Includes discussion questions. "Spain 1493: Isabel has broken her mother's heart by becoming a sincere convert to Christianity. But when she is noticed by Friar Alonso at La Casa Santa, the Holy House, she is forced to flee the Inquisition by entering into a loveless marriage and sailing with Christopher Columbus on his second voyage to the New World. But all too soon Isabel is forced to struggle alone in her new life and new faith. With all the risks and hardships, how is she to survive? And will she ever find love in this strange land? And what of the dangerous Enrique Vivar? Will his hidden agenda cost her her life?"--Back cover.
Summary:
Sixteen year old Isabel has broken her mother's heart. She has left Judaism to become a sincere convert to Christianity. Her mother is convinced this great sin has brought God's displeasure upon them all, for Isabel's older sister, Beatrice, is suddenly called to the Holy House, the place were heretics are held and tried by the Spanish Inquisition. For months Beatrice is their prisoner until she becomes pregnant by the infamous Friar Alonso, the most hated Inquisitor of Seville. After Beatrice takes her own life, and Isabel catches Friar Alonso's eye, Isabel's parents force her to marry Beatrice's husband, the wealthy noble, Don Sebastian Villarreal, then the pair are compelled to sail to the New World with Christopher Columbus on his second voyage to the Indies. But Don Sebastian proves irresponsible and spoiled, and makes a poor husband in the dangerous new world. After he is killed by an Indian, Isabela finds herself forced to struggle alone in her new life and faith. When the rough, brutish Enrique Vivar complicates matters by his unwelcomed advances, Isabel writes her parents, begging to be allowed to return home. In the form of a reply, comes Don Sebastian's elder brother, Antonio, with a contract of marriage. How could she face another loveless marriage? But how was she to survive alone? With all the risks and hardships? And what of the dangerous Enrique Vivar? Will his hidden agenda cost her her life?
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