I became a huge fan of Chanel Cleeton's writing in late 2018 when I picked up a copy of Next Year in Havana. Ever since then, I've kept an eye out for her new releases and even purchased a few of her backlist titles. Her writing is deep and affecting, never shying away from tough topics but also managing to infuse some moments of joy into even the bleakest of stories. Her latest novel, The Last Train to Key West, serves as a prime example of everything I've come to love about this author's work.

This is the story of three very different women whose lives intersect on Labor Day weekend in in 1935 as a hurricane is bearing down on Key West. Each of them is grappling with an enormous change in her life, and I loved watching them come to a deeper understanding of how they fit into the world. Their stories have little in common with one another, but their struggles are so easy to relate to, even if you've never walked in their shoes.

Helen has lived her whole life in Key West, and though she sometimes dreams of something more than waiting tables in a diner and doing her best to stave off her husband's volatile rages, she has never really thought she could do much to affect her own existence. But after a particularly brutal beating, Helen knows she has to make a change, if not for herself, then for the safety of her unborn child. So, with the help of a veteran of the Great War, a man with a kind and gentle spirit with secrets of his own to hide, Helen sets off on a journey that will change her life in unimaginable ways.

For Mirta, a young bride on her honeymoon, life has been a series of upheavals. The Cuban Revolution of 1933 left her once wealthy family in difficult circumstances, and Mirta consented to marry a stranger in hopes of offering those she loves a better life. Unfortunately, her new husband seems to be involved in some rather shady business dealings, and Mirta has begun to once again fear for her safety. She hopes her honeymoon will provide her the opportunity to really get to know the stranger she's just married, but it soon becomes clear some of his business associates mean the newlyweds harm.

Elizabeth is a disgraced socialite, desperate to locate the brother who went missing after World War I ended. She's heard rumors of the horrible living conditions many veterans are forced to endure in the camps not far from Key West, so she boards a train and travels across the country to find him. What she finds when she sets foot in the first of the three camps she learns about will forever change her views of the United States government and those whom the system has turned its back on.

The lives of Helen, Mirta, and Elizabeth collide as people up and down the Florida coast do their best to prepare for the massive hurricane that will soon be upon them. Survival isn't a sure thing, but our three heroines are unwilling to give up in the face of hardship. Each is fighting for someone or something she loves deeply, and this novel is a testament to the true power of love in all its many forms.

I had no idea how horribly soldiers were treated after returning home from fighting overseas at the end of the First World War. Many men weren't paid the money they were owed, and the government sent them to Key West in an attempt to keep them out of the public eye. This is not a piece of history I was taught in school, so this novel opened my eyes, prompting me to do more research into this topic. This is what I love most about historical fiction, the ability to learn things I never knew in an enjoyable and meaningful way.

I wouldn't classify this novel as a romance. Each woman does find love at the end, but the romantic elements of the plot take a bit of a back seat to the social and political turmoil of the day, not to mention the impending danger of the hurricane. Even so, I think romance lovers will find quite a bit of fulfillment here as long as quieter, more understated love stories aren't a problem for you.

To say this novel was sometimes hard to read would be a massive understatement. There's so much pain and heartache contained in these pages, but it's a book I want everyone to pick up just the same. It's a story that will transport you to another time and place, a story that will teach you some difficult truths even as it delights and entertains you. The characters feel incredibly authentic and their stories are compelling enough to keep you reading even though the subject matter will sometimes make you uncomfortable.

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I loved Chanel Cleeton’s last two books and her newest didn’t disappoint. I was quickly swept up into the stories of three different women in the Florida Keys, each searching for different things, with a hurricane looming ominously on the horizon.

Cleeton’s plucky heroines each struggled against challenges that faced women back in the 1930s (and sadly still today). We follow Helen who is nine months pregnant and fearful of her abusive husband, Mirta who is newly wed to a stranger and on her honeymoon, and Elizabeth who has run away from New York City in search of someone who may be able to help her and her family. As the hurricane comes closer, the stakes are raised for the women.

