Resilience

Refuge Trilogy #2

by N.G. Osborne

Noor has been flown to Saudi Arabia to begin her life as a Princess. Charlie has been deported from Pakistan and sent home bruised and battered to the United States.

For each of them there is a temptation - however dire it may seem. For Noor, who believes Charlie's dead, it is accepting her new situation and assimilating into the Prince's family as best she can. For Charlie, it is coming to terms with the massive improbability of ever seeing Noor again and moving on.

But neither can do that. Noor yearns to be free, while Charlie yearns to free her. And so despite incredible odds, each sets a plan in a motion to achieve their goal.

In Resilience, the second novel of the Refuge Trilogy, N.G.Osborne continues Noor and Charlie's love story and in turn tests their love's very resilience.

Genres: Fiction

331 pages, Paperback

First published November 3, 2013

About the author

I grew up in Angus, Scotland and from there went south to England for my schooling at Winchester College. At eighteen I took a detour to Peshawar, Pakistan where I taught both Pakistani school children and Afghan refugees and then returned a year later and went on to university at Oxford where I studied Politics, Philosophy and Economics.

After Oxford, I had a burning desire to be in the film industry and so I applied and received a place at the Peter Stark Producing Program at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Two years - that's what I told myself. I will study there for two years, get some interning experience in Hollywood, and then take my skills back to the UK. Oh, how one's plans so easily change.

Now 17 years later I am still in Los Angeles. I've been a film executive and a producer and worked on many wonderful movies. But about 5 years ago three things began to coincide. First, I increasingly wanted to write - I loved producing but it also frustrated me. Isn't the cliche that inside every producer is a frustrated writer? Well that was me. But bizarrely because I wasn't confident in my writing ability I thought I would write a novel not a screenplay. I know, talk about putting the cart before the horse.

If I was going to write a novel then I wanted to write one in a genre I loved - and though it may strange sound for a man to say this, my favorite genre of novel was love stories - not pulp romance novels but the classics - Anna Karenina, Pride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre, Corelli's Mandolin, Love In The Time of Cholera, The Unbearable Lightness of Being. Classic romances that have stood the test of time. Now I'm not pretending what I have written is even close but it is the genre I perhaps naively chose.

The question was what and that is when I came back to my time in Pakistan - what if I told a simple story - a love story - set in 1991 between an American aid worker and a young female Afghan refugee. What I loved about the idea was that in all great romances there has to be something standing in the way of your couple getting together - in Romeo and Juliet it's that Capulets and Montagues are sworn enemies, in Corelli's Mandolin it's that Corelli is an invader and Peligia part of the population his troops have conquered. I think one of the issues of writing a great romance nowadays is that there are so few barriers to love - but there are plenty when your characters are a Muslim woman and an American man especially if they live in one of the most fundamentalist parts of the world.

Writing the novel was perversely one of the hardest and most rewarding things I've ever done - it's a bit like aid work actually. And what came out of it were these two great characters - Charlie and Noor - who I fell in love with and by the end of the process felt like the closest of friends. I do so hope you love them too.

Reviews

[Shohina Khanom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was glad to have received a paperback copy of this book so quickly after pre-ordering it from Amazon since I was anticipating for a while for the book to release!!!

N.G. Osborne does it again and Resilience never failed in disappointing me as a reader since I really love the Refuge Series, I was glad that the story of Resilience continued from where it left off in Refuge. I felt the longing and separation with Noor where she has to deal with the unwanted life of being the Prince's new wife, while Charlie is still holding to the small hope of freeing Noor with a daring escape plan of faking an identity (along with escaping with Noor) and finally arriving to the place where Noor is located.

I was crying with happiness seeing Noor and Charlie reunited again when they found each other before escaping from everyone and I've always rooted for them to be together. But unfortunately that happiness didn't last and I was sad and heartbroken to see them separated again and dealing with a lot of problems where Charlie was arrested for a crime that he didn't commit and then being sentenced to prison in another country. I was glad to see Noor escape to a foreign land and thankfully Elma redeemed herself in my eyes when she helped Noor escape in another town with a new identity and a new life. I was happy with the fact that Noor is expecting a child which made me relieved that Noor isn't alone but hopefully her child will give her a new reason to live a life that she was deprived from her before.

Resilience had definitely lived up to my expectations and just like Refuge, Resilience is a beautifully written story with a lot of romance, action, drama and heart wrenching moments mixed together. I really love reading this book I can't wait for the final installment of the Refuge Series!!! =D

[Aileen Abreu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't count the times I winced or my skin jumped because it was more than a hand full. What a emotional roller coaster, I couldn't sleep, focus on work or ride the train without sticking my nose in this book. I need to find out what Charlie and Noor fate was. I couldn't help but feel sad for them, they spent so much time fighting for their relationship apart. What will be there fate now that their roles have switched? I loved this book, but it left me with so many questions.

I can't wait for the third book, put me out of my misery!!!

[Shaneka · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 hours! That's what it took! I don't write reviews often (if any at all), but this book had me on edge from page 1! Thank you N.G. for writing such a dynamic tale! This books was real and raw! No hearts and flowers. Noor never loses faith and hope and Charlie is even more determined. Can't WAIT for the next installment!

[Simone O'Neill · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved this second instalment. the man has done it again. my stomach was in knots for a lot of this book. cannot wait for more from this great author

[Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

honestly after my first read, I would have given it 4 stars. I really enjoyed the story and found it compelling. however, upon rereading I have to acknowledged that the story is mainly serves to reinforce the stereotypes westerners already want to believe about the middle east.

[Harmony · Rating 5 out of 5]

why did I wait so long to read this? Nail biting, heart pounding, frustration are just some of the things I felt for this book. I love how interconnected these characters are. It's beautifully written that brings out emotions and makes you think of the story and characters after you've put the book down. I felt like the dialogue of characters was written much better this time since all seem very different. Excellent read and I'm so happy I stumbled on this series. Now to pray to Allah for book 3.

[Harmony · Rating 5 out of 5]

What are you doing? Read this!

why did I wait so long to read this? Nail biting, heart pounding, frustration are just some of the things I felt for this book. I love how interconnected these characters are. It's beautifully written that brings out emotions and makes you think of the story and characters after you've put the book down. I felt like the dialogue of characters was written much better this time since all seem very different. Excellent read and I'm so happy I stumbled on this series. Now to pray to Allah for book 3.

[Maegan · Rating 5 out of 5]

N.G. Osborne does it again! Resilience is the second book in the Refuge series. I did not think any book could live up to the excitement, drama, romance, and heart-wrenching sadness that was evident in the first book, but I was wrong! I could not put this one down and found myself still awake at 3am just so I could finish it. It will rip your heart one moment and then give you hope the next. If N.G. Osborne keeps it up, he will be a world-renowned author in no time!!!

[Peggy Trujillo · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the second book in this relationship between Charlie and Noor, I loved it.
I don't want to say too much because I don't know how without having spoilers. I just know that I can't wait to read the next one. I have to know what happens next. I'm not big into romance novels normally, but this one is so well-told with so many layers of humanity that I just love it.

[Marian Sofferin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is outstanding. It is the second book of the Refuge trilogy and I could not put it down. The author writes so well and has created an exciting story with lots of twists and turns. This was so good that I couldn't put it down (I actually read it in two days). I strongly recommend this series. I can't wait for the final book of the series.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!

[Kathryn Flouton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't wait to download this one after reading refuge! Excellent beautifully written and another cliffhanger. Cannot wait for more from this author!

[Kaitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the first book more.. but this book was good! I just want to read the final installment now though :( Hoping for a HEA but it really doesn't look good :/

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

ZOMG PLEASE GIVE US THE NEXT BOOK! I felt like I was on an emotional roller coaster with this book, every time I thought they were free something else would happen. Don't keep me in suspense!!!

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story, hard to wait for the third one. Couldn't put this one down either...

[Iris · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the second book of a trilolgy. It is not well written, rather trashy but very readable.

[Mily Jovic · Rating 4 out of 5]

I need #3

[Lori Schreiber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't wait for book #3 . Awesome story !

[Eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A review will follow soon, I first have to digest it all. Wow!

[Carmina Franz · Rating 5 out of 5]

CAN'T WAIT FOR BOOK 3!!!!!!

[Parscilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read!!!! Is there a third book?