When the Apricots Bloom (ePub)

The evocative and suspenseful story of three very different women - a secretary, an artist and a diplomat's wife - in Baghdad, Iraq, at the height of Saddam Hussein's power.

When Huda turns informant, each woman is soon forced to confront the complexities of trust, friendship, and motherhood under the rule of a dictator and his ruthless secret police . . . And each woman must decide just what she is prepared to sacrifice to protect those she loves.

At night, in Huda's fragrant garden of apricot trees, a breeze sweeps in from the desert, carrying warning of visitors at her gate . . .

Huda, a secretary at the Australian embassy, has been ordered by the mukhabarat - the secret police - to befriend Ally Wilson, the deputy ambassador's wife. Huda has no wish to be an informant, but she fears for her teenage son, who may be forced to join a deadly militia. Little does she know, Ally has dangerous secrets of her own.

Meanwhile, Huda's former friend, Rania, enjoyed a privileged upbringing as the daughter of a sheikh. Now her family's wealth is gone, and Rania, too, is battling to keep her child safe and a roof over their heads.

As the women's lives intersect, their hidden pasts spill into the present. Facing possible betrayal at every turn, all three must trust in a fragile, newfound loyalty, even as they discover how much they are willing to sacrifice to protect their families.

READERS CAN'T STOP TALKING ABOUT THIS BOOK!

'Riveting from beginning to end . . . A great read!'

'Atmospheric and suspenseful . . . I read this novel with my heart in my throat'

'The stories of these three women are each compelling on their own, but when intertwined they become formidable . . . Stunning'

'I felt the warmth of the sun and tasted the sweetness of the lime tea . . . Beautiful'

'All I can say is "WOW - read it. You won't be disappointed." '