The Ambassador's Wife

by Jennifer Steil

From a real-life ambassador's wife comes a harrowing novel about the kidnapping of an American woman in the Middle East and the heartbreaking choices she and her husband each must make in the hope of being reunited.
 
When bohemian artist Miranda falls in love with Finn, the British ambassador to an Arab country, she finds herself thrust into a life for which she has no preparation. The couple and their toddler daughter live in a stately mansion with a staff to meet their every need, but for Miranda even this luxury comes at a price: the loss of freedom. Trailed everywhere by bodyguards to protect her from the dangers of a country wracked by civil war and forced to give up work she loves, she finds her world shattered when she is taken hostage, an act of terror with wide-reaching consequences.

Diplomatic life is a far cry from Miranda’s first years in Mazrooq, which were spent painting and mentoring a group of young Muslim women, teaching them to draw in ways forbidden in their culture. As the novel weaves together past and present, we come to see how Finn and Miranda’s idealism and secrets they have each sought to hide have placed them and those who trust them in peril. And when Miranda grows close to a child who shares her captivity, it is not clear that even being set free would restore the simple happiness that once was hers and Finn’s. Suspenseful and moving, The Ambassador’s Wife is a story of love, marriage, and friendship tested by impossible choices.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Middle East, Book Club, Audiobook, Romance, Contemporary

390 pages, Hardcover

First published July 28, 2015

About the author

Jennifer Steil is an award-winning novelist and memoirist who lives in many countries. She left the United States in 2006 to take a job as editor of a newspaper in Sana’a, Yemen, where she lived for four years. Her first book, The Woman Who Fell From the Sky, was inspired by her Yemeni reporters. She began writing her first novel, The Ambassador’s Wife, after she was kidnapped when pregnant with her daughter. That experience became the first scene of the novel. She and her infant daughter were evacuated from Yemen after her husband Tim Torlot, a British diplomat, was attacked by a suicide bomber. They lived in Amman, Jordan, until his posting ended and he could join them in London. In 2012, they moved to La Paz, Bolivia. Early in her time there, Steil met Jewish Bolivians whose families had fled the Nazis in Europe during World War II. Their stories inspired her third book, Exile Music. She now lives in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

The Ambassador’s Wife won the William Faulkner-William Wisdom Creative Writing Competition Best Novel award and the 2016 Phillip McMath Post Publication book award. It was shortlisted for both the Bisexual Book Award and the Lascaux Novel Award, and has received considerable critical acclaim, notably in the Seattle Times, Publishers Weekly, Booklist, and The New York Times Book Review. It has been published in several other languages, including Italian, Bulgarian, Greek, and Polish. The Mark Gordon Company optioned the film rights to The Ambassador’s Wife, with plans to create a television miniseries starring Anne Hathaway.

Jennifer’s first book, The Woman Who Fell From the Sky (Broadway Books, 2010), a memoir about her tenure as editor of the Yemen Observer newspaper in Sana’a, received praise from The New York Times, Newsweek, and the Sydney Morning Herald. The Minneapolis Star-Tribune chose it as one of their best travel books of the year in 2010, and Elle magazine awarded it their Readers’ Prize. National Geographic Traveler included the book in their 2014 recommended reading list. It has been published in Australia, New Zealand, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Turkey, and Poland.

Steil’s stories and articles have appeared in the New Orleans Review, Saranac Review, World Policy Journal, The Week, Time, Life, Peauxdunque Review, The Washington Times, Vogue UK, Die Welt, New York Post, The Rumpus, and France 24.

She was born in Boston in 1968 and grew up in Groton, Massachusetts. She attended the Putney School in Vermont and studied theater at Oberlin College. After spending four years working as an actor, her frustrations with the limited range of roles available to women drove her to begin writing. She completed an MFA in Creative Writing at Sarah Lawrence College and an MS in Journalism at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. She is currently working on a new novel as part of her dissertation for a PhD in Creative Writing at the University of Birmingham in the UK.

Reviews

[Elyse Walters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook….read by Orlagh Cassidy, Euan Morton
…..15 hours and 52 minutes

This was the second book I ‘listened’ to by Jennifer Steil. Having never forgotten how ‘much’ I enjoyed “Exile Music”….(fabulous storytelling- and worked so well in the audiobook format), I knew I wanted to try ‘another’ book by Jennifer Steil ….[one day]….
Ha….in the busy world of ‘book-choosing-desirables’!!!!

