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Sugar Sun #1
Under the Sugar Sun
A schoolmarm, a sugar baron, and a soldier…
It is 1902 and Georgina Potter has followed her fiancé to the Philippines, the most remote outpost of America’s fledgling empire. But Georgina has a purpose in mind beyond marriage: her real mission is to find her brother Ben, who has disappeared into the abyss of the Philippine-American War.
To navigate the Islands’ troubled waters, Georgina enlists the aid of local sugar baron Javier Altarejos. But nothing is as it seems, and the price of Javier’s help may be more than Georgina can bear.
Note: This book was revised for content in June 2018, so if you purchased a Kindle copy previously, please be sure to update the file.
Another note: Content warnings for all the Sugar Sun series books can be found at bit.ly/HallockContent
It is 1902 and Georgina Potter has followed her fiancé to the Philippines, the most remote outpost of America’s fledgling empire. But Georgina has a purpose in mind beyond marriage: her real mission is to find her brother Ben, who has disappeared into the abyss of the Philippine-American War.
To navigate the Islands’ troubled waters, Georgina enlists the aid of local sugar baron Javier Altarejos. But nothing is as it seems, and the price of Javier’s help may be more than Georgina can bear.
Note: This book was revised for content in June 2018, so if you purchased a Kindle copy previously, please be sure to update the file.
Another note: Content warnings for all the Sugar Sun series books can be found at bit.ly/HallockContent
434 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 15, 2015
42 people are currently reading
362 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Hallock
5 books37 followersJennifer Hallock spends her days teaching history and her nights writing historical happily-ever-afters. She has lived and worked in the Philippines, but she currently writes at her little brick house on a New England homestead—kept company by her husband, a growing flock of chickens, and a border collie mutt puppy who likes to chew computer power cords.
Author Courtney Milan wrote of the Sugar Sun series: “If you’re looking for a meaty historical romance that will transport you somewhere you’ve never been, Jennifer Hallock’s books…are must-reads.”
Author Courtney Milan wrote of the Sugar Sun series: “If you’re looking for a meaty historical romance that will transport you somewhere you’ve never been, Jennifer Hallock’s books…are must-reads.”
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
September 26, 2021
no, not another coloniser x colonised ‘romance’ book. nope
April 28, 2017
Full review at Book Thingo. It's too tricky to summarise the review in Goodreads, so please check the blog for all my thoughts. :)
There’s a lot for me to unpack in this story. The layers of privilege between the characters make the romance very complicated for me. Very rarely will I ever be completely in the hero’s shoes in a romance, but in Under the Sun, my empathy is always with Javier. So when, in the last third of the story, Georgie does something unbelievably dangerous and stupid, I almost didn’t finish the book.
And yet…I’m so glad I read this book. I can’t explain what it feels to read a setting that is both familiar and strange, and people whose futures you can imagine because you’ve lived in that world. In Regency romances, I can ignore all that because they don’t apply to me at all. In Under the Sugar Sun, every detail is both glorious and painful.
There’s a lot for me to unpack in this story. The layers of privilege between the characters make the romance very complicated for me. Very rarely will I ever be completely in the hero’s shoes in a romance, but in Under the Sun, my empathy is always with Javier. So when, in the last third of the story, Georgie does something unbelievably dangerous and stupid, I almost didn’t finish the book.
And yet…I’m so glad I read this book. I can’t explain what it feels to read a setting that is both familiar and strange, and people whose futures you can imagine because you’ve lived in that world. In Regency romances, I can ignore all that because they don’t apply to me at all. In Under the Sugar Sun, every detail is both glorious and painful.
Read
March 10, 2016This is an impressive debut by indie author Jennifer Hallock. It's also the first romance/historic fiction I've read set in the Philippines in the early 20th century. Since my husband/children are Filipino, I was super excited to dive into this story. Hallock's strengths include exquisite writing (especially considering this is her debut novel), and a rich attention to detail (this author has clearly done her research) that was blended nicely into the narrative. The pacing was good, and the nuance of this historical time frame was handled extremely well. The romance started off strong, but some questionable decisions by both the heroine and hero at the end of the book were frustrating. Overall, I still liked it, and I'm looking forward to reading the prequel novella, Hotel Oriente.
Hallock is definitely an author to watch. She has talent galore and a dedication to research that brings her historic fiction to life.
Hallock is definitely an author to watch. She has talent galore and a dedication to research that brings her historic fiction to life.
January 13, 2016
FYI, the author is a fellow member of the New England Chapter of Romance Writers of America, but did not ask me to read or review this book.
