WHEN THE HEART IS RIGHT
by Parris Afton Bonds
Reviewed by S. S. Bazinet

Description: Turning conventional wisdom on its head, Washington D.C. socialite Alessandra O’Quinn and her lover, Indian shaman Manuel Mondragon, defy time and space and politics and families to come together in the sweeping canvas of the 1920’s New Mexico outpost of Taos. Can they defy Destiny to stay together?

When Alessandra O’Quinn is diagnosed with tuberculosis, she must face certain death at home, or leave everything she knows to seek a cure in the dry desert air of New Mexico.

Arriving at her new home, Alessandra is introduced to the local Taos Indians. Most importantly, she is introduced to shaman Manuel Mondragon. Renowned among his people as a leader and a healer, Man is handsome, intriguing… and promised to a young Taos Indian girl.

Man informs Alessandra her sickness is caused by her spirit. As she learns how to heal her body, Alessandra finds herself fighting to save her true self, as well as her heart.

In 1920s New Mexico, these aren’t the only battles she will fight. With Alessandra’s connections and knowledge of politics, she joins the local people in the fight against the Bureau of Indian Affairs for the rights to Blue Lake, where the tribe believes their ancient culture was created out of the sacred waters. As a place of ritual worship, the lake is essential to their religion and everyday life.

Set against the rich cultural background of the Taos Indians, this story of politics, male domination, racism, and love against all odds will capture your attention from the very first page until the unanticipated ending.

Review: “A MYSTICAL, PASSIONATE JOURNEY BACK TO THE HEART”

For Washington D.C. socialite Alessandra O’Quinn, life looks very bleak. She’s not only suffering from tuberculosis, but her life and marriage have become stagnant and unrewarding. When she decides to seek a cure for her body’s ills, she doesn’t realize how lost she is in heart and soul.

Her senses begin to awaken during her journey from Santa Fe to Taos, New Mexico. The road is dangerous, and the landscape is primitive and untamed. Bonds’ lovely, lyrical descriptions gave me a new appreciation of the magnificence of the natural world. I was also drawn into the story and the events that followed.

The raw splendor of Alessandra’s new environment helps loosen the tight, restrictive boundaries of her stifled world. Even though she’s frightened by her journey into the unknown, she begins to breathe more fully again. A deeper mission, one that involves going beyond the restraints of her normal view of life, soon calls to her.

When a shaman named Manuel Mondragon steps into Alessandra’s life, there’s an immediate spark of passion between them. Still, taking a chance on her heart and on herself is not easy for Alessandra. As the relationship matures, Man helps Alessandra to not only understand herself more intimately, he also helps her to understand the mysteries that govern his life.

WHEN THE HEART IS RIGHT is the story of Alessandra being roused from her conditioned upbringing and entering a realm she’d never experienced before. That realm is governed by the heart and soul. It’s a place where true, selfless love takes precedence. It’s a story of passion and mystery between two people who come from totally different world views. It’s also a story about the politics and racism of the period, and how the lives of the people involved are deeply affected. When all the elements are woven together, it’s a beautifully written, deeply felt story, told by an author who infuses each word with her own passion.

Five Stars for this magnificent story!

Parris Afton Bonds’ website: parrisaftonbonds.com
Her author page on Amazon
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