Great Reads and Tea Leaves

Review: Eva Reddy's Trip of a Lifetime

2025-09-07T02:21:00.003-05:00

Title: Eva Reddy's Trip of a Lifetime

Author: Fiona McKenzie Kekic

Publisher: 29th July 2025 by Harlequin Australia, HQ & MIRA

Pages: 352 pages

Genre: Travel | Women's Fiction

Synopsis:

When Eva Moore wakes up on her fiftieth birthday, her drab middle-class life immediately starts to unravel. First, she receives an anonymous Facebook message claiming her husband is having an affair. Next, she is restructured out of her job by her obnoxiously young boss. Then, just when she thinks her life can't get any worse, her elderly parents wilfully go missing from their group tour of India. All they've left behind is an increasingly bizarre series of TikTok videos.

Eager to put some distance between herself and her failing marriage, Eva undertakes a rescue mission, determined to save her parents from certain disaster. She wants to find them. But what Eva really needs is to find herself. If she can do that, she might get a second chance at life and love - and, along the way, become an inspiration to anyone who fears their best days are behind them ...

My Thoughts

Eva Reddy's Trip of a Lifetime is exactly what the title promises - and so much more. Fiona McKenzie Kekic has crafted a beautifully written, emotional story that’s equal parts adventure, soul-searching, and self-discovery.

‘Hello again, women of indeterminate age! My name is Eva Reddy. And welcome to my blog ‘Wizened & Wild’, where I ponder the challenges and everyday injustices that accompany female middle age.’

From the very first page, I was drawn into Eva’s world - a woman at a crossroads, bravely stepping outside of her comfort zone and into the unknown. The journey that follows is filled with humour, heartbreak, warmth, and hope. Kekic’s writing shines with vivid settings, compelling characters, and authentic emotion, making Eva's personal transformation feel both real and deeply relatable. From the author:

‘To all those women who feel trapped and invisible. Ignore what social media and our ageist culture would have you believe. You can be anything you want to be. We’re way past caring what other people think. So, find your power. Middle age is just the beginning.’

Eva is the kind of protagonist you cheer for from beginning to end. Her voice is sharp, witty, and deeply human. Whether she's navigating unfamiliar Indian cities or confronting the truths she's spent years avoiding, every step of her journey feels earned and impactful. I highly recommend reading this as it left me feeling inspired, a little teary-eyed, and completely satisfied (especially with all the 1980s references).

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review:The Italian Secret (Billie Walker Mystery #3)

2025-08-25T02:51:00.001-05:00

Title: The Italian Secret (Billie Walker Mystery #3)

Author: Tara Moss

Publisher: 26th August 2025 by HarperCollins Publishers Australia

Pages: 384 pages

Genre: General Fiction (Adult) | Historical Fiction | Mystery & Thrillers

Synopsis:

#1 internationally bestselling author Tara Moss returns with an immersive post-war mystery as glamorous investigator Billie Walker follows a trail of secrets to Italy’s sun-drenched Neapolitan coast

Naples, 1943. Deep within a secret network of underground tunnels, a woman takes shelter from a wartime air raid and prays her husband will return home safe.

Pacific Ocean, 1907. A girl embarks on a lonely journey to begin a new life far from home.

Sydney, 1948. Billie Walker, recently returned from a stint as a wartime investigative journalist, has reopened her father’s private inquiry office. One day, Billie is cleaning out old filing cabinets when she uncovers a dusty box whose contents just might upend everything Billie thought she knew about her late, beloved father.

Soon Billie is on the scent, uncovering the secrets of her family’s past, travelling aboard the first post-war luxury passenger ship from Sydney to Naples in search of answers. And as the trail leads her toward two women whose history may be entwined with her own, she realizes she might be putting all three of them in harm’s way. Billie’s father had an enemy—one who may now be stalking Billie around the world—and the closer Billie gets to the truth, the more danger she finds herself in.

My Thoughts

I am ever so happy to have been lost in Billie Walker’s world once more - my new historical female heroine! The Italian Secret is the third novel in the Billie Walker series by Tara Moss and I loved it! Although not necessary to have read the previous two (Tara does provide a catch up and some background) I highly recommend you do. This is a post WWII private investigator you will not want to miss out on!

’He was the one who had taught Billie to search out answers, to be curious about the world and the people in it. He had taught her to solve the whys of the world.’

These books are a gorgeous blend of mystery, history, and glamour! This time the setting is a cruise ship then the stunning backdrop of post-war Italy, this book had me hooked from the first page.

Moss paints a vivid picture of 1950s Rome, full of secrets, fashion, and intrigue. Billie, as always, is smart, stylish, and utterly captivating — think Audrey Hepburn meets Veronica Mars. If you're into vintage noir, strong female leads, and a little bit of danger wrapped in silk and shadows, The Italian Secret is a must-read.

I highly recommend this series and reading the books in order. The Italian Secret is such a wonderful historical mystery book filled with exciting, emotional and highly addictive storylines. I can't wait to see what Billie gets up to next! Perfect for fans of historical thrillers with a cinematic flair.

'So it is not an illness at all, you suspect?' She shook her head. 'No. I don't think so?

'You believe these deaths are connected?'

'Yes, I fear they are, she said. 'Almost certainly’

Review: The Butterfly Women

2025-06-18T02:46:00.003-05:00

Title: The Butterfly Women

Author: Madeleine Cleary

Publisher: 29th April 2025 by Simon & Schuster (Australia) | Affirm Press

Pages: 400 pages

Genre: General Fiction (Adult) | Historical Fiction | Mystery & Thrillers

Synopsis:

It's 1863, and Melbourne is transitioning from a fledgling colony to a thriving, gold-fuelled metropolis. But behind its shiny new façade, the real Melbourne can be found in the notorious red-light district of Little Lon, full of brothels where rich and poor alike can revel all night. The most glamorous among them is Papillon, home to the most alluring women in the city.

For poor Irishwoman Johanna Callaghan, a job at Papillon could be her ticket to success, but in a time when women's lives are cheap, it also brings great danger. Meanwhile, for respectable women like journalist Harriett Gardiner, Papillon is strictly off-limits, but when a murderer begins stalking the streets of Little Lon, she becomes determined to visit it and find the truth.

As both women are drawn into the hunt for the killer, a long-hidden side of old Melbourne is revealed. Lush, dark and meticulously researched, The Butterfly Women weaves romance and mystery into an unforgettable tale of Australian history, and the women so often erased from it.

My Thoughts

Madeleine's debut novel, The Butterfly Women is a sure-fire winner - I loved it. Melbourne in 1863 is growing exponentially thanks to the discovery of gold, however, all that glitters is not gold. This shiny new façade conceals the real Melbourne where the notorious red-light district of Little Lon is found. Brothels are attended by rich and poor alike and the most glamorous among them is Papillon, home to the most alluring women in the city. A murderer is stalking the streets of Little Lon, including the Butterfly women, and it must be stopped.

‘We may resemble pretty little butterflies, Captain, but we have been in more fights and know these streets better than your men.’

Reading about the Melbourne of this era was absolutely fascinating. Combine that with memorable women and a page turning murder mystery and I couldn’t put it down. The story is told through the voices of four women: Johanna an Irish ‘dressed’ woman, Catherine the brothel owner, Mary who police patrols the streets in her husband's uniform and Harriet a respected journalist. All these women’s lives interconnect as together they work towards trying to get by in a man’s world. It was so engrossing to read about my city from a time long past. A stunning debut filled with twists and turns told through a feminist lens.

‘For while John and many of the town’s men failed to find their fortunes on the goldfields, Catherine and the women they’d left behind found theirs in the boarding houses and brothels of this dusty town.’

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: Rise and Shine

2025-06-03T04:03:00.006-05:00

Title: Rise and Shine

Author: Kimberley Allsopp

Publisher: 4th June 2025 by HarperCollins Publishers Australia

Pages: 383 pages

Genre: General Fiction (Adult) | Romance | Women's Fiction

Synopsis:

Charming, talky, wryly funny, poignant and original - Rise and Shine is a love story, yes, but it's a love story that happens ten years into a marriage, when somebody wants out.

This is a story about marriage. It is also a story about life and love and happiness and the absence of happiness and what we need to do to find it again.

