She finagled her way onto a medical mission to Afghanistan although she was a hairdresser and not a doctor. Candace, a wealthy American who has finally left her husband for her Afghan lover, the enigmatic Wakil . If this was just a romantic romp then I could say 'Fine' and be happy with the flat characters but in this book they screamed for more building. The author did an excellent job of bringing forth the ongoing problem of the oppression of women in Afghanistan.

To be sure, Sunny, the main character, has created a place where both Afghans and visitors can relax and share cultures and friendship, and the "tea" house becomes a central part of the setting.You will grow to love most of these characters, and want desperately for each of them to find happiness. Her sister Layla has become an outspoken women's rights activist and, thanks to social media, is quite the celebrity. Isabel, a determined journalist with a secret that might keep her from the biggest story of her life . Opened by Sunny, an American who came to Kabul following love, it plays host to a collective of dynamic and unusual characters.

I’m always on the lookout for new things to watch, especially things that are interesting and thought-provoking. This is not intended to be a full statement of all your rights under the Distance Selling Regulations.We at Penguin Random House Australia acknowledge that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are the Traditional Custodians and the first storytellers of the lands on which we live and work. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. I started reading it knowing it was written by an American woman who had spent many years in Afghanistan, so hoping the story would sound authentic- not westernised. If for no other reason, I encourage readers to pick up this book for what they will learn about current conditions in Afghanistan.

Her colorful descriptions of the area and the beautiful fabrics for their clothing came to life for me. The authors writing style was irritating, as she's an American I can almost forgive her for the inaccurate use of 'bloody hell' by the British character, but found the use of the term 'thick British accent' annoying. Readers will appreciate the in-depth, sensory descriptions of this oft-mentioned and faraway place that most have never seen. The plot constantly threatens to become interesting, a tragedy is always imminent, something of consequence could actually happen.

It was obvious from the first page of her introduction that Wakil was only using her for money yet the author stretched out this thinner than crepe paper story till the end of the book. I wasn’t surprised when I learned that the author has lived in Kabul for several years herself, because the book shows a good understanding of the history of Afghanistan, the politics, corruption, and the opium trade.

But ultimately her cozy sentimentality undercuts the elements of harsh realism, as if Maeve Binchy had written The Kite Runner. These chikidor are competing with another, she thought, like the schoolgirls back home with their cellphones, handbags and jewelry. Whether it is to save Layla from prostitution, put a stop to poppy growing and distribution, or save the women behind bars of Afghanistan prisons, they are all out to save someone. In short, it won't challenge you but if you like your chick-lit with a social conscious then this isn't a bad effort! This was an extremely good book in giving you a bird’s eye view of an American working in the dirty and dusty city of Kabul surrounded by her newest friends and family.Describes a book or dust jacket that does show some signs of wear on either the binding, dust jacket or pages. Deborah Rodriguez, wrote this book based on her own experiences of being in Kabul, she spent five years there, she taught at and became director of Kabul Beauty School and owned Cabul Coffee House and her knowledge, really brings this book to life. Of course, I could have had a good guess from the setting alone, this would be a story set against a backdrop of violence and war, but that was pretty much my only reference point.