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Monarch: a novella
A love story with a heart of a killer.
A victim turned murderous vigilante is joined by a paid assassin who vows to protect her.
Rosalinda
The media has dubbed me as the Monarch, a serial killer whose thirst is quenched by souls. They all deserved it. I show no mercy.
Ignacio
I was contracted to end her. And although she never saw it coming, I was the blind one. Now, instead of finishing the job, I'll end those who even think of hurting her.
A victim turned murderous vigilante is joined by a paid assassin who vows to protect her.
Rosalinda
The media has dubbed me as the Monarch, a serial killer whose thirst is quenched by souls. They all deserved it. I show no mercy.
Ignacio
I was contracted to end her. And although she never saw it coming, I was the blind one. Now, instead of finishing the job, I'll end those who even think of hurting her.
- GenresDark Romance
200 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 28, 2025
8 people are currently reading
68 people want to read
About the author
Xochitl Garcia Guillen
5 books122 followersXochitl Garcia Guillen is a romance author who loves spending time with her family when not ignoring the world to write. She lives in Chicago with her husband, two kids, and their lab-mix, Daisy. Xochitl enjoys exploring new restaurants, being outdoors, and freezing in hockey rinks.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
March 28, 2025
“ This mariposa will be mine. As a matter of fact, she doesn’t know it, but she already is.”
Survivor turned vigilante has been challenged… say no more. I ate this novella up.
Rosa seeks out revenge on the men that tragically assaulted her and her fiancée. Ignacio (Nacho) was hired to eliminate her, but instead falls in love with her. All he wants to do is get close to her. Until his boss tries to get the job done using other means. Ignacio devises a plan to not only protect Rosa, but her family as well. This plan brings them closer together, which is what he wanted. Win, win… right?
This novella pulled me in immediately. Rosa was pit through the wringer and came out stronger than ever. She’s a badass boss babe. Then the intense chemistry she has with Ignacio was melting off the pages. He’s the definition of touch her and die. I loved them. I would love to read more about them. The plot and the pacing were perfect. This is my first Xochitl book and she has gained a new fan. Check TW’s before reading due to sensitive subjects.
Tropes: novella, Mexican rep, serial unalivers/vigilante, stalking, marriage of convenience, protective MMC, he falls hard, black FMC, he looks like a black cage, but really is a golden retriever.
THANK YOU SO MUCH XOCHITL FOR THE ARC!
Survivor turned vigilante has been challenged… say no more. I ate this novella up.
Rosa seeks out revenge on the men that tragically assaulted her and her fiancée. Ignacio (Nacho) was hired to eliminate her, but instead falls in love with her. All he wants to do is get close to her. Until his boss tries to get the job done using other means. Ignacio devises a plan to not only protect Rosa, but her family as well. This plan brings them closer together, which is what he wanted. Win, win… right?
This novella pulled me in immediately. Rosa was pit through the wringer and came out stronger than ever. She’s a badass boss babe. Then the intense chemistry she has with Ignacio was melting off the pages. He’s the definition of touch her and die. I loved them. I would love to read more about them. The plot and the pacing were perfect. This is my first Xochitl book and she has gained a new fan. Check TW’s before reading due to sensitive subjects.
Tropes: novella, Mexican rep, serial unalivers/vigilante, stalking, marriage of convenience, protective MMC, he falls hard, black FMC, he looks like a black cage, but really is a golden retriever.
THANK YOU SO MUCH XOCHITL FOR THE ARC!
March 28, 2025
Rosa & Nacho
🦋💀❤️🔥
🖤🖤🖤🖤
🌶️🌶️🌶️
*CHECK TRIGGER WARNINGS*
This little dark romance novella had it allll. There is love, loss, grief, action, and hope all wrapped up into Rosa & Nacho’s love story. These two are both serial unalivers but you will no doubt be rooting for them! Sometimes short stories can leave me wanting more from the but this one is just about 200 pages which turns out to be the perfectly timeframe to tell a killer romance story 😉🔪🖤✨
🦋💀❤️🔥
🖤🖤🖤🖤
🌶️🌶️🌶️
*CHECK TRIGGER WARNINGS*
This little dark romance novella had it allll. There is love, loss, grief, action, and hope all wrapped up into Rosa & Nacho’s love story. These two are both serial unalivers but you will no doubt be rooting for them! Sometimes short stories can leave me wanting more from the but this one is just about 200 pages which turns out to be the perfectly timeframe to tell a killer romance story 😉🔪🖤✨
March 23, 2025
"Nothing can break us. Not even death itself. Because our love is transcendent."
If you are searching for a short read or craving a dark romance book, you might want to consider this one! A new to me author and a novella about serial unalivers falling in love.
"This mariposa will be mine. As a matter of fact, she doesn’t know it, but she already is."
- Nacho
I enjoyed the pace of this book—personally, the author found the right balance, and it was well-paced. And I could have easily read more of these characters! I loved the hero, Nacho's protective streak and his inner dialogues. Despite knowing that Rosa (FMC) can handle herself, Nacho doesn't falter—he is determined to protect Rosa by any means necessary. Rosa is a badass! She's precise and calculated, never missing her target.
They are both equally stubborn: Nacho's persistence to keep her safe and Rosa vehemently stating that she can take care of herself. At first, she might not have admitted it, but she started to like and eventually love Nacho's protectiveness.
"It isn’t healthy. One minute I want to stab him and the next, I want to ride his face." - Rosa
It was cute (and it annoyed Rosa) how Nacho appeared out of nowhere whenever Rosa was out on the job. Especially their first encounter 😆 Rosa got a bit stabby. Nacho sure did put a lot of effort into persuading Rosa to marry him, and his hard work paid off! Yes, he is protective, but Nacho is also obsessed—he fell head over heels for Rosa. Nacho's gentlemanly behaviour confused Rosa because she knew he was just as dangerous as her.
"Ignacio (Nacho) is a gentleman. A f*cking weirdo, Punisher-mask-using k!ller. But still. A gentleman." - Rosa
At the beginning of this novella, Xochitl did a great job of briefly mentioning a sensitive topic (please check/heed TWs/CWs). I had an inkling about a certain part, and towards the end of the book, my guess was proven correct. However, I was still surprised when it was all revealed!
It's a brilliant idea, and it was great to see the translations (there are Spanish terms in this book) at the beginning of the chapters. As a bilingual myself, the translations might be a bit off, or it can be difficult to find a substitute for the sayings in English. Hence, these translations enhanced my reading experience.
In his line of work, Nacho never hesitated to take out a mark—until her. Ordered to eliminate a fellow serial unaliver, Rosa, AKA the "Monarch", Nacho found himself in a predicament: he couldn't end her life. Instead, Nacho felt an overwhelming urge to protect Rosa from anyone who wants to harm her. After experiencing a life-shattering incident, the Monarch was born: late at night, Rosa hunts—taking justice into her own hands, she unalives people. A union in holy matrimony will provide the protection Rosa needs. But it will take some convincing to have Rosa onboard with this idea.
Thank you so much Xochitl for sending me an early copy of your upcoming release!
Releasing March 28th 2025!
What to expect:
- Novella
- Mexican rep
- Serial unalivers/vigilante
- Stalking
- Marriage of convenience
- Protective MMC
- He falls first & hard
- Curvy FMC
- MMC: Looks like a black cat but is really a golden retriever
- FMC: Looks like a black cat IS a black cat
TWs/CWs
- SA/r*pe
- M*rder/k!lling
If you are searching for a short read or craving a dark romance book, you might want to consider this one! A new to me author and a novella about serial unalivers falling in love.
"This mariposa will be mine. As a matter of fact, she doesn’t know it, but she already is."
- Nacho
I enjoyed the pace of this book—personally, the author found the right balance, and it was well-paced. And I could have easily read more of these characters! I loved the hero, Nacho's protective streak and his inner dialogues. Despite knowing that Rosa (FMC) can handle herself, Nacho doesn't falter—he is determined to protect Rosa by any means necessary. Rosa is a badass! She's precise and calculated, never missing her target.
They are both equally stubborn: Nacho's persistence to keep her safe and Rosa vehemently stating that she can take care of herself. At first, she might not have admitted it, but she started to like and eventually love Nacho's protectiveness.
"It isn’t healthy. One minute I want to stab him and the next, I want to ride his face." - Rosa
It was cute (and it annoyed Rosa) how Nacho appeared out of nowhere whenever Rosa was out on the job. Especially their first encounter 😆 Rosa got a bit stabby. Nacho sure did put a lot of effort into persuading Rosa to marry him, and his hard work paid off! Yes, he is protective, but Nacho is also obsessed—he fell head over heels for Rosa. Nacho's gentlemanly behaviour confused Rosa because she knew he was just as dangerous as her.
"Ignacio (Nacho) is a gentleman. A f*cking weirdo, Punisher-mask-using k!ller. But still. A gentleman." - Rosa
At the beginning of this novella, Xochitl did a great job of briefly mentioning a sensitive topic (please check/heed TWs/CWs). I had an inkling about a certain part, and towards the end of the book, my guess was proven correct. However, I was still surprised when it was all revealed!
It's a brilliant idea, and it was great to see the translations (there are Spanish terms in this book) at the beginning of the chapters. As a bilingual myself, the translations might be a bit off, or it can be difficult to find a substitute for the sayings in English. Hence, these translations enhanced my reading experience.
In his line of work, Nacho never hesitated to take out a mark—until her. Ordered to eliminate a fellow serial unaliver, Rosa, AKA the "Monarch", Nacho found himself in a predicament: he couldn't end her life. Instead, Nacho felt an overwhelming urge to protect Rosa from anyone who wants to harm her. After experiencing a life-shattering incident, the Monarch was born: late at night, Rosa hunts—taking justice into her own hands, she unalives people. A union in holy matrimony will provide the protection Rosa needs. But it will take some convincing to have Rosa onboard with this idea.
Thank you so much Xochitl for sending me an early copy of your upcoming release!
Releasing March 28th 2025!
What to expect:
- Novella
- Mexican rep
- Serial unalivers/vigilante
- Stalking
- Marriage of convenience
- Protective MMC
- He falls first & hard
- Curvy FMC
- MMC: Looks like a black cat but is really a golden retriever
- FMC: Looks like a black cat IS a black cat
TWs/CWs
- SA/r*pe
- M*rder/k!lling
April 5, 2025
Book Review | MONARCH by Xochitl Garcia Gullien
If you're looking for a fast-paced dark romance that grabs you from page one and doesn't let go—this is your next obsession. From contract killers to fake marriages, the plot is pure chaos in the best way.
MONARCH drags you into its dark world instantly and before you know it, you're halfway through the book at 2am wondering how you got so emotionally invested. It’s intense, gritty, and packed with that delicious tension we crave in our morally grey romances.
If you're into:
Dark romance with action
Intense chemistry and high stakes
Quick, wild, addictive reads
Then you NEED this on your TBR.
If you're looking for a fast-paced dark romance that grabs you from page one and doesn't let go—this is your next obsession. From contract killers to fake marriages, the plot is pure chaos in the best way.
MONARCH drags you into its dark world instantly and before you know it, you're halfway through the book at 2am wondering how you got so emotionally invested. It’s intense, gritty, and packed with that delicious tension we crave in our morally grey romances.
If you're into:
Dark romance with action
Intense chemistry and high stakes
Quick, wild, addictive reads
Then you NEED this on your TBR.
March 22, 2025
Someone else's actions change the course of her life forever. Good luck everyone cause its feminine rage time !
God I love her so much. Kicking ass, being a pain in the ass and falling in love.
And I love him!! Nothing like a man who will sit back and watch his Queen be the big bad bitch he knows she is!
I'm disappointed this was only a novella ! I want more of them!!
thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to arc read this novella!
God I love her so much. Kicking ass, being a pain in the ass and falling in love.
And I love him!! Nothing like a man who will sit back and watch his Queen be the big bad bitch he knows she is!
I'm disappointed this was only a novella ! I want more of them!!
thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to arc read this novella!
October 21, 2025
Rosa was left broken after her assault and the death of her fiancé but she turned her grief into revenge and now kills men just like the ones that took her old life from her. Sent to eliminate The Monarch after she killed someone important, Ignacio realizes he CANT kill her and what’s more, he is enamored with her. The magnetism between them is what he leverages to save Rosa’s life from the hit for hire his boss is brokering.
Fake marriage
Secret assassins
Mexican FMC & MMC
Second gen immigrant rep
30+ main characters
Curvy black cat FMC
Cinnamon roll MMC
What’s not to love?!
Fake marriage
Secret assassins
Mexican FMC & MMC
Second gen immigrant rep
30+ main characters
Curvy black cat FMC
Cinnamon roll MMC
What’s not to love?!
March 24, 2025
I cannot begin to tell you the emotions I felt reading this story.
The story starts off EXTREMELY heavy, Rosa and her fiancee, Federico have been attacked and while he is near death, the attackers decide to take it upon themselves to assault Rosa. Federico ultimitely dies from the beating and this ignites a fire in Rosa and sets her on a quest for vengence.
