CATALINA Magazine Announces “Top 5 Books by Latina Authors’ in 2006

“For the second consecutive year, CATALINA magazine is recognizing today’s best Latina authors and their work by releasing the “Top 5 Books by Latina Authors” list.

At the end of the year (December 2006), CATALINA’s selection committee, members of the CATALINA Book Club, voted on the best Latina-authored books published in 2006. Book club Members selected books in 5 categories: Humor, Chick-Lit, Adventure, Fantasy, and Romance. Here are CATALINA’s “Top 5 Books by Latina Authors” of 2006:

1. HUMOR: Happy Hour at Casa Dracula, by Marta Acosta

In her debut book, Happy Hour at Casa Dracula (Pocket, 2006), author Marta Acosta brings humor, love, and Latin spice to the undead. According to CATALINA book club member Amanda Arizola, Happy Hour at Casa Dracula is hilarious and over the top. The combination of witty writing and strong characters makes this unusual tale of meeting “Mr. Right” to a fabulously bizarre level. Living “happily ever after” has never been so funny.

2. CHICKLIT: Becoming a Latina in 10 Easy Steps, by Lara Rios

Becoming a Latina in 10 Easy Steps (Berkley Publishing, 2006), by Lara Rios. Reading Lara Rios’ book stops the reader dead in her tracks with laughter and with tears, says book club member, Dr. Charley Ferrer. With humor and sensitivity, a delicate combination, Lara remarkably addresses one of the toughest questions U.S. Latinas face: “Are you Latina enough?” Not only does Lara guide her reader through the emotional rollercoaster of living a bicultural life, she pulls it off with wittiness and comedy.

3. ADVENTURE: Across a Hundred Mountains, By Reyna Grande

Across a Hundred Mountains (Simon and Schuster, 2006) by Reyna Grande. Reyna’s debut novel about immigration’s human side is not only timely and necessary, it’s beautiful. According to book club member Mari Solorzano, the book eloquently touches on a sensitive subject that is getting international media attention – the struggles of coming to America. Unfortunately, many people don’t realize that those who cross the border just want a better life for their families and live the American dream. Across a Hundred Mountains shows this side of the immigration debate. “It is such a powerful book,” book club member Cynthia Ramos adds.

4. FANTASY: Death Calls, by Caridad Pineiro

Caridad Pineiro’s Death Calls (Silhouette Intimate Moments, 2006) is the fourth in her successful vampire series, “The Calling.” Again, Caridad creates a romantic thriller with a dark side that keeps the reader enthralled, entertained, and fascinated. According to book club member Carol Mintz, Death Calls is a fast-paced novel that a reader will not be able to put down. Both the plot and characters hold your interest from page one until the very end. Book club member Diane Bernstein adds: “I love the combination of horror and romance.” Vampire fans have two more books in “The Calling” series to look forward to in 2007: Devotion Calls and Blood Calls.

5. ROMANCE: In Between Men, by Mary Castillo

In 2005, Mary Castillo warmed our hearts with her debut novel Hot Tamara. This year, she does it again, in true, fast-paced and fun Mary Castillo style with In Between Men (Harper Collins, 2006). According to book club member, Juanita Johnson, the romantic chick lit novel brings readers a truly loveable, but confused, protagonist, Isa, who appropriately finds love after a bump to the head. The believable and fun dialogue between the characters, clearly one of Mary’s best strengths as an author, makes this romantic tale of girl meets boy an enchanting read. “

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