Review: From Lukov with Love – Mariana Zapata

Review 4 Stars

What’s the book about?
If someone were to ask Jasmine Santos to describe the last few years of her life with a single word, it would definitely be a four-letter one.

After seventeen years—and countless broken bones and broken promises—she knows her window to compete in figure skating is coming to a close.

But when the offer of a lifetime comes in from an arrogant idiot she’s spent the last decade dreaming about pushing in the way of a moving bus, Jasmine might have to reconsider everything.

Including Ivan Lukov.

My Review
What can I say about From Lukov with Love? I started this story with mixed feelings. I knew I was going to love the plot since I always enjoy anything that involves ice skating but the characters… I just wasn’t sure. It took me a while to warm up to them but once I did, I couldn’t get enough!

Told from the point of view of Jasmine, she’s a take no crap ice figure skater that, to be honest, comes across like she has a bit of a chip on her shoulder. Growing up in a single parent household and participating in quite an expensive sport, she and her family have put everything into keeping Jasmine doing what she’s so passionate about. That being said, Jasmine doesn’t take any of it for granted and works her butt off every. single. day. to keep on top of her game; and that includes competing against her arch nemesis (and best friend’s brother) Ivan Lukov.

Lukov gives it just as good as he gets it from Jasmine and their animosity and bickering was so great to watch develop into friendship and so much more. Their relationship from enemies to tentative friends to best friends and then lovers felt so genuine and steadily progressive. It was a beautifully delicious slow burn and that left me wanting more.

Outside of the characters, I loved the in-depth knowledge of ice skating provided in this story. As previously mentioned, I love anything related to ice skating but do I know much about the sport? NOPE. I just watch it and admire it. It was so great to read the descriptions of the beautiful and oh-so-tough moves that were performed and you really get a sense of the sheer strength and resilience required to, not only perform the moves, but practice the moves over and over again until they’re perfect. Seriously, amazing.

Overall, despite my hesitant feelings at the beginning of the book, I ended up loving this story a lot. It had so many great moments, had me laughing during several scenes and as for that epilogue… I wanted more. It was such a great story and I’m so glad I picked this one up. As I said in my other reviews for Zapata: I can’t wait to pick up the next one!