Rating: 
Summary: Stunning, Ethereal, Poetic, and Exotic Love Story
Review: The Story (not easy to describe briefly): A Native American man, Ainsley, runs an Institute that studies the big cats, and he has an almost magical way of communicating with them and caring for them (he does not "handle" them). A Korean woman, Rose/Changmi/Ri was orphaned when very young, sold into prostitution, and is now a successful prostitute in the United States. Kit is a young Korean woman living in the United States, unhappily married, and working as a waitress. Ainsley and Changmi gradually fall in love, while Ainsley befriends Kit (who secretly falls in love with him).Okay, up until now, this probably sounds like a typical good romance novel, but nothing too unusual. IT ISN'T TYPICAL! This is romantic literature with a metaphysical twist. It is the most unordinary book I have ever read. The writing is stylish, lyrical, replete with metaphors, and elevates the story, at times, to the category of a fable or a tragic/romantic myth. The entire book is paced as a crescendo, with a slow pace through the first three-quarters, followed by a rapid acceleration. Through the last fifty pages, I had to take breaks to catch my breath and absorb what I had read. The plot twists near the end are astonishing and yet credible. I am not a reader of romance novels, and I was mildly reluctant to accept the copy offered by the author. When I get free books to review, I often sell them afterward. I will not sell this one, and I will loan it only to trusted friends. As far as I can tell, this is Mr. Winter's debut novel. I look forward to the next one.
Rating: 
Summary: Very highly recommended
Review: The women call their clients horses, riding them to provide satisfaction. But Changmi is different, riding the horses for her own pleasure, often chastised for taking too long with men who are already hooked on her. When Ainsley Revere comes to her, he proves himself to be different than the rest of the horses, seeking to know the elusive woman behind the façade. But his interest threatens the careful barriers that protect a prostitute. Ainsley is a cat whisperer, able to understand the big cats of the jungle. He wears the scars of Rose, a jaguar, on his back. Raised by his Native American grandfather, time slows for him on occasion, allowing him to embrace the movement of leaves or the meaning of sunlight on a pond. He cannot control the gift, but embraces it when it is offered. Once, in that twilight world where time stops, Ainsley rescues a child who falls into the cat pit, but the jaguar Bella Donna watches and promises to exact her toll. Like the child that he rescues, Ainsley braves the world in which Changmi lives, attempting to extract her from it before it devours her. Like the cats he treasures, Changmi does not trust his intentions, viewing his intrusion with caution. She is nicknamed Rose, like the cat that marked Ainsley, and the scars she can leave are just as deadly. But their lives are tightly bound by destiny and promise. Author Julian Winter weaves a mystical, mesmerizing text in T'ONGIL. T'ongil is a Korean world meaning to connect and unify. T'ONGIL brings together Native American and Korean cultures in a rich tapestry of heart-rending sacrifice and secrets. As the novel progresses, the delicate connections of its weave lead to a lyrical world of magic and love. As readers savor the carefully revealed bits and pieces that comprise complex characterization and sophisticated narrative choices, T'ONGIL becomes a tale of profound, mystical beauty. T'ONGIL comes very highly recommended.
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