A fascinating look at a time and place not usually featured in romance or historical fiction: turn of the 20th century The Philippines, when the islands and their inhabitants are trying to adjust to the ejection of one western occupier (Spain) and the arrival of another (the United States). Our hero, Javier de Altarejos, is part Filipino, part Spanish; he's struggling to maintain his sugar plantation in the face of a steep drop in prices due to American trade restrictions. He encounters a redheaded American on the Manila streets during a fire (deliberately set by the Americans to rid the city of spirilla), and again later, when his cousin befriends her during a shopping trip, and finds her fascinating. Georgie, our stubborn American girl, has come to the Philippines ostensibly to teach the natives how to read and write English and to marry a fellow teacher, but her real goal is to find her brother, who has gone missing from the Army (really interesting and shocking facts about the families of common soldiers not being informed if their loved ones died during battle). Georgie finds the mestizo man attractive, but her own prejudices, as well as her already-set life plans, do not allow her to imagine anything might come of her feelings.
After this long introductory section, Georgie moves to the Philippine town of Bais, on the island of Negros, to take up her teaching position. Bais just happens to be the closest town to Javier's plantation. Georgie gradually becomes disenchanted with her fiancé (a pretty cardboard villain), and eventually the two break their ties. Leaving the field clear for hot Javier to woo his headstrong American. But when Javier sets out to discover Georgie's brother's whereabouts, will the protective streak that leads him to keep secrets about the search from Georgie lead to trouble in romance-land?
The first half of the novel reads like historical fiction, the second half like historical romance; I wish the two had felt more integrated, or that the author had chosen one genre or the other to focus on. Javier made for an appealing hero, with his combination of charm, family loyalty, and dogged pursuit of Georgie, and their romantic scenes (when they finally occur, not until mid-book) are touching. Georgie, with her intelligence and strong will, was also an appealing character, at least until the last quarter of the novel. By book's end, though, her pigheadedness moved from admirable to dangerously, and stupidly, naive. I especially disliked the position the heroine found herself in before she reunited with her lover; her choice and agency were distinctly lacking.
The racism throughout the book, though likely historically accurate, was very hard for me to read. Because it was not just the villain who spouted racist insults; almost all of the white characters, including our heroine, are prone to unthinkingly giving voice to disparaging comments about the Filipinos. I didn't feel Georgie struggling with her own racist assumptions at all during the novel; she just simply starts feeling and acting less racist towards her students, and towards Javier. Would also have loved to see Javier grappling more with, or at least thinking more about, his mixed heritage, part Spanish oppressor, part Filipino oppressed.
A promising debut. Definitely looking forward to future books from this author.
A fascinating look at a time and place not usually featured in romance or historical fiction: turn of the 20th century The Philippines, when the islands and their inhabitants are trying to adjust to the ejection of one western occupier (Spain) and the arrival of another (the United States). Our hero, Javier de Altarejos, is part Filipino, part Spanish; he's struggling to maintain his sugar plantation in the face of a steep drop in prices due to American trade restrictions. He encounters a redheaded American on the Manila streets during a fire (deliberately set by the Americans to rid the city of spirilla), and again later, when his cousin befriends her during a shopping trip, and finds her fascinating. Georgie, our stubborn American girl, has come to the Philippines ostensibly to teach the natives how to read and write English and to marry a fellow teacher, but her real goal is to find her brother, who has gone missing from the Army (really interesting and shocking facts about the families of common soldiers not being informed if their loved ones died during battle). Georgie finds the mestizo man attractive, but her own prejudices, as well as her already-set life plans, do not allow her to imagine anything might come of her feelings.
After this long introductory section, Georgie moves to the Philippine town of Bais, on the island of Negros, to take up her teaching position. Bais just happens to be the closest town to Javier's plantation. Georgie gradually becomes disenchanted with her fiancé (a pretty cardboard villain), and eventually the two break their ties. Leaving the field clear for hot Javier to woo his headstrong American. But when Javier sets out to discover Georgie's brother's whereabouts, will the protective streak that leads him to keep secrets about the search from Georgie lead to trouble in romance-land?
The first half of the novel reads like historical fiction, the second half like historical romance; I wish the two had felt more integrated, or that the author had chosen one genre or the other to focus on. Javier made for an appealing hero, with his combination of charm, family loyalty, and dogged pursuit of Georgie, and their romantic scenes (when they finally occur, not until mid-book) are touching. Georgie, with her intelligence and strong will, was also an appealing character, at least until the last quarter of the novel. By book's end, though, her pigheadedness moved from admirable to dangerously, and stupidly, naive. I especially disliked the position the heroine found herself in before she reunited with her lover; her choice and agency were distinctly lacking.
The racism throughout the book, though likely historically accurate, was very hard for me to read. Because it was not just the villain who spouted racist insults; almost all of the white characters, including our heroine, are prone to unthinkingly giving voice to disparaging comments about the Filipinos. I didn't feel Georgie struggling with her own racist assumptions at all during the novel; she just simply starts feeling and acting less racist towards her students, and towards Javier. Would also have loved to see Javier grappling more with, or at least thinking more about, his mixed heritage, part Spanish oppressor, part Filipino oppressed.
