The Spanish Promise by the bestselling author, Karen Swan, will delight avid readers of her previous novels and those who enjoy historical, suspenseful romance novels.
Charlotte Fairfax, a wealth counsellor for a Private Bank in London, has been sent to Madrid at the request of Mateo Mendoza, who has issues regarding his father’s will. Carlos Mendoza, now in his 90’s, has only months to live and has left his estate, estimated at 750 million pounds, to Marina Quincy, age 45, who works in a cafe in Madrid. Marina is unknown to the family, who suspect that she may be a mistress or illegitimate daughter.
Further investigations uncover accounts of a family divided by the Spanish Civil War and of lives torn apart by love and loss.
Can the past be healed by redemption in the present and peace of mind given to a dying man?
This novel is written as a dual narrative set in London, Madrid and Ronda (Andalusia) in July 2018 and in Ronda, Madrid and Guadalajara (outside Madrid) from August 1932 until March 1937. Also, there are flashbacks to Charlotte’s tumultuous past.
In both narratives Swan’s novel examines the reality that wealth and a privileged lifestyle do not necessarily lead to happiness and that often quite the opposite is true. Wealth may foster a sense of guilt, a feeling of loneliness, and bring about conflict and heartbreak.
The account of the Mendoza family in the lead up to and during the Spanish Civil War makes very interesting reading. It provides an understanding of the historical importance of the conflict and the effect it had on the population of Spain at that time in history.
Swan has once more created an interesting mix of characters and a story of intrigue and suspense, which keeps the reader captivated until the very end.
ISBN: 9781529006179
The Spanish Promise is available in paperback and e-book
About Karen Swan
Karen Swan began her career in fashion journalism before giving it all up to raise her three children and a puppy. Also 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 the tree-house overlooking the Downs.
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