Reviewed by Vincent Dublado for Readers' Favorite

Love and Impediments by Stefka Marinova-Todd is a delicious novel that makes you feel like you're enjoying a bowl of fruit salad with its diverse characterization and settings. Marta Aneva is a successful university professor. What she achieves in her career is directly opposite to her personal life, as she tries to navigate the rocky terrain of post-divorce life that leaves her longing for some much-needed zest in her life. With the recent challenges that she is facing at work and a son in Montreal that treats her with cool indifference, she flies to Uruguay to seek new ways of living. This journey, that her friend describes as an ill-advised wanderlust, will make Marta encounter a dashing soccer player as she takes on the position of private English tutor for his two children.

Love and Impediments gives you immediate satisfaction that is bright but not necessarily cheesy. Stefka Marinova-Todd spins her narrative with realism and virtuosity to convince you that traveling is therapeutic and, most of the time, you get something more when you least expect it. The novel is filled with in-depth examination of personal relationships. Of course, the best comes during Marta’s encounter with Eduardo. If you have ever traveled, this is something that you can relate to, as part of going places is to meet new people. Many stories in romance and women's fiction focus too much on the empowerment of the female protagonist and lose focus on exploring her relationships. Love and Impediments doesn’t fall into this trap. Marta embodies the charm and strength of a female protagonist that you will likely remember for a long time. If you are planning to delve into women’s fiction, this book should be on the top of your list.