Welcome to Litsy!

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

β€’ Upon a Book Club #OUABC December 2021 Box

#StoryGraph: fiction historical emotional mysterious

β€œSet 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 πŸ₯Έ 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 β€œthe 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 🍫 πŸ˜‹
#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 Puriβ€˜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.