Jasmine Nights

Written by Julia Gregson

Narrated by Julia Franklin

The author of the bestselling, award-winning East of the Sun returns with a captivating World War II love story

1942. Saba Tarcan is a talented young singer with big dreams. So when an opportunity arises to entertain the troops in the Middle East, she jumps at the chance, cutting short a burgeoning love affair with a young RAF pilot, Dom. It soon becomes clear that entertaining won't be Saba's only mission. It's a move that will jeopardize not only her own safety, but also the love of her life.

Based on the stories of the many female entertainers used as unofficial spies during World War II, Jasmine Nights is a powerful story of danger, beauty and love.

• Language: English
• Publisher: W. F. Howes Ltd
• Release date: Jun 1, 2012
• ISBN: 9781471201424

Julia Gregson

Julia Gregson has worked as a journalist and foreign correspondent in the UK, Australia, and the US. She is the author of East of the Sun, which was a major bestseller in the UK and won the Romantic Novel of the Year Prize and the Le Prince Maurice Prize there, and Monsoon Summer. Her short stories have been published in collections and magazines and read on the radio. She lives in Monmouthshire, Wales.

Reviews for Jasmine Nights

[helen295_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I love reading novels set during World War II and I particularly enjoy those that approach the subject from an unusual perspective or cover aspects of the war that we don’t often hear about. Jasmine Nights does both, so it really should have been a book that I loved. Unfortunately it wasn’t. I had no problems with the style of Julia Gregson’s writing, the settings – wartime Cairo, Alexandria and Istanbul – were fascinating to read about and there was certainly enough material here to form a compelling story. It just lacked that special spark that would have transformed it a book that I could wholeheartedly recommend. I liked both main characters but their romance never felt very natural or believable to me. A wartime love story should be very emotional but this one left me unmoved and I would have preferred more focus on the spying storyline instead. I knew female entertainers sometimes acted as spies during the war, but I’ve never read about the subject in a novel before and this was what had initially attracted me to this book. Sadly, I found this aspect of the story disappointing too. There was a lot of build up but it seemed to take such a long time before Saba found herself in any real danger and for a book about wartime espionage it was strangely unexciting, without any of the suspense and tension I would have expected. I did enjoy the descriptions of life as part of ENSA and the variety of colourful characters Saba meets in the troupe, particularly one of the other singers, Arleta, who becomes a good friend of Saba’s and was probably my favourite character. This was not quite enough to rescue the book for me, though, and for what was quite a long novel I just felt there was not enough depth, not enough emotion and none of the magic I was hoping for in a book that had sounded so promising.

[deltaqueen50 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

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.

[pokarekareana · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

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.

[rtb_3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Reviewed by: RobinBook provided by: PublisherReview originally posted at Romancing the BookIn 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.

[ecataldi-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Set amid the chaos of the second World War, young Saba Tarcan, an amazingly talented singer performing for the troops in Africa, embarks upon a journey of newfound freedom, first love, and Middle Eastern adventure. She falls for charming RAF pilot, Dom, and together they learn the ups and downs of war, seperation, and anxiety. Saba soon realizes that entertaining the troops and her lover won't be her only mission. Does she follow her British commanders orders or does she follow her heart? Loosely based on stories of female entertainers being turned into unofficial spies, Julia Gregson does a masterful job of weaving intrigue, andventure, and Middle Eastern culture into a powerful tale. Julia Franklin does a wonderful job bringing the story to life using her wonderful British accents to bring the characters to life. Recommended for fans of historical fiction and romance.

[carolinejyoung · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A good book but a little too long for my liking.

