This was a book picked by my local library for the February book club read. I was so excited when I saw it was written by an Ecuadorian author and knew I really wanted to read it. It marks my first book by and Ecuadorian. 

The Spanish Daughter is a historical fiction novel set in Ecuador at a time when French landowners were arriving in Ecuador to be farmers and exporters of cacao. The town of Vinces became known as “The Paris of Ecuador.’ 

What I absolutely love about this novel is that Hughes was inspired by the story of a woman who it is believed invented the cacao bean roaster. According to the author’s note she then proceeded to research women inventers, French landowners in Ecuador, women who cross dressed, and from all of this information she developed a generational, historical fiction story, linking two continents, and strong women. This is the bases for some of my favourite historical fiction. It is set in Ecuador with many links to France and Spain. 

The story however is unrealistic at times. In addition, it’s many comments on men versus women became a bit tiresome; I was ready for that to end very early in the book. 

Would I recommend this book? If you are willing to consider the negatives, it is a great piece of historical fiction for learning about this period in Ecuador’s past, as well as the cacao industry. It is decently written and a fairly easy read. I would probably pick up another Lorena Hughes book if the topic was of interest to me. It is a great pick for reading from Ecuador if any of you attempting to travel around the world with books.