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sarahmaclean · 1 year

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Adriana Herrera’s Books Are Absolute Bangers

Ok, look. If you’ve been paying attention to me literally anywhere (Hi! I have a podcast and I’m on Instagram, too!), you know that I am an Adriana Herrera evangelist. Yes, we’re friends, but this is one of those friendships that I literally willed into being because I love her books so much -- I think her American Dreamer series is an absolutely killer debut romance series and since she published it, she’s shown again and again that she can effing write.

But this year -- 2022, the year of an absolute nightmarescape -- Adriana has put out two books that I really think are not just her best but some of the best in the whole genre. Let me explain:

Romance is going through a thing right now. All of publishing is, honestly, and I can’t really blame it, considering that it’s incredibly difficult to write while it feels like the world is on fire. The books that are being written right now seem to be generally softer than the ones that came before the pandemic. They’re quieter. Gentler. They’re less edgy. And for a genre that has always been willing to explore that edge -- that’s a big change. And for me, who loves explosions and fist fights and characters who tear shit up...well, I’m not always satisfied.

But Adriana isn’t writing quiet or gentle. She’s writing big and bold. This year, she released On the Hustle, which features a heroine who quits her job working for a rich asshole on page one, only for him to realize that he’s well and truly fucked up...he follows her across the country to fix it, realizing that he’s gone for her, and now he has to absolutely remake himself to fix it and win her. It’s sexy and deeply romantic and absolute FIRE. There are friends who are loyal and hilarious and perfect, and a hero with thighs the size of tree trunks.

Now. On the Hustle alone would have ensured Adriana’s place as one of the best of us, but she’s a double threat. (A triple threat if you consider she also released a very delicious monster romance this year. Wait. Make that a quadruple threat, because she writes erotic romance, too--honestly this one with a hot lady Santa is 🔥!)

She also released A Caribbean Heiress in Paris, a Victorian romance set at the Paris World’s Fair featuring a Latinx heroine who has plans to build a rum empire and a Scottish hero with a whisky distillery who marries her for convenience and eventually bends over backwards to ensure she thrives. There are villains and explosions and sex scenes atop of the Eiffel Tower. There are friends who are loyal and hilarious and perfect, and a hero with thighs the size of tree trunks (you see this is a VERY GOOD pattern).

ANYWAY. PUT ALL THIS IN MY VEINS.

But here’s the thing: She’s also writing strong, sexy, smart characters in situations that put their backs to the wall. She’s writing about the world around us and how we can find ways to tear it down and rebuild it so we can thrive. She’s writing about love in all its forms, really ensuring that at least one corner of romance is underscoring, in the words of bell hooks: “love is the practice of freedom.” Her books are doing the work right now. And I really believe they’re the romance classics of our time.

Anyway. Read On the Hustle right now. It’s a banger of a book -- sexy, fun, has a hero who is just fully gone for the heroine from the jump, and will make you desperate for a group of friends just like the heroine’s. It’s the perfect weekend read. And when you’re done, immediately get A Caribbean Heiress in Paris, which is brilliant, sexy and an absolute joy. I promise you, putting Adriana on your autobuy will be the best thing you did all year.

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Is this what I should be doing here on Tumblr? Because this was a very fun post to write and as you can see I LIKE ROMANCE NOVELS A LOT. LMK if I should do more of these!

#adriana herrera #on the hustle #a caribbean heiress in paris #books that are bangers #dammit i love romance novels so much #i just want everyone to read great ones #historical romance is sexy and fierce don't sleep on it #justice for thighsexuals #sarah maclean tells you what books to read

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the-final-sentence · 1 year

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Evan's chest rumbled with something lusty and warm, then he hungrily covered her mouth with his, and for a long time there were no more words.

Adriana Herrera, from A Caribbean Heiress in Paris

#Adriana Herrera #A Caribbean Heiress in Paris

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morgan--reads · 2 years

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A Caribbean Heiress in Paris - Adriana Herrera

Summary: In 1889, Luz Alana Heith-Benzan has sailed to Paris in order to find new distributors for her family’s rum and to secure her inheritance. There she encounters Evan Sinclair, heir to a dukedom, who is nominally in Paris to sell his family’s whiskey, but also has a secret agenda tied to the destruction of his corrupt father. Soon it becomes clear that both of them would benefit from a marriage and they make a business-like arrangement, attempting to ignore that they are falling for each other.

Quote: “You are correct, yours is a legacy to be proud of. Mine, on the other hand, only warrants being razed to the ground.”

My rating: 4.0/5.0 Goodreads: 4.1/5.0

Review: A marriage of convenience story that is technically imperfect but is lots of fun. There’s too many characters, plot lines get dropped, and it’s not always clear what’s happening in certain scenes, but all of that is pretty easy to ignore. In many ways this feels like an old-school bodice ripper without any of the consent issues. The villains are truly villainous, Luz Alana carries a gun and a flask strapped to her thighs, her friends are all beautiful and fiercely independent, and Evan is a wealthy peer but with a moral compass. The trappings are all fun but it’s the incredible chemistry between Luz Alana and Evan that dominates the story. It’s not just about the explosive sexual tension, but also about the way that they are both strong people, have similar values, and take the time to talk to each other about things that matter. The book is incredibly—and sometimes improbably—diverse but the characters talk through the legacy of slavery and the effects of racism without the book turning preachy.

#a caribbean heiress in paris #adriana herrera #book review #book recommendation #romance #historical romance #booklr

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overflowingshelf · 2 months

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Trope Tuesday: 9 Historical Romances Books Featuring Women in Business

One of my favorite tropes in historical romance novels is women in business! We so often see female characters from the nobility, and I love it when we break from tradition and focus on a woman who owns her own successful business. Female business owners for the WIN! I think this trope resonates so well today as it’s still a struggle for women to be taken seriously in the business world. For…

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bethly126 · 8 months

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Quick Review: A Caribbean Heiress in Paris by Adriana Herrera

This was lovely. I really enjoyed reading about Luz Alana and Evan’s romance. It just was the fluffy romance I was looking for. Luz Alana is an heiress to a Rum fortune from the Dominican Republic. She and her 2 best friends and younger sister have come to Paris to expand her Rum into the European markets during the World’s fair. However, not many men are willing to do business with a women. Meet…

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#readmorediversebooks #a Caribbean heiress in paris #adriana herrera #beth reads #bethlylou reads #bethylou reads #Diverse Authors #diverse lives #Diverse Narrators #diverse stacks #Diverse Stacks #Diverse Lives #las leonas #Review #romance

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dustjacketmusings · 9 months

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I think the MMC is the token white person in this book and considering it takes place in France that's fairly impressive

#a caribbean heiress in paris #adrianna herrera #currently reading #hes not technically his sisters are also in this #but almost

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neverthetwinsshallmeet · 1 year

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Do you like ROMANCE NOVELS? Do you like HISTORY? Then surely you’ll like our most recent episode on historical romance novels!

#a caribbean heiress in paris #las leonas #adriana herrera #the siren of sussex #mimi matthews #the queer principles of kit webb #cab sebastian #the duke who didn't #courtney milan #wedgeford trials #the lady's guide to celestial mechanics #olivia waite #feminine pursuits #captain's log #never the twins shall meet #podcasts

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lair-of-books · 2 years

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Spoiler Free Review: A Caribbean Heiress in Paris by Adriana Herrera

Title: A Caribbean Heiress in Paris (Las Léonas #1) Author:Adriana Herrera Pub. Date: May 31st 2022 Genre: Historical Romance/Latinx Format: eARC Publisher: HQN Pages: 368 GOODREADS | BARNES & NOBLE | AMAZON | LIBROFM ☆☆ARC provided by Publisher in exchange for an honest review☆☆╮ Characters: 10/10 Atmosphere: 7/10 Writing Style: 10/10 Plot: 10/10 Intrigue: 7/10 Logic/Relationships:…

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triviareads · 7 months

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I would like to note Luz-Alana's hand is just "lying limply on this throbbing cock" rn, and yet—

—from A Caribbean Heiress in Paris by Adriana Herrera

#adriana herrera #historical romance #doing a reread of a caribbean heiress in paris #it's reread weekend #it ain't much but it's honest work

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mermaidsirennikita · 1 month

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Hi, any recs with businesswomen?

Contemporary or fictional are also good but I am more interested in historical. Their struggle to establish themsleves and staying firm in the face of heavy disapproval and sabotage from everyone, tells us how much comfortable we are living of course women still face so many problems but we are much better off than them.

Something along the line of Nora Robert's Bride Quartet (Though I only like Vision in White, rest are kind of boring) so as a group or even if fmc is doing it on her own also works.

Thanks

For sure!

Lorraine Heath actually just did a book big on business--In Want of a Viscount. The heroine essentially inherited this invention/floundering business from her father, and the hero is a part of a group of investors she's pitching to. Her passion about being a businesswoman is a big part of the book.

Sierra Simone's Molly O'Flaherty books are big on how passionate Molly is about her business and what she's done to keep it afloat. She runs a shipping company. The series is VERY racy and SA does factor in as part of Molly's backstory that still haunts her, so be aware. However, I found her romance with Silas, the friend she realizes she's been in love with a long time, quite touching. And also hot.

When a Duke Loves a Woman by Lorraine Heath has a heroine who runs a tavern and is determined to stay independent, which is a big part of her internal conflict. She's also lower class, which I love.

In Grace Callaway's Lady Charlotte's Society of Angels, the heroines are all a part of a lady detective agency, basically (it is Charlie's Angels But Victorian). It's super delightful and I was really into the female friendships. The first four books are about the "employees" for want of a better word (I mean I honestly don't know if these girls get paid lmao) but the last one is about Charlie herself, who runs it. I really loved her attitude.

Melissa and The Vicar by S.M. LaViolette stars a heroine who runs a brothel (fairly and ethically). Looooove this book, though the heroine was sold into the trade as a child so be aware. M

In Which Winnie Halifax is Utterly Ruined by Alexandra Vasti focuses on a heroine who runs her own farm, which is why she's in the plot predicament she's in (to avoid issues, she made up a husband who happens to have the hero's name, and when he finds out years later that he apparently has a wife it's problematic). Not a huge part of the book, but an aspect I found added a fun spin to the romance.

The Duke Gets Desperate by Diana Quincy has a really interesting take. The heroine doesn't initially run a business, but she's American and inherits a castle that's basically crumbling and very in the red financially. So she's like "well, we either sell it or we make it financially feasible", which puts her at odds with the hero, a duke who a) doesn't want to admit she's inherited over him and b) is horrified that she wants to do things like give PAID TOURS!!! GASP! of the castle.

Hotel of Secrets by Diana Biller is GREAT on this front. The heroine runs her family's hotel, which has been passed down through the generations. But it's about to go under, so she's also scrambling to find a way to keep it afloat. It's a huge part of her character.

A Caribbean Heiress in Paris by Adriana Herrera--another great fit. The heroine is in Paris to essentially sell her family's rum distillery to investors and get them on board. An excellent example of what the historical romance genre can do with businesswomen if it wants to try.

Devil in Spring by Lisa Kleypas--the heroine is still in the early stages, but a huge part of her character is that she wants to build a BOARD GAME EMPIRE!!!!

Devil in Disguise by Lisa Kleypas--the heroine runs a shipping business she inherited from her late husband.

Brazen and the Beast by Sarah MacLean--a big part of this book is that the heroine is very excited about getting into the family business and pushing forward. Daring and the Duke also has a heroine who runs a business; she's a madame, but her club caters more to women. Never Judge a Lady by Her Cover also features a club-owning heroine.

