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Darlington Romances
Spanish Heart
What’s the point of finding yourself if you lose your heart in the process?Ren Molson should be chasing a bright new future. Instead, she’s spent the last two years floundering in a small-town community college. She hates being the only lesbian she knows, and a virgin. She’s tired of watching her friends move forward while her momentum stalls. Most of all, she’s sick of feeling lost and confused about who she is or what she’s supposed to do with her life. Desperate for a change, Ren hopes to use her Spanish class tour through Spain to remake herself.True to her plan, as Ren travels through Spain, she learns more about herself than the country she’s visiting. What she doesn’t expect is to fall in love with her beautiful young tour guide, Lina Montero. She’ll have to decide if her life can handle any more uncertainty and just how far she’s willing to go in order to become the person she thought she wanted to be.
237 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 16, 2012
13 people are currently reading
182 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Spangler
33 books850 followersRachel Spangler never set out to be an award winning author. She was just so poor and so easily bored during her college years that she had to come up with creative ways to entertain herself, and her first novel, Learning Curve, was born out of one such attempt. She was sincerely surprised when it was accepted for publication and even more shocked when it won the Golden Crown Literary Award for Debut Author. She also won a Goldie for her second novel, Trails Merge. Since writing is more fun than a real job, and so much cheaper than therapy, Rachel continued to type away, leading to the publication of The Long Way Home and LoveLife. She plans to continue writing as long as anyone anywhere will keep reading.
Rachel, and her partner, Susan, are raising their young son in Western New York. They spend winters skiing and their summers traveling and watching their beloved Cardinals. Regardless of the season, Rachel always makes time for a good romance, whether she's reading it, writing it, or living it.
Rachel can be found online at www.rachelspangler.com or on Facebook.
Rachel, and her partner, Susan, are raising their young son in Western New York. They spend winters skiing and their summers traveling and watching their beloved Cardinals. Regardless of the season, Rachel always makes time for a good romance, whether she's reading it, writing it, or living it.
Rachel can be found online at www.rachelspangler.com or on Facebook.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
February 8, 2024
I really enjoyed this - well thought out virgin angst and beautifully crafted into a very real and meaningful book. Happens over 10 days so no messing about. Highly recommended. (PS: But quite how it’s a Darlington Romance escapes me!)
October 28, 2019
Had the start of a review, several paragraphs, then computer died. So…
One person point of view. Starring a 20 year old named Ren. Her love interest in the book is Lina, a 24 year old. Both are later seen in the book Spanish Surrender, and that’s one of the main reasons I decided to read Spanish Heart now as opposed to later (or never).
Now all I need to do is include the following and I'll have, boiled down, what I'd previously written: I was confused as to how she was on a ‘school trip’ to Spain despite being in-between schools (just graduated community college, and just about to start college (and a comment about how she, apparently, didn’t see community college as college). So what ‘school’ is she on the trip with? Since it’d be odd to be going post-community college graduation; and pre-college admission. And t here’s a scene about how she didn’t qualify yet, when she go to college, to attend a study-a-broad program (not that the school trip was a study a broad program).
Right. Probably better written prior to the computer crash, but let’s move on.
Somewhere near their first stop on their tour of Spain, their teacher collapses and is rushed to the hospital. She’s ‘going to be okay’ but won’t be well enough to do anything until the last day of their trip. So the 24 year old Lina, local/native tour guide, will take over. 12 year old Hannah, daughter of the teacher, also will be continuing on the trip, though she’d prefer to stay with mom, but ‘that’s not allowed’ (why?).
Ren is, as I put in the one note I made on GoodReads, exhausting. She’s constantly feeling down on herself, insecure, and plotting ways to ‘fix herself’. Fixing herself apparently involves humping another woman. She’s known she’s a lesbian for a really long time, came out eons ago, but hasn’t had much chance to ‘become a real lesbian’. Which is one of the reasons she went on this trip. To break through her own walls, and become a real woman. She was tiring, exhausting, and going about things all the wrong ways (including the part wherein she thought it’d be brilliant to go to some country she’s not comfortable speaking the language in (she’s probably ‘good enough’ but is very self-conscious about making mistakes, to the point she refuses, mostly, to speak Spanish) to try to overcome her insecurities and talk to non-straight women; despite, you know, deep insecurities about talking in Spanish).
