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Nicole
Labelled a "traitor's" child, Nicole is desperate for acceptance since her recent move to dangerously polarized small-town South Africa. Soon, the bruised vulnerability of the white ballerina collides with the untamable desire of Naseem, a notorious Indian rebel. The intensity of their bond becomes obvious to their families, her brother and Mosh, Naseem's closest confidant and township activist, who cannot accept his new rival's presence.Upon being whisked across the globe, an exquisite socialite lures Nicole into glamorous superficiality. She fails, however, to grasp the sensitive balance between Naseem and Nicole until betrayal and death spiral Nicole into depravation, while Naseem confronts his own bloodlust.Set against the historical tightrope of Apartheid South Africa and the hedonism of 1980s Greece, Ronel Golden's Nicole is a romantic, political thriller that will "have your heart pounding" and ultimately "take your breath away".
260 pages, Paperback
Published September 25, 2018
About the author
Ronel Golden
1 book6 followersBorn to South African parents in Almkerk, The Netherlands, Ronel Golden arrived in Johannesburg two years before her father would become part of the pro-reform movement, which led to the abolition of Apartheid. During this time of political turmoil, the Golden family learned to deal with the repercussions of their firm and publicly known principles. Much of Ronel's time spent interacting with leaders who were working towards a peaceful transition and exchanging notes with ministers during Parliamentary debates in Cape Town.
After living in Greece and Germany due to her father's Ambassadorial appointments by F.W. de Klerk and Nelson Mandela. While her nomadic existence continued, Ronel learned five of the languages she was exposed to and continued to wrestle with the concept of a world in constant flux.
Upon completion of high school finals in Bonn, Ronel returned to South Africa for a Bachelor of Laws at the University of Pretoria. She earned her degree while acting as news writer, reader, and interviewer at the regional university radio station. Upon graduation, Ronel worked for the GTZ (German non-profit agency) in South Africa, a British insurance company in the United Kingdom, and enrolled in an LLM in the United States. On the SMU campus she lectured on the transformation of the South African political and social system and was elected to the Dr. Emmet J. Conrad Leadership Program, as well as the International Law Association.
Post-graduation Ronel accepted a position at KPMG in Dallas and married her fiancé from Mexico. Shortly thereafter, their son was born. Their separation led to a long journey to find a home and after several moves, mother and son returned to Houston, Texas.
Ronel writes about what she knows. Female characters. Not outliers, not the celebrated. Not the elite and the outstanding. Women who could be anyone and everyone, both normal and random. They compare themselves, they doubt, they fear, they lie to themselves and sometimes allow their emotions to dictate their actions. But they all have one commonality. They don’t shrivel. They survive. And in that survival, they flourish and infuse others with energy, positivity and empathy to heal and enhance, not only in their own microcosm, but beyond.
Ronel's profile on Instagram is @ronelgolden.
After living in Greece and Germany due to her father's Ambassadorial appointments by F.W. de Klerk and Nelson Mandela. While her nomadic existence continued, Ronel learned five of the languages she was exposed to and continued to wrestle with the concept of a world in constant flux.
Upon completion of high school finals in Bonn, Ronel returned to South Africa for a Bachelor of Laws at the University of Pretoria. She earned her degree while acting as news writer, reader, and interviewer at the regional university radio station. Upon graduation, Ronel worked for the GTZ (German non-profit agency) in South Africa, a British insurance company in the United Kingdom, and enrolled in an LLM in the United States. On the SMU campus she lectured on the transformation of the South African political and social system and was elected to the Dr. Emmet J. Conrad Leadership Program, as well as the International Law Association.
Post-graduation Ronel accepted a position at KPMG in Dallas and married her fiancé from Mexico. Shortly thereafter, their son was born. Their separation led to a long journey to find a home and after several moves, mother and son returned to Houston, Texas.