#romance novel blogging #romance novels #book recs

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bookaddict24-7 · 5 months

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AUTHOR FEATURE:

﹒Adriana Herrera﹒

Seven Books Written By this Author:

A Caribbean Heiress in Paris

Mangos and Mistletoe

American Dreamer

Here to Stay

Her Night With Santa

Finding Joy

One Week to Claim It All

___

Happy reading!

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jennakenobi · 1 year

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Update on my books read this year!

4- Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson

This is a rare non romance read for me, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. So many great platonic relationship developments and that is key for me to enjoy a book, great relationships, romantic or not. Really cool world with spirits and great Halloween vibes as well. Would love a sequel honestly, though still enjoyed the end.

5- The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh

I had high expectations and they weren't let down exactly but i wanted more? I wanted a little more romantic development, but still at the end you felt the longing. Another awesome world this time in the spirit realm. It felt a little repetitive at times but I loved the main characters!

6- A Caribbean Heiress in Paris - Adriana Herrera

LOVED THIS! Luz Alana, an heiress from the Dominican Republic, goes to sell her family's rum in Paris and runs into Evan, who from Scotland, which is where she is going next. Their development is great! Some miscommunication happens its resolved quickly ( I don't hate that trope only when it goes on for half the book) I love that they worked together and reading about the rich and titled that profited off of slavery getting what they deserve is great.

7- Mysteries of Thorn Manor by Margaret Rogerson

This is a novella following Sorcery of Thorns and I loved it! It was a lovely cozy read and you get to sit with the characters you know and love for a bit longer. It was ridiculous and so much fun and the romance was adorable! I wish more authors did this!

#my book corner

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pridepages · 1 year

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e-ARC Review: An Island Princess Starts a Scandal

A HUGE thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin Trade for providing me an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

GOODREADS SYNOPSIS: Manuela del Carmen Caceres Galvan is soon to be trapped in a loveless marriage. Invited to show her paintings at the 1889 Exposition Universelle came at the perfect time, Manuela has given herself one last summer of freedom in Paris. Cora Kempf Bristol, Duchess of Sundridge, is known for her ruthlessness in business. She chases power to secure her position among her rivals. There is an opportunity to secure it with the purchase of land for a railway. How difficult could it be to convince the mercurial Miss Caceres Galvan to part with land she’s sworn never to sell? Tempted by Cora’s offer, Manuela proposes a trade: her beloved land for a summer with the duchess in her corner of Paris. A taste of the wild, carefree world that will soon be out of her reach. What follows thrills and terrifies Cora, igniting desires the duchess long thought dead. As they fill their days indulging in a shared passion for the arts and their nights with dark and delicious deeds, the happiness that seemed impossible moves within reach…though claiming it would cause the greatest scandal Paris has seen in decades.

RELEASE DATE: May 30, 2023

See my full review under the cut!

What better way to close Lesbian Visibility Week than with a review of a steamy sapphic romance you won’t want to miss?

An Island Princess Starts a Scandal is actually a second book in a series. Adriana Herrera first introduced readers to most of the cast in book one of Las Leonas: A Caribbean Heiress in Paris. While you don’t need to read the first installment to understand or enjoy the second, I do caution readers who are afraid of spoilers to start from the beginning. There is an overlapping timeline which naturally leads to minor spoilers for the first installment.

That said, let’s get right to the good stuff.

I adored this book! Manuela and Cora are clearly founded in some time-honored romcom tropes (example: sunshine one loves grumpy one). But they bring fully realized backstories and personalities that prevent them from feeling like placeholders. Neither woman is perfect. Each has her flaws that get in her way. Manuela is simultaneously impulsive and flighty but still terrified to free herself from her controlling, homophobic family. Cora is generous and courageous, but she can also be highhanded and controlling. Each has to work on herself in order to make their love successful, and Herrera gives them both the necessary scope to do so.

