Molly James is a handful, her parents lose all patience with their wayward daughter after her latest exploit, and they decide to send her to say with Molly James is a handful, her parents lose all patience with their wayward daughter after her latest exploit, and they decide to send her to say with her aunt Mavis in Rainbow. Brothers Archie and Thom Hogan, live and work on their parent’s wheat farm and are fascinated by planes and aviation. The brothers are the best mates and never fight, until the beautiful Molly arrives in town, she makes quite the impression and creates tension between them.
Everyone is talking about the possibly of war, when it’s announced, the brothers join up, so do the other young men in Rainbow and it’s seen as an adventure. The brothers want to join the Australian Flying Corps, after basic training, they find themselves in Cairo, Egypt and have no idea what adversity they will face in the future. Molly and her friend Joanie Matthews and the women in Rainbow are all supporting the war, they knit endless pairs of socks and send letters and care packages to the men serving overseas. Molly feels like she should be doing more, she knows her parents wouldn’t give her permission and Molly comes up with a plan.
Mary-Anne O’Connor has been one of my favourite Australian historical fiction author's since I read Gallipoli Street in 2015, she has written seven more outstanding books and I think her latest is perfectly balanced and the most insightful novel. Using a combination of true facts and fiction, and she explains what it was like during The Great War for our brave Anzac’s and their mothers, sweethearts and Australian nurses.
You’re taken on a journey from the deserts of Egypt, to the Dardanelles and the shores of Gallipoli, and to France, where Australian soldiers fought in the bloodiest battles in history and after being discharged and many resigned again and because they couldn’t let their mates face it on their own. I had no idea Australia pilots flew aerial reconnaissance in both Turkey and France, in flimsy planes and they would go on to be stalked by the famous German ace the Red Baron.
A moving and captivating narrative about mateship and the bond between brothers, friendship, women’s roles at the time and the men they loved. The courage of our brave soldiers, how the legend of the Anzac’s began, we should continue to honour the scarifies they made, they were haunted by their experiences for the rest of their lives and like Ms. O’Connor's own grandfather, I always cry on Anzac day and I did while reading At The Going Down Of The Sun, five stars from me and thanks to Penguin Random House Australia for my copy and I highly recommend....more
In 1921, Dorothy Adwell a war widow works for Cadbury’s at Bournville, England, when she’s given the opportunity to travel to Tasmania and help establIn 1921, Dorothy Adwell a war widow works for Cadbury’s at Bournville, England, when she’s given the opportunity to travel to Tasmania and help establish the firm’s new factory being built at Claremont. A fresh start might be just what Dorothy needs, she misses her husband Freddie and like so many women of her generation all she has left with are her memories of the man she loved. During the sea voyage Dot meets Thomas Moreland, she recognizes the signs of a veteran, he has the haunted and tried look, the war took a toll on men physically and mentally and Dorothy would like to help him and ease his symptoms.
Maisie Greenwood is the eldest of three children, she lives in a weatherboard cottage in Glebe, Hobart and her father died in the war. Maisie and her brother both work, their mother takes in mending and Maisie wants her younger sister Lily to finish school and further her education. Getting a job at Cadbury's Factory would take the pressure off her mother and her failing health, Maisie's very anxious when Mrs. Adwell visits their house for her interview and the company likes to see where the potential employees live (no judgement) and get to know their families.
Maisie’s a nervous wreck on her first day of work, the new girls catch the Cadbury’s train, have a guided tour of the unfinished factory, and Mrs. Adwell explains the process of making chocolate, it’s complicated and hard to believe the bitter tasting beans become the creamy sweet treat people can't resist. Maisie enjoys her job, she's mature for her age, Mrs. Adwell notices and makes her a supervisor in her section. Maisie is chuffed with her promotion and she quite likes Frank Sutton, he repairs the machines and she develops feelings for him.
Dorothy and Maisie are both unknowingly caught up in a plot to uncover the recipe for the most popular chocolate in the world Cadbury’s Dairy Milk, spies posing as employees, plant seeds of doubt in people’s minds about their co-workers, use blackmail as a tactic and acts of sabotage.
I received a copy of The Chocolate Factory by Mary-Lou Stephens from Harlequin Australia and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Wow what an amazing story, full of wonderful and interesting characters like Dorothy, Maisie, Frank, Thomas, Gertie and Lily and each one adds a different outlook and perspective to the narrative.
This is more than a novel about building the Cadbury's Chocolate Factory in Claremont, Tasmania, Ms. Stephens explores so many important issues and topics such as, shell shock, Quaker values of social justice, being stewards of the earth, Cadbury's provided health and dental care to their employees, housing, sporting facilities, park-lands, schools and paid night classes for adults to further their education and used Tasmania's milk to make their delicious chocolate.
