Beautiful America: A Cuban Story

Cuba in 1958 was primed for revolution. President Bautista's regime had opened the island up to the United States investors. This included American mobsters and corruption. The average Cuban citizen did not frequent the mob run casinos. Most lived in poverty and labored in the sugar cane and fruit fields owned by American interest. Castro was winning the war and the hearts of many of these Cuban citizens. Those that supported Democracy and fought for its survival would soon experience the reality of defeat and ultimately Communism in the Western Hemisphere.

This well written book explains the extraordinary lengths of one Cuban family attempting to stay together and alive during the Revolution at all cost. Lieutenant Rigoberto Gonzalez was serving in the Army to protect his country and family. Believing that the United States would soon intervene he continued to support the Bautista government. He was also struggling with personal demons that effected his decisions on the battlefield. This battle within would ultimately lead him to a dark place with only days to live.

His mother America was a hardened woman that was not very capable of showing warmth or love to anyone in her life. She had been rejected by her family and forced to raise her son alone. It took the events of the Revolution for her to see what truly mattered in life. She would sacrifice everything to save her only son and help keep their family together.

Juanita Gonzalez was Rigo's wife and trying to raise her two young children in the middle of a revolution with her husband off fighting in the war. Her resolve and commitment to her family would either lead to freedom or their ultimate demise. Her actions would have to be sound and she would need to be stronger than the Revolution itself to survive.