I didn’t know anything about the 1935 Labor Day hurricane prior to reading this book. It was eye-opening to hear how the US government treated the World War I veterans after the war and to read about the horrible conditions at the work camps in the Florida Keys. These men fought for their country and were rewarded by being shipped off to the ends of the country, where they would be out of sight of voters. And then they were not evacuated in time and hundreds of these men died in the hurricane.

Cleeton’s descriptions of the Keys and the storm are so evocative. I could see it all so clearing in my head while reading it. Also this cover is gorgeous! *swoons*

Review posted on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3375881271
Review posted on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CBOFAtbAczj/
Publishing Day post will be posted on Instagram @ablondebooknerd on 6/16

I have been a fan of Chanel Cleeton’s ever since reading Next Year in Havana. It is one of my most recommended books, even now, and I am so happy to say that The Last Train to Key West not only lives up to that book, it is now my favourite of all her stories.

The story is based on real-life events, taking place over a week before and after Labour Day in 1935, when a catastrophic hurricane strikes the Keys. It follows 3 very different women as they prepare for, battle and then recover from the storm. Their stories are woven together so beautifully and the story is tied together perfectly at the end. I loved all three women, the men alongside them and the rich history and culture that Chanel included throughout. The amount of research done for this novel is apparent and she delivers facts about that time in history without them feeling stale or boring.

This is a beautiful story with incredible characters, an interesting storyline and the added layer of being based on true events. You definitely do NOT need to read her previous books before reading Key West, but I highly recommend all three.

Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley and Chanel Cleeton for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. The Last Train to Key West will be released June 16th, 2020.

Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book. I was really excited to get this one because I loved Next Year in Havana and enjoyed When We Left Cuba. This book, The Last Train to Key West, did not disappoint. It was a perfect read for me at this time. It's a feel-good book that I would classify as a historical romance.

A little on expectations: Do not go into this book expecting a deep history about the veterans from this time. They are a part of the book but they are not at the center of it. This book is about three women who are in Key West for different reasons and their love stories. I thought the three women's lives were going to connect in a bigger way but they stayed pretty separate. They came in contact with each other but they didn't become part of one story in the end - they had separate stories the entire time, just set in mainly the same place. But I still enjoyed how they connected at the end.

I would recommend this book to those who enjoy historical romances! It was a page turner for me.

What a beautiful cover. What a beautiful story. I love these 3 women. So strong and such a great story

This was my first Chanel Cleeton and I found it really enjoyable! Set in the Florida Keys in 1935, this novel is told through the perspectives of three different women, each facing different challenges as their lives converge post WWI in Key West.

While The Last Train to Key West is historical fiction and centers on a few lesser-known events in 1930s Florida (not naming the events because I want to keep this spoiler free!), the story reads like a well-paced mystery, with just the right bit of romance. I was left guessing the details of what was really going on with each character and how everyone was connected until the very end. Enjoyed the growth in each woman's story over the course of the book. A compulsive page-turner that makes for the perfect summer read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Pub for this advanced readers copy. Full reviews at https://www.instagram.com/allthelovelylit/

The Last Train to Key West is likely to be one of my favorite books of the summer, hands-down. I HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommend you pre-order this! It’s pub date is June 16, so coming up! Thank you to Berkley Publishing, Chanel Cleeton and NetGalley for this E-Arc in exchange for my unbiased review. I’ve never been so excited to receive a particular arc before!

The Last Train to Key West, by Cuban-American author Chanel Cleeton, tells the story of three very different women, how their stories unexpectedly connect them and how they try to survive the Great Labor Day Hurricane that hit the Florida Keys in 1935. Full of romance, history, strong female leads, and more—this book is truly captivating.

I have been to Key West a few times and am familiar with the hurricane that hit the Keys in 1935. Cleeton brought it to a completely new level though. Her prose and imagery are legitimately superb and it’s clearly evident in her reading how much time and care she put in her research to make this story historically accurate. As I was reading, I felt like I could smell the saltwater, taste the key lime pie and feel the ocean breeze on my face. It was the perfect quarantine escape. Each character out of the main 6 (particularly the three women who are the narrators) are so multi-dimensional and admirable. I wanted to know each of them and by the end, I felt like I really did. I could not put this book down. It’s the perfect summer read!

