What do you think?
Rate this book
The Spaniard's Innocent Maiden
The conquistador's true treasure
Benicio Villafuerte sailed to the New World to seek his fortune. But his treasure map is impossible to decipher. He needs a guide, and discovering an innocent native woman in trouble is the perfect opportunity. He'll buy her freedom if she'll help him on his hunt
Tula never imagined the adventure Benicio would take her onfor when their dangerous days explode into sensuous nights, she is brought to life. And soon she embarks on her own questto capture the conquistador's heart!
"
Benicio Villafuerte sailed to the New World to seek his fortune. But his treasure map is impossible to decipher. He needs a guide, and discovering an innocent native woman in trouble is the perfect opportunity. He'll buy her freedom if she'll help him on his hunt
Tula never imagined the adventure Benicio would take her onfor when their dangerous days explode into sensuous nights, she is brought to life. And soon she embarks on her own questto capture the conquistador's heart!
"
280 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published March 21, 2017
3 people are currently reading
87 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
February 5, 2020
In brief: Our hero, Benicio, is the middle of 3 Spanish brothers. They're all in love with childhood friend Luisa, who hedges her bets in a way that's totes obvious to everyone but them... in any case, Benicio abandons his scholarly dreams to join the Conquistadors & (hopefully) bring home a bucket of gold. But two years later, disenchanted, miserable, & poor, he meets a local gal named Tula, who's a native of the Totonac tribe (i.e., under the thumb of the Aztecs). Though he still believes he's in love with Luisa (yeah, right :D), he decides to help Tula rescue her sister & some other Totonac captives in exchange for a dying native priest's treasure map, which only Tula knows how to read (though it doesn't hurt that she's gorgeous in her own right). Anyway, Benicio & his grumpy co-conspirator, Rogelio, follow Cortes across the country with Tula in tow, where everyone learns important lessons about the worth of love, war, & treasure.
This one was deeper than the usual HQN. First, there was the language barrier between Benicio & Tula. It's not until the last quarter that they have much verbal conversation; until that point they use translators, gestures, & expressions. Consequently, much of their individual history & development is revealed apart or in flashback; when together they can only guess at what's going on in the other's thoughts, & hope they're picking up the correct cues. *thumbs up*
Second, there's the unusual setting & period. While not so gritty as it could've (& probably should've) been, the author did a decent job depicting the fear of the Totonacs re: their Aztec oppressors & the disrespect given them by Spanish conquerors. (I also liked the battle scene against the Aztec priests with their golden masks & nasty hair. Bleh.)
Finally, the characters themselves are pretty involved for a category. Benicio's love of astronomy & learning that battles a talent for warfare & slowly withering puppy-love + Tula's capability & open-minded attitudes about gods, sex, & livelihood make for a genuine culture clash wherein they must discover how similar they are, as opposed to the typical opposites-attract stuff of the Regency period. Side characters are equally interesting, from Malinala the Mayan translator (whom I would love to see in her own book) to grumpy, sour-faced Rogelio & his unexpected redemption with a native lass.
One last note: the creative sensual scenes were nicely done. Between the rings, the cenote, & misrepresentation of supernatural beings...quite fun. (I can honestly say I've never read a HQN wherein the MCs get busy inside a cenote. Cinematic, yes, but yours truly is terrified of open water & deep pools. Ain't no way I'd relax enough for that. ;))
This one was deeper than the usual HQN. First, there was the language barrier between Benicio & Tula. It's not until the last quarter that they have much verbal conversation; until that point they use translators, gestures, & expressions. Consequently, much of their individual history & development is revealed apart or in flashback; when together they can only guess at what's going on in the other's thoughts, & hope they're picking up the correct cues. *thumbs up*
Second, there's the unusual setting & period. While not so gritty as it could've (& probably should've) been, the author did a decent job depicting the fear of the Totonacs re: their Aztec oppressors & the disrespect given them by Spanish conquerors. (I also liked the battle scene against the Aztec priests with their golden masks & nasty hair. Bleh.)
