Chanel Cleeton
At the end of the nineteenth century, three revolutionary women fight for freedom in New York Times bestselling author Chanel Cleeton’s captivating new novel inspired by real-life events and the true story of a legendary Cuban woman–Evangelina Cisneros–who changed the course of history.
A feud rages in Gilded Age New York City between newspaper tycoons William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer. When Grace Harrington lands a job at Hearst’s newspaper in 1896, she’s caught in a cutthroat world where one scoop can make or break your career, but it’s a story emerging from Cuba that changes her life.
Unjustly imprisoned in a notorious Havana women’s jail, eighteen-year-old Evangelina Cisneros dreams of a Cuba free from Spanish oppression. When Hearst learns of her plight and splashes her image on the front page of his paper, proclaiming her, “The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba,” she becomes a rallying cry for American intervention in the battle for Cuban independence.
With the help of Marina Perez, a courier secretly working for the Cuban revolutionaries in Havana, Grace and Hearst’s staff attempt to free Evangelina. But when Cuban civilians are forced into reconcentration camps and the explosion of the USS Maine propels the United States and Spain toward war, the three women must risk everything in their fight for freedom.
-Excerpt taken from Goodreads.
Check Goodreads to see the book’s ratings.
My Opinion
(4 / 5) In reading this book, I had to know if it was true. There were details that didn’t sound author-made, but had a hint of truth. I was right, this book is based on the very real stories of three women.
We hear from each POV; a reporter in NY, and two Cuban women. Their stories are woven intricately with glimpses into each of their lives. The atrocities of war are brought to light and the lengths that reporters will go through for a story.
I have two complaints of the book; one, it seemed very long. Word count was high even if the pages were not. Second, it didn’t evoke any emotion. Historical novels tend to be a great combination of an educational experience while hitting you in the feels. While this one is very well written, there were many instances I felt I should be sad or mortified and I didn’t feel anything. So while I loved the experience of reading this, and loved learning so many new things, it didn’t stick with me like I would’ve preferred.
However, a good historical fiction makes me walk away with new information that I haven’t heard before. I do feel like I got a small glimpse into this time period and that I came away with new knowledge and a new appreciation for what these people went through.
Thank you to Berkley publishing for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
Content Summary: attempted rape, violence, horrible prison conditions, 1 sex scene, minimal language, war details and scenes, death of a loved one, losing virginity (very few details),
Thank you to Berkley for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. The book release May 4, 2021!
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Nice review! I learned a lot by reading this one! My fav character was the newspaper woman!
Sounds like your four star rating was generous! Fun that you both featured it this week
It’s always disappointing when historical fiction can’t make me have an emotional reaction.