Today it is my pleasure to Welcome author Liana De la Rosa to HJ!
Hi Liana and welcome to HJ! We’re so excited to chat with you about your new release, Mutual Discord!
Thank you so much for having me!
Please summarize the book for the readers here:
A girl’s girl influencer who highlights the theft of women’s innovations in history finds herself reeling when she discovers her anonymous online friend, who she has a spark with, is her best friend’s new boyfriend.
Please share your favorite line(s) or quote from this book:
“The stars would fall from the sky and the ocean waters would rise to swallow everything on Earth before I would not want you.”
Please share a few Fun facts about this book…
After publishing seven full length historical romances, and two novellas, this is my first contemporary romance! Still, I referenced twenty women from history who changed the world in ways big and small.
What first attracts your Hero to the Heroine and vice versa?
Alex is definitely attracted to Sofia’s passion and intelligence, and he’s definitely a sucker for her curly hair. As for Sofia, she’s obviously attracted to him physically and loves that he’s Puerto Rican, like her. But I also think Sofia appreciates how self-aware Alex is, how he thinks before he speaks, and how he honors and respects the women in his life.
Did any scene have you blushing, crying or laughing while writing it? And Why?
I had so much fun writing the scene at the Scorpions game! The Scorpions is the WNBA team that Alex works for, and he brings Sofia to a playoff game where they almost kiss. There is a memorable moment when Alex is caught on the jumbotron lip-syncing to the Backstreet Boys’ “I Want It That Way” that becomes a viral moment on the team’s TikTok page.
My eyes fixed on the towering screens above the court as a camera panned through the crowd, filming fans lip-syncing to the music. I sang along, laughing at people’s theatrics and enjoying the sense of playful camaraderie as the entire audience sang along. That is until I noticed a camera stop at the end of our row, its lens trained on Alex. Alex didn’t seem to notice it was there, his attention focused on his emails. I moved to nudge his arm, mindful that I could be seen on camera just beyond his shoulder, but the song’s bridge swelled at that moment and Alex lifted his head and turned to stare directly at the camera. Because of my position, his face wasn’t visible to me, but I glanced up quickly to the big screen, and the view had me gasping in shock. With a deadpan expression, Alex was lip-syncing the words to the bridge, his timing impeccable. His delivery—and no doubt his good looks—had the entire arena whistling and hooting, and I slapped a hand over my mouth as I almost doubled over in laughter.
Readers should read this book….
If they want messy telenovela vibes and enjoy a slooooooooow burn! Also, this is perfect for readers who enjoy learning fun trivia facts, as Sofia’s TikTok series, The Matildas—named after the Matilda Effect—introduces bad ass women in history!
What are you currently working on? What other releases do you have in the works?
I return to my historical romance roots in January when the first book, titled RECKLESSLY YOURS, in a new historical romance series releases. It’s about an adventure seeking second son who butts heads with his captivating mountain guide on the slopes of the Himalayas. I first wrote this book in 2019, so I’m thrilled to finally share it with readers!
Thanks for blogging at HJ!
Giveaway: A print copy of MUTUAL DISCORD.
To enter Giveaway, please share this post on your Socials and Leave a comment below to this Q: Do you enjoy slow burns? Why or why not?
🎉 Giveaway Rules 🎉 ✨ Must be 18 years or older to enter. ✨ MUST leave a comment answering the giveaway question. ✨ Bonus Entry:Share this post on your social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) and drop a comment below letting me know you've shared it. ✨ Winner(s) will be selected at random. ✨ No purchase necessary—just enter and cross your fingers! ✨ If you win, I'll need your full name and mailing address to send your prize. This information will be shared with the author, publisher, or publicist solely for prize fulfillment purposes. ✨ Giveaway closes 3 days from the date this post is published.
Excerpt from Mutual Discord:
“You ready to put in a shift on the pastele assembly line?” I asked, bumping my shoulder into his.
Alex’s eyebrows disappeared into his hairline as he surveyed the spread of ingredients before him. “You’re going to have to show me what to do.”
