I really enjoyed this book. I loved the characters. Ana María and her sisters are strong, and support one another, in spite of the their father’s efforts to undermine them (which happened before the start of the book). Gideon Fox is also a great character, and admirable in trying to make positive changes via the government.

3.5 🌟

I'll be honest, the cover is what drew me to this book. I mean, just look at it! How can you not love that stunning cover? The second thing that drew me to this book was the promise of a historical romance with a diverse cast and Ana María and the Fox definitely delivered on that promise! This book follows Ana María, a Mexican heiress, and Gideon Fox, a London politician, two outsiders in London society that come together in a marriage of convenience to save Ana from a British nobleman with less than pure intentions and to hopefully further Gideon's political career.

If you are a history lover, then this book will definitely appeal to you! I learned so much about this period of history, specifically a side of history that I was definitely not taught about in school. I found the hstorical aspects of this story absolutely fascinating, and even ended up doing my own research to find out more. The relationship between Ana and her sisters was absolutely lovely to read about, and I can't wait to see more of it as the series continues. Ana María was such a great female lead! I loved being in her head and getting to know her throughout the novel, and I think lots of readers will be able to identify with her as they read.

Where this novel fell short for me, and the reason I didn't give it a higher rating, was that the romance felt weak for a romance novel. The attraction forms between Ana and Gideon very quickly and then they kind of just ignore it for most of the book. Then, when they do finally acknowledge it, everything happens very quickly and then the book just ends quite abruptly. I would've liked to see more pining between the two mains for sure! I mean, they barely interact for a lot of the book!

Despite this, I enjoyed this book and I think the strong platonic relationships and the beautiful writing and setting makes up for the slightly lacking romance! I will definitely be reading the next book in this series when it hits the shelves

I didn't finish this because I could not get into it, I found the plot to be interesting but the execution was long and boring

I enjoyed this book, but it wasn't a five star read for me. There was nothing wrong with it, per se, but it just didn't blow me away. The storyline was lovely and I liked the characters. Will be recommending because I know there's a lot of people who'll really enjoy this one!

Ana María and the Fox by Liana De la Rosa is a historical romance novel that tells the story of Ana María Luna Valdés, a Mexican heiress who falls in love with a British politician. The novel is set in the Victorian era, and it is refreshing to see that De la Rosa has inserted minorities into this context. I also appreciated the strength of the female characters in the novel.

I was really surprised to discover that the story was inspired by true events. This made the novel even more interesting to me, and it gave me a greater appreciation for the historical research that De la Rosa must have done.

My favorite character in the novel was Isabel. She is a complex character who is torn between freedom and obedience. I found Isabel's struggle to be very relatable, and I admired her strength and determination.

My favorite part of the novel was the stolen kiss in the woods. It was a moment of pure passion and longing, and it perfectly captured the forbidden love between Ana María and Gideon. The kiss was also a turning point in the novel, as it led to Ana María's decision to follow her heart.

One of the things that I took away from this story is that history is always written by the winner. This means that we often only get to hear one side of the story, and it can be difficult to know what really happened. This is something to keep in mind when we read historical accounts, as well as when we read about current events.

Another thing is that you can never know enough. Ana María and the Fox is a story about the importance of education and critical thinking. Ana María is a bright and curious young woman, but she is also sheltered from the world. When she meets Gideon, she begins to learn about the world outside of her privileged bubble. This knowledge helps her to make better decisions and to fight for what she believes in.

Overall, I really enjoyed this novel.

Other points of interest:

1 - Ana María and her sisters were accustomed to privilege in Mexico. They were wealthy and well-respected, and they moved in the highest circles of society. However, when they moved to England, they were treated as outsiders. They were not considered "educated girls," and they were often made uncomfortable. Despite this, they were able to navigate the English social scene with a certain degree of ease. However, they were still subject to the prejudices of English society. This meant that they had to be careful about how they behaved.

2 - Ana María's father was a self-made man who had risen from poverty to become a wealthy and powerful businessman. He was a ruthless and ambitious man, and he was not afraid to step on others to get what he wanted. She initially saw Gideon in the same way. She saw him as a poor boy who had made good, and she admired his ambition. However, she soon realized that he was not like her father. Gideon was a kind and compassionate man, and he would never harm anyone.
This realization caused Ana María to question her own beliefs about privilege and power. She began to see that it was possible to be successful without being ruthless or ambitious. She also began to see that it was possible to have power without abusing it.

3 - The birth order can have a significant impact on a child's personality and development. The first child is often spoiled and pampered, while the second child may feel neglected or abandoned. The third child may feel like they have to compete for attention, and they may be left to grow up on their own.

