Today’s show is based on the book, “The Name I Choose” by Holly Brough; a novel in which Amalia’s quest for love and freedom from her troubled past takes us on a captivating journey between historical drama and heartfelt romance.

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Book summary: Amalia, a young woman in nineteenth-century Spain, faces a harrowing experience after being uprooted from her already troubled life and then thrust into an abusive nobleman’s household. Finding temporary solace in the arms of the future king of Spain, she becomes pregnant and is forced to flee for safety. Enduring hardship, including forced prostitution, Amalia reaches her lowest point and ultimately must forgive herself and confront her past to embrace an unlikely ally.

Welcome to this edition of Newsgram! 

Let’s begin our adventure in 19th century Spain—a romantic time when corsets were so tight they could squeeze secrets out of you; when skirts were so voluminous they had a life of their own. Can you hear them rustling and bustling down the cobblestone streets echoing with the passionate rhythms of flamenco guitars. 

This was a time when gentlemen peacocked around town in well tailored three-piece suits and top hats. The air was filled with excitement. Spain was a tapestry of vibrant colors, rich traditions, and an irresistible zest for life. 

It was also a time when religion, power and family authority were concentrated mostly in the hands of men. A time governed by rigid patriarchal structure when men held sway over not just wealth and political authority, but they also dictated the upbringing of their children and in our adventure today it was time when all this power and influence in the hands of bad men was a recipe for disaster and for Amalia that is exactly what happened. 

Holly Brough (Rollercoaster)  It’s very real to life. It’s the fun of tragedy but it’s all the feels you’ve got love and companionship and then you have deception and intrigue and even murder but that’s what life is right? That’s what this is a rollercoaster ride for sure. 

Riding that Roller Coaster is Amalia a fifteen year old girl, born in a Patriarchal society to an abusive father who does the kind of things that make you glad it’s not a real story — but at the same time grateful for the page-turning narrative that is titled “The Name I Choose” by Holly Brough. 

Holly Brough (Screenplay) It was writing a screenplay for this movie that’s in my head. 

That’s a great way to put it because this book does read like a movie. It’s amazing how quickly your mind will wash over the words while you take in the story and the characters. Here’s the premise…

Holly Brough (Premise) Holly explains the premise of the book where Amalia is sold into servitude by her abusive father into the household of Manuel Tudó, an abusive nobleman. 

So, she had to find a way to come to terms with all that and she did that by first swallowing the bitter pill that is her new life and then trying to live it the best way she could which for us means more adventures. So she falls in love with the Duke of Cadiz, a fellow foodie. 

Holly Brough (Food) He seduces her with yummy foods which is something she loves. She loves food. She’s a chef herself because she’s been cooking for her family for eight years and he’s also food connoisseur so that’s something they had in common and he would bring her these delicious treats to taste and whatever. They had a short love affair and he left her pregnant.   

I just love this book’s visuals. You can see the foods and feel the romance in your minds eye while experiencing this roller coaster of a plot going up and down again as Poor Amalia, sold off and abused, finds love and connection only to be left pregnant and wanting, forced to find a way to deal with her newest of circumstances, her master and now her unborn child. 

Holly Brough (Fled) And so she fled

Of course she did. To demonstrate how that played out Holly is going to read an excerpt from the book.

Holly Brough (Expert) Holly reads an expert from her book, The name I chose. The scene is one in which Amalia flees the Tudo’s home and finds a wanted poster with her face on it. Running through the forest in panic she meets two men, Commander Gilbert Channing and Captain Joshua Hastings who commit to helping her.

And so goes another plot twist that I think you’re going to enjoy. I would love to share more detail but where’s the fun in giving away a brilliantly told story. I will say that there is a lot more going on than you might think. This is not a typical romance novel. Far from it. Amali  a is a strong determined woman and while the setting is in a different place and time, there are many aspects of her character that modern readers can relate to. For example, there comes a time when she is asked to compromise herself by letting “lonely strangers” share her bed. 

Holly Brough (The Plan) And she’s like, I’m not going to give my child a whore for a mother. I’m not going to do that. They threatened to send him to a workhouse. Well she’s not gonna lose her child either so she formulated a plan. 

It was a scheme featuring a field of poppies and some opium-laced tea—just the remedy for a weary traveler to transform their desires from passionate yearning to peaceful slumber. Intriguing, resourceful and a real demonstration of the kind of woman Amalia has become.

Holly Brough (Child of God) That’s kind of how Amalia is. She’s very resourceful. I believe women can be strong where they stand. They don’t have to step into someone else’s shoes to accomplish those goals and names I believe are limiting. They keep from becoming who we were meant to become and I believe we are here in this life, on this earth, at this time to learn and grow and become more than we see ourselves today and I believe the only name, the only label that we can claim that is limitless and lasting, everyone can claim it is child of God. If we truly embrace that then we know our potential is limitless. It is lasting. It is a former thing. We can continue to grow and become who we want to become. We can become the best of ourselves if we actually understand who we are at the core. 

You are not what you are called. You are what you are inside. I told you there was more here than you might expect. 

Holly Brough (Who we are) We know who we are by our actions when no-one else is looking. So if we think about that. What am I doing when no-one else is looking? That’s who I am and do I like that person? If I don’t I know I can improve. I can change because I am a child of God. 

The Name I Choose by Holly Brough (Bruff) is getting great reviews and I’m not at all surprised that it pulls you into its world with captivating storytelling and a spot-on depiction of the historical era. The characters feel real, the insight into nineteenth-century Spanish culture is fascinating, and the plot keeps you guessing and the pages turning. 

It’s available now online at all your favorite places to buy books. I put links to some of them in the shows description for you. And that will do it for this edition of Newsgram from Webtalkradio.com.

You can see Holly Brough on the Books on Air podcast, Books on Air on Youtube as well the Talking Books 0podcast and Talking Books on Youtube program. 

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