And….THAT’S it…..(now TWO MEMORABLE Historical Fiction books by Steil…I’m a fan!!!)

“Exile Music” is still my ‘favorite’ of the two Steil-novels I’ve read so far —- but “The Ambassador’s Wife” comes damn close — BOTH 5 star ratings from me ….

This story FIT THE NEED I HAD A CRAVING FOR….
….a return to old fashion storytelling [taking place in a fictional town in the uncompromising Islamic country] ….
….sweeping me into a world — so far away from my own — [but I’ve traveled in the Middle East]….
…..with luscious sensory feelings, gripping suspense tension, filled with moral quandaries—ethical paradoxes to examine—artistic creations, sexuality, gender divisions, freedom in the Arab world, idealism vs. realism, security restrictions, a mother’s natural reflex to protect her child, indignation, anger, fear, guilt, sadness >
THE PIERCING EMOTIONAL DIALOGUE was VIVID & GRIPPING….
….looking at the historical horrors of terrorism, the suppression of women, devastating injustice, adoption, politics -cultural challenges >
…..centered around a bisexual bohemian American artist (Miranda), and a British diplomat (Finn) > a kidnapping > a marriage > a child (Cressie) > women’s cross-cultural friendships > love, forbidden love, ……
AMAZING STORYTELLING…..
I was mentally, and emotionally spent by the end….and the last section of this book is gripping!

Interesting timing that I read (listened) to this ‘now’.
I became so exhausted…frustrated… with the unsettling news of Sally Rooney the past couple of days with her refusal to allow Israeli publishers to translate her new book in Hebrew (cultural boycotting stand)….
And then….to wake up this morning to learn of the god-awful news about the bombing at a Shiite mosque in Kandahar/Afghanistan….killing more than 37 people (a suicide attack), following another suicide bombing that killed over 100 people just a week ago … at another Shiite mosque in the northern city of Kunduz….. >>>> representing that our world it’s still filled with sadness, and anger. Our planet so very fragile.

Jennifer Steil ( my hats off to her!!!)…..is a very talented historical fiction storyteller…. knowing [just right] how to balance ethical barometers - with personal vivid intimacy.

Simply terrific!

[☮Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This takes place in a fictional Muslim country, and I wondered how close to the truth were the fundamentals of the story since the author based it partly on her own experiences. Miranda is the wife of Finn, a good man and the British ambassador to Mazrooq, but we also learn much about her past before Finn swept her off her feet. Finn was her first true love of the male gender; she had come to this land to be with a woman, something that at first she thinks no one knows and then later gets her into a spot of trouble. She was an artist who acquired an affinity with four Mazrooqi women who shared her passion for painting, something prohibited by their religion. Especially prohibited was painting of human or animal forms, but Miranda encouraged the women to meet with her to paint whatever they wished, wanting to stimulate some freedom for these repressed women no matter how rudimentary. Miranda must keep all the paintings hidden away for fear of the punishment and/or banishment of these women, and herself, should they be discovered by authorities. But her goal is to some day display the wonderful talent of these women, and to help them become somewhat more liberated, within the boundaries of country and religion.

She brings all her baggage into Finn's life and home when they marry and have a daughter. All is bliss until Miranda is abducted while on a hike with her bodyguard and two other women. When Miranda's women, as she called them, offered to help Finn find her, I thought my heart would break.

Miranda did not fit the mold of what I imagine a typical wife of an ambassador would be. She had a free spirit, yet an intelligence that told her when to rein it in -- well, usually. Her abduction just might have been the consequence of her lifestyle. Even so, despite being held for months by terrorists, she continues to love Mazrooq and its people. After all, she said, 99% of the people were not terrorists.

Politics and prejudices play a big part in the book. The commentary on drone strikes and the irony of those comments later becomes evident. What becomes of the women speaks to the tremendous differences between our cultures. Overall quite a compelling and timely read. 3.5 stars.

