Hidden Cargo

by Robin Lloyd, Hector Carrillo (reader)

"A new seafaring novel by the author of Rough Passage to London and Harbor of Spies"--

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction

Audio CD

Published October 17, 2023

Reviews

[Mallory · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting historical fiction story, and one that took a small piece of history that I wasn’t familiar with which is always appreciated. Overall I thought that this book is for true history buffs, which to be fair I am not. When it started I had to double check it was a novel because it almost read like non-fiction. I found some of the dialogue awkward and overall just didn’t feel the characters were alive and wasn’t super invested. That being said I really appreciated the depth of the research that went into this story. I had no idea that after the civil war free Black people were kidnapped from America and brought to Cuba to be re-sold into slavery. It was barbaric and I was glad our narrator thought so, even if there was some awkwardness with his family history. I found the romance story to feel a bit unneeded and not developed enough, but I realized this book isn’t the first story with these characters so it probably was more important to those that read the first book. Overall I do think it is a well done historical fiction, just not quite to my won preference.

[Kelsey Rhodes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't read many historical fiction novels but, as a Navy Veteran, I hoped this one would be up my alley. I definitely wasn't disappointed. This book has it all. The intrigue and adventure that I look for in all my favorite books, as well as the military and water-borne adventure that the sailor in me loved. There was such a diversity of historical relevance and character depth and I really enjoyed it. Townsend worked as a character torn between duty and what is right. The time in which this story takes place is an especially divisive time in American history and the experience with the slave trade was handled masterfully. It also touches on the politics of the time and the unwillingness of the government to take valid accountability for these atrocities. Between all of this and the lush descriptions of the locations this story is one that keeps you roped in.

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A deeply emotional and poignant tale of the aftermath of the Civil War, slavery, and rebellion told exceptionally well!

Read full review in the 2023 April issue of InD'tale Magazine.

[Sheila Samuelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 5 Stars!!
Review:
Thank you to Bookish First for picking me to win this FREE ARC COPY in a Raffle on their website a few months ago!! This was my first time reading a Book by Robin Lloyd so i wasnt sure what to expect.

Essentially i wasnt sure i'd like this one since it was set in 1861-1866 Key West Florida and Havana Cuba during The Civil War but surprisingly i enjoyed this one very much and wasnt aware of that those areas were involved in The Civil War back then.

The Characters were interesting to read about. Navy Lieutenant Everett Townsend was my favorite by far as i really felt for him once he learned about his family's history with slavery.

The Setting was beautifully described which made me feel like i was actually in 1860s Key West Florida and Havana Cuba while reading especially when the scenery was described.

Overall an Enjoyable Civil War based Historical Fiction!! Can't wait to read more by Robin in the future!!

[Dana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel definitely covers some little known but interesting American and Cuban history. I was unaware that after the Civil War, freed slaves were kidnapped and sold to plantation owners in Cuba. This is a fictional story of Everett Townsend, a naval officer for the union who is assigned to investigate the slave trade in Cuba. He is determined to stop this atrocity after finding a sinking ship with slaves drowned in a locked hold just off the coast of Key West. However, Everett is conflicted by his own familial connection to the owning of slaves through his Cuban grandmother’s large sugar cane plantation and her wish that Everett take over the running of her enterprise.
I really appreciate the amount of research that went into this novel based on historical facts and that I now have better awareness of these events that took place after the Civil War. I didn’t enjoy the book as well as other reviewers as I found it bogged down with too many characters, unnecessary side stories and awkward dialogue. Including a romance between Everett and Emma added nothing to the story. I was really bored at times. I guess this just wasn’t the book for me but I’m glad that other readers liked it so much.
#BookishFirst #LyonsPress

[Dale Dewitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this novel of Historical Fiction. The author does a very good job of not only creating a vivid landscape of Key West and Havana just after the Civil War but shows the tensions and challenges that the end of the war brought. I had not read the previous book but I did not feel lost. as this novel stands on its own just fine. The characters have emotion and you get attached to some of their struggles. The only bone of contention for me was the ending, as it seemed to try to wrap too many things up and was almost "too convenient" I liken it to the end of "Huckleberry Finn" that seemed to conclude all issues quickly and neatly. Overall well worth a read!

