THE LOST BOOK OF EVE FUENTES
By Chanel Cleeton

Having previous read several books by this author it was no surprise that I found this book to be very well written and thoroughly enjoyable.
It’s covers three generations of women fighting to locate A Time For Forgetting before the book before it goes up for auction. The characters become very passionate about finding the one copy of this book for different personal feelings. The book covers time in Boston, Miami-Key West, London, and most importantly, Cuba. The book also covers a timeline from 1900 til 2024.
This review is based on an ARC provided to me from NetGalley

Loved this story. This is a beautifully written heartfelt novel. It is written in three timelines.

1900 Cuba Eva is a teacher who is offered the opportunity to travel to Hartford University for the summer. It is part of a cultural exchange program. Eva has been trying to write a novel for years.
1966 Cuba Pilar is a librarian during the Castro era. Life is not safe there. Her husband is arrested and Pilar fears for her life. A neighbor fleeing Cuba gives her a book to return to its author.
2024. London Margo is hired to find a book written over 120 years ago, which is missing.
This is story is all about one book.
These three storylines are intriguing woven together. This is a book I could not put down. I learned so much about Cuba.
I have previously read some of this authors other books and have enjoyed them all.
Her writing is compelling. If you enjoy Historical Fiction you will enjoy this book.
Thank yiu to the publisher and NetGalley for this advanced readers copy.

This historical fiction revolves around a missing novel that holds secrets about its author, Eva Fuentes. It is written in 3 time periods: about Margo in 2024, Pilar in 1966 and Eva in 1900. Margo is hired to find a missing novel, Pilar is entrusted with the novel during the political upheaval in Cuba by Fidel Castro and Eva wrote the novel one summer while in America. The lives of these 3 women become intertwined as the story progresses but not without murder, trauma, intrigue and eventually gratification for mystery solved. Historical fiction novels always spur me on to read more about the history involved in the story. You will find out why Eva was in America one particular summer. I have read all of Chanel Cleeton’s novels and she never disappoints!!

This beautifully well written novel follows three women in different time periods whose lives have intersected over a book written in Cuba in the early 1900s. Only one copy of the book was printed and someone wants to find it before it goes up for auction.

1900 - Boston and Cuba. Eva is teacher who is sent from Cuba to America during the summer of 1900 to attend and exchange of ideas at Harvard. Her country is trying to become a free country and she wants to do her part to help. She has been working on writing a novel for years and believes that she will have some free time during the summer to work on her book. Then she meets a man who sweeps her off her feet. Instead if spending time on her book, she spends every available minute with him. After the tumultuous outcome of their affair, Eva finally writes her novel hoping that he will read it. That book is what ties all three women together.

1966 Havana. Pilar is a librarian. Life isn't safe in Cuba during this time period. Fidel Castro is in charge and punishing anyone who speaks against him. Pilar should be safe but after her husband was arrested, she began to feel like she was being watched. A friend in her apartment building is getting ready to flee Cuba and brings Pilar a copy of The Lost Story to her in hopes that she can find the author and return the book to her. She is still being watched and someone in the government knows that she is hiding books for people to keep them safe. How much danger is she willing to put herself into by trying to protect the books.

2024 London. Margo owns a company that looks for lost things. When she is hired to find The Lost Story, she isn't sure why the book is important to the person who hired her but begins her search. Soon her life is in danger and she's being followed. She has no idea why this book is important and when someone who was helping her gets killed, she decides that maybe she should stop. Her ex-husband begins to help her but as they get closer to finding the book, the danger to both of them increases.

The story is told in alternating chapters by all three women. The author did a fantastic job and there's no confusion about any of the women and you always know which time period you are in. She also melds all three stories seamlessly for the ending. I not only enjoyed the story but learned a lot about Cuban history while I was reading. This book is another great book from Chanel Cleeton.