The Rug Dealer

A naive Midwestern exchange student arrives in Turkey seeking adventure-but she never expects to fall for a hypnotizing Turkish man who pulls her into a world of passion, obsession, and intrigue.

What begins as romance quickly spirals into manipulation, heartbreak, and a dangerous secret life Martha Thompson never imagined: illegally smuggling Turkish rugs into Germany.

Back in America and determined to reclaim her future at the prestigious Juilliard School, Martha tries to break free from the exotic man and culture that threaten to pull her back in. 

But unresolved feelings draw her back to Turkey again and again during a time when being alone with a man is not only culturally unacceptable-it's also unsafe. Despite receiving multiple warnings about the man she loves, Martha risks her life on a solo journey. When the situation grows dangerous, she must weigh the costs of chasing a forbidden relationship and continuing to ignore the red flags witnessed by the most important person of all-herself.

A gripping memoir of fixation, losing and finding identity, and battling the intoxicating pull of loving the wrong man at the wrong time.