Spotlight & Giveaway: The Family She Never Met by Caridad Pineiro

Posted February 2nd, 2022 by in Blog, Spotlight / 51 comments

Today it is my pleasure to Welcome author Caridad Pineiro to HJ!
Spotlight&Giveaway

Hi Caridad and welcome to HJ! We’re so excited to chat with you about your new release, The Family She Never Met!

 
Welcome to HJ and thank you for dropping by to find out more about my newest release, The Family She Never Met.
 

Please summarize the book a la Twitter style for the readers here:

Three generations of women who are separated by loss must find their way back together and along the way, the youngest family member finds love as well.
 

Please share the opening lines of this book:

“I know you think I’m crazy to ask this of you, mi’jo.”
Luis Torres examined the features of the elegant woman seated across from him in the shade of the large market umbrella. While outwardly calm, he couldn’t fail to see the slight lines of tension on skin that was surprisingly smooth for an eighty-three-year-old. He also knew that she was anything but crazy. Stubborn, intelligent, determined, and loving—but never ever crazy.

 

Please share a few Fun facts about this book…

  • This book is about the journey of three women with a strong romantic element.
  • The book is set in New York City and Miami, but also visits pre-revolutionary Cuba.
  • Many of the stories revolving around the mother and grandmother are true stories from my life.
  • Jessica, the heroine, is a furniture flipper and like me in that I like to build things also.
  • Luis, the hero, is a man who has worked hard to achieve the American Dream and now has to find love to complete the dream.

 

What first attracts your Hero to the Heroine and vice versa?

Jessica and Luis are very hesitant at first because they are almost like enemies in a way. Jessica is traveling to meet her grandmother who she believes has caused her mother great while Luis is the grandmother’s right-hand man and quite protective of her. That loyalty and love to the two women is enticing and as the layers of the family dispute are unraveled, so are the feelings that are growing between Jessica and Luis.
 

Using just 5 words, how would you describe Hero and Heroine’s love affair?

I would definitely call it an enemies to lovers relationship that quickly changes as they both learn more about each other.
 

The First Kiss…

At the car, she looked at Luis and said, “Why retreat? I won. I won!”
“You did at that, chica,” he said and dropped a quick kiss on her cheek, but as she turned her head, her lips brushed against his. They stood there for the longest time, staring at each other. They were so close. They moved closer, gazes locked.
The blare of a car horn shattered the moment.
They jumped apart and Jessica escaped into the car. Luis walked around and slid behind the wheel. He gripped it tightly, his hands flexing on the wheel. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”
She sat there awkwardly, hands fisted in her lap. “You didn’t. If anything, you’ve made me feel…not uncomfortable,” she finally said, fumbling her description.
He blew out a harsh laugh. “Not uncomfortable. That’s a ringing recommendation.”
She hated that she was making him awkward when he’d gone out of his way to be friendly. To be a source of support for her in a situation that was rife with emotion and possible conflict. Turning toward him, she laid her hand on his jaw and applied gentle pressure to urge him to face her.
As he did so, she stroked his cheek. His beard was rough beneath her thumb. The line of his jaw was hard, and under her palm, his muscles were tense.
He was a strong man but caring. Serious, but also capable of playfulness. Honorable despite the way he’d gotten her to Miami. Loyal. To Carmen, but also to her, she sensed.
And she was tired of denying that she was attracted to him. That she found him intriguing and exciting and too damn interesting.
She urged him near and kissed him, and he kissed her back before pulling away.

 

Without revealing too much, what is your favorite scene in the book?

My favorite scene in the book has to be when Jessica and Luis finally acknowledge what they feel for each other. Jessica has just met the rest of her Cuban family and Luis has been by her side to offer support. Once the family leaves, they are finally alone and emotions that have been bottled up erupt. Here’s the start of that scene!

