By 
Wow! Denise Derya Brandt, the Author of “Istanbul Dreaming” has written a captivating, intriguing, heartfelt, memorable and thought-provoking novel. The Genres for this well written book are: Cultural Heritage Fiction, 20th Century Historical Fiction, Romance, Historical Romance, and Fiction. The timeline for this novel is set in the 1950’s in Turkey. The backdrop is the Political and Social Unrest that results in Turkey’s 1960 Military “Coup d’etat”The author vividly describes the landscape, scenery, plot, and the dramatic and colorful characters. One of the female protagonists, Ayten, 17 years old is forced into an arranged and expected marriage by her father. Ayten has friends and wants to be a modern “Turkish woman”. The man she is forced to religiously marry, is extremely brutal, and Ayten tries to leave her home and goes to be with her friends in Istanbul. She works as a seamstress in her friend’s store. The man that she left comes to the store and threatens her. She is rescued by one of her friends.
Ayten meets an American pilot, Earl, and the two fall in love. Earl insists on honesty, and Ayten hold secrets close to her heart. Ayten is torn between the love of her family, or being with Earl.She must decide what she is willing to sacrifice. I appreciate how the author discusses the cultural disparity, and the traditions in Turkey. Ayten is courageous and willing to fight what she believes in. I highly recommend this thought-provoking novel.
