4 out of 4 stars
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It is everything that she has ever dreamt of, and more. She is finally able to forget her financial woes. Natasha can now relax and let the man of her dreams take care of her. Still, there are red flags constantly glaring at her, yet, she forges forward with her new found love. Unlike the undependable Sergei, Hassan treats her like a queen, lavishing her with all manner of gifts. Natasha is blinded by the pretentious gestures; she stubbornly refuses to acknowledge his hidden agenda.
Meanwhile, Carl cannot bring himself to accept the death of his fiancé. Even though her death occurred years earlier, he still wishes she was there with him. He can still remember her smile and warmth and how she held him through the death of his parents. All Carl knows now is to survive each moment and live a day at a time. His hope of new love seems to have been lost when the fatal accident that took away his first love happened.
Natasha's Ukraine by Rob Ottesen is set in the heightened political upheaval of Ukraine. The culture, political climate and economic status of the country are reflected in the book which adds a rich twist to the main plot. Ottesen does a great job of balancing history while creating a captivating story that reflects some prevailing issues that plague the nation of Ukraine.
The themes captured by the author in Natasha’s Ukraine are important to today’s society and they helped me appreciate the strength of the Ukrainian people and their will to continue and hope for a better life despite what they have been through. Even though the book is not meant to be a historical account of the happenings of the country, it still sheds light on many issues prevalent in the region and the beauty of the Ukrainians’ culture and unique cuisine.
The main characters in the book represented the themes of the account enthrallingly. Rob Ottesen captures the different backgrounds of Carl and Natasha which brings out their contrasting natures and ultimately compounded my suspense as I could not wait to find out how two people coming from such different backgrounds could merge to be a complete union. The plot is also realistic and includes challenging moments and some happy ones too. It also shows the characters’ flaws as well as strengths. Natasha appears to be strong-willed and ambitious. While in many instances this can be considered as a strength, sometimes her character acts against her.
Natasha’s Ukraine is a fascinating read. The characters, the plot and background all come together to bring out an unforgettable story. Overall, it is very engaging and informative. I rate it 4 out of 4 stars.
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Natasha's Ukraine
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