[shereadsnovels · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I love reading novels set during World War II and I particularly enjoy those that approach the subject from an unusual perspective or cover aspects of the war that we don’t often hear about. Jasmine Nights does both, so it really should have been a book that I loved. Unfortunately it wasn’t. I had no problems with the style of Julia Gregson’s writing, the settings – wartime Cairo, Alexandria and Istanbul – were fascinating to read about and there was certainly enough material here to form a compelling story. It just lacked that special spark that would have transformed it a book that I could wholeheartedly recommend. I liked both main characters but their romance never felt very natural or believable to me. A wartime love story should be very emotional but this one left me unmoved and I would have preferred more focus on the spying storyline instead. I knew female entertainers sometimes acted as spies during the war, but I’ve never read about the subject in a novel before and this was what had initially attracted me to this book. Sadly, I found this aspect of the story disappointing too. There was a lot of build up but it seemed to take such a long time before Saba found herself in any real danger and for a book about wartime espionage it was strangely unexciting, without any of the suspense and tension I would have expected. I did enjoy the descriptions of life as part of ENSA and the variety of colourful characters Saba meets in the troupe, particularly one of the other singers, Arleta, who becomes a good friend of Saba’s and was probably my favourite character. This was not quite enough to rescue the book for me, though, and for what was quite a long novel I just felt there was not enough depth, not enough emotion and none of the magic I was hoping for in a book that had sounded so promising.

[panopticon2_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A really enjoyable historical novel, set against the backdrop of wartime Britain, Turkey and Egypt and featuring dashes of theatricality and espionage. Gregson is a wonderfully descriptive writer and the sights, sounds and smells of 1940s Cairo, Alexandria and Istanbul are very vivid. The love story at the centre of the novel was touching and multi-dimensional (though unashamedly flawed as well - who knows whether Saba and Dom's love will endure?). A fun summer holiday read.

[jayne_charles_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a significant step up from ‘East of the Sun’, good as that novel was. The quality of the writing and the story was consistently high throughout, and it had a good blend of adventure and romance. This is writing that’s interesting to read even when there is not much going on plot-wise, rich in detail, and even characters and events on the periphery of the plot are given an impressive depth. The section where Barney is on leave and “bored shitless, reduced to playing bridge with some brigadier and the matron from the local hospital” had me laughing, it was just exquisite.To read this book is to be immersed in the sights and sounds of the Middle East, and the kiss-blowing glamour of the entertainers and the swarthy world of the fighter pilots are both depicted with skill.If a central theme emerged from the novel, it was perhaps the transience of everything in wartime, be it political social or spatial, there was a sense of everything shifting constantly.If the romance between the two protagonists appeared to be conjured out of nothing, it hardly mattered. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel; to have it supplied free on the Early Reviewers programme was frankly a bonus.

[jo2son · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is the story of Saba Tarcan, the daughter of an English mother and a Turkish father who lives in England. Saba is a talented singer so she volunteers to entertain the troops. Along the way, she meets Dom and the story of their relationship is woven between Saba's experiences with the Entertainments National Service Association (ENSA). Saba is sent to Egypt where she is also asked to spy for the British Secret Service. This story is beautifully written with wonderful descriptions of the places Saba goes and the things she sees. Julia Gregson does a fantastic job of character development. Saba leaves England as a naive young woman and returns greatly changed after her experiences in the Middle East. Gregson does not rush the story but allows each character to develop at a believable pace. Highly recommended.

[sabinko · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I felt it was a very easy and quick read and one i overall enjoyed. I thought it was well written and fast paced enough to keep me reading. It took me a while to get used to the dialogue however, which never quite rang true to me and felt a bit forced. I enjoyed following Saba's journey although I would have liked to read more about the country she found herself in and it never quite lived up to it's exotic title. To me it did not really depict the war situation very well and didn't get a true sense of what life must have been like during this period. There were some great side characters in it though. I would definitely recommend it as a nice summer read.

[hscherry · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A beautiful love story set in the midst of the second world war. Saba, a singer turned spy meets fighter pilot Dom.. The story of the difficulties of starting a relationship in such circumstances. I've never read any Julia Gregson before, but the story of a singer attracted it to me. Thoroughly enjoyed it & would recommend.

