become one of my favorite couples so far in 2023. It’s a story I’ve thought about a lot over the years and have lived it myself in a lot of ways. Reading a book by a Hispanic author like myself really hits home because it feels like the stories are even more relatable that way. Take Lucas for example. Lucas is my father, my brother, my primo, and in some ways, even a reflection of myself. Savannah is the embodiment of a culture that we long so much to be accepted by, embraced into, but often not good enough to be a part of.
Lucas is a self-described former cholo. He loves to work on cars - especially custom cars – painting murals on their hoods. But he’s also worked extra hard to put himself back into college to provide for his mama and his baby girl, Mia. He wants to give them a better life, a life that was almost destroyed when they lost his father.
Savannah is the stereotypical white girl – cheerleader, wealthy daddy, slimebag boyfriend. But she’s not content with that life. She doesn’t need nor want her daddy’s money and she can’t stand the boyfriend he’s pushing her to be with.
The day a cholo walks into their college classroom is the day their lives change, for better or for worse.
Ms. Soto delivered in so many ways. It was an inner-city contemporary romance with a touch of suspense and a barrio feel. She gives Lucas and Savannah an insightful approach that makes every reader understand their differences and what’s at stake. They also both grow in their characters, are not afraid to change, and embrace their differences thanks to the love they find with each other.
I’d highly recommend this book and can’t wait to read more from this author. 💖
January 16, 2023
I went into Salutis Meae completely blind. I don't remember ever even reading the synopsis.
Lucas is a single father to Mia. He's quit gang life and enrolled in a new school in an attempt to better his life. The relationship he has with his little girl and his Momma is everything, honestly. The maturity that Lucas and Celeste show toward each other in dealing with co-parenting Mia is commendable. Not many people their age have that.
Savannah would be your typical rich girl cheerleader if you just saw her from the outside. She's absolutely not. She doesn't want the degree her father is pushing her to get. She doesn't want the boyfriend that the father is pushing her to date. She just wants to be her own person. Life changes the day Lucas walks into her business class.
A classic tale of opposites attract, with added sprinkles of cute little Mia, and the twist of Lucas' past life coming back to haunt them. It's a worthwhile read that kept me captivated from page one and left me pretty happy with the ending.
Always check the TW/CW:
💥Violence 💥Gang activity
💥Single dad 💥Opposites attract
💥Enemies to lovers
Anywho! Time to wrap this up with the goodies:
Read: 4🌟🌟🌟🌟
Spice: 2🌶🌶
HEA
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Lucas is a single father to Mia. He's quit gang life and enrolled in a new school in an attempt to better his life. The relationship he has with his little girl and his Momma is everything, honestly. The maturity that Lucas and Celeste show toward each other in dealing with co-parenting Mia is commendable. Not many people their age have that.
Savannah would be your typical rich girl cheerleader if you just saw her from the outside. She's absolutely not. She doesn't want the degree her father is pushing her to get. She doesn't want the boyfriend that the father is pushing her to date. She just wants to be her own person. Life changes the day Lucas walks into her business class.
A classic tale of opposites attract, with added sprinkles of cute little Mia, and the twist of Lucas' past life coming back to haunt them. It's a worthwhile read that kept me captivated from page one and left me pretty happy with the ending.
Always check the TW/CW:
💥Violence 💥Gang activity
💥Single dad 💥Opposites attract
💥Enemies to lovers
Anywho! Time to wrap this up with the goodies:
Read: 4🌟🌟🌟🌟
Spice: 2🌶🌶
HEA
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 6, 2023
4/5 ⭐
2/5 🌶️
I really loved this book. When I usually read gång stories the MMC drags the FMC into it's depths and this is a story about getting out and being free of past chains.
I loved the banter between Savannah and Lucas, from the start these two had chemistry even though they hated each other due to prejudice. Lucas was a brown, bad boy with neck tattoos and Savannah was a spoiled rich, blond, white girl that thought she was too good for the likes of him. Turns out that you can't judge a book by it's cover and when these two discover this we get a beautiful love story.
Single dad is one of my favorite tropes and this was no exception. I adored his daughter Mia and the way he is with her and I also loved his relationship with her mom, Celeste. Savannah slid right in the mix too and this little family unit was cute as pie.
I wasn't sure when the prologue would come into play but it made for such an exciting and thrilling climax to this story. I felt for Sandra so much in those moments... *broken heart* I really enjoyed the ending and the epilogue and I'm kinda sad this is a standalone, I would have loved more from this world, especially Celeste's story.
2/5 🌶️
I really loved this book. When I usually read gång stories the MMC drags the FMC into it's depths and this is a story about getting out and being free of past chains.
I loved the banter between Savannah and Lucas, from the start these two had chemistry even though they hated each other due to prejudice. Lucas was a brown, bad boy with neck tattoos and Savannah was a spoiled rich, blond, white girl that thought she was too good for the likes of him. Turns out that you can't judge a book by it's cover and when these two discover this we get a beautiful love story.
Single dad is one of my favorite tropes and this was no exception. I adored his daughter Mia and the way he is with her and I also loved his relationship with her mom, Celeste. Savannah slid right in the mix too and this little family unit was cute as pie.
I wasn't sure when the prologue would come into play but it made for such an exciting and thrilling climax to this story. I felt for Sandra so much in those moments... *broken heart* I really enjoyed the ending and the epilogue and I'm kinda sad this is a standalone, I would have loved more from this world, especially Celeste's story.
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