Everyone has skeletons in their closet. I liked how this story unfolded in finding out the many secrets of each character when working through the will for the cocca plantation.

Maria found out so much when dressed as her husband in looking for his true killer. The way people treat one another due to gender and the differences is really fascinating and showed through in this book.

I enjoyed the audiobook version of this book and the mystery and drama that unfolded throughout. Who doesn't like chocolate and a bunch of estranged family.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing this Audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

María Purificación – Puri for short – has come into a large inheritance after her dad passes away. She hasn’t seen him since she was two years old, when he left her and her mother in Spain to travel to Ecuador and start a cacao plantation. He ended up staying there for 26 years and starting a new family. On passage from Spain, Puri’s husband Cristóbal is killed when saving her from an attempted murder. Set against the lush backdrop of 20th century Ecuador, this own-voices author highlights the destructing force of harboured jealousy and the strengthening and rebuilding that can take place when we look for similarities rather than differences between us and our supposed enemies. Legacy and corruption go hand in hand in this absorbing read. The Spanish Daughter is a story full of intrigue, secrets, deception, and of course deceit. She’s been left a sizeable cocoa plantation – a delight for this young chocolatier from Seville, Spain. She is given a tour, as a chocolate maker she finds, the process of growing, harvesting, fermenting and drying of the cocoa beans fascinating. The characters are interestingly developed; the story is engrossingly woven, making it a quick read. I constantly kept guessing who was behind the attempt. Puri's unique and harrowing journey was definitely action-packed, entertaining, and was really engaging. She is such a great and complex main character. The twists, turns, and experiences that were part of the narrative were well-developed and I really admired her bravery, passion, and fortitude. The fundamental aspects of love, loss, overcoming obstacles, friendships forged, and perseverance were prevalent throughout. I recommend reading this has a nice history on chocolate, it is an enjoyable historical fiction outside of the normal war themed books.

Thank you to NetGalley, author and Kensington Books.