Finally, the characters themselves are pretty involved for a category. Benicio's love of astronomy & learning that battles a talent for warfare & slowly withering puppy-love + Tula's capability & open-minded attitudes about gods, sex, & livelihood make for a genuine culture clash wherein they must discover how similar they are, as opposed to the typical opposites-attract stuff of the Regency period. Side characters are equally interesting, from Malinala the Mayan translator (whom I would love to see in her own book) to grumpy, sour-faced Rogelio & his unexpected redemption with a native lass.
One last note: the creative sensual scenes were nicely done. Between the rings, the cenote, & misrepresentation of supernatural beings...quite fun. (I can honestly say I've never read a HQN wherein the MCs get busy inside a cenote. Cinematic, yes, but yours truly is terrified of open water & deep pools. Ain't no way I'd relax enough for that. ;))
July 27, 2020
Any historical romance that strays from the ballrooms of Regency or Victorian England automatically grabs attention. And The Spaniard's Innocent Maiden especially caught my eye because, hello, a romance set in Mexico where a Spanish Conquistador meets an indigenous woman and they join forces to search for a secret Mexica treasure! The uniqueness of the premise had me totally hooked, and I was only afraid that Greta Gilbert would ruin things with racism or other problematic things. (Which, honestly, seemed very likely and was why I spent several months debating whether or not to read this.)
So, yes. Let's discuss potential problems with the novel's premise and how Gilbert avoided them. The big one that I spotted right off the bat was the power imbalance between the protagonists. Benicio is a member of Cortés' army; Tula is a Totonac woman oppressed by both the Mexica and the Spanish. Benicio's people are are literally in the process of exterminating and subjugating Tula's. Not only does this seem to be an unlikely romance, it might just be straight-up unthinkable (see also: Nazi/Jew romances set in concentration camps). Luckily, I think The Spaniard's Innocent Maiden does okay. There were certainly many relationships between Spanish men and indigenous women around this time (hence the existence of Mestizos and Latinos as we know them), and it's not too far-fetched to posit that some of those relationships might have been consensual. Also, most readers accept that romance fiction offers an edited/santized perspective of history even in the best cases. So there.
More specifically, Benicio himself is very much a "wrong place, wrong time" guy. He ends up in Mexico because he was lured in by the promise of endless gold, which he wanted in order to win over his "one true love," Luisa. Of course, that's not really a thing, and Cortés is more interested in conquest than establishing trade relationships with the local peoples. Benicio participates in the violence, but feels that it's senseless and tragic; certainly, he doesn't feel that it's ordained by a higher power or somesuch bullshit. So, clearly, Benicio is a "nice guy" for a European conqueror—I'm not sure how realistic it might be that a common foot soldier would think or behave the way Benicio does in this book, but it's not too hard to believe. I have read the accounts by Bartolomé de las Casas and Bernal Díaz, so it's not too unlikely to have dissenting Spaniards among Cortés's army.
All of this might vary by reader, but I was satisfied with Gilbert's approach to the somewhat touchy subjects that come along with the time period. The Spaniard's Innocent Maiden does not look at history or relations between the Old and New Worlds with rose-colored glasses. The author is honest about the atrocities of genocide, smallpox, and European greed. These are all issues that the characters have to contend with, and I think they're handled with sensitivity, for the most part. It also helped me to remember that all of this takes place in the parallel universe of Romancelandia, where everything is just a bit happier and lighter.
That out of the way, I can discuss the story itself. (Spoiler: it's really good!)
The book opens at the tail-end of a battle between Cortés's men and some Maya warriors. Benicio chases a Maya priest who reveals to him a treasure map, but then winds up in a fight with a fellow solider. Tula is fishing by the sea and intervenes. The two accidentally fall into a cenote in the jungle and have to work together to climb out. They're initially very attracted to one another, but Benicio also really wants to find the treasure in order to bring it back to Spain and impress his lady-love. He and Tula strike a bargain, and everything kicks off from there.