Book is missing a lot with only Ren’s point of view.
Despite everything, book was actually more enjoyable than I might be giving credit to it in this review.
Better written review lost to computer malfunctions.
Rating: 3.7
October 28, 2019
One person point of view. Starring a 20 year old named Ren. Her love interest in the book is Lina, a 24 year old. Both are later seen in the book Spanish Surrender, and that’s one of the main reasons I decided to read Spanish Heart now as opposed to later (or never).
Now all I need to do is include the following and I'll have, boiled down, what I'd previously written: I was confused as to how she was on a ‘school trip’ to Spain despite being in-between schools (just graduated community college, and just about to start college (and a comment about how she, apparently, didn’t see community college as college). So what ‘school’ is she on the trip with? Since it’d be odd to be going post-community college graduation; and pre-college admission. And t here’s a scene about how she didn’t qualify yet, when she go to college, to attend a study-a-broad program (not that the school trip was a study a broad program).
Right. Probably better written prior to the computer crash, but let’s move on.
Somewhere near their first stop on their tour of Spain, their teacher collapses and is rushed to the hospital. She’s ‘going to be okay’ but won’t be well enough to do anything until the last day of their trip. So the 24 year old Lina, local/native tour guide, will take over. 12 year old Hannah, daughter of the teacher, also will be continuing on the trip, though she’d prefer to stay with mom, but ‘that’s not allowed’ (why?).
Ren is, as I put in the one note I made on GoodReads, exhausting. She’s constantly feeling down on herself, insecure, and plotting ways to ‘fix herself’. Fixing herself apparently involves humping another woman. She’s known she’s a lesbian for a really long time, came out eons ago, but hasn’t had much chance to ‘become a real lesbian’. Which is one of the reasons she went on this trip. To break through her own walls, and become a real woman. She was tiring, exhausting, and going about things all the wrong ways (including the part wherein she thought it’d be brilliant to go to some country she’s not comfortable speaking the language in (she’s probably ‘good enough’ but is very self-conscious about making mistakes, to the point she refuses, mostly, to speak Spanish) to try to overcome her insecurities and talk to non-straight women; despite, you know, deep insecurities about talking in Spanish).
Book is missing a lot with only Ren’s point of view.
Despite everything, book was actually more enjoyable than I might be giving credit to it in this review.
Better written review lost to computer malfunctions.
Rating: 3.7
October 28, 2019
October 14, 2012
I wanted to like it. And there were parts that I did like. I liked the setting and the correct usage of Spanish and Lina. But I just couldn't like Ren, no matter how much I wanted to. I struggled with the first half but felt better about the second half.
The cultural aspects of Spain and art were very well done.
I think if you're a fan of the author's previous works, you'll probably like this one. It just wasn't my cup of tea.
The cultural aspects of Spain and art were very well done.
I think if you're a fan of the author's previous works, you'll probably like this one. It just wasn't my cup of tea.
January 4, 2016
I almost bailed because I found Ren really unlikeable. I'm glad I stuck with it though because she does have a turning point, and the book becomes a lot more enjoyable after that.
April 8, 2018
Was this really only ten days? It felt like an eternity. The main character is a whiny, immature, idiotic, rude, obnoxious, entitled (in many ways, not least of all being the stereotype of the disrespectful entitled obnoxious American tourist), insufferable, illogical, hypocritical asshole, no matter how hard the author tried to spin it as her being lost in life, and in a foreign country. And for a supposedly good Spanish student, she really does not make any effort speaking it, nor does she speak it better than a beginner, even if I could forgive the obvious difficulties she had understanding it.
I could not believe for one second the interest and attraction of her love interest for her, which was certainly not helped by the utter lack of chemistry between them. I almost DNFd it so many times, and started skimming almost right away.
And a few notes on the Spanish setting:
1. Has the author even talked to a bilingual Spanish person? No bilingual uses random words of their first language like that. Nor does anyone fluent in English not know what a nickname is. And "hippie" is literally the same word in Spanish. Especially if the character has an English-speaking parent with whom she spent years in the US.
2. The worst McDonald's I've ever eaten was in Canada, certainly not Barcelona. Food in general in Barcelona and Spain is really good.
