Reclaiming You

Fast Lanes #1

by Tori Alvarez

Mateo and Natalia found each other at sixteen and for three summers their love grew.  Young and naive, they planned a future together with a love they thought would last a lifetime. A future that would never happen because one fateful night tore them apart.  

Now a successful business owner, Mateo is moving through life trying to find the one who can spark his interest. Challenge him. But all women have come up lacking.

Natalia has numbed herself, her smile and happy, successful facade, fooling those around her. She floats through life, never placing her heart in danger of breaking again.

Can a chance meeting eight years later, rekindle the love they left behind?

328 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 17, 2023

About the author

Writing sassy, angsty love stories you can fall into.
Lover of coffee, wine & travel.
Click below for all the latest!

https://linktr.ee/mstorialvarez
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorToriAl...
https://www.instagram.com/mstorialvarez/

Reviews

[Tori]

RELEASING FRIDAY!!

You can preorder now...

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Young love torn apart.
I really enjoyed reading this great love story between Mateo and Natalia. Meeting for the first time when Natalia was 16 and visiting the small beach town where her father had purchased a holiday home, their love grew over that and subsequent summers until she was to head to college. Mateo had made all these plans for them to stay together until an incident allowed Natalia's father to step in and enforce a permanent separation.
Eight years have passed, Natalia is going about life and hanging out with her best friend Marisol and her partner Eliazar (from Rewriting Us) when Mateo comes back into her orbit.
They have some major hurdles to overcome, and Ms Alvarez takes us through all the emotions and ups and downs but tempers all that drama with the passion she breathes into her main characters and the support they have from those around them.
I thought the story had a bit of a rocky start, but once it found its groove it was a lovely, heartwarming story of a young love torn apart but always destined to be together and I enjoyed it very much.

[Kylee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reclaiming You is a slow burn romance about two people who fall in love as teenagers but are torn apart. Natalia's father is at the forefront of their heartache due to Mateo not being good enough for his daughter. A story filled with pain, heartache, heat and a love that stood the test of time. As these two come face to face years later it is obvious that the love they had for each other still burns bright. There is plenty of drama to hold you captivated to the very end. A love story that shows you if it was meant to be fate will ensure that it happens.

[Chloe' Rosenbaum · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was great from start to finish. Reading this felt like I was with Mateo and Natalia. I highly recommend this book!!

[Kimberley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reclaiming You was a delightful read. This is a second chance romance featuring Mateo and Natalia. They both meet as teenagers and thanks to Natalia’s father their relationship ends. Then a chance meeting 8 years they both realise they still have feeling for each other however Natalia has a boyfriend. This is a slow burn, second chance romance and is book one in the Fast Lanes series.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Andrea]

Natalia and Mateo met one summer when she was 16 and living in her father's recent summertime purchase of a beach house. Over the course of the summer, Natalia and Mateo fell in love and for the next 3 summers they fell deeper. At the end of the summer, Natalia is packing to go to college and Mateo comes up with a long-range plan for them to stay together. He's found an apartment, he's been accepted to school and everything is moving forward until there's an accident at the site of Natalia's father's construction. Because of the circumstances of the fire, her father was able to step in with a permanent solution to keeping them apart. 6 years later, Natalia is back and has a fiance and never found out what it was that her father did that summer. There's so much anger between the former lovers, yet the chemistry hasn't changed and the snark that leaves their mouths is amusing. Their second chance isn't easy with the interference of her parents and the uncomfortable existence of her fiance, but there was never a doubt that they would find their HEA.

[…Welcome to My World &#x1f30e.. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was the best! It was filled with heat, chemistry and pain all at the same time. Mateo and Natalia meet when they are young teens and Natalia’s dad buys a house on the beach. Mateo and his friends are outside and she sees him and he waves at her and invites her to a bonfire they were having that night. From then on their love story and journey begins. Natalia’s dad doesn’t approve of their relationship and takes matter into his own hands. Years later these two find each other again through their mutual friends. Mateo was such a sweetheart and his love for Natalia was just the best! These two understood each other and their love and passion was very strong and well written. No matter what they went through they always worked it out. These two were definitely meant to be. I definitely recommend their story to others.

I received an ARC copy and I am voluntarily leaving my review.

