The Cuban Heiress

by Chanel Cleeton

"In 1934, the ultimate vacation becomes a fight for survival as the secrets of two women's pasts collide aboard a luxury cruise liner on a round-trip voyage from New York to Havana in New York Times bestselling author Chanel Cleeton's page-turning new novel inspired by the true story of the tragedy of the SS Morro Castle. New York heiress Catherine Dohan seemingly has it all. There's only one problem. It's a lie. As soon as the Morro Castle leaves port, Catherine's past returns with a vengeance and threatens her life. Joining forces with a charismatic jewel thief, Catherine must discover who wants her dead-and why. Elena Palacio is a dead woman. Or so everyone thinks. After a devastating betrayal left her penniless and on the run, Elena's journey on the Morro Castle is her last hope. Steeped in secrecy and a burning desire for revenge, her return to Havana is a chance to right the wrong that has been done to her-and her prey is on the ship. As danger swirls aboard the Morro Castle and their fates intertwine, Elena and Catherine must risk everything to see justice served once and for all"--

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Mystery, Audiobook, Historical, Romance, Thriller

336 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 11, 2023

About the author

Chanel Cleeton is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick Next Year in Havana, When We Left Cuba, The Last Train to Key West, The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba, The Cuban Heiress, and The House on Biscayne Bay.

Originally from Florida, Chanel grew up on stories of her family's exodus from Cuba following the events of the Cuban Revolution. Her passion for politics and history continued during her years spent studying in England where she earned a bachelor's degree in International Relations from Richmond, The American International University in London and a master's degree in Global Politics from the London School of Economics & Political Science. Chanel also received her Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law.

Reviews

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

In The Cuban Heiress, no one is who they seem. Elena is supposedly dead. Catherine is pretending to be rich, when she’s anything but. Harry is a thief and Julio is smuggling guns and political exiles. They are all aboard the Morro Castle on its cruise to Havana in 1934. A journey that ends with the ship on fire.
The story is a rollicking good tale. It’s more romantic entertainment set in a historic period than historical fiction. There wasn’t a strong sense of time. And it’s not the kind of historic fiction that teaches you anything about the period. But that’s not to say I didn’t enjoy it. It’s more a matter of categorization.
The book is fast paced, often at the expense of character development. In fact, most of the characters are cliches. But if the characters felt two dimensional at times, there were romance and cons, revenge and hoodwinking to keep me engaged. It reminded me often of the movie Titantic, and not just because of the disaster at sea. This would translate easily into a movie.
My thanks to netgalley and Berkley Publishing for an advance copy of this book.

[Taury · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Cuban Heiress by Chanel Cleeton is another lovely novel in the series by this author. It is HF, romance, murder and mystery wrapped into one. Loosely based on the fire aboard the SS Morro that completely engulfed the ship. Don’t worry fans of Chanel Cleeton she left it open for a new book to pick up where this one left off.

As a side note: i have been asked if this series should be read in order. It is of my opinion they should.

[Bkwmlee · Rating 4 out of 5]

After finishing a book last week that left a bad taste in my mouth, I needed a palette cleanser, a book that I knew I would likely enjoy. Glancing through my options (amongst the list of April “upcoming” reads I hope to get to), I saw Chanel Cleeton’s latest historical novel The Cuban Heiress and I knew that would be the perfect choice. I’ve read 5 of Cleeton’s books so far and while I enjoyed some of them more than others, I’ve never been disappointed in her ability to deliver the goods (a solid, satisfying read with compelling characters that are easy to root for).

It’s actually hard to talk about this story without giving some aspect of the plot away, so this review will be short, brief, and yes, a bit on the vague side (if the little that is mentioned piques your interest, then I definitely recommend picking this one up and reading it for yourself!).

