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WORK TITLE: Love over Lattes
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: https://dianahicksbooks.com/
CITY: Atlanta
STATE: GA
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY: American
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Married; children: two.
EDUCATION:University of Arizona, M.S.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Worked for a major Fortune 100 telecommunications company as an IT project manager.
AVOCATIONS:Running half marathons, traveling, wine, and chocolate.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
Diana A. Hicks has been an avid reader and romance novel writer since high school. After earning a master’s degree in information systems and accounting from the University of Arizona, she worked for several years as an IT project manager for a major Fortune 100 telecommunications company. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband and two children, she likes running half marathons, traveling, wine, and chocolate.
Hicks published her debut romance novel, Love over Lattes, the first installment of her “Desert Monsoon” series. Set in the scorching Southwest, single mother Valentina de Cordoba was determined to finish college and get a good job so she could support her son. Now she finds herself on the verge of homelessness yet refuses to move back in with her parents and look like a failure. She reluctantly agrees to rent the cottage of a near stranger, Derek Cole, she has been eyeing at her favorite coffee shop over the past several months. She accepts his offer of a house only if he promises to keep their relationship landlord-tenant. She doesn’t want to take the risk of falling for a bad man again.
Cole is handsome and the CEO of a company, and he has been giving Valentina the eye right back. After his vicious divorce, with his ex-wife trying to take control of his company, Cole is desperate to find a loving woman and thinks he’s found it in Valentina. He hopes there will be a day when she will release him from his promise. Meanwhile, someone he trusted has betrayed him, threatening to take control of his company. A Kirkus Reviews critic found Hicks’ debt sexy, confident, and irresistible, with strong storytelling, nuanced characters, and an interesting blend of romance and mystery. The critic went on: “While the romance between Cole and Valentina takes center stage, his divorce battle with his estranged wife, Bridget, and his fight to retain control of his company provide suspense and surprise plot twists.”
While the book is somewhat predictable, according to a Publishers Weekly reviewer, it is nevertheless entertaining, as is the acerbic wit of Cole’s housekeeper, the precociousness of Valentina’s son, Max, and Valentina and Cole’s sizzling chemistry. The reviewer commented: “Each stolen glance is taut with sexual tension that continues to build.” In an interview online at Book Scents Candles, Hicks explained how she tackles writing a romantic scene: “When writing a first draft, even though the love-making scenes can be emotionally taxing, I don’t treat them any different than the others. I spend a few moments before I dive into a scene (steamy or otherwise) to consider how the characters feel, and then I just let them take it from there. Sometimes I make myself blush with the things that come out during fast drafting.”
Although the first meeting of Valentina and Cole in the café is cute and the book’s ending is satisfying, “Some of the main characters’ actions—and some unlikely coincidences—come across as contrived and threaten the enjoyment of the reader,” Carmela Constable remarked on the RT Book Reviews website. Constable added that some of the secondary characters are not given enough depth and are written like clichés. On the other hand, in Hicks’ well-written steamy romance with witty banter between the two lead characters, she offers alternating perspectives from both Valentina and Cole, noted reviewer Randee Green online the Randee Green website. Green added: “The reader knows what both main characters are thinking and feeling as the initially fight their feelings for each other, and then battle against the forces trying to keep them apart.” Green also said the book was an enchanting romance that assures readers that love can find you when you least expect it.
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Kirkus Reviews, March 1, 2018, review of Love Over Lattes.
Publishers Weekly, July 2, 2018, review of Love Over Lattes, p. 56.
ONLINE
Book Scents Candles, http://www.bookscentscandles.com/(February 27, 2018), author interview.
Randee Green, https://www.randeegreen.com/ (February 4, 2018), Randee Green, review of Love Over Lattes.
RT Book Reviews, https://www.rtbookreviews.com/ (August 1, 2018), Carmela Constable, review of Love Over Lattes.
Diana A. Hicks became an avid reader when she found her first romance novel tucked away in a corner of her high school library. The more books she read, the more she wanted to be a writer. She has a master’s degree in information systems and accountancy, and for many years worked for a major Fortune 100 telecommunications company as an IT project manager (As one does when pursuing a career as a romance author.).
These days, when she’s not writing, Diana enjoys running half marathons, traveling, and indulging in the simple joys of life, like wine and chocolate. She lives in Atlanta, and loves spending time with her two children and husband.
Hicks, Diana A.: LOVE OVER LATTES
Kirkus Reviews.
(Mar. 1, 2018): From Book Review Index Plus. COPYRIGHT 2018 Kirkus Media LLC http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Hicks, Diana A. LOVE OVER LATTES The Wild Rose Press, Inc. (Indie Fiction) $None 2, 7 ISBN: 978-1-5092-1944-5
Visits to a coffee shop lead to an unexpected romantic connection for two lonely strangers in this debut novel.