Ronel writes about what she knows. Female characters. Not outliers, not the celebrated. Not the elite and the outstanding. Women who could be anyone and everyone, both normal and random. They compare themselves, they doubt, they fear, they lie to themselves and sometimes allow their emotions to dictate their actions. But they all have one commonality. They don’t shrivel. They survive. And in that survival, they flourish and infuse others with energy, positivity and empathy to heal and enhance, not only in their own microcosm, but beyond.
Ronel's profile on Instagram is @ronelgolden.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 5, 2018
I am only 1/4 of the way through and i must say , this woman knows how to write. This book was sent to me by a dear friend as they knew it was my rainy season here in Costa Rica, which means alot of time spent huddled up in doors.
Really looking forward to finishing this wonderful piece of work.
Really looking forward to finishing this wonderful piece of work.
June 23, 2019
If you're a fan of historical fiction, pick this book up NOW! It was one of those novels that really put me through the ringer of emotions. I laughed, I got angry at the characters, and eventually was moved to tears.
At first it takes a bit to situate yourself within the South African narrative, but by a couple of chapters in I truly felt like I knew and understood the places and their significance even though I've never been. The glitz and glam of Athens during that time period, as opposed to the great amount of pain being endured during the Struggle, reflected itself through the protagonist in a really raw way.
It's a love story, a look back on a tremendously important time in recent history, and a damn good book! Would highly recommend.
At first it takes a bit to situate yourself within the South African narrative, but by a couple of chapters in I truly felt like I knew and understood the places and their significance even though I've never been. The glitz and glam of Athens during that time period, as opposed to the great amount of pain being endured during the Struggle, reflected itself through the protagonist in a really raw way.
It's a love story, a look back on a tremendously important time in recent history, and a damn good book! Would highly recommend.
October 14, 2018
An impressive debut!!
October 9, 2018
True, intense and inspiring...
By the time I got to page 180 of Nicole I knew I was in trouble. 2 o’clock the next morning I finally went to bed after I finished the rest of the book! Nicole was full of surprises, twists and turns and the characters seem to do exactly what you think they will not do. The love story between Nicole and Naseem is beautiful and if I say any more I may spoil it. It is a classic, though and the challenges they have to deal with feel very real. I loved how the author took you back and forth in time and place and it kept me interested, and on my toes!! A must read for sure!!
By the time I got to page 180 of Nicole I knew I was in trouble. 2 o’clock the next morning I finally went to bed after I finished the rest of the book! Nicole was full of surprises, twists and turns and the characters seem to do exactly what you think they will not do. The love story between Nicole and Naseem is beautiful and if I say any more I may spoil it. It is a classic, though and the challenges they have to deal with feel very real. I loved how the author took you back and forth in time and place and it kept me interested, and on my toes!! A must read for sure!!
October 8, 2018
As a South African Indian woman who grew up in the years of Nicole I totally related to the story written. The Apartheid years were horrific years for so called Non white citizens in SA. The relationship between Nicole and her Indian family friends is very well depicted by Ms Golden. The book weaves fact and fiction seamlessly, to the extent that it seems a true story. It’s gripping, nail biting, page turning, fast paced and emotionally wrenching story. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Well done on your Debut, Ms Golden. I can’t wait for your next book.
October 12, 2018
Ronel you did a brilliant job with this book, I loved every minute of this and could not put the book down. The way you described everything in detail felt as if I was part of the story.
Well done on this book and hope there are still many more books to follow in the near future. Best read in a long time
Well done on this book and hope there are still many more books to follow in the near future. Best read in a long time
November 23, 2018
Passionate love story set among two worlds that no longer exit. Apartheid South Africa and a nostalgic, care-free and wealthy Athens.
December 9, 2018
A truly formidable debut novel that tackles a very untouched topic (the internal conflict within Afrikanerdom during the last years of Apartheid.) Ronel Golden does a very credible job getting into the mind of the young protagonist and the battle between her demons.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews