Book Review: The Fire and the Rose by Robyn Cadwallader

About the Book: England, 1276: Forced to leave her home village, Eleanor moves to Lincoln to work as a housemaid. She's prickly, independent and stubborn, her prospects blighted by a port-wine birthmark across her face. Unusually for a woman, she has fine skills with ink and quill, and harbours a secret ambition to work as … Continue reading Book Review: The Fire and the Rose by Robyn Cadwallader

Book Review: The Lipstick Bureau by Michelle Gable

About the Book: 1944, Rome. Newlywed Niki Novotná is recruited by a new American spy agency to establish a secret branch in Italy’s capital. One of the OSS’s few female operatives abroad and multilingual, she’s tasked with crafting fake stories and distributing propaganda to lower the morale of enemy soldiers. Despite limited resources, Niki and … Continue reading Book Review: The Lipstick Bureau by Michelle Gable

Book Review: Without Further Ado by Jessica Dettmann

About the Book: Can a modern woman take lessons in love from Shakespeare? Beth O'Leary meets 10 Things I Hate About You in this sparkling romantic comedy from beloved Aussie author Jessica Dettmann. 'Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more. Men were deceivers ever ...' Since she was sixteen, Willa's curious touchstone in life and work has been … Continue reading Book Review: Without Further Ado by Jessica Dettmann

Book Review: A Country of Eternal Light by Paul Dalgarno

About the Book: An astonishingly inventive, playful, witty, poignant and deeply moving novel from one of Australia's most exciting writers. Margaret Bryce, deceased mother of twins, has been having a hard time since dying in 2014. These days she spends time with her daughters – Eva in Madrid, and Rachel and her family in Melbourne … Continue reading Book Review: A Country of Eternal Light by Paul Dalgarno

Book Review: The Garnett Girls by Georgina Moore

About the Book: Forbidden, passionate and all-encompassing, Margo and Richard’s love affair was the stuff of legend– but, ultimately, doomed. When Richard walked out, Margo locked herself away, leaving her three daughters, Rachel, Imogen and Sasha, to run wild. Years later, charismatic Margo entertains lovers and friends in her cottage on the Isle of Wight, … Continue reading Book Review: The Garnett Girls by Georgina Moore

Book Review: The Seven Skins of Esther Wilding by Holly Ringland

About the Book: The last time Esther Wilding's beloved older sister Aura was seen, she was walking along the shore towards the sea. In the wake of Aura's disappearance, Esther's family struggles to live with their loss. To seek the truth about her sister's death, Esther reluctantly travels from lutruwita, Tasmania to Copenhagen, and then … Continue reading Book Review: The Seven Skins of Esther Wilding by Holly Ringland