A reader named Tessa emailed looking for recommendations, and I knew you would know some good books to suggest for her.
I am looking for a book, actually for a type of book- I would really like more than one. I want to read something with a[n] Hispanic protagonist (I think
I would prefer hero to heroine, but I would like either).
I did a quick (micro-second fast) search of the site, but didn't see a whole lot, other than this is not a type of book you see often, which I had kinda already figured out.
I would be ok with historical, but would prefer contemporaries.
And I am not really interested in the HP, angry-boner type of story, either, which I know limits my choices even more. What I would like is a non-exoticised, modern story, probably set in the US, featuring the culture of the millions of Latino/Chicano/Hispanic people (yes, I know there is more than one culture).
It doesn't have to have a whole lot of cultural description – I am familiar with several iterations of Latin-influenced culture – but I would like to see that culture informing/influencing the protagonist. Does such a thing exist? And if so, [would you] share? It's a large ethnic group and I am always surprised that there are not more books featuring them.
The book that first comes to mind is the Perfect Chemistry YA series by Simone Elkeles, which features three brothers as the hero of each book, starting with Perfect Chemistry. Caridad Ferrer's novels, including Adios to My Old Life and When the Stars Go Blue, feature Latina heroines and heroes as well – and are also YA.
Do you have suggestions?
I read a free contemporary ebook a while back, called Dancing in the Moonlight. The heroine is a Latina nurse who goes back to her home town after being injured in Afghanistan, and the hero is a doctor in the local clinic. They grew up on neighboring ranches, she blames his family for the death of her father, and he has always secretly loved her. It wasn’t the best book I’ve ever read, but neither was it a waste of time, and it was free!
http://www.amazon.com/Dancing-…
hmmm…
Not everyone liked Nora Roberts’ Bridal Quartet series, but some people did. I personally didn’t enjoy the second. I actually really liked the beginning.The ending, however, was crazy and I felt like the heroine didn’t really know the hero. I actually laughed when she what she liked about him because it was so generic. But some people liked the Bridal Quartet series and even more people love Nora Roberts. So if you love Nora Roberts try the Bridal Quartet series particularly book #2 Bed of Roses, where the heroine was half-Mexican american. If like me you don’t know Nora Roberts that well or you’re not a big fan, skip it but to a fan it might be good. You might like it.
Unfortunately I can’t think of any others. hmmm…
I am pretty sure that the mystery short story with the mural artist fighting demons is Ride the Night Wind by L A Banks. It is from the Love at First Bite anthology, not from On the Prowl. I believe the young woman is Latino or Hispanic and the young man is half and half Native American.
In the L.A. Banks Vampire Huntess series, Jose Ciponte is Mexican and Navajo, and both Carlos Rivera and Juanita are Mexican (Carlos’ brothers and cousins play a prominent role in the first two books).
This it totally awesome! Thanks so much for all the great recs… after the holidays my credit card is going to be smokin’!
‘On the Prowl’ has the Patricia Briggs novella, and yes, I was also taken aback by the lunatic buttsexing and terrible writing of the last story. I don’t think this is the collection with the Hispanic hero, though – there’s another collection of paranormal romance where a short, curvy librarian virgin is being hunted by a killer incubus, and has to be saved by a hot Hispanic demonhunter called Carlos (I think?) He can sacrifice her! Or her virginity! (They pick Door B.) It was a terrific story, but I’m blessed if I can remember what it’s called.
I can recommend the Benni Harper mystery series by Earlene Fowler. Benni’s (eventual) husband Gabe Ortiz is sheriff of a town based on San Luis Obispo. Because it’s a series, Benni and Gabe are given enough time to explore their complex relationship, and the relationships with their families.
I’ll recommend one of my own, now that Liz Talley has also. <g> The Mermaid and the Eagle has a Mexican-American protagonist. Available from Wings ePress. </g>
Julie Leto has several contemporaries with Latino/Cuban characters. Her recent Blaze, TOO HOT TO TOUCH has a Spanish hero and the two follow on books are about his half-brothers—all decendents of a certain “legendary” Hispanic hero from southern California. She’s also resurrected the Marisela Morales books, which feature a Cuban/American heroine.
