Welcome to Litsy!

Publishers Weekly says: An engrossing mystery/romance set in early 20th-century Ecuador and Spain… Fans of historicals will appreciate the descriptions of dress, local foods and customs, social stratification, and the cacao industry, ....As addictive as #chocolate . . . I gave it a thumbs up but don't really remember much. This review makes it sound fascinating enough for a reread!
#FeelintheLove @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

Though I was skeptical of the premise, I set aside my disbelief and was quickly hooked. For the most part, I enjoyed the story. The ending was a little weird, but in light of the real world events the story was based on, I wasn't entirely put off. A good, fast-paced read that avoided a lot of historical drama tropes.

#two4tuesday Thanks @TheSpineView for the tag!

1) the one with food 😉
2) tagged—about the heiress to a chocolate plantation in South America

Puri and her husband travel from Spain to #Ecuador after the death of her estranged father to claim her part of the family chocolate estate. When her husband is murdered on the trip, she assumes his identity to find the truth. This was a wonderful tale of secrets, love, and family drama. #ReadingTheAmericas2023 @Librarybelle @BarbaraBB

#Ecuador #readaroundthewotld #readingtheamericas2023 Set in the time of the first cacao bonanza of the early 1900‘s in Ecuador, this murder mystery has our main character disguised as a man to find the killer. It was difficult to credit that she could pull that off given her character but it was an entertaining read. Plus as a chocolate lover I find anything to do with chocolate is appreciated.

Thank you @Librarybelle for putting this on my #readersradar for #readingtheamericas23 #ecuador.

Puri travels from Spain to Ecuador to claim a family inheritance but circumstances force her to pretend to be her own husband.

I enjoyed this on audio as I find this ‘lighter‘ kind of HF novel works well that way; I might have found it less interesting in print. (I listened whilst gazing out of the train window on my journey to London)

Puri decides to leave Spain to claim her inheritance from her estranged father in #Ecuador . While traveling, her husband is murdered. This starts her quest to find out who would want her and her husband murdered, which leads to lots of family secrets, not to mention her father‘s second family.

Overall, I liked the book - good narration, and I wanted to keep listening. I do wish this had an author‘s note about the historic accuracy/setting. ⬇️⬇️

Thanks for this #ReadingAmericas23 recommendation @Susanita 🤩I really enjoyed the story of an #inheritance involving multiple #siblings with plenty of #secrets set on a cocoa plantation in #Ecuador

I really enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. Before reading I thought it would be more about cocoa plantations but it was definitely more of a mystery novel in my opinion. I loved the mystery and Puri‘s journey. My heart broke for her on several occasions. I am definitely interested in reading more from this author!

A Spanish heiress inherits her father‘s chocolate plantation in #Ecuador along with step-siblings she didn‘t know existed. When someone tries to kill her en route, she dons a disguise and tries to identify which of the siblings (or all of them) want to kill her. How the disguise held up is beyond me, but it was a good mystery with a conclusion that was not foreseeable. #readingtheamericas @Librarybelle @BarbaraBB

I was able to listen to almost two hours of my audiobook on the plane to Phoenix. Husband, son, and I are doing a college visit up in Prescott tomorrow morning. #Ecuador #readingtheamericas @Librarybelle @BarbaraBB

#wondrouswednesday Thanks @Eggs for the tag!

1) Alexander McCall Smith; I‘m betting he‘d have great stories to tell about his own life
2) tagged is my current audiobook
3) #Ecuador chocolate plantation inheritance murder

#readingtheamericas

Tagged you‘re it! @Librarybelle @BarbaraBB

My current audiobook

#Ecuador #readingtheamericas @Librarybelle @BarbaraBB

This was my pick for #readingtheamericas2023 challenge representing #Ecuador. This was an absorbing historical read. I loved the characters and its based off of the true story about where the first chocolate came from. 🌟🌟🌟🌟 @BarbaraBB @Librarybelle

• Upon a Book Club #OUABC December 2021 Box

#StoryGraph: fiction historical emotional mysterious

“Set against the lush backdrop of early twentieth century Ecuador and inspired by the real-life history of the coastal town known as the birthplace of cacao, this captivating novel from the award-winning author of The Sisters of Alameda Street tells the story of a resourceful young chocolatier who must impersonate a man in order to survive...”

5/225 This was a very enjoyable book about a woman who goes to #Ecuador to take possession of her inheritance. On the way someone attempts to kill her and kills her husband. So when she gets to Ecuador she goes incognito as her husband yo try to uncover who is behind the killing. 2nd country finished for #ReadingTheAmericas2023 @Librarybelle @BarbaraBB

5th book finished for #JumpStart2023 @Clwojick @LizPixie

1. Historic chocolate family drama (tagged book)
2. Sí
3. Exiles by Jane Harper
#wondrouswednesday

Jumped on a plane for my next #ReadingtheAmericas choice, gone from Argentina to #Ecuador for this read. @Librarybelle @BarbaraBB

This one gets good reviews.

#JumpStart2023 @Clwojick @LizPixie

#WinterReadathon @DieAReader @Ghabi4Roses

For the first time since joining Goodreads ten years ago, I‘m not going to set myself a numerical goal for the year. Sometimes I‘ve gotten so caught up in the tracking that it overwhelms the actual reading.

I participate in five book clubs, and I also plan to do #authoramonth and #ReadingTheAmericas2023 (tagged) then fill in as I can with #serieslove2023 and new books that strike my fancy.

I think that will keep me busy!

#Jumpstart2023

I enjoyed this historical fiction audiobook set in Ecuador in the 1920s.

Puri and her husband travel from their home in Spain to Ecuador to claim her inheritance left to her by her estranged father. On the ship there, an assassin tries to kill Puri. She survives but her husband and the assassin die. She impersonates her husband in order to find out which members of her family she can trust and which tried to kill her.

Best part of flying: guilt-free reading time. Really enjoying this historical take on a woman navigating her new-found family relationships and expected gender roles while disguised as her murdered husband. #coffeeandabook

Read this with an open mind to walk in a character‘a shoes that will face some interesting experiences. This is not your traditional love story, but it is something so much more. It‘s the essence of what makes us stop. When we embrace another perspective, we learn a great deal about ourselves. Puri‘s journey was a beautiful and amazing discovery of what it means to find forgiveness, move forward, and embrace new beginnings.

Finished this today! Such a good book! A very quick read and with that, my #bookspin is done! My #doublebookspin is Sanditon, which I‘m buddy reading so that will be done later in the month! @TheAromaofBooks

4✨We go back and forth in time with 3 characters to unfold secrets, and mystery. Our main character is disguised 🥸 as her husband after an attack to them both from a mysterious scared man. The fight for their lives leaves her husband dead and the question of who sent someone to dispose of them? I had a lot of thoughts, but figured it out right before the reveal. It was repetitive at times, but not overly distracting.

This was a book with a front on family chocolate business, hiding a story on the hidden world of men. Puri learns this many ways through her late father, a plantation worker, and even her married sister. From being unrestrained to a wild attraction to many women. She learns to appreciate her late husband more as she impersonates him. There‘s a lot going on. ending left me satisfied enough, although I didn‘t see it coming from past twists
#ouabc

Blizzard like storm is done and we‘re piled in pretty well. (Shoveled out too) Basic New England life here. Needed a cup of hot cocoa for this book about a cocoa plantation.
In which the plot thickens on the mystery of who wants Puri dead, and why. It‘s keeping well my attention just with Puri pretending to be her husband and learning “the ways of men”
#ouabc

I thought the story was very good. Puri inherited a cacao plantation from her father and an attempt was made on her life en route to Ecuador, then her husband was killed. To find the killer, Puri posed as her husband and told her siblings she died at sea. The results were interesting. #6 #BookSpinBingo #11 #BFC2022 #JUMPSTART2022 #ReadtheSpanishSpeakingWorld Ecuador #Pantone2022ColourChallenge Basil #TidyBookshelfDiverseReading #Wintercosy

The premise of this story sounds so intriguing- lady in Spain learns she inherits late father cocoa plantation in Ecuador. Not just that, but she has to disguise herself dad her husband in order to take the title as women aren‘t allowed to. Heavy feminist vibes with how it sounds she wants what she is told is hers. Also, it‘s about how todays chocolate got started in the 1920‘s 🍫 😋
#ouabc

From the Publisher: Set against the lush backdrop of early twentieth century Ecuador and inspired by the real-life history of the coastal town known as the birthplace of cacao, this captivating #OwnVoices novel from the award-winning author of The Sisters of Alameda Street tells the story of a resourceful young chocolatier who must impersonate a man in order to survive.

From me: Read this gorgeous book!

Although I felt the writing style was a bit bland, the narrative is packed with a richness that helps make up for what the writing lacks. The historical and cultural detail, along with a compelling mystery, kept me invested all the way through. I also found Puri‘s perspective on how differently she was treated as a man interesting.

My full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4363687964

Settling in for a quiet afternoon with my pup and a new book. Just the pace I need today.

Gorgeous cover rave reviews perfect read for this holiday weekend.