Synopses & Reviews
The author of the bestselling East of the Sun returns with a lush novel about a young singer who is recruited by the British Secret Service during the height of World War II.At twenty-three, Saba Tarcan is a talented but naÏve singer who dreams of being more than just another act playing in small clubs and talent contests in Wales. So when the opportunity arises to join a group that will entertain the troops in the Middle East, she jumps at the chance. She must leave behind her overprotective family and cut short a burgeoning love affair with a young fighter pilot, Dom, whom she met when she went to sing in the hospital where he was recovering from burns after his plane had been shot down.
When Dom follows Saba to Cairo, the difficulties of combining their two intense lives are compounded. Dom, addicted to flying, refuses to stay grounded, while Saba finds she’s suited for life on the stage and on the road. When it turns out that Saba is also uniquely qualified for a secret mission, she is asked by the Secret Service to spy on a Turkish impresario and his associates. But it’s a mission that will jeopardize not only her own safety, but also the love of her life…
Jasmine Nights is a powerful story of danger, beauty, and love set amidst some of the most exquisite and dangerous cities of the Middle East.
Review
“Gregson shines in her descriptions of the life of the rich, poor and combatant in Cairo and Alexandria, the sights of Giza and the Bosphorus, and the chaotic World War II milieu where women no longer tolerated 'boys making all the rules.' Saba and Dom love, face perils, triumph and intermittently reunite….the story flows at a stately pace to a conclusion both satisfying and open-ended. Fans will want a sequel.” Kirkus Reviews
Review
"An exciting, richly presented novel of mystery and romance...Historically accurate, beautifully written,
Review
“For a history lesson on WWII, watch Ken Burns The War. For romance and intrigue, with the conflict providing the perfect excuse to set a story in exotic locales like Cairo, Gregson (East of the Sun, 2009) delivers in spades… Credit is due Gregson…for crafting a story about a much-chronicled war that feels thoroughly original.” Booklist
Review
“This steamy, sweeping historical draws readers into the seductive world of WWII Egypt…Gregsons latest (after Band of Angels) displays the authors command of wartime fiction. Saba is a modern woman struggling with old-fashioned ideas and Dom is a surprisingly complex hero. Seen through their eyes, the wartime Middle East is a heady, intoxicating place and readers will be swept away by the lush prose.” Publishers Weekly
Review
“Julia Gregson's Jasmine Nights has all the makings of the perfect beach read: adventure, danger, international locale, historical sweep, steamy romance…utterly delicious.” Cleveland Plain Dealer
Review
"Gregson, the author of East of the Sun and
Review
“A wonderful romance and adventure story about two passionate young people determined to live life to the fullest, knowing they may not live to see tomorrow… The contrast of the glamorous, exotic setting with the gritty reality of life in a war zone was compelling and made for a great read. Not to be missed.”--Historical Novel Society
Review
“Gregson, the author of East of the Sun and Band of Angels, brings a wealth of detail to this unconventional love story, ranging from World War II history to rich cultural lore to the pop-music standards of the era. With numerous and well-drawn characters, evocative prose and a commanding story, the former journalist and foreign correspondent again proves that she is also a master of historical fiction. And smoke might not be the only thing that gets in your eyes in this moving novel.” Richmond Times-Dispatch
Review
“An exciting, richly presented novel of mystery and romance…Historically accurate, beautifully written, Jasmine Nights is a terrific story with unforgettable characters set in a dangerous, but exciting time.” Romance Reviews Today
Synopsis
From the award-winning author of
East of the Sun, a powerful love story set against the unstable and exotic cities of Cairo and Istanbul during the height of World War II.
At twenty-three, Saba Tarcan knows her only hope of escaping the clamor of Cardiff Bay, Wales, lies in her voice. While traveling Britain, singing for wounded soldiers, Saba meets handsome fighter pilot Dom Benson, recovering from burns after a crash. When Saba auditions to entertain troops in far-off lands, Dom follows her to London. Just as their relationship begins to take root, Saba is sent to sing in Africa, and Dom is assigned a new mission in the Middle East. As Saba explores Cairos bazaars, finding friendship among the troupes acrobats and dancers, Dom returns to the cockpit once again, both thrilled and terrified to be flying above the desert floor. In spite of great danger, the two resolve to reunite.
When Saba learns that her position makes her uniquely qualified for a secret mission of international importance, she agrees to help the British Secret Service, concealing her role from Dom. Her decision will jeopardize not only her safety but also the love of her life.
Based on true accounts of female entertainers used as spies during World War II, Jasmine Nights is a powerful story of danger, secrets, and love, filled with the colors and sounds of the Middle Easts most beautiful cities.
About the Author
Julia Gregson has worked as a journalist and foreign correspondent in the U.K., Australia, and the U.S. Her novel East of the Sun was a major bestseller in the U.K. and won the Romantic Novel of the Year Prize and the Le Prince Maurice Prize there. Her short stories have been published in collections and magazines and read on the radio. She lives in Monmouthshire, England.