3. I find it more than highly unlikely that the tour guide just happened to go to the same lesbian bar the main character just happened to randomly spot around a big touristic point. Barcelona is a big city with a more-than-decent queer community. On that note, how hard is it to use the internet to find lesbian bars and clubs in 2012, both for the author and her main character (which she does in Madrid)...
I could not believe for one second the interest and attraction of her love interest for her, which was certainly not helped by the utter lack of chemistry between them. I almost DNFd it so many times, and started skimming almost right away.
And a few notes on the Spanish setting:
1. Has the author even talked to a bilingual Spanish person? No bilingual uses random words of their first language like that. Nor does anyone fluent in English not know what a nickname is. And "hippie" is literally the same word in Spanish. Especially if the character has an English-speaking parent with whom she spent years in the US.
2. The worst McDonald's I've ever eaten was in Canada, certainly not Barcelona. Food in general in Barcelona and Spain is really good.
3. I find it more than highly unlikely that the tour guide just happened to go to the same lesbian bar the main character just happened to randomly spot around a big touristic point. Barcelona is a big city with a more-than-decent queer community. On that note, how hard is it to use the internet to find lesbian bars and clubs in 2012, both for the author and her main character (which she does in Madrid)...
October 3, 2013
This was an interesting coming of age story set on a short school trip to Spain. The main characters were reasonably rounded and the emotional growth of Ren was nicely handled.
This story, while not breaking any boundaries, was well written and edited (Boldstrokes Books have some of the best editors in the Lesfic world), the plot was well handled and even if the ending was complete saccharine it was a very effective and diverting romance read.
P.S. Rachel should have been sponsored by the Spanish Tourist Board, this book will make you want to book travelling holiday in Spain.
This story, while not breaking any boundaries, was well written and edited (Boldstrokes Books have some of the best editors in the Lesfic world), the plot was well handled and even if the ending was complete saccharine it was a very effective and diverting romance read.
P.S. Rachel should have been sponsored by the Spanish Tourist Board, this book will make you want to book travelling holiday in Spain.
August 18, 2017
I've never fallen in love with a tour guide, but I did develop a massive crush on a hospitalera once in Spain (think...hostel worker/host). She looked just like Lizzy Caplan, so—although I always have to look up Lizzy Caplan's name and have no idea what she's been in—I promptly transferred my crush to Lizzy Caplan. I'll never meet her, but then, I'll never see the hospitalera again, and at least Lizzy Caplan occasionally pops up on a pop-culture blog I follow.
Anyway. I want to love this, because lesbians! In Spain! But I had a hard time with Ren, who is just so young...and then I'm not sure if that's fair, because she's also believable in her irritating youthful naïveté, and I should be thrilled about that believability.
The basic premise is that Ren, the heroine, is on a two-week college-organised trip to Spain. Conveniently, the only other students on the trip are her two best friends; conveniently, their professor has a medical emergency and isn't available to chaperone them (what 20-year-olds require constant supervision, I ask); conveniently, the tour guide hired for the trip happens to be a hot lesbian who is very clearly into Ren from the get-go.
But Ren's not interested, because she has a Master Plan: have a one-night stand or something akin to it so that she'll finally be rid of her dastardly virginity and, once university starts up again in the fall, be the suave ladykiller/player she's pretended to be all along. Somehow she doesn't think that 'hot lesbian tour guide who's totally into her' would work for this.
The thing is: it's irritating. It's irritating that she pretends to be a Don Juan; it's irritating that she pretty much bites Lina's head off anytime Lina tries to make overtures; it's irritating that she thinks that once she's had sex with a stranger she will be magically cool and have all the right moves and never be awkward with a girl again. (Ren...sweetheart...it doesn't work that way.)
But the other thing is: as irritating as it can be, it's also not unbelievable. I never thought of it in quite Ren's terms, but I understand feeling like there's a barrier (of whatever kind) that has to be broken through. I understand wanting to be somebody else for a while and feeling like it's easier to do that away from home.
She's just so young. Twenty, but I think in a lot of ways a young twenty. Really, really ready to fall head over heels in love. Fortunately Lina has at least some sense, because although they both start I-love-you-ing when they've been together for less than a week, Lina does manage to convince Ren not to propose and then run away to Spain so they can be together. (Lina does seem to think that Ren's just the bee's knees, so she might also be a little addled, but then I suppose you can't mess with feeeeeelings.)
