Reviews with content warning for Racism - A Caribbean Heiress in Paris

A Caribbean Heiress in Paris by Adriana Herrera sees Luz Alana Heith-Benzan, her little sister Clarita, and her two best friends, Manuela and Aurora, travel from Santo Domingo to the 1889 World Fair in Paris, France, with the sole purpose of expanding her family's rum business and developing her own line in cordials.

She immediately comes up against men who detest her for her sex, race and class! Except for James Evanston Sinclair, who positively goes out of his way to assist Luz Alana, but why would he do this for her?

I really enjoyed this novel with a diverse set of characters which addressed gender, race and class differences at the turn of the 19th century, set within an historical time and place and with more than a little spicy content.

I borrowed a copy of this book from Taunton Library and listened to it on cloudLibrary. I read this for the 52 Book Club Summer Reading Challenge 2024, for Bronze prompt 1, Opening Ceremonies, Set in Paris.

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apple_atcha_reading's review

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I loved this spicy romance. I enjoyed that Herrera balanced plot and explicit scenes, so the novel was more balanced instead of wholly relying on sexual encounters between the two protagonists. I'm now officially a marriage of convenience fan, especially in cases like in this novel, where it began as business arrangement benefitting both sides fairly equally, but became something more.

Besides a well balanced novel in terms of explicit content and plot, I loved the conversations our FMC was able to have with her partner about classism, racism, and misogyny. He was never going to experience those as a rich, cis, white man, and she needed him to understand why her business was always going to be more difficult than his (although her product was superior).

Novel also features: LGBTQIA+ characters (side), marriage of convenience, "get away from my wife", Latinx characters (main and side), Scottish MMC, historical setting (late 1800s)

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taliaalongi's review

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emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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kyeruhh's review against another edition

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medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I really enjoyed this! The entire cast of characters were fun and I liked all of the distillery information infused into it. My only two issues were that some of the tropes were a bit heavy handed and some decisions made by the MCs were straight up stupid. That said, neither of those took away from my enjoyment of the book too much.

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overthinkereading's review against another edition

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4.0

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onegalonelife27's review against another edition

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emotional lighthearted reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

There’s something beautiful about visiting the past in a story, especially in a way that isn’t common. Female business owners are not often talked about in historical novels, let alone women of color in a male dominated business. So that enough is catch a reader’s eye. After her father’s death, Luz and her friends sail first to Paris so she can compete in the World Exhibition with her family’s rum. Yet, she gets snubbed time and time again due to her being a woman. Yet one man inspired more than just the usual anger in her: James Evanston Sinclair, Earl of Darnick.

Despite being an Earl, Evan would rather spend his days at his distillery and far away from his family’s legacy. His father claims that Evan’s mother left no will and thus the distiller belongs to him.Thanks in part to a scheme and collaboration that will lead to his father’s downfall, Evan is able to find the will. Yet, there’s a clause, a marriage clause.

Luz also finds herself in need of a husband, if only to be able to access her inheritance that her guarantor refuses to give. So thus, we get a good marriage of convenience with plenty of sexual delight between these two, plus Luz gets plenty of respect from Evan who does not look down on her in the slightest. He often gets mad on her behalf, wanting to thrash any man that stands in her way. Yet Luz can stand on her own two feet, time and time again she does get the last word against those who look down on her.

I also really enjoyed the side characters, such as Luz’s friendships with her fellow Leonas, and also a few hints here and there about their own lovelives. So thus I’m eager to read te rest of the series!

I did have one problem with the book, it was a matter of transitions. Rather than noting the date, it notes the different places the main characters are now in and then saying later how much time has passed. Which to me felt odd since it didn’t feel like much time passed between one place or another. I also like it when historical novels often start chapters with the month and year of the setting, to show time passing and it helps me keep straight how long the story has been going on.

Over all, if you want a rich Victorian era that shows a diverse cast, a great romance with emotion and sexual tension, as well as some good revenge sprinkled in, I highly recommend this book!

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