Love & Vodka: My Surreal Adventures in Ukraine

Love & Vodka is a book with broad appeal. It is a unique hybrid of travel memoir and love story that seamlessly blends humor, culture shock, and romance. It is about taking a chance in life and seeing where it leads, as well as learning more about the world—and about yourself. The world is large and full of potential; one just needs to be willing to take a gamble and explore the possibilities that exist. Bobby is over the moon after sharing a bike on the E.T. ride at Universal Studios with Katya. Join our "intrepid crusader" as he takes a leap of faith—traveling from comfortable "have-a-nice day…and have-a-warm-shower" suburban Detroit to the former center of Cold War Soviet missile production. And unbeknownst to anyone but himself, he's bringing an engagement ring! Experience life in a city that, until the mid-1980s, was closed to foreign visitors. R.J. Fox's humorous, poignant, and memorable expedition is punctuated by a colorful cast of characters, adventures, and cultural mishaps and misunderstandings—from irate babushka women to hard-drinking uncles. Lesser mortals might have "phoned home" to be rescued. Armchair travelers and romantics—you will find yourself both schooled in hard knocks and heartened to have shared in the unforgettable experience of Love & Vodka! "Za vashe zdorovie!" __Love & Vodka__ is a book with broad appeal. It is a unique hybrid of travel memoir and love story that seamlessly blends humor, culture shock, and romance. It is about taking a chance in life and seeing where it leads, as well as learning more about the world—and about yourself. The world is large and full of potential; one just needs to be willing to take a gamble and explore the possibilities that exist. Bobby is over the moon after sharing a bike on the E.T. ride at Universal Studios with Katya. Join our "intrepid crusader" as he takes a leap of faith—traveling from comfortable "have-a-nice day...and have-a-warm-shower" suburban Detroit to the former center of Cold War Soviet missile production. And unbeknownst to anyone but himself, he's bringing an engagement ring! Experience life in a city that, until the mid-1980s, was closed to foreign visitors. R.J. Fox's humorous, poignant, and memorable expedition is punctuated by a colorful cast of characters, adventures, and cultural mishaps and misunderstandings—from irate babushka women to hard-drinking uncles. Lesser mortals might have "phoned home" to be rescued. Armchair travelers and romantics—you will find yourself both schooled in hard knocks and heartened to have shared in the unforgettable experience of Love & Vodka! "Za vashe zdorovie!" "Love & Vodka" is the true story of Bobby, a young Michigander who meets a girl from Ukraine at Universal Studios in California. Upon his return to Michigan, Bobby decides to follow his heart and take a leap of faith--traveling from comfortable "have-a-nice day ... and have-a-warm-shower" suburban Detroit to the former center of Cold War Soviet missile production--the industrial city of Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine. And unbeknownst to anyone but himself, he's bringing an engagement ring! Throughout the course of the book, the reader will experience life in a city that, until the mid-1980s, was closed to foreign visitors. This humorous, memorable expedition is punctuated by a colorful cast of characters, adventures, and cultural mishaps and misunderstandings--from irate babushka women to hard-drinking uncles. "Love & Vodka" is a unique hybrid of travel memoir and love story that seamlessly blends outlandish humor, cultural insight and a steady stream of romance. It will appeal to male and female readers of multiple age groups. It is a faithful reminder that there is someone out there for everyone. The world is large and rife with potential; one just needs to be willing to take a gamble and explore the possibilities that exist. "If you've ever done something crazy in the name of love, R.J. Fox's adventures in the Ukraine will strike a chord."--Davy Rothbart