The Last Train to Key West

Great story about a part of history I didn't know anything about. Books like this remind me of the power of story to help us understand what happened in our history with context and in a way that we will remember. This author approaches historical fiction with the intent to honor history and will re-tool the plot when her research uncovers information that require it. It's impressive. This book centers around three women who are all in different types of trouble and whose lives intersect during the Labor Day hurricane of 1935 that hit the Florida keys. There were many influences on people living in the keys during this time that are demonstrated through the story: The depression, the veterans from WWI that have come home and the government has given them jobs working on Flagler's railroad through the keys, a large criminal element tied to NY mob activity in the keys at this time; the end of prohibition a few years prior during which the keys played a large part in smuggling, the 1933 Cuban revolution and changes in society happening during this time. The author somehow was able to weave all these things together into a story that felt like anything but a history lesson. The characters may not all be likeable, but they are believable and there is a lot to discuss here. This would be a good book club pick, particularly during hurricane season!

After finishing the first two books in this series, I anticipated the other books would include the stories of the other sisters…maybe even their mom. When I started this one, I quickly realized the women in this book weren’t the women I expected the book to be about. I was extremely disappointed. I felt the wind just leave my sails… But I sucked it up and read the book anyway, because that’s what I do. I had to be able to put aside my “dreams” for this series and see this book as a separate entity. It’s pretty clear the women in this book are tied to the Perez women previously introduced, but it wasn’t obvious as to how (until you get to the end and see the family tree, that helped tie it all in). The women in this book are fierce. Each has their own massive problems to bear, and each has their own love story to weave. They all face terrifying situations, and all of them collectively have to also survive the storm. I’m not going to say anything else about the story because I hate spoilers, but just know the outcomes are fantastic. There was the story of the battered woman, the wife stuck in an arranged marriage to a man she didn’t know, and the woman running away from a life she didn’t want. Each ends up in a better place. These women are tied to the Perez sisters introduced in the first two books, but their stories are far removed from those women. It became my favorite of these books simply because these women determined their own fate, and they did it with powerful determination in a time when women weren’t allowed to take their lives into their own hands.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 This is an engrossing novel about three women whose lives intersect during a hurricane in the Florida Keys in 1933. All three women are dealing with different difficulties, and the author explores them well. The descriptions of the aftermath of the hurricane were heartbreaking.

Nothing short of perfect. Historical romance at its finest. Not gonna lie, When We Left Cuba by Chanel Cleeton was my favourite read of 2019 and has now taken place as one of my favourite books, so I went into this as biased as can be, but it was fantastic nonetheless. The humanity with which she approached the tragedy that was the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane (an event I myself was ignorant of before reading the blurb of this book) was one of the best features of the story. Amazing, showstopping, brilliant.

My most anticipated book of the year and it did not disappoint! I love how characters we have met previously are intertwined in this 1930s historical fiction. Chanel Cleeton is an amazing writer who paints the historical backdrop of the Florida Keys in an enticing way! This is the absolute perfect summer read! All of the characters are well written and each woman has her own fantastic story that you just cannot put down! I personally loved learning about the aunt, Mirta, and her journey from Havana a few decades before her family. Elizabeth Preston was also so intriguing as we were introduced to her in the last book. I am not sure if there will be another, but I do hope so! I do not want to leave this family yet!

Find this review and more at kimberlyfaye reads. When I pick up one of Chanel's historical fiction books, I find myself sucked right into the world immediately. Her writing paints a vivid picture and I feel as though I'm walking through the streets alongside the characters. Her passion for history and the characters whose stories she's telling comes through in every single word. In The Last Train to Key West, she weaves the story of three very different women together in an absolutely exquisite way. The backdrop for this book is the Labor Day holiday weekend of 1935. History has never been my strong suit so I didn't know this going in, but the hurricane that devastated the Florida Keys that weekend is one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes on record. If I'd been aware, I'd likely have been more prepared for just how intense this book was at times. I was quite literally on the edge of my seat waiting to see how things would go for Helen, Mirta and Elizabeth. I was equally invested in each of their lives (and loves) and I couldn't get enough.  If you're a romance reader who is thinking about branching out into historical fiction, I can't recommend Chanel's books highly enough. While Next Year in Havana, When We Left Cuba and The Last Train to Key West are all standalones, I'd still suggest reading all of them in order. If you're an audio reader, the audios are fantastic. Or at least the two I've listened to have been. I'm going to need to reread this book soon and I plan to do it via audiobook. Chanel's words, characters and world-building are like no other. I received a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Favorite Quotes: Leaving seems impossible when you're walking away from all you've known, when the stakes are life and death.  "The running of this world is left to men, and quite frankly, I'm not impressed with what they've done with it."  "I hate to tell you, but there's no such thing as a 'right time' in life. Things happen when they need to happen. The rest sort of falls into place." "There's so much broken around us; maybe all we can do is try to fix each other, do what we can to preserve these precious moments in a world where there is so much sadness and loss."

i’m in love with this authors writing!