Why am I passionate about this?

I write romance with Latinas on top. Strong, confident, and successful women (or women on their path to success) who are also sex-positive and know what they want are featured in all my work. I’m passionate about this type of representation of my community because until recently, it has been incredibly difficult to find. While the stories of our struggles are important stories to tell and read, I want to read more stories of our triumphs. Latina women have among the lowest reading for fun rates of any group, but why would we read for fun when we are not seeing our reflection anywhere on the page? This is why representation is so important.


I wrote

Remission

By Ofelia Martinez,

Book cover of Remission

What is my book about?

This slow-burn, steamy, age-gap contemporary romance is full of positive Latine(x) representation. They are both physicians and researchers. He’s her…

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of After Hours on Milagro Street

Ofelia Martinez Why did I love this book?

Angelina M. Lopez is my all-time favorite romance author. With beautiful prose and incredible wit, she always delivers on the steamy as well as the positive representation of Latina women.

After Hours on Milagro Street is her latest release featuring a fire-cracker, prickly heroine clad with tattoos and a partially-shaved head. Dead-set on saving the family bar, the only person standing in her way is an incredibly hot professor wanting to turn the bar into a historical museum. 

This book has a special place in my heart because it takes place in small-town Kansas, highlighting the little-known vibrant Mexican-American communities that settled here with the railroads and have stayed for generations. 

Come for the feels and history, and stay for the scorching-hot steamy scenes with the hot professor. 

By Angelina M. Lopez,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked After Hours on Milagro Street as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

"A sexy, emotional, and pitch-perfect romance." —NPR on Lush Money

Opposites attract in this rivals-to-lovers romance from Lush Money author Angelina M. Lopez

Guapo pobrecito her grandmother calls him. The “poor handsome man.”

Professor Jeremiah Post, the poor handsome man, is in fact standing in the way of Alejandra “Alex” Torres turning Loretta’s, her grandmother’s bar, into a viable business. The hot brainiac who sleeps in one of the upstairs tenant rooms already has all of her Mexican American family’s admiration; she won’t let him have the bar and building she needs to resurrect her career, too.

Alex blowing into…


Book cover of Feast of Sparks

Ofelia Martinez Why did I love this book?

Sierra Simone is the queen of diversity inclusion in romance. The Thornchapel series is my favorite by her. While I do recommend you start with Book 1, A Lesson in Thorns, Book 2 is where we get St. Sebastian Martinez’s voice and perspective. 

St. Sebastian is the first character I ever read in romance that embodied the otherness I felt growing up Mexican-American. 

This book is extremely taboo and not for the faint of heart. Come for a diverse cast with the dreamiest narrative voice (think an adult, BDSM, version of the secret garden), and stay for characters you will fall in love with. 

By Sierra Simone,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Feast of Sparks as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

I'm an outcast and a loner, named for death itself. Fate wasn't supposed to have plans for me.

But then she came back--the girl I once kissed in a thorn-covered chapel in the woods. She came back, and I could no more resist her than I could pry out my own heart. And by some trick of fate, she wants me as much as I want her. The only problem? She also wants the man who owns Thornchapel, Auden Guest.

And so do I.

Eight years ago, I did something to Auden, something terrible. He hurt me back the only…


Book cover of A Caribbean Heiress in Paris

Ofelia Martinez Why did I love this book?

This is by far my favorite historical romance. Don’t be fooled by the Victorian-era cover with a beautiful Dominican woman—this book is steamy. If you’ve ever read Herrera, you know she delivers oh-so-satisfying sex scenes, with an incredibly witty-narrative voice. 

Luz Alana travels to Paris with her younger sister and best friends for the World Expo where she will introduce her family’s rum. The only problem is she can’t access her inheritance until she marries. 

Enter hot Scottish Earl perfection James Evanston. 

It was incredibly refreshing seeing Dominican representation on the page in a historical context. 

Marriage of Convenience + incredibly well-researched history = one unputdownable read.

By Adriana Herrera,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked A Caribbean Heiress in Paris as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

'A Caribbean Heiress in Paris is a triumph!' Sarah MacLean

'Historical romance at its very best - fresh, lush and full of steam!' Sophie Jordan

Paris, 1889.

Luz Alana Heith-Benzan, heiress to the Cana Brava rum empire, has sailed all the way from Santo Domingo with one purpose: expanding her family's business.

Enter James Evanston Sinclair, Earl of Darnick. From their first tempestuous meeting, Luz Alana is conflicted - why is this titled, and infuriatingly charming, Scottish man so willing to help her?