The story is based on a true event – the disaster that occurred aboard the luxury cruise ship Morro Castle during its voyage from Havana to New York back in 1934. Narrated from the alternating perspectives of the two female protagonists, Elena Palacio and Catherine Dohan, the story unfolded in a way that I felt was a little bit of a departure from Cleeton’s last couple books -- whereas the focus with those were more on the historical aspects, this time around, the story seemed to lean more into the mystery / suspense vibe (which I’m totally fine with, since it was done well in this case) as well as the romantic relationships (which thankfully didn’t overwhelm the story, so I’m fine with that as well). Though I will admit that I was hoping there would be more emphasis on the historical aspect, especially about Cuba, since that was one of the areas I enjoyed most with Cleeton’s previous novels. While Cleeton does continue to pay tribute to her Cuban heritage in this story, there isn’t as much focus on it in the sense that Cuban history doesn’t play as heavily into the plot or the characters’ lives compared to her previous works (aside from the fact that one of the characters, Elena, is Cuban, and one leg of the cruise ship’s journey is to Havana, the primary events that drive the plot in this story actually have nothing to do with Cuba at all). Not that I’m complaining though, since the story overall was well-written, intriguing, and engaging to the point that it held my interest and I found it hard to put down after I started reading it -- the way that the 2 characters’ backstories were presented not only got me invested in how things would pan out for them, but also had me wondering throughout the entire time whether their stories would converge and if so, how?

One thing I did miss with this book is the lack of connection back to the Perez family. Since Cleeton switched to writing historical fiction in 2018 with Next Year in Havana , which was the first book to feature the Perez family, she has included some kind of connection back to the family in each of her subsequent works (the stand alone ones that weren’t direct sequels to the original). For me, this was part of the fun with reading Cleeton’s books — identifying that connection and also getting that sense of satisfaction from having remembered the particular character or relation or plot point back to the original story.

All in all, this was another enjoyable read from an author whose works I know I can count on to get me out of a reading rut or, in this case, erase the disappointment of a previous less-than satisfying read. I definitely look forward to reading whatever Cleeton has in store for us next!

Received ARC from Berkeley via NetGalley.

[Olivia (Stories For Coffee) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yet another fantastic Cuban historical fiction that sheds a light on a piece of history I had never heard of before. While I didn’t feel particularly invested in the characters, who all felt a bit flat to me, the plot kept me on the edge of my seat and left me thoroughly fascinated.

[Niharika · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really excited to read this book, because I had loved Next Year in Havana. Cleeton has a talent for world-building; stepping into other books of hers I've read, I felt as though I was actually in the restaurant she was describing, eavesdropping on the conversation of the two main characters, who were sitting at the neighboring table.

Unfortunately, for me, this book turned away from that. Rather than focusing on the SS Morro Castle and the characters - Catherine, Harry, Raymond, Elena - there was an over-emphasis on the plot, at the expense of the character and world building. And as a result, I didn’t really care about any of the characters. Catherine especially seemed to be a character full of clichés; from the moment where she teams up with the charismatic jewel thief, Harry, it's almost obvious what will happen between the two of them.

Raymond is just as clichéd -- though we never hear his perspective in the story (the story is told in alternating perspectives between Elena and Catherine), it's clear what's going on behind the rich gambler's exterior. Elena's story was more interesting; she was thought to be dead, but is very much so alive but seeking revenge, which requires her staying one step ahead of her prey. On a crowded cruise ship with limited hiding spaces, this is trickier than it seems. But, the pacing of her story didn't match Catherine's, and so I found myself dragging my feet through Catherine's story, while speed-reading Elena's.

My favorite part of the story may have been when the SS Morro Castle actually docked in Havana; I felt as though you could see a glimmer of her previous books in this one. But for the entire time this cruise ship was at sea, I wished I was anywhere but on that ship.

I was provided with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Elizabeth of Silver's Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two women with plans and two women who are not portraying who they really are as they board the infamous SS Morro Castle.

Catherine Dohan and Elena Palacio board the ship pretending they are someone they really aren’t.

They both come aboard anticipating a break from their lives and completing their plans, but their plans change.

Catherine meets a jewel thief, and Elena knows the man who wronged her is on the ship - how will she keep him from seeing her?

Will Elena be able to stay hidden? Will she get her revenge?

Will Catherine be able to carry on her pretense?

Are any of the characters presenting themselves as the person they really are?

THE CUBAN HEIRESS has a great setting, a few surprises, and unsavory characters that make the book one you won’t want to put down.

Historical fiction fans, women’s fiction fans, and fans of books set on a ship that may historically be unknown to the reader will enjoy this book.

It truly is one you won’t want to miss!!

It is REALLY that good!! ENJOY!! 5/5

This book was given to me by the publisher for an honest review.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Upgrading to 4, though it falls short a little.

Fun and easy to read. Dashing women and a dashing man. A scoundrel. Character ingredients were right. Setting was romantic (in a heroic sense, though there was romance on the ship). Storyline was good enough to be rooting for the heroes. Villain was a huge louse - really hated him. Adequate tension. But it still fell a little short for me because there were just too many things going on and hinging on each other - Cuban politics, Great Depression, multiple fires, cat thief, etc. would’ve preferred a simpler set of parameters.

[Mystery, She Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 🌟


Mood/ Seasonal Reading: takes place Labour Day weekend to about early September

This was a pleasant surprise! I have been craving the sun and fun of a cruise but have been unable to go on one so I picked this up off my Tbr as a hopeful replacement. Although it may have scared me off a cruise for a little while after all.

I found it got going right away with a very solid set up and intriguing cast of characters. I really grew to enjoy the banter and mystery as well as adored the opulent setting.

The plot and mystery had an excellent amount of twists, turns, and excitement By about halfway through I did feel it changed more towards a historical thriller or fiction as most of the reveals had occurred but there was enough continued smaller portions of the myserties left to keep me invested. I throughly enjoyed the relationship between Katie and Harry especially and ate up every interaction they had together. It was reminiscent of an Anastasia type of vibe to me a bit.

I almost wish this was longer just to have more of the romance but also felt like it was maybe the right length. I do think it lost some steal right at the end. Funny enough this was the climax and inspiration for the story but it just felt a bit too forced and had some loose strings I would’ve preferred have been tied neater.

Honestly, this was a very fun adventure that surprised me and I will absolutely pick up another work by this author. While I didn’t put this in my loved pile I do think it’s absolutely worth picking up for any historical or mystery lover.

[Madeline Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chanel Cleeton serves us a delicious slice of vengeance as two women risk everything for justice. The backdrop of the SS Morro Castle unfolds a chapter of history that is little known and brings the harrowing journey of that fateful voyage to life. The Cuban Heiress is such a fabulous, gripping read!

[Susan Z (webreakforbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

In The Cuban Heiress, two women find themselves aboard a ship from NYC to Cuba in 1934. Both women have something to hide and are connected in unexpected ways.

I absolutely love books by Chanel Cleeton. Her writing completely whisks you away. She truly is a writing wizard. (or wizardess, which is not a word apparently but definitely should be)

The Cuban Heiress is everything I expect from her books. I was immediately invested and the characters were well developed, compelling and likable, a trifecta in my book.

The connection between both women was a surprise and as more details were revealed, it was even more surprising. I do love a good surprise

I do wish this one was a bit longer. I enjoyed it so much and it just seemed to be over too fast.

I both read and listened to it and it was an excellent audio production.

[Stephanie Thornton · Rating 5 out of 5]

When a decadent pleasure cruise aboard the SS Morro Castle morphs into an unthinkable nightmare, two women must use all their wits to fight for their very lives. Based on a shocking and little-known moment from history, Chanel Cleeton has woven a twisting tale of murder, revenge, and romance that I simply could not stop thinking about!

[Carole (Carole's Random Life) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/

Well, this was exciting! I have enjoyed all of the books that Chanel Cleeton has written featuring women of Cuban heritage. This book had a bit of a different feel taking place on a cruise ship with enough excitement to qualify as a thriller. Catherine and Elena were both great characters and I loved that there were some pretty big surprises worked into the story. This was a fast-paced story that I found impossible to set aside once I started reading.