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I loved this book. Parts of this book were an Ode to Cuba and I loved hearing the authors' respect and love for Cuba come through in another one of her books. I liked all 3 characters in this story and although they have their own challenges, they are all struggling with the storm in their own way. This is an ideal beach read and perfect for summer!

I fell in love with Chanel Cleeton’s stories when I read Next Year in Havana. She accurately portrayed so many of my experiences as a Cuban-American.
The Last Train to Key West follows three different characters, Helen, Mirta and Elizabeth. They’re all strong women in some non ideal situations and they take a risk to change their lives it all unfolds in the middle of a hurricane.
This book was a great pool read for me, I quickly read it in an afternoon but if i’m being completely honest, the characters felt a little two dimensional for me and it seemed that their happiness was at times contingent on a guy.
There is a fascinating storyline with war veterans that i wish would’ve been explored more. This was a solid read for summer but not my favorite of Cleeton’s novels.

This book is about three women all at a crossroads in their lives. Helen is married, pregnant, and a very unhappy woman living with a very abusive husband. Mirta is newly married and has just arrived in America with her new husband, who she barely knows. Lastly there is Elizabeth, she is a flirty young woman who has traveled from New York to Key West in search of the man in the letter. With a hurricane on its way to Key West, things are undoubtedly going to get shaken up and all three of these women’s lives will never be the same!

I found the first half of this book to be a bit slow. There was a lot of character development and I wasn’t connecting with these three women as much as I hoped I would. About halfway through things really picked up with the hurricane approaching. It was intense and addicting! Unfortunately once the hurricane died down so did the story.

It all wrapped up quite nicely and it was interesting to see how all these women’s lives were interwoven in the end. This is one of my favorite genres and my second book by Chanel Cleeton. While this story did not knock my socks off I did enjoy it and look forward to her next book!

The Last Train to Key West by Chanel Cleeton is an historical fiction novel set in the Florida Keys in 1935. Just before a tremendous hurricane hits the area, three women have a chance meeting in Key West. Helen is a waitress, pregnant and abused by her husband. Mirta, from Cuba, just married a connected man through an arrangement with her family. Elizabeth is searching for her brother to help save her family after being ruined financially from the Crash of 1929.
I truly enjoyed how the author blended each of these stories, along with the devastating hurricane, together to create one improbable but endearing ending. I couldn't put it down!
Ms. Cleeton is quickly becoming one of my favorite historical fiction authors. I've loved all three of her books so far.
Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing for an advanced copy in return for an honest review.

Chanel Cleeton was added to my favorite author list after I read Next Year in Havana earlier this year, but I daresay I may have liked The Last Train to Key West even better. I loved how this book focused on a specific historical event - the Labor Day hurricane of 1935. It was very well researched and combined with the fictional stories of three amazing women.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for my review copy. I VERY MUCH enjoyed this book and will definitely recommend it to my fellow historical fiction lovers.

I was beyond exhilarated when I was granted access to an early copy of this book, as it was one of my most anticipated novels of 2020. And now, days later, I find myself still thinking of the story, and feeling deeply for the characters. This is a book that I won’t soon forget, and one that has certainly left its mark on me.

Chanel Cleeton is a talented storyteller, and her skills are excellently showcased once again in this novel, as she breathes history to life during a difficult period in time.

Set in 1935, The Last Train To Key West begins just days before The Great Labor Day Hurricane. This was a turbulent time in history, as the country was still reeling from the devastation of WWI and the impact of The Great Depression is still hard hitting. So many people during this period in time had so little, and the hardship can really be felt in places throughout this novel.

The three main characters’ paths first intertwine in Key West at Ruby’s Diner, where we meet these young women whose lives will be changed by the horrific event about to occur. The story, as it unfolds, is then told from the three different points of views, giving us a glimpse into all of their lives and the events as they unfold.

The three women are: Mirta, Helen, and Elizabeth.

Mirta is a previously well off young Cuban woman whose family lost money, power, and property to the Castro regime. She arrives for a honeymoon with her new husband, who she is in an arranged marriage with. Her husband is a man she barely knows, and she agreed to marry him because he is willing to help her family out of their financial situation. Her viewpoint is a turbulent one, and its intriguing following her journey as she navigates her way out of her marriage.

