I was very excited to read this book because I absolutely loved Ashcroft's "Beneath a Burning Sky" that I read last year. Ashcroft is a very talented writer that paints such vivid pictures with her novels. Every time I opened "Beneath a Burning Sky", I felt like I took a trip to Egypt. "Island in the East" was no different, except this novel transports us to Singapore. Not only do I really enjoy the exotic background of the novels, but I also love the way she develops her characters. You will feel like you know them so well and root for them throughout. "Island in the East" had such an intricate story line that alternated between characters (mostly Ivy and her grandmother, Mae) and took us into the past as well as the present. The only downside to this novel (and why I only gave it 4 stars) Is that it is too long. It took me about 2.5 months to finally finish it because I lost interest in the middle (the story line was dragging) and put it down for a good period of time. I'm very happy that I did pick it back up again, because once I got over that middle hump, I was hooked. The ending was so emotional as Ashcroft did a great job of tying the past and present together. If you were like me and struggled in the mid-section of this novel, do yourself a favor and power through, trust me, it is so worth it!! I can't wait for Ashcroft's next novel as she just became one of my favorite authors!

A powerful and engaging dual timeline story of Mae and Ivy. The book opens with Mae leaving under a cloud and swiftly switches to Ivy, a young translator who is posted to Singapore after suffering trauma in WWII bombing.

The story is pacy and warm, with lively characters (not too much description of them, but lots happens so it keeps your interest) and many events that keep the pace and interest going. i really liked the vast majority of the characters, especially Ivy's friends Alma, Kit and Alex.

This book covers both the highs and lows of families secrets and triumph over adversity, particularly in challenging times such as WWII. Brought new insights into WWII with action in Singapore and Malaya. How times have changed...

A well-written book, one that I really enjoyed. I will look out for more from Jenny Ashcroft.
A well deserved 4.5*.

I loved this book. Stick with it: I almost gave up quite near the beginning as it seemed to be drifting, but the pace soon picks up, and I was so glad I stayed with it. A very moving story of Ivy, during the Second World War, and her Grandmother at the end of the 19th century. Most of the book is set in Singapore, and the vivid descriptions bring the place alive. You almost feel uncomfortable in the humid heat. I strongly recommend this book.

An atmospheric and epic tale which was beautifully written and utterly romantic.

Set mainly on the atmospheric island of Singapore in the 1890’s and 1940’s this wonderful story explores identical twin sister rivalry, love and betrayal. Chapters bounce between the two different centuries in Singapore with the addition of chapters set in London.

There are so many great characters in this tale but for me, the twins Mae and Harriet, who were born out of wedlock causing much scandal as well as having the burden of carrying this through the decades wherever they go, are the most interesting and charismatic. When they are sent to Singapore by their benefactor to stay with David Keely, to whom one must marry, a strain is put on their previously unblemished sisterly relationship. This is further tested when they meet Alex Blake whom they both fall in love with but only one will win his heart!

Then we have Ivy, Mae’s Granddaughter, who is posted to Singapore in the 1941. As she is severely traumatised by two events which occurred on the same day, she looks at this as an opportunity to move on with her life and taking all of her courage she decides to leave her beloved Grandmother behind. Surprises and mysteries unfold as she is blindly introduced to people from Mae’s past on the Island and secrets are revealed that stuns everyone.

This beautifully descriptive written story has much breath holding moments including the time spent in POW camps which I particularly found harrowing yet it is such an addictive tale that I didn’t want it to end.

I enjoyed Jenny Ashcroft debut novel Beneath A Burning Sky but for me this book surpassed it. A must for historical fiction lovers and I give it a brilliant 5 star rating.

Brilliant. I was totally captivated the whole way through. Wonderfully written this story moves back and forward in time. It tells the story of two different generations of the same family. Joy, sadness and love are all written about so beautifully. This book is a real pleasure to read. I would definitely recommend it. I look forward to Jenny Ashcroft's next book.

