Stephen Kimber’s Sweetness in the Lime, published by Nimbus Publishing, is a touching exploration of love, loss, and self-discovery, set across key cities in North America ranging from Havana, Halifax, and Miami. This novel follows Eli Cooper, a fifty-something newspaper editor whose life is in turmoil as he loses both his job and father in the span of a day. With the hope of finding solace, Eli embarks on a journey to Cuba, where he meets Mariela, a tour guide, leading to a heartfelt and complex romance. What starts as an escape from grief slowly turns into a journey of reflection and love.

Kimber masterfully describes the “compare and contrast” aspect of cross-cultural relationships. It investigated hope, vulnerability, trust, and the quest for a new life. What I loved most was the way each setting was described with sensory detail. I could taste the citrus of Havana and feel the music and the warmth. The writer made it so much easier to completely lose yourself in the story.

The romance between Eli and Mariela felt messy in the best way possible. It was realistic and delicate all at once. What I found extremely moving was the way Eli and Mariela found strength in each other, making the story that much more special.

The book for me was more than a love story, acting as a meditation. I took a deep breath for resilience, exhaled for change, and relished the sweetness that followed the lime.

Overall, I give this book 5/5 stars. Sweetness in the Lime that lingers in your mind even after you turn the last page. It reminds readers that even in times of loss, there is beauty to be found in both courage and the act of starting over, and sweetness will find its way back. I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys novels with romance, self-reflection, and travel.