Interestingly: this is a highly successful romance where the two characters have no means of verbally communicating with each other for over half the story. The language barrier here is real, and even though Tula eventually learns Spanish (from La Malinche!!! OMG!), it's a long time coming. Instead, the book coasts by on the initial chemistry between Benicio and Tula, and by nonverbal communication. This doesn't seem likely to work, but it so does. I'm highly impressed with the way Gilbert was able to so deftly portray the protagonists' emotions and motivations, and to develop their relationship without any words or discussions of any kind. I imagine that's not an easy task, but in this book it seemed effortless.
And while I'm not the most experienced category romance reader, I really was impressed all around with the depth and attention to detail present in The Spaniard's Innocent Maiden—Harlequins tend to be a bit abbreviated. Yet here, the characters on their own were fully developed individuals, and the storyline spans several months and sees the characters travel across half of Mexico and back again. The development of the relationship was subtle and believable, and evolved naturally. Overall, this is just a very high quality story and I'm impressed. This was really, really good.
📌 . Blog | Review Database | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads
So, yes. Let's discuss potential problems with the novel's premise and how Gilbert avoided them. The big one that I spotted right off the bat was the power imbalance between the protagonists. Benicio is a member of Cortés' army; Tula is a Totonac woman oppressed by both the Mexica and the Spanish. Benicio's people are are literally in the process of exterminating and subjugating Tula's. Not only does this seem to be an unlikely romance, it might just be straight-up unthinkable (see also: Nazi/Jew romances set in concentration camps). Luckily, I think The Spaniard's Innocent Maiden does okay. There were certainly many relationships between Spanish men and indigenous women around this time (hence the existence of Mestizos and Latinos as we know them), and it's not too far-fetched to posit that some of those relationships might have been consensual. Also, most readers accept that romance fiction offers an edited/santized perspective of history even in the best cases. So there.
More specifically, Benicio himself is very much a "wrong place, wrong time" guy. He ends up in Mexico because he was lured in by the promise of endless gold, which he wanted in order to win over his "one true love," Luisa. Of course, that's not really a thing, and Cortés is more interested in conquest than establishing trade relationships with the local peoples. Benicio participates in the violence, but feels that it's senseless and tragic; certainly, he doesn't feel that it's ordained by a higher power or somesuch bullshit. So, clearly, Benicio is a "nice guy" for a European conqueror—I'm not sure how realistic it might be that a common foot soldier would think or behave the way Benicio does in this book, but it's not too hard to believe. I have read the accounts by Bartolomé de las Casas and Bernal Díaz, so it's not too unlikely to have dissenting Spaniards among Cortés's army.
All of this might vary by reader, but I was satisfied with Gilbert's approach to the somewhat touchy subjects that come along with the time period. The Spaniard's Innocent Maiden does not look at history or relations between the Old and New Worlds with rose-colored glasses. The author is honest about the atrocities of genocide, smallpox, and European greed. These are all issues that the characters have to contend with, and I think they're handled with sensitivity, for the most part. It also helped me to remember that all of this takes place in the parallel universe of Romancelandia, where everything is just a bit happier and lighter.
That out of the way, I can discuss the story itself. (Spoiler: it's really good!)
The book opens at the tail-end of a battle between Cortés's men and some Maya warriors. Benicio chases a Maya priest who reveals to him a treasure map, but then winds up in a fight with a fellow solider. Tula is fishing by the sea and intervenes. The two accidentally fall into a cenote in the jungle and have to work together to climb out. They're initially very attracted to one another, but Benicio also really wants to find the treasure in order to bring it back to Spain and impress his lady-love. He and Tula strike a bargain, and everything kicks off from there.