4 - The sisterly bond between Ana María and her sisters was a source of strength and support for them. They were able to rely on each other for help and advice, and they were always there for each other when they needed it.
This bond helped them to overcome their adversities. They were able to support each other through difficult times, and to find strength in each other's love. The sisterly bond also helped them to develop more empathy for others. They were able to understand what it was like to be in each other's shoes, and they were able to see the world from each other's perspectives.

5 - Male friendships are often portrayed as being more stoic and less emotional than the female. However, this is not always the case. Men can be just as emotional and vulnerable as women, and their friendships can be just as deep and meaningful. I enjoy reading about male friendships because it gives me a glimpse into a world that I am not familiar with. It is also interesting to see how men interact with each other, and how they deal with their insecurities.

6 - The main characters in Ana María and the Fox experienced a lot of racism and discrimination because of their race. This made them more careful about how they interacted with the world around them. They also learned to form bonds with other people who had been marginalized like them. This experience helped them to become stronger and more resilient as they learned to stand up for themselves and for others.

7 - I agree that it is important to have a balance between romance and history in historical fiction. The romance should be believable and engaging, but it should also be grounded in historical reality.

8 - It is true that some people do not recognize or accept their mistakes. This is especially true when it comes to historical events that are considered to be shameful or embarrassing. The British Empire was a powerful force in the world for centuries, and it had a profound impact on many countries. However, the British Empire was also responsible for a great deal of exploitation and oppression. It is important to remember these historical facts, even if they are difficult to face. We cannot learn from our mistakes if we refuse to acknowledge them.

9 - The marriage of Ana María and Gideon would have been a scandal in the Victorian era. They were from different social classes and different races, and their marriage would have been seen as a threat to the English social order. However, I think that some people would have been secretly relieved by the news.

10 - I agree that the pacing of a romance is important. It is important to find a balance between instant love and a slow burn.

11 - It is true that people in the Victorian era cared a lot about etiquette and norms. This was especially true for members of the upper class. However, I think that the pressure to conform to social norms is still a powerful force in the modern world. This is especially true for young people. Young people are often under a lot of pressure to fit in and to be accepted by their peers. This can lead to a lot of stress and anxiety.

"Hypnotized by his gaze, she searched her memory for a time someone—anyone—had ever looked at her as he did now. As if she were fascinating. Intelligent. Beautiful."

A delightfully unexpected romance, this slow burn with plenty of miscommunication is a great addition to the genre for a truly inclusive historical romance. The context of the Mexican political history was enlightening, hence how this was unexpected reading. I particularly loved the relationship between the sisters, growing organically from being pitted against each other by their father to a supportive and loving sibling connection. It is interesting how De la Rosa managed the inherent racism of the period without sidelining it, much like Bridgerton, for which this would be a great companion read. It is not maximised for the reader so in places rings untruthful given that the reality is the Mexican women and black men would not have been this readily accepted by the high society but worth suspending imagination here to enjoy this well written story.

A great start to a series I'm looking forward to continuing! This book isn't completely focused on the romance, but I really enjoyed how instead we get to see solid development of the sisterly relationships here, and the historical context, which I think more than makes up for the romance not being the forefront of the story the whole time. I also really loved the way the romance did develop throughout the book, and how there was enough drama externally that there was no stupid unnecessary third-act breakup!

I did think the characters felt a bit... meh, sometimes - they were almost just too going-with-the-flow, nicey-nice. I don't quite know how to put it, and maybe this is just always the case with historical romances, and I just don't read enough of them, but I just wanted to see more emotion from the characters. I also think that the marriage of convenience should definitely have happened earlier in the book rather than over two-thirds of the way through, because it was starting to feel like the romance wasn't really going anywhere!

I am looking forward to the next book in the series, I'm particularly hoping that it's Isabel's book because she was definitely my favourite of the three sisters.

This book really intrigued me prior to starting it; I'd heard a lot of buzz surrounding it and found the premise of three Latina sisters infiltrating British high society to be a refreshing and unique take on a classic Regency romance. I really appreciated how De La Rosa wasn't afraid to include the fact that ignorant opinions would be held towards the sisters due to their race, and yet still managed to make their inclusion feel completely plausible. I really enjoyed the dynamic between the three sisters, and could see hints of what will be to come in the sequels, presumably following Ana Maria's younger sisters and their respective romances. However, I did find the dual perspective within each chapter to make the story lag a bit at times, reading almost exactly the same thing twice, and the pacing of the relationship in this did feel inauthentic at times.

This was so boring...historical romances shouldn't be this boring.

Seeing brown/black characters in a victorian setting was definitely a welcome change. But, the central romance was just very lack lustre and I truly felt that there was very little chemistry between the two main leads.

I did enjoy the relationship development between the three Luna sisters and that for me was the highlight of this book.