[Letstalkbooksyall · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting part of history is explored in this book.
I have always found Historical Fiction a bit heavy, but I go for them as they can have a great story and also, you can learn something. This book is more for readers inclined towards historical fiction than for someone like me who only sometimes picks this genre.
I got an advanced copy from BookishFirst.

[Jeneane Vanderhoof · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recently I was on the bus in Cleveland and while getting on, since it was so hot, I had just walked up a hill, and my blood pressure problems- I must have looked like I was about to faint (and I probably would have, had it been a little hotter and walking a little further uphill)- Concerned, a black gentleman inquired if I was going to be alright and in a serious (albeit a little funny- in a way), got ready to call an ambulance if I needed one. This led to a conversation about the long wait for medical attention in Cleveland.

How the conversation segwayed into the next topic I will never remember but, he began to speak about how many African Americans are racist against Americans with white skin. This led me and how I hate, at times, to apologize for those ignorant in my race, not that I do this all the but certain situations, embarrassed by the things someone has done or said to and about others not like themselves; but something else he spoke about during the conversation stayed with me- especially as I read Hidden Cargo, by Robin Llyod.

He told me that when he speaks with other African Americans and they seem to convey that all white people are racist- he reminds them that, long ago, when there was a fight to see slavery abolished, many white people had to help along the way, for this to even be done. And, that I was reminded of this, that there are other whites like me, who don’t judge a person based on anything other than the person they are, the actions they take and the decisions they make- that these whites were here hundreds of years ago with these attitudes- Hidden Cargo is a book about one such person and his story, a Lieutenant Everett Townsend, who fought in the Civil War, in the Navy- all so that slavery would be ended, something he had witnessed firsthand, in his own family (albeit not one he was a part of), on his grandmothers sugar plantation in the Cuban countryside.

He had visited once, as a boy and what he had witnessed, these atrocities that he saw, changed his life forever. His mother also left Cuba, and the plantation, not just because of slavery, but for the mother who wanted to take her daughter's future for her own (a horrific story readers will be amazed by). Townsend’s grandmother and all readers learn, once he travels to the prosperous sugar plantation, that she is a hideous woman who cares for no one other than herself. But, when she tells her grandson a story, about how the slaves revolted on her family long ago, killing everyone and she was left all alone- while readers can understand where some of her hatred comes from, acknowledged, that she couldn't understand the reasons why a slave would want to revolt- for one, the loss of their family, when a slave owner decides that, for one reason or another, their slaves need to be sold- colors the narcissistic personality she prides herself for.

Before Townsend finds his way back to the sugar plantation in Cuba, a place he never thought to return to, he meets a black man named Jacob who, despite being freed now that the war is over, is looking for his sons, who have disappeared. Townsend suspects that they, like many other African Americans after the Civil War, have been kidnapped and re-sold into slavery- now in Cuba. The American government seems concerned about these kidnappings, when Townsend finds the remains of African Americans locked in a cargo hold of a ship that wrecked. Instead of freeing these men, as the others on the ship should have done, these the men were locked in and left to die. Townsend is determined to find out who has done these, left these men to die and who is kidnapping freed slaves, only to sell them again into slavery -in Cuba.

That is the only thing that would have brought Townsend back to the plantation his mother fled from, warning her son his whole life to stay away from the atrocity of slavery and her mother (his grandmother). And when Townsend spends time with his grandmother and learns of the things she has done to her daughter, his mother and many of the slaves on the plantation (some, who he finds out, are family)- he knows why his mother cursed her own mothers name, every time it was mentioned.

However the one thing they must watch for is that Jacob, in traveling with Townsend to Cuba and that he can easily be kidnapped there and taken into slavery. The country is very corrupt. To ensure this does not happen, the American government pays the Cuban government a $1,000 bond. Regardless if the money is paid or not, if Jacob’s two sons, who were sold before the emancipation proclamation and Civil War was won, may be there, Jacob will go- to the ends of the earth if he has to. As the last thing Jacob promised his wife before she died- that his boys would be found, that they would be together and free.

One day when his grandmother dies, the prosperous sugar plantation that could make Townsend a rich and powerful man does not matter- the fact remains that, if he had lived in a country that promoted slavery (Cuba), after he fought with his life to end it (in America’s Civil War), he would lose all respect for himself.

Also, the woman Townsend desires, Emma, a Cuban American daughter of a boarding house owner, is uncertain of her feelings for Townsend, until she finds out the truth of who he is and the passion he has for the freedom of all people. This is one that she shares and fights for. However, that she fights for a free Cuba while residing in Cuba- gets her into a lot of trouble. But with Townsend’s status as the grandson of a large prosperous plantation, along with his Navy position, with a lot of twisting of the truth- maybe, in the end, it will save them both and win her heart. In the meantime, Townsend has managed to free Emma from a terrible fate for her participation in crimes against the Cuban government- that is, saying anything that would change what the country is like.

Hidden Cargo is a book I hated to finish as I wanted to keep reading about Townsend and his adventures as long as I could. I only hope that Robin Lloyd finds another debacle for him to unravel as I loved the heart and soul of this character- the fight he puts up for those who can’t fight, necessarily, as well as he can, for themselves.

Happy Reading!

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book and liked the way the author wrote. I would certainly read another book by Robin Lloyd.

This is a novel set in 1865 after the war between the states. It's about a Naval Officer who finds deceased human cargo in the bowels of a stranded ship near Key West, Florida after a hurricane. He does the right thing and reports it but is stonewalled at every turn to try and solve this horrific crime against humanity.

He is sent to Cuba by the U.S. government to investigate the possibility of American citizens (since freed from slavery) being kidnapped and sold as slaves in Cuba. While in Cuba he reunites with a one-time girlfriend and his grandmother, who owns a sugar plantation.

The story keeps you wondering what's going to happen to the characters as the story unfolds. "Hidden Cargo" is a decent read and if you like history, rather fictional or real, you should like this book.

I received this book as an ARC (advanced reader copy) from BookishFirst.

[Haley Kilgour]

I got 105 pages in before dnf’ing.

Honestly, there’s nothing wrong with the story I just didn’t personally connect with the characters, nor did I feel particularly drawn in by the story.

Being a local to the Keys though, I loved seeing places I knew and being transported back in time.

[Haley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly Recommend for Historical Fiction Fans

This review is based on the First Look at BookishFirst, not the entire novel

This first look was very intriguing, it piqued my interest and left me wanting to read more. I am a fan of historical fiction, and this book is right up my alley as I live in Florida and am well aware of the dangers of a hurricane. I enjoyed the imagery and I felt as if I was on the ship with Townsend, scrambling to secure the ship in the middle of a relentless storm. This book is set just after the Civil War, with Townsend left to pick up the pieces of the Confederacy's loss. He is left wanting to leave the Dry Tortugas and be reunited with his love, Emma. He is also torn because his only remaining family wants him to come and live on a sugar plantation, though he is hesitant about the previous ties to slavery. After the storm clears, Townsend discovers a ship full of dead men, presumably on their way to the slave trade. He has to make a decision, will he pursue the evil that left 10 men for dead, or will he serve out the rest of his Navy time and go back to being a civilian.
This first look was very intriguing, it piqued my interest and left me wanting to read more. I am a fan of historical fiction, and this book is right up my alley as I live in Florida and am well aware of the dangers of a hurricane. I enjoyed the imagery and I felt as if I was on the ship with Townsend, scrambling to secure the ship in the middle of a relentless storm. This book is set just after the Civil War, with Townsend left to pick up the pieces of the Confederacy's loss. He is left wanting to leave the Dry Tortugas and be reunited with his love, Emma. He is also torn because his only remaining family wants him to come and live on a sugar plantation, though he is hesitant about the previous ties to slavery. After the storm clears, Townsend discovers a ship full of dead men, presumably on their way to the slave trade. He has to make a decision, will he pursue the evil that left 10 men for dead, or will he serve out the rest of his Navy time and go back to being a civilian.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a dense—but important—work of historical fiction.

Set in 1860’s Florida Keys and Cuba, Hidden Cargo follows the journey of a young union Naval officer following the abolition of slavery in the US. He and his crew get caught in a hurricane, and while he’s viewing the aftermath, he comes across a ship with men locked in the cargo hold. Eventually, the story moves to Cuba, where he lives on his grandmother’s sugar plantation and works as an informant for the US Navy while gathering information on a crime that was committed, along with a larger conspiracy.

This was a hard book to get into. I rarely read historical fiction with male MC’s, and rarely read historical fiction with a military tilt to it. This could easily have been straight history, with its straightforward writing style and no-nonsense prose.

However, the story is a compelling one. The MC is a genuinely good person. Always determined to do the right thing—as a ship’s commander, when he comes across something that doesn’t sit well with him, when he meets someone who needs help, when he sees what happens behind the scenes of his grandmother’s plantation, and even when it comes to his relationship with Emma. When he’s forced to make decisions that aren’t moral (or live up to his stringent moral code), he struggles with them and the consequences. The rest of the cast are somewhat more dubious—but somehow many of them are written as likable characters, despite being on the wrong side of the law from time to time. And the ones who are unlikeable? They’re really REALLY bad.

Before reading this, I didn’t know anything about the slave trade between the US (former confederate states) and Caribbean sugar plantations. Freed slaves were enticed with promises of good wages and got onto ships willingly…where they were locked up and sold to plantation owners in Cuba (other places too??) where they were enslaved once again. Obviously one book is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg on this subject, and I’ll be continuing to learn more.

[Mj · Rating 4 out of 5]

The time period for Robin Lloyd’s book is shortly after the Civil War has ended in 1865. Slavery has supposedly ended but is not recognized or accepted by some in the South. When former slaves start disappearing, there are rumors these freedmen have been kidnapped and taken to Cuba where slavery is still very much in effect. The vast sugar plantations need more workers and former Confederate soldiers like the money they are paid to provide them.

Naval Lieutenant Everett Townsend is drawn into this conflict. To pursue justice for the former slaves he fought to free, he agrees to become a government informant. He has put himself in not only a dangerous situation, but an uncomfortable one with his Spanish grandmother who has slaves on her sugar plantation. In the story there are family complications, danger from ruthless smugglers, and political issues Townsend finds himself involved with. There is also some romance added with a Cuban-American woman Townsend cares for who has alined herself with Cuban rebels resisting Spanish rule. This was a dangerous time for many Cubans. This was also a sad time for many African Americans and Chinese who were brought into slavery in Cuba.

Mr. Lloyd has researched well and provided a glimpse into Cuban history in the 1860s as well as an interesting story. I thank BookishFirst and Lyon’s Press for my advance copy of HIDDEN CARGO.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The description of this book is what first appealed to me. I love historical fiction, especially when it features places and/or events that I'm not familiar with, so I was looking forward to reading this. It did not disappoint.

This was really well written. It was so atmospheric, the settings were so well rendered, right from the beginning with the fort and during the hurricane, through to the plantations in Cuba.

I liked the main character a lot. Everett Townsend had a strong moral compass, despite his family's history with slavery on the plantation. His grandmother was awful, but he tried to be understanding of and kind toward her, recognizing she was family, in fact the only family he had left. I also liked Emma and the fact that she had a mind of her own.

I hadn't realized this was not the first book about these characters. It worked fine as a standalone. However, I enjoyed this book so much that I am definitely going to seek out the previous installment too. Also, I wonder if perhaps there could be a book after this one, perhaps during the Cuban War for Independence? Although some things are resolved by the end of this book, other things were not and would require time. And I'd just like to see Everrett and Emma again.

I recommend this to those who enjoy historical fiction.

[Andrea George · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, where to begin?! "Hidden Cargo" by Robin Lloyd is one of the best historical fictions that I have read, and I read on average 2-3 a week! Per the Author's notes and Acknowledgements at the end of the novel, Mr. Lloyd mentions the extensive research that was completed in preparing to write this novel, and it shows. Even though "Hidden Cargo" is fiction, several parts of the novel are based on true events.
The plot begins five months after the end of the Civil War. The main character, Acting Navy Lieutenant Everett Townsend is anxiously awaiting his discharge in Key West, Florida. He feels resentful and has no idea what his future holds. While awaiting his dismissal from the Navy, Lieutenant Townsend is on a supply mission when they encounter a hurricane. He and his men come across a shipwreck with a cargo filled with dead bodies of possible slaves. They suspect foul play. However, when Lieutenant Townsend reports the incident, he is met with hostility and little to no support. Due to extenuating circumstances, he finds himself on Navy business back to his homeport of Cuba where he confronts his past love and his family's ties to slavery. I highly recommend that you add this terrific novel to your tbr list!

[Susan Beamon · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's 1865. The Civil War has ended. Our hero, Everett Townsend is cruising the coast for the Navy around Key West while he waits for his discharge. On one of his supply runs, he spots a shipwreck from a recent hurricane. Upon investigating the wreck, he finds some dead freedmen locked in a hold. Reporting this to his superiors at Key West gets him involved in a secret investigation about the disappearances of freedmen all along the Mississippi River.
It seems that certain Southern men have set up a scheme where they promise work to freedmen, get them on a ship, and then transport them to Cuba, where they are sold back in slavery. Everett is uniquely situated to investigate because his grandmother is a Cuban planter. She wants him to come home and take over the sugar plantation so she can retire. He just spent 4 years fighting against slavery. He'd rather work to make it illegal in Cuba too.
I don't get enough historical novels that tell a good story and aren't romances first. There is a romance in the book, but the freedmen investigation is primary. I felt Everett's frustration that what he fought against was something his grandmother wanted him to embrace. The book is well researched. The story is well told. I think, if you like history, you will like this book.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Bookish First, Lyons Press and Robin Lloyd for an ARC of Hidden Cargo. I don't give away spoilers in my reviews.
I like reading books with history I am unfamiliar with. I also like to read books that are not my usual type of book. Hidden Cargo was one such book.
I don't know much about Cuba's history so I enjoyed the history thoroughout this book. I also liked reading about the various ship details as well.
The main character, Everett Townsend is on a mission to discover whether or not the rumors of American freedmen are being kidnapped and re-enslaved in Cuba on sugar plantations. His grandmother also happens to own one of the sugar planations so the family drama is high in Hidden Cargo.
I think this was an interesting read on a difficult subject. The other characters filled out the story nicely - especially Jacobs and Emma.
This book does have some difficult chapters that might upset other readers. I think it's important to be honest about history and Hidden cargo is.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy historical fiction as a way to immerse myself into a time period and experiencing stories of the era. Hidden Cargo takes place in the years immediately following the Civil War during the tumultuous Reconstruction era. I didn't know about the continuing illegal slave trade of freedmen into Cuba so I was drawn into the overall story. Aspects of the story and character development were a bit simplistic for me (it seemed like the characters were either good or bad/evil without more nuance about what it meant to side with the Union or the Confederacy) and the main characters almost felt a bit too modern/contemporary in their beliefs. Despite a lot of action, this was a moderately-paced book for me. I'm glad to have learned something new and gain a better understanding of the larger scope of slavery in the west and through Reconstruction, but I'm not sure this will be a book I strongly recommend to others. Overall 3.75/5 for me.


Many thanks to Bookish First and Lyons Press for the ARC.

[Mikala · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clearly written by a historian. Sometimes there aren't enough documented facts to write a non-fiction book. Historical fiction can also be much more engaging to the reader by bringing the sights, smells and emotions of a time and place to life. I'm not a huge fan of historical fiction, but I picked up this ARC because I'm familiar with Cuba, Key West and the Tortugas. Reading about these locations and the historical impact they had was a unique way to engage with the area. This time and place are not often written about. I also appreciated the sensitivity of the author to racist attitudes and the implications for current times as well.

The main characters are well developed although their inner thoughts felt very modern and a bit out of place to me. This is somewhat to be expected for a modern audience, but it felt forced at times. I didn't appreciate the romance and family quibbles, but I'm sure that's what a lot of readers will go for. There's plenty of historical context and plot to keep things moving along so I think most readers will enjoy this book.

[Gabrielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a Military Mystery with a historic lens. You follow the main character through the hot hurricane blasted coast of Florida in the Keys and then down into Cuba as he tries to bring a group of men to justice for the atrocity of kidnapping and selling freedmen (Slaves that were freed in the Civil War) to Cuba. If that were not enough, he must battle with his heart over the woman he loves and abandoned, and war with himself over his Cuban Grandmothers desire to have him take over the slave run plantation she owns. A plantation that shames him to his core as a soldier that fought for slave freedom in America.

Reader beware. This book is a gristly lens on the world of that time. There are some very dark and painful points through out this book. It is written through the historic lens of that time so you will see words not appropriate for our time. And it reads in a Militaristic fashion as it is from the view point of a military sailor. Do not let that detour you however, it isn't my cup of tea, but even I can say with pure certainty it's a book you NEED to read.

[Ashley : bostieslovebooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Civil War recently ended. Naval Lieutenant Townsend discovers a shipwreck containing a locked cargo hold of dead Black men. Suspecting that they were freedmen kidnapped for re-enslavement, Townsend reports the incident and soon finds himself investigating on his own after his commander tells him to drop the subject. What will Townsend do when he uncovers a conspiracy and family ties to slavery?

HIDDEN CARGO was an excellent historical fiction book. It’s clear that the writing was well-researched. There is content that is disturbing to read, even more so knowing that this is inspired by true events. Vivid imagery drops the reader into the middle of the action. Characters are compelling. I liked that the setting was only five months after the Civil War ended. This is not a time period that I typically see.

I would recommend HIDDEN CARGO to fans of historical fiction. This is the first book I’ve read by Robin Lloyd. I’d be interested in checking out his other works.

Thank you to Lyons Press for the gifted copy.

[Bobbi Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first book by this author which I enjoyed reading. I look forward to seeing what is next for this author. One of the things I enjoyed about this book is how the author used their writing skills and attention to details to bring life to the story. This is a well written story that takes place a few months after the end of the Civil War. A story that will make you question family and what is important to you. A story that is emotional in parts and suspenseful in others. I enjoyed Townsend's character and how supportive he is to the other characters. He is a strong character that is faced with an impossible choice on top of coming face to face with a family's past. I found this book to be fast paced and hard to put down. An engaging story that has great growth throughout. It is an easy story to read as well as a great entertaining value. I really enjoyed reading this story from beginning to end. I highly recommend this book.

[Rebecca Reeder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent historical fiction. Several years ago I read this author's previous book, Harbor of Spies. The old sailing ship, plot details relating to the American slave trade, and Caribbean harbor setting of HIDDEN CARGO remind me very much of that book. Author Robin Lloyd seems very knowledgeable about Cuba, American history, and details of the slave trade. His books seem very well researched. It might take more than three chapters to get hooked on the plot. One aspect of Lloyd's writing that seems to also be a part of this latest book is the author's willingness to honestly address the complete disregard for Black lives during this time in history. An example of this is the scene in chapter three where Black men had been locked into the lower portion of the ship and unable to escape as the ship sank. Anyone who is a North American history buff will enjoy Lloyd's work!

[Audrey Stars in Her Eye · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book even though it looks at dark times and dark activities. I am fond of Civil War-era works and have recently become very interested in Cuba and its history. This book combines both looking at asshat Southerns who kidnapped free black men and then sold them as slaves in Cuba. The author (in their epilogue) explains how little was investigated into this and the sale of African men to Spain-run Cuba. So this book, though a historical fiction, gives some light on this.
I enjoyed the atmosphere Robin Lloyd creates showing you precisely what Key West and Cuba looked like during this period. There are a variety of characters with each one completely different from the last. However, only the main character has any complexity.
I enjoyed this book and learning more about the slave trade after the Civil War.

I received an ARC for review; all opinions are my own.

[Amanda-Has-A-Bookcase · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hidden Cargo is a historical fiction novel that had a story that I was not expecting. When you see a setting that takes place right after the Civil War and has a book title called Hidden Cargo you expect it to take place in the Deep South. I am happy to say that this was not the case. This story actually takes place in Cuba. Verry different than what I was expecting. I love learning about the Civil War and enjoy fiction books durining this time. With a setting completly different then the south I was in for a unexpected ride. This felt like a book that I have never read before. Who knew that changing the setting would do that?!? I am thankful that the author took this route. I picked up a few new tidbits and found myself looking things up in the middle of the story because I was learning something new.
The story flowed easily and I enjoyed the characters.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was unfamiliar with the selling of freed men from the US, after the Civil War, being kidnapped and sold back into slavery in Cuba. I found that part of this book to be timely and informative. The character of Mr. Jacobs was the best drawn and his story was the most powerful in the novel. The main character, Everett Townsend, was not as well developed In spite of the many things that happened to him, he showed little deepening of his character, and I wasn't certain what Emma saw in him. While smart and capable, his convictions seemed more surface level.

The descriptive writing was very good. I could feel myself situated in Key West, the ship, and Cuba. The hurricane scenes were especially well written, but even though I've never been to the Dry Tortugas, Key West, or Cuba, I could see them and feel the sun and humidity and winds.

The cover art is lovely.

[Katie]

This book would not have been my first choice of reading, but I was pleasantly surprised by many aspects within it. The war is over, Everett is ready to be discharged, and he has settled nothing with Emma, with whom he should never have had a relationship to begin with. He is a little out of his depth with the war ended. What is a soldier supposed to do when there is nothing left to fight or fight for?This book does dredge up Pirates of the Caribbean vibes, but that is definitely a positive thing. The characters are a little shaky to start with, and the reader has to swallow quite a few terms and a decent bit of geography in the first few chapters, but things do even out as Robin Lloyd finds his stride.
I did not love this book, but I would be very willing to give Lloyd's other works a fighting chance. His style is interesting and he definitely has a place here.

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story opens with quite an exciting storm, which hooks the reader right away with a great description. It was as though I was there. A real page turner.

Then the story lags a little with all the technical terminology of sailing terms (which thank goodness I know – the common man may not). When the Spanish words/sentences were spoken, the English translation was woven in so that you did not have to be fluent in Spanish to understand.

Then the story picks up again with the 'hunt for the captain of the "Hard Times Ship”‘and doesn’t let go. Townsend had quite the journey of discovery. No spoilers here. :)

The history is fascinating. It redefined slavery in Cuba, which was eye opening to me. You can tell that the author did a wonderful job of researching.

[Stephenee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I rated this one a 3.5 star read - This isn't my typical genre to read, but I love Key West and thought that a bit of fiction around it would be fun. I enjoyed the book overall, but there were times I was a little bit bored with the storyline. I have no experience with the military, I am not a huge history buff nor do I know a lot about the early days in the area, so they were all things that I maybe needed to brush up on before reading this one. Overall, the book seemed well written, the story was smooth flowing and it entertained this reader. I recommend this one for more of the above, not just anyone will enjoy this book the way it should be enjoyed. Not a bad book, but not the book for me.

[Nathalie K Browne · Rating 4 out of 5]

hidden cargo

excellent characterization- descriptions convinced me I was physically in those locations. Hurricane terrified me. Ending satisfactory. However, the patois could have been suspended - with a note from the author that freedmen spoke patois. And perhaps in the introduction it could be stated that all conversations in French were italicized- to avoid the endless translations? I liked the earlier books more but eagerly await the next one! Please start writing it soon.