Catherine is accompanying her fiance and his young daughter on a round-trip cruise on the SS Morro Castle. Catherine isn’t the heiress that her future husband believes her to be and it isn’t long before she realizes her life is at risk. She ends up teaming up with Harry, a jewel thief, to discover who is behind the attempts on her life. Elena is aboard the same ship. Everyone believes her to be dead and she is determined to make her plan work.

I really enjoyed seeing these stories come together and I loved that there was plenty of excitement along the way. I loved the fact that there was enough romance worked around the action to keep things very interesting. I am always looking for a book that is able to surprise me and I am happy to report that some of the twists in this story did exactly that.

I listened to the audiobook and thought that the narrators did a phenomenal job with the story. I thought that Frankie Corzo and Rachel L. Jacobs both did a great job of bringing this story to life. Their voices complimented each other very nicely and I thought that they did a great job of adding just the right amount of emotion to the story. I am certain that their narration added to my enjoyment of this novel.

I would definitely recommend this book to others. This was an exciting story filled with great characters and just the right amount of romance. I cannot wait to read more of this talented author’s work.

I received a review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group and Penguin Random House Audio.

[Lorna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chanel Cleeton has become one of my favorite writers of historical fiction tied to the political unrest in Cuba, and the Prohibition era. And The Cuban Heiress was equally gripping as it focused on the fate of the luxury liner, the SS Morro Castle, as it departed for a week’s voyage from New York to Havana in 1934. And as Ms. Cleeton notes prior to that fateful night in 1934 the Morro Castle had a notorious history. During Prohibition, it provided for a week of indulgence for its guests able to party and partake of drinking and partying onboard. It was also rumored that arms and people were being transported on the ship given the political tensions in Cuba at the time. On September 8, 1934, the SS Morro Castle caught fire on the way from Havana to New York as the ship was being tossed around as it was caught between two storms—a nor’easter and the edge of a hurricane. There had been a lot of mysterious happenings aboard the ship lending to the suspense. Much of that fateful night aboard the Morro Castle is still shrouded in mystery.

And it is on the SS Morro Castle on this fateful round-trip cruise on a luxury liner where it becomes a fight for survival as the pasts of two women collide. New York heiress Catherine Dohan is aboard with her fiancé and his young daughter and her nanny. But what if it all were a lie? With threats to her life with a vengeance, she turns for help to a charming jewel thief, Harry. Elena Palacio is thought to be dead but after a series of betrayals that left her penniless and on the run, her journey on the Morro Castle may be her last hope to right the wrongs that were done to her. It is steeped in secrecy and a burning desire for revenge. With danger swirling aboard the Morro Castle it becomes clear that the fate of each of these women are intertwined. This was a page-turner that was hard to put down.

[Betül · Rating 4 out of 5]

**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**

The Cuban Heiress is a thrilling historical (Women's) fiction novel that kept me on the edge of my seat. The pacing of the book was excellent, and the suspenseful scenes added depth to the story. The two main characters, Elena and Catherine, were captivating heroines with intriguing stories. I particularly enjoyed the element of mystery, which kept me guessing until the end.

The love interests were well-matched with the heroines, although I would have liked to see a bit more romance for one of the heroines. Nonetheless, the romantic scenes were well-done and satisfying. There was a brief slow-paced section towards the end that did not hold my interest as much, but overall, the story and characters were engaging.

Chanel Cleeton is a talented writer, and I appreciate her ability to craft an entertaining and compelling story. The writing was easy to read, and I found myself finishing the book in no time. I eagerly look forward to Cleeton's future works.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh. Predictable, eye roll-inducing character moments, and overly dramatic Audible narration. Pass.

[BernLuvsBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's 1934 & we are aboard the SS Morro Castle, a luxury cruise ship, on a round-trip voyage from New York to Havana. Elena is thought to be dead. Catherine is pretending to be a heiress. Harry is a con artist & thief and Julio is smuggling guns into and political exiles out of Cuba. This was filled with intrigue, cons, revenge and all the tumultuous political vibes of the time period. I don't read historical fiction often but Cleeton is one of my go to authors. Highly recommend this one!

