This was a wonderful novella! A touching romance that is almost derailed by circumstances. Russian exchange student Pasha is falling for the elegant and self-assured Nigerian, Max. When Pasha suddenly finds himself on verge of being sent home, he sets on a desperate course of action to stay in the U.S. and college. But, he finds himself torn between what he could have with Max and harsh reality.

The story is a bit cliche, and predictable. In fact, Pasha even points it out! That alone overcomes the "been there, done that" element of the story and how Pasha intends to pay his tuition. So why 5 stars? Pasha and Max are not typical romance protagonists, nor are they WASPs. Though both men are college students, Max is a more mature 28 and Pasha only 19. This is reflected in their interactions. Max appears to be controlling their relationship, but is he really the one with the power? These characters are so engaging, I would happily read a novel about them, or at least another novellas. Though sex does occur in the story, it is not graphic. The erotic scenes are understated and very moving, with enough explicit detail to satisfy most readers. My only criticism is that while the story has some resolution, the reader is left wanting more. Pasha and Max are from different countries, different cultures, and I wonder where their relationship can go once college has ended? Overall, highly recommended! ( )