A promising debut. Definitely looking forward to future books from this author.
March 7, 2016
Gah where do I start? This book is amazing, well-researched, well-written and gave me tremendous feels! I think I shall sort it out by feels category:
1. Post-Colonial Theory Feels: I went to the University of the Philippines, where nearly every subject always had a lecture (or two or three) of how American colonialism and the destructive effects of benevolent assimilation were Very, Very Bad for the Philippines. This was eye-opening for me back then because it's not the kind of thing that's taught in high school and only lately explored in popular culture with Heneral Luna (the typical approach to the American colonial period in the media and secondary school is Those Kind Yanks). Hallock's book is very clear-eyed and honest about that. Her American characters truly believe in manifest destiny, and that does lead to some ugly characterizations, but it's precisely that honesty that made me admire it.
2. Sugarland Feels: I also appreciate how she describes just how hard it is to farm sugar. This part of the book really struck close to home because of my family's history with sugar farming in Negros Occidental. There's always this telenovela romance concept about hacenderos that's all riding thoroughbreds and sipping brandy, when the reality is it's brutal hard work, and debt, and the constant threat of losing your land, and the feudal reality of it all. The book captured that unpleasant reality very well.
3. Outlander Feels: It's not *like* Outlander, but the characters and the way they intermingled with each other reminded me of what I liked most about Gabaldon's series: Headstrong, stubborn girl in an unfamiliar place, who tends to make decisions even if she doesn't know the milieu that well and whose decisions make trouble for others. Hot, handsome, quippy laird who always has your back and takes care of everything. Feisty younger lady relative. Adopted orphan child.
4. Epic Historical Romance Feels: This is sweeping period romance, people! I demand to see this on film! From Hotel de Oriente, Chinatown, Bais and the Apocalypse Now vibes of Samar -- this would look really amazing, right??
1. Post-Colonial Theory Feels: I went to the University of the Philippines, where nearly every subject always had a lecture (or two or three) of how American colonialism and the destructive effects of benevolent assimilation were Very, Very Bad for the Philippines. This was eye-opening for me back then because it's not the kind of thing that's taught in high school and only lately explored in popular culture with Heneral Luna (the typical approach to the American colonial period in the media and secondary school is Those Kind Yanks). Hallock's book is very clear-eyed and honest about that. Her American characters truly believe in manifest destiny, and that does lead to some ugly characterizations, but it's precisely that honesty that made me admire it.
2. Sugarland Feels: I also appreciate how she describes just how hard it is to farm sugar. This part of the book really struck close to home because of my family's history with sugar farming in Negros Occidental. There's always this telenovela romance concept about hacenderos that's all riding thoroughbreds and sipping brandy, when the reality is it's brutal hard work, and debt, and the constant threat of losing your land, and the feudal reality of it all. The book captured that unpleasant reality very well.
3. Outlander Feels: It's not *like* Outlander, but the characters and the way they intermingled with each other reminded me of what I liked most about Gabaldon's series: Headstrong, stubborn girl in an unfamiliar place, who tends to make decisions even if she doesn't know the milieu that well and whose decisions make trouble for others. Hot, handsome, quippy laird who always has your back and takes care of everything. Feisty younger lady relative. Adopted orphan child.
4. Epic Historical Romance Feels: This is sweeping period romance, people! I demand to see this on film! From Hotel de Oriente, Chinatown, Bais and the Apocalypse Now vibes of Samar -- this would look really amazing, right??
March 16, 2016
*** This review was originally published on book blog Will Read for Feels.
The novel takes you from Manila to Dumaguete and Bais in Negros Oriental to Catbalogan in Samar and back again, and you feel it. I grew up in this country, but I can only imagine the shock our sticky, sweaty weather would’ve been to an Irish-American like the novel’s heroine, Georgina. Add to that the stench of Manila, where she first makes landfall (and I’d say that, the way she goes through this novel would make the comparison to a typhoon pretty apt), and her concern for her missing brother, and it’s no surprise she’s not all sunshine and smiles when we meet her.
But before I talk about the characters, I just want to underscore how skillfully the author brought one into the atmosphere of this historical time period. It’s very much the Philippines, but tinged with the conditions of the time, so that if this were a movie, you could imagine the entire thing being shot with a sepia-tinged filter. You really get a feel for the towns the characters stay in—the stench and chaos of big-city Manila as well as the provincial quality of life in Dumaguete and, even more so, Bais. Beyond that, the almost casual, easy way in which racial barriers are not only erected but strengthened by both the locals and the foreigners is evident, as is the weight the cloak of colonization has added to an already stifled country. But you also felt the potential, there’s an awareness that things have changed and continue to change, but also an uncertainty as to what that change might bring. It’s very well captured here, and Hallock’s style is almost a throwback to something you might read in Margaret Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind or Colleen McCollough’s The Thorn Birds, both of which do a similarly excellent job of immersing the reader in the time and place in which the story takes place.
On to the characters. Javier, the hero, wasn’t your typical playboy, and while very much the gentleman, this haciendero is keenly aware of his responsibilities not only to his family but to the people he employs, who rely on him for their livelihood. Despite the weight he carries, he shows a great sense of humor and kindness toward his family and his fellow country folk, tempered with an obstinacy and perhaps a little overindulgence in romance and ideals that keep him from being too cut and dried as a character. He’s definitely swoon-worthy, especially when you consider his willingness to roll up his sleeves and work as well as his ability to laugh at himself.
Then there’s schoolteacher Georgie. Honestly, I found her a pretty unlikable character; even when I sympathized with her plight, I spent most of the book thinking her a ninny, and I called her several names in my head as I was reading the last quarter or so of the novel. But she wasn’t ever malicious or particularly hurtful. She was, however, rather too superior in the way she believed life should be for herself and others, and willfully blind when it came to certain aspects of her own life. She was hopelessly idealistic and rather incapable of dealing with harsh reality, when it came down to it.
Which sounds like a condemnation, but here’s the thing: she was very clearly a product of her time and her upbringing. And its these very qualities that add a real sense of verisimilitude to the novel. I mentioned Gone with the Wind and The Thorn Birds earlier, and that was because apart from the way those books draw you into a particular time and place in history, they have another thing in common with this one: as I was reading them, I would have liked nothing better than to slap the heroines silly at several crucial plot points. Perhaps even throw them into the nearest convenient well or mud pit. But again, there’s no denying that the very ways in which they annoyed me helped sell me on the historicity of the novel itself.
If we’re talking about Under the Sugar Sun, I would actually say that virtually all the women in this novel are far more admirable than Georgie, from the ones in Javier’s family to the local Chinese merchant to Georgie’s cook to the easy-to-hate Rosa. Javier’s vivacious but insightful cousin Allegra is particularly intriguing to me, and I hope Hallock will write her story sometime in the future.
But even this makes me more and more convinced that Hallock deliberately sacrificed Georgina’s likability to tell a better, more convincing story, and I have to admit that in this she does succeed. So while I predict that many of my friends who read this will be frustrated by the heroine, because I sure as hell was, I kind of admire this as well, because when I had a think about why I wanted to slap her so badly, it drove home a few hard truths about women in that time. In the same way, I felt like I could sit down with this book and a few of my historian/literary friends and we could talk all night about the post-colonial feels it evokes (which we don’t have a feel factor icon for!) and more nerdiness.
There’s a lot of good I have to say about this book, although I think that the fact that it is unique in its genre may make it difficult in some ways to really talk about it authoritatively. The one thing I wasn’t too happy about was the way the story kind of meandered from the main plot—also a familiar sentiment when I recalled Mitchell’s and McCollough’s work—and the rather excessive use (in my opinion) of secondary and tertiary characters. Although I didn’t realize until after I read it that it was part of a series, so it could be that the significance of some of these characters may be revealed in Hallock’s long game.
My final verdict on Under the Sugar Sun is that it’s a must-read if you’re into Philippine historical romance or if you’re adventurous in the historical reads you indulge in (i.e., beyond the usual Regency and Scots stuff), but I’d add the caveat that it’s not a light read and it’s not for everyone, especially if you’re the type of reader who likes to be virtual BFFs with the main character before you can buy into the romance. You’ll probably find it more similar to Western historicals than British ones, for obvious reasons. And if nothing else, it’s sure to be a great book to discuss with friends!
The novel takes you from Manila to Dumaguete and Bais in Negros Oriental to Catbalogan in Samar and back again, and you feel it. I grew up in this country, but I can only imagine the shock our sticky, sweaty weather would’ve been to an Irish-American like the novel’s heroine, Georgina. Add to that the stench of Manila, where she first makes landfall (and I’d say that, the way she goes through this novel would make the comparison to a typhoon pretty apt), and her concern for her missing brother, and it’s no surprise she’s not all sunshine and smiles when we meet her.
But before I talk about the characters, I just want to underscore how skillfully the author brought one into the atmosphere of this historical time period. It’s very much the Philippines, but tinged with the conditions of the time, so that if this were a movie, you could imagine the entire thing being shot with a sepia-tinged filter. You really get a feel for the towns the characters stay in—the stench and chaos of big-city Manila as well as the provincial quality of life in Dumaguete and, even more so, Bais. Beyond that, the almost casual, easy way in which racial barriers are not only erected but strengthened by both the locals and the foreigners is evident, as is the weight the cloak of colonization has added to an already stifled country. But you also felt the potential, there’s an awareness that things have changed and continue to change, but also an uncertainty as to what that change might bring. It’s very well captured here, and Hallock’s style is almost a throwback to something you might read in Margaret Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind or Colleen McCollough’s The Thorn Birds, both of which do a similarly excellent job of immersing the reader in the time and place in which the story takes place.
On to the characters. Javier, the hero, wasn’t your typical playboy, and while very much the gentleman, this haciendero is keenly aware of his responsibilities not only to his family but to the people he employs, who rely on him for their livelihood. Despite the weight he carries, he shows a great sense of humor and kindness toward his family and his fellow country folk, tempered with an obstinacy and perhaps a little overindulgence in romance and ideals that keep him from being too cut and dried as a character. He’s definitely swoon-worthy, especially when you consider his willingness to roll up his sleeves and work as well as his ability to laugh at himself.
Then there’s schoolteacher Georgie. Honestly, I found her a pretty unlikable character; even when I sympathized with her plight, I spent most of the book thinking her a ninny, and I called her several names in my head as I was reading the last quarter or so of the novel. But she wasn’t ever malicious or particularly hurtful. She was, however, rather too superior in the way she believed life should be for herself and others, and willfully blind when it came to certain aspects of her own life. She was hopelessly idealistic and rather incapable of dealing with harsh reality, when it came down to it.
Which sounds like a condemnation, but here’s the thing: she was very clearly a product of her time and her upbringing. And its these very qualities that add a real sense of verisimilitude to the novel. I mentioned Gone with the Wind and The Thorn Birds earlier, and that was because apart from the way those books draw you into a particular time and place in history, they have another thing in common with this one: as I was reading them, I would have liked nothing better than to slap the heroines silly at several crucial plot points. Perhaps even throw them into the nearest convenient well or mud pit. But again, there’s no denying that the very ways in which they annoyed me helped sell me on the historicity of the novel itself.
If we’re talking about Under the Sugar Sun, I would actually say that virtually all the women in this novel are far more admirable than Georgie, from the ones in Javier’s family to the local Chinese merchant to Georgie’s cook to the easy-to-hate Rosa. Javier’s vivacious but insightful cousin Allegra is particularly intriguing to me, and I hope Hallock will write her story sometime in the future.
But even this makes me more and more convinced that Hallock deliberately sacrificed Georgina’s likability to tell a better, more convincing story, and I have to admit that in this she does succeed. So while I predict that many of my friends who read this will be frustrated by the heroine, because I sure as hell was, I kind of admire this as well, because when I had a think about why I wanted to slap her so badly, it drove home a few hard truths about women in that time. In the same way, I felt like I could sit down with this book and a few of my historian/literary friends and we could talk all night about the post-colonial feels it evokes (which we don’t have a feel factor icon for!) and more nerdiness.
There’s a lot of good I have to say about this book, although I think that the fact that it is unique in its genre may make it difficult in some ways to really talk about it authoritatively. The one thing I wasn’t too happy about was the way the story kind of meandered from the main plot—also a familiar sentiment when I recalled Mitchell’s and McCollough’s work—and the rather excessive use (in my opinion) of secondary and tertiary characters. Although I didn’t realize until after I read it that it was part of a series, so it could be that the significance of some of these characters may be revealed in Hallock’s long game.
My final verdict on Under the Sugar Sun is that it’s a must-read if you’re into Philippine historical romance or if you’re adventurous in the historical reads you indulge in (i.e., beyond the usual Regency and Scots stuff), but I’d add the caveat that it’s not a light read and it’s not for everyone, especially if you’re the type of reader who likes to be virtual BFFs with the main character before you can buy into the romance. You’ll probably find it more similar to Western historicals than British ones, for obvious reasons. And if nothing else, it’s sure to be a great book to discuss with friends!
January 3, 2016
Under the Sugar Sun by by Jennifer Hallock was an intense epic story filled with tons of information, romance, suspense and angst. It started a bit slow, with lots of rich detail about the setting and deep history of the Phillippine region but once the actual story/romance got started, it pulled me in and wouldn't let go. The characters were unique and likable and the nice deep point of view helped us understand their actions and motives. The romance moved at a respectable pace for this time period but once it took off, it was full steam ahead. At the half way point there was no way I could even put the book down. At times I wanted to smack the main characters around and yell at them and other times I cheered and wished for the best. They made me care for them and yearn for more. I think we will see good things from this new author.
December 23, 2015
I honestly did not finish it (and had someone narrate what I missed), but it doesn't mean that it is bad. In fact, I love the mixture of Western historical romance vibe and the touch of Philippine culture in this novel. That was what made me buy this book. There was something about being it "close to home" (as some of my friends said after reading it) that made it intriguing and endearing. I enjoyed reading what life in the 1900s was like: how people go on about their days and how they interact with each other. The only stumbling block that I encountered was Georgina's actions late in the story. I got so frustrated with her attitude that I gave up on her quickly. Javier, on the other hand, was very easy to love. What's not to love on a hot sugar baron? He is charming, smart and confident. He knows what he wants and he gets it, no matter what. The minor characters are likeable, as well, (Andres!) and I wouldn't mind reading their own stories in the future. I'd still recommend this book, especially to the historical romance readers out there. Still swoon-worthy.
April 5, 2016
A historical happy-ever-after, and the kind of book I used to read in my teens. Read it now because it's set in Bais of 1902. It is well researched, gets the local leaders right, plus she got the little nuances in body language and gestures that distinctly set the races and classes apart. But this doesn't speak too well of the early missionaries (that would be Silliman's first wave of educators). I recommend it to anyone who is interested in Dumaguete/Bais history. And for what it's worth, the romantic scenes are so much better than that 50 Shades of Nada.
July 8, 2023
Stunning
I didn't expect this complexity and depth from a book I got on "stuff your kindle day." The characters, scenery,history, were all such a pleasant surprise. I couldn't put it down.
I didn't expect this complexity and depth from a book I got on "stuff your kindle day." The characters, scenery,history, were all such a pleasant surprise. I couldn't put it down.
January 9, 2021
I finally finished this!
I really set it aside for a time because when I first read this, I was exhausted and the beginning was a bit slow. There were times that the story dragged but it picked up about 40% in and got exciting from there.
It’s refreshing to read about a novel set in my country, more so a historical one. The hero is Javier Altarejos, a hacendero and sugar baron. He has a bit of Spanish blood, can speak the language, and some dialects. He was annoying at first because the point of view was mostly from Georgina Potter.
Georgie is an American redhead from Boston who has Irish roots. She went to the Philippines to teach young kids at Bais in Negros, but her true intention was to find her brother who was in the army.
It was an unlikely love story. I have to admit I didn't connect with the characters, and the antagonists are the ones I love to hate. The writing style was fluid and the author is a good storyteller. Georgie, or Ina, as she was affectionately dubbed, was really impulsive and single-minded about her brother. I understand her reasons because blood is thicker than water, but some hurtful words were exchanged and at some point, their future was bleak.
Another thing on the refreshing part, this is the first novel I read where a Filipino hero is romancing an American woman. They had an unusual courtship and it seems like he’s a ladies’ man. I imagine he’s quite the catch.
I can only agree that one does crazy things in the name of love. The only spoiler I’m going to share is there’s a good love story here and everything worked out in the end.
I really set it aside for a time because when I first read this, I was exhausted and the beginning was a bit slow. There were times that the story dragged but it picked up about 40% in and got exciting from there.
It’s refreshing to read about a novel set in my country, more so a historical one. The hero is Javier Altarejos, a hacendero and sugar baron. He has a bit of Spanish blood, can speak the language, and some dialects. He was annoying at first because the point of view was mostly from Georgina Potter.
Georgie is an American redhead from Boston who has Irish roots. She went to the Philippines to teach young kids at Bais in Negros, but her true intention was to find her brother who was in the army.
It was an unlikely love story. I have to admit I didn't connect with the characters, and the antagonists are the ones I love to hate. The writing style was fluid and the author is a good storyteller. Georgie, or Ina, as she was affectionately dubbed, was really impulsive and single-minded about her brother. I understand her reasons because blood is thicker than water, but some hurtful words were exchanged and at some point, their future was bleak.
Another thing on the refreshing part, this is the first novel I read where a Filipino hero is romancing an American woman. They had an unusual courtship and it seems like he’s a ladies’ man. I imagine he’s quite the catch.
I can only agree that one does crazy things in the name of love. The only spoiler I’m going to share is there’s a good love story here and everything worked out in the end.
December 26, 2015
I was super excited when I heard about this historical romance set in the Philippines, so I instantly one-clicked.
It was a enjoyable read and I really applaud the research that went into this book. The settings were richly written, and I could really see the scenes coming alive in front of my eyes. (Although I did grouse about a marked lack of tall, handsome sugar barons among my real-life acquaintances, but hey, as my husband said, you can’t have everything.)
Javier Altarejos is, hands down, one of my favorite characters ever. He’s not only swoon-worthy, he’s also charming and focused, and damn, can he woo a woman. Seriously, I wonder how Georgina held out that long.
And that grand gesture *slow clap*
I can’t wait to read the next two books in the series. Because, Andres!
It was a enjoyable read and I really applaud the research that went into this book. The settings were richly written, and I could really see the scenes coming alive in front of my eyes. (Although I did grouse about a marked lack of tall, handsome sugar barons among my real-life acquaintances, but hey, as my husband said, you can’t have everything.)
Javier Altarejos is, hands down, one of my favorite characters ever. He’s not only swoon-worthy, he’s also charming and focused, and damn, can he woo a woman. Seriously, I wonder how Georgina held out that long.