Driven and goal-oriented, single mother Valentina de Cordoba has big plans. As a college freshman, she became pregnant after a volatile relationship with the wrong man. Determined to provide a stable home for her son, Max, she finished college and accepted a job with a technology firm. That does not stop her from fantasizing about the handsome stranger who frequents her favorite coffee shop. Derek Cole is a businessman whose life is falling apart. He is in the middle of a contentious divorce, and his wife is demanding his company as part of the settlement. Cole notices Valentina at the coffee shop and looks forward to seeing her. When her deal on a rental home falls through, Cole impulsively offers to lease her a cottage on his property. A cautious Valentina accepts on the condition that their relationship will remain strictly business. For Cole, Valentina is a glimmer of hope, and he is determined to win her. They fall in love, but their relationship is tested when Cole faces a betrayal that threatens to destroy the company he worked so hard to build. Hicks' first installment of her Desert Monsoon series is confident and assured, with strong storytelling, nuanced characters, and a dynamic blend of romance and suspense. The narrative is fast-paced, with the chapters alternating between the viewpoints of Valentina and Cole. This technique allows the author to explore their feelings and motivations and offer deeper insights into the story's major events. Valentina and Cole are appealing protagonists whose rapport is bolstered by scenes that generate a nice erotic heat. The supporting characters are equally well-developed, including Nikki, a flirtatious event planner with questionable motivations, and Dom, Cole's best friend and attorney. While the romance between Cole and Valentina takes center stage, his divorce battle with his estranged wife, Bridget, and his
1 of 2 7/14/18, 9:10 PM
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MA...
fight to retain control of his company provide suspense and surprise plot twists. A sexy and irresistible tale for fans of contemporary romance.
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Hicks, Diana A.: LOVE OVER LATTES." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Mar. 2018. Book Review Index
Plus, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A528959906/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS& xid=2c1272c3. Accessed 14 July 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A528959906
2 of 2 7/14/18, 9:10 PM
Publishers Weekly. 7/2/2018, Vol. 265 Issue 27, p56-57. 2p.
Diana A. Hicks. Wild Rose, $5.99 e-book (322p) ISBN 978-1-5092-1945-2
Hicks's sizzling first Desert Monsoon contemporary romance is a touch predictable but wholly entertaining. Valentina de Cordoba has an emotional meltdown in a café when she finds out that her rental application has been rejected, jeopardizing her future with her young son, Max. Hunky Derek Cole, who's been eavesdropping on Valentina's conversation, impulsively offers to rent her the cottage on his estate. With no other options, Valentina reluctantly takes Derek up on his offer but wants to keep things strictly professional—something he has a hard time doing, though he and his wife are in the midst of a rough divorce. The acerbic wit of Derek's housekeeper and the precociousness of Valentina's son boost an otherwise stock plot with humor and heart, and Valentina and Derek's great chemistry gives this story its sizzle. Each stolen glance is taut with sexual tension that continues to build until an utterly satisfying release. This irresistible romance is sure to satisfy. (BookLife)
Image of Love Over Lattes (Desert Monsoon)
RT Rating:
Genre:
Romance, Contemporary Romance, RT Review Source
Sensuality:
Hot
Publisher:
The Wild Rose Press, Inc. (Champagne Rose)
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RT Review Source
RT Ratings Guide
5 GOLD: Phenomenal. In a class by itself.
4 1/2: TOP PICK. Fantastic. A keeper.
4: Compelling. A page-turner.
3: Enjoyable. A pleasant read.
2: Problematic. May struggle to finish.
1: Severely Flawed. Pass on this one.
LOVE OVER LATTES
Author(s):
Diana A. Hicks
This first book in the Desert Monsoon series starts strong with an intriguing meet-cute: two strangers, after patronizing the same café for months, finally work up the nerve to speak to one another. However, some of the main characters’ actions — and some unlikely coincidences — come across as contrived and threaten the enjoyment of the reader. Certain secondary characters, like the hero’s estranged wife, are not given enough depth and wind up reading like clichés. Hicks redeems herself in the last section of the book, however, and the ending should satisfy readers looking for an easy read with likable characters.
