When the Cuban Revolution forces Beatriz and the Perez family to flee Havana, they rebuild their lives in Florida. Leaving with very little, her father is intent on reestablishing himself in the profitable sugar industry, while her mother obsesses with her daughters finding a husband. Beatriz is set solely on revenge. The devastating anger over the loss of her twin brother, many friends and fortunes, torture her every breath. Beatriz finds the perfect solution when she is recruited by the CIA and given an opportunity to make a difference. Her dream to return to Cuba and the life they left behind lies at her fingertips. A dangerous love affair with a well known senator further complicates her family’s ambitions and sets the reader on a page turning adventure through history.

I really think I should have read Next Year in Havana before reading this one. Maybe I would have been able to connect with it more.

The story was good, maybe a bit too political for me, but still good. I thought that Beatriz was a good character to read about. A little reckless but still relatable. I enjoyed reading about her and the CIA and getting into a relationship with Nick. I also enjoyed the lies and games here.

All in all, while this book was enjoyable. I just think it should let you knew that it kind of spins from Next Year in Havana.

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 evernmore, as Beatriz is now one of my favorite book characters ever. 5 Stars.

The book was okay. I didn't connect with the characters as I had with the previous book. I do appreciate how Cleeton describes her settings.

Even though I was not able to connect with the characters, and in turn with the story, I do believe that it is a book I would recommend to my patrons.

4.5 stars, rounded up
When We Left Cuba picks up in time after Next Year in Havana. The Perez family, part of the Cuban sugar aristocracy, has landed in Palm Beach after the Cuban Revolution. Once again, Cleeton does a great job of combining an engaging story with a real feel for the time and place. This is historical fiction done right. Cleeton knows how to weave historic facts into the story in a seamless manner.
This sequel focuses on a different Perez daughter. Driven by revenge, Beatriz Perez makes contact with the CIA in an effort to return to Cuba and assassinate Castro. "It's strange to realize someone is your nemesis, and yet to them, you are little more than a faint murmur in the background of their lives."
NYIH employed the two storyline, dual time frame approach. Here, it's a single story, straightforward approach, which I prefer. And while there is romance, it is not the whole story, far from it. We get politics, espionage, family and social issues as well.
Beatriz is a fully formed character. Young, but in some ways an old soul because of what she has lived through. Although having written that, at times her recklessness made her age very much apparent. The two men in her life, Nick and Eduardo, were equally well formed and interesting, diverse characters.
I loved NYIH, but I think I preferred this book.
My thanks to netgalley and Berkley Books for an advance copy of this novel.

Five 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 it 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! Thank you to the publisher for providing me a copy of this book!

After the Cuban Revolution, the Perez family lost everything.. Suffering from the loss of her brother (not a spoiler), Beatriz joins the CIA to infiltrate Fidel Castro's inner circle to avenge her loss.. She is now involved in a dangerous mission... While consumed by anger and revenge, her heart also falls for the wrong man...

What I love so much about Cleeton's novels are while they are definitely romance novels, they are so informative. I learned so much about Cuba and its history through Next Year in Havana. After reading <When We Left Cuba>, I learned ever more, especially about when Castro completely took over and the Cold War. My lack of knowledge ashamed me a bit. I think foreigners only want to focus on the pretty and the exotic things of tropical islands and tend to overlook the dark history. So, this novel was a breath of fresh air.

The novel is well-paced, going back and forth from past and present.. The love story, so heart-breaking, so dangerous. I loved this book so much and hope that many love it as much as I did!

The continuation of the Perez family's story from Next Year in Havana,though this is basically Beatriz' story. After Castro takes over Cuba, the Perez family departs for exile in Palm Beach, FL. They are hoping it's all temporary and they'll soon be back on their beautiful island. Things in Cuba turn from bad to worst as the Cuban Revolution takes hold. Beatriz resists her mother's designs to find her a rich & well connected husband and ends up as a spy working for the CIA with the help of her childhood friend Eduardo. She also makes the acquaintance of Senator Nick Preston who becomes the love of her life, even though they often find themselves on opposites sides of the political table. I truly enjoyed Ms. Cleeton's descriptive writing. There was the perfect amount of romance involved for my taste. The story offered a great insight into the Cuban Missile crisis, Bay of Pigs and the Cold War. As someone who lived in the Miami area for 16 years, this story gave me a great insight into the story of the Cuban exile. Thank you to the author for the ARC, the opinions are my own.

