?When We Left Cuba by Chanel Cleeton ? Review Tour and Giveaway?

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…

April 9, 2019

Women’s Fiction/Historical Fiction

Penguin/Berkley

Book Links

Amazon: Barnes & Noble: iBooks: IndieBound: Kobo: Goodreads

? Robbie’s Review ?

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While I almost always avoid political commentary of any kind in my reviews, there are times when it is really hard. Please accept my apologies in advance if I cross the line with this one! Chanel Cleeton has written a fascinating sequel to her book Next Year in Havana which introduces us to the Perez family and the island of Cuba during the years of unrest, revolt, and the subsequent takeover by Fidel Castro. When We Left Cuba is the story of Beatriz Perez whom we met briefly in the first book, kind of a teaser for this complex woman born out of time into a world where women were almost like children – present to be seen and not heard. She is a character who loves her Cuba and her family deeply and who refuses to be shoved into the mold dictated by her heritage and the fact that she is a woman. She is a character who will stick with you and through whose idealistic, but nevertheless jaded eyes you will see how easy it is for political activism and revolution to go terribly awry; there is a very good reason why there are so many cliches about the corrupting effects of power. She is also a character who is flawed. She desires revenge at any cost and the love of a man who seems out of her reach. Whether you see Beatriz as courageous or foolish, you will be awed by the lengths to which she will go during a time when courage and resourcefulness were not desirable qualities in a woman.

Chanel Cleeton  impressed me with Next Year in Havana which I listened to on audio and reviewed. It was rich in historical detail, and the past and present timelines gave it an almost dreamlike quality. When We Left Cuba has a very different feel. While it still has the historical detail, it is very much Beatriz’s story and gives the reader a clear vision of the events surrounding the Cuban Revolution through the eyes of a complex and captivating character. Readers will be able to envision the contrast between the Cuba that was, the Cuba that was hoped for, and the Cuba that exists today. To those who want to toy with our precious democracy, I say “Look at Cuba and be careful what you wish for.”

 

Learn more about When We Left Cuba including downloading the book club guide and more at: http://www.chanelcleeton.com/when-we-left-cuba

 

About the Author:

Chanel Cleeton is the USA Today bestselling author of Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick Next Year in Havana. Originally from Florida, Chanel grew up on stories of her family’s 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 bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Richmond, The American International University in London and a master’s degree in Global Politics from the London School of Economics & Political Science. Chanel also received her Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law. She loves to travel and has lived in the Caribbean, Europe, and Asia

Website:   Facebook:   Facebook Reader Group:  Instagram:   Twitter:   Goodreads:  Newsletter

 

 

 

 

There is a Rafflecopter giveaway for the tour for a $100 Amazon Gift Card, Lilly Pulitzer palm tree necklace and earrings set, When We Left Cuba coffee mug, Besame cosmetics vintage-inspired lipstick, signed When We Left Cuba recipe cards, and signed When We Left Cuba bookmarks. The giveaway will run from April 7th-20th.