"Only few writers that spin this kind of tale... For once, we get the feeling that we are treading this path of love with the characters and again, we try to be one with the city, which is a character on its own. Truth is; Whitman has charmed me. Enthralling!" - Onyeka Nwelue, author of The Abyssinian Boy
“Nigerians and indeed Africans are not known for romance writing. The reason can be attributed to the sense of morality (real or apparent) that seeks to relegate issues of love to the secrecy of bedrooms and treats sex as something to be talked about only in hushed tones like it were some mysterious sacred ritual...Myne Whitman’s book, A Heart to Mend, makes a bold statement to the contrary.” - Sylva Nze Ifedigbo, Author of Whispering Aloud.
“…love (even with all its problems) can transform a person and heal them enough to allow forgiveness in a heart.” - FFF, www.shotmusinz.blogspot.com
“The book has been buzzing and is a definite buy.” - Arinze Obikili, www.jaguda.com
"A HEART TO MEND narrates the relationship between Gladys and Edward and offers a unique reading experience. Direct and action packed, the masterful use of emotion and suspense will keep readers totally engrossed and guessing till the end." - www.werunthings.net
“Filled with questions and themes of clashing backgrounds, societal class, premarital sex, family feuds and personal scandals, this book will have you flipping through the pages anxiously…It brings you back to the realities of life: how fragile love can be and the realizations of trust and fear.” - Mariam Olagunju, www.gidilounge.com
“Myne Whitman has written a captivating first novel…” - Linda Ikeji - www.lindaikeji.blogspot.com
“More than anything this book is a breath of fresh air - very different from the stereotypical images portrayed in most books regarding the continent...this is just plain easy feel good read like a top selling novel sitting on the Romance aisle at Borders or Barnes and Nobles.” - Olamild Entertainment, www.olamildentertainment.com
A captivating contemporary African love story, A HEART TO MEND is best described as heartwarming, vivid and charming. Myne Whitman delivers romance in her first and newly released novel with such practicality and skill. It is an unforgettable love story weaved together by a quixotic and imaginative mind that is both believable and relatable! - N Amma Twum-Baah, Founder and Editor, Afrikan Goddess Online "A Heart to mend is a fearless tale about love….an unbiased story of the struggles, failures, victories, strength and harsh decisions people face at some point because of those they love. This book has a story that has been broken down and told with smooth and simple language. A Heart to mend is a delicious and beautiful story." – Chizitere Ojiaka, www.courageousfingers.blogspot.com
FROM AMAZON.COM
 Great Read!!,
This review is from: A Heart to Mend (Paperback)
After meeting Myne Whitman here in L.A. I bought her book and just finished reading it. I'm happy to say that it was a great read! From the opening, I was hooked!!I've not read very many romance stories, but I really liked this book because it's much more than just a love story. I love the fact that the story was set in Lagos Nigeria. I was immediately taken back to my travels there with all descriptions and places she used. I also like the fact that in addition to the love story she included thorough character backgrounds, suspense, business, a happy ending, and weaved them all together magnificently! |
 Nice book,
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: A Heart to Mend (Paperback)
All i can say is my sister loves the book, and she reads all sorts of Novels. |
Excellent Read,
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: A Heart to Mend (Kindle Edition)
Ms Myne has started off with a bang. A heart to mend is a wonderful story of finding love for Gladys and Edward. Set in modern day Nigeria, you almost feel like you are in the story with them and Myne's descriptions are very apt and real. This is the first romance novel set in Nigeria that I have read. If there are others, I have not come across them.I must admit I did get lost in the details of the finance industry at the beginning but once I got past that, it was smooth sailing and I came to understand towards the end of the book why those earlier details were somewhat necessary. For those who understand that industry, I'm sure they can tell how much research went into that. I feel like the author has broken a barrier and given us something we did not have prior. I would definitely recommend "A Heart to Mend". Kudos Myne Whitman and I look forward to more great writing from you. |
| A good page turner,
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This review is from: A Heart to Mend (Paperback)
