Book Review: Jasmine Nights by Julia Gregson

From their first meeting you know that the central characters in this book are going to become important to each other. Set during World War Two, Dom, a RAF pilot is in the hospital, recovering from burns after a plane accident. It is there that he meets singer Saba, whose passion for music and performance will take her across the world. After he recovers from his injuries, he has an insatiable need to return to fighting, despite his family’s objections. There is an instant attraction between these characters, and the reader will feel their desperate need-to-connect with each other as they struggle to find each other in war ravaged Europe. Saba is caught in a life going nowhere, feeling the pressure from her family to give up music and become a home-maker. Her dreams of becoming a renowned singer feed her as she reaches out to the world and takes on an opportunity to perform as a part of a travelling entertainment act, bringing music to those fighting the war. She is innocent to the world around her in a lot of ways, unawares of the depth of which her actions truly run. She soon becomes, unknowingly, caught up in the world of espionage, telling herself that she’s doing it to help her country. The reader is immersed into World War Two from the moment they begin reading. From rationed food, and air raid sirens screeching in the background to letter censorship. Populated with realistic supporting characters, the reader automatically wants to know more, to see these characters together. From an abduction attempt and being Missing In Action, there are a lot of barriers to stop these characters from coming together, and it is through their actions that the reader understands what really motivates these characters is their love for each other and for life. Rating: 3.5/5