3.25 stars

Guys listen, I did NOT only pick this up because it had the word Caribbean in the title and because the main character is Dominican. I picked this up because she’s Dominican AND it’s a historical romance I don’t know what you expect from me. Also the love interest being Scottish was a jumpscare. I will never be able to expect Scottish men in my romance books they will continue to haunt me. Anyway this was cute silly crazy goofy fun you should read if you want some historical romance not set in England (hell).

Full review posted to links after embargo date.

I’ve been excited about this book since Adriana started tweeting about it and it did not disappoint!

This was so delightful – full of history and times and places we don’t often get to see in historical romances. Luz Alana and her friends are smart, fun, and self-assured, and I’m looking forward to each of their books. Evan is definitely the first of the two willing to admit he’s in love, and I love a book where the hero falls first. He’s thoughtful and protective, and the way in which he wants to shield Luz Alana from the harsher realities of some elements of their story evolves as she demonstrates to him how she wants to be treated.

The story is very insta-love: it’s days from their meeting to their marriage, and yet they’re not wed until at least 40% of the way through the book. I prefer a marriage of convenience that happens as close to the start as logically possible, so I do wish that this element had been introduced faster.

There’s a lot of plot threads here for the book's length, and to me, the subplot about <spoiler>Luz Alana’s trustee going off the deep end</spoiler> could have been easily eliminated. I also think that Adriana is still working through adjusting from writing mostly contemporary to historical – at times the language feels a little stilted, like she’s deliberately choosing words that feel like they belong in a historical romance rather than a simpler word.

Overall, though, this is wonderful. Smart, sexy, and a really delightful romp. I cannot wait for the rest of this series!

A Caribbean Heiress in Paris is Adriana Herrera’s upcoming new release and her first full length historical romance!! A couple of years ago I read an anthology of HR called Duke I’d Like to F and that was my first taste of Adriana’s HR writing. Her contribution, The Duke Makes Me Feel, was my favorite story from the book and I still think about those characters at least once a week. I have been waiting not at all patiently for this book to come out basically ever since and it outdid every hope and expectation I had for it. You want to pre-order this one immediately.

The beginning of the book finds Luz Alana in Paris at the World’s Fair in 1889 trying to expand the rum business her father left to her when he died. She’s a woman of color trying to do business in an industry largely ruled by men. To make matters even more complicated, she cannot access the rest of her inheritance until she marries. The first time Evan Sinclair encounters her, she’s fighting for space at a liquor expedition and he’s both blown away by her fierce bravery and immediately aware of her carefully hidden vulnerabilities. He’s a brooding, protective, Scottish hero who wants nothing more than to crush all of her obstacles. She’s a focused, determined, business woman with no interest in being distracted by love.

So much of this relationship worked for me. Their chemistry from the first interaction burns fast and bright and then just smolders throughout the rest of the book. Adriana writes the most passionate exchanges and this book is FULL of them. There are so many quotes I want to share and will when the final book is published.

Perhaps even more importantly than this very swoony love story though is all of the meticulous historical detail. It is obvious from page one how much care and thought has been put into getting this right and not only did I fall hard for this couple, but I learned so much. From the dark realities of the time, slavery, colonialism, and the treatment of women and the working class to the most beautiful descriptions of Luz Alana’s gowns, Adriana brought this time period alive in a way I’ve never read before. The vast majority of HR focuses on straight, white, wealthy, British people, and the reality of our history is so much richer than that. I am so glad this book exists and that there are more to come.

Thank you so much to Adriana for this early copy. I cannot wait for you all to read it when it comes out in May!

I celebrated leaving a job that wasn't for me by reading a book that absolutely was. I love historical romance novels, but especially those that widen the scope and teach me actual things about history while they're at it.
While this book had tropes that aren't my favorite, I still really enjoyed the story and characters. I absolutely cannot wait for the next in the series!

I lost sleep with wanting to read this one! If you read adult romance & are looking for one centering authentic, feminist, BIPOC heroines, check out A Caribbean Heiress in Paris. Adriana Herrera enters historical romance in the best of ways! Las Léonas are an absolute delight. I so hope there will be more!

Wow. This book was amazing. A latinx historical romance? GIVE ME MORE? The amount of research Adriana has to have done for this book shows in every single detail in this story. This book is set in the nineteenth century and it starts at the Paris exposition, where Luz, our rum heiress travels to show exhibit her rum. Little does she know that in Paris awaits this broody but sweet Scottish earl that will charm her pants off! This book has a good amount of open door steamy scenes that I was so here for. There’s sexual tension that gets addressed early on and I loved that. Don’t fret! It continues as Luz and Evan get to know each other and embark on their journey. Their relationship was so tender yet fierce. Luz is the take no crap protagonist we love and seeing how she took her world by storm to pave the way for women in business during these times was such an amazing part of this story.

Read this book folks!!!! You will not regret it.

I am having a hard time finding anything I didn't like about this book. And I am totally ok with that. This book was Amazing! it had the elements of a black woman trying to get her business ahead with many people and things in her way. There was a hunk scot and who doesn't love that - add a layer of chemistry, spicy sex, and amazing banter.

I loved everything about Luz she was amazing, smart determined, and just a logical human. I love what she stands for. As a women distiller who has a great blend to sell she is determined to make it work

Evan has a plan and he cannot get off track. Luz was not distracted he was counting on. he has to adjust his goals and included this fiery woman whom he has many feelings for

The moment these two realized the feelings for each other was an AMAZING moment and there forward the story was even sweeter.

I cannot wait for the next story... I suspect it will be the brother but I will be keeping my eyes open for the next release.