Thank you to NetGalley UK and the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for a review.

3⭐️

There were some cute moments in this book. I enjoyed the build up/slow burn of Gideon and Ana’s relationship more than its execution and there were some parts that very a tad over dramatic with the way they played out. But nonetheless, a fun enough read.

This was an entertaining read with engaging characters. What a restricted life Ana Maria had lived under her father in Mexico! No wonder she flourished when free from his dictates. Ana Maria and her two sisters, Gabby and Isobel were in London, away from the war with France. Gideon Fox was an up and coming politician, who was very aware of the plight of others and was determined to help them through his work in Parliament. He was of a mixed race heritage and a working class background and was well aware of prejudice against people thought to be different from those of the aristocracy. There was a romance although it does take a time for them to come to terms with it and also, plenty of action in the latter stages of the story. It was interesting to read the author’s notes pertaining to the history of Mexico in this period, something I knew very little about. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A love story between a Mexican heiress and a British politician set during the Victorian era. Full of politics, forbidden romance and scandal.

This book had a number of really important topics and struggles that some women unfortunately still face today. The racism that Ana Marie and her sisters have to face is appalling and so shocking that people still continue to act that way. Also, every time a man does something, it’s deemed as acceptable and okay, but as soon as a woman does the exact same thing she is shamed upon and made out to be awful.

It was lovely to see the relationship between the three sisters develop over the book, as during their childhood their father pitted them against each other and kept them apart, stopping them from being able to form that sisterly bond. But now that the sisters are away from their father and in London, they are finally able to form that bond.

I personally didn’t enjoy the political aspect, but that is a main part of the book as the main male character is a politician. This is just my personal preference and what I enjoy about a romance book.

The relationship between the two main characters was sweet but I feel like there could have been a bit more development. I enjoyed this book but I think it had potential to be even better and some parts I did find slow and boring, mainly due to the political talk.

I don’t read that much historical romances but I adored this one. I personally adored the sisterhood aspect of this story. I am also a sucker for marriage of conveniences so I ate this up.

3.5 Stars
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 she 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. Gideon Fox elevated himself from the London gutters by chasing his burning desire for more: more opportunities, more choices. For everyone. The charmingly vexing Ana María is a distraction he must ignore.
A well written slow burn with different characters, Gideon is the son of a former slave & Ana Maria is Mexican, I don’t think I’ve read a historical romance with such diverse characters, so a e change to get away from the ton. I liked both Gideon & Ana Maria but I didn’t feel much chemistry between them for the first two thirds of the book & it was only in the last third that I was drawn in. The Luna sisters are interesting & I look forward to their stories. An interesting book but not my favourite by the authoras it was too much of a slow burn
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

I appreciated how this novel focused on a perspective that’s not often found in historical fiction. I found it interesting to learn about the political situation in Mexico and the progress to abolish the slave trade. The inclusion of these social issues didn’t bog down the story at all. Instead, it gave the main characters’ admirable goals to work towards and highlighted their determination, while also making the author’s world feel more fleshed out and grounded.

I definitely liked Ana María more than I did Gideon. It was rewarding seeing her reclaim control of her life after previously having everything dictated for her. She was a (usually) strong character and I sympathised with her inner conflict between love and duty. Gideon, on the other hand, gave off an air of superiority and was very judgemental towards Ana María at the start. It was almost as if he was annoyed at himself for being fascinated by her and that he believed he was better than that. His condescension didn’t make for a great romantic hero.

The couple did have some nice moments together but for me their chemistry never really quite got there. Unfortunately, something about their romance was unconvincing. Their initial friendship was developed in a very ‘tell’ and not ‘show’ way, which didn’t help get me invested in their love story. We were told that they were infatuated with each other but I couldn’t feel the sparks fly across the page. I also thought their marriage of convenience could have played out better.

I liked watching the sisterhood build between Ana María, Isabel and Gabriela. There wasn’t much sibling affection to begin with, but over the course of the novel, as they learnt more about each other and what each had to deal with back at home in Mexico, they got closer as a unit. In truth, I was often more interested in the stories of the other sisters than Ana María herself. They had their own distinct personalities and brought so much energy to their scenes. So, while the romance didn’t sweep me off my feet, I am interested in what’s next for the characters.

Wanted so much to like this one, but the pacing felt off, strangely too drawn out, the POV clunky at times. Also, the character of Ana Maria itself didn't seem consistent - good obedient girl, rebel, engaged but flirting then chiding herself for it then flirting again - it was a little too over the place to enjoy. Had so much potential, especially with the multicultural angle, but the execution proved lacking

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this eARC of 'Ana María and the Fox' by Liana De la Rosa.

