from amazon.co.uk:

A hugely enjoyable novel, multi-layered, vividly depicted and a fascinating story, filled with the colours, sights and scents of Constantinople in the sixteenth century fast moving, complex and deeply satisfying' Joanne Harris 'Forbidden love, sailors and secrets - fasten your seat belts for Hickman's period tome Think Jane Austen meets Pirates of the Caribbean' In Style 'A magical, engrossing read that takes us inside a 16th century harem - and into a world populated by scheming, exotic characters this absorbing novel of intrigue and forbidden love manages to be both cerebral and entertaining' Glamour 'Lie back on your ottoman and relax. Katie Hickman will take you to a magical land, the Topkapi harem in Istanbul in Istanbul in 1599 There are luscious descriptions of costumes, of silk robes and mother-of-pearl twinsets, of ropes of jewels this is a box of Turkish delight

What a surprise. Thank you voveryte for this unexpected RABCK. I shall read it very soon and pass it on in the same way ;o)

What a superb holiday read. I found it all very interesting and absorbing, and I enjoyed the lesson in C16 diplomacy.

Entering Soffitta's Asian BookBox.

Taken from the Asia book box.