Title: When We Left Cuba
Author: Chanel Cleeton
Genre: Historical Fiction
Other books I've read by this author: Next Year in Havana
Synopsis: "Beautiful. Daring. Deadly.
The Cuban Revolution took everything from sugar heiress Beatriz Perez—her family, her people, her country. Recruited by the CIA to infiltrate Fidel Castro's inner circle and pulled into the dangerous world of espionage, Beatriz is consumed by her quest for revenge and her desire to reclaim the life she lost.
As the Cold War swells like a hurricane over the shores of the Florida Strait, Beatriz is caught between the clash of Cuban American politics and the perils of a forbidden affair with a powerful man driven by ambitions of his own. When the ever-changing tides of history threaten everything she has fought for, she must make a choice between her past and future—but the wrong move could cost Beatriz everything—not just the island she loves, but also the man who has stolen her heart..." - Back Cover
My Thoughts
First, can we please talk about how beautiful the cover art on this book?!? You can definitely judge this one by it's cover. It's beautiful inside and out. I was so excited to receive this book as a Christmas gift from a friend.
Beatriz is such a force, it's impossible not to admire her. I love how she does what she feels is right, whether it follows convention or not. As a woman in her 20s in the 1960s, there is a lot of convention to buck. She wants to be educated, to have a career, to be independent.
It's wonderful to read about a woman who has convictions but also has a softness to her. She doesn't reject her tenderness of heart which lends an authenticity to her love story with Nick that leaves the reader at turns devastated and completely consumed. Cleeton again adds a twist that I did not see coming, and was very well done.
I look forward to reading more books in this series!
Comment below if you have read this book or have suggestions for others like it!
To buy this book from Amazon now, click on the image at the top of the post.
To see more from the author, visit the website linked above
