Cari Mora

The protagonist in 'Cari Mora' is Cari herself, a survivor with a past that's both tragic and fierce. She's a former child soldier from Colombia who's now trying to build a quiet life in Miami. What drives her is pure survival instinct mixed with a deep-seated resilience. She's not looking for trouble, but when it comes knocking—usually in the form of violent criminals hunting for hidden treasure—she doesn't back down. Cari's motivations are raw and immediate: protect herself, protect those she cares about, and outlast the monsters, both human and metaphorical, that keep dragging her back into chaos. Her strength comes from years of hardening, but there's a vulnerability underneath that makes her compelling. She's not a hero by choice; she's a fighter by necessity.

The central conflict in 'Cari Mora' is a brutal hunt for hidden treasure that pits desperate criminals against each other and against the title character, a resilient survivor with a dark past. A group of violent mercenaries and cartel members descend upon Miami to recover $25 million in gold hidden by Pablo Escobar, sparking a bloody free-for-all. Cari Mora, who manages the house where the treasure is buried, becomes both a target and an unexpected adversary. Her traumatic history as a child soldier in Colombia gives her the skills to fight back, turning what should be an easy heist into a deadly battle of wits and survival. The real tension comes from watching these predators realize they've underestimated their prey, as Cari uses the environment and their own greed against them.

Mari Carr is this incredibly talented romance author who’s been on my radar for years. She’s got this knack for blending steamy scenes with genuine emotional depth, and her characters always feel like real people. Some of her most popular series include the 'Wild Irish' books, which follow this big, chaotic Irish family, and the 'Compass Brothers' series, co-written with Jayne Rylon. I stumbled onto her work through 'Teague’s Breeder,' and it hooked me instantly—there’s something about her writing that just gets how messy and beautiful relationships can be.

Her standalone novels are gems too, like 'Sweet Victory,' which mixes sports romance with a second-chance trope. What I love is how she isn’t afraid to explore kink or unconventional dynamics while keeping the heart of the story front and center. If you’re into contemporary romance with a side of heat, her backlist is a treasure trove. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve reread 'Falling Hard' just for the banter alone.