The Spanish Daughter
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Book Overview
"An engrossing, suspenseful family saga filled with unpredictable twists and turns." --Chanel Cleeton, New York Times bestselling author of Next Year in Havana "With an equal mix of historical fiction, dramatic family conflict, and mystery, this tale should please fans of Christina Baker Kline, Lisa Wingate, and Kate Quinn." --Booklist The Washington Post Books to Read Now Ms. Magazine Reads for the Rest of Us Bustle Most Anticipated Books PopSugar Best Books BiblioLifestyle Most Anticipated Historical Fiction Books Book Riot Book Recommendations Finer Things Book Lover Gifts They'll Actually Love Perfect for fans of Julia Alvarez and Silvia Moreno-Garcia, this exhilarating novel transports you to the lush tropical landscape of 1920s Ecuador, blending family drama, dangerous mystery, and the real-life history of the coastal town known as the "birthplace of cacao."
As a child in Spain, Puri always knew her passion for chocolate was inherited from her father. But it's not until his death that she learns of something else she's inherited--a cocoa estate in Vinces, Ecuador, a town nicknamed "Par?s Chiquito." Eager to claim her birthright and filled with hope for a new life after the devastation of World War I, she and her husband Crist?bal set out across the Atlantic Ocean. But it soon becomes clear someone is angered by Puri's claim to the estate... When a mercenary sent to murder her aboard the ship accidentally kills Crist?bal instead, Puri dons her husband's clothes and assumes his identity, hoping to stay safe while she searches for the truth of her father's legacy in Ecuador. Though freed from the rules that women are expected to follow, Puri confronts other challenges at the estate--newfound siblings, hidden affairs, and her father's dark secrets. Then there are the dangers awakened by her attraction to an enigmatic man as she tries to learn the identity of an enemy who is still at large, threatening the future she is determined to claim... "A lush Ecuadoran cacao plantation is the setting for this imaginative historical drama filled with sibling rivalry and betrayals. Threaded throughout this dramatic family saga are descriptions of cocoa-making that will leave your mouth watering for chocolate." - The Washington Post "A sweepingly elegant historical novel." - Ms. Magazine "A lushly written story of bittersweet family secrets and betrayals." --Andrea Penrose, author of Murder at the Royal Botanic Gardens "Passionate and suspenseful, The Spanish Daughter is a satisfying historical mystery set in a lush tropical land." --Foreword Reviews STARRED REVIEW "Engrossing...As addictive as chocolate." --Publishers Weekly "Richly captivating." --Woman's World "A fascinating historical."--PopSugar
As a child in Spain, Puri always knew her passion for chocolate was inherited from her father. But it's not until his death that she learns of something else she's inherited--a cocoa estate in Vinces, Ecuador, a town nicknamed "Par?s Chiquito." Eager to claim her birthright and filled with hope for a new life after the devastation of World War I, she and her husband Crist?bal set out across the Atlantic Ocean. But it soon becomes clear someone is angered by Puri's claim to the estate... When a mercenary sent to murder her aboard the ship accidentally kills Crist?bal instead, Puri dons her husband's clothes and assumes his identity, hoping to stay safe while she searches for the truth of her father's legacy in Ecuador. Though freed from the rules that women are expected to follow, Puri confronts other challenges at the estate--newfound siblings, hidden affairs, and her father's dark secrets. Then there are the dangers awakened by her attraction to an enigmatic man as she tries to learn the identity of an enemy who is still at large, threatening the future she is determined to claim... "A lush Ecuadoran cacao plantation is the setting for this imaginative historical drama filled with sibling rivalry and betrayals. Threaded throughout this dramatic family saga are descriptions of cocoa-making that will leave your mouth watering for chocolate." - The Washington Post "A sweepingly elegant historical novel." - Ms. Magazine "A lushly written story of bittersweet family secrets and betrayals." --Andrea Penrose, author of Murder at the Royal Botanic Gardens "Passionate and suspenseful, The Spanish Daughter is a satisfying historical mystery set in a lush tropical land." --Foreword Reviews STARRED REVIEW "Engrossing...As addictive as chocolate." --Publishers Weekly "Richly captivating." --Woman's World "A fascinating historical."--PopSugar
Format:Paperback
Language:English
ISBN:1496736249
ISBN13:9781496736246
Release Date:December 2021
Publisher:Kensington Publishing Corporation
Length:304 Pages
Weight:0.83 lbs.
Dimensions:0.9" x 6.0" x 8.9"
Customer Reviews
1 rating
3.5 stars
Published by INKwitchery , 1 year ago
THE SPANISH DAUGHTER by Lorena Hughes
María Purificación de Lafont y Toledo, “Puri” for short, is set to inherit half of her deceased father’s cacao plantation in Vinces, Ecuador. Unfortunately during the journey from Spain her husband is killed by an assassin meant for her. Puri decides to dress up as her deceased husband in order to find out who in her estranged family wants her dead.
If you cast aside the improbable circumstances (how convincing was Puri’s beard, mustache and deep voice to pass off as a man?!) in the plot, this was a light historical mystery. I think the story gives an accurate portrayal and perspective of how women were treated in the 1920s.
I also enjoyed learning about the cacao boom in Ecuador. I do wish the author went in depth about Maria’s grandmother’s backstory especially how she invented and patented the roaster machine for the cacao beans.
Overall, a solid family drama that will make you appreciate the people and hard work it takes to turn a cacao bean into chocolate.
Rating: 3.5/5 ⭐️
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