Instant New York Times bestsellerOne of Bustle’s Most Anticipated Books of Summer 2020 “The perfect riveting summer read!”—BookBub In 1935 three women are forever changed when one of the most powerful hurricanes in history barrels toward the Florida Keys. For the tourists traveling on Henry Flagler’s legendary Overseas Railroad, Labor Day weekend is an opportunity to forget the economic … legendary Overseas Railroad, Labor Day weekend is an opportunity to forget the economic depression gripping the nation. But one person’s paradise can be another’s prison, and Key West-native Helen Berner yearns to escape.
After the Cuban Revolution of 1933 leaves Mirta Perez’s family in a precarious position, she agrees to an arranged marriage with a notorious American. Following her wedding in Havana, Mirta arrives in the Keys on her honeymoon. While she can’t deny the growing attraction to her new husband, his illicit business interests may threaten not only her relationship, but her life.
Elizabeth Preston’s trip to Key West is a chance to save her once-wealthy family from their troubles after the Wall Street crash. Her quest takes her to the camps occupied by veterans of the Great War and pairs her with an unlikely ally on a treacherous hunt of his own.
Over the course of the holiday weekend, the women’s paths cross unexpectedly, and the danger swirling around them is matched only by the terrifying force of the deadly storm threatening the Keys.
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I enjoyed this book. Great characters.
I love historical fiction, especially when a book is steeped with such interesting details that I feel like I’ve lived through it. It’s the middle of the Great Depression and three women cross paths during a hurricane in the Florida Keys. What happens will set each of their lives on a very different trajectory than they expected, but their secrets will keep them intertwined forever. The ending was totally unsuspected but completely satisfying. This book is part of a series but can be read as a stand-alone.
I enjoyed this book very much. I wish there was more about the Hurricane that came through Key West and the veterans that were at the camp in Key West. I finished the book in 1 day.
I kept waiting for something to start the action. It’s an okay read ,but not great. I liked the way the author intertwined the characters.
When I pick up one of Chanel’s historical fiction books, I find myself sucked right into the world immediately. Her writing paints a vivid picture and I feel as though I’m walking through the streets alongside the characters. Her passion for history and the characters whose stories she’s telling comes through in every single word. In The Last Train to Key West, she weaves the story of three very different women together in an absolutely exquisite way.
The backdrop for this book is the Labor Day holiday weekend of 1935. History has never been my strong suit so I didn’t know this going in, but the hurricane that devastated the Florida Keys that weekend is one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes on record. If I’d been aware, I’d likely have been more prepared for just how intense this book was at times. I was quite literally on the edge of my seat waiting to see how things would go for Helen, Mirta and Elizabeth. I was equally invested in each of their lives (and loves) and I couldn’t get enough.
If you’re a romance reader who is thinking about branching out into historical fiction, I can’t recommend Chanel’s books highly enough. While Next Year in Havana, When We Left Cuba and The Last Train to Key West are all standalones, I’d still suggest reading all of them in order. If you’re an audio reader, the audios are fantastic. Or at least the two I’ve listened to have been. I’m going to need to reread this book soon and I plan to do it via audiobook. Chanel’s words, characters and world-building are like no other.
Favorite Quotes:
Leaving seems impossible when you’re walking away from all you’ve known, when the stakes are life and death.
“The running of this world is left to men, and quite frankly, I’m not impressed with what they’ve done with it.”
“I hate to tell you, but there’s no such thing as a ‘right time’ in life. Things happen when they need to happen. The rest sort of falls into place.”
“There’s so much broken around us; maybe all we can do is try to fix each other, do what we can to preserve these precious moments in a world where there is so much sadness and loss.”
Book Review: The Last Train to Key West by Chanel Cleeton (2020) (Fiction) 3 Stars ***
“People are what circumstances make them.” Agree or disagree with this statement made at the beginning of the book by Helen, one of the main characters? We follow the lives of Helen, Mirta, and Elizabeth on Depression Era Labor Day weekend 1935, Key West, Florida, set against the true story of the Labor Day deluge, one of the most devastating and almost unexpected hurricanes to hit mainland United States.
The lives of the three main characters and the men they are involved with, once strangers but now connected by Fate, intertwine and overlap to bring them to a life-changing end.
We learn about the neglect and broken promises to the the returning veterans of WWI, many forever negatively impacted, unable to return to their home towns to resume their rightful places in society. Sent to Key West to work and live in deplorable conditions, about half of the hundreds of these hapless men perish as the sea swells and overtakes the land.
As in many vacation destinations, the actual number and names of the people who live, work and vacation in tourist destinations are not always known. Between 400 and 800 prople died that day—men, women, children—whose attempts to save themselves were mostly unsuccessful and in the hands of Fate. Some live. Some die. Who decides?
The characters are shallowly portrayed. Each with a different narrative, their dependence on men drives the story. Their observations and reactions to the impending disaster are repetitious as each couple has the same conversatons as they realize the danger they are in and plan their escapes.