I loved Jenny Ashcroft’s debut novel ‘Beneath A Burning Sky’, a 2017 bestseller which was set in colonial Egypt, so was thrilled to be invited to read an early digital reading copy of her latest historical fiction. Jenny Ashcroft has taken ‘Island In The East’ to the next level, a beautifully told story set in Singapore between 1897 and 1941. Singapore is a country particularly close to her heart where she lived for several years, which is evident in the authenticity of her writing. This is a captivating tale of sisterly rivalry, love, life-shattering betrayals and a war that turns everyone’s lives upside down.
There are two historical strands with two intense love stories, both are equally fascinating, and the first begins in 1897 when 20 year old identical twins, Harriet and Mae, are sent to Singapore to stay with a distant relative, David Keeley, a man who will choose one of them for his wife in return for wealth and the right connections to become Governor. The twins have quite different personalities and the sister who is interested in marrying David, a singularly cold fish, is not the one he is interested in. Thus a rift is formed between the twins, but when they meet the handsome, self-made man, Alex Blake, loves strikes both the twins simultaneously like a thunderbolt. The twins’ relationship is torn apart by jealousy when Alex feels the same coup de foudre for one of them. Meanwhile David is a man who lets nothing and no one get in his way ....
The second strand set in wartime England in 1940 tells the story of Ivy, an Intelligence Officer and Interpreter, who is the granddaughter of Mae. She is struggling to recover from her own traumatic experiences of WWII when she is posted to Singapore to help with the war effort in anticipation of an impending Japanese invasion. From almost the moment she steps foot there, she has to hit the ground running as a Japanese translator of intercepted wartime communications. At the same time she has to adapt to a tropical climate and a very different expat lifestyle of burning the candle at both ends. But she is mystified why she seems to have been singled out for special treatment by certain eminent individuals who claim to have known Mae. In the middle of all this Ivy has to find the courage to fall in love and the mental resilience to face some of the most testing times and unimaginable dangers.
This novel succeeds at so many levels - the beautiful writing, the strongly drawn characters, intriguing plots and the authenticity of love. There are tragic elements as well as action, danger, mystery and a great twist. As in Beneath A Burning Sky, Jenny Ashcroft favours a strong female heroine of high integrity and courage and her historical fiction is still relevant in many ways today. I was once again transported to a faraway place and time, could see, feel and smell the tropical lushness - I was right there! Island In The East is out now in early eBook format and will launch as a paperback original in the UK in June 2018.

Many thanks to Netgalley, Little Brown Book Group UK and Jenny Ashcroft for the opportunity to read Island in The East in return for an honest review.

Ashcroft once again creates an engaging plot that is sure to keep the reader's interest until the very end. The beginning is a little slow in parts and needs some at first perseverance in order to get to a story that is definitely worth waiting for, but this is to be encouraged. The whole ensemble is one of mastery and the pages turn very easily once the reader has become fully hooked.
The setting and timescale are filled with evocative detail, ensuring readers become wholly immersed in the time period and the lives of the ever-suffering, but undeniably appealing, characters, particularly the stories of Mae and Harriet, twins who have undergone endless trials in their young lives, and Ivy, Mae's strong and brave granddaughter. Their tales are irrevocably linked and past and present becomes heartbreakingly intertwined as secrets come to the fore and loves and losses are revealed chapter by chapter. This is all set against a backdrop of sorrow and pain as the attack on Singapore moves ever closer and a range of captivating characters prepare to meet their fate, whatever that will be.
The intricate and beautifully chosen language and graphic, heady atmosphere will not fail to please even the most discerning reader.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters were very believable and the plot interesting with just enough intreague to keep me reading right until the end. The switching between two eras was fascinating and I particularly enjoyed it because so often the switch is from the present day to a previous time, not so this time. I wholeheartedly recommend reading this book.

Set in Singapore in the 1890s and 1940s, this story follows twin sisters Harriet and Mae, sent to Singapore to find husbands, and then Mae's granddaughter Ivy, posted to the island as a radio operative during World War II. The action moves between the two eras as Harriet and Mae struggle with the misfortune of their illegitimate births and Ivy fights for love in dangerous times.

This book is very cleverly constructed, with plenty of intrigue to maintain interest to the end. However, it felt slightly uneven in places - Ivy's story was the more engaging as she was the character drawn with the most depth by the author, whereas I found it difficult to understand the motivations of Harriet and Mae at times. I also struggled with the last section of the book which was pretty bleak and harrowing at times.

That said, there was a lot to enjoy. The characters, particularly in the 1940s chapters, were interesting and varied and I loved the Singapore setting - it felt both romantic and historic, a place and time lost forever by the events of the war.

Overall, I'd recommend this if you enjoy historical fiction with a good mix of romance, drama and tragedy.

If you're a fan of historical fiction filled with dark secrets, romance, betrayal and intrigue, you'll find much to admire and enjoy about Island In The East. This is a compelling, well-written and heartbreaking story that I've found it hard to stop thinking about it since I turned the last page.. Thank you Netgalley and the Publisher for this advanced copy

Another strong love story from Jenny Ashcroft.
I was really looking forward to reading this book having really enjoyed her first novel. Definitely not disappointed. The different time lines merged together seemlessly and I was pulled in not only by the setting but different characters.

I really enjoyed Jenny's first book "Beneath a burning sky" so I was thrilled to receive an ARC from the publishers via Netgalley.
I love historical books and this book certainly didn't disappoint. It is written in two time frames, and in both the characters were very strong and I loved them (although there were some I really hated) Tissues are a must, especially in anticipation of the parts of the story that we already know from history.
I highly recommend this book and will be waiting for Jenny's next book. So once again I want to thank everyone for allowing me to read this book.

I loved Jenny Ashcroft's first book, Beneath a Burning Sky, so I was looking forward to reading her second book, Island in the East. Island in the East is beautifully written, heartbreaking and emotionally charged book that I couldn't put down. This author has the ability to create complex wonderful characters that you can't help but fall in love, and some truly despicable characters that will evoke strong negative feelings in you.