Rosa has spent YEARS being a vigilante, removing the "wicked men" of the world with her special venom she uses to inject them with. Nacho is a mercenary whos been tasked with murdering Rosa aka his "mariposa" but feels an immediate attachment and need to protect her (he can't explain why but his heart tells him to). Rosa senses shes being followed and manages to outsmart him while on a kill and confront the masked follower.
Shortly after Nacho comes to Rosa's job as a civilian who would like to use space in the community center to help people with their immigration proceedings. Rosa IMMEDIATELY recognizes who he is and turns the attitude up to 100000 which doesn't deter Nacho a single bit (obviously). Nacho then appears at Rosa's home and meets her family who she takes care of. Her family immediately falls head over heels for Nacho and invite him to stay for dinner.
The next time Rosa goes out on a hunt Nacho follows her (duh!) and they're both confronted by one of Nacho's boss' men and when Nacho confronts Hector he tells him he can't murder Rosa because they're engaged, which Hector calls b.s. on. Nacho then goes to talk to Rosa and explain to her whats going on and let her family know theyre getting married. After a quick wedding, Nacho lets Rosa and her family know they he bought a house, not just any house.....Rosa's dream house and that they can move in ASAP.
Nacho and Rosa end up going back to Rosa's parent house after an awkward bit of tension being alone at the house. Rosa is so extremely guarded and has a hard time letting Nacho in to even take care of her in the slightest. Nacho and Rosa end up going to Hector's house for dinner (think The Godfather, "an offer you cant refuse") and are confronted by the man who hired them to kill Rosa and immediately leave. On their way home they discover that Susan, the mans daughter is in their home and has Rosa's dad tied up and unconscious. The two of them devise a plan of attack, although its more a plan for Nacho to attack and Rosa to keep her mom and brother who are out on a walk safe. When all is said and done, Rosa realizes that the heart in Nacho's chest is Federico's and tells him and understands the attachment he instantly has to her.
This novella was quick and fast paced and kept me on my toes. Thank you Xochitl Garcia Guillen for the chance to advance review this in exchange for my honest opinion!
The story starts off EXTREMELY heavy, Rosa and her fiancee, Federico have been attacked and while he is near death, the attackers decide to take it upon themselves to assault Rosa. Federico ultimitely dies from the beating and this ignites a fire in Rosa and sets her on a quest for vengence.
Rosa has spent YEARS being a vigilante, removing the "wicked men" of the world with her special venom she uses to inject them with. Nacho is a mercenary whos been tasked with murdering Rosa aka his "mariposa" but feels an immediate attachment and need to protect her (he can't explain why but his heart tells him to). Rosa senses shes being followed and manages to outsmart him while on a kill and confront the masked follower.
Shortly after Nacho comes to Rosa's job as a civilian who would like to use space in the community center to help people with their immigration proceedings. Rosa IMMEDIATELY recognizes who he is and turns the attitude up to 100000 which doesn't deter Nacho a single bit (obviously). Nacho then appears at Rosa's home and meets her family who she takes care of. Her family immediately falls head over heels for Nacho and invite him to stay for dinner.
The next time Rosa goes out on a hunt Nacho follows her (duh!) and they're both confronted by one of Nacho's boss' men and when Nacho confronts Hector he tells him he can't murder Rosa because they're engaged, which Hector calls b.s. on. Nacho then goes to talk to Rosa and explain to her whats going on and let her family know theyre getting married. After a quick wedding, Nacho lets Rosa and her family know they he bought a house, not just any house.....Rosa's dream house and that they can move in ASAP.
Nacho and Rosa end up going back to Rosa's parent house after an awkward bit of tension being alone at the house. Rosa is so extremely guarded and has a hard time letting Nacho in to even take care of her in the slightest. Nacho and Rosa end up going to Hector's house for dinner (think The Godfather, "an offer you cant refuse") and are confronted by the man who hired them to kill Rosa and immediately leave. On their way home they discover that Susan, the mans daughter is in their home and has Rosa's dad tied up and unconscious. The two of them devise a plan of attack, although its more a plan for Nacho to attack and Rosa to keep her mom and brother who are out on a walk safe. When all is said and done, Rosa realizes that the heart in Nacho's chest is Federico's and tells him and understands the attachment he instantly has to her.
This novella was quick and fast paced and kept me on my toes. Thank you Xochitl Garcia Guillen for the chance to advance review this in exchange for my honest opinion!
March 29, 2025
Yay! Xochitl came out with a novella!!! I came across Xochitl when I read her book, HER II, and that one book made me a fan. So when she posted about her newest creation, Monarch, I HAD to get my hands on it. Plus, we gotta support la raza! Will admit, after reading a certain line, I may never look at a mango the same way XD.
First off, I wanna praise Xochitl for adding the spanish translations at the start of each chapter. It’s great to see moments like that for everyone to enjoy, even non-spanish speakers. Secondly, I adore how not only are the characters on latino descent, but she also mentions some of the cultural things that we as latinos grow up with. The essence of family, supporting and loving one another, and a couple of other things that to others would seem like pressure but it also depends on the family.
And these characters. Rosa is so strong and a fighter, especially after what happened to her. You get to see her strength throughout the novella, but you also see her open up and lean on Nacho at times, no matter how much she fights through her feelings for him. And Nacho is such a sweetheart! Ok, he does stalk Rosa and was sent to send her to the other side, but the guy falls for her on sight and basically does his all not only to protect her, but her family as well, knowing how important they are to her. They are both loving and protective of their siblings as well. And together, definitely a killer duo!
And the spice, a slow burn but was worth it once we reached that point of no return. Gotta say, Xochitl did it again! I still need to read her first book, but this novella is my favorite of the 2 books I’ve read so far. So, looking for a quick dark and somewhat bloody read with two characters you get to see fall madly for each other, this is one I would so recommend.
First off, I wanna praise Xochitl for adding the spanish translations at the start of each chapter. It’s great to see moments like that for everyone to enjoy, even non-spanish speakers. Secondly, I adore how not only are the characters on latino descent, but she also mentions some of the cultural things that we as latinos grow up with. The essence of family, supporting and loving one another, and a couple of other things that to others would seem like pressure but it also depends on the family.
And these characters. Rosa is so strong and a fighter, especially after what happened to her. You get to see her strength throughout the novella, but you also see her open up and lean on Nacho at times, no matter how much she fights through her feelings for him. And Nacho is such a sweetheart! Ok, he does stalk Rosa and was sent to send her to the other side, but the guy falls for her on sight and basically does his all not only to protect her, but her family as well, knowing how important they are to her. They are both loving and protective of their siblings as well. And together, definitely a killer duo!
