Sleeping Tigers

by Holly Robinson

Jordan O'Malley has everything she ever a job she loves, a beautiful home, and a dependable boyfriend. When her life unravels after a breast cancer scare, Jordan decides to join her wildest childhood friend in San Francisco and track down her drifter brother, Cam, who harbors secrets of his own. When Cam suddenly flees the country, Jordan follows, determined to bring him home. Her journey takes her to the farthest reaches of majestic Nepal, where she encounters tests—and truths—about love and family that she never could have imagined. Funny, heartbreaking, and suspenseful, Sleeping Tigers reminds us all that sometimes it's better to follow your heart instead of a plan. "Sleeping Tigers is the kind of book you wish didn’t have to end.  Fast-moving and funny, loaded with sex, adventure, and characters who feel like your oldest friends, it takes the reader through fabulous, keenly-observed settings as it follows one woman on a brave journey of self-discovery.  Robinson’s prose crackles with wit and humanity – it brims with all the energy that’s released when life and love are unleashed and allowed to roam.  With wisdom to spare, Robinson shows how being honest and brave today can bring healing to the past and a new shape to the future.  You won’t be able to read this book without imagining all your favorite actors in the roles." Elisabeth Brink, author of Save Your Own

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Chick Lit, Drama, Contemporary, Adventure, Ebooks

258 pages, Paperback

First published December 23, 2011

About the author

Holly Robinson is the author of The Gerbil Farmer's Daughter: a Memoir as well as several novels, including Sleeping Tigers, The Wishing Hill, Beach Plum Island, and Haven Lake.

Her essays, articles and columns have appeared in a variety of national publications. She also works as a ghost writer and book doctor on celebrity memoirs and other nonfiction books.

Holly holds a B.A. in biology from Clark University and is a graduate of the MFA program in Creative Writing at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

She and her husband have five children, two cats and one very stubborn Pekingese. They are crazy enough to be fixing up two old houses--in Massachusetts and on Prince Edward Island--one shingle at a time.

Reviews

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Each of us carries a sleeping tiger inside, and we can't predict when that cat will wake, stretch, and sharpen its claws. It is best to see the beast, acknowledge it and let it roam where it might, because only then will you know what you are truly capable of doing."

After thirty-three year old Boston school teacher Jordan O'Malley had a serious health scare, it made her reexamine her life and decide to face the tiger's presence within her, and make changes that would reconnect her with her family and live boldly in the moment, instead of the orderly and carefully planned life she had been leading.

After breaking off the engagement with Peter, her boyfriend of three years, Jordan moves into with her parents' home and takes off to California to spend the summer in San Francisco. When she gets to San Fran, she reconnects with her childhood best friend Karin, an operating room nurse, who tries to get Jordan to open up, live in the moment, and embrace new possibilities in her life. Jordan's younger brother Cameron, a drifter who had been incommunicado from the family since moving to Berkeley, California two years ago, has been on her mind but she is unable to get a hold off him. Jordan and Cameron finally reconnect, and she learns that her younger brother has some issues that he has a hard time dealing with: a drug habit, a drug addicted stalker ex-girlfriend, a baby daughter who he refuses to acknowledge, and a troubled past relationship with their father. When Jordan attempts to help Cameron, he once again disappears and Jordan embarks on a personal journey to Nepal in search of her brother, and it is in this mystical Himalayan mountain country that both Jordan and Cameron will find the answers to their issues and learn how to move forward in their lives.

Every once in a while a book will come along and weave a story that will simply captivate you and make you sit up and ponder your own life, for me, Sleeping Tigers is that book. This poignant and thoughtfully crafted story is told in the first person narrative by Jordan O'Malley, who takes the readers along for the ride on her personal journey to discover who she really is and what life really means to her, in addition to sharing her younger brother Cameron's story. This amazing and very moving story draws the reader in and takes them on a roller coaster ride, you can't help but feel the emotional pull as Jordan and Cameron learn to reconnect and deal with life's circumstances and what matters most in life.

Rich in detail and vivid descriptions, the author transports the reader around the globe to such beautiful settings as Boston, San Francisco, Berkeley, Hong Kong and Nepal. The author's attention to detail draws the reader in, just by closing your eyes you can visualize these locations lush with scenic views, sights, sounds and well-known landmarks. The author also provides the reader with wonderful flashback memories of Jordan and Cameron's childhood memories which enables the reader to understand the real issues that lies beneath the surface, and the reasoning for the personal soul-searching journey that the siblings embark upon.

