Interview with Liana De la Rosa

Because romance novels must follow a certain format, or readers become unhappy at having their expectations unmet—most notably for the happily-ever-after ending (HEA)—what separates a given author from the crowd is their creative approach to those expectations and their willingness to push the boundaries through setting or character traits and interests. Liana De la Rosa excels at this task in her books featuring the three Luna sisters: Ana María, Isabel, and, last but definitely not least, Gabriela, whose adventures conclude the series. Read on to find out more from my interview with the author about Gabriela and His Grace.

What inspired you to set a historical romance series during the Second Mexican Empire? Were you already familiar with this period in history?

I was researching immigration records for another project when I came across records of Mexicans immigrating to Europe. It got me thinking about what reasons would necessitate such a move, and like a lightning strike, I remembered the Second French Occupation of Mexico. I had studied it briefly as an undergrad eons ago, and I had thankfully kept my textbooks, so I could read them to refresh my memory. The occupation gave me an excuse to send the sisters to Victorian-era London but still allowed me to showcase this rarely explored—and fascinating—era in Mexican history!

What should we know about the two previous books in the series, Ana María and the Fox and Isabel and the Rogue?

Gabby and Sebastian have known each other since the start of the series. Before Ana María and Gideon meet in the first book, Sebastian spies Gabby at a ball and introduces himself to her. The reader learns later in the book that she greatly dislikes the duke but not the reason why. They continue to trade barbs in book two, and finally in their book the source of their mutual dislike for each other is revealed. Their journey to to an HEA is a long, slow one, but I hope well worth it for readers!

Introduce us, please to Gabriela Luna Valdés. How would you describe her as a person—and a personality? What does she want most out of life?

Gabby is the youngest Luna sister, and also the fiercest of the group. I call Gabby my fiery Aries queen, who’s quick to offer a stinging set-down in defense of those she loves. Above all, Gabby wants to control the direction of her own life, and to use her life to help those she loves. But all that fire hides a big, sensitive heart and deep vulnerabilities … vulnerabilities that are hard to hide on the trip to Mexico, offering Sebastian a glimpse of the real Gabby that few are privy to.

And Sebastian Brooks, the Duke of Whitfield—what does he want most, and what qualifies him to be a romantic hero?

Despite having a loving mother, Sebastian lived a very lonely childhood. When she dies, teenage Sebastian finds himself angry and unmoored, eventually easing into the roll of an arrogant, feckless duke. But what Sebastian really wants, although he doesn’t realize it, is a family. Circumstances bring him that family he secretly yearned for and he rises to the occasion, embracing the responsibility eagerly. And when Gabby needs his help, Sebastian provides it without question, showing Gabby that he’s much more thoughtful and caring than she had ever given him credit for.

I’ve asked you about the Second Mexican Empire in general, but where do things stand when Gabriela returns home? What do she and her family want and expect?

The tide of war has turned in Mexico at the start of Gabriela and His Grace. Napoleon III has ordered French troops to withdraw from Mexico, and Emperor Maximilian and his troops are scrambling to fortify their holdings throughout the country. It’s a task made more difficult now that Benito Juárez and his supporters are receiving cash and weapons from the United States. The end of the empire is near, and it’s this certainty that convinces Gabby that she can return to her homeland and aid in the final push to expel Maximilian and the remaining Monarchists. Except the war has not changed how Gabby’s parents view her: a means to forge political alliances through marriage into a powerful pennisulares family. But one of the primary reasons Gabby fled London is because of overeager marriage suitors, and she’s not about to be sold into marriage now, regardless of how it would benefit her parents.

If characters meet and fall in love, there is no story—at least in a romance. What keeps Gabriela and Sebastian apart?

The biggest thing standing between Gabby and Sebastian is fear. With their antagonistic history, their relationship develops slowly … and so does trust. And it’s that lack of trust that proves the ultimate threat to their HEA.

If characters know immediately that they don’t suit, again there is no story. What, in your view, keeps Sebastian and Gabriela engaged with each other despite their differences?

I think Sebastian and Gabby are more alike than they realize or allow themselves to consider. But despite their shared animosity, they also respect each other, especially Sebastian for Gabby. Yet they’ve never had an opportunity or reason to set aside their dislike for each other long enough to see behind the veneer they both present to the world … until they find themselves sequestered on the same boat heading to Mexico.

This series is finished. Are you already working on something new?

I am! My debut contemporary romance, Mutual Discord, is out summer 2026! It features a Latina influencer, who highlights the scientific and historical theft of women’s discoveries, who finds her own heart stolen by the one man she can’t have … her best friend’s boyfriend!

Thank you so much for answering my questions!

Liana De la Rosa is a USA Today bestselling historical romance author who writes diverse characters in the Regency and Victorian periods. Gabriela and His Grace is her most recent novel. Find out more about her and her books at https://lianadelarosa.com.

Photograph of Liana De la Rosa © Berkley Jove (TR). Reproduced with permission.