At almost 500 pages, historical fiction, this book can seem daunting, but I'm so happy that I picked it up. Rich with history, of a place and time I don't know a lot about (East Africa in the early 1900's), this was one I couldn't put down.

Heartbreaking at times, the perseverance of the main character kept me glued to the pages and I enjoyed every minute. Highly recommend!

I picked up the book a while back and had to stop it midway through because it was a very slow read. It has since been in my DNF pile. I finally finished the book during the quarantine lockdown when I picked up reviewing books again.

The story is interesting and the setting has been done well for the era. The characters are relatable to the period and the main character Iris is likable. There were scenes in the book that made me feel for her. However, the pacing of the book works almost negatively against the plot and the brilliant characters. The drastic difference between Jeremy and Kamau was portrayed well. The climax was predictable but well written.

If you are a fan of historical fiction and do not mind slow reads, you will definitely enjoy this book. Overall, I'd give this book 3.5 stars.

A good read for fans of historical fiction set in Africa. This is a love story and a becoming your own self tale. I enjoyed the characters and the plot.

Really enjoyable read. Good characters and a Good story. Well worth a read. Think others will. Enjoy

The girl and the sunbird by Rebecca Stonehill.
When eighteen year old Iris Johnson is forced to choose between marrying the frightful Lord Sidcup or a faceless stranger, Jeremy Lawrence, in a far-off land, she bravely decides on the latter.

Accompanied by her chaperone, Miss Logan, Iris soon discovers a kindred spirit who shares her thirst for knowledge. As they journey from Cambridgeshire to East Africa, Iris’s eyes are opened to a world she never knew existed beyond the comforts of her family home.

But when Iris meets Jeremy, she realizes in a heartbeat that they will never be compatible. He is cold and cruel, spending long periods of time on hunting expeditions and leaving Iris alone.

Determined to make the best of her new life, Iris begins to adjust to her surroundings; the windswept plains of Nairobi, and the delightful sunbirds that visit her window every day. And when she meets Kamau, a local school teacher, Iris finds her calling, assisting him to teach the local children English.

Kamau is everything Jeremy is not. He is passionate, kind and he occupies Iris’s every thought. She must make a choice, but if she follows her heart, the price she must pay will be devastating.

This was a slow but ok read.  3*.

What a fabulous story about forbidden love! It's mostly set in East Africa (Kenya as it is now) and spans approximately 60 years, beginning in 1903 when 18 year old Iris Johnson travels to Nairobi to marry a man she has never met in order to avoid an arranged marriage in England. This man turns out to be not the nicest of people. An 'out of the frying pan and into the fire' situation!

I loved the voices of the various narrators, especially that of Iris. It's beautifully written and vividly told. I loved the descriptions of early 20thC Africa, I almost felt I was there I was so immersed in the tale. It was something of a page turner for me. It's quite a tragic and poignant story - it did bring some tears to my eyes. I have to admit to looking up what a sunbird looked like. Such an amazing and colourful creature!

A captivating, engaging and absorbing book which I can highly recommend.