The Hummingbird & the Bear

This review appeared in nb64.

Sam Taylor is a successful city analyst with a beautiful girlfriend, Jenni, and a wonderfully settled life in London. However, when he meets Kay at the wedding of a mutual friend, their attraction is instantaneous and powerful. With little regard Sam pursues Kay across the Atlantic to New York where she lives with her husband, Chris. What then follows is a passionate and dangerous liaison, which will ultimately threaten the very fabric of all their lives.

Superficially, this is a cautionary tale of overwhelming deceit, and yet there is a deeper underlying theme of irresistible love. Throughout the novel, Sam and Kay’s feelings are out of control, but their unadulterated passion for each other is all consuming and undeniable. From the opening page I was drawn into this fast and furious story, the description of American life is wonderfully authentic, and the dangerous and illicit nature of Sam and Kay’s relationship helps to build the tension in a way that keeps you turning the pages.

I thought it was a good read with a powerful conclusion, and would heartily recommend it to my reading group.