THIS IS A FIVE STAR SERIES MY FRIENDS!!! :D!!!!!!!!! THE. WHOLE. THING!
Okay, to be fair, this isn’t actually called “The Kulti” series (in fact, each book can be read as a standalone, but they all tie in together so cleverly – and I’d personally recommend reading them in order), and the author has confirmed with me that she hasn’t actually named it anything really… as of yet.
Mariana: I don’t actually have a name for that group of books. If anything, I might have referred to them as my Texas books once or twice. Feel free to call then whatever you want though.
Perfect and done! Since Kulti was the first in this lineup (and started my own HUGE love for this author), I’m referring to this series in that way, for now. I’ll change the post if a different series name becomes official. 😉 UPDATE!!! Apparently Under Locke was the first in this series, so I’m adding it to this list. Maybe I should have just called it the “Wait For It” series, since each book has such a slooooowwwww burn. That would be the PERFECT name for this series. LOL!!!! But I’m right, right?
Anyway… OMG EVERY BOOK in this series is a must read. Fully loaded in EXACTLY what I love to read in romance, w/plenty of relevant life detail that has us truly sinking into the story, pure and realistic in every way, but best of all? That delicious slow burn, insecurities, and incredible pining and love-stress that gives us all the butterflies, and OH NOOOO moments we crave. And I loved each one better than the last.
WE ARE CRAZY FOR IT (and this author)!!
Bardee: Mariana Zapata is an automatic one-click for me and Kulti is one of my all-time faves…can’t wait to read this one…yay!
Tessa: Kulti would be one of those subtle drinks that sneak up on you. Maybe a cinnamon that slowly burns you from the inside out.
Byanne (about Under Locke): It’s so good! Dex is my favorite book boyfriend. He has that great mix of bossy and broody that I love!!!
Tasha: I loved Kulti and The Wall of Winnipeg and Me and Me, two of my favorites ever!
Jillian: I finished The Wall of Winnipeg and Me today and it was friggin’ fantastic. I can’t even take it with her books. THEY BURN SO GOOD! I hope Zac gets a story. I’m so lost now that it’s over. Curse you, Ms. Zapata, curse you for writing such wonderfully tortuous books *shakes fist*
Pansy: Mariana Zapata is one of my favorites also. She is very “slow burn” which is good but can at times, be a turn off (for me) but i love the romance of her books. The guys are not throwing “alpha vibes” all over the place. The Wall of Winnipeg was my favorite and Wait for It my second fav. I liked Kulti but a little too much inner dialogue for me. Glad you liked Wait for It.
Niki (about book #3: “Wait for It“): This is my most favorite book ever!! It rudely pushed Kulti out of it’s way to my number one spot!! Just thinking about Dallas and Diana make me happy!! So glad you loved it!!
bev (about book #3: “Wait for It“): This was good. It and Kulti are tied. I think this may have a better pay off for the slow build though. I love her slow burn but sometimes almost too reticent.
Jan: I love the way MZ writes. Her characters are the best. Yes, I’m in love with Kulti, Aiden and Dallas too.
D.G. (about book #3: “Wait for It“): As always…her slow burns make me HAPPY! This is the first book that we get to visit with previous characters from her other her books…LOVED getting to know Trip better (and briefly visiting Iris and Dex) from Under Locke, best friend Vanessa and Aiden from WoW, and cousin Sal and Rey from Kulti. MZ wove them all in the story so effortlessly. LOVED Dallas and the way he loved her! *sighs*. What to read now???
Janne: The Wall of Winnipeg and Me is one of the best books I’ve read/listened to in a LONG time. I LOVED it from the get-go. If you haven’t listened to it, treat yourself. It’s a great audio book.
Ashley: This is one of my favorite go-to listens in all of my audiobooks. I’ve listened to Wait for It, Kulti and The Wall of Winnipeg and Me at least 7 times each. There is something so perfect about each one, such feel good stories with characters that are so completely real and relatable. And you’re right about it being all about these small moments. They’re longer books but do not feel long at all and you don’t want them to be over! I’ve highly recommend Mariana Zapata books to several people.
Bryanne: You also have to read Under Locke. Many of the characters from Wait For It are in that book. I LOVE this author!!!!!
About book #1:
When the man you worshipped as a kid becomes your coach, it’s supposed to be the greatest thing in the world. Keywords: supposed to.
It didn’t take a week for twenty-seven-year-old Sal Casillas to wonder what she’d seen in the international soccer icon—why she’d ever had his posters on her wall, or ever envisioned marrying him and having super-playing soccer babies.
Sal had long ago gotten over the worst non-break-up in the history of imaginary relationships with a man that hadn’t known she’d existed. So she isn’t prepared for this version of Reiner Kulti who shows up to her team’s season: a quiet, reclusive shadow of the explosive, passionate man he’d once been.
Nothing could have prepared her for the man she got to know.
Or the murderous urges he brought out in her.
This was going to be the longest season of her life.
- Under Locke ➔ my 4 star review
- Kulti ➔ my 4.5 star review
- The Wall of Winnipeg and Me ➔ my 5 star review
- Wait for It ➔ my 5 star review
Is Under Locke a part of this series as well?
I’m pretty sure when I read Kulti it had a reference to Under Locke at some point. I read them years ago and cannot remember the exact part.
Ooooh really Pia??? Let’s confirm, and I’ll add it to the list. :D!!!
Maybe I should have just called it the “Wait For It” series, since each book has such a slooooowwwww burn. 😉 That would be the PERFECT name for this series.
Yes it is! Kulti has his tatoo redone at Dexes place 🙂
I just one-clicked Dear Aaron!!! *squeeee*!!!
Maryse, Dear Aaron was a five star for me also! Heck, I love all her books. It is definitely a slow burn…
Rhythm, Chord & Malykhin is also another slow burn…and it references Kulti several times. Did a re-read and noticed that!
MZ is one of my very favorite authors and I have to say you should also read “Rhythm and Malykim” by her as well…the h was in love with Kulti when she was younger…and the band the H is in is also mentioned as an Easter egg in one of the books you’ve listed here (I won’t spoil the surprise). Also, the book is just hilarious and really amazing. I think since it was published before Locke, Kulti, and Wall, it doesn’t get as much recognition but it really is a 5-star read. ALSO – I wanted to share that ALL of these audiobooks are seriously fantastic. I constantly rotate around between them while driving, cleaning house, etc….the same narrator is used for all of them and I can’t tell you how talented she is – she just brings these characters to life. Can’t praise the author or her books enough!!!!!
Ok. So. I’ve read maybe a million romance novels in my life but MZ’s stuff is BY FAR the best of the best. However, now I have a really hard time finding similar books – do you have any recs?
Things I specifically love about her books:
– well developed female lead, genuine, sincere, not a lame-o fake perfect but still good hearted
– very little physical description of the female lead. The male lead doesn’t fall for her because she’s beautiful but because of who she is inside
– quiet male leads who don’t sleep around and then suddenly have a come to Jesus moment when they meet the female lead. Also aren’t billionaire cold-hearts who are hot and cold with the female lead
– quietly moving, serious shit abounds, but no manufactured drama or OTT angst or constant miscommunication between the lead characters
– organically funny moments/lines of dialogue