From Barnes & NobleIn her word of mouth bestselling memoir When I Was Puerto Rican, Esmeralda Santiago wrote about growing up in two different worlds; one in rural Puerto Rico, the other in New York City. In her historical novel, Conquistadora, she writes about a character's difficult transition between two equally different realms. Even as a young girl in southwest Spain, Ana Cubillas was enthralled with the idea of Puerto Rico, which she knew mainly through the diaries of a 16th century ancestors. To achieve her dream, Ana marries a young suitor, but in this Gone With The Wind-like saga, her heart belongs mostly to her hacienda, which undergoes major changes with the advent of the American Civil War on the mainland. Early reviews call this "a sensual, riveting tale" and "thrilling history.