[Barbara Nutting · Rating 1 out of 5]

Is this a joke? The author has impeccable credentials, but has written a book that borders on ridiculous. Right, I ask a stranger to help me toss the man I just shot and killed overboard. That was just the beginning of the absurdities. It was like the Three Stooges and Laurel and Hardy meet the Titanic!!

The characters were even worse than the writing. I feel this was a library book that snuck from the Young Adult section during the night and tried to pass itself off as something an adult might like. Didn’t work, get back where you belong amongst all the other stories designed for the teen crowd.

[Ink_Drinker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read several other books by Chanel Cleeton and  they were all fabulous.  This one didn't disappoint!

🛳 On the luxurious SS Morro Castle, sailing from New York to Havana in 1934, two women Catherine Dohan and Elena Palacio, lives intersect, bound by a tragic past event.

🛳 As the ship sails, secrets and lies begin to unravel, and the two women find themselves caught up in a web of danger and intrigue. It soon becomes clear that someone is trying to kill Elena. Catherine must use all of her resources to protect Elena and solve the mystery before it's too late.

🛳 The Cuban Heiress is a gripping fast-paced and suspenseful novel with a strong historical setting. Cleeton does an excellent job of weaving together the real-life events of the SS Morro Castle fire with her fictional story.

🛳 The characters are well-developed and relatable, and the plot is full of twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the very end.

🛳 If you enjoy historical fiction, suspense, or stories about strong female characters, then add this to your tbr!  It is an unforgettable novel that will stay with you long after you finish reading it.
frankie.corzo

🎧 Frankie Corzo (@frankie.corzo) and Rachel L Jacobs (@racheljnarrates) performed a fantastic audio narration production. It was done with great skill and I loved that they used accents because it made the story more real.

[Tomes And Textiles · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you were wondering where are the Latinx characters were in the movie Titanic, they were all aboard Chanel Cleeton's version of the SS Morro Castle's final voyage in 1934 in The Cuban Heiress.

Chanel Cleeton consistently provides her readers:

1. Methodically researched historical setting that acts more like a character and solidly places Cuba on the world stage like no other author is currently doing in historical fiction
2. Compelling character-driven stories that intertwine in the most unexpected ways
3. Lyrical writing that doesn't take away from items 1 and 2 above

The Cuban Heiress was no different from her 5 previous novels I've read from the author, except I could see glimpses of the character intersections earlier than usual. This knowledge did not take away from the story at all. Cleeton delivered yet another Cuban historical fiction that both taught me a nugget of history of my parent's homeland while sweeping me away in intrigue, mystery and a bit of romance.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Came for Chanel Cleeton, as I have read all of her books so far, but stayed for the sense of foreboding that had me flipping the pages. Her writing absolutely sparkles in this, her latest edition, and it is replete with fascinating historical details and very real history of the SS Morro Castle and its tragic past.
New York heiress Catherine Dohan seemingly has everything - wealth, privilege, manners, a doting fiancé, and the world at her fingertips. Except, it is all a lie.
Elena Palacio is a dead woman walking who has lost everything - her marriage, her child, her inheritance, and her home. And now, she is seeking revenge.
These 2 women's paths collide aboard the SS Morro Castle, a 7-day luxury pleasure cruise from New York harbor to Havana, Cuba. And when their very lives are threatened, they are compelled to team up with some very unlikely characters aboard the ship, including a charming & dashing jewel thief. Can justice be served, really and truly, once and for all?!?
Thoroughly enjoyed this one, even though it's a departure from her Perez sisters series, which I deeply love, but this historical mystery standalone will delight Cleeton readers!
Actual rating, 4.25 stars

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another fantastic book from this gifted writer!!! Through her research of the real life luxury cruise ship the SS Morro Castle, CC has written a fictional heartrending story of it’s last fateful voyage in 1934 🔥🚢🌊.. round trip NYC to Cuba.. with murder ☠️.. intrigue + mystery.. smuggling, con-artists + a jewel thief.. friendship, love + revenge. CC has an engaging mix of it all — I was 💯invested with each characters life and personality.

