WHEN WE LEFT CUBA by Chanel Cleeton leaves a lasting impression. I loved the political intrigue mixed with taboo relationships that made it very realistic. Not that I agreed with the characters’ behavior, which may tip the non-traditional scale for the follow-the-rules romance reader, but it worked for me in the end.

Like many romance readers, I read romance for a guaranteed escape into a happy-ever-after, or a happy-for-now, story. There are certain expectations, plus taboos that we shake our head at. The cheating husband and the other woman romance are taboos. Imagine my surprise when a book that was all about that was acceptable to me.

Maybe because history has taken the edge off it, where those in the political world are expected to marry for their political gain instead of love? It’s easier to accept that arranged marriages for political power will stray when they find their one true love? Maybe because the wife in this story fully expects her husband to have dalliances? I don’t know, but I couldn’t stop thinking about some of our past presidents when I read this scenario. The added bonus of the heroine becoming a spy made it even more acceptable, because she never felt she had a future.

The first paragraph of the first chapter includes one of my favorite first lines, as well as sets the stage for our notorious heroine who is captivating…

“The thing about collecting marriage proposals is they’re much like cultivating eccentricities. One is an absolute must for being admired in polite—or slightly less-than-polite—society. Two ensure you’re a sought-after guest at parties, three add a soupcon of mystery, four are a scandal, and five, well, five make you a legend.” Read the first chapter here.

Beatriz Perez is brave, sassy, and full of spunk for someone who has lost everything she loved in Cuba. In exile in the United States with her once very wealthy family, her only thought is to get even with the man who murdered her brother. Falling in love? Not on her list, but sometimes fate has other ideas.

It’s on the evening of her fifth proposal that Beatriz meets the handsome senator who will change her life. This novel is full of intrigue, politics, and espionage from the Kennedy era involving Cuba. Most of it takes place in Palm Beach society with a side trip to New York. Next, Beatriz is off to London without her family to protect her. I couldn’t put the book down.

WHEN WE LEFT CUBA is not just a romantic story. It reads more like a spy novel aimed at women’s fiction readers with enough political intrigue and a strong woman to satisfy MADAM SECRETARY fans. Plus, I loved all the details about President Kennedy that were slipped in by the senator, due to Beatriz’s curiosity. I’m not usually one to read political infused novels, but this one is so addictive it’s hard to resist.

I understand that Beatriz is a character from the reader favorite NEXT YEAR IN HAVANA. This novel stands eloquently on its own without reading the first one. However, having enjoyed WHEN WE LEFT CUBA immensely, I’m sure my curiosity will win and I’ll have to read the first book.

Politically-charged, full of glitz and glamour, as well as wartime intrigue, WHEN WE LEFT CUBA is absolutely fascinating. I grew up with the Cuban Revolution in the news, so it’s something I was aware of, but I didn’t really understand the significance.

This book is passionate, making me yearn to know the Cubans of this era. Chanel Cleeton writes a seamless story that captures your heart and sense of adventure – her historical knowledge of this situation shines through with compassion. The writing is gorgeous and the sexual chemistry sizzles. Highly recommend.

Reviewed by Dorine, courtesy of TheZestQuest.com.

In her new novel “When We Left Cuba,” Chanel Cleeton begins the first chapter with a marriage proposal, or rather the rejection of one, at a Palm Beach fete in 1960.

The rejected suitor is cousin to a sitting senator, clad in an elegant tuxedo meant to disguise his plainness, “his body tipping precariously from an overabundance of champagne and folly.”

The woman issuing the rejection is Beatriz Perez, a Cuban sugar heiress who along with her family was forced to abdicate her homeland and her fortune in the wake of the Cuban Revolution, taking refuge on the island of Palm Beach, among upper class socialites who openly reject her forward thinking ways.

Those who read Cleeton’s previous novel “Next Year in Havana,” will recognize Beatriz as the elder sister of Elisa Perez, who upends her life by indulging in a secret affair with a Cuban revolutionary.