And the spice, a slow burn but was worth it once we reached that point of no return. Gotta say, Xochitl did it again! I still need to read her first book, but this novella is my favorite of the 2 books I’ve read so far. So, looking for a quick dark and somewhat bloody read with two characters you get to see fall madly for each other, this is one I would so recommend.
March 27, 2025
Ms. Xochitl Never disappoints!! I went into this novella knowing it would be a good one, but it went Past my expectations! I'm the worst with novellas as I want stories to go on because I never want it to end, but all loose ends were tied up so perfectly that I didn't mind this quick adventure!
Rosa suffers a traumatic experience that causes her to take revenge into her own hands and continues to end the lives of bad guys long after her revenge is fulfilled.
Nacho is sent to do a job that sets Rosa in his path and he is instantly captivated. He knows he will end the world for her and she doesn't even know he exists...yet. His stalkerish tendencies annoy her, but also intrigue her as she sees how much effort he puts in to not only protecting her, but her Entire family!
Rosa and Nacho get closer and their attraction grows the more she tries to stop it. I don't want to give too much away because it will take away from the experience, but this book will definitely be one of my comfort reads. It was short and sweet, even with all the knives.. lol.
Monarch by Xóchitl García Guillen will be available on March 28th and is available for pre-order on Amazon Now! Get your copy now!! ** Be sure to read Trigger Warnings as this is a dark romance**
Rosa suffers a traumatic experience that causes her to take revenge into her own hands and continues to end the lives of bad guys long after her revenge is fulfilled.
Nacho is sent to do a job that sets Rosa in his path and he is instantly captivated. He knows he will end the world for her and she doesn't even know he exists...yet. His stalkerish tendencies annoy her, but also intrigue her as she sees how much effort he puts in to not only protecting her, but her Entire family!
Rosa and Nacho get closer and their attraction grows the more she tries to stop it. I don't want to give too much away because it will take away from the experience, but this book will definitely be one of my comfort reads. It was short and sweet, even with all the knives.. lol.
Monarch by Xóchitl García Guillen will be available on March 28th and is available for pre-order on Amazon Now! Get your copy now!! ** Be sure to read Trigger Warnings as this is a dark romance**
March 31, 2025
“This mariposa will be mine. As a matter of fact, she doesn’t know it, but she already is.”- Nacho
🦋 This was my first book by @xochitlgarciaguillen_author, and I really enjoyed it! This story had so much Mexican representation and showcased parts of our culture that many people don’t understand. Although I was born in Mexico, I came here at a very young age and feel like I missed out on learning certain aspects of our culture—but one thing that always stuck with me is that familia comes first. This story beautifully showcased the importance of that.
Even though it highlights our culture, don’t think it’s not a dark romance—it definitely is! Please check trigger warnings before diving in.
The story of Rosa and Nacho takes you through so many emotions. Rosa’s backstory and how she became the Monarch will have you on the verge of tears, but the fact that she didn’t let it break her—instead becoming a vigilante who takes down soulless men—makes her one of my favorite FMCs. And then there’s Nacho, a paid assassin with golden retriever energy just for her. This story was wonderfully written and had enough spice to keep things hot.
Grab a copy if you love:
🦋 Serial unalivers
🔪 Marriage of convenience
🦋 Mexican rep
🔪 He falls first
🦋 Curvy FMC
🔪 Protective MMC
🦋 This was my first book by @xochitlgarciaguillen_author, and I really enjoyed it! This story had so much Mexican representation and showcased parts of our culture that many people don’t understand. Although I was born in Mexico, I came here at a very young age and feel like I missed out on learning certain aspects of our culture—but one thing that always stuck with me is that familia comes first. This story beautifully showcased the importance of that.
Even though it highlights our culture, don’t think it’s not a dark romance—it definitely is! Please check trigger warnings before diving in.
The story of Rosa and Nacho takes you through so many emotions. Rosa’s backstory and how she became the Monarch will have you on the verge of tears, but the fact that she didn’t let it break her—instead becoming a vigilante who takes down soulless men—makes her one of my favorite FMCs. And then there’s Nacho, a paid assassin with golden retriever energy just for her. This story was wonderfully written and had enough spice to keep things hot.
Grab a copy if you love:
🦋 Serial unalivers
🔪 Marriage of convenience
🦋 Mexican rep
🔪 He falls first
🦋 Curvy FMC
🔪 Protective MMC
March 29, 2025
Rating: ♾️/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5/5
As soon as I finished reading Monarch, I wanted to read it again.
I think I highlighted almost the entire book because so much of it made me react so positively.
It had all things I love. Marriage of convenience?? SO GOOD. Rosa tries to resist Nacho but it’s impossible! You will fall for him too. The “My Wife” moments were *chefs kiss* Nacho is legit an unaliver and a gentleman! My favorite combo! Rosa is my favorite kind of FMC who channels her pain and rids the world of garbage men and taking care of her familia.
Rosa and Nacho have the best chemistry, at the office, at “work” and in the bedroom.
Can i tell you how amazing it feels to read about mc’s that have the same background and upbringing that I can relate to? (Not the killing part lol)But this is why I love reading from Latinx authors! Representation matters and Xoxchitl does the best job making these stories feel real, down to the detail of Rosa’s favorite place to get her snacks and aguas fresca!
What didn’t I love about this novella? That I can’t read it again for the first time! Rosa and Nacho, they have my heart. 🫀
I applaud you XGG! You are pure talent mija.
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5/5
As soon as I finished reading Monarch, I wanted to read it again.
I think I highlighted almost the entire book because so much of it made me react so positively.
It had all things I love. Marriage of convenience?? SO GOOD. Rosa tries to resist Nacho but it’s impossible! You will fall for him too. The “My Wife” moments were *chefs kiss* Nacho is legit an unaliver and a gentleman! My favorite combo! Rosa is my favorite kind of FMC who channels her pain and rids the world of garbage men and taking care of her familia.
Rosa and Nacho have the best chemistry, at the office, at “work” and in the bedroom.
Can i tell you how amazing it feels to read about mc’s that have the same background and upbringing that I can relate to? (Not the killing part lol)But this is why I love reading from Latinx authors! Representation matters and Xoxchitl does the best job making these stories feel real, down to the detail of Rosa’s favorite place to get her snacks and aguas fresca!
What didn’t I love about this novella? That I can’t read it again for the first time! Rosa and Nacho, they have my heart. 🫀
I applaud you XGG! You are pure talent mija.