And that grand gesture *slow clap*
I can’t wait to read the next two books in the series. Because, Andres!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 17, 2019
First off, I am a man that does not normally read romance novels. I only bought this book because I met the author at a local business expo where she shared a booth with other local writers. I think that she lives a few towns away from me. She seemed very nice, so I thought that I would give it a try. To be honest, I had very low expectations about the book since I am not a romance novel kind of guy.
I was very pleasantly surprised to find that it was actually a solid book. The setting of the book is in the Philippines in the early 1900s, and that is an era and location of which I have limited knowledge. There were tons of details in the book that fleshed out the story, including local customs, cuisines, interracial relationship norms, and many other things. It is obvious that the author had spent time there and had learned all about the area.
I recommend this book from a learning about history perspective. I don't know much about romance novels, so I have nothing to compare it to from that perspective.
I was very pleasantly surprised to find that it was actually a solid book. The setting of the book is in the Philippines in the early 1900s, and that is an era and location of which I have limited knowledge. There were tons of details in the book that fleshed out the story, including local customs, cuisines, interracial relationship norms, and many other things. It is obvious that the author had spent time there and had learned all about the area.
I recommend this book from a learning about history perspective. I don't know much about romance novels, so I have nothing to compare it to from that perspective.
August 27, 2017
This is not the book to pick up if you want a quick, frothy summer beach read. No. This is the book you pick up when you are ready to stake out that place in the sand, pack a sandwich and extra snacks, bring extra sunscreen because you're going to need it, and then settle in for a nice, long, glorious read with each chapter peeling back another petal of the rose. For days after finishing it I would just say the name Javier to myself so that I could conjure up this beautiful man. A wonderful read and highly recommended.
July 19, 2020
Really enjoyed this historical romance, set in turn of the century Phillipines. It's packed with details in language, setting, and cultural references to make the story come alive. And what a story! Georgina of Boston background travels to Manila to retrace the steps of her brother who's gone MIA. She's not venturing out alone, however - she's there under the auspices of marrying Archie, another expatriate. As she gets to know her surroundings, she literally keeps bumping into the dashing Javier, a local sugar cane baron - and Hello, Chemistry! Really a fun (and informative!) read.
March 26, 2021
Incredibly vivid, well-researched historical romance set in the early twentieth century Philippines. The heroine is a tall, red-haired schoolteacher from the wilds of Roxbury (occasionally a little TSTL); the hero is an over-mortgaged Filipino sugar baron in the caretaking alpha mode. This was really wonderful - both a good historical romance and engrossing historical fiction, which is frequently a hard balance to find. Content warning for on-page racism (from negatively-coded characters, but still there) and some graphic details about drug addiction.
November 26, 2018
There's a lot to like here - the book is well written, meticulously researched, and unflinching in unpacking the various political powers and prejudices that are at work in the Philippines at this time, and there's great tension between the love interests. Javier is a wonderful hero, but he seemed to switch quickly from annoyed attraction to full-out love. Georgina, on the other hand, did a lot of things that had me yelling at her and I found her more frustrating than interesting.
August 18, 2019
Good solid writing. Yes, it's a happy-ever-after romance but there is much more besides. So much I didn't know about the period and the setting. Really enjoyed it!
December 31, 2020
Fascinating period in history
Loved this tale to a young American woman in early 1900s Phillipines. I'd never read anything in this location, so the tale was doubly fascinating.
Loved this tale to a young American woman in early 1900s Phillipines. I'd never read anything in this location, so the tale was doubly fascinating.
January 19, 2026
Under the Sugar Sun follows the story of Georgina, an American schoolteacher, who falls in love with Javier, a sugar baron in the Philippines.
What I loved: This book had some very, very intense historical context that I was unaware of because the American education system tends to gloss over the less flattering parts of American history. It actually inspired me to do some of my own research, and I was surprised at just how much the setting of this narrative was based on real historical events and culture.
Why only 3 stars: First star came off for pacing. This book is slow, especially for a historical romance. I guess I've gotten spoiled, and I'm used to those moving faster. The pace of this book is damn near glacial.
Second star came off b/c I was very unsatisfied with the ending. Seriously? I just couldn't believe that And she was so clueless! And her brother was a piece of shit. I guess I'm glad Javier's brother wasn't.
Who would like this book: If you're looking for a historical romance with a unique setting, this is your book! I read this one to complete my read around the world challenge, and I really enjoyed how much history I learned from it/a regency-esqe book that wasn't set in England!
Comp Titles: Emma Leech's Rogues & Gentlemen Series
What I loved: This book had some very, very intense historical context that I was unaware of because the American education system tends to gloss over the less flattering parts of American history. It actually inspired me to do some of my own research, and I was surprised at just how much the setting of this narrative was based on real historical events and culture.