[cookiedemon · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Enjoyable, but not particularly exciting- 3.5 stars**Full disclosure: I received an ARC of this novel through Librarything. All opinions expressed are my own**The third novel from award-winning author Julia Gregson is a billed as a ‘powerful love story’ and moves from the back streets of Cardiff Bay to exotic Africa and then to dangerous, unstable Cairo during World War II. We meet twenty-three-year-old Saba Tarcan, a singer who encounters fighter pilot Dom Benson in a burns hospital whilst she is entertaining the troops. A connection is established between the pair, but all too soon Saba is employed to entertain troops overseas and then Dom himself is called on his own mission to the Middle East. Amidst the instability and peril of war, Saba is recruited for a secret task of her own that could jeopardise not only her fledgling relationship, but also her life...As a newcomer to Gregson’s books, I genuinely didn’t know what to expect when I picked this up, though I thought it was a safe bet that I would be in for an escapist, entertaining story at least. The beautiful cover promises a lot in that respect. I do have to say that if you are looking for a historical novel that really conveys a sense of place, then this is also the book for you. The smells, tastes and sounds of Cairo were so vividly drawn that I could envisage this bustling city during the 1940’s and imagine myself ducking in and out of the bazaars and sipping coffees in the backstreet cafes. However I do believe this admittedly terrific scene-setting was unfortunately detrimental to the rest of the plot. A sense of place is one thing, but when as a reader you find description is the most appealing part of the story then you know something is missing. Initially I must confess that I found myself engrossed in this novel, intrigued by both Saba and Dom’s stories and the journey’s that they would make, which I was eager to read about. The secondary characters they encountered were well-drawn and the plot was pacey enough to hold my attention- then all of a sudden it just went off the boil. The narrative became flat and I found myself uninterested in all of the glamorous parties that Saba entertained at, which felt very repetitive. I wanted to know more about the impact of war on the cities and their inhabitants and less about the glitz and socialites encountered along the way. I don’t like to use this word too much, but generally, this book just became bland.I did appreciate the transition of Saba as a character through this book however. When the novel begins she is portrayed as being a bit naïve and overly cowed by her domineering parents, but once she is overseas she becomes much stronger and courageous in her actions as she revels in her natural talents and finally uses them to her best advantage. She was an appealing protagonist, though I did find myself wishing to know a bit more about her upbringing than was actually divulged. That felt like something of a missed opportunity, particularly given her mixed heritage and the era in which she was raised. Whilst I liked Dom well enough, I felt in comparison to Saba, he was somewhat one-dimensional. Also for me, the romance element between them never really ricocheted past anything other than ‘sweet’ throughout the entire book. I expected that given the sultry heat and exotic backdrop of Cairo, not to mention the frantic sense of time slipping away from them during the war itself the romance would have cranked up a notch to at least ‘spicy’ but it just never happened. The chemistry never sizzled and was a bit slow-paced for my tastes.I feel this is a worthy 3.5 star read. Whilst I enjoyed it enough and it kept me turning the pages, there were some particularly weak elements that jumped out at me throughout and the rushed ending left me generally unsatisfied. Maybe my expectations were just too high when it came to this novel as the summary and gorgeous cover promised so much, but there just wasn’t as much fast-paced action, espionage and romance as I had anticipated.

[literarychanteuse · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A love story set in an exotic location during WWII was enough to have me very interested however it being through the eyes of a singer gave me a new persepective. I began to really understand Saba and her desire to take an adventure much to the disppointment of her family. Not having their support and venturing into a foreign country and during the time of war no less made me sympathize with her. The author's writing is wonderful. You are truly swept away with sadness and happiness in her experiences. One of my favorite WWII love stories that I have read this year.

[aimelire · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A historical fiction which involves the Second World War, pilots and entertainers. The main character, Saba, is a young woman who gets a job as an entertainer. Because of her background, she is asked to spy for the British Government. I truly enjoy historical fiction and appreciated getting an idea of how life must have been like during these scary unstable times. I found that it took quite a while to have the connection with some of the characters and the story, but being patient is worth it. The book is an easy summer read.