March 20, 2025
🦋𝕸𝖔𝖓𝖆𝖗𝖈𝖍🦋
✍🏼- @xochitlgarciaguillen_author
📅- 3/28/25
★★★★★
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
I can never thank you enough for gifting me an e-copy in exchange for an honest review
⚠️Rape, death of a loved one ⚠️
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬
🦋Mexican Rep
🔪Touch her and you die
🦋Marriage of Convenience
🔪Serial Unalivers
𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀:
Rosalinda aka Monarch avenged her boyfriends death after she was beaten and raped. Hitting the streets of Chicago she’s determined to get every scum off the streets. Especially the ones who hurt her and unalived her boyfriend. The problem is now she’s got a target on her back.
Ignacio aka Nacho is assigned by his boss to unalive Rosalinda. Except something about her stops him dead in his tracks. He’s somehow found himself wanting to help her not get caught and does whatever it takes to defend her from his boss.
𝗠𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 💭
I DEVOURED this book! I didn’t want it to end because of how much I loved it 🥹 Rosalinda’s mamá was my favorite character. I love how much Spanish this book had and it’s setting in Chicago 🫶🏼 So many Dexter vibes to it too. A mix of romance/ murder is always my favorite type of book. This book will live rent free in my mind. @xochitlgarciaguillen_author you killed it 🔥
Please do yourself a favor and grab this book on 3/28/25 you won’t regret it!!
✍🏼- @xochitlgarciaguillen_author
📅- 3/28/25
★★★★★
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
I can never thank you enough for gifting me an e-copy in exchange for an honest review
⚠️Rape, death of a loved one ⚠️
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬
🦋Mexican Rep
🔪Touch her and you die
🦋Marriage of Convenience
🔪Serial Unalivers
𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀:
Rosalinda aka Monarch avenged her boyfriends death after she was beaten and raped. Hitting the streets of Chicago she’s determined to get every scum off the streets. Especially the ones who hurt her and unalived her boyfriend. The problem is now she’s got a target on her back.
Ignacio aka Nacho is assigned by his boss to unalive Rosalinda. Except something about her stops him dead in his tracks. He’s somehow found himself wanting to help her not get caught and does whatever it takes to defend her from his boss.
𝗠𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 💭
I DEVOURED this book! I didn’t want it to end because of how much I loved it 🥹 Rosalinda’s mamá was my favorite character. I love how much Spanish this book had and it’s setting in Chicago 🫶🏼 So many Dexter vibes to it too. A mix of romance/ murder is always my favorite type of book. This book will live rent free in my mind. @xochitlgarciaguillen_author you killed it 🔥
Please do yourself a favor and grab this book on 3/28/25 you won’t regret it!!
March 28, 2025
Alexa play, “Emotional Rollercoaster” because this book took me on a ride 😩🙌🏾
Thank you for the ARC opportunity, because this novella packed a punch!
Rosa was a badass with a past that could haunt the strongest of soldiers; yet she persevered and fought through the storm, carrying her scars with her. Watching her evolve and grow while understanding she’s worthy of love was an emotional moment!
Nacho, my down bad little hit-guy was everything and more! He was loyal, devoted, and had just enough bite to hold his own. His character endeavors to carry Rosa’s weight not to dem her light, but allow for her to be the baddie she is—that’s a king right there my friends.
Ranging from the dynamic characters to the intriguing fast-paced plot line, this story was a perfect read. I loved the elements of action and suspense partnered with the emotional exploration of love after loss. Beautiful representation, complex storytelling, and beautiful messages interwoven into the storyline.
Nacho & Rosa’s story was something legendary, and I hope others love it too
Thank you for the ARC opportunity, because this novella packed a punch!
Rosa was a badass with a past that could haunt the strongest of soldiers; yet she persevered and fought through the storm, carrying her scars with her. Watching her evolve and grow while understanding she’s worthy of love was an emotional moment!
Nacho, my down bad little hit-guy was everything and more! He was loyal, devoted, and had just enough bite to hold his own. His character endeavors to carry Rosa’s weight not to dem her light, but allow for her to be the baddie she is—that’s a king right there my friends.
Ranging from the dynamic characters to the intriguing fast-paced plot line, this story was a perfect read. I loved the elements of action and suspense partnered with the emotional exploration of love after loss. Beautiful representation, complex storytelling, and beautiful messages interwoven into the storyline.
Nacho & Rosa’s story was something legendary, and I hope others love it too
March 29, 2025
Rosa's on a mission—revenge on the men who attacked her and her fiancé. Enter Ignacio (or Nacho, if you're feeling friendly), who's ordered to take her down but instead tumbles head over heels for her. His new mission? Get close to Rosa. But when his boss decides to hit the reset button, Nacho crafts a clever plan to shield Rosa and her family, making him the unexpected hero of his own love story.
These two are as stubborn as mules: Nacho's gallant quest to protect her crashes headfirst into Rosa's fierce "I can handle this myself" attitude. She might not have seen it at first, but she eventually warms up to Nacho's knight-in-shining-armor vibes.
And I adore how this novella sprinkles in Spanish, blending romance with a dash of murder mystery—a combo that always hooks me!
Things to know
sexually explicit scenes, strong language, violence, and sexual assault (SA not between Main Characters), death of a loved one, serial killers, he falls first, curvy FMC, marriage of convenience, Mexican MCs, protective MC, novella, stalking, black cat FMC x cinnamon roll golden retriever MMC
These two are as stubborn as mules: Nacho's gallant quest to protect her crashes headfirst into Rosa's fierce "I can handle this myself" attitude. She might not have seen it at first, but she eventually warms up to Nacho's knight-in-shining-armor vibes.
And I adore how this novella sprinkles in Spanish, blending romance with a dash of murder mystery—a combo that always hooks me!
Things to know
sexually explicit scenes, strong language, violence, and sexual assault (SA not between Main Characters), death of a loved one, serial killers, he falls first, curvy FMC, marriage of convenience, Mexican MCs, protective MC, novella, stalking, black cat FMC x cinnamon roll golden retriever MMC
May 2, 2025
Okay, Monarch? That book grabbed me by the spine and whispered sweet murder into my ear—and I liked it.
Rosalinda isn’t your typical heroine. She’s a storm in red lipstick and vengeance, and I was rooting for her from the second she stepped on the page. They called her a serial killer, but to me? She’s justice in stilettos. Every soul she took? Deserved. Period.
Then comes Ignacio—cold, calculated, and sent to take her out... but instead, he falls. And not in the fluffy rom-com way. He falls like a blade—clean, hard, and fast. The way he turns from assassin to protector had me feral. There’s something so dangerous and hot about a man who'd rather burn the world than see his girl hurt.
The vibes? Dark. The romance? Twisted. The chemistry? Fire. If you're into morally grey characters, killer prose (literally), and a love story born from blood and bullets, this one is for you.
