Instant New York Times bestseller!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 The Last Train to Key West and 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 … 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…
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Electric and fierce. Beatriz Perez’s romance with a handsome, important senator will sweep you away, but it’s her profound loyalty to Cuba and her formidable determination to be her own woman despite life-and-death odds that will really hold you in thrall.
Beatriz Perez’s brand of vintage-Havana glamour dazzles with equal parts intrigue, rebellion, and romance to make for an unforgettable story.
Favorite Quotes:
War has a way of sanding down your virtue.
I reenact my own Cinderella routine sans the discarded pump. If Cinderella had paid what I did for these shoes, she’d have made sure she left the ball with both, too.
If I’m going to have regrets in this life, I’d rather them be for the chances I took and not the opportunities I let slip away.
The line between villain and hero is whisper thin, and, very frequently, a matter of perspective. Gray, Miss Perez. We operate in the gray.
My Review:
I was completely sucked into Ms. Cleeton’s well-crafted and deftly written cloak and dagger vortex as I zigzagged the globe while she brilliantly unfolded her impressive tale of Beatriz Perez, Cuban femme fatale. Her captivating storylines sparkled with intrigue, betrayals, passion, family drama, an epic love, patriotism, scandal, and tropical heat. The engaging plot was quickly paced and highly eventful while blending fact and fiction with stunning agility in an informative yet entertaining and evocative manner.
Ms. Cleeton’s writing activated a long forgotten grade school memory flash of participating in those ridiculous duck and cover drills and being reprimanded for giggling while sitting under my desk. And I am proud to exclaim that I finally, yes finally, have a grasp on the atrocity of the Bay of Pigs and the disgraceful betrayals of the US government that caused such butchery, which is nothing new and probably even worse now, yet still, so disheartening. The 60s really were a mess!
Another beautifully poignant historical romance. When We Left Cuba, although in the same realm as it’s predecessor Next Year in Havana, comes as something freshly unique and wholly different from the stories of the Perez girls. Beatriz Perez is an enigma. Her life is what she makes it in a time of exile when she’s supposed to fall in line with the traditions of her culture and upbringing.
This story relies heavily on the ideas of how war, how a country in tatters and despair, and how death will uproot ideologies and shift a human on their axis. It’s a story that relies even more so on the power and strength of a woman who holds new tenets as a result of her life drastically changing because of those aforementioned ideas. It’s the tale of a woman on the precipice of greatness because she is exactly who knows to be, no matter the grand sacrifice she needs to make to achieve that greatness.
With memorable characters, colorful descriptions of setting and time, Chanel Cleeton gives grandeur in bleakness while showing her audience the nuances of change so acutely it’s heart breaking. Her writing speaks so vividly, her story telling a spell easy to fall under. Cleeton daringly takes readers into a world that we least expect and once she has us there grips us into a whirlwind of a life full of meaning. I relished every word of this book, of Beatriz’s adventures, romance, and pain. A story I won’t soon forget.
Ever since finishing Next Year in Havana, I have been dying to get my hands on Beatriz’s story. And let me tell you, Chanel Cleeton does not disappoint. When We Left Cuba was exactly what I was hoping it would be. Filled with danger, suspense, romance and a thirst for vengeance, When We Left Cuba left no stone unturned and left me totally glued to the pages….
When We Left Cuba is Beatriz’s story. What I loved about her story was how rich in history it was and how the author mixed together Cuban & American history. You really got a feel for how much Beatriz loved her country and how she wanted to avenge her brother’s death. Beatriz’s involvement with the CIA kept me on pins and needles. She was no spy, but would do anything to reclaim the life she once had. What she didn’t plan on was falling in love along the way. Her love affair is one for the books, but is forbidden due to circumstances. Beatriz has some difficult choices ahead and I for one loved going along for the ride and seeing just how her story would play out.
When We Left Cuba is flawlessly written with an intriguing plot that will leave you utterly spellbound and glued to the pages. The writing captivating you from the very first page and will leave you feeling as though you are right inside the story experiencing everything along with the characters. When it comes to historical romance, this author is totally winning me over and is constantly leaving me dying for more.
Beatriz’s story is everything that I wanted it to be and then some. It’s a timeless love story filled with espionage, danger, family duty, vengeance and love when you least expect it. I loved every second of this book from beginning to end. When We Left Cuba was thrilling and exciting and just everything that I was hoping for. This is a wonderful book to curl up with and spend your day getting lost in….
