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Mi Familia (2014)

by Tessa Cárdenas(Favorite Author)

4.07 of 5 Votes: 4

ISBN

1627988882 (ISBN13: 9781627988889)

languge

English

genre

Romance

publisher

Dreamspinner Press

review 1: 4.5 stars.The continuation for Siempre, this book picks up about three years after Sean and Jamie first met, shortly after their marriage. They're still happy together, though Jaime still has no patience for Sean's "white guilt". I loved how the author addressed those issues without getting preachy. Jaime's family is also still mostly estranged, though his little brother reaches out to him more in this one. Sean is still dancing and teaching. Life is good. Except, they're missing something. They've been talking about adopting a child, and when presented with files for Angel and Margarita, siblings who need to be placed together, there's no question for either that they will take them both. This book focused, in a realistic and organic way, on the issues that Sean and Jaime... more have to face as they invite both children into their lives, as they begin the adoption process for them, as they begin to teach these kids that they are loved and protected. There are funny moments and heartbreaking moments and heartwarming moments throughout, whether it be with the children or with a set of the best friends anyone could ask for. The author continues to wow me with her easy-flowing writing style. I read this book in one sitting, sniffled on occasion and smiled widely at the end.Tessa Cardenas did a fabulous job portraying the two kids in this novel. They're not perfect, and Angel has some underlying anger issues, as expected, while Margarita is shy and fearful. The emotional toll abuse takes on children is explored, as well as the patience and perseverance it takes to bring them back into the light. Sean and Jaime are also not super parents - they still have lots to learn, but they are willing to admit when they make mistakes, and then make amends. A wonderful sequel to Siempre, I highly recommend you give this book a chance.** I received a free copy from the publisher. A positive review was not promised in return. **
review 2: Jamie and Sean are expanding their family and look into adoption. Though they originally thought to start with one child, a brother and sister come up for adoption that really need them. The children have been through a lot and they are not making it easy on these new dads.The legal system fights them a little. The little league fights them a little. Both kids fight them a little. And they fight with each other a little. But in the end, the fight is worth it and now their family is four.**I enjoyed Siempre, and was excited to read this sequel about Sean and Jamie’s life as a couple. I figured the adoption would be a way to get a look into their life together using the kids as a “hurdle”. Really, this is more a book about an established couple adopting two kids, than a continuation of their romance. You almost didn’t need to read Siempre to read this book.It’s sweet and touching. They really want to help these kids and it makes for an interesting story, but I didn’t exactly see it as a “sequel” to Siempre.In my opinion, generally, sequels to romances, are more about the evolving relationship and overcoming obstacles involved in being at a different stage in the relationship. This was more a book about adoption. Period. Sure, the characters from Siempre were in it, including Sean and Alana and Aleskadra, etc; and it was nice seeing them, but Sean and Jamie are almost never even in the same room together!This was mostly Jamie’s story of becoming a stay at home dad with a four year old who won’t go to pre-school and an 8 year old who fights you over every last thing. We see him reconnect with his brother and disparage him every giving that horrible Lupe the boot. But we don't really see his relationship with Sean much at all.This other stuff is interesting, don't get me wrong, but it wasn’t “a sequel to a romance” in the way you’d expect.So be warned. This is not a romance! This is a book about adoption, some of it gay-specific, most of it more emphasizing the fact that Jamie and the kids are Hispanic and how that plays out.I enjoyed it a lot. I loved seeing the boys as “grown ups” but it had lost all elements of a love story/romance by this point and moved on to more “gay fiction” than anything else.I give it 3.5 of 5 hearts. less

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