The author has created a large variety of cast of characters who are realistic, complex and easy for the reader to relate to. These larger than life quirky characters each play a significant role that intertwines in Jordan's journey to discover who she is and what matters most in her life. I admired Jordan's strength, sense of responsibility and determination; I absolutely loved the free spirited best friend Karin, her antics kept me in stitches; I wanted to shake Cameron and tell him to just grow up; I loved Grace, Jordan and Cameron's mom, her visit to Cali reawakened her true self; and of course baby Paris simply stole my heart. I also really enjoyed the development of Jordan and David's relationship. There are so many supporting cast of characters that were equally engaging: I would be remiss if I didn't mention Cameron's quirky holy roller housemates: Shepherd Jon, Valerie, Melody and Domingo, their antics were very entertaining.

With crazy antics, engaging dialogue and interactions, really wonderful settings, and a thought provoking storyline, Sleeping Tigers is a powerfully compelling and entertaining read. Author Holly Robinson provides the reader with a beautifully descriptive story that will engage the reader to embrace Jordan and Cameron's emotional soul-searching journey. Sleeping Tigers is simply an amazing story that will resonate with you long after the last word has been read.

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[Jamee Pritchard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Sleeping Tigers. Although I would not strictly describe it as a chick-lit novel, it does contain many of the genre's elements. It's the story of a woman starting over. After having a health scare, she decides to move to San Francisco in search of her brother, excitement, and possibly love. She finds not only her brother but an array of problems that are sure to add excitement to her life.

I was gently tugged into this story. There wasn't a specific hook that grabbed me and demanded me to read on, yet I was easily wrapped up in the unfolding of the story. I was intrigued with the main character and how she interacted with the other characters and also how she dealt with the the major issues that arose. For me, this book is a bit reminiscent of Eat, Pray, Love, but at the same time, completely different, following its own path.

There's a personal journey that the main character has to go through to discover her own potential. Instead of the story being solely about that journey, we see part of her brother's journey and how two people of the same genetics deal with societal pressures and family roles.

Like many readers, I wish all good books had a sequel or a follow-up, a brief glimpse into the ever after. I always wonder what happens to the characters after that last chapter. Are the promises made in the end of the story kept? Here's hoping that the characters in Sleeping Tigers get their happy ending.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sleeping Tigers follows Jordan as she builds a new life for herself. After surviving breast cancer and breaking up from her boyfriend, she goes to San Francisco, tracks down her brother and finds things she never expected to find.


When the author contacted me regarding a review I happily accepted. When she sent me the cover in an email I fell in love with it. It's so bright and colourful and definitely stands out.

From the moment I opened Sleeping Tigers I fell in love with the writing and after we get to hear Jordan's story I really felt sorry for her, but thought she was so brave for ending the life she knew to start afresh by herself. I would never have the courage to do what she did.

I admire her for how she takes in Cam's child and cares for her like she was her own and the bravery it took to travel across the world alone to find Cam and get custody is something I really would not have been able to do.

I loved the descriptive writing used to describe not only the beauty of the places Jordan visits, but also the devastation of the state of her brother when she finds him. It was easy to feel the emotions being portrayed in Sleeping Tigers and I look forward to seeing what else Holly offers us in the future.

[Stacey Herrera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jordan O'Malley survived a cancer scare, but now what? On a whim she decides to travel cross country to visit a childhood friend and reconnect with her estranged brother. Jordan discovers that she's a lot tougher than she ever imagined, finds passion in unexpected places, and travels to a far away land. This unplanned future fulfills her in a way that she never thought possible.

Sleeping Tigers is a beautiful journey of discovery. The characters are three-dimensional, brave, scared, and complex. Holly Robinson was born to write, not because she can put words on page, but because she injects the words with emotion. She understands that the human experience is not linear, it bends, curves, winds, and weaves - sometimes all at once. Sleeping Tigers illustrates how life can take you completely by surprise and stretch you to your limits as well.

I enjoyed this book immensely! It's the type of book you share with your friends, just so that you can talk about it together!

[Myfanwy · Rating 5 out of 5]

After a terrifying cancer scare, Jordan O'Malley leaves behind everything she has always relied upon for comfort and security (her parents, her boyfriend, her job) to go clear her head in San Francisco for a few months. There, she reconnects with her best friend and her brother. Though she goes there believing that she is going to, for once in her life, be irresponsible and free-wheeling, what she finds instead is what she never knew was a missing: the necessity of letting go of control and joy of finding the love of her life and a family of her own.

This deftly-told book, will take you from San Francisco to Nepal, from childhood through adulthood, and beyond. Robinson is a master of dialogue and in laying out scenes and scenarios that will have you laughing one minute and crying the next.

It's a fast-paced, fun book which isn't afraid to peer into the dark places of the human heart. It would make a great beach read or discussion-starter for your book club. Read it.

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked it a lot, though not a genre I typically read. What I liked about the book is the squalor is shown as an obstacle to surmount rather than ignored -- too many journeys into the third world, especially Nepal, gloss over the abject poverty and difficulties of living conditions. Nothing is glamorized. Growth is insight born out of caring for others and seeing the real world and not some mystical revelation. I believed the characters were real people.

This book is nothing like Eat Pray Love, by the way. It's not some self-centered, navel-gazing escape by a rich woman taken for no discernible reason. Not at all. My only real quibble with it is I would've liked it to go on longer.

I downloaded this book because it was free and I was getting tired of my usual fare (science fiction) and gave it a shot. I would've gladly paid for it. But not too much.

[Janice · Rating 5 out of 5]

My very first Kindle book and a very good choice especially since it was free. Glad I discovered it. I found the book hard to put down. The journey to Nepal was quite an eye-opening experience to a third world country with no sugarcoating the poverty and filth. I was disappointed when I came to the end and wanted more.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written and thought provoking. How would I handle the challenges thrown into this young woman's life?
Enjoy!

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Jordan is in her early 30s and having a bit of a mid-life crisis. Her long term relationship has recently ended. She's had a health scare. She decides to drive across the country from Boston to San Francisco and spend the summer in the city where her best friend and her brother live. There is no neat and tidy ending that resolves the mid-life crisis. By the end of the book, we aren't exactly sure what her long term plan is and neither is she. Perhaps this is one of her big lessons -- to live in the present and trust a bit more. Her summer is mainly spent figuring out family in all it's complexity. Reconnecting with long standing relationships in new ways. Developing new relationships. Questioning what makes a family. Well written with complex characters the lack of a neat resolution gives the book depth without forsaking the sense that things will work out in the end.

[J. A. Lewis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jordan leaves her home after a breakup with a boyfriend and a scare with breast cancer to visit a childhood friend in California. She is also looking to reconnect with her brother who is not answering her calls.. Shortly after arriving, she learns her brother is on drugs, has an infant child, and is living with a band of misfits. When he decides to go to Nepal on a "soul seeking" journey, Jordan goes after him. She also is given the baby by her brother's underage girlfriend. The events surrounding this infant are strange at best. She feeds it food that would be way too much for a child 7 months old. She speaks of the child crawling about which would once again be unusual for a child this age. I can't imagine darting off to Nepal, halfway around the world on the spur of the moment. I found a lot of this book far fetched even for a fiction read.

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent read!

The only reason this well plotted, well written, well developed story didn't earn a higher rating from me was the totally unnecessary sexual hot spring description between the mc and a char she didn't care much for. I felt that was unlikely, overdescriptive and overreaching--same kind of turning point could have been achieved in a less disgusting way. Otherwise excellent read. I will definitely be seeking this author out in the future.

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a surprise for me. I was not expecting much since it was a freebie on my Kindle. The author, Holly Robinson has a nice writing style and a great sense of humor. At first, I was not sure because the story started to feel like a modern romance that I stay away from. But it definitely got better. Although the ending seemed rushed and predictable.
Jordan works as a teacher on the East Coast. During summer break she goes to California to visit a friend and see if she can track down her brother. Her quest takes her to the iffy parts of San Francisco and then to Kathmandu. I won't give away much more.
Maybe I just needed something lighter to read at this time so I enjoyed this book.

[Alisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy read, great message

I enjoyed this book more and more as it progressed. I wasn’t sure it would interest me at first but it drew me in and I breezed through it quickly. As someone who’s had a health scare, I deeply understood the main character’s inner conflict and appreciated the reminder to resist complacency.

[Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent story about a teacher whose relationship ends so she takes a break to visit her best friend and figure her life out and reconnect with her brother. She finds out her brother has a child that he wants nothing to do with. The mother is homeless and dumps the baby on her. It gets a bit too woo woo for me when they wind up in Nepal. 2 1/2 stars.

[Isabella Swanepoel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book.
Family and love and love for your family.
A lovely feel good story.
Narration great too.

[Geri Ahearn · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A COMPLETE TRIUMPH!"

Jordan O'Malley thought she had everything in her safe world, her career as a teacher, her boyfriend, and a lovely home. However, after a breast cancer scare, she begins to realize that in reality, there was a void in her life. What she had was nice, but what she really wanted she longed for, and her picture on life began to change drastically. She realized that her boyfriend wasn't Mr. Right, her parents were smothering her, and she missed her brother and a very close friend. Her New England life was about to be left behind as she sets out on a mission, determined to find her hero and her very dear friend. As Jordan travels cross-country to find Cam and reunite with Karin, along the way, she finds passion and happiness within herself. Her life began to change for the better as she followed her heart. Was Jordan selfish, what kind of childhood did she have, and did her boyfriend from back home ever give her support? Jordan gave up social ties and material possessions, but did she ever break the bond with her brother? I highly recommend this incredible novel to all contemporary fiction lovers, who enjoy suspenseful stories, with a blend of romance. Holly Robinson delivers a mesmerizing page-turner with colorful characters that will make you laugh and cry, steamy romance, and an intriguing story made for the Movie screen! The author conveys that the greatest risk in life is not taking one, and the results of venturing out without any plans can indeed be extremely rewarding. The fabulous adventure is a journey of discovery, a reawakening of one brave woman, who is filled with courage and love. The addicting story is powerfully moving as the reader takes an emotional roller-coaster ride through the life of the main character. Each life-changing page of Jordan's journey portrays humanity, wit, sadness, and the importance of family and friendship. "SLEEPING TIGERS" is as touching as STEPMOM, as entertaining as NORMA RAE, and as dramatic as ERIN BROCKOVICH.

[Charleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

It befuddles me why it took me so long to write this review. I think the reason was that I got to know the author through email exchanges and I just couldn’t be that impartial in paper (i.e. the internet). So, after the months brought back my impartiality, I am all good to go.

Jordan has a breast cancer scare and although she gets through it ok, she is quite shaken by the experience. Her tranquil and safe life soon comes unraveling as she leaves her boyfriend and her sedentary life. She travels to San Francisco for the summer to spend some time experiencing life and hanging out with her wild best friend. She is also trying to track down her brother, Cam, who is a drifter and...well, you will find out when you read the book.

For a character who is described as always playing it safe and never taking any risks, Jordan is really gun-ho about getting in the action, taking risks (including risking her life) and just going full throttle as she deals with the challenges that life throws her way. I liked Jordan. Her actions and the narration describing her do not match. It is also as if the author imagined her one way, and Jordan came to life and decided on her own her own actions. She is a bit idealistic (and perhaps unrealistic) but, she is a bit relatable.

The plot occurs quickly, all the events occurring and developing quickly. From San Francisco to Nepal in no time. And this is the aspect of the book that makes it a bit unrealistic and hurried. But, it is entertaining and a quick read.

The writing, well, it was quite excellent. Holly Robinson is definitely a good writer. The narration flowed perfectly. The book was well edited (except for a few minor typos). Overall, I enjoyed this book and I would recommend it. It is great for a summer read.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the perfect vacation read. Jordan is a little lost in life. She had a major medical scare and now wants to make sure her life means something. Jordan is a very likable character. She's down-to-earth and very easy to relate to. She's responsible and even though she wants to get away from it all and live a little carefree, she still is grounded in reality and willing to except what comes her way.

My favorite thing about this novel is that I felt like I was soul searching right along with Jordan. Everything in this novel could happen to any of us at any time and that made it real for me. Also I had just recently visited San Francisco so a lot of the settings were still vivid pictures in my mind. The scenes set in Nepal were descriptively breathtaking and made me a bit envious of Jordan's journey.

Another aspect of this novel that I really loved was the strong connection of family. Even though both Jordan and Cam are grown, they come to realize how much they still need each other in their life. It's too bad that it took some extreme circumstances for both of them to realise that, but sometimes people need a big "push" to make things happen. It also gave hope that people can change over time. This is something that I think we all hold on to, so it was nice to have it "proven" in a novel.

Overall I really enjoyed this novel. It made me feel happy and content while reading it and I look forward to reading more from this author.

[Diana-Michaela Shaffner · Rating 5 out of 5]

The main and likable character Jordan comes from a relatively predictable and mundane existence seeking more in life and tries to reunite her family after a breast cancer scare. She starts out with a planned extended stay in San Francisco where she hopes to find her estranged brother Cam who is a drifter and drug addict. Jordan encounters a very broad spectrum of personalities some of which have views and lifestyles often judged or disapproved of. Enlightening how the author reveals the basic goodness in all the characters despite them seeming difficult and unhelpful at first.

The dialogs are very realistic and the narration flows very well through the entire book. Although the beginning seems drawn out.

Jordan's journey in search for her brother also leads her to Nepal. Ms. Robinson describes the strong contrast in living conditions and environments between "orderly" white picket fence east coast towns, San Francisco, and Nepalese towns with all their filth, brutal poverty, and the raw natural beauty of the Himalayas. The world is a tapestry of stark contrasts which exist in the outside world as well as within our own selves. Sleeping Tigers which refers to the quietly existing perhaps yet to be discovered strength within a person invites us to contemplate the possible existence of one's own sleeping tigers.

[Toby Neal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a Sleeping Tiger!
Holly Robinson has written a book that sneaks up on you--starts out as a chick-lit coming of age, with a likeable protagonist prone to wearing flats, chinos, and seasonal earrings (hey, I like her already!) who jumps off the conventional track to reconnect with her estranged brother after a cancer scare. So far, so good, I'm liking her attempts to break out of the rut, her sexual nonadventures ("penis like a male mushroom on a mound of hay" brought me much needed laughter one day) but then, as astounded as Jordan is, we end up in the world of the neglected baby, the teenaged heroin whore, and a strange cultish figure who takes her brother to Kathmandu.
And heck if our angst-ridden fourth-grade teacher doesn't hop aboard the crazy train and follow her brother there!
This book engaged me totally. Like life, there were so many points in the road where Jordan could have shied away from a depth of exposure, from the call to really live those few precious days we have. Instead she steps forward and embraces it, with all its messy, painful, and hilarious depth of experience, even up to squatting to pee in public. (Ah, the joys of third-world travel.) Be prepared to be surprised and delighted by this Sleeping Tiger.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting novel. The novel opens in San Francisco after Jordan's break-up when she first meets up with her friend Karen. Jordan is looking for her brother who we realized she hasn't seen in years, and hasn't heard from in months. We quickly learn that Jordan's family is not a cookie cutter suburban family. They have an interesting set of dynamics. When she finds her brother living with an eclectic group of people and working in a food truck on the streets of San Francisco, she also finds herself getting in over her head trying to "fix" his problems.

The next couple of months turn into an adventure and a journey that Jordan O'Malley never expected. She finds herself on her own in Nepal searching for her brother and his travel companions to try and convince him to come home. Her time there is literally life-changing. I really enjoyed this novel. The characters were colorful and convincing, the family dynamics were complicated and real. I only wish we'd gotten more information about Jordan and Cam's childhood. I still had some questions when the novel ended about their history.

I really enjoyed this book though. It was a story of self-discovery and the limitless love of family. I would definitely recommend it!

[Dana Burgess · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the blurb, you might expect the majority of the novel and character growth to take place in Nepal. Actually most of the story takes place in San Francisco - and, of the two, I enjoyed the San Francisco leg of the journey better than the Nepal leg.

Jordan's friend, Karin, is a blast. I loved her and totally got Jordan's connection with her. She's a hard partying girl with a huge heart. The two of them together make a great team. On the other hand, brother Cam is an annoying brat. He marginally succeeds in redeeming himself toward the end of the book and the story wouldn't have been what it was without him, but I didn't like him at all. There are lots of other personalities woven into the story of Jordan's summer vacation and the interactions between them were delightful. So many times I found myself laughing out loud.

I'm trying so hard to avoid spoilers here - hard to do when I enjoyed the book so much and just want to talk about it. Suffice it to say that the difficulties Jordan encounters cause her to examine her choices, her dreams and her life's path. This one has found a place in my 'favorites' list!

[Babs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jordan has a cancer scare and leaves everyone behind to look for her brother who had been taken. She goes to California and to 3rd world countries trying to find him. Her boring finance is a winner I have heard of men ironing their money, but seriously this was rich. I had to laugh and yell for Jordan to run far away from this man. This 4th grade teacher went through a lot in this book and could have turned around at any time and fled. She didn't she stuck it out.

