13. When Puri arrives at the cacao plantation and sees the sign at its front gate, she learns her father had named his hacienda after her “La Puri.” Why do you think Don Armand made that decision? Do you think it was fair to Puri—or her siblings?

14. Did you know anything about Ecuador before reading this novel? How has your perception of this country changed since you read it? Were you surprised by any of the cultural and historical details that surprised or interested you?

Photo courtesy of Danielle Adkins Photography

Lorena Hughes is the award-winning author of The Spanish Daughter and The Sisters of Alameda Street. Born and raised in Ecuador, she moved to the United States when she was eighteen. Her previous work has won first place at the 2011 South-west Writers International Contest in the historical fiction category, earned an honorable mention at the 2012 Soul-Making Keats Literary Competition, and placed as quarter finalist in the 2014 Amazon Breakout Novel Award. Named one of Nine Rising Latina Authors You Don’t Want to Miss by HIP LATINA, she’s the coordinator of the UNM Writers Conference.

Lorena lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and can be found on-line at Lorena-Hughes.com.