Just for the Holidays...

Starred review from October 8, 2021

Herrera's second "Sambrano Studios" romance (following One Week To Claim It All), about a family-run American Spanish-language media empire. Casting director Perla Sambrano reconnects after six years with her old boyfriend Gael, who's trying out for the new Sambrano Studios movie. Having had their youthful relationship derailed years ago, Perla and Gael now must weigh their chances of getting hurt again against the pain of denying themselves true love. Hero and heroine have rich inner lives and compelling reasons to both avoid and seek out the relationship. Readers looking for a certain level of realism will find it here, combined with a dash of escapism. Using specific details, Herrera creates a compelling family dynamic and reassuring setting in very few pages. The book deals realistically with past hurts and doesn't assume a fairy-tale ending can fix everything, though readers should have no doubt about the eventual happily-ever-after. VERDICT Readers looking for holiday joy are sure to find it here, with winning characters and an emotional reunion perfect for the Christmas setting.

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September 15, 2021
Gael Montez is sick to death of playing the hot ethnic guy. Sure, his superhero role in the Space Squadron franchise has brought him fame and fortune, but now he wants to be involved in an artistic project that allows him to share his Latinx heritage with the world. Something like The Liberator and His Love, an upcoming project based on the life of Puerto Rican freedom fighter Francisco Rios. There is just one tiny little problem: the casting director is Perla Sambrano, and the last time Gael saw Perla was six years ago in college when he broke her heart. The latest in Herrera's Sambrano Studio series, following One Week to Claim It All (2021), is another expertly executed contemporary romance notable for her vibrant characterization, hot love scenes, and emotion-rich plot steeped in Puerto Rican culture and holiday traditions.

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August 30, 2021
Exes get a second chance in Herrera’s steamy second Sambrano Studios romance (after One Week to Claim it All). Perla Sambrano, v-p of casting at her family’s entertainment company, volunteers to convince movie star Gael Montez to take the lead role in a forthcoming project. There’s just one problem: Gael was Perla’s college boyfriend, and she hasn’t seen him since he shattered her heart six years ago. Gael’s shocked when Perla shows up at his Hamptons mansion, but their spark is still there and a read-through of the script leads to a passionate kiss. Gael’s mother, who always loved Perla, walks in on them and delightedly assumes they’re back together. Desperate not to disappoint her, Gael asks Perla to pretend to be his girlfriend for the day—but when a storm strands Perla with the Montez family for the holidays, the lie snowballs. Herrera has a gift for imbuing tropey situations with psychological nuance and grounding scorching love scenes in character work. She does her job almost too well: Perla and Gael are so compatible that the soapy motivation for their initial breakup and flimsy reasoning for why they should stay apart feel unbelievable. Still, this hot, heartfelt contemporary proves hard to put down. Agent: Linda Camacho, Gallt & Zacker Literary.