It's a story about hope, baking, making music, lemon trees, painting, love, divorce, dogs, the families we create for ourselves, and the heat of the Brisbane sun.

It's a story about August and Noah.

It begins at the end.

Rise and Shine is an utterly surprising delight, a break-up tale that is also a love story; endearing, astringent, talky, wry, wise, uplifting and so original.

My Thoughts

Kimberley Allsopp has a most unique style of writing. Her debut novel in 2022, Love and Other Puzzles, blew me away - I adored it. It was full of wit and charm, refreshing, never dull with a perfect combination of humour and hindsight. Kimberley has carried some of this over into her next book, Rise and Shine where once more she challenges her readers by asking the question, when you realise that life is not what you want or wish it to be … how does one change?

‘She had a good life. She had to stop worrying about it and trying to stretch it into a shape that she thought it needed to be when this was a good shape.’

This is a story about life, love and what happens when, after ten years of marriage, someone wants out. What makes us happy, what makes us unhappy and what can we do about it. It’s a story that gets you thinking, presented in Kimberley’s witty, quirky and uplifting way.

‘She had to fold this moment up and put it in her pocket so she could bring it out when her love for this man felt worn out and thin.'

Review: Beach Vibes

2025-05-18T03:09:00.002-05:00

Title: Beach Vibes

Author: Susan Mallory

Publisher: 30th April 2025 by HQ Fiction

Pages: 368 pages

Genre: General Fiction | Women’s Fiction | Romance

Synopsis:

What would you do if you caught your brother cheating on your best friend?

While Beth is proud of her Malibu beach shop, Surf Sandwiches, she’s even prouder of her charismatic brother, Rick, who rose from foster care all the way through surgical residency. She makes subs, he saves lives. Things take a turn for the happy after she finds out Rick is dating her new best friend, Jana. Then Jana’s handsome brother adds even more sparkle to Beth’s days...and nights.

But when she catches Rick with another woman — like, with with — her visions of an idyllic family future disappear in one awful instant. Either she betrays her brother or she keeps his secret and risks losing the man she loves and her best friend.

Love and loyalty collide with secrets and betrayal in this witty and emotional tale about the lengths we’ll go to for family, from Susan Mallery, bestselling author of The Boardwalk Bookshop.

My Thoughts

My first Susan Mallory book and I really enjoyed it - good quality escapism. It does not have much to do with ‘beach vibes’ to be honest, but it has a highly engaging family drama which both intrigued and grabbed me.

There is Beth proud of her Malibu beach shop, Surf Sandwiches and her brother who she has always supported and is now a surgeon. Then there is Beth’s best friend, Jana and her brother who is a widow and father to three children. The four hit it off and all look to be heading to a rosy future …. until it isn’t. I don’t want to give away much as the angst surrounding the colliding of love and loyalty are certainly front and centre in this tale.

A super engaging and complex family drama making readers consider, “what would you do?” A story of family dynamics, loyalty, friendship, romance and most definitely, betrayal. It is certainly a bittersweet read and more than just a romance. I recommend giving it a go.

Review: Wild Dark Shore

2025-05-04T02:56:00.006-05:00

Title: Wild Dark Shore

Author: Charlotte McConaghy

Publisher: 4th March 2025 by Penguin Random House Australia | Penguin eBooks

Pages: 389 pages

Genre: Mystery | Thriller

Synopsis:

Dominic Salt and his three children are caretakers of Shearwater, a tiny island not far from Antarctica. Home to the world’s largest seed bank, Shearwater was once full of researchers. But with sea levels rising, the Salts are now its final inhabitants, packing up the seeds before they are transported to safer ground. Despite the wild beauty of life here, isolation has taken its toll on the Salts. Raff, 18 and suffering his first heartbreak, can only find relief at his punching bag; Fen, 17, has started spending her nights on the beach among the seals; 9-year-old Orly, obsessed with botany, fears the loss of his beloved natural world; and Dominic can’t stop turning back towards the past, and the loss that drove the family to Shearwater in the first place.

Then, during the worst storm the island has ever seen, a woman washes up on shore. As the Salts nurse the woman, Rowan, back to life, their suspicion gives way to affection, and they finally begin to feel like a family again. Rowan, long accustomed to protecting her heart, begins to fall for the Salts, too. But Rowan isn’t telling the whole truth about why she set out for Shearwater. And when she discovers the sabotaged radios and a freshly dug grave, she realises Dominic is keeping his own dark secrets. As the storms on Shearwater gather force, the characters must decide if they can trust each other enough to protect the precious seeds in their care before it’s too late—and if they can finally put the tragedies of the past behind them to create something new, together.

A novel of heartstopping twists, dizzying beauty and ferocious love, Wild Dark Shore is a story about the impossible choices we make to protect the people we love, even as the world around us is ending.

My Thoughts

There has been much hype about this book and let me state from the outset, I understand why. It packs a punch in so many ways, terrific reading and I highly recommend it. Evocative and atmospheric, immersive and heartbreaking.

‘Is this how it will feel when the world starts to crumble? Like you can’t see where you’re going, and at any moment you could lose your people and be left to wander alone?’

Let’s see ....

classic mystery/thriller with loads of twists and turns that keeps you on the edge of your seat until the final pages
the haunting locale - harsh, remote, inaccessible
the characters - rare but true and so identifiable - exquisitely crafted
it’s statement on the environment, climate change and rising sea levels
the wildlife, the island, the risks to save the seed bank for future generations
how it captures grief and parenting
the way the author captures the sense of place - you will feel cold just reading it!
the climactic ending that leaves you breathless

One hundred percent compelling - one hundred percent unmissable. Do yourself a favour.

‘... maybe none of us will be, because we have, all of us humans, decided what to save, and that is ourselves.’

Review:Where the Birds Call Her Name

2025-04-25T03:07:00.003-05:00

Title: Where the Birds Call Her Name

Author: Claire van Ryn

Publisher: 4th March 2025 by Penguin Random House Australia

Pages: 400 pages

Genre: General Fiction | Family | Women’s Fiction

Synopsis:

Broome 2023: When Saskia’s free-spirited mother leaves her a caravan in her will, it doesn’t make sense. Saskia is a schoolteacher, tied to plans and schedules, even if they are beginning to feel restrictive. Then she finds clues in the van about her mother’s mysterious past, setting her on a journey to Tasmania with her young daughter Anouk, who shares her late grandmother’s fascination with birds.

In 1968, teenager Greta De Winter seeks solace in the Stanley wetlands, a swamp that attracts all manner of wildlife. Her father is the local councillor and her mother a taxidermist, working to create bird dioramas for the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery. But while the De Winter household seems harmless from the outside, a dark secret hides within.

When Saskia and Anouk arrive in Stanley, they search for the missing pieces to the puzzle of Greta’s tragic childhood. In the process of uncovering her family history, Saskia realises that her mother’s final act might also enable her to rediscover who she really is, and what she is truly capable of.

Set in the breathtaking landscape of Tasmania’s majestic north-west, this is a moving and highly evocative novel of family bonds and betrayals, by the bestselling author of The Secrets of the Huon Wren.

My Thoughts

Where the Birds Call Her Name is a dual timeline story set between Broome, Western Australia in 2023 and Stanley, Tasmania in 1968. Claire has seamlessly blended fact and fiction to pen a moving and heartfelt story.

‘Saskia stood up and walked to the window, stretching her neck, her back, stretching the questions playing on repeat in her head and agitating every fibre of her: Why, Mum? Why give me your caravan?’

Saskia's mother left her a caravan and a ticket on the Spirit of Tasmania in her will. Within the caravan, Saskia finds her mother's journal which hints at a life Saskia knew nothing about. Feeling unsettled with her life in Broome - hectic life of being a teacher and her seemingly distant husband - Saskia decides to make use of the van. Packing up her life, taking a break from her marriage and job, she takes herself and her daughter in the van heading off on a journey across the country. Together they travel to Stanley, Tasmania where Saskia slowly unravels the story of her mother Greta 'Kiki' De Winter and what had been her unhappy childhood. It is a wonderful story of four generations of women who are connected by not only family but by the secrets that they carry. The descriptions of the unique Australian birds are both interesting and serve as metaphors within the story itself. Each chapter showcases a particular bird whose attributes are then revealed through the chapter theme - maybe resilience or strength, for examples.

