Book Release,  Contemporary

Read Billionaire in the Heights the new #LatinxRomance by Maria Lokken @Maria_Lokken#RLFblog #Contemporary #Romance

Read Billionaire in the Heights the new #LatinxRomance by Maria Lokken @Maria_Lokken#RLFblog #Contemporary #RomanceSparks fly in Maria Lokken’s new contemporary romance, Billionaire in the Heights. A real estate mogul’s new development plan threatens a neighborhood center. But the fiery community center’s director is willing to step in front of a wrecking ball to save the neighborhood in this enemies-to-lovers Latinx sweet romance.

Maria, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! Please tell us about Billionaire in the Heights.

Billionaire in the Heights by Maria Lokken

Genre Contemporary Lantinx Romance
Book heat level (based on movie ratings): G rated

Real estate mogul, Dale Forester, wins the bid to build a new apartment complex on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. This success secures his new position as CEO of Forester Industries and saves his deceased father’s company from a disastrous free fall.

After months of leading rallies and protests to block the new construction, Sylvia Ramirez won’t give up on saving the community center she manages from Forester Industries’ wrecking ball.

With the deadline to break ground fast approaching, Sylvia is running out of options to save the center, and Dale is losing precious community goodwill. Working together might be their only solution, but how can these strong-willed overachievers manage a truce? Sparks fly in this enemies-to-lovers sweet romance.

Why did you write this book?

I read an article about several corporations that were helping underserved communities. And while that’s terrific, it doesn’t always make for great fiction. Let’s face it – we need some conflict to keep reading and find out what happens next. But I found this story and the companies compelling. So I thought, what if I start the story at the opposite end of the spectrum – a company doing something that doesn’t serve the community, but in the end, it works out? The next thing I knew, I was drumming up conflict in my mind – while I ate breakfast, showered, and went to work. Since I adore the enemies-to-lovers trope, I threw that in, and the story really began to cook. I imagined a fiery Latina fighting against corporate greed. Once I pictured my female protagonist and what she wanted, it was hard not to write the book. It was just a story that made me want to get up in the morning and write.

What is your favorite genre to read?

Romantic Comedy. I cannot resist a romantic comedy with witty banter between the female and male protagonists. Between the Margins by Melissa Ferguson and Book Lovers by Emily Henry come to mind.

Who is your favorite character from fiction (not including your own)?

I have many. Today, I’ll pick two; one from the past and one from the present.

Elizabeth Bennett from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Because she is a woman who will not settle. Her quips are deadly. Her position is unmovable. Her strength is endearing.

Bonnie Garmus’ novel Lessons in Chemistry featured a remarkable female protagonist. A woman who must overcome prejudices to succeed in a boys-only club to have the career she deserves. She does it with grace and agility — regardless of the obstacles she must overcome.

What are you working on at the moment?

I’m fascinated by the speed with which AI has entered the mainstream and the attendant necessity of cyber security. To that end, I’ve turned my fascination into a romantic suspense novel about a woman who must hack into her dead husband’s computer to obtain a code before governments topple.

What books will we see from you in coming months?

A romantic suspense entitled, The Mechanic. And a rom-com, The Makeover.

Where to buy Billionaire In The Heights

Publisher https://catalog.wildrosepress.com/bookpage.php?TitleID=15864
Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BZFH4YP7/thewildrosepr-20
Barnes and Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/billionaire-in-the-heights-maria-lokken/1143104913?ean=9781509249107
Google Books https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Maria_Lokken_Billionaire_in_the_Heights?id=nwfAEAAAQBAJ
Kobo https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/billionaire-in-the-heights
BooksAMillion https://www.booksamillion.com/p/9781509249107

Maria Lokken Social Media

I’ve spent the last couple of decades working in reality television. A world where steel armor is preferred over a cashmere sweater. A world where the word impossible is for sissy punks and where ‘no’ is considered a four-letter word.
I wasn’t born tough. I learned tough. Southeast Bronx, the housing projects were my training ground. At an early age, I saw two paths in life, survive or succumb. So, when it came to choices, I chose the harder one – survive. I’m a Performing Arts High School and Julliard graduate, I’m a television writer, and I’ve managed multi-million dollar productions, and now, I’m writing romance.
My abuela (grandmother) said I could be anything I want to be. And right now, I just wanna tell love stories.
Website https://marialokken.com
Blog https://marialokken.com/blog/
Twitter https://twitter.com/Maria_Lokken
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/maria.lokken.9
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/maria_writer_lokken/
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/29888502.Maria_Lokken
Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/stores/Maria-Lokken/author/B0BXHPSGCJ

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