Holly did a wonderful job with the characters and plot. I could relate a bit t Jordan as a cancer survivor you do panic even in a scare moment and her boyfriend/ fiancé was a doozy of a supporter. Sounds like my ex husband. I felt as though I was there right along rooting Jordan on and making some friends a long the way. Holly writes in a way emotion comes right out of the book to touch you. The journey Jordan takes is a wonderful on and glad I went along for the ride.

This is a book I will re-read and let my mother borrow as you will want to share this amazing story. Well done Holly.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I received this book for free through GoodReads First Reads!*

Jordan O'Malley has always been responsible, hard working, and does all the right things. She even has everything she dreamed of having: a career she is passionate about, a handsome fiancé and the perfect engagement ring, and a beautiful condo. It takes a Heath scare for Jordan to realize that she's not actually happy. She leaves her finance and heads to San Francisco to figure out her life, and to track down her brother. Nothing could have prepared Jordan for the secrets she discovers in San Francisco, or for what these secrets teach her about herself.

I absolutely loved this book!! The characters were so real and relatable, and I became attached to them all. It was very sad when the book ended! The story went in directions I was not anticipating, which was awesome. I admired the way Jordan fought for what she thought was right, and how fearless she was to be there for her family, no matter what. The story was funny, sweet, sad, shocking (there were moments that made me blush!), and just such a pleasure to read.

[Kathleen Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this novel. This is a story about a woman, Jordan O'Malley, who leaves her safe world to venture out to California. She has had a health scare and recently said goodbye to her real winner of a boyfriend. She is a teacher and decides to spend her summer trying to find her elusive brother. She does find him and this is where the story really takes off. She finds herself in a world totally different than she is used to. She finds that her brother has some real issues that he is having a problem handling. An ex- girlfriend, a baby who gets dropped off on Jordan's doorstep, a drug problem and a long seated animosity for his father. He disappears again and Jordan finds herself traveling to the Himalayas to get him to face his problems and accept his responsibilities. This is a very heartbreaking and poignant story about family dynamics, love and hate relationships. Two siblings who find themselves with each others help. I highly recommend it...

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sleeping Tigers is one of those books that grabs your attention from the first page. It's filled with humor, insight, family values, a bit or romance, and friendships. Jordan has to make a choice which will alter her whole life, right at the time she's recovering from a break up with her fiance. She moves mountains to save her ailing brother, for herself as well as her old fashioned mother. The characters in the book evolve as things happen to them, and no one is more surprised at the change than Jordan herself. This was an enjoyable read, though it's convinced me that I have no desire to travel to Nepal! The author did a great job on this novel, and I am so glad I won it in a Goodreads giveaway. I hope to read more by Holly Robinson in the future.

[Judee · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to experience the beauty of the English language, be exposed to refreshing, clever and picturesque similes and metaphors, then Holly Robinson's book, SLEEPING TIGERS, is a must read. She has a magical way of weaving words and phrases together to move the story along and creates an atmosphere that makes it hard to put the book down. Her story telling ability is wonderful, creative and she has a great mastery of the English language that makes the story come alive and makes you feel you ARE each of the characters, and at the same time an interloper watching the lives of the characters unfold.

[MandMzmama · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book a lot. It was interesting to see how the main character transformed by the end of the book. By going to search for her brother in Nepal, she left all modern conveniences, stepping way outside her comfort zone away from everything she knew to be life and came to appreciate a simpler, more grounded existence. And the idea of a "sleeping tiger" being inside the main character and wanting out really resonated with me and kept me intrigued. I also became eager to read about her love interest and by the end of the book, was left wanting to know more about him…hopefully I will come across him in one of Holly's future books ; )

[Hanako · Rating 2 out of 5]

not bad - it was interesting enough and a decent enough story. i kept going a bit crazy with some of the baby stuff - like getting upset on one page 'cause the mom gave the 7 month old a soda...and then turning around and giving the baby an orange popscicle...also the 7 month old was malnurished and not really taken care of...but learning to walk and could crawl upstairs - despite having been homeless and not around stairs...and i forget some of the others. anyway, if you can ignore all that, it's not too bad, especially for the price. :)

[janie d. leik · Rating 5 out of 5]

The search and long haul to save my beloved little brother.

I CHOSE this rating because this was a book that had to be devoured before I could put it down. It had the most interesting characters that you don't find in many current reads. Also, I always enjoy traveling to interesting foreign countries and viewing their culture. it is my only way to afford travel. I don't give many five star ratings, but feel that this book was deserving of it. This is such a an interesting read that I will pull it out of my archives to read again!