'Ana María and the Fox' is the first Luna Sisters novel by Liana De la Rosa. This seems to be De la Rosa's first standard romance, a dive from the usual historical romance but it was pleasant. You can tell this isn't De la Rosa's first rodeo in love as it is very romantic. I would be really excited to see the next sister and her story.

Liana De la Rosa is a completely new author to me. I love historical romance, and the cover is so beautiful, I decided to give it a try.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the characters. Ana María and her sisters are strong, and support one another, in spite of the their father’s efforts to undermine them (which happened before the start of the book). Gideon Fox is also a great character, and admirable in trying to make positive changes via the government.

The mix between the romance, and the other, more political, aspects of the plot was very well done. I do not enjoy reading about politics in general, but this never felt like they were intruding on the plot. Rather, it felt as if they were an intrinsic part of it. The various aspects of the story were seamlessly woven together, leading up to the very exciting ending.

The romance was excellent. It was a slow build up to start with, but was sizzling by the end of the book.

Overall, this was a thoroughly entertaining and delightful historical romance, and I LOVED the fact that it is more diverse than most. The historical notes at the end are really interesting.

I was given a copy of this book, my opinions are my own.

Thanks to Netgalley, Liana De la Rosa and Little Brown Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I've seen quite a bit of hype from this book from Ali Hazelwood, and I'm glad that I picked it up. This took my english historical romance and gave it a shake up. With three sisters from Mexico arriving in London to escape the French occupation, and a certain gentleman called Gideon, I really enjoyed the book.

Some parts of the book felt rushed, which was my only real complaint.

Ana Maria and the Fox is told from the dual POV's of Ana Maria & Gideon Fox. Ana Maria is the eldest daughter of the powerful Luna family, secretly sent to London with her sister's to escape from the French Invasion of Mexico, she has been tasked with laying low and staying safe. But once she arrives on British soil she realises this is the first time she has ever felt remotely free, ever had any kind of autonomy. She is someone who has constantly been weighed down by the expectations of her father, but once she is out from under his thumb she absolutely thrives and starts asking the question of who, exactly, Ana Maria wants to be. She's feisty, and someone who doesn't get bogged down in the politics of society and I adored her fresh take on the world.

Gideon Fox is an upcoming member of parliament. After elevating himself from the London gutter, he spends his days working on a bill to abolish slavery, not just in Britain but around the world and has little time for anything else, that is until he meets Ana Maria. Gideon 'Fox' is sometimes a little stoic and reserved, but the more time he spends with Ana Maria the more he starts wondering whether focusing all of his attention on his work is stopping him from living his life to the fullest.

Alongside our two main MC's, De la Rosa treats us to a standout cast of side characters, my favourites being Isabel & Gabriela, Ana Maria's sisters. The relationship between these three sisters was possible my favourite part of this book, barring the romance of course. We see these three at the start of the story as sisters who have been pitted against one another by their father, always trying to prove themselves, but through the story we see them start to open to to one another and realise that they don't constantly have to try and out do each other, instead they can support each other, show love and affection without it being seen as a weakness. I loved seeing these three grow and, despite this being Ana Maria's book, we still get plenty of time and insight into the other two Luna sisters.

I do love historical romances, especially when they allow me to learn something about a specific period in history and Ana Maria and the Fox does just that. We learn about the French occupation of Mexico, something that was over shone by the American Civil War. De la Rosa shows, not only how the occupation affected Mexican nationals, but how hard it was to garner support from other countries, namely England when the war was being forged across the world. This is also shown through Parliaments lack of care when it comes to slavery by other countries. Throughout the story Fox is trying to put a bill through Parliament that would abolish slavery, not just in the Uk, but around the world and she shows the reality of the battle that he is forced to wage to get people to back his bill and care for people other than themselves. For a romance, it does pack a political punch in parts, and I enjoyed learning about this part of history.

Now for the romance! It was a slow burn, grump/sunshine, almost forbidden romance and I was addicted from their first meeting. We see Ana Maria and Gideon not only burning with their forbidden love, but also challenging each others outlooks on life, political views and I like how neither backed down from the other, rather they pushed the other to become better versions of themselves. Thanks to Ana Maria being betrothed to someone back in Mexico, we get plenty of angst and longing between these two, knowing they have feelings for one another, but being unable to acknowledge it. For a historical romance, De la Rosa certainly doesn't skimp on the steam and there were some epic smutty scenes in the latter half of the book that certainly got me a little hot under the collar. I also loved how the author has set up romance arcs for Ana Maria's two sisters and I can't wait to get my hands on their books and get a deeper dive into their personalities and relationships.

If you like your historical romances with some actual historical influences, slow burn and angst filled romance and brilliantly written characters then I can't recommend this enough and I can't wait to pick up the next sisters book!