[Melanie A. Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not usually a big fan of second chance romance, but this story sucked me in from go. Mateo is sexy and charming and instant book boyfriend perfection. Natalia is - let’s face it - kind of a spoiled brat, and I honestly didn’t love her at first. But their dynamic made for good snark up front and laced with flashbacks of their romance as teens, everything started to make so much more sense. Mateo was steadfast and swoony throughout this angsty ride, while Natalia resisted the growth we all saw she needed to go through. Which turns out to be a recipe for some pretty delicious tension. I could’ve lived without the borderline cheating, but really both main characters had such great depth and everything played out so true to their personalities and circumstances. It made for a page-turner that all came together in the end. All in all, this was a heartfelt read with beautifully dimensional characters, relatable struggles, and a satisfying HEA. What more could a romance reader ask for?

[Anonymous 5 · Rating 5 out of 5]

A second chance love story for two young hearts that were unexpectedly torn apart years ago. Mateo and Natalie had fallen in love when they met in the summer while on holiday. But circumstances forced their separation. Now, eight years have passed, and neither of them have opened up their hearts again. Then Mateo comes back into Natalie's life, and they both come face to face with the fact they their love for each other still burns brighter than ever. But there is still the pain of the past they have to face and overcome.

The story will take you through a myriad of emotions, with some ups and downs along the way, but giving you a heartwarming and thoroughly satisfying journey. I really enjoyed this author's writing and will definitely be looking for more.

I received a complimentary copy from BookSirens and am voluntarily leaving my review.

[BookishBarbie (Annette) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good second chance and this book brought all that and more.
Mateo and Natalia met as teens and for three summers their love grew for each other making plans for the future. Everything was going great until it wasn't and two hearts were broken in the end. Eight years have passed and they have moved on in life until they reconnect through mutual friends. Not having full trust for the other, Natalia kept a distance not wanting to get hurt again, but her heart still held onto her first love. Mateo had other plans and was not going to lose her again even if he had to tell her the truth.
This read had me hooked from the beginning and I loved the Latin influence throughout the book. This couple reminded me of my own love story and pulled at my heartstrings as they fought to hold onto each other no matter the consequences. Great read!!

[Mrs Lopez Overbooked · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slow burn 🔥
Young love ❤️
Forbidden Love 🚫

Latin spice, angst , young love! Fast pace read 💨 Mateo and Natalia found each other as teens at that sweet love of sixteen phase and for three summers their love grew. They planned a full future together at 16 just for them due to being torn apart. Uh my heart ached for Mateo and Natalia. Of course Natalia’s dad doesn’t approve of Mateo and doesn’t think he’s good enough for her. Years pass and neither have truly found love until they reconnect through friends! The rest is history! Forbidden romance is one of my favorite genres of romance! I loved the Latin representation!

This is a must read!

[Sierra loves Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️/5
Thanks Tori for the ARC.
The angst in this book was so good. I don’t usually love the angst trope but this book had me drawn in. I was feeling for Mateo and Natalia the whole time. I was also rooting for them to get back together. I love an angsty book when I know they will end up together.
I love a second chance romance and this book did so good at it. It really showed the emotions of the characters. I liked how it was also a slow burn.
This book did also have Latin representation, which was great. I don’t usually see a lot of book that do. It also did deal with different class issues.
Tropes:
-alpha roll hero x independent heroine
-slow burn
-second chance
-first love
-forbidden-ish
-angsty
-latin representation

[Sydney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this sweet story with Mateo and Natalia. This second chance romance has all the elements of a love story that I love. It has dirty talk, it has a little groveling, it has a woman who needs someone to give her a little grace and a man who is willing to go whatever lengths to get her back. I don’t want to give the plot away but I read this book in one day, I could not get enough of it and I am probably going to put this on my re-read list very very soon! Bravo to Ms. Alvarez on an incredible read!

[Candace Littich · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this read. I enjoyed the plot and the characters development and subsequent maturing as they grew up. I love a second chance because they have history and no matter how many years have passed since being together or seeing each other they still know each other better than anyone and their communication and passion is just there. This book also had Hispanic representation which was great to see. It’s also set in Texas and as a Texas girl it had my heart from the get go. Can’t wait for the next one!

[YAZ3885 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this great love story between Mateo and Natalia. This is a slow burn romance about two people who fall in love as teenagers but are torn apart. A story filled with pain, heartache, heat and a love that stood the test of time. Mateo was a sweetheart and his love for Natalia amazing. They understood each other and that made the love stronger, no matter what they went through they always worked it out. They are perfect for each other.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow burn. Young love forced to separate, and life forces them back together years later. Mateo is a charmer and it's hard not to fall for him. Their story is cute, and I feel for Nat and how she has gone through life not really living it. Dealing with a family who think they know what's best. I can relate to being forced out of a young love because your parents think it's not the best thing for you only to feel what if years later.