Evan might have his own reasons for supporting Luz Alana but every day they spend together makes…


Book cover of White Wedding

Ofelia Martinez Why did I love this book?

Whenever I need a low-angst, light-hearted rom-com, Carla Luna is my go-to. White Wedding is my favorite of hers, featuring hot, Mexican-American chef, Rafael Sanchez. 

Rafael breaks every common stereotype of the Mexican man. Incredibly patient, gentle, and loving, he is the perfect cinnamon-roll hero for Victoria Blackwood. 

The premise of this book is everything. Our heroine, Victoria, is stuck planning a wedding. It just so happens the groom is her ex. Enter Rafael to cater the wedding. Oh, did I forget to mention he was her one-night stand she ran out on? Yes, this book is as delicious as it sounds. 

This book made me laugh out loud, embarrassingly, in public places. Perfect for a weekend escape into a happy world.

By Carla Luna,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked White Wedding as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Take one lavish holiday wedding. Add one evil ex and his bridezilla. And toss in a smoking-hot chef from the past. It’s a recipe for disaster.

Victoria Blackwood has spent years trying to redeem herself after falling victim to a blackmail scheme that cost her father thousands. So, when he insists she coordinate a big Christmas wedding at her family’s winery, she can’t say no. Even if the groom is her ex, and the caterer just quit.

For Rafael Sanchez, a last-minute call to cater a huge society wedding is a golden opportunity. If he can prove he’s up to…


Book cover of A Proposal They Can't Refuse

Ofelia Martinez Why did I love this book?

New to the scene, I have no idea where Natalie has been my whole life. This is another rom-com that left strangers wondering if I was deranged, I was laughing so hard. 

Puerto Rican firecracker heroine Kamilah Vega just wants to save the family restaurant. 

Broody, artsy perfection, Scottish-American Liam Kane wants his grandpa to get the treatment he’s refusing and to take the family whiskey distillery in a new direction. 

When the two hilarious grandfathers, who own the building, blackmail Kamila and Liam to get married or they’ll sell the building housing the restaurant and distillery, the couple agrees to a fake relationship. 

Fake dating is my all-time favorite trope because it lends itself to hilarity and all the sexual tension. 

By Natalie Caña,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked A Proposal They Can't Refuse as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

“Utterly charming… A Proposal They Can't Refuse is a surefire winner!” —Mia Sosa, USA Today bestselling author of The Worst Best Man

Natalie Caña turns up the heat, humor and heart in this debut rom-com about a Puerto Rican chef and an Irish American whiskey distiller forced into a fake engagement by their scheming octogenarian grandfathers.

Kamilah Vega is desperate to convince her family to update their Puerto Rican restaurant and enter it into the Fall Foodie Tour. With the gentrification of their Chicago neighborhood, it's the only way to save the place. The fly in her mofongo—her blackmailing abuelo…


Explore my book 😀

Remission

By Ofelia Martinez,

Book cover of Remission

What is my book about?

This slow-burn, steamy, age-gap contemporary romance is full of positive Latine(x) representation. They are both physicians and researchers. He’s her mentor and off-limits, and she will not risk her career for the sake of her heart. 

The sexual tension between Dr. Hector Medina and Dr. Carolina Ramirez might melt your e-reader. Remission is a complete standalone novel in the Heartland Metro Hospital series with a guaranteed happily ever after.

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The December Issue

By J. Shep,

Book cover of The December Issue

J. Shep Author Of The December Issue

New book alert!

Why am I passionate about this?

Author

J.'s 3 favorite reads in 2024

What is my book about?

"a fresh narrative whose scale, ambition, and pathos elevate" -Pacific Book Review

"The December Issue warms up the soul from its first chapter to the last." -Chanticleer Book Reviews, 5 Stars

The joys of retirement feel imminent to columnist Paul Scrivensby, a native of the Great Lakes' very own St. Catherine's Cove, but when his penultimate column stirs controversy, the writer soon finds easing into carefree days of leisure a luxury growing more elusive. Embroiled in the unexpected pursuits presented before him while on the verge of retirement, Paul discovers what he and others are capable of and searches for…

The December Issue

By J. Shep,

What is this book about?

The joys of retirement feel imminent to columnist Paul Scrivensby, a native of the Great Lakes' very own St. Catherine's Cove, but when his penultimate column stirs controversy, the writer soon finds easing into carefree days of leisure a luxury growing more elusive. Embroiled in the unexpected pursuits presented before him while on the verge of retirement, Paul discovers what he and others are capable of and searches for understanding of what is truly expected of him at this pivotal point in his life.

A story of discernment amid the challenges and blessings of work, retirement, family, community, and past…


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