Jasmine Nights by Julia Gregson is a historical romance set during the chaos, heat and danger of the Mid-East. Saba is a young English/Turkish singer who joins the British Entertainments National Service Association. She is one of a small troupe of performers who are sent to Egypt to entertain the troops. Dom Benson is a pilot who while recovering from burns he received when he was shot down, meets Saba. It isn’t long before these two are in love but the war rages on. The Germans are getting ever closer to taking over Egypt and Dom will be in the thick of the battle. Saba has been recruited for some undercover work and soon finds herself juggling her singing, her information gathering and her relationship with Dom.

The author gives each of her main characters their own personal journey and as the story moves toward it’s conclusion, the danger increases as Saba is sent to Turkey and instructed to sneak a German deserter out of Istanbul. Dom is involved with round-the-clock bombing runs as the British, and then over-tired and exhausted, he goes on one more run.

I enjoyed Jasmine Nights, this wartime love story was a good escape read with an exotic setting and characters were sympathetic and interesting. ( )

A wartime love story that tangles Wales, Cairo and Istanbul. This story is an engaging and enjoyable read, and Gregson's writing is well-crafted. Jasmine Nights holds its own in a very crowded genre of WW2 historical fiction, but I wouldn't say that it is particularly outstanding or memorable. ( )

Tried it. N.G ( )

Πολύ ωραίο βιβλίο. Ακριβώς αυτό που περίμενα! ( )

Reviewed by: Robin
Book provided by: Publisher
Review originally posted at Romancing the Book

In Jasmine Nights we find ourselves transported to 1942 during World War II. We are taken on a journey to many different locations during the course of this story. As we go the journey we follow Sabar who is part Turkish (father) and part Welsh (mother) a real stunner with a magical voice; along with Dom who is in the RAF but has been badly burned because his plane was shot down.

Sabar wants to follow her dream but in order to do so she must defy her strict traditionalist father. Her mother who is a frustrated wife wants nothing but peace for her family asking Sabar to adhere to her father’s wishes. Headstrong Sabar leaves to go in search of fulfilling her dreams to sing. While singing in a hospital for those injured in the war we find Dom who is recovering from his burns. Dom to say the least is simply blown away by the grace and beauty of Sabar.

Jasmine Nights is a well written story by Julia Gregson that shows love a love that is founded during the ravages of war. She gives us some historical background that helps in lending credibility to the story along with picturesque descriptions of the many exotic locations along the journey.

The more you read the more intense the story becomes. Very powerful show of the inner working of the heart as it is tugged in all directions showing that the pain we endure is what alters us forming us into the people we become. A strong woman that fights for what she wants. Even knowing that things aren’t always as they seem. With war and love come danger and secrets.

This was a very powerfully written love story with war as a backdrop. Ms. Gregson found a way to keep the drama, action and suspense coming so that you find yourself entranced to the very end. Trying all the while to have the characters stay well rounded while dealing with family, unpredictable assignments, secretive assignments as they fall in love amidst the war. The only problems that I had were that I wished the secondary characters where a little more in depth. I think this story has a strong appeal to all lovers of historical fiction and romance especially during World War II. ( )