Valentina has been watching Cole buy his Quad Americano for months at her favorite cafe — and is surprised when he finally speaks to her. Life works in mysterious ways, as the single mom finds out, for their first conversation happens on the day she receives some not-so-good news (her dream house becomes, alas, nothing but a dream again). To help this woman, Cole offers to rent her his cottage; this will enable her to live with her son under the same roof and move them out of her parents’ home. But living in such close proximity to Cole makes it impossible for Val to avoid her growing attraction to this handsome stranger. Soon, they will discover how much their lives are intertwined and how they can’t live without each other. (WILD ROSE PRESS, Feb., 322 pp., $16.99)
* RT Review Source *
Reviewed by:
Carmela Constable
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Author Interview: Diana A. Hicks
by nmlillie | Feb 27, 2018 | Author Interviews | 4 comments
Author Interview: Diana A. Hicks
Today I am thrilled to share with you my latest author interview with Diana A. Hicks. Diana is the author of Love Over Lattes, the first novel in the Desert Monsoon series.
Before we get into the interview, here’s a quick overview of the book:
Who knew a latte could lead to so much more.
Single mom Valentina wants to provide a good life for her son, starting with the perfect home. When the deal on her dream house falls through, rather than move back in with her parents and disappoint them and her son once again, she accepts the help of the intimidating-as-hell stranger she’s admired from her coffee shop seat for the last six months. She’s afraid to fall for the wrong guy again, so she makes Cole promise to keep their relationship strictly professional.
Following his failed marriage, Cole can’t find a reason to care about anything or anyone. Saving his company from his ex-wife is the only thing that has kept him afloat for the past six months. As loneliness sets in and he begins to lose the fight over his company, Valentina becomes his lifeline. Cole wants to be more than her landlord, and he has a plan to get her to release him from his promise.
I adored this story. It’s a fun romance with some steamy scenes, sweet scenes and few that make you laugh out loud. I enjoyed reading Love Over Latte and had a great time collaborating with Diana on the candle we created – Las Nubes. Las Nubes is the home of our main man, Cole. And the scents we put together turned out amazing!
Let’s meet Diana!
Thank you so much for taking time to talk with us today, Diana. It was so fun to read your book and work on the Las Nubes candle with you.
I want to start off asking you about how you became a writer. I noticed in your bio that you have a background in IT and Accounting. When did you decide to start writing? And how did you find your way to a writing career?
Hi! Thank you so much for having me. I wish I had an original answer to this question. Like most authors, I’ve always wanted to write. But it wasn’t until high school, when my English teacher told she liked my writing, that I began to seriously consider the stories in my head. Some of them I would write and then throw away because becoming a novelist was too big a risk for me. Which is why I went with a business major (nice safe choice), and then later obtained a master’s degree in IT. I love technology and working in the field, but the little writer in me never gave up. About six years ago, I decided to pursue a career in writing. I didn’t know about writing groups in my area, so I did the only thing I knew to do. I googled “how do I get a novel published?” True story. This took me to several websites that wanted a bunch of money, but eventually I stumbled upon the #amwriting hashtag, and later #pitchwars, and bunch of others. The writers community on Twitter is the best!
Love Over Lattes is a great romance novel. Cole and Valentina have great chemistry! I always wonder how romance novelists work through those love making scenes. How do you know you’ve got the scene just right? And do you edit them as you do other scenes between characters?
I love this question. The sexy scenes are always my favorite because they’re such a turning point in the story and the characters’ growth. I like seeing my hero/heroine jump into this physical exchange thinking it will fix everything that ails them, only to find out (usually in the next chapter) that it made everything worse!
When writing a first draft, even though the love-making scenes can be emotionally taxing, I don’t treat them any different than the others. I spend a few moments before I dive into a scene (steamy or otherwise) to consider how the characters feel, and then I just let them take it from there. Sometimes I make myself blush with the things that come out during fast drafting, but it’s all part of the process. During revisions, I focus a little more on the technical aspects of things. Otherwise, I end up with characters that have two sets of hands, and an excessive amount of hot breath. 🙂
Is Love Over Lattes your first work of fiction?
Love Over Lattes is my first published novel, but it’s really my fourth completed book. All those others will never see the light of day. Except for maybe one. We’ll see.
Love Over Lattes is the first in the Desert Monsoon series. Will we get to see Cole and Valentina again as you move through the series?
We will see them again. They have a cameo in Love Over Time (Nikki’s story, coming this Fall), and Love Over Logic (Dom’s story, coming Spring 2019). My editor and I have talked about possibly wrapping up the series with a Christmas novella that features Valentina and Cole. But we’re not there yet.
I lived in Arizona for a few years and your descriptions of the desert, the mountains and the way the Southwest “feels” was really great. Have you been to the area that was the setting for your book? Is there a real Las Nubes out there?