Interestingly: this is a highly successful romance where the two characters have no means of verbally communicating with each other for over half the story. The language barrier here is real, and even though Tula eventually learns Spanish (from La Malinche!!! OMG!), it's a long time coming. Instead, the book coasts by on the initial chemistry between Benicio and Tula, and by nonverbal communication. This doesn't seem likely to work, but it so does. I'm highly impressed with the way Gilbert was able to so deftly portray the protagonists' emotions and motivations, and to develop their relationship without any words or discussions of any kind. I imagine that's not an easy task, but in this book it seemed effortless.
And while I'm not the most experienced category romance reader, I really was impressed all around with the depth and attention to detail present in The Spaniard's Innocent Maiden—Harlequins tend to be a bit abbreviated. Yet here, the characters on their own were fully developed individuals, and the storyline spans several months and sees the characters travel across half of Mexico and back again. The development of the relationship was subtle and believable, and evolved naturally. Overall, this is just a very high quality story and I'm impressed. This was really, really good.
📌 . Blog | Review Database | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads
June 25, 2019
What a treat this book was. When you read it, you are taken into New World of the time of Captain Cortez. You are taken into native culture which is so different from ours. It’s an adventure and love story in one.
Benicio our main hero was so so sweet but at the same time, manly too. He felt real unlike any other romance heroes I read about. He was a man out of place - a self proclaimed scholar in search of fortune who unwilling ends up being a killer. And Tula she is a little smarty pants. Very skillful but also very feminine. They were a great match.
This story with all its beautiful exotic locations will stay with you for awhile.
Benicio our main hero was so so sweet but at the same time, manly too. He felt real unlike any other romance heroes I read about. He was a man out of place - a self proclaimed scholar in search of fortune who unwilling ends up being a killer. And Tula she is a little smarty pants. Very skillful but also very feminine. They were a great match.
This story with all its beautiful exotic locations will stay with you for awhile.
August 18, 2018
Una historia muy dulce.
Pensé que no me gustaría porque siendo yo latinoamericana temía que esto fuera una mal contada versión del "mal del malinche", el mal del malinche es la historia tradicional de una princesa indígena que traicionó a su pueblo por enamorarse de un conquistador español. Sin embargo me alegra que no fue asi.
La historia es entretenida y los personjes son muy dulces, tenemos una heroína que es muy inteligente pero que no pierde la inocencia de sus raices y un héroe que es muy agradable.
También me ha gustado que la autora trató con mucho respeto los temas culturales e historicos, talvez no es todo veraz pero tampoco hizo aseveraciones que rayaran en lo ofensivo.
Lo recomiendo, es un buen cambio de escenario para romances historicos.
Pensé que no me gustaría porque siendo yo latinoamericana temía que esto fuera una mal contada versión del "mal del malinche", el mal del malinche es la historia tradicional de una princesa indígena que traicionó a su pueblo por enamorarse de un conquistador español. Sin embargo me alegra que no fue asi.
La historia es entretenida y los personjes son muy dulces, tenemos una heroína que es muy inteligente pero que no pierde la inocencia de sus raices y un héroe que es muy agradable.
También me ha gustado que la autora trató con mucho respeto los temas culturales e historicos, talvez no es todo veraz pero tampoco hizo aseveraciones que rayaran en lo ofensivo.
Lo recomiendo, es un buen cambio de escenario para romances historicos.
July 31, 2017
This is a great historical romance, well researched on the theme of the Spanish in South / Central America and the tribes already well established. I like that the woman we meet is quite independent and, while concerned about the Spaniards, not terrified. She observes well and decides about what she sees, making her own plans.
The soldier hoping to make his fortune is cleverly presented as somewhat of a heretic, having read some science texts and realising that the Biblical teachings don't match reality. This explains why he has a different attitude to others in his group. Of course outwardly he can't differ from the rule.
We see a lot of countryside and various peoples and homes. The big bugbear here is the Aztec empire, called the Mexica by our heroine. At first she thinks the Spaniards will help her folks, the Totonac, against the slavers. Later we meet the Maya too. If you like culture clash, background detail, character development, you've got it. This is a romantic thriller from the 1500s and a fantastic read.