Her breath trapped in her chest and her heart pounding in her ears, Jessica waited, anticipation twisting her gut into a knot.
Luis rocked back and forth on his heels and looked away before nailing her with his gaze. “I am. I think I’m falling in love with you too.”
He grasped her hand and she took the lead, tugging him toward the stairs and up to her room.
At her door she hesitated, but then pushed through, eager for what would follow.
As she turned to face him, he was immediately there, moving his hands to her back to cradle her close. Her body was flush against his and she shifted against him, but he stilled her motion.
“Shh, mi amor. There’s no need to rush. We have all night,” he whispered and kissed her again.
He tasted of rum and cigars and Luis, and she took it all in. Took all of him in. The press of his body. The way his muscles shifted beneath her hands as he tightened his hold on her and walked her back toward the bed.
As her knees bumped the edge of the bed, he stopped, sat, and urged her in between the V of his thighs.
With his help, she quickly undressed, baring herself to him.
“Dios, you’re beautiful,” he said, encircled her waist with his hands, and drew her near.
***
Luis splayed his hand across the smooth skin of her back as he caressed her.
She kissed his forehead and whispered his name. “Luis. Please.”
As much as he wanted to wait and make this first time special, he needed her too badly.
In a flurry of action, he ripped off his clothes with her assistance, and they fell onto the bed together, kissing and caressing and laughing. Joyful in anticipation of what was about to happen.
She lay beneath him, gazing at him as she skimmed her hand across his face and then up to brush away a stray lock of hair. She seemed about to say something, but then held back and instead leaned up to kiss him. She shifted her hand to his shoulder and urged him down.
He went willingly, eager to be with her. Eager to taste her lips again and her breasts and her skin and everything that was Jessica.
He didn’t think he could ever get enough of her.

 

If your book was optioned for a movie, what scene would be absolutely crucial to include?

I think the one scene I would love to see included in the movie would be the scene where Jessica remembers seeing her mother cry as she watches a television broadcast from Cuba. There is so much emotion and even though Jessica is young, she realizes that Cuba only brings her mother pain. Because of that, Jessica never asks her mother about Cuba or being Cuban which is why Jessica has no connection to that part of her family and their history. Her learning about that family and history are some of the most important aspects of this book as well as Jessica’s romance with Luis which forces her to discover more about herself as well.

 

Readers should read this book …

If you enjoy an emotionally compelling romance as well as stories about strong women finding their way in life, you will enjoy The Family She Never Met.

 

What are you currently working on? What other releases do you have planned?

I am currently working on some romantic suspense books for Harlequin Intrigue as well as a womens’ fiction novel for Sourcebooks. This spring you can find Deadly Chase, a daily read for Harlequin Intrigue as well as Decoy Training in March 2022. I will also be doing a number of re-releases of some of my earlier novels and novellas.

 

Thanks for blogging at HJ!

 

Giveaway: I’m happy to offer this exclusive HJ Giveaway! I’ll be sending out an autographed copy of my Hallmark book South Beach Love (now a Hallmark Channel movie), an autographed copy of Trapping a Terrorist, my latest Harleqiun Intrigue, and a $25 gift card to one lucky person!

 

To enter Giveaway: Please complete the Rafflecopter form and Post a comment to this Q: What part of your family history would you want to share with others so they understand you or your family better?

 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

 
 

Excerpt from The Family She Never Met:

Luis undid the ropes holding the boat and tossed them onto the dock. He jumped down and settled himself behind the helm.
“Buckle up,” he said, started up the engines, and the thrum of their power surged through her body.
Luis maneuvered away from the dock and, at a measured pace, navigated under the causeway and past a nearby island with luxury homes. “That’s Fisher Island. It’s one of the most expensive zip codes in the country.”
“More expensive than Star Island?” Jessica said in disbelief.
Luis laughed and shook his head. “No way.”
They had cleared Fisher Island and the southern point of Miami Beach and reached open ocean.
Luis smiled, a dimpled and mischievous grin. “Ready to race?”
Boys and their toys, she thought, but didn’t get to answer as he gunned the engines, pushing her back into the cushioned leather seat. The intense vibrations of the engines thrummed through her as the boat rocketed across the waves, dragging laughter from her as it bounced across some rougher spots and sent water splashing up over the bow.
They traveled northward, past the art deco area of South Beach, with its colorful buildings and his hotel. Upward toward the larger resort hotels in the center of Miami Beach, their tall spires rising along the shore. A sudden splash of green in an open space park broke up the buildings before they started up again as they sped ever northward along Miami Beach, until Luis slowed and turned inward.
He kept a more sedate pace in the waters of the bay as they powered past islands on one side, the mainland on the other, and beneath the causeway joining them.
The sun beat down, warming her against the chill of the breeze as they moved along the calmer waters of the bay until Luis pulled eastward once again and toward a southward facing point on an island off Miami Beach. He powered down substantially and navigated beside a dock where he cut the engines and hopped onto it to secure the boat.
She unbuckled and got to her feet, slightly shaky from the thrill of the ride and the roll and rock of the deck thanks to the wake from a passing boat. Luis leaned down, offered a helping hand, and boosted her up onto the dock.
“No sea legs,” she said, still feeling the movement beneath her feet, but then she caught sight of the home in front of her.
A wide stone walkway surrounded by lush, manicured lawns led up to a patio with a pool and on outdoor sitting area off to the side. Beyond that a large, two-story, contemporary home boasted windows along every wall and balconies to enjoy the million-dollar views of Biscayne Bay and the carefully tended gardens all around.
“Wow, this is beautiful,” she said, appreciating the thoughtful lines and layout of the structure and landscaping.
“Gracias. I’m quite happy with it,” he said, but she sensed some hesitation there and wondered at the reason for it. “We can take a dip to wash off the salt before lunch,” he said and grabbed the picnic basket from the powerboat.
He took hold of her hand and drew her toward a covered patio, and at her questioning look, he tapped the end of her nose. “You’re getting burned.”
She covered her face with her hands and heat greeted her despite the suntan lotion she’d put on earlier. “I do feel baked,” she admitted.
“Dip. Dry off. Lunch before we head back,” he said and laid the picnic basket on a table on the covered patio.
“So demanding,” she teased, but was eager to get the salt off her skin. She quickly pulled off her T-shirt and board shorts and rushed to the edge of the pool. She dipped in a toe, testing the waters, which turned out to be a waste as he cannonballed into the pool and sent a shock of chill water up to drench her.
“Thanks,” she said with a roll of her eyes, brushing back wet strands of hair from her face.
He grinned devilishly and slicked back his hair, the movement displaying his toned arms and chest.
To avoid the too-irresistible sight of him, she dove into the water.
Cool slipped all across her body before she rose up to the surface. Luis was just a few feet away, drops of water glistening on his tanned skin. He was still grinning happily, drawing her like a moth to a flame.
She laid a hand on his shoulder, using his greater height and strength to keep her afloat.
He placed a hand at her waist to steady her, but in those seconds, the moment changed. Became charged with the tension that had sprung up between them and she couldn’t resist.
When he applied gentle pressure to draw her close, she went, bringing her body full against him. Skin against skin as he shifted them until he was sitting on the bottom steps of the pool and she was lying along him.
“Luis,” she began, but stopped abruptly, not sure of what to say. Only sure of what she wanted to do.
She shifted upward to kiss the hollow just beneath his ear and the edge of his jaw. She followed the straight line of it to the dimple by his lips, deep now thanks to the smile on his face. Moved to that smile, so happy and relaxed. Welcoming, she thought as she covered his smile with hers.
“This is crazy,” she said, but didn’t stop kissing him.

Excerpts. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
 

Book Info:

Jessica Russo knows nothing about her mother’s family or her Cuban culture. Every time she’s asked about it, her mother has shut down. But when the Cuban grandmother she’s never met sends her right-hand man, Luis, to offer Jessica the chance to come to Miami and meet her estranged family, she can’t help but say yes, even as she knows it will pain her mother.

The woman that Jessica meets is nothing like what she expected. Her grandmother is successful, intelligent, determined, and all too willing to take blame for what has happened to cause the estrangement, and, more importantly, to try and set things right. As Jessica spends time with her grandmother in her beautiful island home, she learns about her family’s history and what caused the schism between her mother and grandmother.

As days with her grandmother turn to weeks, Jessica is determined to find a way to heal her fractured family. And in the end, Jessica might just learn something about herself and what it means to embrace the many facets of her identity.
Book Links: Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Goodreads |
 
 

Meet the Author:

Caridad Pineiro is a transplanted Long Island girl who has fallen in love with the Jersey Shore. When Caridad isn’t taking long strolls along the boardwalk, she’s also a NY Times and USA Today bestselling author with over a million romance novels sold worldwide. Caridad is passionate about writing and helping others explore and develop their skills as writers. She is a founding member of the Liberty States Fiction Writers and has presented workshops at the RT Book Club Convention, Romance Writers of America National Conference as well as various writing organizations throughout the country. You can connect with Caridad at www.caridad.com.
Website | Facebook | Twitter | | Instagram |

 
 
 

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51 Responses to “Spotlight & Giveaway: The Family She Never Met by Caridad Pineiro”

  3. Diana Tidlund

    My family period. My abuela was one of 17 my abuelo was one of 18 . I was one of 14 . Big family from the island. Puerto Rico

  7. Jennifer Shiflett

    My great grandparents immigrated from Eastern Europe, and made a better life for the family.

  8. Janine

    My grandparents (on my mother’s side) immigrated from Hungary, but I don’t know anything about their life when they lived there.

