Reviewed by Cheryl K

TITLE: Havana Bay

SERIES: Tides of Change book 2

AUTHOR: John Patrick

PUBLISHER: Nine Star Press

LENGTH: 354 pages

RELEASE DATE: June 27, 2023

BLURB:

Cuba, 1952.

Twenty-year-old Ernesto Ruiz is determined to save his family’s cigar business by exporting directly to the American market, but he’ll need to learn about American customs and lifestyles first. That’s why he takes a part-time job at an American guest house.

Hank Mannix, a beefcake magazine model, enjoys his carefree life in Havana, where new men come and go every week. But his immediate attraction to the new gardener is different. He’s drawn to the young man in a way he’s never experienced before.

A fateful encounter in the garden results in a misunderstanding that upends both their lives. As they begin to acknowledge the true depth of their feelings for each other, they must navigate through a city and country on the brink of revolution. Ernesto and Hank strive to secure their own happiness in a world where the future is uncertain, and their love is forbidden.

With vivid historical detail and memorable characters, Havana Bay is a captivating story of love and revolution in a time of change.

REVIEW:

Havana Bay is the third book in the Tides of Change series. A couple of housekeeping notes, you really need to read the previous books in the series. This story builds on the characters established in the previous book, Turtle Bay. This story takes us to Havana, Cuba of the early 1950’s. Where we get to see the seedier underbelly of Havana and how Fidel Castro came into power. This story covers a time in our history that had a profound impact on the lives of so many. Our main characters in this story are Ernesto and Hank. The looming crisis now is the impact of Castro’s ideologies and America’s lack of forethought, when trying to involve themselves in the political situation in Cuba.

Mr. Patrick’s worldbuilding is stellar and encapsulates the wide-ranging aspects of Cuba in the 1950’s. We have rural farms, an urbanized city life, and casinos that encourage the class system in Cuba. We see the impact of the Cigar factory life versus a life of academia- which is only available to a certain class of young men.

Throughout all of this we get to revisit characters from the previous book and get a glimpse into the life of American’s living in Cuba. Hans, one of the main characters from the previous book, and Arthur make prominent appearances as wonderfully fleshed out, side characters. Which create the backdrop for Ernesto and Hank to meet and begin to find their way to each other. Our main characters are witty and provocative, thoughtful and rash. They are so well written; I wish I could meet these interesting men in person.

“The priest looked at Mannix, who was standing just outside the open driver’s door. “Movie star,” he said carefully in English.

“Sure, Pops,” Mannix responded, borrowing a phrase from Matt and knowing the priest couldn’t understand him. “Maybe with the right agent, and better clothes, you could make a go of it.”

“Not him,” Ernesto said from the other side of the car. “You. I told him you were a movie star shooting a film in Cuba. He’s a priest; I couldn’t lie to him.”

Mannix grinned. A movie star! I can work with that.”

If you love history as much as I do, you need to immerse yourself in this book and this series. I can’t recommend this book or this series enough. I’m looking forward to getting my hands on the next book in this series.

RATING:

BUY LINKS:

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