An historic and tumultuous election year, simultaneous with a global pandemic, back-burnered many of the commemorations of the passage of the 19th Amendment. But this book has a message that, perhaps, becomes even more meaningful as political winds blow from differing directions. Your favorite writers personalize a social upheaval that has shaped all our lives, writing short vignettes that can easily be wedged into your reading day. What could be better? Definitely recommend and give copies to your friends, too.

Chanel Cleeton knows how to construct a tightly written, attention holding novel; this is the third of her novels that I've enjoyed reading in as many years. Three contrasting female characters, each sympathetically portrayed, have individual plots that interweave ever more tightly as a destructive hurricane stalks 1935 Key West. This is a page turner that should allow interesting discussions about how individual women define themselves and how they face adversity. The historical context is laid out clearly, but without distracting from the sheer pleasure of reading to see what happens next.

The premise of the plot of "The Secrets We Kept" was intriguing, but the writing and structure never delivered the punch I anticipated. Honestly, the characters (and there are many!) were never developed or nuanced to a degree that made me care what happened to them, one way or the other. The Cold War atmosphere was well portrayed. This will not be a book I recommend to people who are interested in literature or the Cold War or a compelling narrative.

"When We Left Cuba: A Novel" is an excellent companion piece to Chanel Cleeton's previous novel, "Next Year in Havana", although it easily stands alone. The first person narrator, Beatriz, is embroiled in the emotions and politics of wealthy Palm Beach Cubans in 1960 who have been forced to leave everything behind in Havana, including the grave of her beloved twin brother, a casualty of Castro's revolution. The story offers an accurate and nuanced description of the political and social passions at work, interwoven with a compelling romance. Rich material for numerous discussions by a book group!

As a reader who enjoys strong women characters – bright, determined, not a victim or damsel in distress – Beatriz resonated and held my respect and interest. Cleeton's writing is well-paced, producing a first rate page turner. This is no mean feat, given that the broad outlines of history are well known. I enjoyed every page and will recommend it to my friends who love an unusual and unpredictable reading adventure.

"Havana" is a nicely written introduction to this great city and its history and current culture. I have traveled there twice and regret this book was not available during my preparatory reading. A very accurate description of the area, devoid of romantic prose or political bias, my only regret was the lack of any mention of the ever prevalent signs of Santeria; is it a widespread religious practice, representative of the culture, or simply more of a touristic anomaly? The many wonderful novels about life in Cuba, before, during, and after the Revolution, may paint more emotional pictures, but a person wishing to grasp quickly a solid, factual summary of this city in current times will find this a fast and useful read.