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.

                                 🌟🌟🌟🌟 

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.

 

Storybook Corner Review & Giveaway: Don't Drink the Pink (Children's Picture Book)

Don't Drink the Pink

by

B.C.R. Fegan

Illustrated by Lenny Wen

Publisher: TaleBlade Press 
Publication date: 1st August 2019
Pages: 40
Format Read: eBook
Source: Courtesy of the publisher

Madeline adores her Grandpa Gilderberry – she always has. To everyone else he might seem a bit strange – an eccentric inventor – perhaps even a little mad. Yet Madeline knows that these are his very best qualities.

One of Grandpa Gilderberry’s most secret inventions is his box of potions which he delights in giving to Madeline each year on her birthday. Each potion conveys an unexpected and magical experience for Madeline. Year after year, Madeline selects a new potion with exciting results, however each time she reaches for her enchanted birthday present, her grandfather reminds her of only one rule – ‘don’t drink the pink’.

Follow the special relationship between Madeline and her Grandfather as they both grow and share in the most magical birthday experiences. Filled with secrets to uncover and brimming with imagination, Don't Drink the Pink explores a number of basic concepts including colors, numbers and the reality of growing older.

 

Madeline loves her Grandfather Gilderberry. They have a close relationship.

Dad thinks he’s crazy

Mom thinks he’s just old

But I think he’s amazing

And worth his weight in gold.

Every birthday since her very first birthday Madeline’s Grandfather has arrived with a box of potions. Madeline gets to choose a colour, but always with the rule ‘just don’t drink the pink.’

As each year passes wonderful magical things happen when Madeline drinks each potion.

This is an absolutely enjoyable and magical book. The story is told in rhyming verse with a fun repetition that the children quickly learn to join in with.

“Happy Birthday Madeline.”

He said with a wink

“Take a potion, take a brew

Just don’t drink the pink.”

We loved Don’t Ever Look Behind Door 32 and BCR Fegan has given his audience another delightful picture book that builds on the anticipation of what will be revealed at the end.

As each birthday came around Dot and I tried to guess what colour potion Madeline would pick and what magical quality she would receive. Flying, strength, invisibility, controlling the weather and super speed are just a few of the magical elements in this story.

Don’t Drink the Pink develops a child’s imagination and colour recognition. It has a major, but subtle, theme of ageing. As Madeline gets older so does her beloved Grandpa. Until one birthday Grandpa is no longer there. Madeline has one potion left. What will the magical pink potion do?

Lenny Wen’s whimsical illustrations add spots of humour that need no words. Madeline’s cute little white cat makes an appearance on each page and the expressions on Madeline’s mother’s and father’s faces as each potion is consumed are not to be missed.

Don’t Drink the Pink is another addition to Dot’s all-time favourite books. Her favourite parts were when Madeline turned into a mermaid and when she built a theme park with her mind.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

 rated by Dot 5/5

 

About the author

B.C.R. Fegan is an award-winning author who has written a number of fairy tales and fantasies for children and young adults.

Raised on a small hobby farm only minutes from some of Australia’s greatest beaches, Fegan grew up inspired by the power of natures ambience. His ravenous appetite for both reading and writing soon saw him drawing on the transformational influence of the world around him to craft short stories, poems and picture books.

As time wore on, Fegan also found inspiration in the magic and depth of authors and compositors like Hans Christian Andersen, the Brothers Grimm and Charles Perrault. He was mesmerised by the potency of small but beautiful phrases that were carefully carved from the minds of Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Alfred Lord Tennyson and Robert Frost. He grew to appreciate the worlds meticulously created by David Eddings, JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis.

Eventually, he began to forge his own complete works. Weaving his own magic, piecing together his own phrases and crafting his own worlds. Agonising over plots that would inspire, characters that would be loved and circumstances that would delight. In time, his efforts saw a number of children’s books and young adult fiction produced. 
  

About the illustrator

Lenny Wen is a freelance illustrator from Jakarta, Indonesia. She started her professional illustration career in 2013. Most of her illustrations possess a mixture of storytelling and emotions. Her works can be found in  children’s books, mobile games, and advertisements. She is very passionate about illustration and storytelling. When she is not illustrating, she might be found watching movies, reading books or watching the online cooking channel.  

 

Thanks to TaleBlade Press you can win a paperback copy of Don’t Drink the Pink. Entry is open internationally via the form below and closes on 14^th August 2019.

This giveaway is now closed and the winner was - Katiria.

Book Bingo - Round 16 #BookBingo

Book Bingo is a reading challenge hosted by Theresa Smith Writes , Mrs B’s Book Reviews and The Book Muse. Every second Saturday, book bingo participants reveal which bingo category they have read and what book they chose. 

This week I have chosen the category 'Memoir about a non-famous person '.

Memoir about a non-famous person.

For this category I have chosen 'Wish You Were Here' by Sheridan Jobbins

After the devastating end to her marriage Sheridan decides to drive across America in a shiny red sports car. Heartbroken and unprepared she is determined to find herself.
I enjoyed Sheridan's story of love, loss and finding herself. It was fun to be on the journey with her and such a joy to know she found her happy ending.  

You can read my full review of Wish You Were Here HERE 

 #BookBingo2019

 

Storybook Corner Review & Giveaway: I Love My Dad Because (Children's Picture Activity Book) + related children's craft

I Love My Dad Because

by

Petra James

Illustrated by Allisa Dinallo

Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Publication date: 23rd July 2019
Pages: 32
RRP: $14.99
Format Read: Hardback
Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 
This book is for you and your dad.

Draw, decorate, colour in, count, play noughts and crosses, make a fish (or two) and then present the book to your dad for any special occasion: birthday, Xmas, Father's Day ... or just because.

An interactive picture book to personalise for your dad.

I Love My Dad Because will be out in bookstores in time for Father’s Day giving. A book to keep and cherish that is completed by your own child. There are activities to share; colour the fish, complete dad’s story, connect the stars, play noughts and crosses, decorate a castle, draw a picture of you and your dad. Thirty two pages of fun colouring and activities for you to share and keep as a lasting reminder of your little ones thoughts and dreams.

I Love My dad Because is a natural follow on from I Love My Mum Because, which we reviewed back in April. Dot loved this book! What child doesn’t love to draw colour and decorate, especially if it is a special gift to give to a parent. Completing the book and presenting it as their own work gives them a sense of accomplishment and pride and gives dad a lasting memento of their child’s formative years.

The book, designed and illustrated by Alissa Dinallo, features bright engaging colours and the illustrations have a childlike whimsy about them that is sure to appeal to young children.

I Love My Dad Because is an interactive picture book perfect for ages 3 – 7

Dot & Jay's rating 5/5  🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

This review is part of the Book Lover Book Review Aussie author challenge

and book #27 in the Australian Women Writers challenge

 

Dot had a lot of fun picking her favourite parts of the book for a craft activity. We decided on the fireworks and the fish colouring-in. 

Create your own fireworks:

Colour a sheet of paper with crayons in a multitude of colours.

Paint over the crayon with two to three coats of black paint.

When the paint dries scratch fireworks patterns with a pen lid or a pencil.

Trace and colour a fish:  

 Trace over the fish picture in the book. You will also need one large patty case for the tail and different coloured mini patty cases for the scales.

Starting from the tail of the fish cut the mini patty cases in half and glue them onto the fish. You can do stripes like Dot or mix them all up for a colourful fish.

Now for the giveaway:

With thanks to Pan Macmillan Australia I have one copy to giveaway. Enter via the form below.

This giveaway is now closed and the winner was - Krystyna.