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A Spear of Summer Grass

May 26, 2013 by Jennifer

5M4B disclosure

a spear of summer grassA Spear of Summer Grass by Deanna Raybourn is dripping with the adventure that you’d expect from an African story.

Publisher’s description:

Beginning in Paris at the height of the roaring twenties, socialite Delilah Drummond experiences a scandal big enough to make her oft-married mother exile her to Kenya until gossip subsides. As a dissolute expat, she indulges in gin and jazz records, cigarettes and safaris, and in the heart of darkness, she finds a love worth fighting for.

If you blend glamour from The Great Gatsby and romance from Out of Africa, you are beginning to grasp the stunning new novel that is A Spear of Summer Grass.

The writing was evocative and suspenseful, whether the story was tracking an animal or some human drama. The emptiness of that socialite life of the 1920’s is almost uncomfortable at times, the shocking excesses in so many fronts looked at as entertainment, but the characters are so well drawn, be they the native Masai, the expats who have settled there and totally assimilated like the wild Ryder or who try to make Africa their playground like Helen.

As Ryder White explains, “Everyone out here has scars. Mine just happen to be on the outside” (page 195).

This was a beautiful story that made me yearn for the opportunity to escape to Africa or a similar wild terrain. Throughout you wonder if Delilah is going to love it or leave it.

Find out more by visiting Deanna Raybourne’s Official Site:

Far in the Wilds, a prequel novella, is available for free on Kindle right now if you want to check out the intriguing character of Ryder White. I hadn’t seen this before I read the novel, but I downloaded it and can’t wait to spend some more time with him.

5 of you will win it

Leave a comment below if you’d like to win and get a taste of 1920’s glamour. We’ll announce the winners in our June 12 giveaway column. The giveaway is closed.

Check out our current giveaways. Subscribe to our feed. Follow us @5M4B on Twitter or on Facebook.

Filed Under: Fiction, Historical, Jennifer, Literary

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Comments

  1. Ginny at Random Acts of Momness says

    May 27, 2013 at 1:34 am

    Sounds intriguing! I have read a few of the author’s Victorian mysteries and would love to see how she writes in a different era and setting. Thanks for the chance to win.

  2. pearl says

    May 27, 2013 at 1:15 pm

    This author has captivated me with her novels. Would enjoy this new book.

  3. diane says

    May 27, 2013 at 2:26 pm

    A wonderful story that is memorable.

  4. Marjorie says

    May 27, 2013 at 3:20 pm

    I would definitely love to read this book. Great timeline, thanks for the chance to win it.

    • Jennifer says

      June 11, 2013 at 11:48 pm

      You won! Please reply to this email with your shipping info.

  5. ellie says

    May 27, 2013 at 6:13 pm

    This historical and the era appeals to me. thanks for this opportunity.

  6. Anne says

    May 27, 2013 at 7:10 pm

    a compelling novel with a great storyline.

    • Jennifer says

      June 11, 2013 at 11:49 pm

      You won! Please reply to this email with your shipping info.

  7. Sandra K321 says

    May 27, 2013 at 7:44 pm

    Sounds like a lovely story and I do love historical fiction.

    • Jennifer says

      June 11, 2013 at 11:49 pm

      You won! Please reply to this email with your shipping info.

  8. karenk says

    May 27, 2013 at 8:43 pm

    thanks for the chance to read this beautiful story

  9. Jen E says

    May 28, 2013 at 9:12 am

    Sounds like a fantastic book – I’d love to win a copy!

  10. Katie says

    May 28, 2013 at 5:21 pm

    Sounds like a great read!

    • Jennifer says

      June 11, 2013 at 11:50 pm

      You won! Please reply to this email with your shipping info.

  11. Anita Yancey says

    May 29, 2013 at 10:41 am

    Sounds like an interesting read. I love the time period the book is set in.

  12. Jessica Tan says

    May 31, 2013 at 12:42 am

    I love things set in the 1920’s. . . I think I would have loved living in that time – at least the good parts of it!

  13. Mary Ann Young Robinson says

    June 1, 2013 at 11:51 am

    My mother was born in 1917. She is 95 1/2 and I moved her from Nashville to Boise near me. I like the Historicals and have attempted to write one myself. I am a member of ACFW and MBT, attempting to publish. I hope I get to read this book! Thanks.

    • Jennifer says

      June 11, 2013 at 11:47 pm

      You won! Please reply to this email with your shipping info.

      • Mary Ann Young Robinson says

        June 12, 2013 at 12:15 am

        Thanks! When I write a review, should I acknowledge that I won this book on your blog contest? (this is my birthday, what a nice gift)

        Mary

        • Jennifer says

          June 12, 2013 at 9:26 am

          Happy Birthday!

          I don’t think you’re required to disclose a book you won, because you have no obligation to do anything with it, but you can if you want.

          FYI – I edited your comment to remove your address, so it wasn’t on the site permanently, but I got it!

  14. Beth C says

    June 5, 2013 at 11:29 am

    I like to read about the 1920’s and it looks suspenseful!

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