Once I started this book, I just wanted to be left in peace to finish it, and everything else—including preparing Sunday dinner—became an annoying distraction.

We have all heard of Simón Bolívar, a leader in the struggle to free Hispanic-America, but A Storm Hits Valparaiso introduces a host of other characters—some real, some fictional—that contributed to the liberation of South America from the Spanish.

There are many unsung heroes and heroines in any war of independence, and Gaughran introduces the reader to a few of them: The escaped slave Zé and freed slaves of South America seeking to consolidated their freedom; María de los Remedios, wife of San Martin, who encouraged the women of Argentina to raise funds, buy guns, and sew uniforms for the soldiers; Diego and Jorge, brothers who have lost all and become embroiled in the war; Pacha, a native enslaved in the mines of Peru by the Spanish, seeking to free his people and get home to his family; Madam Feliz, whose gambling house/brothel provided distraction from the ravages of war for the soldiers; Lord Captain Thomas Cochrane, the disgraced British naval officer and MP, seeking to clear his name and revive his fortune by enlisting as a mercenary; and of course José de San Martin, a deserter from the Spanish army who ends up commanding Argentine forces.

This is far more than a historical novel about war. It is an account of the lives and loves of a large cast of disparate characters and the circumstances that led them to be in that part of the world at the height of the struggle for independence. Gaughran’s deft touch seamlessly blends all the characters together into the heart of the story.

If I can single out one character, Catalina, sent by her father to stay with her pious spinster aunt in Santiago, to avoid the rising dangers at their tavern in Valparaiso. The headstrong Catalina escapes the boring old woman’s clutches. But as the war unfolds, tragedy leaves Catalina displaced, and desperately trying to forge a new life.

I loved this book and highly recommend it. I googled the characters and searched out the locations on google earth, and you’ll be doing the same. This is an interweaving of history and fiction at its best. ( )

I won this book from Librarything back in January. Sorry for the delay in reading and reviewing.

The story follows the lives of a dozen people, all involved in different ways in the war for South America's freedom from Spanish rule. Some matter greatly; such as Jose de San Martin or Jorge and his brother Diego, who fight for the army. Some not so much; such as Catalina, whose story is sad and intriguing but doesn't mean much for the revolution; or Ze, who I found pointless and totally missed why I even had to read about him.

The war story is interesting. The author seems to have done his research to be as accurate as possible. There are many aspects to this tale. Love, honor, freedom, war, and the losing of friend and/or family.

I had a hard time keeping interested. But I like the book and the writing style. ( )

A historical fiction that brings to light some of the leaders in the independence movements in South America. This is my introduction to men such as San Martin and Cochrane who were commanders in the struggles of Argentina, Chile, and Peru in winning their independence from Spain. From reading this book I learned what drove some of the leaders to give up everything to join the revolutions in South America.

The story of A Storm Hits Valparaiso involves not only the leaders and men in the history books, but also the people who were being directly affected by the changes that were coming about in their lives. Stories from the point of view of two cousins who were raised as brothers, a runaway slave, and the daughter of a bar owner all bring in the "little people" of the revolution. It is these stories that bring the revolutions down to the people that were truly being affected by what the leaders were doing.

A very good read and one that opens new history for those that want to explore the growth of independence movements. ( )

Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres and I did not have much knowledge of San Martin, other than his name and a list of battles (high school history in Mexico). A Storm Hits Valparaiso does a good job of setting up the rather complex set of countries and characters who were involved in the struggle for independence in the Southern Cone of South America.

While I learned quite a bit, it was not a perfect book. Some of the writing was choppy, and it jumped between scenes without any notice. Characters were unevenly developed and it seemed that a focus on fewer people would have improved the flow of the narrative. Also, while I know how bloody and difficult the independence wars were, the book did not have to be so depressing.

The book did an exceptional job at not setting this war in a vacuum: most of the fighting was located in Chile, but some was in Argentina (which was also a base to go back to and regroup); the freedom fighters came from diverse South American countries - including escaped Brazilian slaves; Spain obviously played a role as they fought to retain their colony; England and France played a part, etc. The elements that converged, setting the stage for the ultimate success of the wars of independence are covered nicely.

I do believe the pros outweigh the cons in this case, by quite a bit. I would especially recommend this book for Spanish teachers and students who do not specialize in this region, but think it is good for a pretty general audience overall. ( )

Based on the factual history of the liberation of South America from the Spanish, this story mixes actual events with fictional stories & activities for both key historical figures and additional supporting characters caught up in the saga's flow. With characters from England, France, Spain & Latin America, it's a great way to get an overview of the wars of independence & other European events during the 1800's.

The writer presents an interesting & enjoyable story that keeps you turning the pages from start to finish and if you've ever been in South America, you'll recognise many of the names & major events. While it could have been a lot more detailed & a much bigger novel, the book stays lean & sticks to the main events with supporting stories around the side. This helps keep it an enjoyable, fast read without getting bogged down in details. ( )