I just finished reading your book, I thoroughly enjoyed it.I loved the fact that you gave each character a dimension, a side to their story, in their own shoes. Your novel was not a "one person" walk through. I am reading the whole book again!! and recommending it to my friends. |
A M A Z I N G!!!!,
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This review is from: A Heart to Mend (Paperback)
I finished reading "A Heart To Mend" a weeks ago and my oh my this book is amazing! If you haven't read it yet....GET YOUR COPY NOW!!! As innn, I was almost in tears at the end of the book. It was so descriptive...I could feel the emotions and passion of each character through the pages and when she describe various places and scenes it felt like I was there! *sigh* Great Job Myne! |
I loved It,
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: A Heart to Mend (Paperback)
great quality, a novel thats hard to put down when you start reading. i'll recommend this for everyone not just Nigerians. Yes it's a Nigerian setting, but it a great story line. Different from everything you have ever read. I just love it. |
| A great down-to-earth Nigerian contemporary novel!,
This review is from: A Heart to Mend (Paperback)
There aren't that many novels set in contemporary Nigeria these days, so it's great to see this new novel by Myne Whitman that does just that. The novel touches on several different themes - estrangement, suspense, and of course love, and does so in a way that many people who are familiar with Nigeria and who have grown up there will relate to. A great first effort by the author, and a recommended read! |
A breath of fresh air,
This review is from: A Heart to Mend (Paperback)
A Heart to Mend narrates the relationship between Gladys and Edward and offers a unique reading experience. Direct and action packed, the masterful use of emotion and suspense will keep readers totally engrossed and guessing till the end.Sheltered Gladys Eborah has spent most of her life in a suburb of Enugu brought up in a deprived single parent household after losing her father as a young girl. After finishing her education, she moves to Lagos to seek a job and moves in with an estranged aunt who now wants to be forgiven for all perceived wrongs. Gladys suspects Aunt Isioma abandoned them out of disdain for their poverty, and has the uneasy role of the bridge between both families. Her new friendships and career achievements gradually transition Gladys into an independent young woman. Soon, she begins to fall for wealthy Edward Bestman who, though physically attracted to her, is emotionally unavailable. Edward is very wealthy, but he is haunted by the past of his illegitimate birth and other secrets he will not share. The themes of premarital sex, social class mobility, and romantic ups and downs that mark a budding love are fully explored. However, Myne Whitman takes the story even further. Some unnamed people are about to take over Edward's business empire and Gladys is implicated. Who are these people who want to betray him and destroy their happiness? A Heart to Mend will bring tears to the eyes and cheers at the end especially for those who have experienced the search for a career or tumultuous family and emotional relationships. Readers will be pleasantly surprised by the description of Lagos, the Nigerian stock market, and other business intrigues. |
INTERVIEWS
INTERVIEW WITH THE VANGUARDMy intention is to contribute to the writing of the romance genre in Nigeria -
By McPhillips Nwachukwu.
Myne Whitman is a Nigerian born and United States based writer, poet and blogger. Recently, she came out with her first novel, A Heart To Mend, a fictional narrative, which seeks to revive the fading romance form in nation’s narrative oeuvre. In this e-mail interview, the novelist, Nkem Okotcha, who prefers to write with the Pen name, Myne Whitman, a transliteration of her real names, brilliantly and critically responds to some engaging issues raised from the deep journey around her narrative universe. She spoke to McPhilips Nwachukwu.
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FEATURE ON THISDAY - MARY EKAHHave you got A Heart to Mend?
Going by her pen name, Myne Whitman, one would assume Okotcha is sort of running away from her identity, but this she refuted strongly. “Myne Whitman is a pen name which I prefer to use for my writing. I don't think it means I'm running from my identity unless you're referring to the fact that I use it to preserve my real identity. I use Myne Whitman for several reasons including for privacy due to the romance which I write and because the use of pen names is very common in that genre.
'I also like the choice which the use of pen names confers on people in the arts. I could give you several writers, singers and painters who used and continue to use pseudonyms”, she explained. And so, she prefers to keep her real name for personal and future professional use only.
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Available Where Good Books are sold
Publishers: Authorhouse $13.50
Amazon.com $18.50
Amazon.CO.UK GBP14.49
Amazon Canada CDN$19.08
Barnes & Noble $16.65
Borders: $37.78 (Crazy right? I don't know who's selling their copy.)
Kalahari South Africa R254.66
Books-a-million $18.31
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A Heart to Mend in Nigeria
In Onitsha/Asaba, call 08066158599,
In Abuja Call 08036289794,
Port Harcourt 08136477573
Lagos Ikeja; 08098643221, 08059864322,
Festac 08069508842, 08023815724
For Agege Lagos 07034591699,
Iyana Ipaja Lagos 08084575936,
Ikeja Lagos (Computer Village) 08033556152,
Egbeda Lagos 08056387855...
Lagos Island TerraKulture, Silverbird.
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LadyBrille Personality of the month
LADYBRILLENigeria.com: Myne Whitman, first, let me congratulate you on publishing your first book. Also, I must say extra kudos for being confident to delve into the financial world. I loved it. Before we get into the many themes running through your novel, let’s get into the writing process and how our audiences who might want to self publish their fashion or similar related books might do so.
LADYBRILLENigeria.com: The first question that typically comes to mind are ideas on what to write. How do our LadybrilleNigeria writers get ideas on what to write?
Myne Whitman: I find inspiration from real life. From my own life, from the people around me and stories I read in the news or books. It could be just a sentence in a newspaper or a line in a movie and my creativity just feeds on it.
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AFRIKANGODDESS JULY SPOTLIGHT
Every woman thinks of love in its most ideal form – pure, unconditional and true – regardless of culture and upbringing. Some of us dream it, some of us read it, some of us live and experience it, and some of us write it. But, not all of us get to do all four in our lifetime, except, of course, women who dare to push the boundaries of their intrigues and childhood dreams. After all, they do say ideal love is for dreamers. But, what we forget is that dreams also, sometimes, do come true. At least it did for Myne Whitman! And today, she has dreamed love, she has read love, she has lived and experienced love, and she has written love. She is AG’s feature to kick off our summer of fun, love and laughter for very good reason - AG loves everything about romance and loving hearts intertwined into a good and believable story.
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African Loft interview: I was excited when I heard of Myne Whitman’s novel, “A heart to mend”. Written by a Nigerian — under the pan name “Myne Whitman”, with Nigerian characters and setting, “A heart to mend” is a fun and fast read.
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Jaguda Interview: I know growing up you must've been exposed to a good number of books and authors. From a literature standpoint, who would you say has been your biggest influence?
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QuestionMark Magazine Interview
Could you please introduce Nkem Akinsoto?
My name is Nkem Akinsoto also known as Myne Whitman. I sometimes come across as quiet and laid-back but do like a good loud debate sometimes. In three words, I will describe myself as friendly, caring and fun-loving. I have been a teacher, NGO consultant, banker, skate-hire attendant, researcher and Scottish government worker. After a postgrad degree and a few years in Edinburgh, Scotland, I now live in the United States with my husband.
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Femme Lounge: She is bold, she is brilliant, she is pretty, and we call her the Heart Mender! Myne Whitman is a young Nigerian woman and the author of A Heart to Mend, an exciting first novel that tells a powerful story of how love doesn’t strut, never gives up, never looks back and keeps going to the end.
Free Flowing Florida: Her book shows how love (even with all its problems) can transform a person and heal them enough to allow forgiveness in a heart.
Ahaoma Kanu (NVS): Take us back to those days while you were growing up in Enugu...? I grew up during the 1980's and remember as a child studying a lot, reading everything I could lay my hands on, and then trying to play as much as possible.
Bookaholic Blog Interview: Words to upcoming writers I will say that they should keep at it.
Gender and me (StandTall the Activist): Is there a concrete gender dimension to " Heart to mend"? There is indeed a gender dimension to the book.
