A Caribbean Heiress in Paris by Adriana Herrera | Audiobook Review

This was a lovely romance.

A Caribbean Heiress in Paris by Adriana Herrera

Released May 2022

Source: Library Borrow

Goodreads  | Amazon

Paris, 1889

The Exposition Universelle is underway, drawing merchants from every corner of the globe. Luz Alana Heith-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.

The City of Light is where Luz Alana will expand Caña Brava, the rum business her family built over three generations. It’s a mission that’s taken on new urgency after her father’s untimely death and the news that her trust fund won’t be released until she marries. But buyers and shippers alike are rude and dismissive; they can’t imagine doing business with a woman…never mind a woman of color.

From her first tempestuous meeting with James Evanston Sinclair, Earl of Darnick, Luz Alana is conflicted. Why is this man—this titled Scottish man—so determined to help her? And why, honestly, is he so infuriatingly charming?

All Evan Sinclair ever wanted was to find a purpose away from his father’s dirty money and dirtier politics. Ignoring his title, he’s built a whiskey brand that’s his biggest—and only—passion. That is, until he’s confronted with a Spanish-speaking force of nature who turns his life upside down.

Evan quickly suspects he’ll want Luz Alana with him forever. Every day with her makes the earl wish for more than her magnificent kisses or the marriage of convenience that might save them both. But Luz Alana sailed for Paris with her eyes on liquor, money and new beginnings. She wasn't prepared for love to find her.

My 2 Cents for Free!

I liked this story about a smart and confident businesswoman from the Caribbean who plans to expand the family rum business after her father’s death. Alas, what with circumstances, prejudice, the whole of historical times and men being even shittier than they are now, she faces a struggle. She’s about had it UP TO HERE with the species when she discovers a giant Scottish man has moved all of her carefully exhibited items and well, who can blame her for assuming he is nothing but another pain in her ass.

This is the not-so-meet-cute between Luz Alana & Evan Sinclair who is actually a titled Scottish man and who turns out to be the love of her life.

Ahhhh, love stories.

This was a good one. I liked both of the characters who were good-hearted people who actually cared about something other than themselves and money and following society’s rules. They definitely had an insta-lust and insta-love thing going on here and I wasn’t super crazy about the latter but that’s me. I prefer a slower-burning relationship and better communication skills - there were so many assumptions made by both of them. At one point a friend tells her “Talk to the man” and damn if that friend wasn’t 100% correct and Evan is just as bad with his plans and feelings. It makes sense in this story but that still didn’t make it any less frustrating for me as a reader.

There’s kind of a lot going on here and it was all interesting to me. If you’re looking for a historical romance that gives the ruling class a whole lot of hell for all of its many misdeeds, you’re going to love so much of this story. If you don’t mind the insta-love you’ll likely adore this entire story. Either way, I think it’s a good one worthy of a romance reader's time.

I listened to this on audio and narrator Nneka Okoye does an excellent job of bringing this story to vivid life.

⭐⭐⭐1/2

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