“Love Across Cultures”
When love asks more than the
heart is ready to give
A young Nigerian man’s scholarship to England opens doors and forces a choice between love and the life he promised to return to.
When he is not writing, he is on the football pitch or watching Arsenal. He lives with his wife, Omolade, and their three children.
Get to Know Festus Peace Ozor
The Author Behind the Story
Festus Peace Ozor writes about people caught between where they come from and who they are becoming. Born in Enugu State, Nigeria, he later spent twenty five years teaching at universities in London. That long stretch between home and elsewhere shaped how he sees culture, ambition, and belonging, not as abstract ideas, but as daily negotiations.
His work spans academic writing, poetry, and socio political commentary. Love Across Cultures is his first novel, drawn from years of watching students and communities wrestle with identity, expectation, and the quiet cost of leaving home in search of opportunity. Ozor travels widely across Europe and Africa, observing how people carry their histories into new places. He writes with attention to detail, emotional restraint, and respect for cultural complexity.
“Love Across Cultures” Out Now!
A Story of Love, Conflict, Identity, and Tradition
Ikenna receives a federal scholarship to study in England—a chance that could change his life. But with it comes a promise: he must return home to serve his family and community.
In Durham, he meets Evelyn Brocklebank. Brilliant and kind, from a world far removed from his village, she awakens feelings he cannot ignore. Their connection is undeniable, but love alone cannot answer the questions that pull him in opposite directions.
What You’ll Discover:
- The tension between love and loyalty, desire and duty
- Igbo traditions and storytelling brought vividly to life
- The emotional reality of living between two worlds
- Every choice carries consequences. Every heart must decide what it can endure.
Our Video
Meet & Greet With Festus & Talk Books, Culture, and Life
Want to hear the story behind Love Across Cultures straight from the author? Join Festus at book readings, signings, and talks where he shares what inspired Ikenna’s journey, the real-life tensions between family and personal choice, and the cultural moments that shape the novel.
Book Launches
What Happens:
- Festus reads key scenes that capture Ikenna's dilemma
- Open discussion about cultural expectations in modern relationships
- Questions about the writing process and research
- Book signing with personalized inscriptions
- Photos with the author
- Perfect For: Book lovers, reading groups, anyone interested in African literature, people in intercultural relationships
Speaking Engagements
What Festus Discusses:
- The real challenges intercultural couples face beyond the romance
- How Igbo traditions shape family decisions and identity
- Writing authentically about cultures while avoiding stereotypes
- The hidden costs of studying abroad and migration
- Balancing academic careers with creative pursuits
- Format Options: Keynote speeches, panel discussions, Q&A sessions, classroom visits, literary festival appearances
- Perfect For: Universities, libraries, cultural organizations, literary festivals, diversity and inclusion programs
Book Signings
What You Get:
Topics Readers Often Discuss:
- Their own experiences with intercultural relationships
- Family expectations they've navigated
- Opportunity to share your own cultural experiences
- Questions about Igbo ceremonies and traditions
- What happens to characters after the book ends
- Other cultures with similar dynamics
- Perfect For: Individual readers, book clubs doing author meetings, gift giving with special inscriptions
Here’s What Readers Are Saying
“The cultural details felt authentic. I learned things about Igbo traditions I never knew existed. Ikenna’s internal struggle kept me reading, even when the pacing slowed. The ending left me thinking for days about what I would have done.”
— Sarah Mitchell, London
“Ozor writes about duty versus desire without making either choice seem obvious. The village scenes were vivid enough that I could picture Umuaku clearly. Some parts moved slower than I prefer, but the relationship complications felt real, not manufactured for drama.”
— David Adeyemi, Manchester
“I appreciated the honest portrayal of both cultures without villainizing either side. The family dynamics rang especially true. My only criticism is that some secondary characters could have been more developed. Still, the core story worked well.”
— Jennifer Okafor, Durham
“The book didn’t go where I expected, which was refreshing. Ikenna and Evelyn’s relationship had realistic obstacles beyond just distance. I wish certain plot threads had been resolved more fully, but the cultural exploration made it worthwhile reading.”
— Marcus Thompson, Birmingham
“Ozor clearly knows both worlds he’s writing about. The scholarship obligations added genuine tension I haven’t seen in other romance novels. Not everything landed perfectly for me, but I’d recommend it to anyone interested in intercultural dynamics.”
— Chioma Nwosu, Enugu
“The Igbo festivals and ceremonies were fascinating. I found myself researching more about the culture after finishing. Some dialogue felt a bit formal, but the emotional conflicts between Ikenna and his parents were portrayed with real nuance.”
— Robert Chen, Leeds
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