I jumped right back into a Chanel Cleeton read after I loved The Last Train to Key West. This one did not disappoint! I’m always going to be a sucker for historical fiction that also has a good romance tied in
Rating: 4.5/5 stars. The story flip flops between the perspective of Elisa Perez in 1958 and her granddaughter Marisol in 2017. I really loved Elisa’s story way more than the granddaughter’s, so I felt a little aggravated by how much air time the granddaughter received. It’s a personal problem, I know. Great, great story though. I also really wanted to know more about Beatriz, Elisa’s sister and Marisol’s great-aunt. It felt like there was a lot to unpack in her story and I felt like it would’ve been worth unpacking. Her character is very intriguing and I wish we had learned more about her.
Summary: Elisa is 19 years old and is living in a time where there is a lot of political unrest in Cuba. Even though her family is wealthy, they begin to feel the effect of what is happening Cuba. In the midst of all the chaos, Elisa meets a man that changes everything as she knows it. He challenges her in what her and her family stands for and her family begins to unravel further.
In the flash forward to Elisa’s granddaughter, Marisol returns to Cuba to spread her grandmother’s ashes. Elisa and her family left Cuba decades ago vowing to return after Castro died, but Castro did not pass until after Elisa’s death. Elisa goes to Cuba excited to learn more about her family and the place that they grew up in and to learn more about her heritage, but she uncovers secrets that she wasn’t quite prepared to deal with while in Cuba.
For Fans Of: Any historical fiction fans!
Favorite Character: Elisa was definitely my favorite character. It would be hard not to like her! I wish she could have returned to Cuba with her granddaughter.
Where to Order: Parnassus has plenty of copies for only $15. Click here to get a copy of your own today!
Mary Spencer Veazey 