First thing, I’m one of the many many people who finds that reading a Mariana Zapata novel is the next best thing to a very warm and comforting hug.

MZ is back in her sports era and this time it’s all about competitive swimming. George Moore is the fastest swimmer in the world, but his life is crashing down around him. One Moore Time is written from the point of view of Veronica Rubio, a small-town Houston real estate agent who gets the job of selling George Moore‘s house, because no one else in her office can manage him.

Veronica is busy: She lives from sales commission to commission and is looking after members of her big and boisterous family, especially her Abuela. She’s divorced, which was expensive and messy, so she is in no hurry to trust a man. Veronica lives with two of her brothers, with her Abuela across the road and her parents not far away. She has everything she could want in an extended family. When it becomes clear to Veronica that George has nobody in his corner and he is seriously clueless about what is involved in running a life other than swimming, she offers him a spare room and to help him out.

George is a himbo and a hot mess. He has outsourced everything so he can focus on swimming, and in doing so has become a target for every grifter around. His poor eyesight means he doesn’t recognise half the people he meets (including Veronica) so his social skills are appalling and he’s been an easy mark. When everything comes crashing down, he has literally nowhere to turn, and no one to trust. When Veronica invites him to stay, he not only gets somewhere safe to live but also a rowdy extended family who open their arms to him.

The novel takes place over 18 months or so in the lead up to the Paris Olympics.  Veronica hustles to make real estate sales and George slowly gets back the controls  of his life and of course they fall in love. As is the case with all MZ’s novels, it’s a very very very slow burn.

MZ has something to say about organised professional sport, a recurring theme in Kulti, From Lukov with Love and her football romances. The relentless single mindedness of training, the super-competitive natures of athletes and the massive quantities of money for those who succeed are all on the page and show how these factors can make for a toxic and empty life.

This contrasts with the everyday for Veronica as she watches every penny from her house sales – so different to the rich-man problems of George. George’s integration into the family starts with Veronica’s Abuela, the warm matriarch at the top of the family tree who takes an instant liking to him. She feeds him and teaches him Spanish and folds him into the family. The family dynamics are terrific, and I adored the way that Veronica wrangles her rowdy brothers, and in turn, the way the brothers accept and assist George.

Gripes? One Moore Time is very long. Maybe too long, given the action, the slow burn and (spoiler alert) the lack of a third act breakup. Another edit would pick up the repetitions, and bits of awkward phrasing. Perhaps because Veronica is so much in her head, the reader doesn’t feel the chemistry building with George. All the swimming action and most of George’s drama happens off page and Veronica has almost nothing to do with the swimming side of George’s life.

The strength here is how immersive the story is. Veronica’s eye for detail and clear view of her family, plus her love for them all is heartwarming. The way she elevates and encourages George make for a tender romance. Let’s say Veronica wears the pants and George earns his place as a worthy mate for her!

Laura Black is a romance editor, reader and reviewer based in Queensland, Australia. You can visit me on Instagram @laura_black_reads