When The Apricots Bloom (U) (Ulverscroft Large Print Series) - Hardcover

Forrest, Roberta

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0708921353 ISBN 13: 9780708921357

Publisher: Ulverscroft, 1990

Synopsis

First published in hard-cover by Collins and paperback by Fontana, WHEN THE APRICOTS BLOOM is a vivid and emotional love story set against the exotic backcloth of a North African country tearing itself apart in an horrific civil war.

In the mysterious wastes of the Algerian Sahara desert a French family make a miraculous discovery - a new-born Arab baby girl alive, but left to die beneath a rock.

Adopted by the Charpentiers, an extremely wealthy family, eighteen years later Maryse Rose has grown into a beautiful young women - educated at finishing school in France, and brought up amongst wealth and luxury in the Algerian sunshine. But when she falls in love and spends a night with Philippe Viard a young French soldier, Maryse is exiled to Paris in disgrace. Whilst there, training as a nurse, she meets an elegant young Arab, Habib Saadi. Unknown to Maryse, Habib is an Algerian freedom fighter and Maryse becomes suspected of being a terrorist.

Returning to Algeria she finds that the country of her youth no longer exists; the clubs, restaurants, the mountains and sweeping gold beaches are targets for terrorists. Death is easily found and Algeria has become a dangerous place to live, and especially for a proud young girl whose loyalties are divided.

Meticulously researched by the author, the realism of the Algerian wartime background will startle and enthral the reader. The places described are not imaginary, they existed, as did many of the events that take place in the book.The story of Maryse is not only of her loves, but also her desperate fight for her own survival amidst the turmoil of violence.

ROBERTA FORREST'S previous novel, 'The Lushai Girl' was short-listed for the prize for the Best Romantic Novel of the Year competition, held by The Romantic Novelist's Association.

COMMENTS BY BEST-SELLING AUTHORS:

'The excellence of both writing and story-telling make Roberta Forrest outstanding amongst romantic novelists'. Leslie Thomas

'An oustanding example of good romantic fiction, made that much better by being so well written' Brian Freemantle

Edition details

• Publisher: Ulverscroft
• Publication date: 1990
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0708921353
• ISBN 13: 9780708921357
• Binding: Hardcover