Lingus

Such a cute love story! It's definitely intended for 18+, there's language and steamy sex. It had hilarious moments that had me laughing out loud and sweet love scenes that had me tearing up. It's a story about a funny girl who falls for a porn star, throw in her crazy best friends and its a fantastic story!

This is a funny romantic story. There were some parts I felt like the author was really trying to much to be funny. All in all this was a good story. I read this after reading "Under Locke" from the same author. Must say she is becoming a favorite and I am looking forward to more. This story ended with me wanting more that's for sure.

Does the cover throw anyone else off?! I was confused for a couple of months after reading Under Locke and then I took a chance. I am so glad I did, this was a great book! The characters are engaging and likable. I loved the chemistry between Tristan and Kat. This was a sweet romance novel and a great way to spend a delightful day reading. I do wish they would have picked up the pace a little bit, but I have to admit that added to the appeal. If you love romance novels (which I do) you will LOVE this. I think I have a new favorite author if she keeps this up!

Mariana Zapata is quickly becoming one of my top authors.

This book was very well written and hilarious! I believe there's an even amount of inner dialogue and conversations between the characters. Where do I find myself a Tristan? So hot!

Hilarious!
Mariana Zapata is quickly becoming one of my go to authors.
Her characters are likeable, her humor slays me, and her writing flows.
I've gotten used to her slow burns in the beginning, but totally appreciate the inferno it becomes.
Wonderful.

Your teachers always told you not to judge books by their covers, trying to be all deep about human nature and assumptions. And who knows? Maybe they were right. But the thing is, you often can judge a book by its actual cover (where "book" is not code for "person"). I saw Lingus recommended in a Dear Author comment, and decided to give it a read. I'm really glad that I did. Read on for more details, which may include minor spoilers.

Tristan may be my favorite romance hero from the last month or so (I read a ton, so he's tops in a field at least 30). I found both his character and this book to be more believable than Jared from Changing His Game, which is another novel that features a porn star hero. I didn't quite get his motivation to get into porn or to do it for as long as he did, but that goes along with the thing I liked least about this book: I don't feel that we got a good look into the actual lives of Kat and Tristan. For her, that makes some sense, since she's a teacher and this book takes place during the summer. I would have liked to know a bit more about her other source of income. And what kind of law did Tristan study? What does he do at work? These characters only exist with one another or their friends, which is a bit claustrophobic.

Still, I would read another book by this author in a heartbeat.

3+ r read for me. Started out strong. enjoyed the characters , the connections , had a lot of things I enjoy the book . Then it just seemed to drag on some , and had a lot of fill. Still a good book,and worth the read.

This was not what I quite expected, but because I loved the other book by her, I just had to read it. I wasn't disappointed. It touched on a subject that not many people would want to admit about and did it with a sense of style and humor. Again she took the time to develop the characters over a space of time where you really got to know them.

My Thoughts
Ms. Zapata has a talent for creating characters and inhabiting every bit of their lives (which is good and bad). They are snarky, funny, yet loving and kind with some really raunchy quirks, and absolutely no fear of bodily functions. Reading the premise of this book was enough that I had to know how Tristan and Kat would get to a HEA with the inauspicious way they meet. The story rambles along, with a real stream-of-consciousness feel to it. Kat’s relationships with her best friends Nikki, Zoey and Josh are funny and feel genuine. Tristan and Kat’s attraction and developing relationship was goofy, fun and yet sexy when the situation called for it.

As much as I enjoyed Tristan and Kat, I felt like too much of the action occurred in Kat’s head - a funny place, but still - the one obstacle that should have been discussed, wasn’t. The conflict, such as it was, was decided and removed as an obstacle with barely an acknowledgment until afterwards.

***SPOILER ALERT***

There are no real emotional discussions between Tristan and Kat that have to do with their relationship, at least to moving it to a sexual relationship. Kat thought about it and agonized about it, but she never discusses it with Tristan. Kat isn’t even sure until 90% in that Tristan is attracted to her, which is just silly because it was clear as day. That I could deal with, because she can be a dumbell, which she admits, in a very likeable way. But they didn’t even discuss the fact that he worked as a porn star and be tested together before deciding to skip using condoms.That was dissatisfying, because it was a legitimate concern, but it wasn’t addressed, just removed when Tristan quits and they start to kiss. I can’t even say they decide to have a romantic relationship because the words are never said, it just kind of happens...slowly...and then they have sex.

****END OF SPOILERS****

Also, editing the story to tighten the pacing wouldn’t be a bad thing.

The Bottom Line
I like Ms. Zapata’s writing, and I enjoyed the idea of the story and alot of the moments that happened, so I would recommend checking her books out. There’s alot of potential here.

I absolutely LOVED this book. Definitely one of my top 3 this year. The characters were awesome. I actually really liked Tristan, even when he was being sappy. Lol. His and Kay's chemistry was amazing. Love, love, love. Will definitely read again!!

It was so stinkin' cute. I've really, really enjoyed Zapata's books. "Kulti" was my first book by her and I fell in love. I enjoy her characters because they seem like people. They don't do stupid things for the sake of plot (fictional miscommunication as a plot device is something I cannot stand); they actually communicate and act like people their own age.

Don't let me 4 star review deter you from reading the book. It was cute, the characters were fun, and it was all around enjoyable. 5 stars are for those rare gems of magical unicorns dancing in the field of a book.

Okay, so... This book was sweet. It was kinky and longish and I really liked it. It was tough for me to get over the hero being a porn star at first. My heart was breaking for Kat. But damn, it was a great read. Go Zapata! ??

