The Yugoslavian, In Search of Mara Jovanovic is an intriguing historical fiction that has you wondering what really happened in the past and, if history is written by the victors, what happens to the losers? Written by the mysterious author known as "The Black Rose," this story is very detailed and intricate. Meshing two characters’ lives together is a difficult feat, but when a single-minded goal is shared, particularly one as devastatingly real as finding a missing orphan, you know that there's going to be lots of fireworks. Tess, the founder of a children's writing competition, receives a manuscript from a child missing in the war. Intrigued, she sets out to find out what she can and in the process she becomes involved with Ivan, a freedom fighter known as The Black Rebel to some, and simply as a humanitarian to others. Though both are suspicious of the other, they team up to meet their goals.

I liked Tess a lot. Main characters, particularly in historical fiction, tend to be a bit one-sided. Tess has spirit and personality, as well as smarts and the ability to figure out mysteries and read other characters to use for her purposes. She was very tricky and I really enjoyed traveling along with her. Ivan was a good character as well. A little aloof, a little dangerous, and all around well-developed. Dialogue between the two characters seemed a bit stiff at first, but then warmed up as the book went on so I eventually came to enjoy their interactions. Plot wise, The Yugoslavian is a very interesting story. There wasn't so much of a twist, but the story still held your attention and kept you paying close attention until all the plot threads unraveled. I would gladly read another book by The Black Rose.

The Yugoslavian: In Search of Mara Jovanovic by The Black Rose is a beautiful yet deadly novel of war, love and hope. It depicts the cold hard reality of a bloody war that the people of Yugoslavia faced, and it brings to light the thousands of innocent casualties, many being orphaned children. When a young girl named Mara enters a writing competition, her words touch the founder of the organisation so deeply that it changes her life forever. Against the wishes of her closest friends, Tess travels into the heart of the war in search of the little girl who has won her heart. Ivan fights for his beliefs and people and he is the renowned Black Rebel. He does not take a side in this war, but he gives hope to the suffering people and children. When he meets Tess, his life changes forever and although he has no choice but to hide the truth from Tess, he has indeed found his soul mate.

The Author delivers a wonderful yet powerful novel in The Yugoslavian. This story is unique and it brought to light the struggle that people of this country faced. I have often seen images of such a war on my TV screen. I felt sadness at the time but then was able to go on with my life, forgetting much of what had been reported. This story captured my heart completely and made me realize the impact of such a man-made atrocity. How many cries of forgotten people and orphaned children go unheard? I felt this novel in some way gave them a voice to be heard. I was deeply touched and I loved the Black Rebel and all that he stood for. The author is very talented in how she portrayed her story; the characters were well thought out and developed. I cannot wait until the next book in this series is released. I would strongly recommend this to all. It has changed my perception on a lot of issues and I am sure it would do the same for many others. A book not to be missed.