The Spanish Daughter by Lorena Hughes (Recorded books: RB Media) 3.5 stars

Publication date 28/12/21 Audio time 11 hrs 45 mins Book 352 Pages

I would like to thank the author, publishers and Netgalley for allowing me to pick, read and review this book.

If you are doing my reading challenge Ladyreading365's reading challenge group on Facebook or list on my blog this book will fit into the following prompts #2 #6 #9 #16 #17 #20 #29 #30 #33 #40 #42

Synopsis

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 “París 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 Cristóbal 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 Cristóbal 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… 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.”

My Review

3.5 stars rounded up This was a very good and interesting read. I thought it was great that this book was a genre hybrid being part historical fiction and part murder mystery as im not the greatest fan of mystery books but I really enjoyed this one. I enjoyed it from the very start. The story-line was very unique in which the main character had to pretend to be a man in order to solve the murder. I listened to the audiobook and thought the narrator did a very good job at creating a great atmosphere and I loved her voice it worked so well. I found the beginning of this book so captivating and fast paced. However it slowed a little in the middle section but then picked up again at the end of the book. There was so many different characters and you were told just enough about them to believe you knew them but there was twists in the book to shock us. I thoroughly enjoyed the ending where the main character pulled all the pieces together to solve the mystery. I did love the fact that the main character had to pretend to be a man and found the fishing section rather humorous. This is a perfect book for all those who love a good murder mystery. Many thanks to the author and publishers for putting together this thrilling murder mystery together for us all to enjoy.