An ARC from NetGalley and the publisher.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

An achievement, this book is wonderful. An engaging, often breathtaking plot, memorable characters, and a window on a culture of women foreign to me. I love the way the author uses the Arabic language and shows us how Miranda navigates the Islamic world. The character of Tazzy was so affecting. The idea of the nude paintings and their reception in the Arab world and what is revealed about Muslim ideas about our bodies, our vulvas, even looking at ourselves and each other, startled me. Jennifer Steil connected these themes with all of us as women through her book. I liked Miranda's fraught relationship with Finn and the testing of their new relationship through her sometimes clumsy strong-willedness. The scenes in which Miranda is imprisoned and schemes to continue nursing Lulu were among the most affecting in the whole book. The author manages to convey the cloister of that cell (and Aisha's hut) and Miranda's growth there, as she changes tack with her captors for the infant's benefit. I got a very strong feeling about the country as a place; we understand why Miranda chooses to stay there and even feels at home there. I also liked the little inside views of expat foreign service work. Such a good book, I recommend it.

[Христо Блажев · Rating 4 out of 5]

Жената на посланика мрази златната си клетка: http://knigolandia.info/book-review/j...

Миранда е художничка със свободен, непокорен дух. В конфликт със семейството си, тя е жител на света – докато не се поддава на очарованието на Мазрук, измислена арабска държава със събирателни черти от региона. Намирайки място, където да твори, тя открива и призвание в това да обучава местни момичета да творят в стилове, които са забранени от исляма. Сближавайки се с тях, поглеждайки под булото им – буквално и преносно – тя открива смели, красиви жени, които не искат да бъдат оковани в традицията, но не могат да се противопоставят на семействата си. В дома на Миранда те откриват себе си – и всичко се променя, макар да рискуват живота си, тъй като рисуването на голо тяло е сред най-страшните табута.

CIELA Books
http://knigolandia.info/book-review/j...

[Penny (Literary Hoarders) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Infinitely longer than necessary, it was close to 80% finished before this picked up and focused on Miranda, the Ambassador's Wife, her kidnapping, reason for the kidnapping and harrowing escape. I felt as though we had to listen to every thing from what they ate for breakfast before Miranda met Finn, what they ate for breakfast when they were married and way too much about their pasts before they were married. Finally, finally, as we come into the home stretch does it become glued to the pages (but only a little bit still) to find out what will happen next.

I listened to the first 50% in audio, purchasing it because Euan Morton was reading the part for Finn. He was excellent in The Chalk Man, but just okay here. I think because there were more female voices to butcher in this book. Orlagh Cassidy narrated for Miranda and she was exceptional as always. But the pages and pages and pages and pages of extra stuffing had me pulling at my hair to move this to the crux of the book. Happily, I had the hardcover on my shelf.

A good story overall, you just have to be exceptionally patient with it.

[Kimberly Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best fiction book of 2015 so far. In the fictitious land of Mazrooq, a fairly tale couple finds their lives turned upside down. A story by a real Ambassador's Wife, this book is hard to put down.

[Doubleday Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Ambassador’s Wife is bursting with passion, innate desire, and a woman’s devotion to her family. It is an enthralling read that will unveil the path towards freedom every brush stroke of the way. Imbued with taboo passions, clandestine secrets, and terror in the face of peril, Steil will keep readers craving to unravel the intricacies of life as an ambassador’s wife.

In a world of jarring conflict and corruption, Miranda lives with her husband Finn. Behind the closed doors of her home, she is separated from the dangers that put her at peril, yet there comes a point where she can hide from the world no longer. The Ambassador’s Wife brilliantly conducts a woman’s journey into breaking out of her inhibitions and stunningly captures the fight against oppression.

- Clara C, Doubleday Marketing intern

[Natalie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Με κούρασε...παραπάνω "φλύαρο" από όσο χρειάζεται για τα δικά μου δεδομένα...

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nearly 4 stars. I imagine this book will get more of a spotlight now Ann Hathaway is signed up to do a TV adaptation. Set in the (fictional) country of Mazrooq this is the tale of 'fish out of water' Miranda who falls in love with the British Ambassador in the country and has to earn to adapt to her new married life of security, closed access and constant threats and danger whilst balancing this with her own passions and past.

The story takes 2 story lines of the present and the past, and this approach works well. I found in general the story dragged a little to make its point (the art classes in particular - I totally understand the point and relevance to the setting and development in the story of these elements but they were just a little much for my taste) but this was generally a great read - good setting, well paced and factual and interesting. Even considering the fictional setting of this book, I really enjoyed the cultural references and facts (including the occasional use of Arabic) - it worked.

