Latina Attorney Puts Passion on her Docket

In September, Caridad will continue her campaign with her first women's fiction novel for Simon and Schuster's Downtown Press — SEX AND THE SOUTH BEACH CHICAS. The publishing world is already abuzz about this work. New York Times bestselling author Eloisa James called it "Chocolate with a cayenne pepper kick!" USA Today Bestselling Novelist Jennifer Greene noted that SEX AND THE SOUTH BEACH CHICAS was "(a) zesty, sexy read about real single women today; I couldn't put it down."

And what does Caridad think about her breakout novel? "I wanted to write about the life experiences that we all encounter as women. SEX AND THE SOUTH BEACH CHICAS gave me the opportunity to explore what happens with a life-long relationship has to deal with sudden change — in this case, a surprise elopement."

What happens, as readers will soon realize, is a series of countless surprises as the friends discover that love and life are fickle and ever changing. Tori, Adriana, Sylvia and Juli — four successful and accomplished women in their own right — soon have to not only rebuild their friendship, but must also deal with all the other issues in their in lives.

"It was important for me to delve into the many relationships that women face today and not just romantic ones. The thing that I loved most about SEX AND THE SOUTH BEACH CHICAS is that it let me explore how women interact with friends, but also, how women deal with their mothers," says Caridad, who confesses that in each of the mother-daughter relationships were not only pearls of wisdom from her own mother, but also some of the angst she went through as she declared her independence.

"My mother was not just my mom, but my friend and mentor, much the same way the moms are in SEX AND THE SOUTH BEACH CHICAS," Caridad notes. Because of that, she hopes readers will identify with their own relationships with their mothers, as well as their friendships with the women in their lives.

The release of SEX AND THE SOUTH BEACH CHICAS in September marks the release of Caridad's twelfth novel. In addition to SEX AND THE SOUTH BEACH CHICAS, Caridad released MORE THAN A MISSION in August with Silhouette Intimate Moments. In December look for DEATH CALLS, book number four in her well-received vampire series — THE CALLING. DEATH CALLS will help Harlequin launch its new NOCTURNE paranormal line.

When not writing, Caridad is a mother, wife and partner in a Manhattan law firm. She has appeared on various television programs and her works have been featured in a number of magazines and newspapers. She has also appeared at BookExpo America — in 2000 as one of the artists at the first ever Spanish Book Pavilion and in 2006 for Harlequin at the launch of the Nocturne line.

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