Customer Reviews

Hot Tamara

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This book was awesome. The steamy romance scenes were VERY well written. I was on a 3 hour flight and I picked the book up in the airport. I read the whole thing on the plane. I couldn't put it down. Even when the flight attendant came to get my drink order. The plot kept me captured and turned a long, boring flight into one of romance and excitement.
DEFINITELY worth reading!!

I have been waiting for this book for a very long time and finally here it is. I finished it in one night I just could not put it down. I can't tell you how much I LOVED this book. I related to Tamara in so many ways and I wish I could find a guy like Will. Thanks Mary for such a fun and wonderful book I can't wait till the next book comes out.

I had been anxiously waiting for this book and was so excited when I finally I got it! I read it in one night and really enjoyed it. It's about a young woman in her 20's establishing her place in the world, ditching a comfy life with her parents for the challenge of a new career, city and friends. I connected because I could relate - I went through similiar experiences during that time in my life. It brought back so many memories. I love Tamara, she is such a fun character to follow! Thank you Mary, looking forward to your next book!

Hot Tamara has something I've been looking for in popular fiction lately--Warmth.

Tamara's relationship with her close-knit Mexican-American family is right on and very familiar to me. And "Will" is so hot and so cool, I was rooting for him from the moment I met him.

The author manges to weave together Tamara's career struggles, her budding romance, and her family dynamics in a way that feels much like real life, with moments of anger and sadness contrasted by moments of reconciliation and triumph.

I also enjoyed the "bonus footage" at the end of the book with information about the author and her own romance, the "soundtrack" to Hot Tamara, and, in true Latin style, even some words from her mother.

All in all, a very satisfying read.

Mary Castillo brings to life characters that could be your sister, your mother, tu mejor amiga and of course your high school crush. Her writing unequivocally demonstrates the balance many modern day Latinas try to make between cultural traditions and morals and mainstream life in the U.S.A. It is more than chic lit- it is a true glimpse beyond stereotypes and cultural norms that allow someone who is not from the Latino culture to understand and appreciate and ultimately root for our heroine. I cannot wait for the next book!

Mary Castillo emerges as one of the nation's top young chick lit writers with her debut, "Hot Tamara," a fast, fun read that takes us into the world of a memorable, modern American woman - who happens to be Mexican-American. Mary captures the rhythm and flow of life and language in Southern California with great attention to detail and humor. And if you're in the mood to, uh, be in the mood, "love" scenes don't get much better, with the luscious Will being a great compliment to the daring, philosophical Tamara. A must read for anyone who likes chick lit written well. I look forward to many more books by Mary Castillo!

Mary Castillo's HOT TAMARA is one of the most charming stories I've read in a long time. Before I read the excerpt on her website, before I subscribed to her newsletter a year ago, I knew this novel was destined to be a "must read" in chick lit history. Tamara Contreras is a twenty-six year woman faced with decisions regarding future aspirations that threaten her relationship with her old-fashioned mother and her love for an old high school crush, Will Benavides. "Hot" Tamara is a character who essentially has been ignored in contemporary lit (i.e. successful Latinas who don't speak any/little Spanish, and who are more American than Latino, but still Latino). Unlike Hollywood which continues to perpetuate stereotypes and fails to "see" the rest of us Latinas who exist out there, Mary Castillo defies convention with Tamara. Castillo's characters -- from Will to Isa to Las Senoras -- are well-rounded and believable with flaws and dreams that read like real people. Even Tamara's parents, characters which are usually relegated to the background in many books, come alive. Castillo uses the right amount of wit, humor, and conflict to move her plot toward a sweet, satisfying ending. FIVE STARS, TWO THUMBS UP, AND ORALE!!

This is a fast, fun read. I'd consider it more of a contemporary romance though than a chick lit. I was really looking foward to this book, and wish it had been a bit longer, so we could spend more time with the characters, and go a little deeper.

Meet Tamara Contreras. She is 26 and still living at home, but desperate to break out on her own. Especially after her boyfriend Ruben proposes at a family wedding, and Tamara turns him down in front of everyone. Now her mother is angry with her, and her family thinks something is wrong with her.

With her mother getting more and more controlling, Tamara decides to put her dreams to break free into reality. She gets a part-time job at a gallery in Los Angeles and a tiny apartment. Much to her mother's strong protest and threats that she will no longer speak to her, Tamara moves out. And that's not all - there is the handsome Will, with whom she went to kindergarten, and have always been attracted to. Now that she is on her own and forced to be in contact with him (because of her job), their mutual attraction begins burning out of control.

But Tamara's mother is no longer speaking to her, and she will also surely disapprove of Will. Is Tamara going to be able to make amends with her mother? Is her burgeoning relationship with Will going to go anywhere, or is it just a fling?

Hot Tamara was a good, solid and well-written novel. The characters were all interesting, and it was fascinating to read about the Latino family culture and life. Tamara was also a good heroine because she was intelligent and very realistic. The story's overall tone was romantic and charming.

However, sometimes the characters utter Spanish phrases, and the they weren't followed with an English explanation. Being somewhat bilingual in Spanish, I pretty much knew what they meant, but other readers who don't know any Spanish won't. Some (if not all) of the phrases are explained in the back of the book Also, Tamara's mother was really hard to like, because she was just plain rude and horrible to her daughter with no understandable reason.

Overall, I definitely recommend "Hot Tamara" for a light, romantic and engaging read. A plus to this book is the Q & A at the end of the novel, where the author explains the ins and outs of the story plot. Don't miss this one!

Part chic-lit, part traditional romance. I loved it! The characters are well drawn and the Latin flavor is so strong, I felt I was home with my own family for Sunday afternoon BBQs. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to read an authentic Latina romance.