There is an awful lot packed in this book, and certain bits raised unanswered questions as well as not feeling a really authentic reaction from some characters to certain situations. Despite that, I really enjoyed this, and the (somewhat juicy, or at least if you believe the tabloids...) real life story of the author is also very interesting...! I'll definitely pick up other work by Ms. Steil as she's clearly talented.

[Kate]

Oprah, pay attention! This should be your next book. It delves into so many meaty topics: women's issues, the Middle East, war and peace, terrorism, art, privilege, freedom, family, sexuality...

And it's a great read: compelling, nerve-wracking, stirring and devastating.

Steil's depiction of a small country in the Middle East immerses you in that world--a complex world, filled with beauty and horror. I liked her complex treatment of the multiple Middle Eastern women characters and Miranda's relationship with them, nurtured through art.

A paradox exists at the heart of this book. When Miranda is living in the "old city," wandering around and interacting freely, she is safe. Conversely, when she is living in the embassy and surrounded by "protection" (segregation, bars on the windows, armed guards)--she is in peril.

Her way out of peril made me think of Neil Gaiman's word: "I like stories where women save themselves." Tragically, the women who help save Miranda cannot, in turn, be saved by her. In the tradition of many novels that treat (post)colonialism, the good intentions of some Westerners harbor a certain naiveté that has deadly consequences. At the same time, she and her husband Finn do make big sacrifices that save one key life.

This book offers no easy answers. As it should be. Life is complicated. We are left holding a book that raises haunting questions.

[Jessica Woodbury · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's quite apparent that Steil knows what she's writing about. So much of this book feels true and real, especially the location (the fictional Muslim country of Mazrooq, which is similar to several Middle Eastern or African countries) and the inner workings of life as an Ambassador. I also loved that Steil's protagonist, Miranda, had a full life as an artist, a mother, and a bisexual woman. It's rare you get to see so many strong character traits combined.

While it's a fascinating book, it's also too long for the first 3/4's and much too rushed for the last 1/4. I would have preferred a more traditional timeline instead of the jumping back and forth, which did little for the structure and plot. The story of Miranda's abduction gets spread out so thinly that you keep losing your investment in it.

Still, a worthwhile read and nice to see this kind of book published.

[Rebecca Einstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

[Received an ARC from www.Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.]

I was completely taken in by this book. It does jump back and forth quite a bit and that might take some getting used to. Otherwise, it was a captivating story and with multi-dimensional characters. I really enjoyed this read.

[Vykki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was brilliantly written book. It kept you reading you couldn't put in down. I laughed and cried. Everyone should read this book. I won this book on goodreads.

[April Woody · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh wow such a good amazing book, could not put it down. A must read.

[Alan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received an ARC from first reads. a slow burn, but I loved every minute of it.

[Sarah Swann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read! I enjoyed the audiobook a lot. The story was interesting, the politics were interesting and I really liked all the characters. Definitely worth the read!

[Desislava Filipova · Rating 3 out of 5]

Авторката е избрала историята да се развие във фикционалната страна, сякаш е проектирала най-много впечатления от Йемен (била е женена за посланика на Великобритания в Йемен) . Животът в посолството е доста подробно описан, но политиката е слабо засегната и макар атмосферата да е добре изградена, сякаш се разхождах по каменните улици на стария град, липсата на повече информация за напрежението между племената на север и правителството се усеща и така и не става ясно какви са целите на бунтовниците.
Миранда е художничка, случайно попаднала, но избрала да остане да живее в Мазрук, след като е започнала да обучава местни момичета да рисуват. Тя сама определя живота си, докато не среща Фин, посланика на Великобритания и не се омъжва за него. Като негова съпруга тя е принудена да спазва строги правила и да се движи винаги с охрана.
Така и не успях да харесам Миранда, да я почувствам, сякаш беше проект, съчетал определени модерни тенденции (свободолюбива, феминистка, вегетарианка, атеистка), не че има нещо лошо във всички тях, но някак всички едновременно ми звучаха прекалено недостоверно, не усетих нейната личност, с всички качества и недостатъци, същото важи и за Фин и за връзката им. Някак лишено от емоции ми се стори всичко, единствено с дъщеря си и двамата сякаш придобиват реални черти.
Авторката е акцентирала твърде много на тях двамата, вместо да разгърне образите на второстепенните герои, ученичките ѝ са доста оскъдно описани, а са много интересни, особено Тазкия.
Животът на Миранда се променя, когато е изненадващо отвлечена и затворена от мистериозни мъже. Отделена от мъжа си и дъщеря си, за нея е изпитание да оцелее, но в лагера, където я държат на грижите ѝ е поверено малко момиченце, към което тя много бързо се привързва.
Историята не е добре разгърната и изпипана, някои неща изглеждат прекалено нагласени, а краят е доста странен.