Short, sharp, and soaked in tension. Monarch is a love story carved out of violence—and it works.
Rosalinda isn’t your typical heroine. She’s a storm in red lipstick and vengeance, and I was rooting for her from the second she stepped on the page. They called her a serial killer, but to me? She’s justice in stilettos. Every soul she took? Deserved. Period.
Then comes Ignacio—cold, calculated, and sent to take her out... but instead, he falls. And not in the fluffy rom-com way. He falls like a blade—clean, hard, and fast. The way he turns from assassin to protector had me feral. There’s something so dangerous and hot about a man who'd rather burn the world than see his girl hurt.
The vibes? Dark. The romance? Twisted. The chemistry? Fire. If you're into morally grey characters, killer prose (literally), and a love story born from blood and bullets, this one is for you.
Short, sharp, and soaked in tension. Monarch is a love story carved out of violence—and it works.
March 20, 2025
Wow, this little novella will not leave you disappointed! It’s fast paced but still captures all the emotions and feelings. And it has just the right amount of banter and spice.
I seriously loved everything about Rosa & Nacho! Rosa, a vigilante serial unaliver dubbed the Monarch, is a total badass! Nacho, the hired assassin who never hesitates, is supposed to take her out but he can’t resist her and decides to protect her instead. I absolutely loved how Nacho supported and empowered Rosa rather than treat her like a helpless damsel in distress.
I really enjoyed this one! And while the ending was not rushed and it was done perfectly, I still wasn’t ready for it to be over! I’ll definitely be checking out more from this author!
🦋Tropes
- Serial Unalivers
- Marriage of Convenience
- Mexican Rep
- He Falls First
Thank you Xochitl Garcia Guillen for the opportunity to read this early!
I seriously loved everything about Rosa & Nacho! Rosa, a vigilante serial unaliver dubbed the Monarch, is a total badass! Nacho, the hired assassin who never hesitates, is supposed to take her out but he can’t resist her and decides to protect her instead. I absolutely loved how Nacho supported and empowered Rosa rather than treat her like a helpless damsel in distress.
I really enjoyed this one! And while the ending was not rushed and it was done perfectly, I still wasn’t ready for it to be over! I’ll definitely be checking out more from this author!
🦋Tropes
- Serial Unalivers
- Marriage of Convenience
- Mexican Rep
- He Falls First
Thank you Xochitl Garcia Guillen for the opportunity to read this early!
April 3, 2025
Monarch
⭐️⭐️⭐️½ | 🔥🔥🔥 | 200 pages
This quick read DELIVERS on the vigilante romance vibes! When assassin meets serial killer, expect fireworks (and bodies) to drop 💀
Rosa is straight-up THAT GIRL - turning trauma into a revenge tour while Nacho switches from "target acquired" to "touch her and die" faster than you can say marriage of convenience! Their chemistry? ELECTRIC. The possessive "my wife" moments? I died.
The vibes we're tracking:
🦋 Vengeful Latina badass energy
🗡️ Stalker-but-make-it-romantic
👑 Found family feels with actual familia
Love how this novella drops cultural details that feel authentic, not forced. The spice builds slowly but hits HARD (you'll never look at mangos the same way, trust).
Only complaint? Needed more pages! This killer couple deserved a full novel to fully explore their dangerous chemistry. Perfect weekend read when you want your romance with a side of bloodshed! 💅
⭐️⭐️⭐️½ | 🔥🔥🔥 | 200 pages
This quick read DELIVERS on the vigilante romance vibes! When assassin meets serial killer, expect fireworks (and bodies) to drop 💀
Rosa is straight-up THAT GIRL - turning trauma into a revenge tour while Nacho switches from "target acquired" to "touch her and die" faster than you can say marriage of convenience! Their chemistry? ELECTRIC. The possessive "my wife" moments? I died.
The vibes we're tracking:
🦋 Vengeful Latina badass energy
🗡️ Stalker-but-make-it-romantic
👑 Found family feels with actual familia
Love how this novella drops cultural details that feel authentic, not forced. The spice builds slowly but hits HARD (you'll never look at mangos the same way, trust).
Only complaint? Needed more pages! This killer couple deserved a full novel to fully explore their dangerous chemistry. Perfect weekend read when you want your romance with a side of bloodshed! 💅
March 19, 2025
Arc review ۶ৎ
Monarch by xochitl Garcia Guillen.
Thank you again for letting me read an early edition of this masterpiece.
“This mariposa will be mine. As a matter of fact, she doesn’t know it, but she already is.”
Rosa seeks revenge after herself and Fedriko are tragically abused by a group of men which ends in an emotional start to the book. Nacho is forced to take her down for her killings but instead falls in love with her and her sadistic murders. Until his boss gets too forceful on the hit, Nacho comes up with a plan that not only saves Rosa but also his family and hers.
This was such a good novella, was dragged in at the start and I love that. Both fmc and mmc are sexy asf and not easy to forget. This could be the best novella I’ve ever read, was so emotional and sexy what more could you ask for?
Release date is 28th of March.
5★
Monarch by xochitl Garcia Guillen.
Thank you again for letting me read an early edition of this masterpiece.
“This mariposa will be mine. As a matter of fact, she doesn’t know it, but she already is.”
Rosa seeks revenge after herself and Fedriko are tragically abused by a group of men which ends in an emotional start to the book. Nacho is forced to take her down for her killings but instead falls in love with her and her sadistic murders. Until his boss gets too forceful on the hit, Nacho comes up with a plan that not only saves Rosa but also his family and hers.
This was such a good novella, was dragged in at the start and I love that. Both fmc and mmc are sexy asf and not easy to forget. This could be the best novella I’ve ever read, was so emotional and sexy what more could you ask for?
Release date is 28th of March.
5★
March 20, 2025
Rosa is a woman on a mission—to right some serious wrongs.
⚠️check the trigger warnings⚠️
Then there’s Nacho—a killer who is completely obsessed, protective, and utterly infatuated with her. It’s insta-love on his side for sure. He would burn the world down for her. (and we love that vibe) Meanwhile, she fights whatever is happening between them.
The tension between them built incredible chemistry throughout the book, making the spicy scenes even more 🔥🔥🔥(caliente)
One other thing I want to mention-💍 Trust me, it's interesting🤭! It was also pretty cool to read the Mexican references placed throughout the story, especially the La Michoacana part, which had me laughing a bit. This was my first time reading this author’s work, and I definitely enjoyed it! You won’t get bored at all reading this novella with everything going on.
