The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba

April 1, 2021
Cleeton's latest historical novel in her dazzling Cuba series, following The Last Train to Key West (2020), features another member of the P�rez family, Marina, and her struggles during the Spanish American War as she is disowned by her well-to-do family and separated from her beloved rebel husband. The ""Beautiful Girl"" of the title is based on the real-life Evangelina Cisneros, whose daring escape from a Havana prison was orchestrated by newspaper mogul William Randolph Hearst as part of his campaign to convince the U.S. to declare war on Spain. Hearst reporter Grace Harrington, a spunky Nelly Bly type, also pushes against the sexist constrictions of the time. These three women tell their stories in alternating sections set during 1896-98. Although raised in privilege, they lose status because of their integrity and refusal to bow to the expectations of their class. Ultimately, they find themselves struggling for survival while fighting for their country's independence and, in Grace's case, for her own. With a splash of romance and a healthy helping of history, this novel will be a hit for all collections.

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