[PopcornReads - MkNoah · Rating 5 out of 5]

There were a couple of things that grabbed me immediately when I saw the publisher’s description of The Ambassador’s Wife by Jennifer Steil. The first was that Jennifer actually is an ambassador’s wife, so I thought it would be very interesting to read a novel by someone who had lived that life. The second was that the main character is an artist turned ambassador’s wife in the Middle East. To me, that seemed to have all kinds of potential for making an interesting tale. I’m so glad I offered to read The Ambassador’s Wife and I’ve been itching to share it with you. It’s a thriller but it’s also a story about diversity, about cultural misunderstandings and connections, and about the power of compassion. Read the rest of my review at http://popcornreads.com/?p=8705

[Kathryn in FL · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jennifer Steil has excellent writing skills as one would expect from a journalist. She weaves many characters into the plot each with their own agenda's in the midst of a very volatile political environment. It would seem that book is at least in some part based on the country of Yemen based on geography, political instability and her husband's prior posting as an Ambassador. She manages to effectively use alternating person's narrate their perspectives and incorporates flashbacks to effectively development the storyline. That said, there were drawbacks to the book as well.

My biggest challenge was not relating or connecting to the primary characters. Miranda is almost bigger than life in her mid-thirties, she would be considered by some a world traveler supporting herself teaching painting to others. Her dance card of female lover's is nearly mind-boggling. She is dynamic and the picture of selflessness. Her political and social values and her dedication to them, particularly advocacy of women's rights is admirable. She is a free spirit, who suddenly falls in love with a man, an ambassador no less under the most unlikely of circumstances. She chooses to sacrifice much of what defines her to be a model of diplomacy as his wife. This near 180, seemed implausible (yes, it could happen). Her husband, Finn is also an exceptional accepting person, he is the epitome of the ideal ambassador. Neither seemed to have any character flaws. If you could call it a flaw, the Miranda is outspoken against injustice. While I had trouble connecting to them because they were so perfect, I do believe a lot of reader's would enjoy these characters as they are.

I also had some issues with the plot, however I will avoid ruining the story. I found the reason for her kidnapping unrealistic. I will agree with another reviewer that said she had some unanswered questions pertaining to technical matters involved in her kidnapping. The author had several good options that she set up to explain the reason Miranda is kidnapped then reveals something unlikely. Furthermore, Miranda's recovery is minimized. As a severe trauma survivor and someone who knows quite a few others, I didn't find her recovery at all credible. Again, many reader's might not be bothered or realize the lack of realism presented.

This is Ms. Steil's first novel and as a debut it certainly has strong points, as mentioned earlier. While there is a few intense violent scenes, they were minimally graphic. Discussions of abuse suffered in this part of the world were realistic and disturbing but again the brutality wasn't over dramatized. I would caution readers, who prefer to avoid reading books that are criticize or cynical of Christianity, some might find certain references quite offensive. Likewise, there are a numerous mentions of female homosexuality acts; while not graphic they are an integral part of this storyline.

In conclusion, Ms. Steil is a reasonably talented writer. I enjoyed the insight she delivers on the life of diplomacy. She demonstrates an ability to capture certain scenes and emotions quite effectively however, I didn't find this consistently throughout the story. Her future works may overcome these gaps.

Thank you to Amazon Vine for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Kristine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Original review can be found at http://kristineandterri.blogspot.ca/.
4.5 stars

** I received an advanced readers copy from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! **

This was a beautiful story. In fact it was quite stunning. Steil pens a thought provoking and engaging story that touches on many different feelings and emotions. Told from different perspectives and different times, it weaves an intriguing story about a different culture and way of life. It touches a lot on the culture of Muslim women which I found quite fascinating. It also deals with terrorists and kidnapping which we hear about far too often in the news. I really liked the angle that this book took to tell the story and I really liked the characters who's story it told.

If I had to critique it at all I would have to say that there were a few times that it got long winded and followed a few rabbit trails. Not to worry though, the rest of it more than made up for those parts.

