When We Left Cuba

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Beatriz Perez, with her beauty and her paste jewelry, can work the Palm Beach social circuit with the best of them, but she can't pretend it's what she wants. The fake smiles, the social status marriages the American dream, it doesn't mean as much to her as the future of Cuba does. While her family feels safe, despite the loss of their home and the family's successful sugar business, Beatriz burns with anger, with a desperate desire for revenge, with a sadness that penetrates even the happiest of moments. As future Beatriz drinks a champagne of celebration and reflects on the past, young Beatriz makes the choice to risk it all, to join the CIA in the act of espionage.

"'We'll be in Havana show more soon,' he vows.
'We'll dance at the Tropicana,' I counter."

Chanel Cleeton does it again with When We Left Cuba, taking readers into the past with a gorgeous, sweeping historical fiction. Blending fiction and facts, the romantic tale follows Beatriz as she gives up jewels and Palm Beach fame for the secretive life of a spy. And yet, Beatriz can't hide from love, the kind of love that's forbidden, that makes her question the politics at play, the kind that could ruin her revenge plan entirely. I love love loved Beatriz in Next Year in Havana, just the small glimpses of her that we were given told us she'd be a force to reckon with and in When We Left Cuba we see just that. She's fierce, driven, beautiful beyond words, and yet she's weighed down by the loss of her home, of her life, of the future she dreamed of. Beatriz, the girl who once loved jewels and fancy dresses, now lives for revenge. Except Nicholas Randolph Preston III makes her believe in happiness, the kind she can escape to, but that she also knows she can't have, not when he's sitting in a senate seat and she is spying for a team not known for abiding by the rules.

"There is no place for a broken heart in all of this."

Chanel Cleeton kept me engaged with the perfect blend of romance and suspense; I loved the chemistry between Nick and Beatriz, yet while I read of their stolen kisses I yearned for the reveal of secrets that would get Beatriz closer to her goal. I loved her perspective on her family's escape, of the experiences they had in Cuba, of the politics in America at the time. She is an independent, opinionated women at a time when that was frowned upon. Her passion overflows from the pages, filling me with the same desperate desire to right the wrongs in Cuba.

"He fell in love with a socialite and has gotten a spy in return."

When We Left Cuba is a fascinating novel that takes readers back in time in American and Cuban history. Chanel Cleeton weaves fact with fiction as strong-willed Beatriz Perez romances the Kennedy-connected elite and blends with the girls vying for the attention of a wild revolutionary. Chanel Cleeton has such an incredible, romantic way with words, I could feel the bubbles in my own throat as Beatriz sipped the finest champagne and the butterflies of fear that flapped their wings inside her as she traded in family and safety for secrets. I was intrigued and entertained from the first page to the very last, Beatriz' voice becoming real in my mind as she narrated the dangerous world of espionage and told of the man who she nearly risked it all for. Suspenseful, poignant, and romantic, When We Left Cuba, and its beautiful heroine, is an instant favorite for me for 2019. I won't soon forget Beatriz Perez and her love of her home, Cuba.

ARC provided. show less

Beatriz lost everything during the Cuban revolution. She lost her home, her country but the worst was losing her brother. She and her family are trying to make a new life in Florida. It has not been as easy as Beatriz expected. She is a beautiful young lady with a fierce love of Cuba and this gets her into a heap of trouble.

Beatriz is one tough lady and y’all know…I love tough women characters! She is determined to fight back regardless of the cost. And believe me, it cost her plenty. Between the CIA, a friend who is possibly the enemy and a political, married love interest, Beatriz’s reputation is shattered. This does not stop her in the least!

This story is so compelling. I don’t think I have read many books set in Cuba during show more this time period. Fidel Castro and the tragedy of the Cuban revolution is absolutely riveting. However, the CIA part of this story seemed a little far fetched to me. But, that is just a minor issue. The tale and the characters are woven together so strategically and the author has crafted such a unique storyline that no one needs to miss this one. Plus the cover is fabulous!

I received this novel from the author for a honest review. show less

“If I’m going to have regrets in this life, I’d rather them be for the chances I took and not the opportunities I let slip away.”
― Chanel Cleeton, When We Left Cuba

I am in love with this book and with the gorgeous atmosphere it creates. This book combines many things I love..Historical Fiction, with a lush, opulent stunning riveting atmosphere. It's got romance, spies and unforgettable characters not to mention being very easy to read and a whole lot of intrigue and fun.

