The Cuban Heiress & Someone Is Always Watching

Posted April 17, 2023 by Carole in Reviews / 14 Comments

I received this book for free from the publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

The Cuban Heiress & Someone Is Always WatchingThe Cuban Heiress by Chanel Cleeton
Narrator: Frankie Corzo, Rachel L. Jacobs
Published by Berkley Publishing Group, Penguin Random House Audio on April 11, 2023
Genres: Fiction / Hispanic & Latino
Length: 7 hours 13 minutes
Pages: 336
Format: ARC, Audiobook
Source: Publisher
Goodreads
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four-stars

In 1934, a luxury cruise becomes a fight for survival as two women’s pasts collide on a round-trip voyage from New York to Havana in New York Times bestselling author Chanel Cleeton's page-turning new novel inspired by the true story of the SS Morro Castle.

New York heiress Catherine Dohan seemingly has it all. There’s only one problem. It’s a lie. As soon as the Morro Castle leaves port, Catherine’s past returns with a vengeance and threatens her life. Joining forces with a charismatic jewel thief, Catherine must discover who wants her dead—and why.

Elena Palacio is a dead woman. Or so everyone thinks. After a devastating betrayal left her penniless and on the run, Elena’s journey on the Morro Castle is her last hope. Steeped in secrecy and a burning desire for revenge, her return to Havana is a chance to right the wrong that has been done to her—and her prey is on the ship.

As danger swirls aboard the Morro Castle and their fates intertwine, Elena and Catherine must risk everything to see justice served once and for all.

Well, this was exciting! I have enjoyed all of the books that Chanel Cleeton has written featuring women of Cuban heritage. This book had a bit of a different feel taking place on a cruise ship with enough excitement to qualify as a thriller. Catherine and Elena were both great characters and I loved that there were some pretty big surprises worked into the story. This was a fast-paced story that I found impossible to set aside once I started reading.

Catherine is accompanying her fiance and his young daughter on a round-trip cruise on the SS Morro Castle. Catherine isn’t the heiress that her future husband believes her to be and it isn’t long before she realizes her life is at risk. She ends up teaming up with Harry, a jewel thief, to discover who is behind the attempts on her life. Elena is aboard the same ship. Everyone believes her to be dead and she is determined to make her plan work.

I really enjoyed seeing these stories come together and I loved that there was plenty of excitement along the way. I loved the fact that there was enough romance worked around the action to keep things very interesting. I am always looking for a book that is able to surprise me and I am happy to report that some of the twists in this story did exactly that.

I listened to the audiobook and thought that the narrators did a phenomenal job with the story. I thought that Frankie Corzo and Rachel L. Jacobs both did a great job of bringing this story to life. Their voices complimented each other very nicely and I thought that they did a great job of adding just the right amount of emotion to the story. I am certain that their narration added to my enjoyment of this novel.

I would definitely recommend this book to others. This was an exciting story filled with great characters and just the right amount of romance. I cannot wait to read more of this talented author’s work.

I received a review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group and Penguin Random House Audio.

The Cuban Heiress & Someone Is Always WatchingSomeone Is Always Watching by Kelley Armstrong
Published by Tundra Books on April 11, 2023
Genres: Young Adult Fiction / Thrillers & Suspense / Psychological
Pages: 368
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher
Goodreads
Amazon | Audible | B&N | Kobo | Libro.fm
four-stars

Their lives are a lie. Their memories may not be real. A new young adult psychological thriller by #1 NYT bestselling author, Kelley Armstrong.

Blythe and her friends — Gabrielle, and brother and sister Tucker and Tanya — have always been a tight friend group, attending a local high school and falling in and out of love with each other. But an act of violence has caused a rift between Blythe and Tucker . . . and unexpected bursts of aggression and disturbing nightmares have started to become more frequent in their lives. 

The strange happenings culminate in a shocking event at school: Gabrielle is found covered in blood in front of their deceased principal, with no memory of what happened.  

Cracks in their friendship, as well as in their own memories, start appearing, threatening to expose long-forgotten secrets which could change the group’s lives forever. How can Blythe and her friends trust each other when they can’t even trust their own memories?

I am a fan of Kelley Armstrong’s work so I was eager to dive into her newest YA novel. I found this book to be fast-paced and entertaining. I was able to guess some of the twists but there were others that kept me guessing until the very end which was great since I am always looking for a book that can keep me guessing. I liked Blythe and the rest of the characters and thought that they dealt with an impossible situation very well. The story was probably completely unrealistic but fun to read.

Blythe’s friend Gabrielle has a couple of breakdowns at school which has everyone wondering what is really happening. I enjoyed watching the pieces slowly fall into place as we learn the events that lead up to this event. Blythe, Tucker, Tanya, and Gabrielle have always been friends but after an incident, there is some attention between Tucker and Blythe. I couldn’t wait to see how things would work out.

I would recommend this book to others. This book had me questioning what was real as I tried to piece everything together. I think that readers who enjoy psychological thrillers will enjoy this entertaining read.

I received a digital review copy of this book from Tundra Books.

14 responses to “The Cuban Heiress & Someone Is Always Watching

  1. I am super excited for Kelley’s book! I couldn’t find it at the bookstores when I went out Friday, but I finally found a copy yesterday! I love Kelley’s books but am SO behind on her backlist titles. Mostly these standalone thrillers! Plus a few novella collections I wanted to read as well and a few self published titles…so very, very, very behind! Lol! Glad to hear that this one was a winner!

  2. I think when I read her historical fictions’ I am going to do it in audio, I hear they are so fabulous. Love that you enjoyed the Cleeton so much darling! And as long as it has some romance, I will be a happy camper haha

  3. One of the things I always love about the Cuba books is how Cleeton connects the characters. I remember being most impressed with the Key West book for that reason.

  4. I’ve heard such good things about the new Armstrong book. I haven’t read her books in SOOO long and I’m looking forward to finding this on audio (If I can)

  5. The Cuban Heiress sounds really good! I love Kelley Armstrong, but one read one of her YA mysteries that was just okay for me. I’m just waiting for my turn to come up at the library for it.

  6. I just got on the hold list for The Cuban Heiress. I’ve been wanting to read Chanel Cleeton for ages and own several of her books but this sounds like a must read for me. The Kelley Armstrong book sounds intriguing and a bit mind bending!