American Dreamer

Narrator Sean Crisden wraps listeners in the warmth of food truck owner Nesto Vasquez, whose Dominican heritage inspires his delicious Afro-Caribbean food. Nesto parks his truck opposite the Ithaca Library and strikes immediate sparks with librarian Jude Fuller. Both men have to balance work priorities and family baggage before they get their sweet and steamy happily-ever-after. Crisden contrasts Nesto's rolling Spanish accent with Jude's earnest personality for a charming opposites-attract story. Nesto's mother and friends and Jude's Dominican-American friend, Carmen, each have distinct personalities through Crisden's voicings. Crisden highlights the couple's extensive relationship-building as well as their intense intimate moments. Listeners will be caught up in the emotional sincerity of Herrera's memorable romance. C.A. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award � AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine

Starred review from March 1, 2019
Ernesto Nesto Vasquez has given himself six months to make his Afro-Caribbean food truck the success he knows it can be. Step one is moving his business out of New York City to Ithaca, where there is an untapped market for the Caribbean culinary delights he can deliver. Step two is ignoring any distractions that might come up along the way. Distractions like sexy librarian Jude Fuller, who just happens to be one of Nesto's first customers. Jude, who has his own hands full pursuing approval for a new grant, is more than willing to take a pass on dating anyone, including the too-delicious-for-words Nesto. But how much longer can Jude convince himself that visiting Nesto's truck is just about the food? Herrera not only dishes up plenty of muy caliente same-sex love scenes in her impressive, not-to-be-missed debut, which beautifully celebrates the rich diversity of life in the U.S., but she also excels at creating the kind of rich emotional connections between her protagonists that romance readers will find irresistible.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)