American Love Story by Adriana Herrera

No one should have to choose between love and justice.

Haitian-born professor and activist Patrice Denis is not here for anything that will veer him off the path he’s worked so hard for. One particularly dangerous distraction: Easton Archer, the assistant district attorney who last summer gave Patrice some of the most intense nights of his life, and still makes him all but forget they’re from two completely different worlds.

All-around golden boy Easton forged his own path to success, choosing public service over the comforts of his family’s wealth. With local law enforcement unfairly targeting young men of color, and his career—and conscience—on the line, now is hardly the time to be thirsting after Patrice again. Even if their nights together have turned into so much more.

For the first time, Patrice is tempted to open up and embrace the happiness he’s always denied himself. But as tensions between the community and the sheriff’s office grow by the day, Easton’s personal and professional lives collide. And when the issue at hand hits closer to home than either could imagine, they’ll have to work to forge a path forward… together.

One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise: all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise!

Book 3
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Carina Press – Harlequin

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Sarah – ☆☆☆☆☆
I can’t get enough of Adriana Herrera’s writing! This third Dreamers book is a difficult, angst filled read – but it’s also a wonderfully warm and beautiful written romance. After years of hard graft, Patrice has finally been hired as a professor at Cornell University. The move brings him back to Easton, the gorgeous, talented assistant DA that Patrice refuses to let himself desire.

I’m not sure I can remember having such conflicting reactions to any previous characters, ever. Patrice and Easton are both as infuriating as they are wonderful. As a Haitian immigrant, Patrice has had to work impossibly hard for everything he has achieved. Nothing is more important to him than his values and his fight for equality. He’s almost superhuman in his passion, but his refusal to compromise or to allow space for human error makes relationships almost impossible for him. Easton’s passion for justice is just as strong as Patrice’s but at times Easton’s privilege clouds his judgement and he can’t seem to live up to Patrice’s exacting standards.

I think this is the darkest and grittiest of the books in the series so far. Easton and Patrice’s relationship is genuinely complicated in ways that romance usually writing tends to avoid. The conversations between Easton and Patrice are difficult but immensely important. As an assistant DA, Easton represents a system that is institutionally biased against Patrice and the people he identifies with. And while Easton tries to be an ally, he gets things wrong sometimes. This book explores uncomfortable truths about race, privilege, and identity in a way that is both thought provoking and meaningful.

The story isn’t all dark and it isn’t all heavy discussions. The sexual connection between Patrice and Easton is explosive and very steamy. Nesto and Jude from the first book bring some light and some balance to the book. Patrice’s friends drag him from his soap box and back into the real world when he needs it. But Easton and Patrice are probably the most serious of the couples in this series and they both spend their lives working with the darkest parts of society.

I have loved this series from the start and I love the way the author writes romance that is a million miles away from genre norms. This is romance writing that demands thought, reflection and reader engagement. It’s writing about people I recognise and whose voices I want to hear more of. I can’t wait for the next book.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the third book in the series and I would definitely recommend that you read them in order, as knowing each friend's story builds into the whole. We knew that Patrice and Easton had met last year... now to see what can happen next!

I would say that all these books have brought to attention issues about colour and race that many readers will have never considered. This story does it in a far stronger way than the previous two, but maybe that is because Patrice holds himself and everyone else to an impossibly high standard and as a university professor has more widespread clout that the rest of the Dreamers. He is so focussed on what he considers he must do, that he is determined to pass up the chance of a real relationship with Easton. And that is even more true due to Easton being an ADA. For the first half of the book we do get a lot of information conveyed by both leads from their thoughts and beliefs, rather than their actions and conversations. In fact, one might say this is a particular failing on both their parts – even if for somewhat different reasons.

Once they finally let down some walls, the story speeds up a bit, and we get to enjoy a passionate relationship... even if only until Patrice shuts down again! Thankfully his friends have the best intentions for both men at heart and eventually P gets the message. I am not sure I would have been as patient as Easton, but given his family background, maybe his tenacity was understandable.

Another good addition to the series, and it does a good job of raising some difficult but important ethical questions.

Also Available in the Dreamers Series

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Carina Press – Harlequin

For reviews & more info, check out our American Dreamer post.

Book 2
Ebook Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Carina Press – Harlequin

Audiobook Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Audible US  ~  iTunes
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  Kobo

For reviews & more info, check out our American Fairytale Dual Media Review post.

Adriana Herrera was born and raised in the Caribbean, but for the last fifteen years has let her job (and her spouse) take her all over the world. She loves writing stories about people who look and sound like her people, getting unapologetic happy endings.

When’s she not dreaming up love stories, planning logistically complex vacations with her family or hunting for discount Broadway tickets, she’s a social worker in New York City, working with survivors of domestic and sexual violence.

Connect with Adriana

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of American Love Story (Dreamers #3) by Adriana Herrera to read and review.