I also enjoyed the way that Herrera clearly used research into the era to ground her story in actual history. Though I complain frequently about the fact that it’s hard to find happy sapphics and electricity in the same story, I do have to admit that it was a joy to see Herrera make use of a real, thriving, and loving queer community for her fiction. Not all of history is about pain and homophobia. We’ve always been here, and we’ve always found ways to bring our light to the world.

Finally, I salute the way that Herrera writes the actual acts of women loving women. Cora and Manuela are described in real ways. They are bodies that one can actually picture instead of imagining some idealized barbie doll forms. And Cora and Manuela describe each other’s realistic bodies with genuine desire. Their sexual encounters feel grounded in a genuinely sapphic perspective. This isn’t meant to titillate pruriently curious straight people. These are two women who adore every inch of each other and do so fearlessly. The reader can feel their love--and attraction--in every description.

So, if you’re looking for a steamy, tender romance full of love and joy? I can’t recommend this book strongly enough. It’s the perfect way to kickstart Pride for women who love women.

#an island princess starts a scandal #adriana herrera #las leonas #earc review #sapphic #wlw #lesbian #lgbt reads #queer lit

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hkvoyage · 2 years

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Get to know me

Thank you @1908jmd for tagging me.

Favorite color: I absolutely love all colors. I tend to gravitate to blue, green, and red.

Currently reading: How Civil Wars Start: And How to Stop Them by Barbara F. Walter. What can I say, I’m a current events junkie. I’m also listening to A Caribbean Heiress in Paris by Adriana Herrera. She writes contemporary and historical romances: F/M, M/M, and F/F. She is an auto-buy author for me.

Last song: I’m thinking about writing a sequel to my fic Nashville! in the new year, so I’m listening to country music on Spotify, trying to find the perfect songs that I haven’t used.

Last series: I recently finished book four in the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series. I absolutely love clever mystery books. Next up will be The Bullet That Missed in the Thursday Murder Club series. I love Richard Osman’s special brand of humor.

Last movie: I haven’t been to a cinema since the Covid pandemic started; we just got out of the habit. The last movie was probably some boring WW2 movie on Netflix or Amazon Prime that my husband wanted to watch. I usually pass the time with my iPad, hoping that he doesn’t notice that I’m on social media!

Sweet/savory/spicy: Definitely savory, although I sometimes crave chocolate at certain times of the month.

Currently working on: Ten days ago, I finished posting a Klaine fic. I wanted to take a break from writing until the new year, but then I saw the artwork and prompts for the Klaine Reverse Bang. I signed up for a prompt and I’m currently writing chapter one! In my personal life, we are having our elderly bathrooms renovated. There is much dust and noise everywhere. Good thing that it’s almost completed.

Tagging: Anyone who wants to join in.

#about me

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overflowingshelf · 2 years

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Review: A Caribbean Heiress in Paris by Adriana Herrera

A Caribbean Heiress in Paris made me thirsty in more ways than one! I truly enjoyed this story - a great romance, with fantastic characters. See my full review:

A Caribbean Heiress in Paris Adriana Herrera Publisher:HQN Publication Date: May 31, 2022 Series or Standalone: <a href="/tag/las-leonas/"Las Léonas #1 Links: Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Goodreads Rating: MY REVIEW CW: physical abuse; emotional abuse; racism; misogyny; sexism; references to slavery This book made me thirsty in more ways than one! All I wanted to do was pour a glass of…

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#4 Stars #A Caribbean Heiress in Paris #Adriana Herrera #Avon #book review #HQN #Las Léonas #Review

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bethly126 · 8 months

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What I'm Reading Now: A Caribbean Heiress in Paris by Adriana Herrera

Another find from The Ripped Bodice

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#a Caribbean heiress in paris #adriana herrera #beth reads #bethlylou reads #bethylou reads #currently reading #las leonas #romance

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