In a small village, set among the wild mountains of Cyprus, two families of different faiths share a seemingly unbreakable friendship based on mutual respect and deep affection. Mothers and daughters share their daily secrets, fathers and sons support each other as they live their lives between the fragrant pine trees and orange groves. It’s here that two boys, Lambros and Orhan, grow up side by side, as close as brothers. Their lives are inextricably linked, but as their fortunes shift and time passes, an unforgivable act of betrayal takes place, setting in motion a chain of events that tears the two friends and their entire families apart . . .
Many decades later and now an old man living in London, Lambros decides to share his painful memories with his daughter Stella; transporting her back to an island brimming with passion and at its heart a scandal that still haunts those involved. Is it too late for forgiveness? Or can the next generation embark on a journey of their own to help mend the damage done all those years ago?
My first ever holiday abroad was to Cyprus and it is a
country whose history and culture has always interested me so I don’t hesitate
when I come across a fictional novel based on this beautiful Island so as soon
as Between the Orange Groves popped through the letter box I wasted no time in
getting lost in the pages.
We are firstly introduced to Lambros who has begun telling
his daughter about his regrets and painful memories from his past regarding his
old best friend Orhan who he has never seen or heard from since. The storyline
then jumps back to the 1920’s in Cyprus where we meet the Constandinou and the
Terzi families who are incredibly close. Hatiche and Maroula are the Mothers of
the families and are the best of friends, we watch their families grow closer
as the years go by and their sons Lambros and Orhan form a strong friendship
too and look at each other as a brother.
The only thing that sets the families apart are their faiths
but this has never caused a problem between the families before but would
religion stand in the way of true love?
This was such an atmospheric novel that transported me back
to this inviting country set around all the areas I know and love from Paphos
and the Trudoos Mountains to Nikosia. The author manages to weave a historical
element into the storyline which gave the storyline even more depth and
interest.
The characters are all so loving and supportive so devoted
to their families, it did take a little while to find my feet with this novel
trying to work out who was who and where Lambros fitted in with the family but
once I had got to grips with who was who I was then swept away by this storyline.
The families were very selfless and would share what they had to make sure that
they were both getting by and not struggling needlessly this was more than
community spirit this was honourable and love the way I wish the world could be.
I was surprised that although we are first introduced to
Lambros that he wasn’t actually one of the bigger parts of the book but
everything that happened did have an effect on his life. There is a constant
enjoyable flow to the storyline with no big twists and turns and yet it was an
unpredictable and captivating read.
I was a little disappointed with the abrupt ending of the
book but I don’t know if it was more of the fact that I had become so invested
in the storyline and the characters that I just wasn’t ready to leave them yet
and wanted to see that last meeting! I loved the historical timeline at the end
of this book I thought this was a great informative touch.
This is the perfect novel to take away with you this Summer,
Nadia Marks is a new author to me and I enjoyed her descriptive writing style
which made everything so vivid and her character building was superb. Fans of
Victoria Hislop and Dinah Jefferies would enjoy Nadia Marks novel.
Kindle Paperback
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