Rick Ramos: A cool Latino hero in Operation Familia, by Donna del Oro 

In writing Operation Familia, my first humorous women’s fiction story (which debuted in February, 2008), I knew the hero would have to be based on my all-time crush, Jimmy Smits. The actor has been in the movies for at least 20 years and I’ve followed his career with interest. In my opinion, he’s the epitome of the handsome latino male: tall, well-built, thick dark hair, dark eyes, a tower of strength, humor, and self-confidence. 

So, as I wrote about my hero, Rick Ramos, I envisioned Jimmy Smits–a younger version of Jimmy, anyway.  In Operation Familia, Rick’s father is an undocumented Mexican national, a hard-working man who has launched a successful roofing contracting business. Backstory: Rick had to quit college to get a contractor’s license and help his father take the business to a higher level. Because his father is a strict, traditional Mexican with strong Catholic values, Rick felt obliged to do the honorable thing and marry the girl he’d gotten pregnant during one of his and Dina Salazar’s off periods. Dina, my heroine, never forgave him for marrying the other woman and since then has refused to hear his name spoken in her presence. To her, he’s The Hated One. 

When she’s drawn back to her family in Salinas to hear her Mexican-born grandmother’s dark secrets, Dina is eventually roped into devising a scheme to help her Mexican cousins escape a drug cartel’s clutches. Meanwhile, Rick Ramos finds a way to surface again in her life; he seeks Dina’s advice about his daughter, a little girl with learning disabilities. An elementary teacher, Dina is immediately sympathetic and tries to help. Knowing Rick is now divorced and has sole custody of his little girl, Dina realizes she’s never stopped loving him. Nevertheless, she fights against her attraction and deep feelings while studying how he has changed over the years. From a passionate boy, Rick has grown into a stoical man who bears his burdens and problems in a way she can admire. 

More than his devotion to his daughter, sexy Rick displays a steadiness and maturity that Dina finds heartening and irresistible. No more flaky playboys for her! Rick is definitely HUSBAND MATERIAL. SEXY HUSBAND MATERIAL. 

When he proves to Dina his love and support by helping her rescue her Mexican cousins, well, it’s the tipping point. Dina finally learns that forgiveness can mend a broken heart.  

Question of the Day:

Rick Ramos. Jimmy Smits.  They’re almost one and the same!  Do you have a favorite or admired person you’d like to see as a hero in a book?

Visit Guest Angel Donna del Oro at her web site.