The first person narrator, Beatriz, is embroiled in the emotions and politics of wealthy Palm Beach Cubans in 1960 who have been forced to leave everything behind in Havana, including the grave of her beloved twin brother, a casualty of Castro's revolution. 'When We Left Cuba: A Novel' is an excellent companion piece to Chanel Cleeton's previous novel, 'Next Year in Havana', although it easily stands alone. ' When We Left Cuba is a breathtaking book, and it captures what I love best about historical fiction.' - Camille Di Maio, author of The Way of Beauty 'Beatriz Perez's brand of vintage-Havana glamour dazzles with equal parts intrigue, rebellion, and romance to make for an unforgettable story.' - Elise Hooper, author of The Other Alcott When We Left Cuba swept me away.' - Shelley Noble, New York Times bestselling author of Lighthouse Beach. 'A compelling unputdownable story of love - for a man, for a country, for a past ripped away, and a future's tenuous promise. 'Rich in historic detail, When We Left Cuba has it all - the excitement of a page-turning thriller, the sizzle of a steamy romance and the elegant prose of a master storyteller.' - Renée Rosen, author of Park Avenue Summer Take a bow, Chanel Cleeton!' - Hazel Gaynor, New York Times bestselling author of The Lighthouse Keeper's Daughter 'Oozing with atmosphere and intrigue, When We Left Cuba is an evocative, powerful and beautifully written historical novel which had me completely captivated from the first page to the last. 'A beautiful and utterly transporting novel.'-Publisher's Weekly 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.

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.Īs 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. The Cuban Revolution took everything from sugar heiress Beatriz Perez - her family, her people, her country.

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.

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