In “When We Left Cuba,” Beatriz finds herself being recruited by the CIA in a plan to assassinate Fidel Castro while he’s in New York City to address the United Nations. But her plans for revenge on Castro begin to take second place when she falls for a high-profile senator who is engaged to marry someone else.

The novel not only has the correct amount of suspense and drama for a historical fiction story that takes place during such convoluted times, but also Cleeton's descriptions of 1960's Palm Beach are so perfect that it feels like reading a biography of the city. In the end, readers will be very surprised, and perhaps a bit sad. But that is a footprint that defines excellent storytelling.

"You're a dangerous woman, Beatriz Perez."

Gosh, how to even begin this review. Why is it so hard to write a review for a book you love without sounding like a complete fan-girl nerd :) I'm not sure, but I will try my best!

When I finished reading Next Year in Havana last year I immediately wrote to Chanel telling her how much I loved the read and how much I adored Elisa's aunt Beatriz. So you can imagine my excitement when she told me that a Beatriz book was in the works! I've been impatiently awaiting this release for a while. And it was just as amazing as I thought it would be. Beatriz will win your heart, just you wait and see!

Once again, it's the passion for the people and land of Cuba that shines through when you read the book. Since reading these books I have added Cuba to my travel wishlist. It must be a gorgeous country. You can see why Beatriz longs to be home again. I can't imagine being forced from the only home that you know and never knowing when you can go back again, or if you ever will. I like to think that I would have the courage to be like Beatriz and to try and fight for my country.

Political intrigue, spying, danger, and forbidden love all combine masterfully in When We Left Cuba! Cleeton has fast become one of my favorite historical writers. I will automatically pick up anything she releases because I know I'm going to learn a lot and be entertained at the same time.

Beatriz is a heroine after my own heart - formidable, stubborn, passionate, and brave. I highly recommend When We Left Cuba if you're looking for a gripping and exciting read!

Beatriz Perez and her family are living in Florida after fleeing The Cuban Revolution. They are all acclimating to their simple lifestyle after growing up with wealth and privilege. Her father suffered a big financial loss when his land was seized and is currently trying to rebuild his sugar empire. Beatriz yearns for her old life back in Cuba and seeks revenge for her brother’s death at the hands of Fidel Castro.

Acting as a spy for the CIA, Beatriz is willing to take chances to bring on the death of Castro. Her missions are dangerous but Beatriz is willing to sacrifice anything to get her back to her beloved homeland. She meets an ambitious US Senator and romantic sparks fly. Their relationship is not beneficial to either of their careers and his pending marriage. Despite the obstacles, it's tough to avoid each other due to the chemistry that exists between them.

When We Left Cuba is the continuation of Last Year in Havana and I enjoyed this book as much as Chanel Cleeton’s first novel. This book can be read as a stand-alone but you would be missing out on a great story.

When We Left Cuba by Chanel Cleeton is a beautiful novel about love—for country, for romance and for yourself. I so enjoyed Chanel’s previous novel, Next Year in Havana. And even though Beatriz has a small role in that novel, she sure was memorable! And her story in When We Left Cuba is full of excitement, intrigue, heartbreak but, most of all, strength.

In her author’s note, Chanel says that while Next Year in Havana focused on the events of the revolution, she wanted When We Left Cuba to focus on what happened after, on the fight to reclaim Cuba and the role it played on the world stage.

I had high expectations for Beatriz’s story and Chanel more than delivered! Beatriz is intelligent, independent and resourceful. Plus, she’s strong as hell. After the prologue, her story starts off with her declining a marriage invitation from a wealthy man. So you know right off the bat that she’s not one to settle. But she’s not without vulnerabilities. Her brother was believed to be killed by Castro and revenge is always at the top of her mind. And she also falls for a charming senator who is kind and respects the woman she is—however, their worlds are so different. But most of all, she is forced to come to terms with the fact that the Cuba she grew up with will never return. But that doesn’t mean she has to stop fighting for her country.

