Jasmine Nights

By JULIA GREGSON

Published by Orion, 1 May 2012 $34.99 RRP

A captivating WW2 love story from the bestselling author of East of the Sun

1942 and the world is at war. It is a war that has already shattered families and devastated countries. But for some, it will also mean the greatest of adventures…

In a burns hospital in Sussex, a beautiful young singer performs to a ward full of burned and maimed soldiers. Saba is captivating and one pilot, Dom, shudders as her gaze turns his way. He can't bear her to see his scars but resolves to write to her once they have healed.

Saba heads to London to audition for ENSA. London is recovering from the darkest days of the Blitz and everything is broken or taped up. Dom tracks Saba down at the Theatre Royal and they spend a heady few days together. The world is on the brink of enormous change and as they try to stop themselves falling in love – every girl knows you don't fall for a pilot, as he won't make it home – Saba is posted to Egypt to entertain the troops. But their paths will cross again…

Saba's journey will take her to the fading glamour of Alexandria and the heat and decadence of Turkey. On the glamourous Middle Eastern social circuit, Saba rubs shoulders with double agents and diplomats, movie stars and smugglers. Some want her voice, some her friendship and some the secrets she is perfectly placed to discover…

About the Author

Julia Gregson is the prize-winning author of three novels, one book of non-fiction and several short stories. Her novel, East of the Sun was chosen for the Richard and Judy TV Book Club and became a Sunday Times bestseller. It won Romantic Novel of the Year and the Prince Maurice Prize and has since been translated into more than twenty languages. Previously a journalist, for The Times and Rolling Stone in the USA, she is married and lives in Wales.