Praise for THE QUEEN OF THE VALLEY: "A tale as rich and complex as the finest chocolate." --Marisel Vera , author of The Taste of Sugar Praise for THE SPANISH DAUGHTER : "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 "An engrossing, suspenseful family saga filled with unpredictable twists and turns." --Chanel Cleeton , New York Times bestselling author of Next Year in Havana "A sweepingly elegant historical novel." -- Ms. Magazine "Passionate and suspenseful, The Spanish Daughter is a satisfying historical mystery set in a lush tropical land." -- Foreword Reviews, STARRED REVIEW "Betrayal, secrets, and chocolate fuel this transporting page turner from Lorena Hughes.
Set amid the early 20th-century cacao boom, the novel gently comments on the confines of gender, while asking if goodness is innate or learned." -- Christian Science Monitor "Richly captivating." -- Woman's World "Riveting.filled with rich imagery (and rich chocolate!), this story about a woman who never gives up on her dreams had me hooked from the start." -- First for Women "A fascinating historical mystery." -- PopSugar "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, a source of an economic boom and bust in early 20th-century Ecuador. As addictive as chocolate, this ends on a modern and satisfying note.
" -- Publishers Weekly "Hughes portrays a small cast of characters while providing whodunit suspense and lots of background information on cacao plantations and insights into the way social classes are embodied in the production of chocolate. 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. Beginning with a map and ending with a reader's group guide, Hughes' tale of secrets, treachery, and chocolate will be appreciated by fiction readers looking for an extra level of engagement." -- Booklist.