  9. Marcy Meyer

    I think genealogy is fascinating, so I think every family has a great story to tell. I know mine has stories of war, immigration and tough times, like so many others.

  10. Rita Wray

    I was born in Finland so I would love to know more about my family history.

  13. Glenda M

    My family is the typical mix of immigrants including one who was an early settler pre-revolution. My great grandmother’s family came over from Sweden when she was a child.

    • Laurie Gommermann

      My family came over from Germany and France.
      My in-laws were kicked out of Hungary after the war. They were sent to Germany. German families were forced to take them in! Eventually they migrated to the USA.
      My children were raised on stories of their grandparent ‘s lives before and after they were displaced. It is a harrowing tale of resourcefulness and survival. Of not taking anything for granted.

  16. Amy Donahue

    My dad’s side has a lot of quirky characters so I would probably share their escapades to showcase that I am normal by comparison lol

  17. SusieQ

    On my mom’s side, they were pretty early settlers in New Amsterdam (now New York), coming to the US in the 1650’s. One of her ancestors traveled the Trail of Tears. Both sides of the family fought in the Revolutionary War.

  19. Eva Millien

    Unfortunately, either, I don’t know enough of my family history to be able to come up with something or my family has always been as boring as we are now! Getting the Family She Never Met sounds like an interesting and exciting read for me! Thanks for sharing it with me and have a wonderful day!

  20. Teresa Williams

    How my great great grandparents ,great grandparents ,and grandparents owned and worked tobacco farms.My mom and her 11 siblings also worked on the farm

  21. Colleen C.

    There is so much of my family history that I am curious about… one day I will look into it more…

  23. Marisela (@mari_zuniga94)

    Unfortunately, I didn’t grow up with my grandparents so I think there is a lot of history for me to learn about my family. I loved visiting Mexico and eating all the authentic dishes that my family grew up making and my parents telling us some things from their childhood

  24. Summer

    I don’t know really, I guess immigrating from Europe and in the case of one ancestor his origins are kind of unknown.

  25. Chelsea B.

    That my father wasn’t in my life and I was raised by strong, amazing women.

  26. Jana Leah

    I don’t know much about my family history. I’d love to know how they came to the U.S.

  27. Sue Galuska

    My grandparents came over from Europe. They are all gone but we still make a lot of the food from the old countries.

  28. Karina Angeles

    My family is Hispanic. Women are supposed to do the cooking and cleaning, and serve men food before the women and children. I suck at cooking, so my hubby cooks while I clean.

  30. Diana Hardt

    My parents immigrated from Europe, my mother from Spain and my father from Germany.

  31. Dianne Casey

    I think my family history is like a lot of others. My grandparents immigrated from Europe and settled in Michigan.

  33. Patricia B.

    Both sides of my family came to the New World in the 1600’s as French settlers in Canada. To encourage the formation of permanent settlements, Louis XIV dowered about 700 young women, Filles du Roi (King’s Daughters), between 1663 and 1673. They came to the Quebec settlements to marry and start families. We have at least 20 of these women in our family tree. On my Dad’s side, we have the Irish contingent that came to Canada at the beginning of the Potato Famine, marrying into the French population. Both sides of the families immigrated to Northern New York in the late 1800’s.

    • rkcjmomma

      My grandmother Italian traditions and how family is first always!

  36. Jeanna Massman

    All of my grandparents immigrated from Germany in the 19th Century. They settled in Iowa and were farmers. Their religion was very important to them and they passed their beliefs down to their children and grandchildren.

  38. Kay Garrett

    Think sometimes it’s best to put the past behind you and start over fresh. That you can make yourself into whatever your welling to work towards. My grandfather immigrated into the U.S. as a young man. He refused to talk about his past and it went to the grave with him. My family tree starts with his immigration. He made a successful life for himself and his future family through hard work and determination. I think that’s been a driving force for all of the family.
    2clowns at arkansas dot net

    • Leeza Stetson

      How my grandparents left their families and the oppressive countries they were born in to find a better life.

  43. TERESA L KLEEMAN

    I’m Native American and I want everyone to know where we came from. My family has been in North Carolina for over 500 years. Even before the State was a State. My family were living on the original reservation for the Tuscarora people. I want people to know how we struggled and died and how we are still here even after the wars and plagues. I love our history.

  46. Sherri K (CurliLocks)

    I hope this works! I’ve been trying to comment for hours!
    My Portuguese and Spanish family traditions.

  47. Terrill R.

    That my grandmother married and started having her children during the Great Depression and it had an impact on our family still today. In good way.