Love Odyssey is set in Romania during the time of Nicolae’s Ceausescu’s presidency. His goal was to make Romania a world leader and he used brutal means against the citizenry to advance his power. The book is the second in Roberta Seret’s Transylvania Trilogy featuring Anca, her daughter, and her husband Petre. Anca fled Romania expecting her husband to follow soon, but he chose to continue his resistance fight, hoping to overthrow Ceausescu rather than make a new life with his wife and daughter in New York.
The book was very poorly written, disorganized and forgettable, except for the brief insight I got into the events happening in Romania during the 1970s and 80s . I had trouble finishing it and will avoid other books by the author. ( )

Anca Rodescu escaped Ceausescu's dictatorship of Romania in 1970 at the behest of her husband. Pregnant and alone in America, Anca waits for Petre to join her. Petre; however, wants to lead the revolution to bring Ceausescu out of power. Nineteen years later, Anca and Petre have divorced and Petre has almost completed his goal. Anca has become a successful pediatrician in New York City and their daughter, Sandi is studying at University. Sandi and Petre meet from time to time in Europe when Petre is allowed to leave for medical research. Petre has become Ceausescu's personal doctor and is closer than ever to reaching his goal when Anca begins to receive threats in America and a strange phone call from an old friend that leads Anca to believe that Petre is in trouble.

Love Odyssey combines romance, danger and adventure in this historical fiction novel. Love Odyssey is the second book in the Transylvanian Trilogy that follows Anca's story. Anca's story focuses mostly on her time after she escaped Romania and her lingering feelings for Petre. I was captivated by Anca's escape and how she was able to build her life up after that. More so, I was amazed to learn more about Ceausescu and the evils he perpetuated for so long. At times Petre's story eclipsed Anca's with the work he was doing for the revolution. I was intrigued by his work with American Intelligence and how he was able to work next to Ceausescu and even save his life on occasion. I did appreciate the overarching theme of the Odyssey compared to Anca and Petre's journey and realizing their love for one another. I particularly loved Anca's strength at the end as she risks everything for Petre. I can't wait to see what story book three brings to life.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review. ( )

I enjoyed this very much ( )

Petre , Anca’s husband arranges for Her and their unborn child to secretly escape from Romania to America so that they will be safe. Petre promises to follow. Petre however does not follow but continues his fight to overthrow the Romanian dictatorship.
Anca raises her daughter, continues her career as a doctor in America while Petre continues his activism.
Many years later, Anca begins receiving hints and messages from friends about the current climate in war torn Romania and the danger that Petre may be in.
She returns to Romania to help Petre.
This novel was not what expected given the title Transylvania Trilogy . It was quite a delightful read and I plan on reading part one and three.
I received this book in exchange for a review. ( )

Love Odyssey is a historical novel set against the 1989 collapse of the Communist government in Romania. It is the second in a trilogy featuring four Romanian women who have escaped to the Western world and achieved success in various ways. This volume is the story of Anca, who has become a physician in New York, after fleeing her native country with her infant daughter almost 20 years before. Her husband, Petre, never followed her and their long separation, along with some chapter heads, gives the book its loose parallel with the Odyssey. Both Anca and Petre have parts to play in the revolution that brought down Nicolae Ceaușescu.
I found the writing pedestrian and the fictional characters almost interchangeable. The connection with Homer didn’t work for me – I don’t think of it as mostly Penelope’s story. I’ll stick with Joyce for a literary homage. ( )