Flowers in the Sand

by Clive Algar

Trapped by tragic circumstances in a dusty Namaqualand mining town during the Anglo-Boer War, Emma Richardson must degrade herself to survive. Then the town is besieged by Boer fighters, led by their tortured commandant Manie Smit, and Emma is faced with a fateful choice. With her vision of the ephemeral desert flowers in her mind, she sets out alone on foot by night on a desperate mission to create a new future for herself.

222 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Formerly a group executive in an international mining company, Clive began to write novels when he retired.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E9EP0BM

Reviews

[Larry B Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like a book with a little romance, a lot of adventure and a dash of intrigue then Flowers In The Sand by Clive Algar is a book for you. This historical fiction based in South Africa around 1901'ish is a hard to put down novel.

I really like the way the author developed his storyline. There was just enough background historical info to make the story believable and real. I found the story easy to read and follow and with enough plot twist to keep me glued to the story.

Clive Algar did an excellent job of developing his characters. They were both real and easy to believe in. With the background information and the author's writing style each character seemed like someone you would know, making them it easy to either cheer them on or dislike them.

I really liked reading Flowers In The Sand by Clive Algar and I highly recommend this book.


[Please note: I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.]

[MKB · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been disappointed in nearly every novel I’ve read set in South Africa during the Anglo-Boer War and admittedly did not have high expectations for this novel, but I was not disappointed by ‘Flowers In the Sand’! Clive Algar is an excellent writer who properly develops characters and provides adequate historical context, both of which I greatly appreciate and look for in good historical fiction. I am very familiar with the Anglo-Boer War; however, I believe that a reader with no background knowledge of this conflict would be able to follow the story because of Algar’s masterful blending of fact and fiction. One cannot help but become invested in the tales of Emma, a South African woman of British descent, and Manie, a Boer commandant. Although this is a tale of pain and tragedy, the ending leaves readers with a sense of hope, and I could not have imagined a better conclusion.

It makes me sad to see that this book has so few reviews, but I will be sharing the title with all of my family members who share a mutual interest in this time period. Thank you for this gem, Mr. Algar.