What is your opinion?
I loved this book!
"I really loved this book, I got absorbed straight away. Her style of writing helped you get hooked in to the story. You really feel like you're there with the characters. I would recommend it to anyone! "
Unscripted
"I feel empowered after reading this novel. I mean as a woman and as a middle age woman. This novel also offers some perspectuve on the dangers of working as peace corps under UN and other international agencies. You have to be competent, multilingual, adaptable, independent and strong to survive. "
Unscripted
"Great story, absolutely convincing in every detail. Feels like I have been there. The troubles and doubts of the heroine are authentic and well based. Nothing missing and nothing wrong with this story. I especially appreciate the insights in world politics, bureaucracy at work and the lack of "American Way of life saves the world ". The best read I had for a long time. "
Unscripted
"An unusual story, well worth reading. Good conversations, excellent prose, and keeps my interest, maybe because I was there, back in the day. You won't be able to pt this book down."
Unscripted
"UNSCRIPTED is an excellent, well-told story of a woman who tries to find herself after the painful break-up of her marriage. She does so,intriguingly, by going to Cambodia to help supervise the first free election after the brutal reign of Pol Pot and The Killing Fields. I was drawn to this story initially because I have personal acquaintance with Cambodians who survived the Killing Fields. In addition, as I got into the story I found it to be similar in many ways to my own novel, SEARCHING FOR EDEN. That work is also a story of a person who seeks to find himself after trauma -- in that case, the death of a daughter, rather than a marriage -- and travels to a dangerous part of the world in his quest. With 79 chapters, it appears to be a longer book than it really is, as the chapters are short (Chapter 73 appears to be really long, but is in reality seven chapters mis-formatted). While having strong romantic elements, UNSCRIPTED is much more than a romance novel. The romance is secondary to the bigger issue of finding meaning and purpose in life. The central character, CJ, finds she does not need a man to rescue her, but that she herself can be a rescuer. The author touchingly describes the pain and trauma of Cambodians as they seek freedom. The novel is also a story of strong female cross-cultural friendships. While the story seems to be written for a female readership, as a male reader I found it a very stimulating read."
Notes on first chapter
"Hi This is a great start but actually to introduce, this world and character quite a short chapter. I read easily. I got some sense of character and some of place - loved the boat was and her being unsteady on the bike after the adventure. Your dialogue felt really believable. And you launch straight into action which is great BUT to make this chapter come alive for me, I'd like a lot more character and a lot more setting. I love the MC is a woman and we're in her head but I'm can't visualise her - I don't mean I want lengthy descriptions of her appearance, I want to know her through how she reacts to the world and the danger she's experiencing. I did get a little of that on the boat but I think you could develop her reactions - physical and emotional a lot more. Same goes for setting again not lengthy descriptions of the place but for example how does she react to the climate if she's just arrived there. Think about her fives senses. As a reader I really want to know what it's like to be her. If we know the MC and understand what she's experiencing we'll care about her and that will make these action sequences a lot more gripping. I like stuff on the more literary end so I may be way of the mark for you but I hope it helps. I don't like doing the star thing so because writing a book is a brilliant thing it's 5 stars all round!"
relationshipsin an intensely challenging political climate
"Engaging weave of personal growth within a political context I knew little about. I especially appreciated the breadth of and honoring of so many and different kinds of loving relationships. Reads very smoothly. My only criticism is that I longed for more on all levels - relationships and politics. Thanks for a great read!"
Unscripted
"This story of romance, adventure, and personal growth is captivating from beginning to end. Through the feisty protagonist and her quirky international cast of characters, the reader learns about life "behind the news" during a critical period in recent history; the narrative also shines a bright light on Cambodia and its resilient people.. Unscripted is, by turns, heartwarming, heart-stopping, and heartbreaking. I highly recommend this wonderful novel of courage and compassion under extreme conditions."
"Unscripted
"I found this story to be captivating and enlightening. I felt as though I was there with CJ feeling so many of the emotions she was feeling. It gave me insight into another part of the world that I never could have imagined and inspired me with her courage,devotion, and strength. I love it and would like to read it again."
Unscripted
"I love reading about other countries and I think this story about Cambodia after Polpot creates awareness of the tragedy that happened there and the actions of the U.N. to hold elections. The heroine of the story is easy to relate to, a modern, middleaged woman looking for an adventure, wanting to make a difference and finding new friends from many countries. C.J. is a funny/serious protagonist. Recovering from a divorce, she id not indifferent to new men but didn't expect to fall in love with a Polish soldier. The book has everything, history, suspense, romance, tragedy and the ending is heart-opening. I loved it!"
unscripted. . . a talel to remember
"This is a fascinating story. of an amazing adventure.. I found it very readable. Much of the story seemed vivid enough to make me feel that I was there with CJ ."