This follows the POV’s of two clever, strong women (+ imposters 🎭), Elena and Catherine, who are on board for a reckoning with one man🤵🏻‍♂️🃏.

There’s the glitz 💎🥂 + glamour 💄👗 of the wealthy guests aboard ship, a fun rendezvous of mojitos🍹+ dancing in Havana 🇨🇺💃🏻🕺🏻, and the picturesque colors, sights and sounds of Latin culture 🦜🌴🌺🌇🎶🎺. Unfortunately though on their last night at sea, disaster befalls the ocean liner with devastating consequences. If you have never read one of her books I hope you pick this up. Is riveting with nonstop thrills, loved it! 4.5 stars — Pub. 4/11/23

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

The way I loved this newest historical fiction from fav author Chanel Cleeton is indescribable!! Full of romance, mystery, revenge and based on real events. Fans of Titanic esque stories with strong female characters and con artist stories DO NOT want to miss this one.

It was also great on audio narrated by Frankie Corzo and Rachel L. Jacobs. Many thanks to NetGalley and @prhaudio for early complimentary copies in exchange for my honest review! Chanel Cleeton has knocked it out of the park with this one!

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Chanel's books and this one is so good. I love the twists right from the very beginning. You don't want to miss this book

[Tracy Telle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ill go ahead and give this an extra star because I found it very interesting that the author based the storyline on actual historical events (and characters? Can't remember the history now...). Good plot, but by the end I just couldn't wait for it to be over. (I probably would have liked the book better than the audiobook, maybe?) I didn't love how it ended...Too rushed to wrap up the pieces, maybe? But I'll look for more from Cleeton.

[Sophia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been tracking with Chanel Cleeton since I first picked up her contemporary romance and then was utterly captivated when she moved into historical fiction spotlighting Cuban-Cuban American History and women characters in particular. I bring that up because this latest was something of a surprise blend in style of her older romances and more recent historical fiction.

Like her other books, A Cuban Heiress in anchored in specific historical events and the times. In this case, I was already somewhat familiar with the 1930’s era incidents on the luxurious SS Morro Castle that sailed between NYC and Havana all when American was in a Great Depression and Cuba is roiling after a recent revolution. There was the fire and the murder of its captain. I knew it remains an unsolved murder to this day because I revel in historical mystery documentaries on TV and podcasts. Chanel Cleeton set her own dramatic dual thread mystery plots on this fatal voyage of the Morro Castle and I was hooked right away.

NYC heiress Catherine Dohan comes aboard with her fiancé, Raymond, and his daughter and from outward appearances she is the envy of others. In reality, she’s walking a tightrope over alligator infested waters because she’s not who she pretends to be, Raymond isn’t the best, and someone from her past is aboard. But, that’s not the worst. She needs to find out really fast who aboard is trying to kill her. Harry, an adventurer jewel thief, becomes her unlikely partner in crime solving and I was tickled that it was turning out to be more. Theirs was a caper-style affair that I found highly entertaining.

The more smoldering emotion side of the story comes from the woman who really is an heiress. Wronged, betrayed and left penniless, Elena Palacio, whom everyone thinks is dead, plans to get her revenge and seek justice when she gets to Cuba. In a stunning twist, these seeming separate stories collide. The second half was full of surprises and tension. I didn’t see some of that coming.

A Cuban Heiress read quickly for me and, like I said, had a different feel than her previous historical fictions with less emphasis on the character of the individual women and their place in the historical events going on and more attention to the cast of characters as they related to the driving plot. I didn’t mind at all, but I did have to adjust expectation.
Whether the reader is seeking Cuban flavored historical fiction, historical romance with a strong feel of historical setting, or a good mystery, A Cuban Heiress delivers it all on a silver platter decadent enough to grace the real luxury cruise ship, Morro Castle.