LOL, on “HP, angry-boner”
Hard Evidence by Pamela Clare (Romantic Suspense)
Command and Collar by Cherise Sinclair (BDSM erotica)
Beauty be Selena Kitt (a short erotic romance)
I have read a few of the books mentioned above, but I AM Latina, and I do not recall those characters as Latina/o.
More chick lit, but really good and realistic (not fetishizing or stereotyping) is The Dirty Girls Social Club.
I read a lot. And that’s the only one that comes to mind. Mostly because most Latino characters I come across are so patently cardboard cutouts or somebody’s fantasy of a “Latin lover” that my brain refuses to buy it. Also, the Spanish is usually atrocious, which I find very difficult to get beyond. How hard can it be to do a little research and make sure the phrases you are using actually work? And no, google translate does *not* count as research.
Okay, sorry, rant over.
Pam its okay ! I m latina too I find the Spanish ( more the author learned in high school type of Spanish) not to great :(. I would like see a latino as H with Spanish skills of my grandfather.
I loved Jacqueline Carey’s “SANTA OLIVIA”, featuring a lesbian latina heroine named Loup Garron. Most of the supporting characters are latino as well. The sequel “SAINTS ASTRAY” just came out last month!
I would also check Delanney Diamond. She writes sweet romances and all of the heroes are Latino. Fight for Love is especially good. The hero is a professional Mexican wrestler.
Christina Dodd’s Close to You has a Latino hero but I don’t remember how much cultural stuff is described.
Not accurately at all—from an exotic Mexican who read plenty of those. It’s a miracle I didn’t give up romance entirely.
I’ll second Liz Talley’s “A Little Texas” – I thought Rick (and the guys in the halfway house he’s creating) were well done. Also, Shelli Stevens’ “Dangerous Grounds”.
Julie Elizabeth Leto has a 2 book series with a Hispanic heroine – Marisela Morales. Dirty Little Secrets and Dirty Little Lies. Muy Caliente…
IIRC, Hard Evidence does not have any Latino main characters. The hero grew up in Mexico, but he’s not Mexican.
Try this one as well – Florida private investigator and ex-cop Ric Alvarado.
http://www.suzannebrockmann.co…
I’ll second the suggestion Pamela made above about Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez’s “The Dirty Girls Social Club.” As Pamela said, it’s more chick lit or women’s fiction than straight romance, featuring an ensemble cast of female friends in varied relationship stages, including one who’s already married with children but wondering whether her outwardly perfect marriage is worth saving. According to Amazon ( http://www.amazon.com/Alisa-Va… ), at least some of Valdes-Rodriguez’s books have been NY *Times* bestsellers. There are two “Dirty Girls” sequels, plus “Playing With Boys” and “Make Him Look Good,” in addition to several newer titles Amazon listed that I wasn’t familiar with. Valdes-Rodriguez has also written one YA novel, “Haters,” that might be of interest.
You might like Delora’s Necklace. It’s the tale of a modern-day Mexican woman living in Miami who travels back in time to the Mayan civilization and finds a husband she didn’t know she had and a culture intent on making her a human sacrifice. The sequel, Miami Mayan, will be out in spring 2012, and it sends our Mayan warrior ahead in time to modern-day Miami, where his loincloth causes quite a stir at Miami’s South Beach. Delora’s Necklace is only available in e-book format.
I Just Play One on TV by A.L. Turner is M/M with one Hispanic hero. The culture and neighborhood he grew up in is an important part of his backstory.
I’d try to summarize it, but I can’t do any better than the Dear Author review that led me to it: http://dearauthor.com/book-rev…
Linda Lael Miller’s suspense trilogy that starts with Don’t Look Now has a Hispanic hero. Caridad Piñeiro writes paranormal romances that have Hispanic, often Cuban, characters. She’s got a few mass market that I haven’t read and several categoricals (Nocturne Bites) that are hit and miss.
The Swashbuckler, by Lee Lynch, is out of print but you can probably find a copy somewhere. It’s a romance between two women, one of whom is Latino, in Stonewall-era New York city. And it’s excellent. Though I realise it may not be what you had in mind!
I forgot to sayy that Diana Palmer has Spanish heroes. ( true blue , fearless before sunrise, Wyoning tough etc. )