Chapters (37)

Linda Camacho, my agent, for all the positivity and support.

My writing community. My RWA-NYC friends, you continue to inspire and amaze me.

My partner and my girl, for being my two biggest fans. I am so incredibly lucky.

To LaQuette and Robin B for your amazing feedback and enthusiasm for this story. Patrice and Easton’s story is better and stronger because of you.

Finally, I have to give a shoutout to the man that inspired Patrice’s character, my Uncle O. A gentle, kind and brilliant Haitian man who was not only a role model to me, but to a whole generation of Dominican kids in my family who were blessed to have him in our midst. From him I learned too many things to name, but mostly what it looked like to walk with grace and to know your own worth. Merci merci, pour tout.

Author’s Note

All the events in this story are fictional, however, the challenges that so many young black and brown men in America face are far from it. My hope is that like Patrice and Easton we can all continue to show up for hard conversations and be able to walk together as we find ways for every single one of us to feel safe in our communities.

About the Author

Adriana Herrera was born and raised in the Caribbean, but for the last fifteen years has let her job (and her spouse) take her all over the world. She loves writing stories about people who look and sound like her people, getting unapologetic happy endings.

When she’s not dreaming up love stories, planning logistically complex vacations with her family or hunting for discount Broadway tickets, she’s a social worker in New York City, working with survivors of domestic and sexual violence.

You can find her here:

Twitter: Twitter.com/LAadrianaHerrera

Instagram: Instagram.com/LAdriana_Herrera

Facebook: Facebook.com/Laura.Adriana.94801

Website: AdrianaHerreraRomance.com

Newsletter: AdrianaHerreraRomance.com/Newsletter

Excerpt

“Ferociously feminist and sensual, with a dreamily diverse cast. A dazzling historical romance.” –Helen Hoang, New York Times bestselling author of The Heart Principle

“Historical romance at its very best—fresh, lush and full of steam!” –Sophie Jordan, New York Times bestselling author of The Duke Gets Ravished

Luz Alana Heath-Benzan set sail from Santo Domingo armed with three hundred casks of rum, her two best friends and one simple rule: under no circumstances is she to fall in love. In the City of Lights, she intends to expand the rum business her family built over three generations, but buyers and shippers alike can’t imagine doing business with a woman…never mind a woman of color.

Enter James Evanston Sinclair, Earl of Darnick, who has spent a decade looking for purpose outside his father’s dirty money and dirtier dealings. Ignoring his title, he’s built a whisky brand that’s his biggest—and only—passion.