I do not have high hopes for this relationship. I know: romance novels don't work that way. If they're together at the end of the book (and 98% of the time, that's the case), it's going to work out forever and ever; they're going to rent a UHaul and move in together and get a dog and live happily ever after. But personally, I think it's going to go south when Ren gets clingy and codependent and Lina realises that she misses Spain too much, and that Ren (who will still be perfectly willing to go to Spain to be with Lina) will have nothing in Spain besides Lina. (Also, Lina is apparently lying about something, because she claims to have visa issues related to her dual US-Spanish citizenship that require lots of extra paperwork for her to come to the States...except it doesn't work that way; having dual citizenship means that you don't need a visa for either of the countries in question. Although it can make your taxes a mess. What are you hiding, Lina?)
So! I applaud Ren for being a fairly believable mess, but I don't think I'm going to develop a fictional-character crush on her anytime soon.
Anyway. I want to love this, because lesbians! In Spain! But I had a hard time with Ren, who is just so young...and then I'm not sure if that's fair, because she's also believable in her irritating youthful naïveté, and I should be thrilled about that believability.
The basic premise is that Ren, the heroine, is on a two-week college-organised trip to Spain. Conveniently, the only other students on the trip are her two best friends; conveniently, their professor has a medical emergency and isn't available to chaperone them (what 20-year-olds require constant supervision, I ask); conveniently, the tour guide hired for the trip happens to be a hot lesbian who is very clearly into Ren from the get-go.
But Ren's not interested, because she has a Master Plan: have a one-night stand or something akin to it so that she'll finally be rid of her dastardly virginity and, once university starts up again in the fall, be the suave ladykiller/player she's pretended to be all along. Somehow she doesn't think that 'hot lesbian tour guide who's totally into her' would work for this.
The thing is: it's irritating. It's irritating that she pretends to be a Don Juan; it's irritating that she pretty much bites Lina's head off anytime Lina tries to make overtures; it's irritating that she thinks that once she's had sex with a stranger she will be magically cool and have all the right moves and never be awkward with a girl again. (Ren...sweetheart...it doesn't work that way.)
But the other thing is: as irritating as it can be, it's also not unbelievable. I never thought of it in quite Ren's terms, but I understand feeling like there's a barrier (of whatever kind) that has to be broken through. I understand wanting to be somebody else for a while and feeling like it's easier to do that away from home.
She's just so young. Twenty, but I think in a lot of ways a young twenty. Really, really ready to fall head over heels in love. Fortunately Lina has at least some sense, because although they both start I-love-you-ing when they've been together for less than a week, Lina does manage to convince Ren not to propose and then run away to Spain so they can be together. (Lina does seem to think that Ren's just the bee's knees, so she might also be a little addled, but then I suppose you can't mess with feeeeeelings.)
I do not have high hopes for this relationship. I know: romance novels don't work that way. If they're together at the end of the book (and 98% of the time, that's the case), it's going to work out forever and ever; they're going to rent a UHaul and move in together and get a dog and live happily ever after. But personally, I think it's going to go south when Ren gets clingy and codependent and Lina realises that she misses Spain too much, and that Ren (who will still be perfectly willing to go to Spain to be with Lina) will have nothing in Spain besides Lina. (Also, Lina is apparently lying about something, because she claims to have visa issues related to her dual US-Spanish citizenship that require lots of extra paperwork for her to come to the States...except it doesn't work that way; having dual citizenship means that you don't need a visa for either of the countries in question. Although it can make your taxes a mess. What are you hiding, Lina?)
So! I applaud Ren for being a fairly believable mess, but I don't think I'm going to develop a fictional-character crush on her anytime soon.
October 23, 2016
This book ended much better than it started. I did not like Ren at all in the beginning. She seemed like a spoiled, immature brat. She did get better as the story went on but the first part of this book almost ruined the entire thing. Just my 2 cents...
January 15, 2022
Plot: The book starts with Ren arriving in Spain on a school trip with the goal of having sex with a woman in order to fully realize her lesbian status. Ren is nervous and unsure about how to go about sex or dating and struggles to actually enjoy the first half of her trip. Lina is the tour guide for her group. Lina sees Ren struggling and repeatedly offers her assistance but is rebuffed by Ren.