Helen is my favorite character out of the three women. She’s nine months pregnant and has been through very tough and brutal times with her husband, who leaves her bruised and battered more often than not. Naturally, due to her husband’s abusive nature, she fears for the life of her unborn baby, as well as her own. She’s a waitress at the local cafe and a favorite among the customers. There’s a quiet railroad man who stops by the cafe frequently for key lime pie, and he ends up playing an unexpected role in her life. Is he the golden ticket to a way out of Key West and the life that she is living? I loved their interactions together, and I just really enjoyed reading her chapters overall.

Elizabeth, whose family is struggling due to the Wall Street crash as her father and brother were stockbrokers, is a mysterious, unique character. Despite the fact that she is already engaged, she has traveled from New York to Key West, in search of a man who is working on the railroad.

The hurricane hits them all differently, but their lives will never be the same.

This was such an excellently penned, and obviously very well researched book. Chanel Cleeton breathed so much life into it. The characters were all so fleshed out and realistic. The hardships and struggles of the characters and how they must have felt during that period in time came alive through the words on the pages. The rugged beauty of the island landscape came to life right before my eyes. I could practically feel the destructive force of the hurricane ripping through the pages. Chanel Cleeton is such a talented storyteller, and has quickly become one of my favorite historical writers.

The writing was fluid, and I breezed right through this book, easy as an island breeze, rooting for all of the characters the entire way through. I think this was Chanel Cleeton’s strongest book yet!

I highly recommend this to anybody who likes historical fiction novels that are well researched, with romance thrown in. So good!

This will go down as another one of my top favorites this year! The previous books I've read by Chanel Cleeton were amazing and this one is no different. I absolutely loved the 3 women (Mirta, Elizabeth and Helen) in this story and could not stop reading because I had to find out what happened to them! I loved the way their stories intertwined. I loved how they were all strong and they all did what they needed to do. Sometimes when I read a book with more than one character's perspective I prefer one over the other but that was not the case with The Last Train to Key West.

There's romance, suspense and drama...all wrapped up in this 5 Star book that you need to read right now!

This author never ceases to blow me away with her amazing stories. Stories that transport you back in tome to another world, another place and another time. When women were still viewed as less than a world very much in turmoil.

Her endearing characters are so real, so raw, and so darn relatable. You want to know them, you feel like they are friends and most of all, you end up caring greatly for them by the time their story is over.

This time her story takes us to Key West in the lives of three very different woman and the story takes place over a long Labor Day weekend during a time in our history much of the world has forgotten about during a storm, many remember. A story about three woman who are even though they are different, are still very much the same. All struggling to make something of themselves and to be different, to be strong and independent and most of all, to be happy with their life and choices.

I adored all these women. Their heartache was my heartache and their joy, my joy. I became so invested in their future and I wanted only the best for them. I truly loved every single page of their stories and I couldn't of asked for a better ending for them all.

I love this author and she has quickly become a favorite and for good reason. She truly is talented at all that she writes and knows how to make a story, to make characters, come to life.

Chanel Cleeton author of "The Last Train to Key West" has written an amazing, captivating, riveting, intriguing, and memorable novel. The Genres are Historical Fiction, and Romance, with a touch of suspense and mystery. The timeline for this story is in the 1930s just after the Cuban Revolution, and around the Great Depression. This also takes place during the worst Hurricane in the Key West. Many men have been in the Great War. The story goes to the past when it pertains to the characters and events. The author describes her colorful and dramatic cast of characters as complex, and complicated.

I love everything about this novel and I love the author"s vivid descriptions of the characters, scenery, and plot.  Who doesn't like characters such as gang members, soldiers, criminals, strong and determined women, and the F.B.I.? Put them all together and you have a fabulous cast of characters!

The Key West in the 1930s had people who wanted to find themselves, and those who wanted to get lost. There are contrasts between wealth and poverty,  good and evil, right and wrong, and rules for survivors. There are twists and turns. Chanel Cleeton has put the pieces in her story, and the reader gets to see the finished puzzle.

