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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
Generously rounding up to 3 ⭐️, enjoyed the twist at the end but it all connected a little too perfectly. Out of the 3 books in this series, I liked the first one best.
I've read extensively about both the construction of the Florida East Coast Railroad (the engineering alone is just fascinating) and Overseas Highway, and the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935, so when I saw that this was the subject of Chanel Cleeton's latest book, I pre-ordered it immediately on Amazon.
I really enjoyed this book. The women had interesting stories and I quickly became swept up in their stories. I'm glad the aftermath of the hurricane, for the purposes of this book, took place in Miami and Homestead instead of Islamorada, because it would have been way too graphic otherwise.
If this subject interests you, I highly recommend Last Train to Paradise by Les Standiford, which was also mentioned in the author's notes.
I really enjoyed this book. The women had interesting stories and I quickly became swept up in their stories. I'm glad the aftermath of the hurricane, for the purposes of this book, took place in Miami and Homestead instead of Islamorada, because it would have been way too graphic otherwise.
If this subject interests you, I highly recommend Last Train to Paradise by Les Standiford, which was also mentioned in the author's notes.
Quick and easy and I liked seeing how the stories intertwined, but it is as forgettable as it was easy. The characters don’t have any depth and it leaves you with nothing to think about when you put it down. A year from now I’ll look at my list of books read in 2022, see this title, and say “Oh yeah…”
The Last Train to Key West takes us to 1933 in Key West, FL. Three women's paths intersect over Labor Day weekend as a hurricane looms on the horizon.
Key West-native Helen Berner is working at a diner despite being nine months pregnant and yearns to escape her abusive husband. Mirta Perez's family was left in a precarious position after the Cuban Revolution of 1933 and Mirta must do her duty to the family through an arranged marriage to an American. Mirta and her new husband arrive in the Keys on their honeymoon and she is torn between her growing attraction to her husband and the fear that her husband's business interests may be less than legitimate. Elizabeth Preston takes Flagler's railroad from New York to Key West searching for someone - a chance to save herself and her family from their troubles as a result of the Wall Street crash.
Chanel Cleeton's third book in the Cuba Saga was the first to stay in one time period, which I enjoyed a lot! This can be read as a stand-alone, but it is enriched by knowing how these characters and their families intersect with the prior two books. Cleeton's strength lies in her character's rich thoughts and emotions. The struggles, fears, and love that the women experience are palpable.
It cannot be easy to weave three stories together and make them equally captivating but it is no surprise that Cleeton is able to pull it off. She has come to be one of my favorite authors and I am excited to see where this series takes us next.
Key West-native Helen Berner is working at a diner despite being nine months pregnant and yearns to escape her abusive husband. Mirta Perez's family was left in a precarious position after the Cuban Revolution of 1933 and Mirta must do her duty to the family through an arranged marriage to an American. Mirta and her new husband arrive in the Keys on their honeymoon and she is torn between her growing attraction to her husband and the fear that her husband's business interests may be less than legitimate. Elizabeth Preston takes Flagler's railroad from New York to Key West searching for someone - a chance to save herself and her family from their troubles as a result of the Wall Street crash.
Chanel Cleeton's third book in the Cuba Saga was the first to stay in one time period, which I enjoyed a lot! This can be read as a stand-alone, but it is enriched by knowing how these characters and their families intersect with the prior two books. Cleeton's strength lies in her character's rich thoughts and emotions. The struggles, fears, and love that the women experience are palpable.
It cannot be easy to weave three stories together and make them equally captivating but it is no surprise that Cleeton is able to pull it off. She has come to be one of my favorite authors and I am excited to see where this series takes us next.
When I first saw The Last Train to Key West being promoted, I thought that we’d get to reconnect with the characters from Chanel Cleeton’s previous novels; however, while having a small connection, this book was completely different. It felt like an in-between book in a series, not exactly a sequel, but not wholly separate either.
The story kept my interest, and when the storm hit, I felt as though I were fighting to survive with the three women; but, the ending left me with many questions. I wouldn’t say I was satisfied, but I did enjoy the writing. Not my favorite from Chanel Cleeton, but not a total bomb either.
The story kept my interest, and when the storm hit, I felt as though I were fighting to survive with the three women; but, the ending left me with many questions. I wouldn’t say I was satisfied, but I did enjoy the writing. Not my favorite from Chanel Cleeton, but not a total bomb either.
Enjoyed this book even more than I thought it would. Perfectly riveting. Chanel Cleeton’s books just get better and better. This one has three points of view, all equally engaging regardless of which one you might sympathize with initially. The way the storylines weave together and a common theme threads through the three women’s lives is really cool. As with her previous two books, I get to learn about pieces of US and Cuban history that I didn’t know much about, or in this case with the hurricane, not at all. The historical parts are fully grounded in the characters so it’s exciting and resonant. Listened to this on audio and all three narrators were great. Beautiful writing. I’ll be getting the paper back next.
3.75. I liked it. It would be another good book club read. A happy medium between historical fiction and fiction.
This book was more romantic than I expected - all three leading female characters found ~love~, which seems corny to me. But the main event - the Labor Day hurricane of 1935 - wow, what a plot! It was thrilling, I would love to escape to Key West, and I finished the book quickly.
I'm sure Reese Witherspoon is working on her movie adaption right now, and you bet I'm going to watch it.
I'm sure Reese Witherspoon is working on her movie adaption right now, and you bet I'm going to watch it.
I've read many stories of the hurricane of 1935 in the Florida Keys, but this one put it all in perspective for me, possible because it was written in the different women's voices. All the women had their own story to tell. Flagler's Folly, the overseas railroad, was abandoned once and for all