Why only 3 stars: First star came off for pacing. This book is slow, especially for a historical romance. I guess I've gotten spoiled, and I'm used to those moving faster. The pace of this book is damn near glacial.
Second star came off b/c I was very unsatisfied with the ending. Seriously? I just couldn't believe that And she was so clueless! And her brother was a piece of shit. I guess I'm glad Javier's brother wasn't.
Who would like this book: If you're looking for a historical romance with a unique setting, this is your book! I read this one to complete my read around the world challenge, and I really enjoyed how much history I learned from it/a regency-esqe book that wasn't set in England!
Comp Titles: Emma Leech's Rogues & Gentlemen Series
July 2, 2022
I generally avoid self/indie published books because they’re always, always in desperate need of proper editing. The typos annoy the bejeezus out of me and more often than not, the novels are poorly written.
But when I came across The Sugar Sun Series, I knew I had to give it a chance and I’m so glad that I did. It’s engrossing from page one, very well written and no typos. It also appears to be very well researched. It’s like finding a unicorn!
I do have a couple of gripes though. Although it was certainly common for the wealthy to send their children to Europe to be educated, describing Javier, the Filipino love interest, as having a British accent and being a mestizo felt like mild whitewashing. It didn’t bother me too much but I wish those details had been left out. I also wasn’t particularly thrilled when Javier’s over-protectiveness came across as manipulative and controlling. That said, I loved that Georgina didn’t take shit from anyone; not from Javier, or Archie, or even the sawa (python) that dared enter her home- no one crosses Georgie Potter. She championed her students, didn’t give up on anyone (even those that deserved a good smacking), and embraced the culture of the Philippines in spite of everything she went through. For that alone, I adore her.
But when I came across The Sugar Sun Series, I knew I had to give it a chance and I’m so glad that I did. It’s engrossing from page one, very well written and no typos. It also appears to be very well researched. It’s like finding a unicorn!
I do have a couple of gripes though. Although it was certainly common for the wealthy to send their children to Europe to be educated, describing Javier, the Filipino love interest, as having a British accent and being a mestizo felt like mild whitewashing. It didn’t bother me too much but I wish those details had been left out. I also wasn’t particularly thrilled when Javier’s over-protectiveness came across as manipulative and controlling. That said, I loved that Georgina didn’t take shit from anyone; not from Javier, or Archie, or even the sawa (python) that dared enter her home- no one crosses Georgie Potter. She championed her students, didn’t give up on anyone (even those that deserved a good smacking), and embraced the culture of the Philippines in spite of everything she went through. For that alone, I adore her.
December 27, 2023
This is the first historical fiction novel I've read that is set in the Philippines during the colonial era following the Spanish American War. This novel is well researched, making reference to the different islands, languages, people groups, battles, religious hierarchies (Catholic vs. Protestant vs. traditional religions), cultural celebrations, class distinctions, and the realities of a colonial presence.
Georgie, a school teacher from Connecticut, has no problems sharing her thoughts and opinions on politics, religion, or the American education system with hacendado Javier Altarejos. Her straight-forward remarks and witty banter catch the attention of Javier, even though some of his opinions differ.
There are moments of blatant racism and xenophobia reflective of the time period and colonial presence, especially on the part of Georgie and Archie. Georgie seems to grow and appreciate the people and cultural differences without any great epiphany or self-reflection. It would have been nice to see her realize that her initial prejudices were wrong- especially in light of the ultimate decisions she made in the novel.
Georgie, a school teacher from Connecticut, has no problems sharing her thoughts and opinions on politics, religion, or the American education system with hacendado Javier Altarejos. Her straight-forward remarks and witty banter catch the attention of Javier, even though some of his opinions differ.
There are moments of blatant racism and xenophobia reflective of the time period and colonial presence, especially on the part of Georgie and Archie. Georgie seems to grow and appreciate the people and cultural differences without any great epiphany or self-reflection. It would have been nice to see her realize that her initial prejudices were wrong- especially in light of the ultimate decisions she made in the novel.
February 25, 2021
The sense of place is phenomenal. Hallock brings the early 1900s Philippines to vibrant life. I enjoyed spending time in this unique setting. I liked the heroine OK. The hero is interesting, but I'm not into alphas with lots of sexual history. I wasn't sure why Georgina was THE ONE for him, so the romance didn't work as well for me.
October 25, 2016
I thought the heroine was TSTL for much of the book, and found the brother plot line annoying and distracting. However, I wish more people write romances in diverse historical settings.
March 15, 2022
i <3 colonizers you guys never stop profiting off of us do you
December 30, 2022
A good read with an original location. Now I want to know more about the place. And I did get the second in the series.
May 15, 2016
I loved the rich and textured world, but I thought the two main characters were TSTL at some points.
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