This book was SO GREAT. I loved every second of reading it, I think that Chanel Cleeton is a new auto-buy author for me. I hope everyone else loves it when it comes out.

Last year, Chanel Cleeton had Next Year in Havana, which I loved. It was a moving romantic story and the history was so interesting. When We Left Cuba was just as enthralling of a read. As with Next Year in Havana, Cleeton presented the history, culture, and politics of Cuba so elegantly. I was drawn in by all the history and felt that I have learned a lot in reading these two.

This book focuses on Beatriz Perez, who we encountered in NYIH. She is so strong, brave, and patriotic in all her life choices. She wasn't the sort of character who would be happy just sitting on the sideline as her country was being taken into ruin by Fidel Castro. She wanted to be in the action and help return Cuba to what it had been.

I liked the relationship between Beatriz and Nicholas, a US senator, who she meets early on in the story. Their attraction to each other was immediate but you just knew that they were both in situations that wouldn't allow them to be together.

This book packed a punch just like Cleeton's other book and I can't wait to see if she writes more about these characters in the future.

I would be a liar if I told you that I didn't know going into When We Left Cuba that it would be a book that I would love with all my heart. Last year, Chanel Cleeton completely won me over with her historical debut, Next Year in Havana. It was poignant, romantic and so interesting. When We Left Cuba was just as enthralling of a read. I loved it so much - it is easily one of my favorite books of 2019.

This book focuses on Beatriz Perez, who we encountered in her sister's book. I was intrigued by Beatriz' character in Next Year in Havana, so I was over the moon that Chanel Cleeton chose to shine a light on her here. What an absolutely magnetic character she was! Strong, brave, and patriotic beyond words would be the words that I would primarily choose to describe this powerhouse of a personality. Her independence and her strong roots to Cuba were a source of intense admiration and fear for this reader. Her thirst for revenge could have easily made her a difficult character to fully appreciate, but the author does a beautiful job at making you see Beatriz' point of view. She wasn't the sort of character who would be happy just sitting on the sideline as her country was being taken into ruin by Fidel Castro. She wanted to be in the middle of the action, fighting alongside the men for her country. Everything about Beatriz was absolutely compelling and I have to thank Chanel for writing her an evocative story.

Romance readers will also be happy to know that there is a romance in When We Left Cuba. Fair warning, it's not a straightforward romance and it is not the focus of the story, but I loved it with every fiber of my being. Beatriz meets Nicholas, a US senator, at an elegant soiree where his cousin proposes to her. Their attraction to each other was immediate but they were both in precarious situations that wouldn't allow for them to be a happy couple. They clashed a lot, but underneath it all there was so much passion and mutual respect for each other. Their relationship made me ache. It was heartbreaking and made me feel so much to the point that I wished they had met under better circumstances. Their connection with each other throughout their stolen moments was that palpable. Like I said When We Left Cuba isn't a romance novel, but it was nice that there was something so beautiful to satisfy the romantic in me. As with Next Year in Havana, Cleeton presented the history, culture, and politics of Cuba so elegantly. Though I am a reader who reads predominantly for entertainment, I always appreciate when a book can teach me a few things and this series has certainly provided me with some interesting knowledge of Cuba.

Books are so incredible. I love how a few hundred pages are able to pack so much emotion and intensity. When We Left Cuba was a story full of passion, feeling, and rich history. It's a story that I highly recommend because it's one I know I will find myself re-reading. Chanel Cleeton is at her peak with romantic historical fiction and I cannot wait to see what she has in store up her sleeves!

“Men go off to war and are lauded heroes for sacrificing their lives for their country, for their dedication and patriotism. But women—why are our ambitions designed to end in marriage and motherhood? If we want something else, if our talents lie elsewhere, why isn’t that dedication equally praised and respected?”

This story had as much glitz, glamour, and intrigue as I hoped! We got a glimpse of Beatriz Perez in Next Year In Havana and I immediately wanted to know her story. Whereas NYIH anchored a past storyline within the context of its present day heroine, When We Left Cuba largely centers on a 20-something Beatriz living in Palm Beach, Florida in the early 1960s and then gives us brief glimpses of her on November 26, 2016, the day Fidel Castro died. The structure works well.

The past storyline is written in first person present, while the present day (2016) storyline is written in 3rd person present, to great effect. I don’t always notice which tense is being used, unless it’s not done well, but I noticed here and it allowed the story to breathe in some interesting ways. We’re right there in Beatriz’s world as she adjusts to living in the US after her family had to flee Cuba but when we’re brought back to the present, we’re at a bit of remove, as she is too. She’s figuring out not only how she feels about Castro’s death, but about all the things that happened in her life leading up to this day.