5 Amazing Stars! When We Left Cuba is a fantastic Historical Fiction Novel that explores the very turbulent, uneasy time period of history in the 1960’s .
This novel has intrigue, politics, scandals, romance, and espionage with elements of a political thriller.
This novel is beautifully written with rich, multi-dimensional characters that create a complex story.
There are so many elements to this novel that had be turning pages.
When we Left Cuba is a follow up to the equally fantastic Next Year in Havana but stands as a stand alone novel. If I were you, I would read BOTH!
I highly recommend this book and hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
This book was fabulous. There is suspense, romance and family drama. Beatriz Perez is a strong young woman who risks all for the love of her country. I would recommend this book to anyone that likes historical fiction. I won my ARC on a Goodreads giveaway.
When We Left Cuba picks up a couple of years after Next Year in Havana and tells the story of Beatriz Perez. Beatriz is a beautiful, strong woman trying to buck the societal norms for women of the time. Beatriz is focused on avenging her twin brother’s murder and she won’t let anything or anyone stand in her way. Last year, I read Next Year in Havana and couldn’t wait for this book. Chanel Cleeton has written an intriguing story with yet another memorable character. When We Left Cuba was one of my most anticipated reads of 2019 and it far surpassed my expectations!
Chanel Cleeton , Author of “When We Left Cuba” has written an intense, captivating, enthralling, riveting, emotional, page-turning, and thought-provoking novel. I loved everything about Chanel Cleeton’s novel. The Genres for this Novel are Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance, and Suspense. The time-line for this story is from the Cuban Revolution , the Cold War, the Bay of Pigs, President Kennedy’s election and so much more. I appreciate the historical details and research the author has done to provide such an intoxicating background and part of the story. Chanel Cleeton describes her colorful cast of characters as complex, complicated and dramatic. This novel would make a wonderful screen play, movie or series. I also appreciate Chanel Cleeton’s vivid description of the characters and landscape.
After the Cuban Revolution, the Perez family is forced to come to America. The family is trying to regain the loss of their sugar empire they had in Cuba.Beatriz Perez especially feels the loss of her country, , her friends, and the death of her brother. Beatriz has blamed the old regime, and now holds Fidel Castro responsible. The CIA wants Beatriz to infiltrate Castro’s regime. Beatriz’s strong-willed mother wants her to get married.
Beatriz faces danger and death if she pursues her revenge. What will she decide to do? There are betrayals, espionage, and spies as the Cold War intensifies. Also the Perez family is slowly adjusting to the American way of life. Is there any way the problems of the past can be worked out so Beatriz can live safely in the present?
I love that Beatriz is a strong-willed, brave and resourceful woman who tries to own her decisions. I highly recommend this unpredictable and suspenseful novel to those readers who love Historical Fiction. I received an ARC. Happy Reading!
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, Truly a beautifully told story. I loved the first book and loved this one even more, as Beatriz is now one of my favorite book characters ever. 5 Stars.
ive glittering stars to this fantastic book!! When We Left Cuba is a scintillating meld of intrigue, passion, politics, and scandal! Beatriz Perez, a beautiful expatriate from Cuba whose family has settled in Palm Beach, Florida, yearns to return to her home. Still mourning the death of her twin brother, she also seeks revenge against the man she holds responsible: Fidel Castro. but her life takes a turn when she meets a handsome senator with ambitions of his own-and a fiancee-and that’s when the twists and turns of this story begin! Once I started reading this book, I couldn’t stop; I was so swept up in Beatriz’s story that I thought about even when I wasn’t reading it. The feelings in this book are tangible, not only the growing attraction between Beatriz and Nick, but also the fervor that Beatriz feels for her homeland, and her drive to avenge her brother’s death. This book is a follow-up to the equally fabulous Next Year in Havana, however this book is a standalone that can be read on its own…but I recommend that you read them both!
Cuban born, Beatriz Perez has had a horrible few years, her twin brother was murdered in the Cuban revolution, her family has been exiled to Palm Beach, and her social status is dwindling with each broken engagement. She was a sugar queen in Cuba, a glamorous beauty whose family was wealthy and powerful until Fidel Castro violently took control of her beloved home country. She is bored with the men she is meeting in America until she catches the eye of a very powerful very handsome and very much engaged senator. The begin a love affair but he is not the only one that has caught Beatriz’s attention. She is being recruited by the CIA to conduct a dangerous plot to kill Castro and set her home free.
