Two New 4-star Reviews for HTLN

Long and Short Reviews
4 stars

However Long the Night by David Pereda
Publisher: Eternal Press
genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery Length: Full Length (281 pgs)
Heat Level: spicy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Poppy

Cuban-born, award-winning Miami Architect and successful real estate developer Cid Milan suddenly faces a dilemma when his dying father reveals to him a shocking twenty-five year old family secret. Cid realizes there is only one thing he can do to unravel the mystery of his own past and right the wrongs committed. He must return to the land he abandoned. In his quest, Cid rediscovers himself and his roots as he searches frantically throughout Cuba for his teenage flame, Sandra, and the secret she kept from him all these years. In the process, Cid learns an invaluable lesson about love, forgiveness and redemption which changes his life forever.

However Long the Night was a gritty, incredibly realistic portayal of life for Cid Milan, a Cuban who came to America more than twenty years prior to the story's real beginning. Cid wasn't always the most heroic of heroes, at least not at the start. I admit I struggled to like him for the first several chapters. He's arrogant, selfish and I wasn't overly impressed with his moral compass (especially about what caused an estrangement between him and his brother, Manny). Still, as time and pages passed, it became clear that Cid was molded by his past and that underneath the outer layer was a man with a good heart and a sense of right and wrong. I may not have always agreed with his behavior or choices, but I understood the reason why he acted the way he did.

This story is layered with conflict over conflict, from the discovery of a family secret and Cid's decision to return to Cuba and the things he learns there, to the internal machinations of people looking to betray Cid within Cid's own company. There's so much going on sometimes, it leaves the reader breathless.

I thorougly enjoyed reading about Cuba. For most of us here in America, Cuba is a land of mystery. We know little about it, and Mr. Pereda certainly embued his story with loads of information about the country: its sights, sounds and people -- the good and the bad.

I think the story really gained traction once it entered Cuba. More questions were posed, intrigues about Cid's father's past there and the hunt for Sandra, the love of Cid's young life and mother of the son he never knew. The author writes with flavor and sensual detail. Occasionally, it slowed the story, but the reader is never truly bored. Perhaps it's only because we have so many questions and worries that we get frustrated when things don't move forward quickly enough to satisfy the need to discover just what's going to happen.

Overall, though, I recommend However Long the Night, not as a romance as it's billed by the publisher, though there are romantic elements, but as a fascinating suspense with a Cuban flavor and a completely satisfying ending.

posted May 25, 2012

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Amazon Reviews

Judy Thomas - 4 stars

This review is from: However Long the Night (Paperback)

He's handsome, rich, successful, and in a relationship with a beautiful model. He has it all--or does he? Nobody realizes the emptiness inside caused by what he perceives as the betrayal and rejection of the one woman he loved. When his father reveals the truth of that, events are set in motion which will forever change Cid Milan.

However Long the Night is very much a plot-driven book. There were some very interesting characters--loved the blonde porn stars mom and daughter--but they were not the focus of the book. The story was...and there were enough twists, turns, and almost-misses to keep me reading to find out what happened.

There was one character in the book that overshadowed the others--and the changes in that character, the effects those changes had on the plot were vital--Cuba itself. I was fascinated by seeing Cuba through the eyes of Cid--the Cuba he remembered, the Cuba he returned to.

All in all, However Long the Night was a very interesting book, and I look forward to reading more of David Pereda's work.

posted May 25, 2012

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You may recognize Judy Thomas' name, especially those of you who follow the GoddessFish Tours.

That's it for today.

David