The Swallow and the Hummingbird

by Santa Montefiore

When George Bolton returns home to Devon at the end of the war, Rita assumes that her childhood sweetheart will marry her and that their future will be a continuation of their past. But the boy who joined the RAF has come back a man, and a man irrevocably changed by the horrors that he has seen.

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Roman, British Literature, Historical, Chick Lit

496 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Santa Montefiore is the number one bestselling author of over thirty novels and has sold over eight million copies worldwide. Her books have been translated into twenty-five languages and she won an RNA Award for The Temptation of Gracie in 2019, which is currently in development for film. Born in England in 1970, she grew up in Hampshire and now lives in London with her husband, writer Simon Sebag-Montefiore, their daughter, son, and dog Simba.

Shadows in the Moonlight is the first novel of a trilogy following the character Pixie Tate, with Secrets of the Starlit Sea following in summer 2025. Santa loves to hear from readers and you can find her at www.santamontefiore.co.uk.

Reviews

[Paula Sealey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Santa Montefiore is one of my favourite authors, but sadly I found this particular book quite disappointing. Unusually, the characters were rather dull and I struggled to care what happened to them as the story progressed. It was certainly no match for the passion I felt reading about the wonderful characters in 'Meet me under the Ombu Tree', my number one Santa book. The plot itself is still nicely woven here, but nothing stood out to make this an above average read and I skimmed through a fair portion of it.

[Noella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ik vond dit boek heel langdradig. Het verhaal speelt zich af over een tijdspanne van 20 jaar, dus ik dacht dat het wel wat vlotter zou lezen. Ik had ook geen voeling met de personages, of op zijn minst gemengde gevoelens. Behalve Megagran en Max was er niemand die er voor mij uitsprong. Zeker de hoofdpersonages Rita en George niet.
Ik hoop dat als ik nog eens een boek van deze auteur lees, het beter zal zijn.

[Sven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Santa Montefiore is een wereldwijd bekend auteur. Deze , in Groot Brittannië wonende, auteur heeft al vele lezers meegesleurd in haar verhalen. Wat opvalt is dat het grootste deel van de lezers vrouwen zijn en dat maar weinig mannen deze boeken een kans geven. Zeer jammer want het zijn leuke boeken om te lezen.
Verhaal
Als George Bolton terug komt vanuit de oorlog staat Rita Fairweather hem op te wachten. Ze groeiden samen op en nu werden ze drie jaar van elkaar gescheiden door de oorlog. Iedereen verwacht dat er vlug een huwelijk zal komen maar George is veranderd. De oorlog heeft hem van een jonge knul veranderd naar een volwassen man. Alle wat hij meegemaakt heeft zorgt ervoor dat hij ervoor kiest om voor een jaar naar Argentinië te trekken om terug in het reine te komen met zichzelf. Zal hun liefde dit kunnen overleven?
Het boek
Er werd gebruik gemaakt van een zeer beeldende manier van schrijven. De auteur zorgt ervoor dat zowel de gebeurtenis op zich als ook de omgeving mooi belicht wordt. Door die manier van schrijven is het als lezer zeer gemakkelijk om een beeld te vormen van wat je net gelezen hebt.
De gebruikte personages zijn zeer divers qua karakter. De één blijft hangen in het verleden, de ander doet altijd maar verder. Sommige zien niet wat er zich voor hun neus afspeelt. Bij andere komt de spijt te laat. Sommige springen zodanig uit het verhaal dat er vanaf de eerste kennismaking een band geschept wordt. Een voorbeeld hiervan is mevrouw Megalith, de oma van Rita. De omschrijving van haar persoonlijkheid is subliem. Het zal voor vele lezers dan ook het personage zijn waarmee de eerste klik komt.
Het thema liefde komt sterk naar voor in dit verhaal maar zonder dat het klef begint te worden. Het verhaal is geen puur liefdesverhaal maar herbergt meer dan dat. Denk maar aan zelfkennis, verdergaan, schuld.
Het slot
Het einde wordt zeer goed gebracht. Bepaalde dynamieken tussen personages kennen hun hoogtepunt en andere krijgen nu pas vorm.
Conclusie
Een zeer goed verhaal dat meer dan enkel maar het thema liefde herbergt. Geschreven door een auteur waarvan meer mannen haar boeken wel de kans mogen geven. Beeldend geschreven met goed uitgewerkte personages.