I grew up in Arizona. The University of Arizona is my alma mater. So yeah, I’m very familiar with Tucson. Unfortunately, Las Nubes is a fictitious mansion. Though the smells, trails, and overall feel were inspired by a resort North of Tucson. I was so happy we were able to capture the scent of the place. I hope readers enjoy the “Las Nubes” inspired candles.
Another thing I read in your bio is that you have been an avid romance reader. Who are your favorite romance authors? Was there one that really inspired you?
My very first romance read was A Knight in Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux (I still have this book, by the way.). I’ve read all her series at least three times each. She definitely inspired me to write romance with characters that seem, at first, like complete opposites and not meant to be. But it wasn’t until I read Sylvia Day and Elizabeth Hoyt that I decided I could probably add a little more heat to my writing.
And finally, I know that authors often lean on each other for support. What other authors are you friends with and how have they helped you to become a better author?
I’m smiling right now because I never would’ve guessed my answer to this question would be, “so many to list.”
I’m going to name them by hashtag…#Pitchwars. This is where I met my awesome critique partner. Several mentors there helped me with query critiques and guidance. I’m truly grateful for all their support. Last year was my first year as a Pitchwars mentor. It’s a great way to give back to the community, and help other aspiring writers achieve their dreams. #Authors18, this is a group of authors with debuts in 2018. They’re the reason I haven’t lost mind. Everyone is so supportive and always willing to help out. And of course, #GRW. This is my local chapter. We meet once a month to talk about all things publishing. They also host an awesome conference in the Fall, where authors are recognized for excellent writing in their category. I’m talking about the Maggie Contest, which I’m hosting this year!
Thank you again for spending time with us today. I hope everyone grabs a copy of Love Over Lattes and their own Las Nubes candle to accompany it!
(Photo by: Pamela Robertson)
Las Nubes
is inspired by the Desert Monsoon Series by Diana A. Hicks.
An enticing blend of desert flowers, rain, agave and aloe in red
What I loved about Love Over Lattes:
Love Over Lattes, the first book in the Desert Monsoon Series, was a really great romance novel. I loved the chemistry between Cole and Valentina. Cole is a really dreamy, but between his issues and Valentina’s it takes a few starts to get things right. Overall, this book is a great read for those who love romance.
- Nalana @ Book Scents
Hi! I need to let you know that there are some affiliate links on my website. They will be in blog posts or emails primarily. I am an affiliate for Amazon, so that will be the most common link. I promise I’m not “making in rain” with these links, but for transparency its important that you know I may make a few cents when you click through or make a purchase. You can also read my formal Affiliate Disclosure to get the full scope of who I am an affiliate for!
http://www.bookscentscandles.com/author-interview-diana-hicks/
Thanks to Backlit PR and NetGalley for the ARC.
You’re going to need to take a cold shower after reading this steamy contemporary romance novel by Diana A. Hicks. LOVE OVER LATTES is the first in the Desert Monsoon Series, and it is also Diana A. Hicks’ debut novel. (Published February 7, 2018 by The Wild Rose Press, Inc.)
Valentina is a single mom and a recent college graduate. She is trying to get her life back on track with a college diploma, a new job, and a fresh start for herself and her son. Cole is a self-made man who is on the verge of losing the company that he started from scratch and built into an empire to his conniving, cheating ex-wife. Neither Valentina nor Cole is looking for a romantic attachment – they’ve both got too much going on in their lives to add another complication – but when they meet the person that makes their life complete, there is nothing to do but hang on for the ride. Valentina and Cole watch each other from across the local coffee shop for six months before Cole finally approaches her. Because Valentina was turned down for the rental house that she had hoped to get so she and her son can finally have a home of their own, Cole offers her the cottage that is in the backyard of his massive compound. Valentina is reluctant to take Cole up on the offer, but she breaks down and signs the lease when she realizes that she’s not going to find a better deal. Close quarters leads to intimate encounters, and a romance quickly blossoms between Valentina and Cole. Problems also arise as Cole’s ex-wife, Valentina’s son’s absentee father, and a couple of their scheming friends try to come between the two lovebirds.
What makes LOVE OVER LATTES so great is that Valentina and Cole are such engaging characters. It’s fun to watch their relationship bloom and grow stronger as they both face their separate past heartaches and betrayals so that they can move on to their combined future. Hicks presents the novel in alternating perspectives, taking us into both Valentina’s and Cole’s heads. The reader knows what both main characters are thinking and feeling as the initially fight their feelings for each other, and then battle against the forces trying to keep them apart. The witty banter between the two characters is just as engaging as their chemistry. LOVE OVER LATTES is a well-written, enchanting romance novel that shows love can find you when you least expect it, and that it is worth fighting for.
My only complaint is that there needed to be more of Pirate the cat.