Art, Love, and Other Miracles: A Sophisticated Slow-Burn Art World Romance with Forced Proximity and Mexican Spice.

by Kiki Astor

One year after losing her husband, Catalina Ruiz, once an ex-pat with a rebellious past, is back in Mexico City, opening her dream art gallery. It's a bold leap of faith, a desperate grab for a second chance at purpose amidst her lingering grief. But just as she clings to the hope of a fresh start, her world is upended by two unexpected the spectral presence of her late husband in her gallery, and a chance encounter with a captivating, infuriating stranger on the street.

That stranger, Sebastian Espinoza, is more than just impossibly handsome. He’s the owner of the rival gallery opening right next door, a ruthless billionaire entrepreneur from a family shrouded in dark rumors of cartel connections. Catalina wants nothing to do with him, yet a series of explosive encounters and undeniable witty banter ignites a dangerous spark she can’t ignore. Their competitive rivalry quickly escalates into a coerced fake relationship, designed to navigate the cutthroat art world of Miami's Art Basel and appease a manipulative ambassador.

Forced into close quarters, Catalina struggles with Sebastian's enigmatic past and his family's notoriety. Is he the charming, honorable man who awakens her deepest desires, or a dangerous player whose secrets could shatter her fragile healing? As her passion for him grows, so does the risk of betrayal. Can Catalina navigate the treacherous currents of high society and the glamorous art world, confront the ghost of her past, and finally trust her heart with a man who could be either her greatest miracle or her ultimate destruction?

Dive into this sophisticated and steamy Mexico City romance, where high art meets high stakes. Art, Love & Other Miracles is a compelling journey of grief to love, healing, and self-discovery, perfect for fans of enemies-to-lovers tropes and glamorous settings. If you crave a rich, emotional read with a strong heroine, complex characters, and a passionate story of embracing life's unexpected miracles, this book is your next obsession.

Genres: Amazon

332 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 25, 2024

Reviews

[Judith]

I'm a fan of Aunt Kiki on tiktok. Her "formerly rich person" persona is so funny. You see elements of her style in the story, wealthy characters and locations, Mexico City, Miami, and Art Basel! What I liked was that the heroine was vulnerable but not weak. She enjoyed s-e-x and was eating and dressing without guilt. I would've liked to see her create her own art, along with acquiring art. Perhaps we'll see her again in Paris or Hong Kong?

[Katrina]

I love this authors books, they are all set in different glamorous places. Makes me feel like I’m there, and learning about new restaurants, shops, places that I’d dream of going to. And then there are the love stories! This book is fun, takes place mainly in high end places in Mexico City within the art world. Wonderful read! So looking forward to the next book.

[FS Meurinne]

This romantic fiction novel is set in Mexico City and centers on themes of grief, healing, and new beginnings within the art world. While the story is emotionally engaging, its depiction of Mexican social and cultural contexts is highly stylized. Neighborhoods such as Roma Norte are presented as gathering places for high society and political figures, a portrayal that differs from how these social groups typically interact in real life. The novel also simplifies Mexico City's complex class dynamics and offers generalized representations of certain cultural traditions and everyday realities. Although these choices are consistent with the conventions of romantic fiction, a deeper level of cultural research might have resulted in a more grounded and nuanced setting.

[Sally Moran]

This book grabbed me from the beginning and didn't let go. From the settings to the characters, this was really unique compared to much of the romance I have read lately. I've never been to Mexico City, and the vivid descriptions were not what I was expecting at all- now I'm dying to go. I loved the main female protagonist, Catalina, so much. Some of her observation about loss and guilt were really profound. Her love interest, Sebastian, is extremely swoon-worthy, which never hurts. I was rooting for these two to get together at last, and the slow burn was so worth it. Add in a backstage pass to the art world and a dash of magical realism... Loved it.

[Baer Haus]

Loved it!

I love how Ms Astor captures raw feelings and transfers them to words on a page. Reading this, I felt the grief and the loss Catalina experienced. The entire spectrum of emotions she goes through during this story seeps into your soul while reading. I kept catching myself smiling or frowning, as well as other facial expressions, while reading. To say the very least, this book captured my attention as well as my heart.

[Anna]

I am currently enjoying reading this novel very much! It is a feel-good love story and easy reading for hours of leisure. I love that this book takes you to Mexico and gives you a nice sense of experiencing a foreign place from your cozy armchair :-)

[Erin]

What I really enjoy about Ms. Astor’s books is the sense of place she conveys. The details of the setting, the restaurants, the art…it puts you right into the book. This story had many layers which I also appreciated. It’s not your average romance!

[Kirsten Ellis]

Fabulous, indulgent romp thru the hipster art scene in Mexico City, that kept me smiling and intrigued as I was teasingly pulled into the sexy escapades of Catalina and Sebastian. Bravo!

[Michelle Messina]

Good read

[Toni McClintock]

Reading this just after a vacation to Mexico City was a lot of fun. I really enjoyed the story and now follow Kiki, who is so clever and funny. I’m very happy to have learned about her!