A Spear of Summer Grass by Deanna Raybourn

This book was simply beautiful in every way.  It paints Africa in such vivid colours and with such love, I felt homesick for the continent.  The heroine is absolutely delightful, with many layers and subtleties which you continue to discover until the last page.  She is feminine, courageous, strong and weak, someone I loved to identify with.  The love story seems almost like an afterthought, but which makes it all complete.  A book that will make you laugh and cry and long for some distant possibilities in your own life.  I highly recommend this beautifully written book.