‘Kiki’s death has given me a wake-up call,’ Saskia spoke with more conviction than she’d had in a long time. ‘I want to feel again, for my life to have meaning and joy.’

Where the Birds Call Her Name is a remarkable story. How understanding the past can lead to self discovery, along with the strong bonds that exist in both families and with nature. Recommended for readers of generational tales who enjoy fabulous storytelling and lyrical prose

‘The stillness broke and their hearts drank from the place where the birds would always call her name.’

Review: The Florence Sisters

2025-04-24T01:45:00.006-05:00

Title: The Florence Sisters

Author: Tessa Harris

Publisher: 24th April 2025 by HQ | HQ Digital

Pages: 389 pages

Genre: Historical Fiction | WW2 | Romance | Women's Fiction

Synopsis:

A war-torn city. A stolen masterpiece. Two lives in the balance…Italy, 1940. With Florence on the cusp of war, Il Scorpione, the no-nonsense Englishwomen of the city, find their genteel livelihoods under grave threat by the approach of the Nazis. Tea rooms and bookshops are closed by the Fascists, and the women are forced to join the war effort.

Desperate to help in any way that she can, Angelina Leone, expert art-historian and the half-Italian niece of Il Scorpione’s founder makes a deal with the devil. To guarantee her beloved Aunt Agatha, the only family she has, safe passage across the city, Lina must authenticate the art ruthlessly stolen from Jewish families. But when she comes across a priceless portrait – one that she cannot bear to see seized by the Germans – Lina declares the masterpiece a fake. But in doing so, will she set off a chain of events with consequences more deadly than she could ever imagine …

My Thoughts

My fascination for wartime history continues with another stellar read by Tessa Harris. Of late Great Reads & Tea Leaves has posted a few reviews from this time period, yet still I found myself drawn to learn and read more. The Florence Sisters were a strong and brave group of expat women (mostly elderly English ladies) who were determined to save Florence’s art from both the destruction of war and the greedy Nazis.

‘They were heroines. Each and every one of them. True sisters of Florence.’

Expert art historian, Lina (niece of one of the elderly ladies) is coerced to authenticate a priceless Cranach painting but declares it a fake in order to keep it out of the hands of the Nazis. This then sets off a chain of events that lead to a thrilling conclusion. Think of Monuments Men (who also make a guest appearance). Add in the courage of this group of women, a handsome art gallery owner and resistance fighters and you have a highly entertaining and absorbing read.

If you enjoy reading about Florence and art tied together with suspense and romance you are sure to enjoy this book. The Florence Sisters is another winning read that allows you to be immersed in this time period. The research is well done and the story is full of detailed drama, laced with love and hope.

‘When the war’s over, people will somehow rebuild their lives,’ she told him. ‘They always do, but if you destroy their achievements, what they’ve created over the past centuries, then it’s as if they never really existed.’

Review: One Hundred Years of Betty

2025-04-08T02:53:00.001-05:00

Title: One Hundred Years of Betty

Author: Debra Oswald

Publisher: 4th March 2025 by Allen & Unwin

Pages: 448 pages

Genre: General Fiction | Historical Fiction | Women’s Fiction

Synopsis:

One ordinary extraordinary woman living through a century of massive change, from the bestselling author of The Family Doctor.

Meet storyteller, feminist, eternally curious and phenomenally old. On the eve of her 100th birthday party, Betty tells us her story.

Born into poverty in pre-war London, and growing up fast during the Blitz, Betty grabs the chance at a bigger life by migrating to Australia. On board the SS Asturias she meets three people who will influence the course of her life – Pearl, a good-hearted party girl, Athena, a Greek woman on her way to marry a man she has never met, and Leo, a German Jew who lost his family in the war.

In Sydney, Betty is making ends meet as a waitress at the famous Trocadero dance hall when she stumbles into a rushed courtship with Donald, a wealthy businessman, and dedicates herself to being the ideal 1950s suburban housewife. But life has other plans for Betty, and soon she must find a way to do more than survive.

This is the story of a strong, intelligent woman born too early in time to make the most of her talents without having to fight for everything. It's about the defining force of motherhood, the family we make, and how the determination to live life to the hilt, with all the joy and sorrow that entails, can lead to a life beyond one's wildest imaginings.

Set against a century of world events and social upheavals, Betty's story takes us to the frontlines of the anti-war protests and the women's liberation movement of the 1970s, to the AIDS crisis during the 1980s, to living in Mexico and eventually becoming a TVscreenwriter. Even in her nineties. Betty is still passionately engaged with the world, still surprising us.

One Hundred Years of Betty is the sweeping saga of one particular ordinary, fabulous woman living through a century of massive Betty as a child, teenager, lover, worker, friend, mother, activist, writer, recluse, angry woman, loving woman, from the creator of Offspringand bestselling author of The Family Doctor.

My Thoughts

One Hundred Years Of Betty is epic in every sense of the word, an incredible read. Author, Debra Oswald, has taken one seemingly ordinary woman and regaled how her life played out over a century of world events. Each step of Betty’s life from child to teenager, from lover to mother, to recluse and old age, readers hold her hand and embark on an incredible journey. With events of the Blitz, Australian migration, Vietnam war, women’s liberation movement, the AIDS crisis, living in Mexico - Betty does it all! It is an incredible story.

‘There have been points in my life when I’ve been impulsive, diving in without doing any forward plotting, and there have been junctures like this one, when I mulled over all the likely repercussions of a choice and thought myself to a standstill.’

Told in a conversational way it’s like the reader is sitting at the kitchen table having a cuppa with Betty. It’s so inviting. The blend of historical and personal events is seamless as seen through the eyes of one woman’s humble resilience. As you can well imagine all the emotions are present for this journey of a century. As in each of our lives, there are triumphs and tragedies. The honesty of this story is what will capture your heart and remain there long after you have turned the final page.

A book that covers history, friendship, family, motherhood, love affair, racism, feminism … I could go on. It is such an amazing story, I adored it.

‘I could scoop in fistfuls of anger and frustration and shame from my life and gather them into a form I could then reconfigure and understand in a different way. It wasn’t just about my own failings. It wasn’t only me. It was all women. It was the whole damn thing. And it was liberating to envisage that things could be otherwise.’

Review: The Mademoiselle Alliance

2025-03-24T02:50:00.001-05:00

Title: The Mademoiselle Alliance

Author: Natasha Lester

Publisher: 26th March 2025 by Hachette Australia

Pages: 450 pages

Genre: Historical Fiction | WW2

Synopsis:

How did a young Parisienne mother, celebrated for her beauty and glamour, come to lead the largest spy network in France? A powerful, heartbreaking historical novel by the New York Times bestselling author

Morocco, 1928. Eighteen-year-old Frenchwoman Marie-Madeleine is not the kind of woman who goes through life sitting down, something her new husband can attest. Her unconventionalities - rally car driving, flying planes and dabbling in intelligence work for the government - earn her a reputation, but she knows who she is as an adventurer.

Paris, 1938. As Europe teeters on the brink of war, a chance encounter with a mysterious man codenamed Navarre turns Marie-Madeleine's life upside down. Recruited to help build a resistance network known only as Alliance, she conceals her identity - and gender - as she navigates a perilous double life away from her children and the man she loves. Capture and death are only a heartbeat away.

Bestselling Australian novelist Natasha Lester passionately brings to life the true story of one of history's unsung Marie-Madeleine Fourcade, the only woman to lead a resistance network in WWII France. Her story is one of epic love, tragic loss and magnificent leadership.

My Thoughts

If you follow my reviews you know Natasha Lester is an auto buy for me, so get ready for this week her new book is about to be released ... and yes ... it is another five star read! I applaud Natasha once more as she flies the flag for these incredible women from history who so deserve their story to be told. This time we follow along with Marie-Madeleine Fourcade, the only woman to lead a resistance network in France during the Second World War.

'My place is the air, the void, the very edges of existence. And from that place, I manage 3,000 agents, the only network that covers the whole of France'.

Truly an incredibly inspiring woman, Marie-Madeleine helped France and the allies win the war putting her country first above all else. Natasha truly captures not only the time and place but more importantly the voice of the many who battled the Nazis. She brings to life Marie-Madeleine as a resistance fighter, as a leader, as a mother and as a woman in a man’s world. The risks and sacrifices that these heroic people undertook for the love of what was right and just is heart wrenching. Love and loss, bravery and brutality all come together in this fight against tyranny.