You see, the US weather people, not having the sophisticated equipment they do now, advised that the the hurricane would make landfall in Tampa located in Florida’s northwest instead of Key West on Florida’s southeast coast. They were dead wrong. By the time this error was realized, it was much too late to escape the doomed maritime paradise situated at about 4.7 feet above sea level.
The significance of the title? Many tourists traveled to Key West by train since airplane travel was still uncommon. “The Overseas Extension of the Florida East Coast Railway once referred to as ‘Flagler’s Folly’—was destroyed and never rebuilt, and in 1938, the new Overseas Highway was opened using stretches of the destroyed Overseas Railroad.”
The hurricane background information is well-researched and well presented but the characters’ stories leave a lot to be desired. A great beach read or if you’re looking for something light and undemanding of your attention.
The Last Train to Key West was an excellent read. I loved reading about the lives of Helen, Elizabeth and Marta. I loved how they are all tied together duri.ng the most powerful hurricane in 1935 in Key West Florida. This was such an emotional read. I really enjoyed the 3 perspectives of the women and how their lives crossed one another. I admired all 3 women for their hard work and their courage. This was a very realistic read and I feel it could have really happened. Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this. I will definitely read another book by Chanel Cleeton.
I couldn’t put this one down; I had to know what happened with the women and the hurricane. It was interesting to see how all their lives intertwined. I enjoyed it and would recommend. That said, I feel like her previous two books, Next Year in Havana and When We Left Cuba, did a much better job of telling about the history and tension within Cuba during the time the books were set. This story felt more like romance with some history thrown in. Even though I enjoyed the story, I would have liked to have had more history-more information about the WWI veterans who inspired her to write about the hurricane to begin with.
There are some historical fiction books that are hard for me to get through. This one was not one of those! I finished it in one day! This is the first by Chanel Cleeton I’ve read. Blown away!! So so good! Loved all three female protagonists.
Source: advanced copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review
In her latest historical fiction, Chanel Cleeton combines suspense and Mother Nature to weave a fascinating tale of three women from different backgrounds who briefly cross paths. Helen, is a local and an expectant mother who’s trapped in an abusive marriage. Mirta is in Key West on her honeymoon. It’s the young Cuban’s first experience of America with a new husband she barely knows. Then there’s Elizabeth, a young debutante who’s family has fallen from grace, engaged to be married but running off to find a long lost someone who could change her fortune. These women only interact once before the hurricane arrives but that is enough to set things in motion. It’s not that them meeting initiates anything; it’s more the intriguing connections that unbeknownst to them tie them together.
On first encounter, all three women appear to be either helpless, demure or trouble. I did feel sorry for Helen’s situation but she soon showed me why that was misguided. I’m not sure if she knew she was strong all along or just finally had enough of her husband’s abuse but she was a force to be reckoned with. Mirta is all class and naiveté when she first arrives. Her husband’s dubious connections makes her wonder what line of work he’s into but she isn’t afraid to ask questions and he’s so gentle with her. If anything, I was quite fascinated by their relationship, finding their storyline incredibly sensual. With the story told from three POVs I honestly couldn’t wait to get back to Mirta everytime. Elizabeth is the kind of girl you want your daughters to be – full of confidence (even faking it when in doubt), gutsy and unrelenting when she wants something. All three of them show the power of resilience and fortitude. The impending Labor Day hurricane proves to be a catalyst that brings their own true natures out.
I’ve made no secret of my love of Cleeton’s work. Her beautiful storytelling continues to bring wonderment and I enjoy learning about new historical details. I looked up pictures of Key West, the railroad and the different landmarks mentioned which enriched my reading experience. Cleeton also brings to light the plight of soldiers who returned from WWI and who were living in less than stellar conditions at settlements in Key West. While she doesn’t go in depth into those veteran camps, learning of them led me to do my own research. Add to that the Depression that had taken hold of the country, this is an America that’s going through the most uncertain and difficult of times. Cleeton doesn’t romanticize this period but it’s with this backdrop that Helen, Mirta and Elizabeth miraculously find love and strength during the most dire of circumstances and come through stronger, bursting with renewed hope. The Last Train to Key West is riveting to the very last page!
~ Bel
Romance and suspense in a historical, exotic setting–great beach read!
The lives and fortunes of three desperate women intersect during the great hurricane that devastated the Florida Keys in 1935.
A slow build at the beginning picks up dramatically around the halfway point. If it seems like some of the characterizations overlap, it all makes sense near the climax as a few neat twists lead to a tidy romantic ending.
Not as good as her others.
4.5 Stars
Loved the historical facts that were intermingled with the compelling fictional lives of three different women. The hurricane damage and destruction was even more captivating as I did some of my own research while reading this book. As was the plight of veterans during the Depression after WWI.
The fictional lives were entertaining and had some sweet romances along with interesting coincidences that loosely tied the three main characters to each other. I did think that as the story neared it’s ending, it was somewhat anti-climactic. Depression-era historical fiction is one of my favorite settings and overall, I enjoyed The Last Train to Key West and learned some interesting new facts.