[Carol · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought this was dreadful. I listened to the audiobook, and found myself yelling at the characters. I guess I'd sum up the entire book with an "Oh for God's sake, stop wallowing in self-pity and get on with your life!"

[Jojo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aquele livros que esteve anos na minha estante à espera de vez. Esperava muito mais deste livro. Embora, tenha cenários maravilhosos, não consegui me identificar com as personagens particularmente com uma das protagonistas. A sua atitude derrotista e passiva durante anos não me " encaixaram" bem. George também é um autêntico empecilho. A guerra e o trauma que daí advêm não justificam todas as suas atitudes idiotas especialmente, porque não se nota grande evolução desde o início até ao fim do livro.

[Raquel · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring, I don't enjoy reading about women sitting around waiting for men. Call it the feminist in me, but this book bored me.

[Olivia Edwards · Rating 1 out of 5]

I usually love Santa’s books but this is dull, dull , dull. The characters are unlikeable and the ending predictable. I always finish a book once I start it but this just dragged on and on and on. Has put me off reading some of her others now.

[Neide Parafitas · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A Andorinha e o Colibri" conta a história de Rita e de George, namorados de infância e que esperam casar assim que este regresse da guerra. Contudo George regressa diferente e resolve passar um ano na quinta da família na Argentina.. Rita promete esperar por ele, mas regressará George para Rita?

Confesso que adorei e chorei algumas lágrimas ao ler este livro!!! Apesar de em alguns momentos me ter sentido revoltada com as escolhas de Rita, foi um livro que me fez reflectir sobre a seguinte questão: Por quanto tempo estaríamos dispostos a esperar pelo nosso Grande Amor??

Recomendo a todos os corações românticos!!!

Santa Montefiore será sem dúvida uma autora a seguir.

[Debbie McWilliam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not her finest work to be honest, skim read the last third of it but just felt like it lacked substance and she dragged the story out way longer than needed.

[Lyda Van Den Bos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mooi verhaal maar heb boeiender boeken van haar gelezen.

[Helena Wildsmith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never read a book by Santa Montefiore and so didn't expect to enjoy this as much as I did. It's definitely not an action packed book but it still absolutely drew me in and I found myself really caring for the characters and struggling to put the book down. Incredibly emotional and beautifully written, this book has very easily made me want to read more by this author.

[Julie Verstraete · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rita en Georges zijn onafscheidelijk. Totdat Georges terugkomt van de oorlog. Hij is verandert in een man ipv jongen. Maar de jongen is hij niet meer. Rita en Georges vervreemden van elkaar. Georges leert Susan kennen en bouwen een eigen gezin op. Rita worstelt jaren met de gevoelens voor Georges. Kan Max haar hart toch veroveren?

[Betita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorei.
Rita esperou anos o regresso do deu grande Amor. Após uma guerra em que muitas vidas se perderam, era um benção ele regressar são e salvo para os seus braços. Foi um sonho os dias que se seguiram ao seu regresso, até ao momento em que George decide que antes de casarem tem de viver a sua juventude desperdiçada no tempo de guerra. George parte assim para a Argentina deixando para trás Rita e um sem fim de promessas... mas tudo muda!!!
A partir daqui dão-se os mais variados acontecimentos que enriquecem ainda mais a história dos dois personagens principais tornando este livro em mais um tesouro desta excelente autora :)
As personagens são todas bastante marcantes, desde a pequena Eddie que tem como animal de estimação um morcego, até a Dolores a cozinheira carrancuda da grande fazenda na Argentina.
Quanto às aves, elas são uma presença dominante em toda a história, fazendo companhia à "bruxa" e aos seus gatos ;)
George faz as suas escolhas, assim como Rita acabará por também ter de se decidir a seguir com a sua vida...
Se ainda não leram nada da Autora nem imaginam o que estão a perder ;)

[Mariazita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mais um livro encantador de Santa Montefiore,Descrições belíssimas, um romance terno, encantador mas também triste .Por vezes irritei-me com as personagens de George e Rita, mas fizeram as suas escolhas de vida por amor.
Rita e George foram namorados desde a infância, quando George vai para a guerra algo mudou nele,todos os anos afastados e as vivencias cruéis da guerra transformaram George.
Rita ficou e foi alimentando o seu amor por George e planeando o seu casamento e os filhos que iriam ter, mas o afastamento mudou o amor de George mas não o de Rita, que jurou amar o seu namorado de infância para sempre.Mas será que o amor dos dois poderá resistir a mudança de um deles.
Viajando entre a Inglaterra e a Argentina,com descrições magnificas que nos transportam para essas paisagens, a autora escreve um romance lindo com amores e mágoa.
A autora escreve sobre amores sofridos, mas no fim consegue sempre dar um toque de final feliz, nem sempre aquele que o leitor se calhar gostaria, como acontece neste livro, mas ler Santa Montefiore é maravilhoso pela sua escrita deliciosa.Adorei

[Fab Librarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

As young, beautiful and innocent Rita Fairweather prepares to welcome home her childhood sweetheart as he returns from the war, she feels confident that their enforced separation will not have damaged the love between them and that they will soon settle down to married life. But George comes back an uneasy young man, haunted by his experiences as an RAF pilot and he jumps at the chance of adventure in Argentina. He promises to return to make her his wife but will their life take the course Rita so desperately wants?

This novel got very mixed reviews at our Novel Lovers Reading Group. Some of us enjoyed the easy to read style and the romantic gentle story line; others were frustrated with it and found some of the characters and plotlines unbelievable. I think this is a story to enjoy on a hot summer’s day when you just want to relax and unwind.

[Aoife · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read Under The Ombu Tree, I know what kind of writing style Santa Montefiore has. I love how she can wrap you up in the story of two lovers from the very beginning, and bring you right through their whole lives. There are an abundance of eccentric and beautiful characters that make the story so charming and you can't help but root for all of them in their own goals because Santa has a magic quality that makes you fall in love with each and every one.

I would highly reccommend this heartwarming story which brings you to the countryside of Devon to the hot plains of the Argentine. She really is a fantastic writer!

[Julie Barton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished this book. I could not put it down. At first I thought there was lots of characters but it all slotted into place. Set just after WWIl. A story of love and life. In short I'd say the moral is life is short and don't let the grass grow under your feet. I enjoy books that have a message, a meaning you can put to your own life maybe. Not sure if my review is a spoiler so ticked it is

[Viajando entre páginas · Rating 4 out of 5]

7/10

Me ha gustado, pero no he logrado conectar con ninguno de los dos protagonistas, me han parecido dos personajes incongruentes que me han caído fatal. Mucho más interesantes algunos de los secundarios que los rodeaban.

[Helen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'd recommend this novel as a holiday read. Annoying heroine who wastes 17 years of her life pining for her childhood sweetheart who rejected her. Felt at times I was reading upmarket Mills and Boon.

[Arzoo · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story is written very well, despite an average story plot. It feels like a slightly modern version of Little Women. The writing is beautiful; it is easy, uncomplicated and flows like a river. (Good for people who aren’t avid readers and want to develop reading as a habit. For them, this book can be a good place to start.)

The beginning fails to arouse curiosity, yet the writing keeps you going. Even during boring parts of the story, you will not want to put the book down. Throughout the book, you will feel quite detached, and the characters quite unimpressionable, until the end.

In the end, it will strike you all of a sudden that you were connected to the eccentricity of the characters. You might disapprove of their choices, but you’ll end up empathizing. I was amazed at the sudden turn of emotions I felt during the last few chapters.

Rita, George, and Susan play the lead role and the story primarily revolves around them. Yet, in the end, you will have fallen in love with two characters, Megagran and Max. Their relationship, their individual qualities and everything about them, will have moved you.

While reading the book I did not feel I’d like the book but Megagran’s bizarreness, the way she loved some, the way she hated the others, the way she kept Max and Ruth closer than her family, is simply and beautifully heart-warming.

You can give this book a try if you are willing to plainly go through some four hundred pages, to discover a heartening end!

[Mozaika Literacka · Rating 4 out of 5]

To ulotność młodości determinuje gorzki posmak tej poruszającej opowieści. Pięknie rozpisana podróż po emocjach ludzkiego przemijania – historia nasączona pokłosiem frontowej bezwzględności, w uczuciach raczej smutna, nostalgiczna i burzliwa, w przekazie z pewnością mocno refleksyjna. Santa Montefiore z wrażliwością przenika otchłań pokrzywdzonej kobiecości, z przejęciem eksploruje konsekwencje wojny, przywołuje definicję zespołu stresu pourazowego, szeptem dociera także do wyrzutów sumienia i niechęci kojącego przebaczenia. To dramat doszczętnie skruszonego serca, ale też przyjacielska bliskość i rodzinne więzi, przede wszystkim jednak konsekwencje nie zawsze przemyślanych wyborów człowieka.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh dear.... Quite difficult to review, is this one. If I'm honest, I fluctuated between two and three stars.
I felt it was rather predictable and whilst I'm not heavily into women's lib, I did find it rather old-fashioned and slightly uncomfortable in places.
Maybe a good read if you don't want a too intricate read.

[Ingrid Booij · Rating 5 out of 5]

Weer een mooi Santa Montefiore boek. Heel beeldend geschreven. Goed dat er belicht wordt dat als je een oorlog hebt overleefd, je niet naadloos weer verder kan gaan met je leven, en je hierdoor erg verandert en dus ook andere keuzes maakt dan je van te voren bedacht hebt.
Ook de manier waarop verschillende mensen omgaan met tegenslag heel verschillend kan zijn. Tijd heelt dan wel wonden, maar de ene heeft er veel meer tijd voor nodig dan de ander.

[Agnieszka · Rating 3 out of 5]

Een luchtig vlot geschreven verhaal. Ideaal als tussendoortje. Een fijne afwisseling na diepere boeken.
Ik lees graag Montefiore . Deze verhaal is niet zo diepgaande als de vrouwen van Deverille. Maar een trilogie geeft ook meer mogelijkheden tot dieper beschrijvingen.
Ik heb er van genoten.

[Connie53 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beetje een doorsnee romantisch verhaal. Wel lekker lezen maar voorspelbaar. En alles loopt natuurlijk goed af voor iedereen. een 7 hier een 6

[Ingeborg Berckmoes · Rating 3 out of 5]

mooi maar een beetje langdradig. Hier en daar een mooie levensles,typisch voor Montefiore.

[Lorna Corcoran · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG What a beautiful, spell-binding, mind capturing, captivating book. It had me absolutely captivated the whole way through from the moment I started till I finished. I could barely bare to put it down. Now it's over, and I'm like what now.. I felt like giving some of the characters a good hard kick up the rump a few times, but all an all it turned out well :)

[Filipa · Rating 4 out of 5]

O que dizer deste livro. . .?

Achei-o fabuloso, com uma história cativante mas ao mesmo tempo algo enervante, uma vez que é uma história de amor não tão clara quanto isso.... não conseguindo exprimir-me melhor, só lendo para depois se entender. Uma história que nos faz pensar se faríamos o mesmo dadas as circunstâncias ou se teríamos atitudes melhores, dentro do que cada um acha melhor... dentro da época em que tudo se passa....

Há ainda outras histórias de amor que se cruzam....

O ponto alto para mim, é o leque de personagens com as suas personalidades diferentes e que imprimem ao enredo um je ne sais quoi maravilhoso... ;P

[Theresa · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have enjoyed previous novels by this author but oh deary me what was she thinking of with this one.
It was dull, boring and predictable. I ended up flicking through the pages. One of the most dire books I have ever read.

[Mags · Rating 3 out of 5]

after reading some reviews I think it put me off the book. I did finish the book but found it a very slow story and struggled at times to continue. Although descriptive. I only gave 3 stars because it wasn't gripping enough to make me want to read it every day.