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ZURI: A baby rhino and the people who love her [Kindle Edition]

Ruth Harris (Author)
5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
Digital List Price: $2.99 What's this?
Kindle Price: $2.99 includes free wireless delivery via Amazon Whispernet

Book Description

The kindness of humans.
The intelligence of animals.
A book that will move you like no other.

ZURI, a baby rhino, is orphaned and severely wounded by the greedy poachers who murder her mother for her horn. Renny Kudrow, Director of Kihali, an African animal orphanage, and an authority on animal intelligence, and Starlite Higgins, Kihali's spunky new veterinarian are determined to save the little rhino. When Starlite panics at a crucial moment, Zuri's rescue almost fails.

Renny fears he has made a mistake hiring the young vet and does not hide his disappointment in her as, with Renny's and Starlite's help, the little rhino struggles bravely to overcome her physical injuries and traumatic memories.

Zuri eventually recovers, finds vengeance against the criminals who killed her mother and makes friends with the other people and animals at the orphanage--the Kenyan rhino experts, Jomo and Muthengi; a local police chief determined to fight poaching; an elegant and witty photo safari guide; Maisie, the wise and motherly elephant, and Boozie, Zuri's affectionate and mischievous companion.

As Zuri--the word means "beautiful" in Swahili--grows and thrives, Renny and Starlite must face their own invisible wounds. Their emotional walls gradually fall away but, freed from the anchors of the past, will they be able to resist their deep feelings for each other?

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

ZURI's triggering event is the near-extinction of Africa's black rhino, now considered an endangered species. Rhino horn is more valuable than gold and the illicit global trade in wild animals is third only to the smuggling of drugs and weapons.

ZURI's plot twists and turns are based on extensive research and current scientific studies of animal psychology and behavior. Rhinos, with their heightened sense of smell and hearing, have extraordinary memories and bond closely with humans. Elephants are far more intelligent than once thought and possess sophisticated methods of communication.

A life-long lover of animals, I wrote ZURI to draw attention to the greed-motivated poaching which has brought the rhino to the brink of extinction and threatens elephants as well. The valiant efforts of the scientists, conservationists and veterinarians who rescue the baby animals orphaned and left helpless by the slaughter play a crucial role in ZURI. I hope the emotive power of fiction will draw attention to the crisis faced by these majestic animals and I have donated to organizations dedicated to this effort.
               
ZURI contains no sex or cursing and is appropriate for adult and older YA readers

About the Author

Ruth Harris is a million-copy New York Times bestselling author and Romantic Times award winner for "best contemporary." Translated into 19 languages and sold in more than 30 countries, Ruth's books were honored by the Literary Guild, Book-of-the-Month Club and book clubs around the world.

Ruth authors her own lively blog, is a perma-guest at several other prominent blogs and tweets as @RuthHarrisBooks.

Product Details

  • File Size: 389 KB
  • Print Length: 108 pages
  • Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
  • Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B007YUZYMS
  • Text-to-Speech: Enabled
  • X-Ray: Not Enabled
  • Lending: Enabled
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #202,284 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
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Customer Reviews

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“ The characters and the scenic descriptions of the African landscape lend to the luscious backdrop of this story. ” Marilou George "Confessions Of A Reader"  |  3 reviewers made a similar statement
“ I enjoyed reading Zuri - light reading but with a pleasant story. ” Catherine Attard  |  2 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars ZURI is a Gem August 3, 2012
By Marilou George "Confessions Of A Reader"
Format:Kindle Edition
Ruth Harris has the unique ability to seamlessly bring together a story filled with compassion and realism mixed with a true sense of empathy and ZURI is no exception. ZURI brings to our consciousness the intelligence and emotions of animals along with the all too real dangers they face in the wild at the hands of poachers.

The Kihali Animal Orphanage in Kenya encompasses 23,000 acres of protected Nakuru Reserve. Renny Kudrow is the director of the orphanage and is alerted by the elephants distinctive alarm system that there is an emergency. He calls his team together and they head in the direction of the disturbance along with their new veterinarian Dr. Starlite Higgins. What they find is an orphaned baby rhino protecting her mother who has been killed by poachers for her horn worth $80,000. The team must find a way to secure the baby rhino and get her back to the orphanage to save her life. What follows is the story of love and trust and the efforts of the team as well as a goat named Boozie who are determined to nurse ZURI back to health and teach her to trust again.

This story hits you in the face with the true reality of wildlife poaching and the effect it has on the animals and people involved. Africa is especially vulnerable to poachers who are so greedy they use any means possible to achieve their horrific goals. The Rhino population is slowly diminishing in South Africa where tourism is an invaluable source of income and the protection of the animals is vital.

The characters of Renny and Starlite while each dealing with emotional upheavals of their own join forces to nurture and protect these magnificent animals and forge a bond that is inevitable. The characters and the scenic descriptions of the African landscape lend to the luscious backdrop of this story.

We are also privy to the intelligence of animals and their capacity for forgiveness and love. Also in the forefront is the ability animals have to nurture each other as Boozie the loveable goat makes it her mission to draw ZURI out of her nightmare and teach her to trust again.

This is a cautionary tale about human greed yet a loving portrayal of animals and their struggle for survival. I recommend this book to all readers it is a unique blend of human and animal interaction that will teach and enthrall you.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Long live Zuri! May 30, 2012
By O du Plessis
Format:Kindle Edition
I just wanted to keep on reading!