I think Beatriz is a great lead character and I could not put the book down wondering where it was going to take me next. I also love books that take place in Florida and I have an interest in Cuban History. Put it all together and you get one fine book. show more Historical Fiction lovers will want to read this one. show less

I finished When We Left Cuba in two days. The story and characters sucked me in and I enjoyed the entire trip. Chanel Cleeton writes a good story and I love her prose. I saw this book on a table in a bookstore nine months ago, and it had been on my to-read list since then. After starting two other books I couldn't get into, this was fun. I'm not usually into a book classified as Romance, nor do I care what it is classified as. It was a fun read - espionage, hidden lover, gorgeous protagonist, all set against the conflict of Cuba and the US in the early 1960s. As far as I can tell, the author got her history right, (I'm not an expert on the time period), something I take seriously in fiction or nonfiction. I didn't even know until the show more end that it is a sequel to an earlier book, Next Year in Havana. This book stands by itself. All in all, a quick read and fun break from more serious choices. I enjoyed it from start to finish. show less

With the way Next Year in Havana ended, I hoped the author would choose to write Beatriz Perez's story next. And, of course, she did! I'll admit that this novel did not capture my imagination the way that the first one did, but it nevertheless makes for very good reading. Beatriz is a great character and her adventures spying for the CIA while also exploring a romantic relationship with a senator are exactly what I would expect from her. I really enjoyed spending more time with this character and I look forward to what Chanel Cleeton writes next!

This was such a wonderful story! I really enjoyed Chanel Cleeton's Next Year in Havana so I was really excited to learn that one of my favorite characters in that book would get to tell her own story. This is that story. The events in this book take place after those in Next Year in Havana and while I enjoyed seeing all of the characters again, this story stands on its own. I was hooked by this story from the very beginning and had a fantastic time with this book.

This is really a big story. Beatriz and her family are living in Florida after fleeing Cuba when Castro came into power. The family has suffered a lot of losses and it has been a difficult adjustment. Beatriz and her family hope to go back to Cuba but are also trying to make a show more life in Florida. Beatriz's mother would like to see all of her daughters married but Beatriz has other ideas. She has turned down quite a few marriage proposals and is more focused on revenge.

This story was filled with excitement. Beatriz works with the CIA and let's just say that her life is far from boring. She was passionate about the cause that she was working towards and it was really quite interesting to see her in action. Some of her missions were more exciting than others but it was great to see her in action.

I was really taken by the romance in this story. It was not your average romance and I am actually somewhat surprised that I was so taken with it but I just found myself swept away by their chemistry. Nick and Beatriz were just great together. They were incredibly attracted to each other and couldn't seem to stay apart even when they tried. There were so many things that seemed to work against the possibility of a relationship between them but they just couldn't stay away from each other. There were things about their relationship that made me sad and I wouldn't necessarily say everything turns out well but I think they were both better for knowing each other.

I really enjoyed the politics and history that were a part of this book. This was such an eventful period of time and I loved seeing some of the events that I have learned about worked into this story. I thought that all of the little details that the author included really added to the authenticity of the story.

I would highly recommend this book to others. This was a captivating story about a passionate character working to make a difference in the world while trying to find some happiness for herself. I cannot wait to read more from this talented author.

I received a digital review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley. show less

When We Left Cuba

A compelling story with a fascinating and courageous female character well ahead of her time.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

SUMMARY
The beautiful sugar heiress Beatriz Perez and her family lost everything in the Cuban Revolution. Her father was imprisoned, her home was taken and her twin brother was killed. She is angry and will do anything to extract revenge on Fidel Castro in an attempt to reclaim the life she lost. Beatriz’s anger, beauty and connections has come to the attention of the CIA. She willingly risks her life to infiltrate Castro’s inner circle for the CIA.

Beatriz is also caught between Cuban American politics and exposure of a forbidden affair with a powerful Senator who has ambitions of his own. When show more changing circumstances threaten everything Beatriz has fought for, she must make a choice between the past and future. But the wrong move could cost Beatrice everything, not just the island she loves, but also the man who has stolen her heart.

“If I’m going to have regrets in this life, I’d rather them be for the chances I took and not for the opportunities I let slip away.”

“Dreams never die all at once. They die in pieces, floating a little farther and farther away each day.”

REVIEW
Beatriz’s confident and courageous character richly drives the narrative. She was a smart, independent and fascinating woman well ahead of her time. She wasn’t interested in marriage and playing a traditional role in society. Instead she was interested in making a difference in the world. Beatriz’s passion and strength in her beliefs is what make this book compelling.

The story was entertaining and dramatic, and filled with history, political intrigue, and romance. The writing was skillfully-crafted, thought-provoking and smart, although could have been slightly tighter in places. Overall...highly recommended.

WHEN WE LEFT CUBA is a prequel to the delightful best seller NEXT YEAR IN HAVANA (2018). Originally from Florida, author Chanel Cleeton grew up on stories of her families exodus from Cuba following the events of the Cuban Revolution. Her passion for politics and history continued during her years spent studying in England where she earned a bachelors degree in International Relations Chanel also received a juris doctorate from the University of South Carolina School of Law. I listened to the audiobook edition on this book and found the narration by Kyla García delightful.

“There is no point in denying it. Anger is my faithful companion.”

“The thing about people telling you you’re beautiful your whole life, is the more you hear it, the more meaningless it becomes What does beautiful even mean, anyway? That your features are arranged in a shape someone, somewhere arbitrarily decided is pleasing? Beautiful never quite matches up to the other things you could be, smart, interesting, brave.”

Publisher Berkley Books
Published April 9, 2019
Narrated Kyla García
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com

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