The Blue Amaryllis by Sonia De Leon is a contemporary romance about Leia, a young woman who flees into the Amazon rainforest to heal her grief.
Chicago native Leia is heartbroken from the recent death of her mother. Her college professor invites Leia to visit the Amazon Matis tribe. Each backcountry checkpoint strips away layers of civilization. Soon, Leia is alone and facing a five-mile hike from her last drop off point. Nightfall, and a frightening chase by a fearsome native, spurs Leia into an all-out race for her life. She arrives at the Matis encampment and collapses at the feet of a handsome man named Tanun.
Leia must peel away the emotional barriers of her lonely life. She learns what is truly important from the wise Matis people.
Her culture shock at the natives’ nakedness becomes fascination with their loving and dignified way of life. Leia’s mutual attraction to Tanun evolves into an impossible love that the Matis strict rules cannot honor. After two months, Leia must leave behind her life with these gentle people, and abandon her soul mate Tanun.
The Blue Amaryllis is a luscious story. In addition to Leia and Tanun, the Amazon rainforest is the third main character in this cross-culture romance. The descriptions of the plants and animals became so real, Lita felt the sticky cling of Leia’s sweaty blouse and heard the bellows of water animals. Sonia De Leon used a deft hand bringing Leia’s emotions to life. Tanun was so well chronicled, well, Lita fell in love with him also.
Romance fans looking for a journey through a woman’s emotional desert into loving a worthy man would enjoy The Blue Amaryllis. For Gentle Readers who love immersive worlds, this well-drawn gem of a tale will have you marveling at the exotic scent of orchids and also wrinkling your nose at the earthy reek of jaguar scat.
The Blue Amaryllis on Amazon US
The Blue Amaryllis on Amazon UK