I rec'd an eARC via NetGalley to read in exchange for an honest review.

My full review will post at Books of My Heart on Apr 12th.

[Audrey Dry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Primera vez que leo a esta autora, y, la verdad, que me ha sorprendido bastante.

La historia está contada desde dos puntos de vista: Catherine y Elena; ambas herederas de una fortuna millonaria. Una de ellas está prometida con un millonario que no es lo que dice ser; y la otra busca venganza. Las líneas de ambas mujeres se mezclan durante la travesía hacia Cuba, destapando secretos que llevan mucho tiempo ocultos.

Me ha gustado mucho cómo se va resolviendo el nudo de esta trama, cómo la autora va descubriendo poco a poco los entresijos de la vida de ambas. Cierto es que no te da mucho tiempo de odiar a Raymond, pero el desarrollo de la trama lo compensa.

Por otro lado, si tuviera que ponerle un pero al libro, sería que habría estado más completo si hubiera contado más detalles del barco. No tenía ni idea de que el Morro Castle había existido de verdad, y que había tenido una historia tan dramática. Quizá esto se debería de haber reflejado mejor; la autora, en cambio, se centra más en los personajes principales. Creo que el hecho de no saber la historia del barco hace que el lector sienta que una parte del final parezca gratuita, aunque es cierto que al final del libro se ofrece un resumen de la vida del barco. (En realidad, querido lector, no necesitas saber esta parte de la historia real del barco para disfrutar este libro, así que si estás leyendo esto y no sabes nada, mejor que no busques la historia, así no te destripas parte del final, aunque no sea verdaderamente importante para la trama).

En definitiva, un libro que se lee muy rápido, con un lenguaje fácil y un misterio que atrapa.

[Susan McAulay · Rating 3 out of 5]

I seem to be the outlier here. I thought perhaps it was because I have a root canal tomorrow and am anxious but I had trouble getting into the story. But now, since I prefer the book I am now reading, I think I am wrong. I did not enjoy it as much as her previous books. I felt like there was more history in her other books than in this one. I think the history adds to the experience for me and the lack of it takes away. I found it confusing to follow such that the twist toward the end did not make much sense. I felt like the female characters were well developed but that the two male characters were not and seemed somewhat flat. All in all, not to the standards of her previous books and I hope in the future she gets back to the historical aspects. I really think that I would not classify this as historical fiction, with anything about Cuba or the time period that was distinctive. Also, I think that being on a ship may have limited things. I think it is hard to have a book that is really contained on a ship unless it is a whodunit and while there are elements of a mystery here, there aren't and were aspects of the past that could have been much more developed.

[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars for me. I may drop this to 3 stars. I will say this book was good and kept my interest. I didn't know about the Morro ship fire, which made this an interesting historical thing. The book was a quick read, perfect for the beach. And I loved that it was told between two female characters. I also loved the backdrop of going to Cuba after the revolution, during the next one. And I certainly read the next book in the series, which I assume there will be a next book.

There was a lot of repeated information. Also, I felt like the two female characters were lying to me as a reader, especially Catherine. The author I think was trying to throw you off the scent so to speak with the mystery that evolves. And yes, if the two characters had been honest with their thoughts and feelings and words, I would have figured it out. But that also made me not like those characters as much. Although, I did like Harry's character. I guess he seemed the most honest with the page time we got. The rest, not so much.

I do recommend the book, because it's a fun read on your next trip. I just don't know if you will love it or hate it. Other reviewers do seem to love the book.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read 4 other books by this author and she seems to be a solid 4 stars for me. I like her world building and her character development. She adds plenty of detail to female relationships that seems genuine.

If I had to choose, this one would be my least favorite but I still liked it. I think overall, it felt a little rushed. It lacked some of the detail that I have come to expect from the author. This had a more dated feel and it was fairly predictable. Not my favorites so 3 stars.

[alie milliken · Rating 2 out of 5]

maybe I just had too many amazing books on my bookshelf I wanted to read and this wasn’t the one so I rushed through it. definitely my least favorite of hers so far