“These women will set the world ablaze. And from their courage, a better one will rise. We have to let them.”

Fans of Natasha will not be disappointed with this latest addition. For all historical fiction buffs this is a story you simply must read for its passion and power, for its inspiring and informative detail. A masterclass in beautifully crafted writing of an incredible tale.

“What’s happened in Alliance is extraordinary. I don’t know if ever again in history there’ll be another woman like you, Marie-Madeleine.”

Review: The Whisperer's War

2025-03-21T03:08:00.004-05:00

Title: The Whisperer's War

Author: Jackie French

Publisher: 5th March 2025 by Harlequin Australia

Pages: 450 pages

Genre: | Historical Fiction | Romance | WW2

Synopsis:

Why does humanity cling to warfare when it destroys the land and people the armies try to claim?

Claverton Castle, 1940. Eagles and Spitfires fly in the skies of England as Lady Deanna, the aristocratic granddaughter of the Duke of Claverton, spends her days shovelling manure and her evenings in blue satin, attending dinner parties to gather intelligence from the many Nazi sympathisers among Britain's powerful upper classes. She is an excellent spy: the information she gleans may prove vital in the months ahead. But when she becomes enmeshed in the German plot to restore the Duke of Windsor to the throne of England and ensure an alliance with Hitler, she must feign cooperation and risk her life for the sake of her country.

As war devastates Europe, 'Lady Dee' must solve other mysteries, too. Why do the three orphaned children she has taken into her home and grown to love refuse to reveal their identity? What reason can British Intelligence have to warn her away from Sam Murray, a decorated Australian pilot and the only man she feels she could ever marry? Is the wounded soldier who stumbles along the secret caves below her home truly the missing Duke of Claverton?

From bestselling author Jackie French comes a book about the conflicts between love and duty, and the royal betrayals kept secret from the public for so long.

My Thoughts

Jackie French has done it again with an outstanding her story, ‘The Whisperer's War’. This book is a blend of fact and fiction with Jackie having researched some incredible and unbelievable facts especially related to the English Royals during WWII. Lady Deanna, or Dee, is an English aristocrat and she makes for an outstanding female lead. The tale revolves around aristocrats, Royalty, orphaned children, soldiers, spies and village living during Germany’s attempt to invade England. Jackie has undertaken extensive research with the inclusion of many actual events that have been documented at the time.

‘… even those only vaguely fascist before the war to whisper that England should forge an alliance now, before Hitler finally crossed the Channel. How long before those murmurs became demands?’

Each chapter begins with a recipe of the time or WWII jokes that provide a different insight into the social and cultural attitudes of the day. This book really has it all with themes ranging from race and religion, to politics and prejudices; from clandestine plots and secret agent activities, to love and romance, all in perfect synchronicity. It highlights the daily life of the English dealing with wartime rationing, the shortage of luxuries and the fear of bombings. From the English countryside, to the streets of war torn London. Incredibly the reader then finds themselves in outback Australia with a whole other set of discriminating circumstances. The Whisperer’s War is highly entertaining historical fiction that I found very hard to put down.

‘There was no eternal safety, not for humans or for eagles, even now that her family was free of the world of whispers.‘

Review: The Royal Librarian

2025-03-11T00:51:00.000-05:00

Title: The Royal Librarian

Author: Daisy Wood

Publisher: 11th April 2024 by Avon Books UK

Pages: 384 pages

Genre: General Fiction (Adult) | Historical Fiction | Romance

Synopsis:

A royal palace. A closed book. A betrayal that will echo through generations…

Windsor, 1940: War rages, and as bombs rain down across Britain, nowhere is safe: not even a royal palace.

Secretly tasked with foiling a suspected plot, Sophie Klein is placed in the Royal Library at Windsor castle, where the princesses reside. But when she learns that Windsor is compromised, Sophie must sacrifice everything she knows to save the future queen of England…

Philadelphia, Present day: Digging into her great aunt’s family tree, Lacey Turner comes across a mysterious book bearing the stamp of Windsor Castle’s royal bindery. But how did it come to be in her family’s possession?

And so begins a journey that will take Lacey from battlefields to Buckingham palace in a quest to reunite the book with its rightful owner…

My Thoughts

I have read and enjoyed previous books by Daisy, so I was excited to see how this story would unfold. This is a dual timeline with the first story about two Austrian sisters at the beginning of Nazi rule in 1938. I found this part very interesting especially with regards to escaping their homeland - one goes to America and the other ends up being the Royal Librarian at Windsor Castle and working in intelligence. The second timeline is in the present when a granddaughter discovers that she does in fact have an aunt and travels to discover her story.

‘I am the Royal Librarian, she reminds herself, straightening her shoulders, and I have done nothing wrong.’

The story of Sophie, royal librarian, and her work at Windsor castle was the highlight. The whole issue concerning the role of the abdicated Edward and the espionage resulting was very engaging. I did not appreciate the contemporary timeline as much and felt the book would have been better served with just the one timeline and events would have evolved more quickly on the page. Daisy has undertaken a wonderful amount of research surrounding everything from the atrocities to Jews under Nazi rule to what life was like working in the British royal household during the war. The Royal Librarian is an entertaining read with interesting historical details - mystery, romance, family drama provide the icing on top!

‘Oh no, I want a quiet life.’ Sophie made an effort to smile back at him. In that moment, she could think of nothing better: losing peaceful hours in the archive, reading about history rather than living through it.’

Review: Follow Me to Africa

2025-02-25T01:45:00.001-06:00

Title: Follow Me to Africa

Author: Penny Haw

Publisher: 25th February 2025 by Sourcebooks Landmark

Pages: 300 pages

Genre: Historical Fiction | Women's Fiction

Synopsis:

Historical fiction inspired by the story of Mary Leakey, who carved her own path to become one of the world's most distinguished paleoanthropologists.

It's 1983 and seventeen-year-old Grace Clark has just lost her mother when she begrudgingly accompanies her estranged father to an archeological dig at Olduvai Gorge on the Serengeti plains of Tanzania. Here, seventy-year-old Mary Leakey enlists Grace to sort and pack her fifty years of work and memories.

Their interaction reminds Mary how she pursued her ambitions of becoming an archeologist in the 1930s by sneaking into lectures and working on excavations. When well-known paleoanthropologist Louis Leakey commissions her to illustrate a book, she's not at all expecting to fall in love with the older married man. Mary then follows Louis to East Africa, where she falls in love for a second time, this time with the Olduvai Gorge, where her work defines her as a great scientist and allows her to step out of Louis's shadow.

In time, Mary and Grace learn they are more alike than they thought, which eventually leads them to the secret that connects them. They also discover a mutual deep love for animals, and when Lisa, an injured cheetah, appears at camp, Mary and Grace work together to save her. On the morning Grace is due to leave, the girl—and the cheetah—are nowhere to be found, and it becomes a race against time to rescue Grace before the African bush claims her.

From the acclaimed author of The Invincible Miss Cust and The Woman at Wheel comes an adventurous, dual timeline tale that explores the consequences of our choices, wisdom that comes with retrospection, and relationships that make us who we are, based on the extraordinary real life of Mary Leakey.

My Thoughts

Penny Haw has written a wonderful piece of historical fiction inspired by the story of Mary Leakey, a woman who carved her own path to become one of the world's most distinguished paleoanthropologists. This book is a mixture of both nonfiction and fiction and I felt Penny weaved the two together seamlessly. I keen to read previous books written by Penny as she clearly understands these remarkable women who achieved great things and she wants this to be celebrated.

‘For Mary, the untamed Serengeti, with its tremendous wildlife, ancient beds of Olduvai Gorge, and warm embrace of the sun, evoked a primal connection to the world she’d never known. Even when she was alone there - perhaps mostly when she was alone - she experienced an unprecedented sense of composure and peace.’