I downloaded an ARC from Net Galley. This is an unbiased review.
The soldier hoping to make his fortune is cleverly presented as somewhat of a heretic, having read some science texts and realising that the Biblical teachings don't match reality. This explains why he has a different attitude to others in his group. Of course outwardly he can't differ from the rule.
We see a lot of countryside and various peoples and homes. The big bugbear here is the Aztec empire, called the Mexica by our heroine. At first she thinks the Spaniards will help her folks, the Totonac, against the slavers. Later we meet the Maya too. If you like culture clash, background detail, character development, you've got it. This is a romantic thriller from the 1500s and a fantastic read.
I downloaded an ARC from Net Galley. This is an unbiased review.
April 4, 2019
This book was such a breath of fresh air! Talk about a unique setting! I was leery about possible uncomfortable narratives involving some European alpha male swooping in to conquer an exotic maiden, but that is not the case. The hero, Benicio, is very human and compelling, and is a conquistador essentially in name only. He never looks down on the heroine or her culture, behaves in a boorish or unduly aggressive manner, or tries to take advantage of her. Tula is also quite different from what the book's title implies – she's sweet but very competent and knowledgeable, not some naive blushing girl, nor is she obnoxiously feisty. I appreciated that their romance developed more slowly than most Harlequins, it was genuine and natural and well-earned. I also liked Benicio's disillusionment involving his actions and the Spanish presence there – it felt realistic for his character, not just shoehorned in for modern sensibilities.
October 6, 2024
A great adventurous love story about a Spaniard explorer, a Totonac woman, and buried treasure. I thought the author did an excellent job bringing to life Indigenuous cultures and the experiences that the Totonac and other native peoples would have lived through with the invasion of the Spanish conquistadors in addition to their subjugation by the ruling Mexica. Tula was an amazing heroine: brave, crafty, and smart. I enjoyed reading about her journey and growth throughout the story. I also thought Benicio was a good hero who both thought and felt in equal, rational portions. They made a great pair and I appreciated the fact that they did not fall in love at first sight but theirs was a gradual journey, both admiring and honoring the other despite their cultural and linguistic differences. This is a perfect weekend read with just the right amounts of adventure, romance, action, and mystery all tied together by an ancient and fascinating culture.
September 19, 2025
4.5 Star historical romance. I was thinking this was gonna be a quick read with little substance or actual history, and a massive dose of romance. Surprisingly a very fun plot with decent research/reference to actual history woven in. I really enjoyed the relationship that develops between Benicio and Tula, despite their language barrier initially. The ending is a little rushed, but still fitting considering the wilder context of Cortés conquest and the introduction of smallpox.
Would recommend for a lover of historical fiction and historical romance.
Would recommend for a lover of historical fiction and historical romance.
September 1, 2017
writing is not bad, it just wasn't my favorite time period
January 1, 2019
This book fulfilled a category for a reading challenge. It was pretty ridiculous.
March 9, 2022
I loved it!!
Read
April 14, 2017"Reminiscent of the O’Neil-Gear novels, Gilbert’s newest tale immerses readers in a long-lost culture on the cusp of invasion and their desperation to stop the demise of their society" (RT Book Reviews).
April 29, 2017
Loved this story. It was new to me and great. Only problems I had were that I wanted to wring the hero's neck (more on that later -- it is sort of a spoiler) and that I couldn't pronounce half the things said in the book, which I should have known, but didn't think about until I'm trying to figure out how the words are pronounced.
Mini spoiler ahead------------
I wanted to wring the hero's neck because he was too stupid to realize that the woman he 'loved' only wanted to marry him if he could provide her with the lifestyle that she wanted. Love was definitely blind in this case. End mini spoiler.
All in all it was a great read.
Mini spoiler ahead------------
I wanted to wring the hero's neck because he was too stupid to realize that the woman he 'loved' only wanted to marry him if he could provide her with the lifestyle that she wanted. Love was definitely blind in this case. End mini spoiler.
All in all it was a great read.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews