Book Review: The Spanish Promise by Karen Swan

The Spanish Promise

by

Karen Swan

Publisher: Pan Macmillan 
Publication Date: 26th March 2019
Pages: 384
RRP: $29.99AUD
Format read: Trade Paperback
Source: Courtesy of the publisher 

Charlotte, a wealth counsellor who knows from personal experience the complications that a sudden inheritance can bring, helps her clients navigate the emotional side effects of sudden wealth syndrome. When she is asked by Mateo Mendoza, heir to a huge Spanish estate, to fly to Madrid to help resolve an issue in his father's will, she's confident it will be straightforward. The timing isn't great as Charlotte's due to get married the following week, but once her client signs on the dotted line, Charlotte can return to her life in London and her wedding, and live happily ever after. Marrying Stephen might not fill her with excitement, but she doesn't want to live in the fast lane anymore - safe and predictable is good.

But Carlos Mendoza's final bequest opens up a generation of secrets, and Charlotte finds herself compelled to unravel the mystery. As Charlotte digs deeper, she uncovers the story of a family divided by Spain's Civil War, and of a love affair across the battle lines that ended in tragedy.

And while she is consumed in the drama of the Mendozas, Charlotte's own tragic past catches up with her, threatening to overturn everything in her life she's worked so hard to build.

2018

Multi millionaire Carlos Mendoza is gravely ill and requests all his money and property goes to Marina Quincy. The family haven't heard of this woman and assume she is a mistress.

With only a week to her wedding Charlotte, a wealth councillor, is sent by the Mendoza family’s bank to Spain to find Marina Quincy and offer her a settlement.

1836

Nene Mendoza runs away from her high profile family to join the revolutionists, the people fighting against her family.

The Spanish Promise is a dual time-line story moving from 2018 to 1937.

I loved the historical part of the novel which encompasses the Spanish Civil War. Nene is from a well to do family and being a female her life is very restricted. Nene has a social conscience but she is pushed aside, told to be quiet and ridiculed. She eventually escapes her family to fight for what she feels is right.

The modern day side of the story held me with its mystery. Who was Marina Quincy and how did she connect with the ageing Carlos Mendoza? The story had some great twists that I hadn’t seen coming.

I didn’t particularly like Charlotte or her love interest Nathan. She was a grown woman, and engaged to someone else, mooning over Nathan like a love-sick teenager. Nathan was also unlikeable and the way he treated Charlotte was unforgiveable. That aside, I enjoyed the story it pulled me in, the continuing mystery kept me reading and the twists had me shocked.

The Spanish Promise is an epic tale of love, war, forgiveness and reconciliation.

I am eagerly looking forward to Karen Swan’s next release.

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My rating  4/5

 

Photo credit : Goodreads

Karen Swan began her career in fashion journalism before giving it all up to raise her three children and a puppy, and to pursue her ambition of becoming a writer. 

Her bestselling novels include the summer romances The Paris Secret and The Rome Affair. 
 
She lives in the forest in Sussex, writing her books in a treehouse overlooking the Downs.