Three women, all strangers get to meet one another. Each has their own unique set of problems and challenges. Somehow the Key West connects them as does the terrible Hurricane that causes much destruction. I highly recommend this thought-provoking novel to readers who enjoy Historical Fiction.

Last Train to Key West:

While yes, I received an ARC of this book, it is THAT good that I pre-ordered it because I wanted a physical copy. I also ordered it for a few friends because it deserves to be read.

The Last Train to Key West follows three women: Helen, Mirta, and Elizabeth as they go through one of the worst hurricanes our nation has ever seen. They all have their own personal storms to weather while trying to stay alive during The Labor Day hurricane of 1935.

You know when you see a car accident about to happen, but you can’t look away? That’s how I felt about this, in a good way. I knew it was one of the most catastrophic hurricanes to date. I knew there would be destruction and chaos. I knew the lives of these women that I am now invested in would change. But, I couldn’t stop and put down the book. I had to know if they survived. I actually found myself holding my breath as I read each daunting page of when the hurricane made landfall. Cleeton wrote such haunting descriptions of the storm that I could physically feel myself forgetting to breathe as I feared the worst for these fictional characters.

Chanel Cleeton’s writing is beautiful. The way words are strung together to form sentences with such ease, yet, such beauty is spellbinding. I was sucked in by the writing, and stayed for the beautiful plot. Honestly, I never thought I would have compassion for a mobster, but here i stood thinking of a couple name for Mirta and Anthony. (Anthra/Mirtony?)

I knew a bit about The Labor Day Hurricane of 1935, but am glad Cleeton put her resources in the Author’s Note. I did find myself researching in between reads, and then reviewing the sources she cited after. I am also thankful she put a light on the veteran camps, as that is still such a taboo topic in our history.

This is a story of how beauty can happen even in the worst of times, you just have to look for it.

Thank you Berkley Publishing Group, NetGalley, and Chanel Cleeton for the ARC of The Last Train to Key West. It is more than appreciated. I know I may not have as many followers or subscribers as your normal reviewers, but am thankful for the opportunity. This review will be posted on Goodreads, Amazon, B&N, my blog, Instagram, and Facebook on publishing day.

Thoroughly enjoyed this quick, page-turning book. I loved Chanel's 2 previous books (Next Year in Havana & When We Left Cuba) and I loved this one too. It has the same historical elements, which I think is my favorite aspect of her books. This one is set in the 1930s, during the Depression and takes you through a few days in the life of 3 women. I loved how their paths crossed and I loved learning about Cuba and Florida during this time period. Veterans issues are woven throughout the plot and I think there are a lot of parallels in our society today. Overall a great read, especially for my history fans out there.

The Last Train to Key West is another beautifully-written and emotional historical fiction book by Chanel Cleeton. In this book she has woven together the lives of three women--a newlywed from Cuba married to a man she barely knows, a down-on-her-luck former socialite, and an expectant young mother who is stuck in an abusive marriage. The women find themselves in the direct path of a hurricane, threatening not only their lives but everything they hold dear, and somehow in that storm and its aftermath they must learn not only how to survive, but how to thrive and find happiness and hope. The hurricane is truly brought to life at the hands of the author, as I could feel the wind and the rain and the sand and the debris and devastation as well as the fear and desperation of the women and all of the inhabitants of that island. The best part of this book for me, though, was the intimate connection I felt to all of the women--Helen, Mirta, and Elizabeth--remarkable women facing unbeatable odds with courage and spirit.

LOVED LOVED Chanel Cleeton's newest novel! Of all of the Chanel Cleeton novels I have read, this one really stands out for me and I blew right through it. I couldn't put it down! This novel tells the story of the hurricane that hit Florida in 1935 on Labor Day weekend, and those who's lives will stay intertwined forever.

Each story was wrought with heartbreak, soul searching, and hardship. I loved watching each of the characters grow from the beginning to the end of the novel. Additionally, the way their stories all intertwined was SO good! No spoilers here, but some of them will have you dropping your jaw. Each character was complicated, yet you could empathize with them. Each had their own unique story and reason for being in the Florida Keys during the hurricane. Will definitely be recommending this as a summer beach read!