Having read all of Susie Vereker' previous novels I am looking forward to this latest one from her. She very kindly provided this copy for me and I am hoping to promote it amongst my bookcrossing and other ex- pat friends.


A lively story of love, art and intrigue in the Far East

Art historian Claire takes a job on an obscure tropical island, cataloguing Buddhist art, and finds her new exotic surroundings both fascinating and challenging. Her personal life becomes confused too – ex-pat banker Howard loves her, but she falls for elusive Australian Drew. Then she becomes involved with the darker side of island life and, quite by accident, finds herself in danger . .

With the very hot weather we had been experiencing recently this novel with its bright cover and its warm sounding title jumped out as the next to be read. Time for reading has been in short supply recently, but when I did finally get around to pick it up it was the perfect read to wile away a hot sunny lazy afternoon.

I first discovered this author via the publishing house Transita, sadly no longer in existence, whose by-line was contemporary women's fiction for the more discerning woman and definitely not chick lit. Although I have enjoyed all her novels the last title she published 'Paris Imperfect' I was a little disappointed with compared to the previous two.

However I felt that 'Tropical Connections' was so much better, a return to the style I had previously appreciated. Susie has a talent for writing a story, with as I have mentioned elsewhere before now, all the elements of a traditional romantic novel but written to appeal to the modern independent woman. Her characters are always very realistic personalities and having read more about her background, it is clear that she draws on her own fascinating life experiences.

In this story the protagonist is Claire Downing an art historian who to escape a failed relationship accepts a job cataloguing a businessman's collection of Buddhist Art on a tropical island in the South China Seas. It is no coincidence that she has been drawn to accepting the post in Maising due to the fact that a friend Howard Gillespie is a banker on the island and he just happens to love her! Things are not that simple though as Claire finds herself drawn to another expat she meets, the handsome and elusive Australian Drew, currently working on the island as an agricultural aid advisor. The two females she also befriends have their own problems Deborah, a young American Mother with a ghastly husband, takes a young lover. Then there is Lucy the young bride of a much older highly ranked British Embassy official, struggling to cope with what is expected of her in her new role. The three girls become friends and this story of their loves and problems adjusting to an expatriate lifestyle also leads them into mystery and danger as they become involved with things they may well have been better off leaving alone. All because Claire is drawn into the intrigue surrounding the man she is working for.

Of course it is this intrigue that makes this novel into a page turner for the reader, although sometimes I was a little annoyed by some of the characters decisions. I think this was because they seemed like real people and I wanted to warn them. To sum up then this is worth reading at any time but perfect for holiday reading and in its genre a five star read.

I am going to send this book out travelling via a Bookcrossing Bookring please let me know if you are interested.

Travelling as A Bookring as I hope it will come home safely to become at least for awhile part of my PC collection.

1. Melamura Italy
2. Maireen Italy
3. Lyzzybee UK
4. Inver UK
5. bookowl1000 UK

I have changed my mind about this title coming back to me. Bookowl1000 is going to release it for me instead so it continues its travels.

Gave to my friend and fellow bookcrosser Melamura when I saw her yesterday evening.

Happy reading

LindyLouMac

book collected from LindyLouMac yesterday and added to my TBR shelf. Have just started another book but this will be next in line.

I read this while in hospital recently and it transported me far away to somewhere sunny and warm (thank goodness). Overall I enjoyed the book but found it a little far-fetched in places, hence the 7 out of 10 rating. Will pass on to the next reader asap.

.

passed on to Maireen as per book ring details

Brought this book with me on my travels to Thailand with the intention of leaving here! . . but I now see it is on a controlled release so I shall be taking it with me back again to Italy. Once home I will email the next in the ring.

Enjoyed the book although I found I was anticipating fairly correctly the outcome of the stories behind Claire, Deborah e Lucy.










1

Arrived with me today - thank you. I have just finished the book I was carrying around in my handbag so will get it into the handbag and read on the bus as soon as poss!

For some reason, I just can't get into this. I have limited reading time at the moment, so I'm going to give up - contacting the next reader.

Posting to the next reader tomorrow.

Received today, thanks Liz for posting on. Mixed reviews about this one, but I will give it a go. Will get to it ASAP.

I sorry to say I found this read a bit tedious and didn't find it a page turner, although I did finish it, but not in any great hurry. I wasn't really enjoying the characters very much and found some of them annoying. It was far fetched in places especially the 'rescue'.

Thanks for the bookring though Lindy. Will contact next in line to read it.

This was waiting for me when I returned from working in Thailand a few weeks ago. I thought that I had journalled its arrival, sorry.

I can see from the reviews that this book has not always been warmly received. Personally, I was griped from the start, though I admit I did find the 'mystery' and amateur investigation to be out of keeping with the story and unnecessary.

I think that the reason it held my interest was that I can relate to the main character as I am a single woman of the same age, about to move to SE Asia to begin a new job. I doubt I will be mingling with any people of ambassaderal quality though. I had now idea that I would be even looking for such a job when I signed up for the bookring so it was quite a coincidence when I read the synopsis again.

Thanks for sharing.

I am heading off to the Lake District for a few days camping. I am taking the book with me to be released there. The weather forecast is not looking that brilliant so someone who finds themselves trapped in a tent may appreciate something to read.

I will do specific release notes when I get back (hopefully someone will have beaten me to it).

Left at the In after enjoying a meal there.

If you were lucky enough to find this book please journal it to say where you found it, and then what you thought of it.

When you have finished please release it. Keep its journey alive!