I have just finished the book and can say that I feel disappointed with the author that she did not work harder on some details.
"Ukrainians in the South can understand Polish because we were invaded by Poland and those in the north can understand Russian because they were invaded by the Russians". This is what Mira said to Ali when they had coffee.
People understand more Russian language because left bank of Ukraine east of the river Dnieper was under Russians whereas the right-bank of the Dnieper was under Polish. If you never learn Polish or Russian you would not understand them that easily. To say that in the South of Ukraine people understand Polish is incorrect. Polish language is very common in the Western part of Ukraine and Russian - in the East, North and South of Ukraine. Russian language is widely spoken in the South especially Odessa, Katya's hometown.
Another mistake:
" I come from a village in northern Ukraine, south-east of Odessa".
Odessa is in the South by the Black Sea. That is a big mistake by the author. It is like saying that Glasgow is in the south or London is in the north.
Was not she bothered to check some information on Ukraine at least geographical location of Odessa?
In her story Katya wants the best for herself. She had a terrible past and wants to forget it. She work as a nanny. She made a big mistake by sleeping with the father of the kids she was looking after. Later after the discovery of their relationship Sophia kicked her out of the house. She said Katya to forget about the reference. Then Katya started working as a lap dancer. So, could not Ned give her a reference so she could find a job as a nanny again. Sophia and Ned had a complicated relationship but sure they could have sorted the problem out and give Katya a reference (in the story Sophia did not divorce Ned because of his infidelity). Katya said she wanted a better life so how come Fiona Neill put her to work as lap dancer forgetting that Katya did not like the past. That was a contradiction.
This is was my first and last book of Fiona Neill.