Eventually Ren gets in over her head and has an emotional breakdown in front of Lina. From that point on Ren feels less pressured to pretend that she knows what she is doing and is able to live in the moment and enjoy herself more. Ren and Lina spend more time together and build up affection and attraction.
When they finally act on their feelings Lina feels like she is neglecting her duty as guide for the whole group and pulls away. Ren wants more but understands that they have a limited amount of time and that most relationships wouldn’t work under these circumstances. Ren realizes that Lina is what she wants most out of life and dedicates herself to building a life with Lina. Lina is scared at first but eventually gives in and starts their HEA.
Characterization: At the start of the book REN’s life is fairly aimless. The one thing she knows form sure is that she is a lesbian. Falling in love with Lina gives her something to strive for.
Lina is sweet and open. She is kind to Ren when she is struggling. Lina’s endless kindness really makes this a heartwarming read.
Writing: This was written in first person perspective from Ren’s POV. This book seems pretty personal from the author’s note along with the author choosing to write this in first person rather than third person as she usually does. I suspect that at least a couple scenes from this book are inspired by the author’s real life experiences. As usual this author is well written. The first half of the book was slightly less fun to read because Ren is struggling so much but that made the second half even better as we see Ren relax and become the kind, doting person she really is towards Lina.
Goodreads has this listed as part of the Darlington series but I don’t think it is. It appears to apart of a new series along with Spanish Surrender.
Eventually Ren gets in over her head and has an emotional breakdown in front of Lina. From that point on Ren feels less pressured to pretend that she knows what she is doing and is able to live in the moment and enjoy herself more. Ren and Lina spend more time together and build up affection and attraction.
When they finally act on their feelings Lina feels like she is neglecting her duty as guide for the whole group and pulls away. Ren wants more but understands that they have a limited amount of time and that most relationships wouldn’t work under these circumstances. Ren realizes that Lina is what she wants most out of life and dedicates herself to building a life with Lina. Lina is scared at first but eventually gives in and starts their HEA.
Characterization: At the start of the book REN’s life is fairly aimless. The one thing she knows form sure is that she is a lesbian. Falling in love with Lina gives her something to strive for.
Lina is sweet and open. She is kind to Ren when she is struggling. Lina’s endless kindness really makes this a heartwarming read.
Writing: This was written in first person perspective from Ren’s POV. This book seems pretty personal from the author’s note along with the author choosing to write this in first person rather than third person as she usually does. I suspect that at least a couple scenes from this book are inspired by the author’s real life experiences. As usual this author is well written. The first half of the book was slightly less fun to read because Ren is struggling so much but that made the second half even better as we see Ren relax and become the kind, doting person she really is towards Lina.
Goodreads has this listed as part of the Darlington series but I don’t think it is. It appears to apart of a new series along with Spanish Surrender.
June 27, 2025
College student Ren Molson is on a summer trip to Spain, in hopes of figuring out a direction in life. No pressure! Then after their teacher has a medical energency, Lina Montero, their guide, has to take over the planned tour while leaning on Ren for help.
(Ren had been hoping to get laid... which will be hard as she is uncomfortable speaking Spanish.)
As the tour continues Lina reaches out to Ren, but she keeps trying to be a loner. Finally they start to bond, but other things get in the way.
Good read, as expected from this author. Good plot and characters, and the ending worked.
4 out of 5 stars
(Ren had been hoping to get laid... which will be hard as she is uncomfortable speaking Spanish.)
As the tour continues Lina reaches out to Ren, but she keeps trying to be a loner. Finally they start to bond, but other things get in the way.
Good read, as expected from this author. Good plot and characters, and the ending worked.
4 out of 5 stars
February 9, 2020
Combination travelog, young women coming out of her shell and romance. The main characters are an interesting pair and they have a decent supporting cast. Overall a good story with lots of sun drenched scenery.
September 28, 2020
Ren is a difficult character to like for the first 40% of the book. You are going to fall in love with Lina and with Spain. After finishing the book, I looked up the music and places mentioned in the book. I wanna go to Spain.
June 8, 2017
Nice romance for teenagers to keep dreaming of fairytales
June 29, 2019
Es un 3.5
April 29, 2020
it took me a month to finish it
September 3, 2025
This review is for the audiobook version which I really enjoyed. The narrator Hope Newhouse did a fantastic job, especially with her Spanish! I’m not Spanish, but it did sound very good and I liked how even the Spanish characters were still identifiable.
As for the story, yes there are definitely times you want to shake Ren, but she’s also only 20 and never been anywhere so is quite naive and a little closed minded. Lina on the other hand has the patience of a saint, and I liked her character a lot. The minor characters are well developed and all different.
The last third of the book was my favorite, when the romance really happens, and I did like the ending. It makes me really want to listen to Spanish Surrender (the next of the duo because this definitely isn’t one of the Darlington series like it’s says here), but unfortunately that’s not available in audiobook form, which is a shame because it’s absolutely the better of the two books. You can tell this is an early book of Spangler’s, and her writing has really moved on and upwards since this story.
You’ll enjoy this book if you prefer young adult coming of age stories. It’s worth it for the Spanish culture (especially if you look up the places and artwork mentioned). It does contain a rather dodgy scene in a nightclub on Ren’s second visit there, and a bout of very underage drinking. But it has times that are quite emotional, and some very funny scenes in it too. It’s a very slow burn on the romance.
As for the story, yes there are definitely times you want to shake Ren, but she’s also only 20 and never been anywhere so is quite naive and a little closed minded. Lina on the other hand has the patience of a saint, and I liked her character a lot. The minor characters are well developed and all different.
The last third of the book was my favorite, when the romance really happens, and I did like the ending. It makes me really want to listen to Spanish Surrender (the next of the duo because this definitely isn’t one of the Darlington series like it’s says here), but unfortunately that’s not available in audiobook form, which is a shame because it’s absolutely the better of the two books. You can tell this is an early book of Spangler’s, and her writing has really moved on and upwards since this story.
You’ll enjoy this book if you prefer young adult coming of age stories. It’s worth it for the Spanish culture (especially if you look up the places and artwork mentioned). It does contain a rather dodgy scene in a nightclub on Ren’s second visit there, and a bout of very underage drinking. But it has times that are quite emotional, and some very funny scenes in it too. It’s a very slow burn on the romance.
February 27, 2024
Now that is one beautiful cover! Unfortunately this was a very juvenile travelogue with the most annoying and immature character in lesfic. Literally.
Upping the rating from 1 to 2 stars because I think I'm the wrong audience. This one should be dropped into teen Christian or teen Amish fiction where nothing particularly dramatic (or interesting) happens.
Upping the rating from 1 to 2 stars because I think I'm the wrong audience. This one should be dropped into teen Christian or teen Amish fiction where nothing particularly dramatic (or interesting) happens.
June 25, 2015
Just finished reading this book. Well what can i say i love how everything turned out in the end the way she finally found her place and the things that could show who she really is. Lina showed her who she really was and who she could become. At first all i can say i really didn't like Ren she was to self absorbed in her self but also to single minded always trying to have the answers asking her self "what if's" but after opening up and admitting she wasn't who she wanted people to believe she became the women she was meant to be. And i love how she was able to find love when she least expect it. i was able to imagine Spain through someone else s eyes to imagine how could it be if i laid eyes on all those places my self. Its crazy how a book can send me places iv never been to before and make me see that they see. I love the book very much. Great ending and perficitly written.
February 8, 2016
An absolute favorite. I love this book. I learned so much about Spain from it, I was really surprised. But a sweet love swept me off my feet. I loaned it to a straight friend who I trust to keep it safe, but I must admit I don't like having it far away for so long. I hate how signed books sometimes walk away... A great book to reread in those weeks or days that you need a reminder that love and beauty are real and still exist and to just hang on.
July 26, 2017
The first few days read like the annoying college students I know from my daily life--I work at a college. Halfway through, though, the characters gained more dimension, as did the story. I ended up liking it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 4, 2012
Bravo! Wonderful book!
May 18, 2014
Now I want to visit Spain
May 3, 2014
Enjoyable and really nothing wrong with it, in the end just very formula and been there done that.
On the plus side, the Spanish was correct and nicely integrated in the novel.
On the plus side, the Spanish was correct and nicely integrated in the novel.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews