Vanessa Mazur knows she’s doing the right thing. She shouldn’t feel bad for quitting. Being an assistant/housekeeper/fairy godmother to the top defensive end in the National Football Organization was always supposed to be temporary. She has plans and none of them include washing extra-large underwear longer than necessary.
But when Aiden Graves shows up at her door wanting her to come back, … back, she’s beyond shocked.
For two years, the man known as The Wall of Winnipeg couldn’t find it in him to tell her good morning or congratulate her on her birthday. Now? He’s asking for the unthinkable.
What do you say to the man who is used to getting everything he wants?
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I love Mariana Zapata’s quirky writing style. The Wall of Winnipeg and Me is quirk and humor, but packed with so much story that I was kept interested from page one to the absolute best last line ever. (*Swoon*)
Vanessa is the seemingly unappreciated assistant to famous football player Aiden “The Wall of Winnipeg” Graves. When she has put up with one too many slights and is ready to move on, Aiden makes an offer that Vanessa can’t seem to turn down. “I like you as much as I like anyone.” What a start to the best “Slow Burn” story!!
“Of all the people I would ever want in my corner for moral support, here was the most unexpected one… and the biggest one. My friend. The keeper of my secrets. My moral support. My paperwork.”
“Home is where you are. I would go anywhere for you if you wanted me to be there.”
“I know I love you. I know I’ve waited my entire life to love you”
I have read this book numerous times, and I love it even more each and every time I do. On one re read, I added the audio so I could listen and read along, or sometimes I even do a puzzle on my iPad as the big guy is doing his, for moral support. If you haven’t heard of Mariana Zapata and her slow burn books, you are in for a real treat. This one is my favorite of all. I am still team Graves, 100%.
Van is the assistant to a VIP. That would be The Wall of Winnipeg who plays for Dallas’s major league football team. She is a determined, smart and sassy girl that knows exactly what she wants with her career, and that’s not working for Aiden Graves. Aiden is a classic MZ male character. He’s gruff, brooding and does not say much. He is so focused on playing ball and being the best defensive end player that he doesn’t know what is right in front of his eyes until she’s gone. Only one thing will make Van consider coming back to the big guy, and it was definitely nothing she thought he’d ask!
I loved every single thing about this book. Van’s commentary, her banter with Aiden and Zac, her vulnerability and sensitivity. Of course nothing beats Aiden though. He plays the quiet and solemn hero to a T. Just because he was extremely dedicated to his profession didn’t mean he wasn’t paying attention to what was going on around him when he got a second chance. I know I will be reading this book so many times still to come, and will fall for them both again and again. I can not recommend this book any higher. I also know, once you have read a MZ book, you will appreciate why she is considered the Queen of slow burn romances and why I have enjoyed every single one of her books.
I do give this book 5 stars because it has a lot of elements I like and I could not stop reading. I love a good slowburn. That said there are some things I did not like or understand.
The story could have been a lot shorter. Sometimes it lagged because so many issues were raised I did not really care about or that were never mentioned again. I wish we could have had Aidan’s POV or at least a bit more explanation of his thoughts and actions. When did he fall in love with Vanessa? Was he attracted to her when she worked for him? And if his body was his temple and cooking special meals was important to him, why did he eat all those warm-up meals after Vanessa stopped cooking for him?
I still feel a bit confused about certain stuff and wish the story had been more about just them and not all the drama from the past.
But in general I really enjoyed this book and will certainly look at her other books. (2016)
One of my all-time favorites! I’ll read this again and again.
The Wall of Winnipeg and Me was a slow burn romance that until about 80% had me a little frustrated at Aiden and Vanessa but this book is worth reading just for the ending. This book is all about trust and is such a beautiful story that you will fall in love with Aiden.
Slow burn awesomeness! I own both the e-book and the audiobook because it’s that good!
Slow-burning romance story.
This is one of those books that hung around on my TBR shelf forever but then I kicked myself for waiting so long. A huge slow burn that I enjoyed every freaking minute of.
This story was slow burn perfection for me. The compelling intimacy of Mariana Zapata’s writing coupled with the brilliant love story pushed all the right buttons. These two characters are unforgettable. The story telling is first class. I’m just so freaking happy about this book. It’s something totally different than what I’ve been reading but still perfectly romantic, full of friendship and understanding. Just a really great story. I loved every page.
The Wall of Winnipeg and Me by Mariana Zapata is a slow burn, contemporary, marriage of convenience, sports romance told from a single POV.
Vanessa has been the personal assistant to Aiden, a football star known as “The Wall of Winnipeg.” After years of putting up with his cold, abrasive, demanding attitude, she finally has enough of his rudeness and quits to start her own business.
A few weeks later, Aiden shows up at Vanessa’s apartment and begs her to return – but as his wife. He needs to marry in order to stay in the country and avoid deportation back to Canada. Aiden offers to pay off her student loan debt if she’ll stay married to him for five years. Vanessa agrees to these terms. What follows is the long, slow story of the day to day events as they live together, get to know each other, and develop a lasting connection.
Overall, I enjoyed this story. I love slow burn romances, so this was right up my alley. It would have been nice to have some insight into Aiden’s perspective. Also, this book could use some proofreading and editing – otherwise, I may have given it a higher rating. This is the first book I’ve read by the author and I will definitely be reading more.
This is my most favorite book. I’ve read/listened to to multiple times. I want it to have a second and third. I want to know what happens after the story ends.
I loved this book!!!
I definitely recommend this book, and this author.
The Wall of Winnipeg and Me was a slow-burn, fake marriage romance. This novel was engaging and will have you hooked in no time. The characters are complex yet very well developed and as the story progressed we see their relationship grow into so much more. The secondary characters provided support and balance to the story and I loved them all.
I listened to the audible version which was narrated by Callie Dalton. I loved her voice. Her portrayal of the characters was really well done and her voice was clear and understandable.
This was a fantastic read, I loved it and would highly recommend it.
I could not put this book down. Started slow but it was so well written that i could not put it down. This book was recommended to me and i was well such good reviews …we’ll see. Even if i preffer more heat…in this book coming towards the end …i was very hooked to it. Cannot wait to read more books from her. Hoping i’d score an Aiden for me too as a hopeless romantic
Wow, The Wall of Winnipeg is the best slow-burn romance I’ve ever encountered. The author’s characters and plot are so believable, I found myself reading for hours without realizing how much time had passed. No spoilers here, but what a fantastic story!!
Slow-burn perfection. This was my first book by Mariana, and I know it will not be my last.
She weaved a complicated tale of hate to friendship to ultimately love that had me hanging onto this story to find out how things ended up for Aiden and Vanessa.
To know these characters is to love them. And I’m so glad I got the chance.
Awesome story, Mariana! You have a fan in me.
One of my top favorite authors!!
I love this story so much!! What an absolutely beautiful story filled will so many feels. Aiden and Vanessa have burrowed into my heart. I love their slow burn romance! They made me smile and laugh and my heart is full. Perfect!
Vanessa Mazur has decided it is time to give her notice to Aiden Graves, The Wall of Winnipeg, football star. Aiden is a man of few words, even though Vanessa has worked for him for two years, she still doesn’t know if she has done a good job or if he even likes her. Imagine her surprise when Aiden shows up on her door step, wanting her back. Vanessa isn’t interested and for the first time in Aiden’s life he has to work hard at something that is not football, keeping Vanessa in his life.
This was delightfully fun. I loved it from beginning to end. AIden has layers to his character that unfold as the story goes. I thought Vanessa was wonderful, she is a fighter and she and Aiden have more in common than what either thought. Full of intriguing characters, humor, and a few shockers this is a book to pick up and lounge for the day with. Fantastic.
There are certainly longer, more detailed and better reviews for The Wall of Winnipeg and Me out there. When I finished Under Locke I knew it wouldn’t be my last experience with Mariana Zapata. She just has this way of building up the chemistry between the main characters, from an ultra-slow burn romance into a sensual fire in the end. There is also her incredible talent to make the reader fall in love with an at first unlikable character. All these elements can be found in this story.
Both Vanessa and Aiden didn’t disappoint. I loved how they started out as strangers, despite their work relationship of two years. I loved Vanessa for giving it straight to Aiden, for standing up for herself and not letting the force that is Aiden roll over her.
Just as I opened the door, and before I could talk myself out of it, I mouthed, “I deserve better, asshole,” making sure he read my lips as I did it. Then I raised my middle finger up at him and waved good-bye with it. I hope they both got syphilis.
Aiden’s loneliness and tendency to keep people at a distance was exacerbated by his taciturn nature. But Vanessa’s honest and sweet character got under his skin and soon their acquaintance grew into friendship and ultimately in the love of a lifetime. They were prefect for each other – it was sweet and beautiful to see him opening up to Vanny.
“Home is where you are. I would go anywhere for you if you wanted me there.”
Mariana Zapata is an amazing storyteller. She has a wonderful talent of making me see the hero fall in love with the heroine although we only get a single point of view! The audiobook was around 16 hours and the time flew by so that it didn’t seem that long at all. Callie Dalton contributes to the ease of listening to this story – she is amazing at doing both male and female voices and the characters she narrates feel natural.
The Wall of Winnipeg and Me is one of my top favorite books and I’m sure I’ll re-read and listen to it multiple times in the future.
A peck. A shot better than tequila, made up of friendship and affection and organic sugar.