As turbulent as the Labor Day hurricane itself, The Last Train to Key West weaves a gripping tale of survival and strength when three women are forced to ride out one of the most powerful storms in history. Lush, atmospheric, and suspenseful, Chanel Cleeton’s latest is not to be missed!
A riveting, fast-paced, historically informative novel–one of those you don’t want to put down. Cleeton has created great characters and lots of suspense, even a few surprises. This novel sheds light on the 1935 Labor Day Storm, Veterans and the government’s treatment of them, the Depression, Domestic Abuse and especially strong women. Women all “owned” by powerful men, but who thrive and survive, even succeed in shaping happy lives on their own terms. A thoroughly enjoyable read!
LAST TRAIN TO KEY WEST by Chanel Cleeton follows the lives of three women, in a fictional account of the 1935 Hurricane that swept through Key West, Florida on Labor Day weekend.
Told from three first person perspectives (Helen Berber, Marta Perez, Elizabeth Preston) LAST TRAIN TO KEY WEST focuses on the journey of three women whose lives are about to cross paths and intersect with the approach of a deadly hurricane in the Florida Keys.
Helen Berner is a young, pregnant woman who is desperate to escape her abusive husband when a stranger, a military veteran offers Helen a way to escape, an escape that will bring Helen in the direct line of the impending storm where our couple will find themselves washed away along with so many of the Florida residents.
Marta Perez is a newlywed -married to a New York crime lord, whose enemies have followed the couple to the Florida Keys but the storm is about to bring more danger than anyone could have expected in the form of a stranger demanding everything including the lives of our story line couple.
New Yorker, Elizabeth Preston is desperate to find her brother, who has been missing for several months but Elizabeth is also on the run from a marriage of convenience to a dangerous man, a man who bought our heroine as payment for a loan. An undercover FBI agent offers to help Elizabeth find her brother John but said agent is currently on assignment, an assignment that involves our story line heroine.
LAST TRAIN TO KEY WEST is an intriguing, brilliant and wonderfully fictional story line set against the real-life disaster of the 1935 hurricane that destroyed much of the Florida Keys. With the world struggling to survive in the aftermath of the stock market crash, and ensuing Great Depression, Key West Florida is about to suffer like never before. Chanel Cleeton delves into the lives of three women, all facing an uncertain future but a future that will intersect and converge in more way than one.
Favorite Quotes:
The only things I’ve ever heard John say in addition to his name pertain to his order, as though God only gave him a certain number of words to use each day, and he’d already expended his quota before he sat in my section.
I envy men the freedom to choose their own spouses. They snap us up as though they are purchasing a piece of fruit at the market, and we are expected to have no say in the matter.
The running of this world is left to men, and quite frankly, I’m not impressed with what they’ve done with it.
It’s strange how your life can change so quickly, how one moment you can barely eke by, desperation filling your days, and suddenly, out of the unimaginably horrific, a glimmer of something beautiful can appear like a bud pushing through the hard-formed earth.
My Review:
I was relatively new to Chanel Cleeton when I started this series featuring a fascinating family of Cuban sisters and had generally avoided historical fiction prior to this as being a strong feminist, I bristle at the limitations placed on women and how poorly they were treated, even by their families. The Cuban sister featured in this installment was Mirta, who had been forced into marrying a man of questionable ethics and criminal ties and whom she did not personally know, to clear her father’s mistakes in judgment. Meanwhile, the same situation had also occurred to a former New York socialite named Elizabeth. Both women crossed paths in Key West during Mirta’s honeymoon and were served by the same heavily pregnant waitress who, for me, had the most compelling storylines featured in this dynamic tale. The three women could not have been more diverse yet they were sharing an overlapping experience during the most challenging period in their lives.
All of this drama happened to occur during hurricane season, and it got a bit breezy when the worst storm ever hit the area. The storylines were slowly and craftily constructed with a writing style that was stunningly emotive, compelling, and mesmerizingly immersive. I fell right into each woman’s anxious vortex and enjoyed their various journeys and travails as their lives briefly intersected.
I had no idea it wasn’t just women and minorities who were so devastatingly maltreated and was appalled by the shameful and horrific conduct and attitude of the US government toward the returning Veterans of WWI. I mean no slur to the brave souls currently serving but why anyone still bothers to join the military given their heinous history of atrocities boggles my tiny brain and scorches the little pea lying therein.
Wow! This is my first Chanel Cleeton book and I’ll definitely be picking up her previous two. Three stories of three different women in different situations, all of them difficult, intertwine in this historical fiction novel based around the 1935 hurricane that obliterated parts of the Florida Keys. I love when true events shape a work of fiction. When there are three or more POV characters, I tend to gravitate more toward one, and not care so much about the others, but that didn’t happen here. I loved each character’s story and was excited to see what happened next with each one. Fast pacing, romance of all kinds, history and peril…it was fabulous!
The characters were unique and different but, in the end, they all come together after a monumental hurricane.
Worth the time and money