Follow Me to Africa takes the facts and weaves the fiction into the life of Mary. For someone who had no formal education it is an incredible tale of determination and passion. Her discoveries and hard work earned her prestigious awards and honorary doctorate degrees. I knew of Richard Leakey so it was enlightening to learn more about his mother and her contributions to the origin of species. Penny made this a dual time narrative and has a much older Mary interacting with a young girl in a contemporary (1980s) timeline. The purpose of this was Penny’s desire to imagine what Mary looking back on her life might say to her seventeen-year-old self if she had the opportunity. “What would you tell your younger self?”

Penny’s book was well researched and written. I found both timelines engaging and also the cast of supporting characters. The historical note at the back of the book explains what was fact and what was fiction and Penny’s decisions on what to include. This book not only covers archaeology/palaeontology but also more personal topics such as relationships - marriage, family, friendships - and choices people make with the consequences and lessons learned from that.

‘... what struck her most was how infinite her surroundings were. The only thing grander than the boundless savannah was the inestimable sky. Their combined magnitude made her feel at once insignificant and mighty.’

I, having lived and worked in Africa, feel such an affinity for the continent and love when books really capture the majesty and awe of the place. This book is full of love for Africa as seen through the land, the animals and the people. The courage Mary faced in going against expectations of the time for women and paving a way for women to work and be acknowledged in a field such as this was enthralling.

‘There was no ultimate destination in her work, but a journey fueled by curiosity and driven by science. She owed her success to no one but herself.’

Review: A Guide to the Wars of the Roses

2025-02-14T01:49:00.000-06:00

Title: A Guide to the Wars of the Roses

Author: Derek Ronald Birks

Publisher: 30th January 2025 by Pen & Sword History

Pages: 224 pages

Genre: History | Nonfiction (Adult)

Synopsis:

Provides a clear, accessible explanation of the conflict’s origins, key events, and aftermath, stripping away centuries of distortion.

So much has been written, and is still being written, about the Wars of the Roses – both in print and on the internet - that the interested student of history is in grave danger of being utterly overwhelmed. The key players in the conflict are very interesting personalities but they have become so distorted by caricature that they now appear as a procession of heroes and villains rather than living, breathing people.

The aim of A Guide to the Wars of the Roses is to help the reader understand what happened and why during the great political upheaval of the fifteenth century. It describes the origins, nature and aftermath of the wars in short, accessible chapters and explains how the period can be divided into three separate, though related, political crises.

In describing the rise of Richard, Duke of York, in the mid-fifteenth century, the Guide traces how his rivalry with Edmund Beaufort, Duke of Somerset, ultimately led to the deposition of the hard-pressed, and wholly unsuitable, King Henry VI. It also explains how the accession of a new king from the House of York failed to solve England’s political problems. The triumphant Yorkist faction is examined to chart how the fears and jealousies of its leading figures eventually led to a fatal instability at the heart of government.

By putting the wars firmly in their medieval context, the Guide seeks to strip away the hype of half a millennium to examine objectively the roles and motives of those involved, without seeking either to exonerate, or demonise, any particular individual. While the Guide is intended to be comprehensive, it is also an easy-to-follow manual for a subject which has often been dismissed as ‘too complicated’.

My Thoughts

This book is brilliant and I highly recommend it for anyone interested in learning about the War of the Roses in a most accessible and entertaining way. I have always had a fascination for all things Tudor but my fiction reading of late (I’m looking at you Annie Garthwaite) has led me to go further back to the time just before the Tudors and I am so glad I did! It can get confusing, however, this is the most plain speaking and comprehensive guide to this rich period in history.

“... studying the politics of fifteenth-century England is not for the faint-hearted. It is a world of riveting personalities, savage battles, sudden switches of allegiance, violent feuds, the murder of innocents - and not so innocents - and Lord knows what other mayhem. You could find yourself up to your elbows in blood and gore…”

As the author himself states, “our fascination with interesting people and what they did in difficult circumstances is timeless.” Two of the most enticing aspects of this book is, firstly, the author looking at events as they unfolded and shutting out hindsight where possible. Secondly, the wit and charm Derek brings to this book. His words are so accessible and oftentimes filled with humour and sarcasm. For example: “The object of the exercise was to persuade Clarence to shut up and toe the line. It backfired because Clarence was always slow to take a hint” .... or .... “The removal of Clarence meant that no one now threatened Edward’s throne. Well, that’s good to know…”

This is not a stuffy, boring history book - the furthest thing from it. Derek’s approach of focusing on the facts and presenting them in an engaging way makes for fascinating reading. So much of what we know from this time was through a Tudor lens - “the Tudor view of what happened, constructed after the events to explain the Tudor success story.” How refreshing to see events not only through a wider lens but also in an entertaining and informative way.

Review: Nephthys

2025-02-12T17:05:00.001-06:00

Author: Rachel Louise Driscoll

Publisher: 6th February 2025 by Penguin Random House Australia | Harvill Secker

Pages: 320 pages

Genre: General Fiction (Adult) | Historical Fiction | Women's Fiction

Synopsis:

Sister. Rival. Protector. The spellbinding story of a forgotten daughter and a forgotten goddess.

Quiet and reserved, Clemmie is happy in the background. But although her parents may overlook her talents, her ability to read hieroglyphs makes her invaluable at the Egyptian relic parties which have made her father the toast of Victorian society.

But at one such party, the words Clemmie interprets from an unusual amulet strike fear into her heart. The beautiful and dangerous glyphs she holds in her hands will change her life forever.

Five years later, Clemmie arrives in Egypt on a mission to save what remains of her family. The childhood game she used to play about the immortal sisters, Isis and Nephthys, has taken on a devastating resonance and it is only by following Nephthys' story that she can undo the mistakes of the past. On her journey up the Nile she will meet unexpected allies and enemies and, along with long-buried secrets and betrayals, Clemmie will be forced to step into the light.

My Thoughts

All the aspects I love from this genre can be found in this book. The story of a young female Egyptologist determined to undo a curse, with deeper themes of respect for Egyptian heritage and culture. If you are fascinated by ancient Egypt, particularly during the Victorian era, then you are going to love this book. Egyptian myths and gods, artefacts and grave robbers, hieroglyphs and curses are all to be found in this highly engaging book.

‘No doubt the people in this room, at first glance, imagine she’s a typical English traveller, here to enjoy the sun, pick up a few knick-knacks, and purchase a bottleful of sand to take home. They couldn’t be more wrong.’

I will admit that it takes a little while to draw you in and feel a connection to the characters. You will however soon be filled with intrigue especially once you arrive in Egypt. The focus of this book is very much on the two sisters and how the author ties it in with the mythology surrounding Nephthys and Isis is wonderful. There is a solid amount of research here not only around Egyptian gods and their stories but also Egyptomania from the Victorian era (“hunger for the relics of that bygone civilisation. Perhaps the mania part has become too real?”). The impact of tomb raiding and antiquity hunting is very well presented - ‘Artefacts are being damaged, provenance is being lost, and history is undone because everyone wants to claim their own Egyptian treasure ... They are taking what they want from the desert, and when they are through, it will be left ravaged and devastated.’

If these are topics that appeal to you, add in a mystery/thriller component whilst sailing up the Nile and you have a wonderful read.

‘The fascination for Ancient Egypt began as a game, grew to an obsession, became a curse. Now it’s controlling her every move.’

Review: The Bad Bridesmaid

2025-01-28T00:56:00.003-06:00

Title: The Bad Bridesmaid

Author: Rachael Johns

Publisher: 28th January 2025 by Penguin Random House Australia

Pages: 382 pages

Genre: Contemporary | Romance

Synopsis:

When serial dater Winifred Darling – Fred – is asked to be the maid of honour at her mother’s sixth wedding, she’s determined to do everything in her power to stop it. As the author of a forthcoming book called 21 Rules for Not Catching Feelings, she knows better than most about the perils of falling in love.

On arrival at the island wedding destination, Fred is delighted to discover that the groom’s hot muso son Leo is just as set against the wedding as she is. Together, they come up with ‘Operation Break-Up’ to prevent their parents from making what they believe will be a catastrophic mistake.

But as Fred and Leo get to know each other better, their unexpected feelings for each other create further complications, and Fred is forced to rethink her own rigid rules about romance and family. Maybe not every relationship has to play by the book, and could Fred become the star in a romcom of her own?

My Thoughts

The Bad Bridesmaid is a cute fun romcom about a girl (Winifred - Fred for short) who doesn’t believe in love - insert: serial dater with no commitment. In fact, she’s in the process of writing a book, ‘21 Rules for Not Catching Feelings’. Her mother is getting married for the 6th time up on Norfolk Island and, of course, she’s been asked to be the bridesmaid. What could go wrong? In this funny tale ... absolutely everything!

‘... she wants me to be her bridesmaid, or rather her maid of honour.’ ‘Excuse me?’ It’s clear by the expression on Bee’s face that she doesn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Xavier laughs. ‘You’d make a very bad bridesmaid.’

There is a cast of sensational characters from immediate family to step family and the residents of Norfolk Island. Fred and her soon to be step brother (insert gorgeous man) team up for ‘Operation Break Up’ in an attempt to prevent their respective parents from making a terrible mistake. This is of course where everything starts to go pear shaped but very amusingly so. I must also add here that this is a huge plug for travelling to Norfolk Island with loads of interesting information.

‘It’s not about romance,’ I tell him. ‘It’s a reminder that I’m all I need. That loving yourself is the most important thing you can do.’

If you love great rom-coms with quirky characters, laugh out loud moments in what can only be described as the wedding drama to end them all then be sure to read Rachael’s new book. It is in some ways a sequel to her smash hit, The Other Bridget, however, it can be read as a standalone. There is a small catchup with some much loved characters and how their lives are going (I’m talking about you Bee and Sully) and an epilogue that will bring a huge smile to readers faces.

‘... love isn’t logical. The heart wants what the heart wants.’

Review: A Dangerous Game

2025-01-26T00:58:00.003-06:00

Title: A Dangerous Game

Author: Mandy Robotham

Publisher: 16th January 2025 by Avon Books UK

Pages: 384 pages

Genre: Historical Fiction, mystery, thriller

Rating: 5 cups

Synopsis:

London, 1952. Seven years after the chaotic aftermath of World War II, London is coming alive again, with jazz clubs and flickering cinema awnings lighting up the night sky.

But for widowed Helen ‘Dexie’ Dexter, she’s still a woman in a man’s world. She longs to prove herself as an officer in the London Metropolitan Police, yet she’s stuck intervening in domestics and making tea for her male colleagues.

Then Harri Schroder arrives, seconded from Hamburg to the Met. Haunted by the loss of his wife and child, Harri is unlike any man Dexie has ever known. Compassionate and sharp-witted, he sees her not as a threat, but as an intelligent, canny officer full of potential.

And when Harri is tasked with hunting down a Nazi war criminal-turned-respected-businessman, with connections to the upper echelons of British society, it’s Dexie he turns to for help.

But as their bond deepens, a deadly fog engulfs London. Dexie and Harri must expose the fugitive before he vanishes, risking everything for justice – and each other…

My Thoughts

Mandy Robotham is an auto buy for me as you are always guaranteed a great read. Once again her story is from post World War II - on this occasion, 1952 London during the Great Smog. It was at times frightening to be on the streets of smoggy London as our two leads battled not only the elements but also Nazi war criminals. Who are the leads? None other than ‘your beloved grumpy Inspektor, Harri’ from Mandy’s last book, The Hidden Storyteller. Mandy states, “... in writing the closing pages of my previous book, The Hidden Storyteller, I sensed I wasn’t finished with Harri - he needed space to show us more of his unorthodox policing methods, to shed some of his cynicism, and to heal” - and we could not be happier! To read another story with Harri is reward enough - he is such an endearing character and although he berates his ‘self-conceit that he can actually right the wrongs of an entire war’, you can’t help but cheer him on!

‘You mean former Nazis - war criminals and murderers - are now employed by various security services? As agents? That governments are now rewarding these bastards for doing the Fuhrer’s bidding? You can’t be serious.’

Interestingly, this is a story of not only historic details surrounding the infamous London Smog but also incorporates a thriller detective drama. Mandy does well in combining the gripping tale of a Nazi war criminal on the loose. Towards the end the pace is fast with danger and several tense moments for all involved and readers are sure to be cheering loudly for Harri and Dexie.

‘She can’t die, not here or now, not from a bloody fog!’

Congratulations Mandy on yet another winning book. I have read and adored all your books and cannot recommend them highly enough. 'A Dangerous Game' is a fabulous thriller with a dash of romance. A tale of cat and mouse espionage during the real-life 'Great Smog' of 1952 where it's estimated some 4,000 - 10,000 people died.

‘The hunters have become the hunted.’

Review: One Dark Night

2025-01-19T23:36:00.007-06:00

Title: One Dark Night

Author: Hannah Richell

Publisher: 1st January 2024 by Simon & Schuster Australia

Pages: 520 pages

Genre: General Fiction | Mystery & Thrillers | Suspense

Synopsis:

One night in the woods

A party gone wrong

A body discovered at sunrise

He murdered her at the folly on their wedding day, left her body for the crows. They say she haunts the woods now, a girl in a white dress …

Everyone in the small town of Thorncombe knows the tales of the haunted woods where the birds don’t sing and a girl in a white dress roams, luring people to their deaths. But when a girl in white is found dead the morning after Halloween, her body carefully arranged at the bottom of an old stone folly, the community is thrown into turmoil.

With a teenage daughter of his own, police detective Ben Chase knows how high the stakes are. Was the girl the victim of a party prank gone wrong, or does her death represent something more sinister and ritualistic?

As the investigation unfolds and the noose tightens around Chase’s own family, the only thing anyone can be sure of is that no one is safe until this violent killer is caught.

My Thoughts

Hannah Richell knows how to write a great thriller. I have read and loved her previous books, so it was with great anticipation that I opened One Dark Night that was released earlier this month. Instantly I was transported to a haunted wood with every shadow making you slightly jumpy. This is a well written and atmospheric story that is sure to have you frantically turning pages to a drama filled ending. The woods referred to is in fact a curved stretch of road on the Somerset-Wiltshire border that cuts through dense woodland near Bath. Hannah’s novel is loosely inspired by this locale and the nearby stone folly.

‘You’d think by now he’d have a healthy grasp on how quickly life can change, how all it takes is one single moment to shatter a life or send it veering off course.’

The story centres around the gruesome death of a young girl when a Halloween party goes wrong. Hannah has written such a well plotted story with a cast of characters and a sinister setting that will lure you in from the very first page. There is a list of suspects with the police conducting investigations to find the killer. The lies and secrets weave a web that leave you guessing so just when you think you’ve worked it out .... boom! Hannah throws in a curve ball you did not see coming. Fantastic!

One Dark Night is a suspenseful and entertaining read you will definitely find hard to put down. There are dramas with unfolding layers that will keep you on the edge of your seat and guessing to a suspenseful conclusion.

‘Everything is so jumbled, so heightened, it’s hard to know what’s real, and what’s being magnified or manipulated through the lens of stress and anxiety.’

Review: Sisters of Fortune

2025-01-12T01:31:00.003-06:00

Title: Sisters of Fortune

Author: Anna Lee Huber

Publisher: 20th February 2024 by Kensington Books

Pages: 320 pages

Genre: Historical Fiction | Women's Fiction

Synopsis:

April,1912: It’s the perfect finale to a Grand Tour of Europe—sailing home on the largest, most luxurious ocean liner ever built. For the Fortune sisters, the voyage offers a chance to reflect on the treasures of the past they’ve seen—magnificent castles and museums in Italy and France, the ruins of Greece and the Middle East—and contemplate the futures that await them.

For Alice, there’s foreboding mixed with her excitement. A fortune teller in Egypt gave her a dire warning about traveling at sea. And the freedom she has enjoyed on her travels contrasts with her fiancé’s plans for her return—a cossetted existence she’s no longer sure she wants.

Flora is also returning to a fiancé, a well-to-do banker of whom her parents heartily approve, as befits their most dutiful daughter. Yet the closer the wedding looms, the less sure Flora feels. Another man—charming, exasperating, completely unsuitable—occupies her thoughts, daring her to follow her own desires rather than settling for the wishes of others.

Youngest sister Mabel knows her parents arranged this Grand Tour to separate her from a jazz musician. But the secret truth is that Helen has little interest in marrying at all, preferring to explore ideas of suffrage and reform—even if it forces a rift with her family.

Each sister grapples with the choices before her as the grand vessel glides through the Atlantic waters. Until, on an infamous night, fate intervenes, forever altering their lives . . .

My Thoughts

I am always up for anything Titanic related, some good and some ... not so good. I am happy to say that this is one of the good ones, in fact, one of the really good ones regarding the tale of this infamous ship from history.

“You’ve heard, then? About the iceberg? I saw it from the promenade. It was a great monstrous thing. Are they still telling people to return to their staterooms?”

This is the tale of three sisters who, with their family, embarked on the maiden voyage of the Titanic (this is after the whole family had completed their ‘European Tour’ and were just back from Egypt). The story is told from their alternating viewpoints and we gradually learn a bit about each sister and their dreams and aspirations. This is a very well written tale with the pacing just right. All characters, not just the three main women, are strong and engaging, highlighting very different approaches to life in the early years of the twentieth century, especially for women. Reading the author’s final notes explains how much is fact and how much is fiction and I believe Anna has done an outstanding job of combining the two.

‘The room’s décor was Jacobean in style, with Tudor roses depicted in scrollwork across the Saloon’s roof and decorative columns.’

Two points that make this book a standout for me: one, although a work of fiction, the necessary research has been done and it came across as a most realistic portrayal of this well documented tragedy. Everything from the luxurious furnishings, the food and events onboard, the famous passengers, to how they were evacuated and the chaos that ensued. Secondly, the background stories really made this tale. It was definitely not just about the ship, it was more about these three women and how this event changed their lives in profound and unexpected ways.

‘... the ship could break into three separate pieces and each part could still stay afloat. I would say that makes the claims of practical un-sinkability pretty valid.’

Reading this book you get a first hand account of how lives were before, during and after being part of such a tragedy.It is a wonderful work of fiction based on historical research (there really were three sisters on the Titanic!) with likeable leads, fabulous descriptions, romance and resilience, hope and heartache all rolled into one well written tale.

Review: The Hidden Storyteller

2025-01-07T23:05:00.003-06:00

Title: The Hidden Storyteller

Author: Mandy Robotham

Publisher: 29th February 2024 by Avon Books UK

Pages: 384 pages

Genre: Historical Fiction

Rating: 4.5 cups

Synopsis:

The war is over. But there are still secrets to be found amidst the ashes…

Hamburg, 1946.

The war is over, and Germany is in ruins. Posted to an Allied-run Hamburg, reporter Georgie Young returns to the country she fled seven years prior – as Chamberlain spoke those fateful words – to find it unrecognisable.

Amidst the stark horrors of a bombed-out city crumbling under the weight of millions of displaced Europeans, she discovers pockets of warmth: a violinist playing amidst the wreckage, couples dancing in the streets, and a nation trying to make amends.

But when she joins forces with local policeman Harri Schroder to solve a murder case he is working on – a woman with the word traitor engraved into her skin – she soon discovers that the darkest secrets of war haven’t been left in the past. And once again she is pulled into a world she hardly expected to see again…

My Thoughts

Mandy Robotham is an auto buy for me as you are always guaranteed a great historical read. The interesting aspect of this novel is that it is post World War II, taking place a year after the declaration of peace. It was fascinating to be on the streets of Hamburg as the struggles and tensions simmered post war under British administration.

‘People have fought for years to survive Hitler’s madness, and they’re dying because we can’t feed the peace.’

For those of you familiar with Mandy’s 2020 book, ‘The Berlin Girl’, it is Georgie Young, a young British journalist sent to Berlin as a foreign correspondent in 1938, now finding herself in Hamburg post war 1946. The story is also told from not just Georgie but Meta (displaced German) and Harri (German police). The story is over the few weeks that Georgie is in Germany to write her newspaper article. Mandy’s research is once again en pointe with both characters and settings authentically capturing the various experiences of war and the fallout from it.

‘Is he destined to always have the stink of fascism steeped into the fibres of his being, never to be scrubbed away? Heinrich Himmler must be bloody laughing in his grave.’

Interestingly, this is a story of not only historic details but also incorporates a thriller detective drama. Mandy does well in combining the gripping tale of a murderer on the loose. Towards the end the pace is fast with danger and several tense moments for all involved and readers are sure to engage with characters that you want a better life and outcome for.

‘Another life lost is nothing new, even after the bombs have stopped - starvation, disease and the freezing weather are the new agents of death.’

Congratulations Mandy on yet another winning book. I have read and adored all your books and cannot recommend them highly enough. For a realistic, well written tale of what life in Germany was like directly after the conclusion of WWII, look no further than ‘The Hidden Storyteller’’.

‘I’ve been altered by a lot over the last few years, but I didn’t imagine that two weeks in a post-war German city would be quite so life-changing. For a whole host of reasons.’

Review: The Last Illusion of Paige White

2024-12-23T01:28:00.003-06:00

Title: The Last Illusion of Paige White

Author: Vanessa McCausland

Publisher: 4th December 2024 by HarperCollins Australia

Pages: 319 pages

Genre: Contemporary Fiction, mystery

Synopsis:

Two women. A tragedy on the lake. And secrets beneath the surface ... The lyrical, haunting new novel from the author of The Beautiful Words

Paige White kayaked across the lake each morning at dawn. Someone was watching her. Many someones watched her online. But was anyone with her the day her body was discovered?

Paige has always lived a picture-perfect life, documented closely on her social media. The world she has curated exudes an old-fashioned, wholesome lifestyle. Her page is littered with lakeside breakfasts with her daughter, sunny afternoons in the family van, and romantic picnics with her husband. So when she posts an ominous, brooding image and is shortly after discovered drowned, everyone immediately wonders - suicide or foul play?

Jane Masters was one of Paige's childhood best friends, who left her behind to pursue a bigger life in Sydney. When Paige's death makes national news, Jane, a journalist, reluctantly travels home. Struggling with the morality of covering her friend's death, Jane will confront the town she left behind and the dark undercurrents that she's always known run underneath.

My Thoughts

I have read and enjoyed all Vanessa’s books and was thrilled to read her latest offering, The Last Illusion of Paige White. This is an exceptionally haunting and lyrical tale as only Vanessa can write as she proves, yet again, that she is a skilful writer capable of creating truly atmospheric stories with locations that will draw readers in.

Set in two timelines (which Vanessa handles seamlessly) a mystery slowly unfolds. This is a book with a number of themes such as families, small towns, grief, religion, bullying, marriages, infidelity and more. However, at its heart this is a very compelling read about the impact of social media - our illusions about it and how the lines may become blurred concerning online and reality living. Vanessa frames the story in such a way that will give readers pause for some serious considerations of their own and others use of this medium.

"But are any of us really showing the world our true selves?

Are any of us who we say, who we think, we are? Maybe we're

all capable of much more, or less, than we realise."

I am such a fan of Vanessa’s work and she is an auto buy author for me. Her books are not only atmospherically consuming but the themes she tackles are paramount and powerful. If you have never read any of Vanessa’s books before, I highly recommend you immerse yourself not only in a place of beauty but also in a well paced mystery that impacts all social media users in today’s day and age.

"It's as though I'm trapped in my own Instagram photo.The one with the most likes ... everything reduced to tiny little squares, compartmentalised. It's what I spent a good chunk of my life doing - trying to put neat parameters around myself. Whatever I was trying to do didn't work.”

Review:The Night on the Darling River

2024-12-22T01:55:00.007-06:00

Title: The Night on the Darling River

Author: Darry Fraser

Publisher: 4 December 2024 by Harlequin Australia, HQ & MIRA

Pages: 300 pages

Genre: General Fiction (Adult) | Historical Fiction | Romance

Synopsis:

Amid the rising flood waters and shearers' strike violence, can one brave woman reclaim her future? From an Australian bestselling author comes a riveting historical adventure about one woman's journey from a life of isolation to one of love and acceptance.

1894, Echuca, Victoria

Tess Hawthorn is a woman on the run from her abusive husband. All she has to do is get on the riverboat Victor and she will be free.

But with tensions at an all-time high between unionist shearers and Scabs, Tess isn't the only person trying to board a boat under the cover of night. When a brawl erupts between the union and non-union men, Tess is mistaken for a fellow Scab and in the chaos pulled aboard the PS Rodney - the same boat heading up the Darling River that her husband was bound for.

