Natassia is a precocious 15 year old living in NYC’s upper Westside with he successful paternal grandparents circa 1989. Despite her parent’s absence, Natassia seems to have it all together. However, appearance can be exceptionally deceiving as in the case of Natassia. The abrupt end of a passionate love affair with a foreign mystery man causes all of Natassia’s hidden weaknesses to come rolling to the surface. Natassia finds unlikely comfort in the arms of her very own mother Mary, a world class modern dancer who could best be described as a bohemian.

Mary, a Korean War orphan, wants the very best for her daughter. Unfortunately, she has no idea how to be a mother. As she learns to nurture her daughter, Mary must also learn how to nurture herself.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading the heartrending struggle of this mother and daughter intertwined with the tale of Natassia’s brilliant drug addicted father, and her godparents Christopher and Nora. All of the adults in Natassia’s life are forced to come to terms with their individual pasts and how those pasts affect Natassia. I could say that this book includes clinical infidelity, hidden perversions, jealousies, and all manner of secrets. Then again…why take my word for it? Read the book, I guarantee you will enjoy it.

ANNA MONARDO is the author of The Courtyard of Dreams. After several years living in New York City, she now lives in Nebraska, where she teaches in the Writer's Workshop of the University of Nebraska at Omaha.