Island in the East is historical fiction at it's best. It has all the ingredients I want to see in this type of book: exquisite writing, complex characters, not one but two beautiful love stories, and a fascinating setting. I've read quite a few books set during WW2 but I haven't read any stories about Japanese invasion of Singapore so this book was an eye opening experience for me.

If like me you love historical fiction with strong romantic elements, Island in the East is the book for you!

An enjoyable story of racial prejudice set in the far east with 2 different historical strands (1897 & 1941) to keep the reader (mostly) guessing. The main characters were reasonably well drawn but it was the steamy setting which stood out most for me. There is the usual mix of despicable characters, those you want to give a good shake and others who warrant a comforting cuddle. The more modern wartime strand was most interesting for me, but that may be because it is more familiar from books, TV and films. The book is reminiscent of Dinah Jeffries and, like hers, it is possible to see some of the twists coming. Worth a read.

Jenny Ashcroft has done it again.
I loved her first book Beneath a Burning Sky which was amazing and this book did not disappoint.
A fantastic love story based across two centuries set in Singapore.
After a traumatic time in war torn London Ivy is transferred to Singapore.
Affluent in several languages especially Japanese she is a listener translating the movements of the Japanese prior to their invasion of Singapore.
But her grandmother Mae is not happy about Ivy going there because she has secrets relating to her past which will eventually came out.
In the horrors of the unfolding conflict Ivy falls in love with Kit an officer who will do anything to protect her even when escaping the Japanese in a war torn jungle she is captured and Kit allows himself to be caught so that he can be near her.
Mae has her own amazing love story which unfolds throughout the book and links both her and Ivy to Singapore and a timeless love.
I loved this book and whoever reads this will not be disappointed five stars all the way, can't wait to see what she writes next.

I envy anyone that has not read this yet. Superbly written, covering every emotion. I highly recommend this exceptional book and only wish I was discovering it afresh to be able to enjoy it anew. I truely could not put it down.

.Jenny's second book and she has raised the bar from her first book which I thought would be hard to do but she some how has. This is set in Singapore and is written so well that I felt I was there even with the story based on the two different generations of occupants, She is a writer with a gift I hope to enjoy for years to come. This novel tells the story of twins that arrived in Singapore at the end of the 19th century and a grand daughter who was posted back into Singapore during the Second World War, the hero's are real with warts and all, plus some villains well they are just so vile much like I want them to be, just couldn't warm to them in anyway. With the odd red herring to confuse you as to which side they fall good or bad or just plain annoying and to keep you guessing. There is action and adventure with some romance for a full measure to make this a book that my wife and I can fight over in the future as it has the rare quality of mixing the two together without neglecting the other. I was hooked from page one and wanted more when it ended so I think it safe to say I recommend this book highly. Wonder when her third book comes out.
I have been given a free copy from NetGalley in return for a honest review.

Island in the East, Jenny Ashcroftand in the East
by Jenny Ashcroft
Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre: historical, Romance

I loved Jenny's previous book, and this one is even more special for me.
I really felt I was there with the characters, I could see the colours, feel the heat, smell the exotic and the not so pleasant scents.
So much felt real that I actually skipped some of the wartime scenes, as I'm a little squeamish. There wasn't anything particularly graphic but being the wimp I am I found it hard to imagine characters I'd come to love in that situation. I don't really enjoy reading about the reality of war anyway, so I skimmed just looking for mention of the characters to get an overview of what was happening.

It set back in the late 1800's and the 1940's and reads as two stories with connected characters but its how they connect that's the puzzle. Slowly as each story continues in alternating chapters we see them begin to join, see how they relate to each other and it made for a wonderful, escapist read.
From the early chapters I had an idea of what might have happened, but not why, or who was responsible, I an idea of how it played out but as it happened I was way off track.
Its a vivid story, the closeness of twins brought up with a sense of shame at being illegitimate – how harsh and judgemental humans can be on others. Some delight in others misfortunes, and the Mems certainly found fodder for their gossip in Mae and Harriet.
I so felt for the girls when things started to go wrong, they didn't really stand a chance in the mans world they lived in.
Then the later section of the story with Ivy, Kit, Alex and those from the past and the present I wasn't sure how it all fit together. Again I had ideas about some characters but how they got there, what actually happened eluded me. And when the truth came out it was incredibly moving.

Stars: five, A tear-jerker read, full of angst and emotion, and with an amazingly realistic setting.

ARC supplied for review purposes by Netgalley and Publishers

This novel has two timelines, one in the 19th century, one during the height of World War II, both in Singapore. In 1897 Harriet and Mae, two twins born on the wrong side of the sheets are sent to Singapore, where one of them will marry the man their father has chosen for them. Mae would be happy for the match, but Harriet finds David creepy and distasteful. Over 40 years later, Mae’s granddaughter, Ivy, is also in Singapore, helping with the war effort, trying to get over the guilt of the loss of a man she cared for, and the nightmare bombing raid that buried her alive with a dead man for hours. I was immersed in the sights and sounds of Singapore and the fates of grandmother and granddaughter in this impossible to put down historical novel