20181122_160420.jpgToday I am super excited to share my review of  a book I group read, When We Left Cuba by Chanel Cleeton! I also read Next Year in Havana and absolutely loved it from start to finish. Both books are now available from Berkley Publishing.

My Thoughts:

Beatriz Perez lost everything during the Cuban Revolution, including her family and her home, her beloved Cuba. The CIA recruits  her to get close to Fidel Castro and his comrades. 

Now a spy, Beatriz is thirsty with revenge for all she’s lost. The Cold War is in full swing when Beatriz finds herself in love with power hungry man; a clandestine affair, and she knows it. 

Beatriz comes to a crossroads where she must choose between everything she holds dear from her past and her hopeful, possibly steadfast future. Can she let Cuba go? 

When We Left Cuba is full of unexpected intrigue! I was on the edge of my seat with worry about Beatriz. One of the strongest aspects of the novel is its sense of time and place. Be prepared to be transported because you will be whisked away. The historical aspects are strong as well and seamlessly woven in. Of course, I have to mention the romance, which successfully amped up the suspense. 

Overall, When We Left Cuba is a formidable woman’s story of moving beyond a tragedy and seeking revenge but also balancing her desire for love at the same time.  Will love or vengeance be the victor here?

I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own. 

Synopsis for When We Left Cuba:

In 1960s Florida, a young Cuban exile will risk her life–and heart–to take back her country in this exhilarating historical novel from the author of Next Year in Havana, a Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick.

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…

Have you read When We Left Cuba or Next Year in Havana, or are they on your TBR? Happy Reading! ~ Jenni THR