The Enchanted Hacienda
J. C. Cervantes


Cervantes latest novel is enchanting, lovely and lively, full of love, loss, a good dose of magic and a lot of family drama, a fantastic mix of magical realism and women’s fiction. Introducing readers to Harlow Estrada an unsinkable heroine, a true friend and steadfast member of her all-consuming all magical family and to Mayahuel, the goddess of the Agave plant from Aztec mythology. As this exceptional author weaves this unforgettable tale she’ll take readers on some emotional journeys featuring some arresting backdrops and a cast of extraordinary characters. Harlow is the enigmatic star of the show, the scene stealer and readers will have no choice but to love her, and her chutzpah and will laugh and cry with her though her self-awakening. There is a memorable love story between the mysteries and dramas but J.C. Cervantes will make her audience wait an excruciatingly long time before she lets them in on whether there’s a happy ever after or not but it’s definitely worth the wait. Fans of the genre and authors like Sarah Addison Allen will find this novel absolutely unputdownable.

Born into a magical family but having no magic herself Harlow Estrada is used to disappointment but has just kept putting one foot in front of the other and kept going. That is until she finds herself at a crossroads; fired from her job and dramatically breaking up with her boyfriend. Her heart is telling her to go home, to Mexico, her magical family and the Enchanted Hacienda, their flower farm where her sisters, aunt and cousins infuse magic into the blooms for select customers.

Once home and surrounded by the love of family and magic Harlow starts finding her way and just maybe a magical awakening herself when she thinks the family’s patron goddess Mayahuel is visiting her in her dreams. When the farm choses her to be a temporary caretaker while her mom and aunt go on vacation, she’s not sure she’s up to the task and when she almost botches a magical binding, she sees it as a definite sign. When that botched binding finds her literally knocked off her feet by the gorgeous stranger she keeps bumping into she’s not sure what the universe is telling her and she’s not sure she wants to find out either.

Emily Henry meets Disney's Encanto in The Enchanted Hacienda, a beautiful tale about family, magical flowers, and love ✧ ೃ༄*ੈ✩

I was so excited to read this book because I love love cozy fantasy books. This novel is set in various parts in America, but most of it is set in a farm in México where Harlow and her family grow magical flowers. With these flowers, they create bouquets and potions to maybe heal a broken heart, erase memories, and even bond people together.

I enjoyed this book a lot. It was fun, cute, and romantic. Harlow and Ben are fated souls and you cannot tell me otherwise. I mean, they've been destined since their grandparents met!!!! And when they first meet, in that coffee shop, Ben was unable to stop thinking about Harlow and actually thought she was the prettiest woman he has ever seen. Their bond is so STRONG AND POWERFUL. And I love all the little moments before they get close, like Ben being so romantic, bringing her all the pastries, taking her to places he knows she'll love, dancing with her, etc. It's so adorable and I loved them both.

The family theme is so very strong in this novel too. Like Encanto, the Estrada family, each of the woman, have magic. Each of them have something special in them, except Harlow, our main character. Magic has never manifested inside her and she has always felt like the odd one. But when she goes back to the farm after she breaks up with her bf in NYC, everything suddenly changes. It's so impressive and interesting to see everything come alive when she arrives in Mexico and the farm. I was so excited whenever magic appeared, it really comes alive on the pages of the book. And meeting the Estradas is hilarious. The family is so tight and is always there for each other. I loved seeing that so clearly. If one of them was hurting, the other instantly knew and was texting them immediately.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book. I hope there are more books in this world because there are a lot of Estradas and they need their happily ever afters *giddy* I also (not gonna lie) want to revisit Harlow and Ben because I bet they're living their best, cutest life together!!!

Harlow is the only member of her family without magic and the only one to have been given a non-flower name. The family has owned a magical flower farm (an enchanted hacienda, if you will) in Mexico for generations and when the matriarchs who run the place decide they need a vacation, Harlow is picked to take over for a couple of weeks. She's just lost her editing job in NYC and dumped her jerkface of a boyfriend, so most of this book is one big reset for her. If I try to label it, The Enchanted Hacienda is magical realism family saga romance fiction. There is definitely a central romance, complete with HEA, and on-page sex. I felt very relaxed while listening to the book and it was exactly what I needed as I settled into a new job and started a new grad school course the same week.

The Enchanted Hacienda is full of beautiful flower imagery and strong relationships between women, both family and friends. I recommend it to readers looking to be truly transported and look forward to more adult fiction from J.C. Cervantes! There are cousins. Just sayin'.

A magical, lovely book that I ultimately inhaled because I was so drawn into this world from the beginning and didn't want it to end! (Truth be told, I would eagerly read sequels based around Harlow's cousins and their respective stories if Cervantes ever wanted to write follow-ups to this book — I think the worldbuilding is so terrific and could sustain more than one romance happening within the Estrada family, as well as any other magical shenanigans they might get up to!) This was recommended to me as <i>Encanto</i> meets <i>Practical Magic</i> and while those comps are definitely accurate, this does plenty to distinguish itself outside of what it may have drawn inspiration from.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Harlow Estrada loses her dream job, breaks up with her disrespectful boyfriend, and books a one-way ticket to her family’s abundant flower farm in Mexico. Hacienda Estrada is no ordinary flower farm, the Aztec goddess Mayahuel gifted all of the women in Harlow’s family magical abilities tied to their enchanted flowers (except for Harlow). Despite being magic-less, Harlow’s family assigns her to an important task which propels her on a much-needed journey of self-discovery.

Cervantes brought Hacienda Estrada to life with lush, detailed descriptions and a cozy and unique magic system. The Estrada women are a compelling, supportive bunch and I am crossing my fingers that their stories are shared in future books! I loved witnessing Harlow’s growth as she opened up to her own creativity and a chance at love. For fans of magical realism, this is a charming coming-of-age tale full of humor and heart that explores identity, the bonds of family, and love. Highly recommend!

I really enjoyed all of the magical realism elements to the story. I'd believe it if the author said it was influenced/inspired by Disney's Encanto. Flowers, subtle magic, woman MC, and a dash of romance. I was invested in Harlow's self discovery journey, believing in herself and learning about her new found magic. The romance was okay but the central conflict felt a little under-developed to the point where the the book felt like it dragged on in spots.

If you are a fan of Sarah Addison Allen’s book and Disney’s Encanto, this is the perfect read for you!

Harlow, a quirky thoughtful writer working for a small indie publisher is dating Chad, a hoity-toity lawyer, and living in New York City. After a heated argument Harlow heads to her family’s farm and enchanted hacienda in Mexico. There we get to meet the Estrada women and follow along on Harlow’s journey of self-discovery. There is magic, romance, and the Estrada Family!

I was incredibly charmed by the Estrada Family. Harlow’s mother, sisters, aunts, and cousins are the perfect blend of support and truthfulness. Their bond is intense and each family member, except for Harlow, has a magical power. They can interpret dreams, erase memories, consure ghosts, and heal hearts and together they protect and nurture those around them. I love these women and their banter and unconditional love for one another. They reminded me so much of my family and friends and women supporting women is so uplifting!

Harlow’s journey to find herself is one that is very relatable and also uplifting! I love how invested she is in becoming a writer and her will to figure herself out. So many people struggle with not giving up and end up settling and I love how Harlow refused to do that! I also loved Harlow’s love interest Ben. The way they meet and the relationship that grows between them was so fun and organic. I am a believer of signs and I love how that is portrayed in their connection. Also, Ben comes and goes a lot making the build up so worth it and the center of the story really about Harlow and I really enjoyed that narrative. Harlow should be the main character in her road to happiness!

I was absolutely enamored with the scenery and also all of the descriptions of the flowers. Did you know that the symbolism of the sunflower is devotion, opportunity, ambition, happiness, and good luck? I didn’t but now I do and I want to be surrounded by sunflowers and buy everyone I know sunflowers! Mexico has always been on my bucket list of places and Cervantes’ descriptions of the beautiful landscapes made me feel like I was there. Also Harlow goes to a coffee shop/bookshop with journals that made me wish it existed in real life.

I really hope this becomes a series and I get to see the Estrada women again! The Enchanted Hacienda was such a captivating story and if you are looking for magic, family bonds, and beautiful scenery to escape to, this is the story for you!

Thought this book would be more like Encanto or The Daughter of Dr Moreau. It wasn’t. I found it juvenile and obvious. What I did like was the flower farm-wanted to live on one too!

JC ticked all the boxes I could want in a magical realism. I loved the travel, layers of magic, hope, and overall sense of enchantment. As expected, The Enchanted Hacienda reminded me of a grown up Encanto - not a direct retelling, but of a girl lost in a family full of magic, lacking the "special" of her sisters and cousins.
Harlow has a disaster of a day when loses her job and breaks up with her boyfriend. Her mother and Tia call her home along with her sisters and cousins and the timing couldn't be better. Leaving the hustle and bustle of NYC for the serenity of their family farm in Mexico appeals. Taking sole care of the farm, however, is nerve-wracking and one small complication may have long lasting impact.
I enjoyed the story and romance thoroughly. It was perfect for my mood. Harlow and Ben are pretty lovable and, even though this is insta-love at its finest, the mystical atmosphere made it work for me.
Thank you to HTP Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.

Harlow escapes her old life by going to her family's home in the Mexican countryside. Her mother and aunts own and run a huge flower farm there on family land. There is also some magic that they share with certain trustworthy customers as well. Harlow is at a crossroads in her life and she feels unmoored. This time at her family's home will help her find her way and maybe love along the way.

What I liked:
- I liked this mostly female cast of characters and their strong values and family connections and the way they support each other.
- I enjoyed Harlow and Ben's connection. I enjoyed their story and how they came together. I found it to be believable and genuine. I loved the little things Ben did and wanted to share with her.
- The sense of place was nice.

What I didn't love:
- I wanted more about the magic flowers and the things they can do. Other tidbits and stories of people that used them for help with different things.
- This felt like a YA title in some ways in various places in the story. I'm not sure how to describe it other than that.

3.5 stars rounded up

Set in Mexico on an enchanted flower farm, we are introduced to the Estradas, who have the ability to harness the magic in the flowers they grow. Each female member of the family has a specific power, like interpreting dreams or erasing memories or mending a broken heart. Family is an important part of this book, and I loved meeting Harlow’s mother and aunt, as well as her sisters and cousins. It’s not hard to see the various directions this series could go in as we become more familiar with each woman. There is a power in their bond to each other that is equal parts magic and intuition. Learning the history of the Estradas was as interesting as following Harlow’s path to happiness.

There is a lot about this book that I love, but one of the brightest threads was Harlow’s passion for writing and the way she finds the story inside of her. Though they are vastly different books, it reminded me of the way Rachel Hawkins depicted the writing process in The Villa. As a creative person, I found both of these books incredibly inspiring in the way they showed the heroine overcoming whatever life threw at her in order to tell the story that was in their heart all along.

We meet Harlow’s love interest, Ben, pretty early on in the book, and since there’s plenty else to keep us entertained, his comings and goings feel natural and perfectly spaced out. It’s healthy that Harlow’s whole world doesn’t revolve around this guy, and it makes us appreciate the scenes they have together even more. Fate seems to put them in the same place time and time again, and it’s hard to ignore those kinds of signs. I love books that build up to a first kiss or to the first time a couple is physically intimate. There’s something special about all that anticipation that leaves you breathless, and when it finally does happen? It feels a lot like magic.

I love that this book is also described as a “coming-of-power” novel. Watching Harlow go on a journey of self-discovery, both in life and love, was immensely satisfying, and I can’t wait to explore more of this wonderful world she's created. It’s easy to spot the plot points that will carry over into the next story, and I’m both excited and intrigued to find out what happens next. This is definitely a series I’m looking forward to sticking with until its conclusion.

This story is, in a word, enchanting. Other words also come to mind: immersive, uplifting, magical, welcoming, all-encompassing, romantic, transformative. I lost myself completely in these characters and their story, especially Harlow. I'm firmly convinced the Hacienda Estrada is in full bloom south of the border. J.C. Cervantes brought it, and her characters, vividly to life with exquisitely detailed descriptions that encouraged layers of visceral feelings within me to the surface. This was not just a reading; it was an experience.

Reading this coming-of-age story also brought home the fact that there is no age limit to people discovering, exploring and accepting their individual truths. I loved watching the gradual flowering of Harlow, nurtured by the unconditional love and support of her family and best friend, as she slowly opened her heart to love and herself to unanticipated possibilities. It was joyous, empowering, and not without pain along the way. But as the goddess whispers to Harlow in her darkest hour, "There is magic in heartbreak. Because every transformation begins here." The transformation of Harlow, of Ben, and of their love was one that broke my heart before putting the pieces back together, stronger than before. The romance is strong in this book, intertwining with Harlow's individual growth to achieve a satisfying balance between one person's coming-of-age journey and one couple's journey to a hard-won happily ever after.

There is also magic in the words of Cervantes. Every word, every thought, every touch is well thought out and essential to the overall story as well as the evolution of its characters. Each character, whether primary or secondary, has a vital role to play in Harlow's awakening. Each one stirred something elemental within me. I could write at least three more paragraphs about the impact of these characters on Harlow's life - and on me - but that is something that should be experienced first hand by each reader.

This book is Cervantes' adult fiction debut, one that has landed her solidly on my must-buy list. I don't know if there are more Estrada family books planned but I really hope that there are. I'm nowhere close to being ready to say good-bye to this family or to the other Estrada women begging for their stories to be told.

I've read The Enchanted Hacienda twice. I loved it the first time through. I loved it even more the second. I am confident that I will return to it again and again, whenever I need a comforting reminder to believe in myself, in love, and in the magic that surrounds us all...if only we believe.

This one has my enthusiastic recommendation. It's one of my favorite books I've read so far this year and has earned a place on my Best of 2023 watch list.

Top Dish Review
ARC provided by publisher. Fair and unbiased review.

The Enchanted Hacienda is Encanto with more romance and whole lot more spice. The end result is a fun, likable brew that entrances the reader. Unfortunately the romance here really holds up the fun.

Harlow Estrada is in pain. A wannabe writer who dreams of writing a novel of some import, she’s just been cut loose from her dream job as an editor at an elite publishing house. Even worse, her boyfriend Chad is a racist jerk who makes a comment about her “latina temperament” behind her back at a rooftop party where they’re both present. She flings a drink in his face and breaks up with him, then chooses to cut ties with her life in New York City. What can she do but head home to the family hacienda and the comfort of her mother’s arms in Mexico?

Soon after she arrives, she meet-cutes with the handsome Benjamin in a coffee bar. He grabs her journal out of her hand and uses it as a shield to hide himself from a random blonde woman, then skims through Harlow’s half-written novel and proclaims it good, which leads to a trade of information.

Hacienda Estrada is no ordinary house – it is the place where the Estrada women conjure magic though the flowers they cultivate on their flower farm thanks to a gift from the Aztec goddess Mayahuel. Harlow’s younger sister Lil, her Tia, her mother – every female member of the Estrada family can grow blossoms that solve problems both physical and spiritual, and do their own kind of individualized magic with it. Everyone, that is, except Harlow – who has no talent for magic or flower selection. She’s also the only family member not named after a flower. For the magic to work, a member of the family must be in residence at the hacienda and act as a guardian. Which is why Harlow is stunned when Mama and Tia declare they’re taking a vacation from the Hacienda and intend one of their offspring to run it. None of the rest of the siblings and cousins want to stay, but Mama gives each of them a blossom, telling them to sleep with it under their pillow overnight, and the person whose blossom turns blue will stay behind while the others leave. Naturally, the casita picks Harlow, who feels woefully unprepared to take care of the hacienda and flower farm.

As time passes, Harlow and Ben begin to get closer, and running the casita becomes easier for Harlow. But will she be able to rise to the occasion?

The Enchanted Hacidenda is a sparkling, magical novel. It mainly concerns itself with Harlow’s discovery of herself and her true purpose, which is where it shines most. Also, the sense of inter-generational love is beautifully done. Harlow is a likable person, and her struggle to figure out who she really is and what makes her happy gave me great joy. Her family is warm and loving, and her friendship with her best friend Liaila is delightful.

Unfortunately I pretty much instantly hated Ben and his extremely bizarre way of introducing himself to Harlow. Who grabs a book, pretends they’re hiding from someone, pages through a stranger’s story, then praises their writing? Don’t touch people’s stuff without their permission, dude! It’s not charming. Unfortunately, no matter what he did afterward, Ben couldn’t redeem himself for me.

But the rest of the story is what’s important here. The Enchanted Hacienda is all about the person inside of you – and learning how to let them out. Harlow manages to figure out who she is just in time, and is richer for it. So will the reader be.

If magic and whimsy are your game, then dive straight into the jars of enchanted women who cultivate the most beautiful flowers and can provide a litany of services for those who believe.
Harlow feels left out and that because she isn’t names after a flower she possesses no magic. As the plot unfolds, she discovers she holds a different kind of magic.
The last part of the book is intense between Ben and Harlow. I wanted to shake her because she didn’t believe enough in herself or trust her and Ben’s feelings enough, despite the bonding.
But anyone who has felt intense feelings for someone else, knows you’ll go through hell or flowers for that person.

Magic? Romance? Books? Say no more! I loved this book from the very beginning. It gave me Encanto vibes and I was here for it!

The Enchanted Hacienda is a captivating novel that will enchant your heart and reignite your belief in magic. The story follows the Estrada women on a sweeping journey from the vibrant flower fields of Mexico to the charming cobblestone streets of Montreal. This adventurous tale is not just about the characters but also about the journey you will embark on with yourself. It is a beautiful reminder to be kind to ourselves as we await our blooming time with vivid descriptions and rich storytelling that transports readers to a world where magic and reality intertwine. The characters are complex and relatable, making it easy to become fully immersed in their lives and experiences.

Did not finish.

The start was unnecessarily slow, I stopped 100 pages in and had gotten almost no information about what the main conflict would be or what the flower farm was about. All I got was a dramatic break up and an immediate insta-love at a coffee shop like two days later. Just not the book for me right now, I hope others enjoy it.

Harlow's life isn't going so well and so she decides to head home to her mother and aunt, who have a hacienda filled with love and flowers. And special abilities. Harlow's the only one who doesn't have the magic (or so she thinks) but coming home is good. She's busy, she's happy, and then she meets Ben at the local coffee shop and, well, there's a spark. The romance, which is of course, so important, is actually less wonderful that Harlow's growth into herself and her relationship with her family. This might feel a little familiar in spots but Cervantes has done a nice job with her world building and the characters are delightful. And flowers! Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. A good read.

Ok, this was not at all what I was expecting. I thought it would have gothic feels to it like Silvia Moreno Garcia's Mexican Gothic and Chokshi's The Last Tale of the Flower Bride, and even touches of Isabel Canas' The Hacienda, but it's definitely its own thing. This read lighter than expected so I had to recalibrate a little to fully enjoy this. But once the expectations fell away, this stood on its own, and I enjoyed it.

At first, it seemed like this was going to be a beautiful mix of "Garden Spells" and "Encanto" - I really liked the beginning. But then, it swings from seeming like an adult bildungsroman and devolves into this weird instalove romance. The love interest is basically like, "all I ask is for honest communication" from you, and then the main character (Harlow) immediately doesn't communicate with him. Insert Jean Ralphio gif here (she's the woooooooooooorst!). Harlow had really big "I'm the main character" energy lol. Also, like, she loses her job and then just travels from Mexico to NY to Quebec and like, replaces her entire wardrobe never once thinking of money and it just felt so off. Anyway, I obviously didn't like it, and it's extra disappointing because I liked a different book by the same author, and the beginning was pretty strong. But yeah, no thanks. 1 star.