Nigerian-Canadian author Jane Igharo's debut, Ties That Tether, explores love across cultural divides in a sweet, thought-provoking romance about finding happiness while remaining true to one's background.
Right before her family emigrated to Canada when Nigerian-born Azere was 13, she promised her father on his deathbed that she would marry only an Edo man. After yet another blind date orchestrated by her mother fails epically, Azere falls headlong into a mind-blowing one-night stand with sexy stranger Rafael. She knows her mother will never accept a white suitor, so Azere walks away from their connection, only to have Rafael show up as a new hire in her workplace. However, their chemistry is irresistible, and hiding their feelings becomes impossible when Azere learns their night together left her pregnant.
Igharo shows great promise, particularly in her examination of the catch-22s of trying to remain true to one's culture of origin while also embracing and fitting into the culture of a second home country. Rafael's family is Spanish, adding an extra layer of complexity as Azere worries that her Nigerian roots will take a backseat to his family's traditions when their baby is born. Some readers may become impatient as Azere struggles to find her voice, but Igharo does a fine job of communicating her heroine's desire to remain close with her family. Rafael has tragic secrets of his own, but his care and respect for Azere help keep readers' sympathies engaged. Happily ever after is hard-won and satisfying in this #ownvoices romance. --Jaclyn Fulwood, blogger at Infinite Reads