Gail Gilbride’s debut novel, Under the African Sun, set in South Africa during the apartheid era, is a richly observed tale of love, heartbreak and personal and political turmoil, delivered with poignancy and a touch of humor. Readers will want to turn the pages to find out how the characters deal with and rise above the conflicts that threaten their happiness and their futures in a country torn by racial discord. Deftly written, heartfelt, and engaging, this charming book will appeal particularly to lovers of romance and historical fiction.

Lynette Brasfield, author, Nature Lessons: A Novel, St. Martin’s Press, NY, 2003, which was selected as a 2003 BookSense pick by the Independent Bookstores of America and winner of NAMI’s 2003 Outstanding Literature Award.