"Hughes weaves a dynamic story of passion and betrayal,
and the power that the past can wield." — Booklist
When Malena’s tidy, carefully planned world collapses with her father’s mysterious suicide, she finds a letter, signed with an “A,” which reveals that her mother is very much alive in San Isidro—a quaint town tucked in the Andes Mountains. Intent on meeting her, Malena arrives at Alameda Street and meets four unconventional women who couldn’t be more different from one another, but who share one thing in common: all of their names begin with an A.
To avoid a scandal, Malena assumes another woman’s identity and enters their home to discover the truth. Could her mother be Amanda, the iconoclastic widow who opens the first tango nightclub in a conservative town? Ana, the ideal housewife with a less-than-ideal past? Abigail, the sickly sister in love with a forbidden man? Or Alejandra, the artistic introvert scarred by her cousin’s murder? But living a lie will bring Malena additional problems, such as falling for the wrong man and loving a family she may lose when they learn of her deceit. Worse, her arrival threatens to expose long-buried secrets and a truth that may wreck her life forever.
Set in 1960s Ecuador, The Sisters of Alameda Street is a sweeping story of how one woman’s search for the truth of her identity forces a family to confront their own past.
Acclaim
Intergenerational mysteries, hidden histories, and the richly overlapping stories of four sisters intertwine to offer a fascinating glimpse into one family living in small town 1960s Ecuador. The Sisters of Alameda Street is an absorbing, fast read that will appeal to those who enjoy their historical fiction with a splash of romance, a dash of intrigue, and plenty of intimate family secrets.
“
Juliet Blackwell
NYT Bestselling Author
A fascinating look into the world of 1960s Ecuador, as a young woman struggles to find herself amid the clash between the old and the new—and within the family that might or might not be hers.
“
Lauren Willig
NYT Bestselling Author
“
Gripping and suspenseful, The Sisters of Alameda Street is the fascinating story of a young woman's quest to find her mother amongst a family she never knew she had. Hughes' cast of characters and their mysterious pasts twist and turn as mistaken identities, long-kept secrets, and long-lost loves are revealed to create a delightfully intriguing read.
“
Natalia Sylvester, Author
Chasing the Sun
“
Talented newcomer Lorena Hughes draws on an exotic and beautiful setting in South America to tell a story both piquantly new and ageless. Authentic cultural detail and well-drawn characters make The Sisters of Alameda Street a feast for fans of women's fiction: Hughes may someday become the South American Amy Tan.
Rosslyn Elliott, Author
The Saddler’s Legacy series
“
With her debut novel, The Sisters of Alameda Street, Lorena Hughes has created a deeply sympathetic heroine and a complex story of family loves and lies, passions and flaws, which grab your heart and won't let go until the very last page. It is a compelling read, a novel not soon to be forgotten.
Sandra K. Toro, Author
By Fire Possessed
The Platas sisters are magnetic, empathetic creatures haunted by their own lives. And Malena's equally-compelling presence—albeit initially under false pretenses—may be the only force capable of issuing in some measure of redemption.
“
The Sisters of Alameda Street takes the reader through twists and turns and sudden reversals in a plot as complicated as the elaborate dance at the center of Malena's world. Readers will find themselves immersed in a family saga like no other—a story that's hard to put down.
Paula Paul, Author
The Alexandra Gladstone mysteries
Susie Salom, Author
Kyle Finds Her Way
About me
Photo: Matt Foster/ Kim Jew Studios
Lorena Hughes was born and raised in Ecuador until moving to the United States at eighteen. She has a degree in fine arts and mass communication & journalism from The University of New Mexico. Her previous work has won first place at the 2011 Southwest Writers International Contest in the historical fiction category, earned an honorable mention at the 2012 Soul-Making Keats Literary Competition, and placed quarter-finalist in the 2014 Amazon Breakout Novel Award. Her articles have appeared in What’s Up weekly and The Writing Sisterhood blog.
HIP LATINA Rising Latina Authors (November 7, 2017)
Interview: 17 Scribes (July 3, 2017)
Article: "Who Influences You?" (July 5, 2017)
Interview: "How Do You Write?" Podcast (November 10, 2017)
Meet the Author (November 13, 2017)
Interview: GSMC Book Review Podcast (November 14, 2017)
Lessons from Debut Authors, Part I (November 7, 2017)
Lessons from Debut Authors, Part 2 (November 14, 2017)
Lessons from Debut Authors, Part 3 (November 22, 2017)
Article: All Set (December 10, 2017)
Contact me
Questions? Comments? I'd love to hear from you!
For inquiries about The Sisters of Alameda Street please contact:
Liza Fleissig
LIZA ROYCE AGENCY
1049 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10028
212.722.1950