The Cuban Heiress by Chanel Cleeton
Product Details
Web ID: 15419188Fascinating
This one started out very slowly and I could not get invested in the story. When it picked up, though, it really picked up and the next thing I knew it was over and I was left wanting more. This was not the typical Chanel Cleeton that I have gotten used to with Cuba as a main focus and I missed that in this story. I love learning more about the history and culture of Cuba. This was more character driven, which was a shame as I was not a fan of the main character. Once they reach Cuba (a quick stop and no real emphasis), the story really picks up and I fall in love with the story. I enjoyed this one but not as much as the others.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Exciting!
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.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
FANTASTIC
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.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
4.5stars-dramatic, intriguing, entertaining
4.5stars-THE CUBAN HEIRESS by Chanel Cleeton is an adult, historical fictionalized account of the 1934 disaster near Asbury Park for the cruise ship The SS Morro Castle. THE CUBAN HEIRESS focuses on New York Heiress Catherine Dohan and her fiancé Raymond, Cuban born Elena Palacio, and passenger Harry. Told from first person (Catherine) and third person (Elena), THE CUBAN HEIRESS follows four passengers on a cruise ship heading to Cuba: New York Heiress Catherine Dohan and her fiancé Raymond, Cuban born Elena Reyes, and passenger Harry but all is not well in the lives of the foursome, as a series of mishaps and problems begin to spiral out of control. Catherine Dohan is engaged to wealthy businessman Raymond after a whirlwind romance but Catherine isn’t whom she claims to be. Her fiancé Raymond leaves Catherine to her own devices but a series of mysterious events including an attack on her life pushes Catherine into the arms of someone else. Meeting a sympathetic stranger who clearly knows the type of man Catherine is about to marry begins to reveal some secrets she knew nothing about. Meanwhile, Cuban born Elena Palacio is looking for revenge against the man that all but destroyed her life. Believed to have died in a house fire, Elena is desperate to retaliate and take back her life but she will need the help of people on board. Having stowed away on the SS Morro Castle, Elena sets into motion her plans for vengeance and survival. THE CUBAN HEIRESS is a fictionalized account of the fire and destruction of the SS Morro Castle. The characters and events are from the mind of author Chanel Cleeton set on the ill-fated journey of a ship with some questionable history including the unexplained death of the captain at sea. We are pulled into a story of mystery and suspense, theft and murder, fire and destruction, survival and loss. The dramatic premise is intriguing and entertaining; the characters are animated, tragic and impassioned.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
An atmospheric historical mystery!
The Cuban Heiress was an enjoyable thriller set in the 1930’s when men had all of the power and women were commodities used for their looks and/or their wealth. The author didn’t take long to enmesh the reader in the stories of these two women whom at first didn’t seem to have that much in common but as the book moved forward we saw that their circumstances forged that connection. The setting of the cruise ship, as well as the destination of Havana certainly added to the Noir-esque vibe of the story and the opening chapter started quickly and the story never lost its pace. Each woman’s story arc gave the reader more reasons to root for them and the feeling of danger escalated so that I was turning the pages rapidly wanting to reach that final outcome with no delay. This historical thriller was a fun, glamorous excursion into the dark waters of the Atlantic. I wasn’t sure how it would end, but wasn’t disappointed in the least. I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review and it was honest!
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com