In A Painted Lily by Angela Hoke, Tony is living a successful life as a real estate agent in Miami. He was brought to the US in the wake of the oppressive regime of Fidel Castro. But when tragedy hits his family, his eyes are opened and he suddenly learns that the past he believed was his wasn’t real, and that he might not even have fled with his family. He and his brother were rescued and evacuated by an operation orchestrated by the Catholic Church to save the children, bringing them to the US. So what actually happened to his family? This is a gripping story of love and friendship, of family and a man’s search for his roots, and the role played by a woman whose friendship could make a huge difference.

I enjoyed this story and it was fun to watch the friendship between Tony Ramirez and Becca. The story has a lot of dramatic moments that readers will savor. The characters are well-imagined. The friendship between Becca and Tony is well-developed and the reader keeps on reading, considering what could happen to the two in the end. Through a masterful use of suspense and a powerful conflict, Angela Hoke succeeds in holding the attention of readers throughout the story. I knew there was no way I was going to stop reading because of the power of the prose and the compelling characters. I also enjoyed the historical references and the way the themes are seamlessly woven into the plot. A Painted Lily is a story with a gripping plot and characters that feel as real as they are entertaining.

Carlos and Ramona Ramirez emigrated from Havana, Cuba, to Miami, Florida, after the revolution in the 1960s, with their five children. The novel, A Painted Lily, written by Angela Hoke, is set in 2004, with youngest son Tony and his best friend Becca as the main characters. Becca is a social worker with the Cuban American Advocacy Group (CAAG). She also is in love with Tony, who considers her to be only a friend. There is a closeness between them, highlighted by honesty, good food and drink, and salsa dancing. After Ramona’s death, Tony discovers he did not arrive in the US with his family, but arrived later. He and Becca travel to Cuba to unravel this mystery, and their relationship is forever changed.

Author Angela Hoke accomplishes much within her novel, A Painted Lily. She captures the culture of Cuba and its people, in both the ‘60’s and now. She also describes the culture of the large Cuban community in Miami. Adding to this, Ms. Hoke delves into family and romantic relationships in both eras. The trip to Cuba involves adventure and intrigue. The story is written from the points of view of Tony and Becca; each one alternatively telling the story. This also enables the author to reveal the inner thoughts of each character. While Tony and Becca are the main characters, other characters, such as the Ramirez siblings and parents, Rosa and the nuns in Havana, and Becca’s girlfriend Lena, add to the richness of the story. The novel is easy to read, and the reader is engaged from beginning to end. This is a great novel – complex, interesting and entertaining.