[tomgirl571 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Jasmine Nights was one of those books that just sucked me in. Once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. It is the story of Saba, who has a gorgeous voice but whose family does not want her to be a singer. And it is the story of Dom, a pilot still recovering both mentally and physically from a plane crash that nearly killed him, and the memory of his dead friends. World War II is in full swing, and both of them end up getting out of England into Egypt to help the war effort. Dom is finally flying again. Saba is working with the ENSA singing for the troops. When Saba gets a chance to really help the war effort by going undercover, she worries about keeping the secret from Dom. And all the while the war is still going on, and Dom could die any day on one of his many flights. I so loved this book. I loved that it was told from a different perspective. I've read many books that take place in the US on the homefront, and even about the men at war, but I've never read a book in the perspective of an English woman in Africa during the war. It was so interesting. I also loved that she entertained the troops, because I always hear stories about the performances that singers and dancers would put on for troops, but I've never read a book about those people. I was enchanted by the Egypt brought to life in this book. There is a constant fear of being attached by Germany, yet the people there still have lives, still work, still try to find happiness and entertainment wherever and whenever they can. The descriptions bring Cairo and Alexandria to life.My favorite character was actually not Saba (though I really did love her!). Arleta, Saba's friend in ENSA, was just so extravagant and out there and I just adored her. She reminded me of main character's blond haired English friend in the movie Under the Tuscan Sun (do you know the lady?? I can't remember her name..). Anyway, Arleta seemed so superficial in the beginning but turned out to be quite the lady. Saba also changes throughout the book. She is kind of scared to get out there and be herself in the beginning, but the slow transformation was so much fun to see. I highly recommmend Jasmine Nights. While it wasn't perfect, it was a really wonderful book. Definitely the kind of book that you could read on the beach or on a porch swing in one day.

[bookaddictdiary · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Full disclosure: I've never read a Julia Gregson novel before. I know, that probably makes me a terrible historical fiction fan, but I was just never drawn to any of her books before. Then, I had the opportunity to read Gregson's newest novel, Jasmine Nights, and the concept seemed incredibly compelling -I mean, what's not to like about WWII-era female spies in Cairo with a little romance on the side? Virtually everything I've read about Gregson's other novels praised her writing skills and moving character relationships, so I knew I was in for a treat with Jasmine Nights.The young an naive Saba Tarcan has always wanted to be a singer. She inks out a living between contests and clubs in Wales, but with World War II reaching its peak, Saba's dreams are on the line. When the British Secret Service recruits Saba for an elite spy mission in North Africa and the Middle East, she jumps at the opportunity, even though it will take her away from Dom, a dashing fighter pilot recovering from his wounds. Saba's life as a singer-spy on the road takes her dangerous places where one wrong move could be the end. Through twists of fate, Saba is reunited with Dom, and the sparks fly despite the dangerous battles surrounding them.After reading Jasmine Nights, I found myself torn. There were some truly excellent aspects of this novels, but some weaker elements that kept it from reaching its full potential. First, I love the premise behind it. Female singer WWII spy? Count me in. But it seemed to take a very long time for there to be any real sense of danger -or for Saba to really become involved with her spy duties. It was almost like Gregson was trying to find a way to rectify the spy storyline with the romance, and it ended up becoming somewhat disjointed. But once the book finally got into the danger, I was on the edge of the my seat and could not stop flipping pages.Then, the romance storyline: it went from zero to a thousand miles in hours in (what felt like) a few pages. One minute Saba and Dom have a sweet blossoming romance and the next they have a deep, passionate relationship that's far outside of Saba's naive comfort zone. It felt like this all moved far too quickly and didn't seem natural at all.Despite these plot and character issues, Gregson is strong writer who creates a vivid landscape of WWII Cairo that feels real. But, bottom line, Jasmine Nights could have been so much better, but the disjointed plot and uneven pacing make it difficult to become fully involved in.