A must read for animal lovers. An awesome story about the intelligence of animals, how they just want to live in peace and how they value life. Based on the surge of wildlife poaching events, unfortunately also a sad story. Poaching is fuelled by Asian countries and syndicates. It plagues the world, but especially Africa. How can humans be so brutal, barbaric and greedy?

In contrast, you get to learn how Zuri, a baby rhino orphaned when her mother is killed for her horn, makes a new friend and forms a bond with a goat named Boozie while learning to trust humans-- the ones that love her and care for her -- again.

Zuri, will give anyone that is unaware of poaching good insight into the near extinction of rhinos, elephants and other wildlife and the efforts of people who work hard to save them and end the slaughter. The book shows how good animal's senses are and also how clever and forgiving they are. There is a happy ending for Zuri -- and a tender and charming human love story besides.

South Africa has a proud heritage when it comes to wildlife and especially the big 5. Tourism (wildlife viewing) is also a big source of the country's income. When I found out about rhino poaching I decided that my generation can't be responsible for the extinction of rhinos and that I won't just sit and talk about it. Something must be done. Besides raising awareness on the internet, I have worked together with Saving Private Rhino (a local initiative to train game rangers to protect their reserves against poaching) to raise funds by having a couple of road shows at various branches. People can buy their t-shirts and merchandise and at the same time awareness is being created. I am also getting sponsorships where possible to assist various initiatives and rangers with protecting wildlife or raising awareness.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Book Luvin' Babes Review--Ruth Harris Goes on Safari May 25, 2012
By Dana Taylor
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
One of the great benefits of the Indie Author Revolution is the creative freedom to switch genres, topics, or writing styles. NYTimes bestselling author, Ruth Harris, takes a departure from the women's stories she is famous for telling. In ZURI, the leading lady is a baby rhino.

The story begins on the worst day of Zuri's life; the day she is orphaned. Her mother is brutally murdered by poachers for her horn valued at $80,000. Zuri herself barely escapes being butchered into lucrative "bush meat." Harris weaves the sorry facts about human greed decimating the rhino population, without giving up the elements of good storytelling.

The humans in the tale work at the Kihali Animal Orphanage. The director, Renny Kidrow, is an authority on animal communication and is devoting his life to saving the animals. Starlite Higgins is the new female vet, who must prove herself up to the job. Neither she nor Renny are sure she can handle it.

While Zuri is the obvious wounded animal in the compound, Harris does a masterful job of revealing the hidden wounds of the humans. The story balances the personal attraction and problems of the humans, with the rhino's survival struggles. In the process, we learn much about rhino behavior and the seemingly over-whelming odds against them by human poaching.

ZURI is Harris' call to action--or at least to care. The book is an interesting, well written story, suitable for YA through adults. Zuri triumphs in the end and leaves us with the hope that maybe, just maybe, global awareness will awaken to the fact that these are animals to be protected, not murdered.

Dana Taylor
Book Luvin' Babes
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More About the Author

› Visit Amazon's Ruth Harris Page
Ruth Harris
Ruth Harris is a million-copy New York Times and Amazon bestselling author and a Romantic Times award winner for "best contemporary." Ruth's emotional, entertaining fiction has topped Amazon's prestigious Movers and Shakers list and her highly praised novels have sold millions of copies in hard cover, paperback and ebook editions, been translated into 19 languages, sold in 30 countries, and were prominent selections of leading book clubs including the Literary Guild and the Book Of The Month Club. In their e-book editions, Ruth's novels have been featured on Ereader News Today, Pixel of Ink and Kindle Nation Daily.

Ruth writes about strong, savvy, witty women who struggle to succeed and, when sometimes they don't get what they want, they find something even better along the way. Critics have compared Ruth to Nora Ephron and Joan Didion and called her books  "brilliant," "steamy," "stylishly written," "richly plotted," "first-class entertainment" and "a sure thing." 

With her husband, Michael, Ruth indulges her wild side and writes bestselling thrillers with vivid characters, international backgrounds and compelling plots. Their thrillers have made numerous appearances in the top 3 of Kindle's prestigious Movers & Shakers list;  in the Top 100 in the Kindle Store;  Hooked has appeared continually on three Medical bestseller lists since its publication;  #1 and #2 on two different Political bestseller lists;  #14 on the Thrillers bestseller list.

Publisher's Weekly called Ruth's and Michael's thrillers "Slick and sexy [with] all the sure elements of a big seller written by pros who know how to tell a story." Readers have raved, calling their books "awesome," "gripping," "chilling," "a must-read," and "a real page-turner."

It's no surprise Ruth is a writer. Her Mom was an RN who had a trove of big-city hospital stories--some funny, some sad, some touching--and loved telling them. Her Dad loved words and language--Ruth still has his collection of dictionaries--and he is remembered by those who knew him as "always reading." Ruth's paternal grandfather was noted for his extensive library and both her parents were avid readers: her Mom loved popular fiction and her Dad bought four or five newspapers every day and subscribed to what seemed to be every magazine published--from Life and Look to BusinessWeek and Organic Gardening.

As a girl, Ruth wanted to be a professional ice skater. In her teens, she wanted to be a lawyer--a summer job in a law office cured her! After college, she got a beginner's job in publishing and her career path--first as an editor and then as a writer--was set.

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