Wednesday, April 5, 2023

Review & Giveaway - - Ana Maria and the Fox

Ana María and the Fox
Liana De la Rosa
The Luna Sisters - Book 1
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: April 4, 2023
Reviewed by PJ


A forbidden love between a Mexican heiress and a shrewd British politician makes for a tantalizing Victorian season.

 
Ana María Luna Valdés has strived to be the perfect daughter, the perfect niece, and the perfect representative of the powerful Luna family. So when Ana María is secretly sent to London with her sisters to seek refuge from the French occupation of Mexico, she experiences her first taste of freedom far from the judgmental eyes of her domineering father. If only she could ignore the piercing looks she receives across ballroom floors from the austere Mr. Fox.
 
Gideon Fox elevated himself from the London gutters by chasing his burning desire for more: more opportunities, more choices. For everyone. Now, as a member of Parliament, Gideon is on the cusp of securing the votes he needs to put forth a measure to abolish the Atlantic slave trade once and for all—a cause that is close to his heart as the grandson of a formerly enslaved woman. The charmingly vexing Ana María is a distraction he must ignore.
 
But when Ana María finds herself in the crosshairs of a nefarious nobleman with his own political agenda, Gideon knows he must offer his hand as protection . . . but will this Mexican heiress win his heart as well?

PJ's Thoughts:

I was young (14) when I was first introduced to Mexico City. As an exchange student I lived with a Mexican family, was immersed into their daily lives and welcomed into their family with open arms. I developed a deep appreciation and respect for Mexico's rich culture, complex history, and wonderful people. Even though this book is set in England, critical parts of Mexico's history, as well as the rich cultural heritage of her people are brought to life. I could not be more delighted.

I loved the Luna sisters. What a breath of fresh air they are in the vast landscape of historical romance. I enjoyed the evolving relationship among them once they were removed from the power-hungry father who had pitted them against one another their entire lives. It was fun to watch each young woman begin to grow, out from under his control, while also begin to forge a new dynamic among the three of them. There are layers to these characters that I enjoyed exploring in this book and will continue to enjoy as the series unfolds.

While they are beautiful, wealthy, and educated, the sisters are also foreign women of color. They are "different." I'm glad that De la Rosa did not shy away from this aspect of their journey within London society, showing the fascination on the part of London's society but also the bias and disdain. I especially appreciate how she allows Ana María to find her place there without compromising her cultural identity. 

The romance between Gideon and Ana María is a slow, simmering, push and pull burn that reeled me in and kept me hooked. I loved these two together. They have similar values, respect one another, and would make an ideal match. There are, however, significant obstacles to overcome, not least of which are the impact a foreign wife would have on Gideon's political career (in particular, his need for political allies in his quest to pass an anti-slavery law), the fiancé in Mexico, chosen for Ana María by her father, and Ana María's deep love for her homeland. I appreciated the fact that the author gave them no easy answers. Watching them work together to find their happiness made it all the more satisfying. 

This one has my enthusiastic recommendation. I'm already invested in the other two Luna sisters, their potential heroes, and looking forward to new adventures in their books. 


Do you enjoy exploring new cultures in the romances you read?

Have you read anything by Liana De la Rosa yet?

Is there a particular culture you haven't read about yet in romance but would like to? 

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, April 7, 2023 will receive a print copy of Ana María and the Fox.

*U.S. only
*Must be 18


11 comments:

  1. I haven't read any books by this author as yet but will now. Yes, reading about new cultures in romance is exciting. I would read about many other cultures in historicals.

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  2. This novel interests me as the story is unique. A new author for me to learn about and reading about other cultures is wonderful.

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  3. Ms De La Rosa is a new to me author. I know a tiny bit about the history of Mexico. They have had a lot of pain thrust upon them by powerful countries. This does sound like an interesting book. And I would hope to learn more about the Mexican culture from this book. Thanks for the review and the introduction to this series.

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  4. This sounds delightful! I spent a summer in Mexico during my college years and fell in love with the culture. I can't wait to read this, thank you for the recommendation!

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  5. I've read a couple of her books and have been anxiously waiting for this one! I absolutely adore this cover!! I've found that books that explore other cultures and when different cultures interact are very interesting.

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  6. I love reading about other cultures in stories. I haven't read anything by this author yet but this book certainly sounds intriguing. Since I have Hispanic ancestry, any book that explores that culture is exciting to me.

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  7. I have Liana De La Rosa's Once Upon a Scandal series on my TBR, and I'm excited to see her new release! As for exploring new cultures, I do love doing that in romance--it's a fabulous way to be immersed in a place and time that isn't necessarily my own.
    --flchen1

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  8. I’ve read the Once Upon a Scandal series by Liana de la Rosa and really enjoyed them. I’m very excited to read this one! Great review

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  9. I am glad more authors are writing cultural and racial diversity into their romances. The world is not a snow white landscape and neither should our fiction be. Including other cultures adds richness and flavor to the stories.
    Liana is a new to me author.
    The Philippines has a history with Spain and the US that would fit well in historical works. I have noticed Philippine culture showing up in contemporary works. It would be interesting to see the Spanish colonial period depicted.

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  10. New to me author, but I love to read about other cultures. I studied Spanish for many years, and the culture of Spain, Central, and Latin America appeals to me.

    denise

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  11. I love reading about other cultures in romance. It's a fun way to learn. I haven't read anything by her before, but I saw her at the Tucson Festival of Books, and I added this to my TBR.

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