Another good read from Karen Swan. This book is a delight. It is well written, has history, great characters like Neme and Charlotte, that draw you in and keep you interested in their story. Two eras running parallel. It keeps you guessing what the outcome might be, and although you think you know all along, the actual events that lead up to the truth are more than you thought they would be. It is sad and poignant in parts, tugs at your heartstrings. It is not a light read, it has depth, a good serious storyline, not just romance. When you read this book you will be hooked for more of her writing as her books never disappoint, they draw you in with a good storyline and strong characters. She will quickly become one of your favourite authors.

Beautiful cover art and a simmering storyline painted against a vibrant Spanish backdrop. I really enjoyed this story and read it quickly.

I enjoyed this novel very much, engaging story of love and tragedy set against the rich backdrop of the Spanish civil war. i have read the author before but have enjoyed this one the most. Thank you.

Quite a good read, kept me engaged, really enjoyed the plot and the characters and i would read more from this author.

Firstly, what a gorgeous Cover, calling one to read the delightful book.
For me it wasn't a typical Karen Swan story, although as usual her research is very far reaching.
Two different times, as so many authors are using in books at the moment. The 1930s Civil war years were amazingly and brutally described, bringing a real picture of the horrors, setting rich against poor.
Charlotte, a 'wealth counsellor' has been given the project of finding the recipent of a gift in a will , made by a dying man, Carlos Mendoza. Chicanery in the Banking world is evident and for a while she seems to go along with that.
A little muddle over Christian names eventually is resolved and Marina senior , accompanied by her grandaughter ,also Marina, discovers that she has always been loved by Carlos, even though they were never together in life.
What an unexpected ending, but somehow what one would almost feel was right.
Thank you for a review copy of the book.

What a great read. A beautiful combination of 2 stories set in different times in Spain. It made me really want to go and visit as well as learn more about the war there. Hard to say more without spoiling but a great read

Charlotte Fairfax understands the perils of riches and has made a career from counselling and supporting people who come into sudden wealth. An unlikely beneficiary of Carlos Mendoza's will is Charlotte's latest job and takes her to Madrid. The Mendoza's wealth comes from breeding prize fighting bulls, but ,as she struggles to confirm the identity of the beneficiary, Charlotte uncovers family secrets and feuds going back to the Civil War. This is a rich evocation of a brutal and divisive period in Spanish history and the long lasting effects that can still be felt years later.

I love Karen Swan's romantic stories, never fails me. I read her books during spring/summer and Christmas times. It's just such a pleasure, uplifting, easy reads when you need a bit of brightness in your life.
If you like chick-lit/contemporary books, she's one I'd definitely recommend.

Thanks a lot to the publisher and NetGalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

Charlotte's job is helping people deal with suddenly acquiring a large sum of money.
When the richest man in Spain has made a will on his deathbed leaving nearly all his money to a woman no one has heard of Charlotte gets the job of finding her and getting her to accept less money.
When Charlotte finds Marina she denies knowing her benefactor, Arlo Mendoza. She then agrees to meet him and his son Mateo Mendoza at their ranch in Spain taking her grandmother with her.

The story goes back to the 1930's and the civil war in Spain. We learn about the Mendoz brothers and their sister. The brothers and their authoritarian father refuse to help out the starving workers on their bull farm. The workers want pieces of unused land in which to grow food to feed their families. The Mendoz family refuses and are now at work with the people.

I didn't realize how much of the war was between rich and poor,those who have and those who have not. It strikes of unfairness,that people who were starving were still expected to do a days work for the richer classes.
To say the historical part of this book is traumatic would be an understatement. My nerves were on edge reading this part of the book not knowing what would happen next or who would survive.

The modern day part of the book was more lighthearted with a bit of romance thrown in, until the last few chapters. I wept and the ending of this book. It is actually one of the loveliest and yet saddest ending to any book I have read.
I have tried not to give any spoilers away which is why I have not mentioned many names. I loved this book.

This review will be posted on my book blog, Goodreads and Amazon on publication day.
www.bookswithwineandchocolate.blogspot.co.uk

Good, though not my favourite book of Karen Swan's. Too much detail in parts, which I skipped over. I enjoyed the modern day love story, but not the past love story. Too sad - bleak. But for the most part this story kept me gripped.

Another wonderful Karen Swan book. Never fails to take you on a beautiful journey. Eagerly awaiting her next.

I’ve previously enjoyed a few Karen Swan books so looked forward to reading this and it did not disappoint. It was a very easy book to get into and enjoy and I was amazed how quickly I read it. I liked the main character Charlotte although I must admit I didn’t always understand her, I really did like Nene, who was a very strong charcter, and her snippets of story from the 1930s. The parallels worked well, the background of Spain was well covered in the 1930s segments although I would have liked a bit more about it in present times. The style of this somewhat reminded me of Santa Montefiore, in particular the flash backs to the 30s. Overall this is a great summer read

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I have liked all this authors books and this one did not disappoint even though it has different timelines. A recommended read.

The Spanish Promise is the brilliant new novel by Karen Swan. It has a compelling storyline and is beautifully written. It links the past with the present and with several twists, this book is the perfect read. I loved this book and would recommend it.

An amazing book set during the Spanish Civil War and present day with flash backs to University life for Charlotte ( one of the main characters ).
Although a novel I learnt a lot about the war and how things were for the Spanish at that time but as I am currently in Andalusia the geographical content was excellent. I have seen first hand the red bark of the trees and the coloured houses in the villages. Whilst travelling I have passed through several towns mentioned which heightened my interest.
There were several twists to the tale and I didn't expect the ending or the reasons that led up to it.
A remarkable book that I thoroughly enjoyed.

I love Karen Swan’s books and have read and enjoyed every single one she has written. Karen’s books always make me want to visit the places she writes about and this was no exception. Fantastic story to lose your self in. Beautifully written mixing present day with the 1930’s, bringing the troubles in Spain to life and made me want to learn more about it. It mixes various stories and complex lives that work well together and I really wanted to know about the characters lives and why/how they had become the people they are.

Another great book which I really love. Thank you for letting me review this book.