Though I found this book funny, different, and fast paced, it left me flat. I just could not feel the romance between all the snorting, farting, and crudeness. I did not like the secondary characters. Nikki was very crude, and a bully. She pushed Kat around a lot. And Kat gushed and proclaimed love for her and Zoe more than she did for Tristan. I just didn't get this book. The writer's voice was a bit convoluted. Often it came across as not being thought out. Like she was just going for the cheap laugh instead of developing the characters and there were many times where the transition from one scene to another was abrupt.

I liked the porn angle, however, Kat, who was pro porn, (her very best friend who she 'loved' - which we heard over and over again - was a female porn star) had issues with Tristan being a porn star. There was some hypocrisy, and some double standards. And the believably factor was practically non existent. Kat's relationship with Tristan did not ring true.

I gave it three stars because it was funny, and different. However, not my cup of tea.

I loved Tristan and Goldie... I wish the book went a little deeper into the feelings that would come by dating an adult entertainment star. With that said it kept me entertained and there was great character development.

More please. I greatly enjoy Mariana's writing style. She's clever & funny. The first book I read of her's was "Under Locke" , which I loved. I appreciate that she writes for quality not quantity, but I would so love to read....more.

I really did enjoy how liberated the women were in this book. I also liked some of the philosophical advice given to help women and men appreciate themselves without shame. But I also would have enjoyed more storyline.

Honestly, I wasn't sure about this book going in, but I'm SO GLAD I read it. I guessed from the description that the guy Kat liked was going to be a porn star, and really didn't know if I'd be able to handle that in a story. This book is probably the most fun I've had out of a Kindle download in *forever*. I laughed out loud several times, and found myself smirking and sighing along with poor Kat, all the way through - even through the gut-wrenching moments, where Kat isn't sure she can handle Tristan's career even though she doesn't judge him for it. It was a surprisingly relatable tale in many ways for me, because Kat starts out being friends with Tristan because his only other friend is his fellow porn star, Callum, who promptly falls in love with one of Kat's best friends, Nicole. Pretty soon, Kat and Tristan fall very easily into a close friendship, despite Kat finding Tristan attractive and having difficulty dealing with what he does for a living. She's also pretty sure that someone who does what he does couldn't have feelings for her, and that he only wants to be friends. It's incredibly sweet and I was genuinely bummed when the book was over. It was a fun romp with a heart. If I had to come up with one complaint, it's that I wish there'd have been more sex, etc between Tristan and Kat once they figured things out. I know that you could argue that he wasn't all about that because of his porn career, but I felt like more of it wouldn't have gone amiss. :)

I really look forward to more books from Ms. Zapata! Loved this one a lot.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. The characters were likable. My only problem with the book and it started to annoy me because it happened on almost every page is that they snorted a lot when they laughed. I get it they snort, it doesn't have to happen on every page. Besides that, it was enjoyable.

Honestly, I wasn't sure about this book going in, but I'm SO GLAD I read it. I guessed from the description that the guy Kat liked was going to be a porn star, and really didn't know if I'd be able to handle that in a story. This book is probably the most fun I've had out of a Kindle download in *forever*. I laughed out loud several times, and found myself smirking and sighing along with poor Kat, all the way through - even through the gut-wrenching moments, where Kat isn't sure she can handle Tristan's career even though she doesn't judge him for it. It was a surprisingly relatable tale in many ways for me, because Kat starts out being friends with Tristan because his only other friend is his fellow porn star, Callum, who promptly falls in love with one of Kat's best friends, Nicole. Pretty soon, Kat and Tristan fall very easily into a close friendship, despite Kat finding Tristan attractive and having difficulty dealing with what he does for a living. She's also pretty sure that someone who does what he does couldn't have feelings for her, and that he only wants to be friends. It's incredibly sweet and I was genuinely bummed when the book was over. It was a fun romp with a heart. If I had to come up with one complaint, it's that I wish there'd have been more sex, etc between Tristan and Kat once they figured things out. I know that you could argue that he wasn't all about that because of his porn career, but I felt like more of it wouldn't have gone amiss. :)

I really look forward to more books from Ms. Zapata! Loved this one a lot.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. The characters were likable. My only problem with the book and it started to annoy me because it happened on almost every page is that they snorted a lot when they laughed. I get it they snort, it doesn't have to happen on every page. Besides that, it was enjoyable.

This book was absolutely amazing...meet Kat, Nikki and Zoey. These girls will have you laughing so hard and make you wish they were your friends. See what it's like to fall in love with a porn star.......I highly recommend reading this book....I just wish it was longer.

I enjoyed reading this book. The characters are fun and witty. I liked that Kat and Tristan took their time getting together. Too often you see the protagonists meet and fall in bed/love within the first couple chapters. This book keeps moving so it doesn't get boring but allows for you to see the relationship develop. I would definitely recommend this to friends.

Really wasn't sure about reading a book about pornstars, but I love Mariana Zapata's books so I thought I'd give it a shot. Loved it! Really, she writes the most interesting characters! The romance is extremely hot since she really builds up the characters feelings for each other before the big payoff sex scenes. I highly recommend this author!

Love Ms. Zapata's writing style. I laughed until I cried and absolutely could not put this one down. She has perfected the slow build up and burn that today's romance books lack. I will definitely be rereading this one.

I listened to the audible version of her other title "Under Locke" and it was awesome. This book was also just as good. I love the complexity of her characters and the journey to love that she takes you on.

Lingus is a wonderfully funny story. The friendships were great I could imagine all the characters as people I would want in my life. I enjoyed the meet and build up of the relationship of Kat and Tristen. Just a well done story. Minor editing errors did not detract from a great story.

I read another book by Mariana Zapata (Under Locke) and I absolutely loved it. When I was looking for other books by her, this was the only one I found. It turned out to be a really fun read and I loved the characters. Who would have thought someone could have written such a great story that involved porn stars. I look forward to reading anything she comes out with in the future.