Beatriz is such a vibrant, gutsy character and I absolutely adored her. She is so confident about what she wants out of life, no matter what her family or society says. She’s resolved and she goes after what she wants and what she wants is revenge for her twin brother’s murder under Fidel Castro’s regime.

I could not get enough of this story, even though on the surface it has one of my reading dealbreakers: infidelity. When Beatriz and Nick meet, they are undeniably drawn to one another. The only catch: he announces his engagement the same night they meet. It’s a society wedding and they both know the score, although Beatriz is mostly going on his word and the way he and his fiancée are never together. But Cleeton handled this aspect with such compassion and nuance and the characters reckon with their decisions in a way that felt honest and true.

It was fascinating to see Kennedy’s election and assassination and the Bay of Pigs crisis from a Cuban lens. The focus on dictators at that time and all the intrigue behind the scenes, especially the vying powers, has a lot of lessons for us now in the present. The spying aspects didn’t always seem realistic but it never detracted from my enjoyment of the story. Beatriz has a lot to make sense of and often has to react on the fly and I loved the way she was able to rise to the occasion, no matter what. Plus, I’d never considered how a socialite could make a perfect spy but it made perfect sense.

One of my favorite aspects of this book was how adamant Beatriz was about not wanting to get married or have kids and that she so clearly has no regrets later. She lives life on her own terms and this was so refreshing to see. The ending was deeply satisfying and I sure would not mind getting another book about her adventures. I also hope the reference at the end to Isabella Perez and her corsair is a clue for Cleeton’s next story. It sounds fascinating!

Beatriz is definitely the most interesting character in this series. I loved how it challenged notions of what women were supposed to do at the time. The book is at times unexpected and scandalous but also so very human.

nother amazing historical fiction! When We Left Cuba by Chanel Cleeton is the follow up to her brilliant novel, Next Year in Havana. You are going to love this one! Another incredible story featuring Beatriz Perez.

Here is what you must know about this book:

The Cuban Revolution took 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.

The author does such a fantastic job of painting a brilliant picture of Cuba, she writes characters that feel real, and you cannot help but get swept up in this story. It’s the perfect book to read all weekend.

Set during the tumultuous Cuban revolution, Beatriz discovers the courage and resilience she has after losing her homeland and way of life. Politics extend into a romance and continues to forge her path as you follow her on this suspenseful and personal journey.

4.5 Stars!

"Is this love? Who has time to worry about such things? At the moment, it is everything, and that's all that matters."

"He kisses like a man living on borrowed time, as the though the coming war will steal his remaining days from him, and he knows it. He kisses without guilt or reservation, the legendary skills I've heard whispered about in power rooms clearly not exaggerated one bit."

"In another life, we might have been magnificent together."

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....

*I was provided an ARC copy of this book via the publisher and NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review*

Fascinating historical novel by the author of Next Year in Havana. I loved the glimpses of vintage Florida and Cuba in this book.

I requested this book as background reading as we will be promoting it on BookBrowse in a promotion agreed with Berkley marketing. Personally, I thought this book was weaker than her first, but my opinion is irrelevant to the First Impressions promotion - as it is based on the opinions of BookBrowse members who received a copy of the book to review - and they are liking it - with an average score of 4.0 out of 5.

Cleeton has created a strong and interesting character with Beatriz Perez in When We Left Cuba. I would have been happy to continue reading about her adventures.

There’s SO much to love about these stories and I think one of the reasons why I couldn’t put NYIH down was because it reminded me of what my family is going through in Bolivia. Because of the corrupt government, many people are protesting on the streets and trying to stop their country from becoming utterly unrecognizable. The Bolivia of my childhood (I spent three months out of the year there, every year until I turned 18) is long gone and in its place is fear, danger, drugs, corruption, kidnappings, and the loss of security for the future. NYIH was a sober reminder of how a country can lose its people in a mass exodus—not unlike what happened to Venezuela. The culture of Venezuela, what made it unique and intrinsically theirs is gone. It’s heartbreaking and I fear Bolivia slowly marches toward that same fate. There’s so much worth saving and I hope the current President/Dictator will FINALLY step down.
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Wow, I didn’t mean to get super political in this post but I guess that what’s books do—they pull us in and remind us that fiction isn’t too far from real life. I highly recommend this series—and on a lighter note the romance is swoooooooooooony. ❤️
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