Ana María and The Fox

This did not disappoint! I knew nothing of the Mexican invasion by the French or the subsequent migration to England of people fleeing the conflict so learning about it through the Luna sisters was great. And Fox's origin story, featuring a slave ancestor who fled on a freighter headed to England, was something I hadn't even considered but of course makes sense. Why would the Underground Railroad only use overland routes? I love how more diversity in historical romance is introducing me to all this stories I've never heard.

As for the romance itself, I so felt Ana Maria, being an oldest daughter myself. Loved how they danced around each other while coming to truly respect each other's strengths, both being genuinely compassionate people. show more My favourite kind of pairing. Also loved the relationships revolving around the two and see where the next two books are going. Can't wait to read their stories! show less

This is the first book in a delightful historical romance series that I’m so glad I learned about. It is about the oldest of three Mexican sister who had to flee to England during the French occupation of Mexico in the 1860s. Ana Maria meets Gideon Fox, whose grandmother was enslaved in the Americas (USA) and escaped to England where she gave birth to Gideon’s mother. It’s like Bridgerton but with actual politics of challenging white supremacist institutions, and not just in terms of representation (but in that regard too).

I had read the second story before this, and am eager for the third sister’s story which comes out later this year (2025). This series is a great example
of how fiction - and in this case romance fiction - can show more teach history and stimulate further exploration into “real world” issue. show less

Before we get to the review I want to bring attention to a GoFundMe to save a family from Gaza and start again. Haya Murtaja and her two daughters, Sham and Maryam, have lost everything since the war. Her daughters have suffered a lot in the war, especially since they now live in a camp, in a small tent, and an unhealthy and unsuitable environment. Her eldest daughter, Sham, would wake up screaming in fear. She sleeps with her hands over her ears so that she wouldn’t hear the sounds of rockets and shells. Both of her children are always sick due to immunodeficiency and the unhealthy environment. They are in desperate need of support to escape the grip of war on Gaza. Haya and her husband need $5,000 (USD) each and $2,500 (USD) for show more each of their daughters. This amount covers the expensive journey from Gaza to Egypt during these perilous times. The remaining funds will be necessary to cover their immediate living expenses and to manage their affairs in Egypt to secure work, home, and education. They hope to not just to survive, but to find stability and rebuild their lives in a place free from the horrors of war. Again, helping doesn’t just mean donations sharing a campaign on social media raises up to 5x more.

Does anyone else think it's even hotter that Gideon Fox fights against his feelings for Ana María because his political ambitions are to end slavery and the slave trade? Cause it is!

I found this novel to be so stickin' adorable! Ana María represents the over-pressured first daughter who feels like she has to do everything her overbearing father asks her to do. While on the other hand, Gideon Fox is a Black man who has placed so much pressure on himself to rid the world of slavery and the slave trade due to being the grandson of an enslaved woman. Seeing them come together and have this instant connection was great to read, as two controlled people finally lose control. I usually don't like the love at first sight or instalove, as it's been referred to recently, but Liana De la Rosa wrote the story in such a way that it didn't feel cheesy or cringe. The story of them having their own future plans or family expectations made their instalove story have a deeper connection.

The summary of the book was a bit misleading. It says "when Ana María finds herself in the crosshairs of a nefarious nobleman with his own political agenda, Gideon knows he must offer his hand as protection," so it makes it seem this will happen in, at least, the first half of the novel. However, the marriage doesn't happen until 3/4 of the way through the novel, and right before that is the scene with the "nefarious nobleman." I kept expecting the marriage of convenience to happen way sooner.

There was one scene in the novel that felt a little jarring, which was the chapter from Isabel. I understand it was to introduce the audience to the Luna sister who's the focus of the next novel. Yet, it took a bit out of the actual story between Ana María and Gideon, plus it just felt like an awkward placement. I don't know if there was a better place for it. Maybe just have that chapter be a prologue at the beginning of Isabel and the Rogue.

One huge take away for me from this novel is that it definitely makes me want to learn more about Mexican history and culture, in particular from their point-of-view. As I went to school in Texas, all of our history was taught with a skewed pro-United States, and even more skewed pro-Texas point-of-view. I also want to find more books that are set in Mexico or focus on Mexican culture or people, so if anyone has any recommendations, I'd happily take them. show less

I live and breathe romance novels. I love them. Specially Historical Romance, they are the very air I breathe. I adore them, without a doubt!

This one was downright a pitiful excuse for a Historical Romance novel.

The absence of historical contextualization and the lack of character evolution made it fall short.

Character evolution is a big deal for me when it comes to a good romance novel, and this book fell very short. The characters didn't seem to grow or change in a way that drew me into their journey. I was left wanting more depth and connection, which unfortunately never materialized.

I am not picky when it comes to cheesy, or smut, or even the most outlandish, or dark/questionable love stories.. this one had simply - nothing. - show more

Overall, it was a letdown and a waste of time.
I only finished it because it's very difficult to stop a book once I've started, but this should easily go on a DNR or DNF. show less

3.5/5

This book needed a solid copy editor to go over it. From distracting repetition of several turns of phrase throughout the entire book, to grammatical errors, to mixing up characters at the end...all of this *really* distracted from an otherwise entertaining book.

This was the first victorian/regency romance I've ever read, and I think the genre is not for me. The cover art is really spectacular though.

If I wanted a lecture on how bad Europeans are for colonizing, I would log in to social media, not pick up a book.