THE STORY
Sepalika is a Sri Lankan who works as a tour guide in her own country. She’s passionate about history and enjoys her job, even though she would have preferred to live in England. She had tried to escape the small island, but had been forced to return due to family circumstances. The same circumstances that had compelled her to get engaged to Mahesh, the son of a rich man.
Into her life walks Daniel, a tourist from Ireland. Daniel is a history professor on his way to Australia to take up a position there. Soon, the two of them get attracted to one another, history being one of their common interests. But would it ever be possible for Sepalika to get together with Daniel? You will have to read the story to find out. Interestingly, the story has been woven along with a tour of the many places of interests in Sri Lanka as Sepalika plays guide to a batch of foreign tourists.
MY PERCEPTION
There are two things I fell in love with in this latest book by Devika Fernando – and I am not still clear who takes first prize – the description of Sri Lanka and Daniel.
Daniel is handsome, hot, intelligent, sensitive and chivalrous. Can there be a more deadly combination? No wonder Sepalika is unable to stop herself from falling for him, despite her engagement. I must congratulate Devika Fernando for creating such an awesome and believable character. Kudos!
Sri Lanka! I have always been interested in this neighbouring island as I have heard a lot about it from a friend who used to live there and my sister who has been there on a holiday. I have also seen a few travel documentaries about the place. What had always struck me was the greenery. Devika Fernando has brought many sections of the island alive to her readers. The descriptions of the many places of interest in Colombo; Pinnawala; Kandy; Sigiriya; Nuwara Eliya; Yala; Galle; Ambalangoda; Bentota and Anuradhapura; the museums; the gardens; the temples; the ruins; the Buddha viharas – I so loved going on the Sri Lankan tour the author took me on.
I enjoyed reading about the way Sri Lankans treat their guests – very similar to us in India – and the kind of food they serve them.
What was most delicious was the way the romance between the protagonists has been developed. Steamy hot! I have read Devika Fernando’s other books – Kaleidoscope of Hopes; Playing with Fire; and When I See Your Face. I must say that the author gets better and better with each book, Saved In Sri Lanka being the best so far.
I wish that Mahesh’s character had been developed a bit more as he is always there like a shadow but never comes alive. But otherwise, this book is a must read.
Quote from the book – a small section that I really enjoyed reading:
She saw his body tense, and his eyes changed color to a darker slate gray with hardly any blue in it. He laid his hand on the side of her neck where her pulse beat against it like frantically fluttering bird’s wings. When he leaned down, her eyes closed.
The next instant he kissed her. His lips, firm and cool, were barely touching hers. It was a kiss of tantalizing softness, tentative and tender.
When she didn’t scream or shove at him or run, he brushed his mouth against hers again, adding more pressure.
Sepalika wanted more, much more. So she kissed him back, throwing all caution to the wind. With a sigh, he deepened the kiss, angling his mouth, his thumb caressing the hollow at her throat. Her hands came up, searching for a hold, for any way to keep herself from melting under his now firmer but still heart-breakingly gentle kiss. She grabbed the lapels of his leather jacket, pulled herself up, and felt a thousand sensations flood her.
Never had a kiss felt this magical, never had it awakened her lust like this.
It was as if she had lived all life for this moment, as if her lips were connected to every single particle of her body, setting it on fire.
When the tip of his tongue brushed over her mouth, she couldn’t suppress a moan. The sound seemed to come from deep out of herself, and it barely registered because she was so lost in the magic of the moment.
Daniel drew back slightly and whispered her name in what was as much a question as it was a groan.
The sound of her name on his lips, spoken so full of feeling, burst the bubble. Sepalika realized with a start what they were doing, and panic surged through her, obliterating desire.
Letting go of his jacket as if she had touched a poisonous plant, she stumbled backwards until her back hit the doorframe. With a hand to her mouth on which she could still feel his kiss, she stared at him.
His breathing was ragged, and his eyes with the dilated pupils were wide open and wounded before she saw him close himself off.
“Goodnight then…sweet dreams,” he called softly, stepping back with obvious reluctance. When he mentioned the word “dreams”, it reminded her of his previous comment, and she bit her lip. Oh yes, she’d definitely dream of him tonight—if she ever fell asleep, that is.
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