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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#467886" vlink="#96607D" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Book Review<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Braided Love <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Author Jo Elizabeth Pinto © 2023<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Genre: Contemporary/YA fiction <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Available in print and eBook formats from Amazon/Kindel/D2D and other eBook sellers<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Amazon.com link to review:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CR86MDNN/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_SRTC0202IMG_cm_rv_eml_rv0_dp">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CR86MDNN/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_SRTC0202IMG_cm_rv_eml_rv0_dp</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>By Ann Chiappetta<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Jo E. Pinto is the kind of writer who knows her craft. Her stories and characters grab you and don’t let go. You will be thinking about this story months after reading it. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I am fortunate to have recently interviewed Jo; her soft-spoken voice and humble attitude are charming qualities but it is her passion about telling a good story and showing readers what it means to be human I find most intriguing.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Jo writes characters who aren’t perfect. Most are broken and scarred yet jo E. Pinto weaves in hope and healing.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Let’s not forget about the conflicts presented in this family story. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Brenda and Cathy’s instant dislike of one another might seem typical girl drama but when one goes deeper into the story, the onion is peeled and the reader is drawn into situations and emotions much deeper than superficial girl stuff. The adults presented in this book are also facing conflict and I found the author’s skills in introducing them into the story masterful. The family’s constellation of surviving pain is balanced by love. Romantic love, filial love and platonic relationships are woven into this wonderful, memorable story of keeping what is important and cherished within a family.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I would recommend this book to young adult and general readers and anyone interested in family-related subjects involving adoption and foster care and children with disabilities.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Rating: Five stars<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Ann Chiappetta, MS<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>President, Friends In Art, Inc.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><a href="mailto:president@friendsinart.org"><span style='color:#0563C1'>president@friendsinart.org</span></a> <a href="http://www.friendsinart.org"><span style='color:#0563C1'>www.friendsinart.org</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>914.393.6605 <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><a href="http://www.annchiappetta.com"><span style='color:#0563C1'>www.annchiappetta.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Metropolis-Regular",serif;color:black;background:white'>Trust your dreams. Trust your heart and trust your story. Neil Gaiman<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>