Reviews tagging 'Fire/Fire injury'

The Cuban Heiress by Chanel Cleeton

12 reviews

yvo_about_books's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional mysterious fast-paced

4.5

Finished reading: May 24th 2024


“It's a delicate balancing act to keep all the lies I've told straight, to keep everything from going up in flames.”

It's no secret that I consider Chanel Cleeton to be one of my favorite historical fiction authors, and her stories haven't let me down yet. I've been meaning to read The Cuban Heiress ever since it was published last year, but somehow once again it took me longer than expected to do so. I'm SO glad I finally did pick it up though, because I ended up having an absolutely fantastic time with this story! There is just something about her writing style that draws you straight in, and I literally flew through this book. The Cuban Heiress uses a dual POV structure, where we switch between Elena and Catherine during their journey aboard the SS Morro Castle. I found both women to be intriguing from the very beginning, although Elena's story was the more gripping of the two. The active cheating in Catherine's POV was not my cup of tea, although with everything explained in the end and Raymond being such a despicable character it is quite easy to forgive her. The plot is less intricate than some of her other books, but between the writing and the characters I was more than entertained. I do always love a story set on a ship! There was mystery, there was intrigue, there was romance, there was revenge, there was murder, there was an explosive ending... And a lightning-fast pace to get you there. I also loved that it was partly based on real events! The Cuban Heiress was yet another winner for me and I've yet to rate her stories below 4.5 stars. Recommended! 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

gretchface85's review

Go to review page

adventurous mysterious fast-paced
I believe I put this audiobook on hold after it was recommended by Anne Bogel. I have like 5 other books I’m trying to finish and yet I ended up listening to this (at x1.5) and finished it in a day. 
I am in the early stages of planning a cruise vacation and thought it would be fun to read a book set on a cruise ship.  However, I was wrong 😂 If you see me reading a book on a ship in the next few months, please tell me to stop unless it’s a light hearted comedy where nothing goes wrong 😇
Ok, as far as the book itself goes, I enjoyed it! I think I rolled my eyes at some of the characters actions but overall I thought it was a good plot and definitely worth a listen if you can get it through your library. It would be just as good in print. Not my top book of the year, but I’m glad I read it and it has a worthwhile authors note at the end! That’s always a plus for me. 
Have you read this?
Do you have any fun cruise themed books I should read? 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

keelirae113's review

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

tctimlin's review

Go to review page

adventurous emotional mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

Cleeton has taken a real event (the unexplained fire in 1934 on the cruise ship Castle Morro on its return from Havana to NYC) and used it as a jumping off point to craft a tale of intrigue.  The two women protagonists include a Cuban woman believed to be dead stowing away to Havana and a servant-class woman posing as an heiress to snag a rich fiancé.  Or at least that’s what appears to be going on when the book opens.  But there are deceptions, murder attempts, smuggling, and thievery, and a little bit of romance, all of which keeps the book moving quickly, until our fictional characters run into actual history and the boat catches fire.  

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

paigedent's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional informative mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

0.5

Really intriguing mystery. Interconnected characters. Learn a lot about specific historical event. And interesting relationships. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

jilliebeen2003's review

Go to review page

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

kimveach's review

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional informative mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This is a super fast read.  I finished it in one sleepless night.  I loved the mystery, the 1934 setting, and the story based upon the SS Morro Castle.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

emmas_bookshelf's review

Go to review page

mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I have enjoyed and learned something from all of Chanel Cleeton’s historical fiction books and this was no exception! One thing I did think was a bit different about this one is that while political tensions in Cuba are certainly mentioned, they’re much more in the background than being a focus of the story. The actual focus here is the POVs of two women on a round trip cruise from NYC to Havana in the midst of the Great Depression, and unraveling the mystery of why they’re on the ship and what their missions are. It was very twisty and intriguing! 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

amberlfaris's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

lindsayerin's review

Go to review page

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5


Expand filter menu Content Warnings