Recommend: Si👍🏻
⚠️check the trigger warnings⚠️
Then there’s Nacho—a killer who is completely obsessed, protective, and utterly infatuated with her. It’s insta-love on his side for sure. He would burn the world down for her. (and we love that vibe) Meanwhile, she fights whatever is happening between them.
The tension between them built incredible chemistry throughout the book, making the spicy scenes even more 🔥🔥🔥(caliente)
One other thing I want to mention-💍 Trust me, it's interesting🤭! It was also pretty cool to read the Mexican references placed throughout the story, especially the La Michoacana part, which had me laughing a bit. This was my first time reading this author’s work, and I definitely enjoyed it! You won’t get bored at all reading this novella with everything going on.
Recommend: Si👍🏻
March 28, 2025
ARC REVIEW
Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
WHEN I TELL YOU TO READ XOCHITL GARCIA GUILLEN BOOKS I MEAN RUN IN GET THEM
Firstly let’s talk about Rosa she is a girlboss and she deserve the whole world because after what she had went through at the beginning with her fiancé I literally wanted to run and hug her like I cried I got so emotional with like it broke my heart in so many ways like I wanted to jump through the phone in hurt the people who did that to her like I knew she was going to get her revenge.
Secondly let’s talk about Nacho that’s my new husband he had me from the beginning like even though he was suppose to killed the fmc but he didn’t I still love him though like burn the world down for me handsome like we needed to hear there story it was perfectly and a quick read like I finish it in one sitting also happy release day my Goregous bestie.
Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
WHEN I TELL YOU TO READ XOCHITL GARCIA GUILLEN BOOKS I MEAN RUN IN GET THEM
Firstly let’s talk about Rosa she is a girlboss and she deserve the whole world because after what she had went through at the beginning with her fiancé I literally wanted to run and hug her like I cried I got so emotional with like it broke my heart in so many ways like I wanted to jump through the phone in hurt the people who did that to her like I knew she was going to get her revenge.
Secondly let’s talk about Nacho that’s my new husband he had me from the beginning like even though he was suppose to killed the fmc but he didn’t I still love him though like burn the world down for me handsome like we needed to hear there story it was perfectly and a quick read like I finish it in one sitting also happy release day my Goregous bestie.
March 19, 2025
The beginning of the story made had me on the edge of my seat because it was giving Mindfu*k vibes with Mexican characters and I was like 👀 are we doing this? It didn’t exactly go that route, however, if you liked Mindfu*k I do think you will like this. It doesn’t have as much gore in the murder scenes but the revenge factor is there and isn’t that what we live for?
Nacho as a character was so unbelievably hot and I don’t know how to describe that, but in my head I just know that man could get it. 😮💨
Rosa is a fierce woman who takes no crap and I loved every minute of her. She is fighting not only for herself but for her family and you can’t help but to want her to win.
If there is more of this story you bet your ass I’m reading it immediately.
Nacho as a character was so unbelievably hot and I don’t know how to describe that, but in my head I just know that man could get it. 😮💨
Rosa is a fierce woman who takes no crap and I loved every minute of her. She is fighting not only for herself but for her family and you can’t help but to want her to win.
If there is more of this story you bet your ass I’m reading it immediately.
March 24, 2025
****Make sure you check the trigger warnings before reading****
The content in this book was heavy and somewhat dark but I loved the love stories throughout. Nacho is a possessive MMC but only to keep Rosa and her family safe. He fell hard and fast and why wouldn’t he? Rosa is a true baddie and I love her feminine rage. This is a fast read, action packed, semi spicy. I usually read rom com type romances but I like to mix it up every once in a while and this author never disappoints! There’s a lot more I could say but don’t want to ruin the best parts for anyone so if you like the things mentioned above you should def read this book!
Thank you to the author for the opportunity to ARC read this novella!
📱EARC
🖤🖤🖤🖤
🌶️🌶️🌶️
The content in this book was heavy and somewhat dark but I loved the love stories throughout. Nacho is a possessive MMC but only to keep Rosa and her family safe. He fell hard and fast and why wouldn’t he? Rosa is a true baddie and I love her feminine rage. This is a fast read, action packed, semi spicy. I usually read rom com type romances but I like to mix it up every once in a while and this author never disappoints! There’s a lot more I could say but don’t want to ruin the best parts for anyone so if you like the things mentioned above you should def read this book!
Thank you to the author for the opportunity to ARC read this novella!
📱EARC
🖤🖤🖤🖤
🌶️🌶️🌶️
March 24, 2025
Survivor turned Vigilante meets her match in a mercenary This book is a bit dark
(I LOVE dr) But I loved the love these two have. Nacho is a possessive MMC and for all the right reasons. He fell hard and fast! Rosa is the perfect amount of feminine rage as a survivor. Overall great read heart-heavy dark romance.
As always read the TW and enjoy!
Tropes
Mexican Representation
Touch her and you die
Marriage of Convenience
Serial Unaliver
He Falls First
Curvy FMC
Out of Fives;
𝑪𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓: 👠 👠👠 👠👠
𝑺𝒑𝒊𝒄𝒆: 🔥🔥🔥
𝑷𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏: 💋💋💋💋💋
𝑹𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆: ❤️❤️❤️
𝑬𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔: 💓💓💓💓💓
𝑭𝑴𝑪: 💜💜💜💜💜
𝑴𝑴𝑪: 🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵
𝑷𝒍𝒐𝒕𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆: 💡💡💡💡
𝑷𝒂𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒈: ⏳⏳⏳⏳
𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑫𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒑𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕: 👍👍👍👍
𝑩𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒅: eARC/Kindle
𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔: Novella
𝑷𝒂𝒈𝒆𝒔: 200
𝑮𝒆𝒏𝒓𝒆: Dark Romance
𝑾𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝑰 𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅: Absolutely
𝑶𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒓 𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
(I LOVE dr) But I loved the love these two have. Nacho is a possessive MMC and for all the right reasons. He fell hard and fast! Rosa is the perfect amount of feminine rage as a survivor. Overall great read heart-heavy dark romance.
As always read the TW and enjoy!
Tropes
Mexican Representation
Touch her and you die
Marriage of Convenience
Serial Unaliver
He Falls First
Curvy FMC
Out of Fives;
𝑪𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓: 👠 👠👠 👠👠
𝑺𝒑𝒊𝒄𝒆: 🔥🔥🔥
𝑷𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏: 💋💋💋💋💋
𝑹𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆: ❤️❤️❤️
𝑬𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔: 💓💓💓💓💓
𝑭𝑴𝑪: 💜💜💜💜💜
𝑴𝑴𝑪: 🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵
𝑷𝒍𝒐𝒕𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆: 💡💡💡💡
𝑷𝒂𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒈: ⏳⏳⏳⏳
𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑫𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒑𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕: 👍👍👍👍
𝑩𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒅: eARC/Kindle
𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔: Novella
𝑷𝒂𝒈𝒆𝒔: 200
𝑮𝒆𝒏𝒓𝒆: Dark Romance
𝑾𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝑰 𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅: Absolutely
𝑶𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒓 𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
March 28, 2025
I want them to go on forever! It was too short for me. Normally I use novellas as a palette cleanser, but I couldn’t do that with monarch. Xochitl did that shit.