“I got you.” Pushing back my chair, I rose to my feet and walked to the opposite side of the table. With all the flair of a gameshow beauty, I pointed to each item on the table. “This stack of parchment paper is to wrap the pasteles, and this butcher string holds them together. These plantain leaves have been washed and cut to size. Now, this is the masa my mother and Olivia prepared earlier today. It contains green plantains, malanga, and pumpkin. Sometimes she adds batata, if the grocery store has it. We’ll add a dollop of the masa to the center of a plantain leaf and then add a spoonful of pork”—I gestured to the bowl filled with richly seasoned diced pork shoulder—“and an olive, if you want. Then you fold the leaf, wrap it in a piece of parchment paper, and tie it with string. Make sense?”
“Umm . . .” Alex rubbed a hand along the back of his neck, “maybe I can watch you assemble a few before I try.”
“Cop-out,” I replied, fighting back a smile. Taking my seat, I grabbed a parchment square and centered a plantain leaf on top of it, meeting his gaze. “Now watch what I do so you can try next time.”
Alex mumbled something under his breath I couldn’t quite catch, but it sounded like, “One of my favorite things.” That couldn’t be right, though.
He sat by my side as I gave step-by-step instructions for how to construct a pastele, and when Javi offered what he deemed “expert tips” as he stopped at the table to pilfer some choice pieces of pork, Alex chuckled but returned his attention to me. There was something so heady about being the sole focus of Alex Castillo’s attention. Reaching for a slip of parchment paper and a plantain leaf, I set them on the table in front of Alex. “Now it’s your turn. You got this.”
With a nod, Alex reached for the masa spoon, spreading a healthy amount in the center of the plantain leaf. Next he topped it with the pork filling, and after a bashful glance at me, added an olive. But when it came time for Alex to fold the parchment paper and leaf, he struggled, his lip tucked into his teeth as he tried to fold and crease it as I had shown him. After watching him struggle for a time, I stood and came to stand behind him, placing my hands on top of his. I swallowed heavily when I became aware of how close we were.
“Here, like this,” I whispered, steadfastly focusing on directing his hands to fold the pastele, like he was my marionette. They were so much larger than my own, but he followed my every move with only the barest amount of pressure. Because I was leaning so close to him, it was impossible for me not to notice how Alex’s breath quickened. “There, that’s it.”
I pulled back slightly, and my gaze slowly shifted to Alex. I wasn’t surprised to find he had turned his head to look at me, but my heart lurched out of rhythm when his eyes dropped to my mouth. Ay dios, I couldn’t afford—
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Book Info:
A girl’s girl influencer gets a serious reality check when she discovers she’s fallen for her best friend’s boyfriend in this forbidden friends-to-lovers romance.
Sofia Mendoza has had enough. She’s done watching male co-workers steal credit for her talent, and now she’s going to do something about it. No one knows she’s the brains behind a popular video series highlighting and celebrating women in history who’ve been erased from their own inventions and discoveries. Her family and friends still think she has a successful corporate job and if they discover she is supporting herself by creating social media content, they’d be stunned.
Keeping her online persona a secret is lonely, but when she sparks a virtual friendship with an anonymous follower—A—first in her comment section with his insightful perspective, then in their private video chats, where he proves to be witty and catfish level good looking, the chemistry between them ignites.
But when her old friend, Caitlin, arrives for a visit, Sofia’s lies threaten to unravel. A is Alex Castillo, her best friend’s boyfriend. Alex doesn’t reveal that he knows her, and Sofia realizes he may be keeping secrets, too. With their friendship now in real life, can they keep their attraction in check?
Book Links: Book Links: Amazon | B&N | iTunes | kobo | Google |
Meet the Author:
Liana De la Rosa is a USA Today bestselling author who writes historical and contemporary romance with Latine characters who challenge the world around them. Liana is a graduate of the University of Arizona, and when she’s not writing, Liana is listening to true crime podcasts while she wrangles her spirited brood of children with her husband in Arizona.
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | GoodReads |
Please leave a comment