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Behind the open Walls
Leaving the comfort and expectations of home, Amanda Smith travels to Pécs, Hungary to research her grandpapa’s past. She quickly embraces the beauty and history of the walled city, wishing for an alternate life where her grandpapa had never left in the first place. Her sense of homecoming increases when she meets Luca, a Romani dancer whose moves could melt her clothes off, and she yearns to get to know him more when she observes him caring for his dying sister. After a short summer fling, she agrees to an odd marriage proposal.
Her grandpapa’s brother visits right before the wedding, exposing the real reason his brother fled Hungary for America. Secrets open old wounds, revealing a connection with Luca’s clan. Following the revelation, the Romani family, including her fiancé, rejects Amanda because of clan loyalties. Now she questions everything she knew about her beloved grandpapa and searches for a way to repair wounds she didn’t intend to open.
Her grandpapa’s brother visits right before the wedding, exposing the real reason his brother fled Hungary for America. Secrets open old wounds, revealing a connection with Luca’s clan. Following the revelation, the Romani family, including her fiancé, rejects Amanda because of clan loyalties. Now she questions everything she knew about her beloved grandpapa and searches for a way to repair wounds she didn’t intend to open.
307 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 28, 2016
171 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 11, 2018
Amanda Smith has traveled to Hungary in order to learn more about her late grandfather's past. She falls for a Romani man named Luca and has difficulty accepting the customs and traditions of his family. After learning some horrible truths about her grandfather, Amanda must make a decision to either return to America or confront her grandfather's past and fight for her future.
I felt a real connection to Amanda in her wanting to find out more about her grandfather's life before he came to America. It has always upset me that I didn't have a chance to talk with my grandfather about his life growing up in Eastern Europe because he died when I was still a child.
I found the parts of the book about the Romani traditions and customs fascinating. I'll admit that I knew next to nothing about them prior to reading this book other than the term "gypsy" is considered a slur.
At times some of the characters could be frustrating to read. Amanda sometimes came across as selfish and everyone seemed to behave irrationally at one time or another. That doesn't mean that they were poorly written and developed characters. It just means that at times I wanted to slap some sense into them.
I received a free copy of this book and that is my honest review.
I felt a real connection to Amanda in her wanting to find out more about her grandfather's life before he came to America. It has always upset me that I didn't have a chance to talk with my grandfather about his life growing up in Eastern Europe because he died when I was still a child.
I found the parts of the book about the Romani traditions and customs fascinating. I'll admit that I knew next to nothing about them prior to reading this book other than the term "gypsy" is considered a slur.
At times some of the characters could be frustrating to read. Amanda sometimes came across as selfish and everyone seemed to behave irrationally at one time or another. That doesn't mean that they were poorly written and developed characters. It just means that at times I wanted to slap some sense into them.
I received a free copy of this book and that is my honest review.
June 26, 2017
Behind the Open Walls
By Lanette Kauten
Reviewed by Jaime Kurp
I was a little disappointed in this story. I felt that it was little to drawn out and took to long to tell the story. But at the same time I really, really liked the story line. I loved that Amanda got to learn about her Grandpapa even if it wasn’t what she was wanting to hear. And so liked that her family and Luca’s family were intertwined well before they even met. I did feel like the ending kind of slopped, but it was still a happy-ever-after ending. I would still recommend reading the story, it gives you a little bit of history to go along with the romance.
By Lanette Kauten
Reviewed by Jaime Kurp
I was a little disappointed in this story. I felt that it was little to drawn out and took to long to tell the story. But at the same time I really, really liked the story line. I loved that Amanda got to learn about her Grandpapa even if it wasn’t what she was wanting to hear. And so liked that her family and Luca’s family were intertwined well before they even met. I did feel like the ending kind of slopped, but it was still a happy-ever-after ending. I would still recommend reading the story, it gives you a little bit of history to go along with the romance.
June 4, 2017
What a beautiful book from a Author I have not read before. It is a book that will make you stop and think about what happened to the Romani culture and Hungary itself and how love can bridge cultures . It is a book that makes you feel like you are a person on the sidelines watching it happen! This is mainly Amanda Smith an American's story, she sees Luca when his family performs on the street then they later meet again.Will they get a happy ending? I also like the other couples story. I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.
December 16, 2016
Exploring her beloved grandfather's past, Amanda Smith comes face to face with some hard realities as she travels to Pecs, Hungary to discover his early life. This story made me examine my own personal prejudices. However, it reminds me that one is not bound to, nor limited by, their past. This book grabbed me in the first scene and held my interest through to the very end. Another great read by Ms Kauten.
January 1, 2017
i enjoyed this one better then the last one I read I will admit that. This one flowed very easily.. the storyline was very interesting and kept me curious until it was over. It was a bit drawn out which if you aren't a patient person may not be the best thing for you to read. Certain parts I was wishing it was over already but then something would happen and I'd be like YES! thats it... thats what i was looking for lol.. I am glad i got to review it
December 27, 2016
Loved this book. Romance, past mysteries embroidered with murder and family hardship along with culture hardships.
Amanda is in Hungary to find out about her beloved Grandpa past. Unknown to her, her past is riddled with mystery, romance and even murder. Finding all the ins and outs of her past are tough enough without her family breathing down her neck. Telling her she belongs in America. And is American not Hungarian or a Romi. But with a man named Luca at her side. She is willing to convert to his Romi traditions, but he also needs to understand her wants and needs. Which he does. But with people on both sides opposing them. Will they ever find love together? Will she ever find out what happened with her grandfather in Hungary....
Amanda is in Hungary to find out about her beloved Grandpa past. Unknown to her, her past is riddled with mystery, romance and even murder. Finding all the ins and outs of her past are tough enough without her family breathing down her neck. Telling her she belongs in America. And is American not Hungarian or a Romi. But with a man named Luca at her side. She is willing to convert to his Romi traditions, but he also needs to understand her wants and needs. Which he does. But with people on both sides opposing them. Will they ever find love together? Will she ever find out what happened with her grandfather in Hungary....
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews