At the age of sixteen, Bess Hawkins, still has the appearance of a small boy. In her years, she hasn’t had a good life. Living with her uncle has only left her with black and blue marks. Things heat up even more when Rama Chandra and his family move nearby. As a foreigner, Rama is used to rude remarks and ridicule. Bess doesn’t help matters when she meets him and sends strong accusations against him and his country for treating women like cattle. He quickly informs her that that is not entirely true. They are just not allowed as many privileges as the women in America. Rama may be an Arab, but he has fought for freedom, something he tries to tell Bess, and the other children, has been extremely hard when so many others are beating him down. As he and Bess get to know each other better, she sees they have some things in common. When Rama learns Bess has been abused by her uncle, he sets out to help her escape the brutality she endures, but it may not be as easy as he thinks. At sixteen her uncle, Jason Trask, feels since he is her legal guardian, he will be the deciding factor if she weds or not, and if she leaves home.

Liberation is one of those tales that grasps the reader to the point I wanted to jump in and reach out and help Bess and Rama. I can only imagine having to endure the pain that is inflicted upon Bess by her uncle, not to mention Rama coming to America, trying to find freedom, only to have disrespect cast at his shoes. Linda Ambrosia crafts a stunning read about the people in the Middle East and their cultures. She sketches Rama as a hero who comes to the aid of Bess, which is wonderfully done. The way she allows Bess and Rama to educate each other on their different cultures was mesmerizing. This is a brilliant multicultural romance where even the reader learns along with the characters about life.

Reviewed by: Linda L.