There’s so much to unravel with Beatriz. She’s definitely ahead of her time with wanting more out of life than a simple dosmetic existence. She’s oftentimes counted out due to her beauty and gender. And that’s one reason her CIA opportunity is that more enticing. She uses both of those to her advantage but it’s her intellect that really makes her successful. While I knew that Beatriz goes undercover, the espionage sections are a stand-out! In many ways, it felt like reading a traditional spy novel. It’s so compelling.

This is a captivating historical fiction novel with so many layers. At the heart of the novel, is a woman on a path to self-discovery. It’s a must-read!

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 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.

Thanks to @chanelcleeton #partner for having me on this blog tour for her sophomore debut!

When We Left Cuba by Chanel Cleeton is the second installment that follows the Perez family. This is Beatriz’s story, which begins in Florida after her family is forced from Cuba thanks to Castro. Beatriz holds Castro personally responsible for her brother’s death and will stop at nothing to take revenge on Castro and reclaim her beloved home country.

When the CIA approaches Beatriz about becoming a spy, she jumps at the chance which, promises the possibility of destroying Castro. When she meets Nick, a US senator, she finds herself caught between longing for the life she left behind and optimistic about a possible future. Will she go back and fight for the country she loves or will this all-consuming love consume her?

This is Cleeton’s follow up to Next Year in Havana but you don’t have to have read that one to enjoy this stand alone novel. The beginning chapters help explain the context from the previous book and this singular story is all Beatriz’s. This one paces along nicely with just the right amount of romance and suspense to keep you flipping the pages. If you are looking for pure historical fiction - you won’t exactly find that here. Instead, you’ll find a thrilling race through the pages as you anxiously live Beatriz’s story that Cleeton has expertly woven Cuban history throughout. I loved her story and you romantics will too! // ☕️☕️☕️☕️

NetGalley widget provided by Berkley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

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 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.

I had been looking forward to this book since reading Next year in Havana!! Which if you haven't read you should!!

Beatriz Perez is a very interesting character. She’s strong, independent and has a clear goal in mind. She’s a go getter which I liked. She loves her country and she’s fearless. She has been through quite a lot, lost of a lot and now all she wants is revenge and killing Fidel Castro, to avenge her brothers death and returning to Cuba and so she becomes involved with the CIA.

Nicholas Randolph Preston III is a senator with high ambitions and has all the right things to achieve his aspirations. Beatriz and Nick meet and that changes the course of things to come for Nick. He’s forbidden to Beatriz in more ways than one. He really did love Beatriz, he was willing to do a lot for her. Beatriz, however was set on her path to avenge and to return home. They become entangled with each other but their situation and the position they hold makes it difficult for them to get their happy ending.

The book has a lot of political depth to it, with added spy elements. It’s about one woman’s love for her country, justice, the need to avenge her twin brother and the need to be more than what the society deemed women as in the 60s.

Quibbles: [spoiler]I had some issues with this book, and I had keep reminding myself that it isn’t romance, instead its historical fiction even then I had difficulty with certain aspects of the book mainly because I found myself at odds with some of the decisions she made which affected my enjoyment of the book. Then I often go off talking about equality in relationships, someone loving someone more and thats something that I also struggled with in this book, its isn’t fair and its not something I like. Also had slight issues with pacing and preferred a bit more espionage.[/spoiler]

However, the writing is lovely, I love the way Chanel Cleeton writes. The characters really shinned, everything was vivid and you could tell that the author did a lot of research and even though I’m not a fan of politics I did enjoy this book. It did bring out a lot of emotions in me whether they were positive or negative. You get very easily caught up with Beatriz, her need to avenge, her love for her country and the happiness she longs for. It's a book about espionage, politics, patriotism and a forbidden love affair and if its that something you like, you'll definitely enjoy this one!

Formidable. Stubborn. Inspiring. All words to describe Beatriz Perez, the heroine of this story.

I signed up for the blog tour in January and immediately had to hustle and read NYIH, which introduced me to the Perez family and their wonderful love of their country.

When We Left Cuba is Beatriz's story as we see her torn between her past and future, her willingness to do anything to help Cuba and have someone answer for her twin brothers death.

This story has a much different feel to it. The pacing and language is a bit more formal. Beatriz spends a lot of time alone in Palm Beach while Nick is in DC. Her family is busy and not concerned with her. She is introspective and that makes her reckless. She wants to enjoy her time with Nick but she knows they have impossible barriers. They have an idyllic time together, but I felt there was more passion with Eduardo (of course)!

When she finally does go back to Cuba and faces Fidel, it's what she has been waiting for and sacrificed everything for. She tries not to get caught up in everyone else's agendas.

“I never realized how lonely spies must be, how difficult it is to wear a mask each day you go out into the world, and are filled with the impulse to drop the pretense just once. And even as it is lonely, as it is difficult, I like it. Like what it has made me—Brave, strong, independent.”

I learned a lot about the historical events during the time and could easily visualize the time period and the setting thanks to the authors meticulous research. One downside was that the political aspect seemed to be somewhat heavy handed and dense. Beatriz's inner monologue was a little repetitive. I preferred Next Year in Havana but look forward to Ms. Cleeton's next book.

Chanel Cleeton builds on the world she created in her book Last Year in Havana. This one is about Beatriz Perez, a young woman willing to do anything to get her home country back. Along the way she falls for a man she shouldn't. Cleeton is an author I admire, she tells truly wonderful stories and she did not fail with this book. Many people will love this story and I hope she tells more about this family.

Historical Fiction is not a genre I visit very often but so blown away was I by NEXT YEAR IN HAVANA, I showed no hesitation when picking up Chanel’s companion novel, WHEN WE LEFT CUBA.

To those that have read the predecessor we are aware that the Perez Family were among Cuba’s aristocratics before having to flee due to the dangers posed by Castro. It’s profound effect on Beatriz leads her to make break away from the society girl image and take her place on the frontline in her impassioned attempt to seek revenge and justice.

Beatriz’s true love is Cuba and admittedly I had to overlook some of the decisions she made in order to align myself with her as our Heroine. The politics of the era play huge role, and at times it was weighty in both description and pacing, but with that said, there’s no denying the massive undertaking the author took in bringing history to life.

WHEN WE LEFT CUBA was a vivid and emotional insight into life around the Cuban Revolution, and once again Chanel’s writing was able to bring forth the beauty of Cuba and the dangers faced by those determined to regain it’s glory.

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 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.

If you loved Next Year in Havana and following Elisa Perez and her story of the revolution in Cuba, you will LOVE this book that tells the tale of the gorgeous, and enchantingly fiery Beatriz, Elisa's older sister, and how life goes on after the family moves to America. You do not need to read Next Year in Havana to enjoy this story as it stands really well on it's own (they both do!), but Chanel Cleeton's first book is FANTASTIC, so you probably should anyway!

Beatriz is a spitfire of a young woman, feisty and smart and uncompromising of her passions and beliefs. She turns down marriage proposals almost as often as she turns heads, and I was thrilled she got her own story for us to feast upon.

During the Cuban revolution, the Perez family has to quickly flee for their safety to America and as tensions run high between the two countries, Beatriz struggles to find her place in this foreign country she just cannot fathom ever calling home. Her beliefs and desire for revenge on Castro and his regime clash with her mothers wishes for her to settle down and marry, and she finds many of her choices in love and life seem to be doing nothing but causing shame upon the already crestfallen family.

Her determination to fight for her beloved home finds her in precarious situations after being recruited by the CIA to get into Castro's inner circle. But she knows she is exactly where she needs to be, doing what she has to do, and is steadfast to complete the ultimate task to salvage some of the life her family has lost. Strong-willed and resolute, she's careful not to let her guard fall, while simultaneously falling for an important man who seems just beyond her reach.

I am not a good non-fiction reader. I zone out. I lose attention quickly. It's only when a story like THIS comes along that I feel like I can actually absorb important history. The book is fiction, of course, but is inspired by tumultuous events and incidents as Cuban-American tension, the Bay of Pigs, the missle crisis, and the Kennedy assassination.

It takes an incredible story and even more incredible character like Beatriz, along with Chanel's effortless writing, and I feel like I've been opened up to this magical country that seemed always so mysterious and closed off to the world. Through both of her books following these strong-willed Perez women, my eyes have been opened and my heart aches for the people of Cuba and everything they lost. Everything they could have had.

Beatriz is a character I won't forget for a long time. Her story is wildly impressive and her spirit is magnificent. When We Left Cuba is engrossing, and riveting, and will capture your heart from the very beginning - it's a dramatic and captivating historical saga, a gorgeous and delicious romance, and in the end - an exquisite love letter to Cuba.

An exceptional story about an extraordinary woman! A book rich with love and steeped in history!

Beatriz Perez my queen! There was something about Beatriz that completely captured my heart from the very first page of this book. She was a smart, strong, and sassy woman with an unbreakable spirit and an unstoppable independence. This is a follow-up of sorts to, “Next Year in Havana”, although I’d say you could read this book independently. We do meet Beatriz in the first book (it is the story of her sister Elisa) however Beatrix is on the periphery of that story. Both books are exquisite, however I have to admit I like this book a teeny bit more.

Beatrix might live in the US now, but her heart is still in Cuba. Her family was exiled to the US after Fidel Castro took power in Cuba. Beatriz was the privileged daughter of a sugar barren, she lived a glamorous life filled with parties and glitz. Then her life was turned upside down, she lost her twin brother during the uprise, her family loses all their wealth, and her family is sent away from the land that they loved. Beatrix now has to start over in a new country. Consumed with revenge and a desire to return “home“ she finds herself entangled with the CIA. She also meets a man. A man who is off-limits, A man who will completely capture and consume her. We experience the US Cuba relationship during the 1960s through the pages of this book. We see the Bay of Pigs, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the JFK assassination through Beatrix’s eyes. This book is a true love story, A woman’s love for a country and a man.

Chanel Cleeton’s vivid writing will transport you to the 1960s. The feel and the fear at the beginning of the Cold War seeps through the pages. The historical aspects of this book are compelling, but I have to say the romance wormed its way into my heart. Beatrix Nick’s Love story was so raw, I really can’t think of any other word to describe it. A forbidden love that broke them both and then built them up again.” it’s all about Fate and timing and all that.”

This was a spellbinding story packed with romance and history rat in a cloak of intrigue! Unequivocally recommend!

*** many thanks to Berkley for my copy of this book ***

The Perez sisters are at it again! In the sequel, we see life in Palm Beach through Beatriz’s eyes and follow her adventures as a young Cuban immigrant during the Cuban missile crisis.

Beatriz is smart, savvy and a woman ahead of her time. Instead of wanting to get married and have children, she’s only interested in avenging her twin brother’s death. Much to her mother’s dismay, she has little interest in the debutante scene around her, and but rather craves danger, adventure, and ultimately, to see Fidel Castro overthrown.

Similar to Next Year in Havana, I had a hard time putting this down! I loved that it picked up another Perez sister’s perspective – in the first novel I had found myself drawn to the fierce independence of Beatriz and loved the deeper view into her life and story. For any lovers of the Kennedy era this book added a Cuban-American layer to an already exciting period of history, one that I am not sure I ever considered before. Highly recommend you pick this one up soon!!!!

I freaking loved this book, Beatriz was such an interesting character and not like anything I've ever read, she was like so so badass and the fact that she was willing to do many things that were so out of her comfort zone just to fight for what she believed and to fight for her country and her family was so endearing.

Trust me, this book will take you by surprise, there is a lot of romance but I don't think the romance is the main focus because Beatriz's life takes her to many places and many experiences that make her so much more than just a romantic, she was able to see the world in a way that someone in that time period and from her background wouldn't normally do.

I have so mucho love for this girl and of course for Chanel Cleeton! I have been a fan for a long time and I'm so excited to see her succeed.

As I was reading Next Year in Havana (read my review here) last year, I was so intrigued by the fiery and outspoken sister, Beatriz, and hoped that we would get to hear her story. Well, I got my wish and When We Left Cuba is all about Beatriz and what happened after her family was exiled from Cuba to southern Florida by the Castro regime in the 1960s. This striking story about a woman who makes it her mission to avenge her brother’s death and bring down the man responsible is riveting from beginning to end.

Beatriz’s tale is full of espionage, covert operations, and dangerous missions—but aside from her desire for revenge, she’s a woman who falls in love with a man who will never be able to leave his own sense of duty and obligation for her, she’s a woman who fights for her place in a society that looks down on her for being an outsider, and she’s a daughter who will never be a placid and demure wallflower looking to be taken care of by a husband. Beatriz is formidable and fierce and she doesn’t need a man to rescue her, thankyouverymuch.

Cleeton does such an amazing job of bringing both the United States and Cuba of the 1960s to life. The descriptions and imagery are vivid, the storytelling is sharp, and the characters pop off the page. There were a couple of places where the pacing felt heavy, but this is the kind of story that you can feel how much love and history has been poured into each chapter. If you love historical fiction with a side of glamour, romance, and intrigue, When We Left Cuba will be right up your alley and I highly recommend it.

When We Left Cuba is a companion novel to Cleeton's popular Next Year in Havana which continues following the Perez family during the tumultuous 1960's when they were forced, like many Cuban families, to flee their country and find asylum in the US.

I wanted and expected to love this book as much as Next Year in Havana but there were a few things that got in the way. First, there's a lot going on in this book but the story felt like it lacked direction. We have the Perez family dynamics (which play out in the background) and there's an elicit romance (which distracted from the political espionage) and a story that follows the politics of the time and how it influenced Cuban refugees living on US soil.

I liked the premise of continuing the Perez family story through the eyes of another sister. In this book, the focus is on Beatriz - the head-strong, confident sister who goes against social convention and whose main goal is to return to her beloved homeland. I love that Beatriz is a strong female character, but I didn't find her compelling or that she developed enough which influenced my connection to her and her story.

Overall, this is an interesting book that brings to light the political tensions and the personal sacrifices many Cuban citizens faced during a volatile period in history. While I didn't enjoy this book quite as much as Next Year in Havana, I still recommend it for people who want to learn more about the history and politics of the 1960's and get a better idea of how they effected Cuban people and their culture.

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I love Chanel Cleeton’s writing. I’ve enjoyed her earlier books but NEXT YEAR IN HAVANA was kind of a departure in tone and style for her and I was so happy that I still loved it. I was dying to know more about Beatriz and her story when I finished HAVANA. I definitely feel that reading the books in order gives a much richer reading experience for these books. They’re still stand alones and can be read as such, but I got so much more out of this book by knowing this world and these characters going. She was so different from her sister Elisa and I knew her life would be vastly different. WHEN WE LEFT CUBA delivered what I was hoping to get.

When We Left Cuba Teaser 4

I’m a very heroine-centric reader and WHEN WE LEFT CUBA delivered a heroine I could love in Beatriz. She’s bold, seemingly fearless, and fiercely independent and I was here for that the entire time. Cleeton also does a masterful job of weaving Cuban history throughout in such a way that I felt like I was learning, yet also was in the background of the book. This has to be challenging to attain that exact balance, readers don’t want to see an info dump because frankly that can incredibly boring, but having that kind of history in the text can enrich a book so much. I felt that Cleeton did that here, and did it incredibly well.

When We Left Cuba Teaser 9

There’s a lot of suspense and political intrigue but also has plenty of familial drama and romance, which I desperately need in my books. Overall, I was really pleased with this and can’t wait to read more from this author.