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b00kr3vi3ws's review against another edition
3.0
After reading Taming Romeo, Evie Sanchez’s story, I was left craving for more. And Rachelle Ayala returns with Choco’s story in Claiming Carlos.
We have already met the Sanchez family in Taming Romeo. For those who have not yet had a chance to pick it up – the Sanchez family owns a Filipino Restaurant. Choco has huge responsibilities as there are high expectations from her. She is in college with hopes of achieving a management degree someday. She helps out in the family restaurant as the chief hostess and assistant manager. She is also expected to set the right examples for her younger siblings. Choco, lost in this daily grind, feels unsatisfied with her life even though she cannot really pinpoint the source of her discontent. Enter Johnny, a consultant hired to help with the expansion of the restaurant business. He sweeps off her feet and before she knows, she has had a complete makeover. Carlos has always been in the background of Choco’s life as her friend and as the head chef of the restaurant. When Johnny tries another makeover on the menu, Carlos had enough and he sets about throwing Johnny out of their lives and claim Choco for himself.
The food in the first instalment had left me feeling hungry and so this time I made sure to have lots of snacks on the stand by while I read this book. I wasn’t disappointed. Claiming Carlos also gives its reader a fill of Filipino culture. The family dynamics work differently there and we see a lot of familial influence in the story too. While I had a love-hate relationship with a couple of characters, I really felt connected to Choco and liked her. If Evie and Romeo were a sizzling couple, Choco and Carlos surely set off all fire alarms around them. I actually like the fact that Choco and Carlos were such good friends for so long, that when they finally took things to the next level, it only seemed natural.
Rachelle Ayala has her own style of narrating a story and it never fails to suck you in the world of whatever story she tells and this book wasn’t an exception.
http://www.b00kr3vi3ws.in/2014/11/ClaimingCarlos.html
lita2013's review against another edition
4.0
Such an outstanding story, surprised me to no end. The feels are just crazy.
I cannot believe this book!. My first impression at first, especially with the writing style along with the vibes it was giving off, I thought it was just going to be like any other romance; just an okay story.
What kept everything going for me with this story was how spontaneous the author was in many of the scenes as well as the characters that were created.
I liked how the perspective switched between the main characters, Choco, and Carlos. I was a bit iffy when it came to Choco, because she was a bit unhappy with the way everything was at in her life and with herself. And then things start to change. For a time I felt so strongly, sympathizing with her, until she derailed a bit, but then eventually came back to her senses. Carlos I really really liked. The feels are going through the roof. He was just so cool, and hot, and caring and hot, and just an awesome cook. My stomach growled every time the setting took place in the kitchen with him or cooking something for Choco. I still got frustrated with him too for a little bit but then I'd become smitten with his cooking skills as well a some other skills he excelled at... The only character I did not hate, and truly loved, as well as had their head screwed on straight was Tita Elena, the one with the bakery. I just love her to death. She was the only one that I did not get irritated by. And gave great advice. Julia, however was the one character that was completely confusing, and irritating too. She just seemed unstable and weird.
I really appreciated the mini glossary at the end defining the meanings of word, phrases and honorifics used throughout the story.
I actually have a Filipino aunt, although she's still pretty young, but her parents still live in the Philippines so I liked how this story helped a bit with knowing more about my aunt's heritage.
This author truly did amaze me with their writing style, character development.
Overall, I very much enjoyed this read and would recommend this romance to those looking for one that is out-of-the-box unpredictable as much as it is very entertaining.
I cannot believe this book!. My first impression at first, especially with the writing style along with the vibes it was giving off, I thought it was just going to be like any other romance; just an okay story.
What kept everything going for me with this story was how spontaneous the author was in many of the scenes as well as the characters that were created.
I liked how the perspective switched between the main characters, Choco, and Carlos. I was a bit iffy when it came to Choco, because she was a bit unhappy with the way everything was at in her life and with herself. And then things start to change. For a time I felt so strongly, sympathizing with her, until she derailed a bit, but then eventually came back to her senses. Carlos I really really liked. The feels are going through the roof. He was just so cool, and hot, and caring and hot, and just an awesome cook. My stomach growled every time the setting took place in the kitchen with him or cooking something for Choco. I still got frustrated with him too for a little bit but then I'd become smitten with his cooking skills as well a some other skills he excelled at... The only character I did not hate, and truly loved, as well as had their head screwed on straight was Tita Elena, the one with the bakery. I just love her to death. She was the only one that I did not get irritated by. And gave great advice. Julia, however was the one character that was completely confusing, and irritating too. She just seemed unstable and weird.
I really appreciated the mini glossary at the end defining the meanings of word, phrases and honorifics used throughout the story.
I actually have a Filipino aunt, although she's still pretty young, but her parents still live in the Philippines so I liked how this story helped a bit with knowing more about my aunt's heritage.
This author truly did amaze me with their writing style, character development.
Overall, I very much enjoyed this read and would recommend this romance to those looking for one that is out-of-the-box unpredictable as much as it is very entertaining.
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