Synopsis

A courageous farm girl’s life is changed forever when she falls in love with a charming street musician, opening her eyes to the cruel mistreatment of Mexico’s mine workers and compelling her to stand with them against their oppressor – the man she is marrying.

Esperanza lives a charmed life. The daughter of a wealthy landowner, her family is thrilled when she attracts the attention of the handsome and mysterious Don Raúl, opening the door to a glittering life of opulence for them all.

However, a chance encounter with a charming street musician forces Esperanza to open her eyes to the cruel underworld of Mexico’s mistreated working classes, and she begins to doubt everything she ever thought she wanted.

As the people begin to rise up in a bloodthirsty revolution against their oppressors, Esperanza is forced to make choices that she hoped never to face. Esperanza’s decisions threaten to tear apart her family, her heart, and the country she loves.

In this brutal world where a few careless words can cost lives, will the price of freedom prove to be more than what Esperanza is willing to pay?

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Praise

“A rip-roaring, romantic adventure that is impossible to put down.” – Starred Review

“A well-written and well-researched story against the background of early 20th century Mexico.” – D. Wells, author

“Class intrigue, dynastic maneuvering, and dangerous politics against growing civil unrest in pre-revolutionary Mexico. Can an unlikely friendship blossom into more? I couldn’t put it down, and nor will you!” – Jennifer Nugée, editor

“This beautifully written novel will have you gripped right from the start.” – Melissa Hoskins, author

“A riveting peek into a time of Mexico’s history where huge change, excitement and danger are on the horizon. Hugely engaging characters really pulled me in.” – Starred Review

“I fell in love with the characters and laughed and cried with them all the way on their exciting journey. They feel like my best friends. It was wonderful to read about this little-known part of Mexican history that happened before the revolution. I cannot wait to read what will happen next.” – Starred Review

“A book that will make you weep, rage, and fall in love with an array of characters so realistic they might step off the page. An excellent novel.” – Jessica Leather, author

Excerpt

Don Lorenzo stared at her for a moment, the little cake frozen halfway to his mouth. Then he cleared his throat, placed it down in front of him, and regarded her with polite concern.

“I can see that you have been deeply moved by these tragic events, señorita. Your compassion does you justice. I beg your forgiveness for my tactless words. It has been a long time since we had a woman around the house to remind us to engage our hearts as well as our heads in such matters. Of course, our top priority at the moment is ensuring that this sort of thing never happens again. We are putting every effort into establishing the cause of the explosion, although at present we believe that one of the workers must have laid down a little too much dynamite, and the resulting blast was more than the walls of the tunnel could take.”

“A tragic case of simple human error,” agreed Don Raul, watching her over the rim of his wine glass. “Some poor idiota got his calculations wrong. Drunk, I expect. Many of the workers are dreadful for that, you know. We’ve even had to install guards to keep a check on it.”

“Those workers were not drunk!” she objected, outraged. How dare Don Raul try to turn this back on the workers, to make out as though the accident had been their own fault. “They were following your orders, Don Raul, from your last visit to the mines. You told them they had to use more dynamite to get the gold out faster or risk having their pay cut for not meeting their targets. They all told you it was too dangerous, but you forced them to do it anyway. Didn’t you? Didn’t you?”

There was a stunned silence around the table. Esperanza looked to Don Lorenzo, who was staring open-mouthed at his son with an expression of horror. For the first time, the idea crossed her mind that perhaps the old man had no idea about what had really been going on.

“Raul?” he said shakily, breaking the silence. “Is there any truth in these accusations?”

“Of course not, Father. The señorita must be mistaken. She has been listening to vicious, idle gossip and nothing more.” Raul gave a harsh but unconvincing laugh and glared at Esperanza with ice-cold venom. “This is why ladies should stay out of business, señorita. They have a tendency to believe every rumour they hear and allow their emotions to rule their heads.”

“It’s better to be like that than to have no emotions at all and not care that your actions have destroyed hundreds of lives,” she spat. “Have you even spared a moment to think about them? To consider their families?”

“No. Nor will I,” he snapped, standing up to face her. “There’s nothing to be gained from hanging on to the past, señorita. Life moves on, and so must we.”

“The thing is, though, life doesn’t always move on for everyone, does it?” she raged, angry tears springing to her eyes and her voice trembling with fury. She was on her feet now, too incensed to stay still. “Men lost their lives last week. Wives lost their husbands, children lost their fathers—all for the sake of that gold. And you sit here, bragging about your mines as though those people don’t matter? Did you think I would be impressed?”

She leaned across the table, and he did the same, the two of them facing each other down.

“I’ll tell you what you can do to impress me, señor. Don’t bother using your filthy gold to make silly little baubles for me. Give it to some of those families whose lives you’ve destroyed. Pay some of those medical bills they’re now crippled with or feed the hungry children you’ve deprived of their fathers. Explain to them how they’re supposed to move on with their lives and believe me, they will be happy to tell you exactly what they think of the drunken idiota who got his calculations wrong.”

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About the Author

Rachel Le Mesurier is the author of ARTIE’S COURAGE, A HERO’S HOPE, and SOFIA’S FREEDOM. In the MUSICIAN’S PROMISE SERIES, she wants to challenge harmful stereotypes, proving that women can be powerful heroes and that men should never feel ashamed to express their emotions. She aims to write characters that readers can identify and empathize with, who make the reader think, laugh, and cry as they share their adventures.

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