Sometimes less is more and this is one of those cases. I think the story will do better to speak for itself and there isn't a whole lot that I can say otherwise. It was an incredible read.

[Joanna Norland · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Ambassador’s Wife is a novel as adventurous as its free-spirited protagonist, Miranda. With confidence and evident enjoyment, author, Jennifer F Steil explores the methods and strategies of high level diplomacy; the possibilities and dangers of cross-cultural friendship; and–centrally–motherhood, in its many complex, and conflicting incarnations.

For an interview with Jennifer F Steil about the intersection of the writing process and motherhood, see http://goo.gl/eDWYcw on the Mums Write! website.

Set in the fictional Middle Eastern country of Mazrooq, Steil’s first novel kicks off when Miranda, an artist, art teacher, and wife to the British ambassador, is abducted by terrorists. She is desperate to return to her husband and toddler daughter. But when she is handed a starving baby to nurse in captivity, that bond changes her life in dramatic and unexpected ways — and ultimately forces her family to make an impossible choice.

The Ambassador’s Wife, Steil’s first novel, will be adapted into a forthcoming TV series starring Anne Hathaway.

[Cathy Branciforte · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would give this book more than 5 stars if I could! I loved this gorgeously written book! I could not put it down, always wanting to know what was going to happen next. I really loved the way the chapters were written , back and forth in time, yet filling in all of the background on each of the characters before and after they met. I especially loved the parts describing Miranda and Luloah....it was so beautifully described. I can't get this book out of my head. I'd have to say one of the best books I've read this year and highly recommend.

Thanks to Netgalley and Doubleday for an advance digital copy!

[Hayley Shaver · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book free from the first-reads contest. This book is enthralling. It makes you want to know what happens next with each chapter. This is a must-read. The ambassador's new wife is having a hard time transitioning from her bohemian, transsexual life to a highly guarded and political one. She loses everything when she is kidnapped- her husband, her daughter, and her friends she once upon a time had taught forbidden art lessons to. Will she be happy again, or have to live mostly alone, with only a tiny baby for companionship that she is wet nurse for? If you haven't already, go out and buy this book.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found The Ambassador's Wife to be a fascinating story, giving a view behind-the-scenes of a life I could not have imagined.

This is the story of Miranda, an independent and free-spirited woman living on her own terms in the Middle East, and how her life changes once she falls in love with the British Ambassador. Their stories are told in their own voices, overlapping in time and circumstances, to create the tale of drama and suspense.

I received an advance e-version of this book for review, and am very glad I took the time to read it.

[Aura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very engrossing novel about an artist who falls in love with a diplomat and she is suddenly living the life of an ambassador's wife. Excellent story line, very interesting characters and a timely story about life and people in the middle east. I highly recommend this novel and I can't wait to see the movie. I read that Anne Hathaway will be playing Miranda. I hope Hollywood does not ruin this fantastic book.

[Debbie Manning · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I won an ARC from Goodreads. It was just a really good story with interesting characters in an exotic setting. A free spirited artist marries a subdued British ambassador assigned to an unstable Middle Eastern country. The country's inhabitants become real people, not just text book terrorists. The ending is not happily ever after, but it's a satisfying conclusion.

[Kayla Tornello · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book's setting in the Middle East. I liked that the characters were different nationalities and they all felt like real, fully-developed people. I also liked the pace of the action in the story. It definitely kept me interested throughout the story. A fascinating book!

I received this book as a Goodreads First-Read. Yay!

[Veselina Bakalova-Mihaylovska · Rating 5 out of 5]

Прекрасна книга - съвременна и актуална. Противопоставяща ограниченията в източния свят със свободата на Запада. Авторката умело съчетава противопоставянията и ги преплита в една история, която звучи според мен почти автобиографично. Има много силни моменти в книгата. Имах нужда от нещо точно такова да разнообразя четивата си :)

[Elyse Rudin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written by an ambassador’s wife the fictional story of an American woman living in a fictional African country. She meets then marries the British ambassador to this country. They have now been married about three years and have a young daughter. While taking her weekly stroll with her girlfriends they are abducted and separated. I loved this story and it’s multilayers. Definitely recommend

[Helen Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

The reality of living in a third world country

Written with unique first-person experience, the supposedly glamorous life in foreign service is revealed. Riveting characters.
A most enjoyable read.