[Jacqueline Fromm · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastic second chance romance. Natalia and Mateo had a past until one day he walked away. She was lied to about why. They happen to run into each other at a mutual party for a friend. She does not want to give in but its hard not to. He is everything she still wants, while her boyfriend could care less. When she goes to leave to boyfriend it turns bad.
I love the range of emotion, the angst and the complete and utter devotion he has to her.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a sweet second chance romance between Mateo and Natalia and has all the perfects elements. It has the right amount of groveling, angst, heartbreak, and plenty of swoon-worthy love. They both planned their future together at the age of 16 but then it all fell apart. Years pass and they finally are able to reconnect/rekindle their love for each other. It is such a cute read with the perfect amount of spice mixed in with a solid storyline.

[Maja · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first read from this author. I loved this slow burn romance about two you people who fell in love as teens and are forced apart. It was a perfect, second chance slow burn romance. I will be reading more from this author in the future.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Laikyn Meng · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness the tension!

I love how feisty and jealous these two are. It was epic on all heat levels, and it did not disappoint. The energy is electric.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[CYNDY · Rating 5 out of 5]

*****5 Reclaiming Stars*****
I loved this so much. This book is so well written the pages flew by before I knew it the book was done. This is my first read by this author and I was not disappointed; I will be going back to read more.

*****ARC from Book Sirens for review*****

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t want to do anything but sit in a room alone and finish this book. I didn’t want to think of anything else except Mateo and Natalia. This is a slow burn but I wouldn’t consider it a slow burn when their love is so much stronger and they aren’t afraid to show it. I loved this story!

[Heather Bosch · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book hooked me from the beginning. It starts in the past when Natalia, was 16 years old. She is forced by her parents to move to her parent's summer home in a small beach town. The first day there she meets Mateo. They spend three summers together and are getting ready to go off to college, but they have a party in one of her dad's properties. During the party things go awry and Natalia will not leave before the police come and they are arrested. Natalia's father forces them apart by holding jail time for Mateo and his friends over Mateo.

Years later they have a chance meeting and cannot stay away from each other. They have chance meetings and then decide that they are just going to be together again. This is a great second chance romance.

I received this book as an ARC and am willingly leaving this review.

[Hollie Senn Bookish Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mateo and Natalia were everything!!! The emotional ride I was taken on was definitely worth the ending.. I was hooked from the first chapter. Mateo is it!!! The way that man was all in and the chemistry of these two was off the charts. Definitely worth the read and I’m looking forward to reading all of this authors work..

[Jawa Kween Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

💖Second Chance Love
💖Slow Burn

Mateo and Natalia fall I love over summer but her parents wanted more for her and did what they could to keep them apart. This book was great and shows that two people who are meant to be together will find a way back to each other.

[Erika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hot, hot, HOT!!!

Forbidden love? Say less!

Natalia & Mateo - a match made in heaven but torn apart & put through hell to forget each other.

Will their love conquer or will they succumb to the life that’s chosen for them?

10/10!!!

[Kitssia · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a Mexican reader I loved all the references to my culture. I will say though Mateo seemed a little toxic but that true to how a Hispanic man is. The dynamic between Natalia and her parents was very relatable. Enjoyed reading this and I’m excited for the next book !

[carries_bookish_corner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Matteo and Natalia and thier second chance at love. This was a new to me author and cannot wait to dive into the backlist.

[Samantha Grimes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m such a sucker for a second chance and this one has become one of my tops for sure! I couldn’t get enough of it!

[Karla · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 stars
2.5/5 spice

An angsty second chance romance with Latinx representation.

Tropes:
Second chance romance
Forbidden romance
Class differences
First love/forever love
Latinx representation
Dual POV
Dual timeline

This was a quick read but packed full of angst, nostalgia, and a good amount of tension with spice. I got The Notebook vibes from this story but with a happy ending and in modern times. Natalia and Mateo found each other early on in life and were kept apart from the disapproving parents. The class differences were a key component for their separation and continued throughout the book. If I were to make a playlist for these two, I'd put "Amor Prohibido" by Selena... cuz that's basically Mateo and Natalia. I loved that they were clearly depicted as young and immature at the beginning of their relationship, and then later, we get to see how they've grown.

Overall, it is a great quick read that has all the angst of a second chance romance. Highly recommend for fans of forbidden romance and spice.

Thank you to the author for giving me an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and offered voluntarily.

Trigger/Content warnings:
Over protective/controlling parents, classism, gaslighting, bullying, sexual content, explicit language