Chanel Cleeton’s novel is full of tension and passion as Beatriz strikes a delicate balance between her love of her homeland and the new love she has found with Nick. I enjoyed this novel immensely even without reading her earlier work, Next Year in Havana. I highly recommend this thrilling read.
When we left Cuba by Chanel Cleeton is a wonderful follow up to her previous novel Next Year in Havana. I was hooked right from the first page, I did not want to put it down. The book is very well written the characters are well developed and realistic. You actually feel like you are the character that is how vivid the descriptions are. I enjoyed learning about the history of Cuba. This book has it all romance, spying, politics, family drama it is all there. I highly recommend this book and can’t wait for another book of Chanel’s to come out.
This book is like a history lesson taught by a professor whose teaching method you love.
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. This is the second book in the Perez sister saga. This one tells the story of Beatriz. She has always been a free spirit, and she proves it in this book. She becomes a spy for the CIA, goes to college and becomes a lawyer, becomes the mistress to a very powerful Senator, and travels the world. This is a great book that tells more about the people of Cuba and those that fled the island when Fidel took over. I loved learning about that time and this was a great read!
When We Left Cuba by Chanel Cleeton
I have been so eager for this book from the instant I finished Next Year in Havana. This book is rife with romance, secrets, and espionage and features one of the most brilliant and fearless female characters I’ve come across.
When We Left Cuba is the story of Beatriz Perez and details her life after she and her family are forced to leave Cuba following the revolution. Unlike her sisters, Beatriz is not seeking a man, a marriage, family. She wants to avenge the death of her twin brother and to return home to Cuba and she doesn’t want to do it meekly or as a bystander. Enter the CIA.
I really enjoyed this book though perhaps not as much as Next Year in Havana. I think it focused heavily on the spy aspects and on Beatriz herself and I would have liked a bit more of the romance, particularly given that I developed a minor crush on the senator. Having said that, I’m planning to read both of these books again and am hoping Cleeton writes more for the Perez family.
*I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.
**Reviewed by Melinda for Joandisalovebooks Blog.
I was so excited to receive an early digital copy of this novel, and it did not disappoint! Reading this was like catching up with old friends, not to mention meeting a few new ones.
While Next Year in Havana jumped back and forth between present & past, the majority of Beatriz Perez’s story is told between late 1950’s to early 1960’s. Some of the events and highlights I had little knowledge of before opening this book, since they were before my time-you hear parents or grandparents talk about when Kennedy was shot, but can’t really *know*-but this novel puts it in new light, makes you feel like you were there. It was wonderful to read how Beatriz’s character (among others) grew and changed over the course of her life & the story, and the pace and plot moved along easily. Dialogue flowed smoothly, and there was just enough conflict and (tastefully handled) romance to keep you wanting more, finding out what happens next. I hope there will be more of the Perez family in the future…
This follow up novel about the Perez family from Next Year in Havana is Beatriz’s story. The main character is so well written that all of her actions fit in with her personality. The setting in Miami is beautiful and the plot of the novel is very intriguing.
The Perez family was forced out of Cuba when Fidel Castro took over the island. This novel starts several years after their expulsion from their home and Beatrix is still longing to return to her life and home in Cuba. Her yearning is so strong that she makes some dangerous decisions trying to do hr part to get Castro out of power and gets involved with the CIA. After that her life is filled with danger and her quest for revenge and desire to reclaim the life she lost. She believes that Castro killed her twin brother and she wants revenge for this death. During the same time period, Beatrix meets a man who consumes her dreams and who is engaged and totally out of her league in society.
As the Cold War continues, Beatrix must make a decision between her quest for revenge and her desire to spend her life with the man she loves.
This was a wonderful intriguing story and the author did very detailed research of this time period to make it even more realistic. The character of Beatrix is fantastically written with her desires for revenge and love at odds with each other.
Note: This can be read as a stand-alone with no confusion but the first book is so good that you really don’t want to miss it.
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.
I loved Next Year In Havana and was so happy to hear that the Ms. Cleeton was writing Beatriz’s story. When We Left Cuba did not disappoint! I loved Beatriz’s story and how courageous and brave she is. After the Perez family escapes to Florida, all Beatriz can think of is going home to Cuba and making Fidel pay for her twin brother’s murder. Beatriz’s story is full of mystery, romance, and lots of bravery. I couldn’t put it down and needed to know what would happen next. I received an advanced readers copy from Goodreads and Berkley Books. All opinions are my own.
This is the perfect follow up to Next Year in Havana. Chanel Cleeton has hit this one out of the park. I adored this novel and high recommend. Her fans are in for a true treat!