The last person Bram Kempster expects to see on board is Tess Hawthorn, the girl he's loved from afar since they were young. But he can't afford to get distracted, not when he's on an urgent trip to Renmark. Tess didn't want him back then and, if her haughty behaviour is anything to go by, she certainly doesn't want him now.

But childhood hurts are the least of their problems. The continent is a tinderbox of violence and bloodshed waiting to ignite, and at home the Murray River is rising fast. Can they overcome their past in time to work together and survive?

My Thoughts

In a time when Aussie authors are making their mark in historical dramas, Darry has done a fabulous job with wonderful storytelling, putting herself right up there with the best in these Australian colonial sagas. Her latest offering is no different - drama and adventures in the outback, with colourful characters and an engagingly dynamic storyline.

I always gain so much from reading one of Darry’s books. On this occasion, she returns to her true love the Murray-Darling basin and I could not be happier. The factual focus on this occasion is a major flood that occurred in 1894 around the same time that the PS Rodney departed Echuca for its fated last journey. Add into this a dangerous shearers strike and some truly frightening domestic violence and this is a much darker and violent story that Darry has to share. The cast of characters are strong and believable and I appreciated the various POVs.

If you like to escape to a time long gone, a time when women attempted to exert some form of independence, all with a dash of mystery and romance, then this will be the book for you. Life wasn’t easy for women who were often regarded as male property and I admired the many strengths of the lead character, Tess Hawthorn. I highly recommend you sample one of Darry’s true to life historical dramas.

‘Since that night on the Darling River, everything about the person she’d become during her marriage had to change.’

Review: The Golden Thread

2024-11-20T01:11:00.001-06:00

Title: The Golden Thread

Author: Tea Cooper

Publisher: 30th October 2024 by Harlequin Australia, HQ & MIRA

Pages: 352 pages

Genre: Historical Fiction

Rating: 4 cups

Synopsis:

When eighteen-year-old Constance Montague wakes one Wednesday she expects the day to unfold like any other. Breakfast with her grandmother Nell and her mother Faith, a meeting in Maitland with the ladies of the Benevolent Society, perhaps a gentle stroll along the banks of the Hunter River. But this Wednesday is different. Nell has vanished.

Concerned, Connie determines to track Nell down and follows a lead to Old Government House in Parramatta, now a boarding house. There, to her astonishment she finds her grandmother holding court.

When Nell introduces her (under a false name!) to a varied cast of colourful guests, including a frail but observant old lady, a travelling salesmen, a bearded lothario, a clever articled clerk, a lively seamstress and an enigmatic housekeeper who is connected with Nell's past, Connie begins to realise that her grandmother is not who she seems. Nell is looking for something and following a thread stitched long ago, a thread that leads from some missing gold, to a golden dress and the attic of Government House and as the story unravels so do the secrets of the past, secrets that surface into the present to threaten not just Nell, but Connie too.

My Thoughts

Tea Cooper always presents outstanding Australian historical fiction and her latest, The Golden Thread, is no exception. I have enjoyed all of Tea’s previous works as they have proven to be consistently engaging and masterfully crafted tales of mystery and intrigue.

The Golden Thread once again entertains readers with strong female leads. I just adored Nell and how she works together with her granddaughter to unfold the mystery. There is a golden yellow dress, created in the mid-eighteenth century in London (now abandoned in an attic) that is the inspiration for this story. Tea is so clever at taking a piece of history and forming a fictional tale around it. So be sure to read her notes at the end of the book in which she tells the story of the ‘golden’ dress, explaining not only its history but also the provenance regarding pieces from history that feature in this book.

This is a clever story that will have you working to organise all the plot puzzle pieces that have been masterfully crafted by Tea. I was captivated by not only the determination of the two women, but also a strong cast of secondary characters. Congratulations Tea on once again producing a masterfully crafted tale of mystery and intrigue that will see the reader journeying side by side with Nell and Connie as they both respectively work to uncover the truth.

Review: The Starlets

2024-11-19T02:13:00.001-06:00

Title:The Starlets

Author: Lee Kelly & Jennifer Thorne

Publisher: 12th November 2024 by Harper Muse

Pages: 384 pages

Genre: General Fiction (Adult) | Historical Fiction | Mystery & Thrillers

Rating: 4 cups

Synopsis:

Real life is turning out to be stranger than a script for the silver screen.

Vivienne Rhodes thinks she’s finally landed her break playing Helen in Apex Pictures’ big-budget Troy epic, A Thousand Ships, an anticipated blockbuster meant to resurrect the failing studio. Naturally, she’s devastated when she arrives on the remote Italian island of Tavalli and finds herself cast as Cassandra—while her nemesis, the fiancée-stealing Lottie Lawrence, America’s supposed “sweetheart,” is headlining instead.

The tension on set, though, turns deadly when the ladies discover that members of the crew are using the production as a front for something decidedly illegal—and that they are willing to kill to keep their dealings under wraps. When the two women find themselves on the run and holding key evidence, Vivienne and Lottie frantically agree to work together to deliver the proof to Interpol, hoping to protect both their lives and their careers.

Staying one step ahead of corrupt cops and looming mobsters, the arch rivals flee across the seas. Their journey leads them into Monaco’s casinos, Grace Kelly’s palace, on a road trip through the Alps—even onto another film set, before a final showdown on Tavalli, where the lives of the entire cast and crew hang in the balance. Vivienne and Lottie finally have the chance to be real heroines—to save the day, the film, maybe even each other—but only if they can first figure out how to share the spotlight.

My Thoughts

A story set in the 1950s involving glamorous movie stars would be enough to entice me. However, when you also include movie worthy baddies versus goodies pursuit throughout Europe - from Mediterranean islands, to Monaco, to the Alps - then all is set for a romping read.

The Starlets is a fun, fast paced story in the style of an old Hollywood movie where two female leads go from enemies to friends in order to solve the mystery. An old fashioned movie set with a good murder mystery thrown in is a sure fire winner in my view. The authors so cleverly achieved a balance between old Hollywood celebrity drama, to daring Mafia pursuits, to old fashioned comedy! They certainly captured the ‘feel’ from this era. It reads like a movie playing out in your mind's eye.

This is more than a historical fiction story. It is a classic adventure story of two women coming together as the drama unfolds. The Starlets is glamour, action and suspense all rolled into one. If this is your vibe then get ready for a fun and entertaining read.

‘Movies are the closest thing we have to magic. Every problem, complication, disaster solved in an hour and a half. Every hero deserving of love and redemption.’

Review: The Secret Christmas Bookshop

2024-11-10T02:08:00.001-06:00

Title:The Secret Christmas Bookshop

Author: Cressida McLaughlin

Publisher: 24th October 2024 by HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction

Pages: 380 pages

Genre: General Fiction (Adult) | Romance

Rating: 4 cups

Synopsis:

In a beautiful seaside village, where enormous blue skies and golden sand dunes stretch into forever, somebody is opening an unexpected gift…

When an anonymous parcel turns up at the shop where Sophie works, she’s surprised to find a beautifully bound classic novel, one that eerily seems to chime with her own story.

Enigmatic Harry lives in a crumbling manor house, spending solitary days patching up leaks in the roof. The subject of unwelcome gossip in the village since his return from London, he prefers to keep to himself.

As Christmas draws near and the gifting season arrives, Sophie attempts to get to the bottom of her mysterious parcel. Finding herself being drawn into Harry’s orbit, they are both about to learn that good stories can take on a life of their own …

My Thoughts

I enjoyed books from Cressida’s Cornish Cream Tea series so it was inevitable that I would jump at the chance to read another of hers that contains a bookshop during the Christmas period! This is a light and enjoyable read with a little romance and mystery set in a quaint English village.

‘I’m seizing the moment,’ Harry said. ‘Not waiting for things to be perfect, but making the most of right now. Someone taught me that recently.’

There is a wonderful cast of characters from this small village that come together to prepare for Christmas. It is fun, however, Cressida delves a little deeper into themes of finding a home and the importance of family and community. I love how the gifted copy of Jane Eyre that Sophie mysteriously receives and reads, reflects both Jane and Sophie’s story with the latter drawing inspiration from this classic.

‘I’m going to take chances and be braver. I’m going to live, rather than exist.’

So make yourself a nice cuppa and settle in for all the festive community feels! This is a tale about finding out where you belong in a beautiful village by the sea.