We got plot and spicy. Which if you read novellas often, you know the plot is lost amoungst the spicy.
Rosa is a strong willed woman who has major past traumas. (Check your trigger warnings!)
But has the sweetest spot for her family. And Nacho is obssessed with her, and everything she is or does.
He gets to know her in the dark before she even knows his name.
The push and pull in this book is like please love him like he loves you. Rosa girl you deserve it Their love story is filled with spoilers, so I won’t go into detail, but this is a marriage of convenience and serial unalivers.
We got plot and spicy. Which if you read novellas often, you know the plot is lost amoungst the spicy.
Rosa is a strong willed woman who has major past traumas. (Check your trigger warnings!)
But has the sweetest spot for her family. And Nacho is obssessed with her, and everything she is or does.
He gets to know her in the dark before she even knows his name.
The push and pull in this book is like please love him like he loves you. Rosa girl you deserve it Their love story is filled with spoilers, so I won’t go into detail, but this is a marriage of convenience and serial unalivers.
March 30, 2025
🖤 Monarch by Xochitl Garcia Guillen
A love story with a heart of a killer.
I will always fall for an obsessed MMC, but Nacho is on a whole other level with his Mariposa. This novella was so amazing and my first ever read by Xochitl, thank you so much for letting me ARC read this baby & for Marylou for putting me on 🖤🖤
Our FMC, Rosa, is honestly one of my top favorite’s this year already. We love a feisty, serial unaliver Mexican baddie! My girl went through so much heartbreak and her back story was definitely a tear jerker.
It’s definitely something different when you read about characters and have the same background as they do. It’s very rare for me to get that and it’s one of the reasons why I will always support my Latinx authors. Representation was perfection!
Monarch is out now!
A love story with a heart of a killer.
I will always fall for an obsessed MMC, but Nacho is on a whole other level with his Mariposa. This novella was so amazing and my first ever read by Xochitl, thank you so much for letting me ARC read this baby & for Marylou for putting me on 🖤🖤
Our FMC, Rosa, is honestly one of my top favorite’s this year already. We love a feisty, serial unaliver Mexican baddie! My girl went through so much heartbreak and her back story was definitely a tear jerker.
It’s definitely something different when you read about characters and have the same background as they do. It’s very rare for me to get that and it’s one of the reasons why I will always support my Latinx authors. Representation was perfection!
Monarch is out now!
April 2, 2025
*** ARC Review *** The following are my own honest opinions:
What a captivating and dark short read. Draws you in from page 1 with a traumatic event that shapes who the FMC becomes and jumps to the present where we see how the FMC and MMC are intertwined. This was a very fast paced novella that's hard to put down. It is a dark romance (check your warnings) but it still draws you in emotionally. The characters are well developed considering that this is only a novella and the banter is perfect. Rosa and Nacho's chemistry is off the charts and you will be on the edge of your seat the whole ride! This was my first book by Xochitl Garcia Guillen and I will definitely be looking into her other works.
What a captivating and dark short read. Draws you in from page 1 with a traumatic event that shapes who the FMC becomes and jumps to the present where we see how the FMC and MMC are intertwined. This was a very fast paced novella that's hard to put down. It is a dark romance (check your warnings) but it still draws you in emotionally. The characters are well developed considering that this is only a novella and the banter is perfect. Rosa and Nacho's chemistry is off the charts and you will be on the edge of your seat the whole ride! This was my first book by Xochitl Garcia Guillen and I will definitely be looking into her other works.
March 31, 2025
A fabulous novella! I really enjoyed the story even though the beginning was really heartbreaking . Rosa is a tough as nails woman and really good with her blades. As vigilante if you will she was just phenomenal and got her revenge. A stalker who can’t seem to stop following her because he’s drawn to her, that would be nacho . He also has his own late night fun but in a different way. The way these two collide was poetic. The fake marriage was genius but of course the hear wants what it wants. This book was also bittersweet and I was so happy and thrilled for these two. I really enjoyed every aspect of this novella!
March 15, 2025
This was such a fun and lovely novella. I could’ve easily read 200 pages more!
I love a badass fmc, and here, badass spells out Rosa. From the traumatic experience she went through, and now going after the scum of the earth, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗼 𝗴𝗶𝗿𝗹, I salute you.
“𝑶𝒏𝒆 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒕𝒆 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒃 𝒉𝒊𝒎 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒙𝒕, 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒆.”
Nacho is such a sweetheart. Yea, he unalives people, but he’s still a gentleman. 𝘞𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘥𝘨𝘦.
I loved the heart of the story, and with it, the connection between Rosa and Nacho.
𝑩𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒕.
I love a badass fmc, and here, badass spells out Rosa. From the traumatic experience she went through, and now going after the scum of the earth, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗼 𝗴𝗶𝗿𝗹, I salute you.
“𝑶𝒏𝒆 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒕𝒆 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒃 𝒉𝒊𝒎 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒙𝒕, 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒆.”
Nacho is such a sweetheart. Yea, he unalives people, but he’s still a gentleman. 𝘞𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘥𝘨𝘦.
I loved the heart of the story, and with it, the connection between Rosa and Nacho.
𝑩𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒕.
March 26, 2025
I'm now a die-hard Rosa and Nacho fan till I die! This was a novella so I definitely need more from these two because they're dynamic was absolutely perfect. The banter and how protective Nacho was of Rosa and how cautious he was melted my freaking heart. Not to mention the little habit he had of rubbing his chest 😭🖤 MY BABY! This book didn't disappoint but I really can't wait to see what else is in stores for these two because this simply was not enough 😂 one of my favorite quotes from Nacho "this was never his heart or mine, Mariposa. It's yours. This heart always belonged to you."
March 29, 2025
This story lead me on a journey of emotions! I felt it all. This story had me sighing one moment, gasping in surprise the next and then concerned about what would happen next. It was most definitely dark and yet it seamlessly integrated love, family, cultural values, resiliency and strength. There was an authenticity and grittiness to the writing that made the story come to life in a realistic way. And the romance! Swoon!! Rosa and Nacho were amazing characters! They were explosive together! Thank you for the eARC XGG!!
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