Latinx Heritage Month
Jen’s 2024 Diversify Your Romance Challenge
Latinx Heritage Month
September 15 through October 15 is Latinx Heritage Month.
Latinx Heritage Month started as a week-long acknowledgement in 1968 and has grown to a month-long celebration from mid-September through mid-October. These dates were selected to incorporate the independence days of Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Nicaragua—which shows you what I don’t know could fill a book. I always thought it was the 15th through the 15th as some kind of slight. Like all the other months were taken so Latinx heritage gets two halves. But it’s for a real reason. That makes me happy. It also calls attention to the colonization of Latin America. There’s a saying (maybe it’s actually true?) that every six days, a country in the world celebrates its independence from Britain. And I just looked it up, 34 nations have declared themselves independent of Spain. So, really Latinx Heritage Month is also a chance to denounce colonialism. Which in my humble opinion is always a good thing.
Latinx Heritage Month recognizes the contributions of Americans who trace their roots to Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Spanish-speaking nations of the Caribbean. Here are three romance novels (with their blubs!) from my TBR to celebrate that!
The Worst Best Man by Mia Sosa, narrated by Rebecca Mozo & Wayne Mitchell
A wedding planner left at the altar? Yeah, the irony isn't lost on Carolina Santos, either. But despite that embarrassing blip from her past, Lina's offered an opportunity that could change her life. There's just one hitch...she has to collaborate with the best (make that worst) man from her own failed nuptials.
Marketing expert Max Hartley is determined to make his mark with a coveted hotel client looking to expand its brand. Then he learns he'll be working with his brother's whip-smart, stunning - absolutely off-limits - ex-fiancée. And she loathes him. If they can nail their presentation without killing each other, they'll both come out ahead. Except Max has been public enemy number one ever since he encouraged his brother to jilt the bride, and Lina's ready to dish out a little payback of her own.
Soon Lina and Max discover animosity may not be the only emotion creating sparks between them. Still, this star-crossed couple can never be more than temporary playmates because Lina isn't interested in falling in love and Max refuses to play runner-up to his brother ever again....
A Lot Like Adios (Primas of Power, Book 2) by Alexis Daria, narrated by Seraphine Valentine
Hi Mich. It’s Gabe.
After burning out in her corporate marketing career, Michelle Amato has built a thriving freelance business as a graphic designer. So what if her love life is nonexistent? She’s perfectly fine being the black sheep of her marriage-obsessed Puerto Rican Italian family. Besides, the only guy who ever made her want happily-ever-after disappeared 13 years ago.
It’s been a long time.
Gabriel Aguilar left the Bronx at 18 to escape his parents’ demanding expectations, but it also meant saying good-bye to Michelle, his best friend and longtime crush. Now, he’s the successful co-owner of LA’s hottest celebrity gym, with an investor who insists on opening a New York City location. It’s the last place Gabe wants to go, but when Michelle is unexpectedly brought on board to spearhead the new marketing campaign, everything Gabe’s been running from catches up with him.
I’ve missed you.
Michelle is torn between holding Gabe at arm’s length or picking up right where they left off - in her bed. As they work on the campaign, old feelings resurface, and their reunion takes a sexy turn. Facing mounting pressure from their families - who think they’re dating - and growing uncertainty about their futures, can they resolve their past mistakes, or is it only a matter of time before Gabe says adiós again?
American Dreamer (Dreamers, Book 1) by Adriana Herrera, narrated by Sean Crisden
No one ever said big dreams come easy.
For Nesto Vasquez, moving his Afro-Caribbean food truck from New York City to the wilds of Upstate New York is a huge gamble. If it works? He’ll be a big fish in a little pond. If it doesn’t? He’ll have to give up the hustle and return to the day job he hates. He’s got six months to make it happen - the last thing he needs is a distraction.
Jude Fuller is proud of the life he’s built on the banks of Cayuga Lake. He has a job he loves and good friends. It’s safe. It’s quiet. And it’s damn lonely. Until he tries Ithaca’s most-talked-about new lunch spot and works up the courage to flirt with the handsome owner. Soon he can’t get enough - of Nesto’s food or of Nesto. For the first time in his life, Jude can finally taste the kind of happiness that’s always been just out of reach.
An opportunity too good to pass up could mean a way to stay together and an incredible future for them both...if Nesto can remember happiness isn’t always measured by business success. And if Jude can overcome his past and trust his man will never let him down.
