Francesca Brill

Discurre en Hong Kong el verano de 1940, y a la joven norteamericana Stevie Steiber, mordaz cronista de sociedad que anhela ser tomada en serio como escritora, la guerra que asola Europa le parece increíblemente lejana. El comandante Harry Field, encomendado por el Gobierno de Su Majestad para informar sobre las actividades sospechosas en el seno de la colonia, comienza a investigar a la hermosa periodista y se irá sintiendo irremisiblemente fascinado por ella. Mientras la decadente y acomodada colonia británica permanece ajena al cataclismo que se avecina, Harry y Stevie se ven arrastrados a una intensa historia de amor que pronto se verá puesta a prueba por la brutal invasión japonesa de la isla. ¿Qué sacrificarán para permanecer vivos, y hasta dónde llegarán para protegerse mutuamente?… (meer)

This is a story of love, war, and betrayal set in Hong Kong during the second world war. I had no real idea of what happened in Hong Kong during this time so found this book good from that point of view. It gave a good picture of life in Hong Kong at that time. It is as well a love story between two very different people, Stevie Steiber an American journalist, and a British Major, Harry Field, who has been charged with investigating suspicious activity in the colony. It is a first novel for this author and was a good read, a story that kept me involved, very sad at times to see the effect of war on the lives of individuals. It tells of the sacrifices that individuals may have to make to stay alive and scars that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives if they survive. I found Stevie an interesting character, but would have liked more insight into the character of Harry Field to make their relationship come more alive, but I did enjoy reading it… (meer)

A good read, if not a slightly predictable love story set against the extraordinary backdrop of what happened in Hong Kong during the war. But a page turner certainly with some interesting (non-love story) twists and characters. It flitted between being beautifullly written, utterly engaging, to being a bit Mills and Boon-esque in places. Unfortunately I had recently read "The Thread" by Victoria Hislop - and book extraordinary both for its back drop AND its love story - which makes this look a little amateurish, so it was always going to have a tough job to keep up there.

That said, read and enjoy, it will suck you in. And I agree with the other reviewer - it really depicts the noise, colour and choas of Hong Kong.… (meer)