An epic tale of one man's strength, courage, and luck - plus a haunting family secret that spans an ocean and sixty-five years.
"Some people suggested that I was born under a lucky star. I wanted so much to believe this chisme from our gossipy neighbors and friends. I remember those nights as a young child when Mam would tuck me into bed and I would look up into the inky-black Caribbean sky searching for the brightest star."
Max grows up in a broken home with persistent health issues, an abusive stepfather, a weak mother, and a few questionable friends. Max's young life is nothing more than a mess of troubles and mysteries. Regardless of his bonds to family traditions, Max finds some solace on the streets of Havana, carousing with his compadres and playing the charada numbers that bring him a steady string of good fortune on the local lottery. But he is eventually sent off to America on his own to start a new life and to find his real fortune. After all, how long can Max hinge all his hopes and dreams on his lucky stars and vague heavenly whispers? Can random wagers continue to bring Max the success and worth he always dreamed of?
It isn't until he is confronted with his family's long-hidden secret that Max begins to discover what luck and true value is all about.
This is the story of Max Chastine, a man who tries to outnumber and outrun life's lucky and not-so-lucky twists of fate. Born into a unique culture of a tight (and often judgmental) Jewish community in Havana, Cuba, Max is forced to figure out his place in the world and convince everyone, including himself, of his true value and worth.
Love and family--can that combination be beat?
Will secrets of the past continue to haunt?
Can success really be measured in numbers?