It's also a story about friendship, being loyal, brave, humble and putting others first, this is one of the best books I have read this year, absolutely outstanding historical fiction and five stars from me. I highly recommend and the author's previous book The Last of the Apple Blossom....more
Hannah Todd has just finished her teaching studies in Durham, when her parents buy a public house called The Ox and Plough in Ebberfield, in Northern Hannah Todd has just finished her teaching studies in Durham, when her parents buy a public house called The Ox and Plough in Ebberfield, in Northern England. Hannah joins them, they need help due to her father's health problems and she’s going to teach at the parish school.
Hannah is horrified when some of her students arrive at school hungry and don’t have decent footwear and warm clothing. Hannah decides to hold meeting and a small group of women gather, and they want to improve the lives of the children in the district, they come up with some excellent ideas and a wealthy patron provides the funds.
Hannah dreams of living in London and wants to be a Suffragette, her idol is Millicent Fawcett and she later forms The National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies. They lobby for women to have marital and parenting rights, protect children, improve literacy and adult education, public health and sanitation, and for Parliament to give women the right to vote and pass the bill.
Hannah discovers women in Ebberfield are being abused by their husbands, she can’t understand why they stay with the men that hurt them, it’s because a man has his rights and women don't have money of their own or a safe place to go. Hannah's shocked to discover domestic abuse is happening in all walks of life and you don’t know what goes on behind closed doors or is hidden by long sleeves and dresses.
Women bore the brunt of life’s hardest trials and yet they were seen as the weaker sex and not fit to fulfil the full duties of citizenship and be able to vote.
I received a copy of a Woman of Courage from NetGalley and HaperCollins Publishers Australia in exchange for an honest review. Ms. Blanchard is one of my favourite Australian historical fiction authors, this book is set in a different era to her others and it's magnificent and makes you think about what it was like to be a woman in the 1890's.
The beginning of social change in England, women are questioning what they can and cannot do, deciding if they want to marry and constantly being pregnant, be financially independent and are starting to speak up and find their voice.
Things like vaccination is in it's infancy, theories about germs, illness and where to go for treatment and what's available, and people having access to books, adult education and a clean water supply in country towns are all mentioned. For me the characters in the narrative are diverse and suit the time period, Hannah is the leading lady and a trail blazer, a perfect example of why women should be given the right to vote, she's smart, looks at things from a different perspective and comes up with an alternative solution to issues and problems. Five big stars from me, superb and I can't wait to read the sequel next year....more
Gertie Bingham and her husband Harry opened Bingham Books in the Beechwood High Street as newlyweds in 1911 and since he passed away she misses him teGertie Bingham and her husband Harry opened Bingham Books in the Beechwood High Street as newlyweds in 1911 and since he passed away she misses him terribly. Gertie and Harry weren’t blessed with children, Gertie has Hemingway her Labrador for company and she’s thinking about retiring.
With the threat of another war looming, Gertie is approached by her friend Charles who works for the Red Cross to take in a Jewish child from Germany as part of the Kindertransport program. A nervous Gertie is waiting at the train station, her evacuee Hedy Fischer is from Munich and she’s fifteen years old. Hedy misses her parents and brother Arlo and Gertie feels way out of her depth. She tries hard to help Hedy learn English, she introduces her to one of her young sales assistants from Bingham Books and enrolls her in high school.
When the Blitz begins, Hedy and Gertie sit in the Anderson shelter in the backyard and invite their new neighbors a young mother Elizabeth and her son Billy to share it with them. Hedy reads stories to Billy to take his mind off the noise, and during this time she and Gertie decide to start the Air Raid Book Club. It’s held once a month in the basement of Bingham Books, attended by regular customers, nearby traders and friends.
Choosing a book to read always is a challenge, with so many choices and everyone gets somethings different out of each novel. The book club is a huge success, from fire wardens to housewives, they need something to occupy their minds, take their mind off their problems and it boosts morale. They expand the program to cater for children and send care packages overseas to prisoners of war and here books are in high demand.
As the war drags on, the bookshop and book club become very important to the community, unlikely friendships are made and others are repaired and bonds are formed. While, Hedy anxiously waits for news about her family, she knows Arlo has been sent to Germany to work and she has no idea what’s happened to her parents.
I received a digital copy of The Air Raid Book Club by Annie Lyons from Hachette Australia, Edelweiss and HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review. Oh my goodness, it is one of the best books I have read this year and I was bawling my eyes out by the end. A narrative about war, friendship, hope, love, the power of books and reading and many of the book club member’s believed knowledge and using their minds would help England be victorious.
They read and enjoyed books from a variety of genres and some of the authors are; Jane Eyre, Agatha Christie, Louisa May Alcott, Pearl S. Buck, Georgette Heyer, Charles Dickens and Lewis Carroll. The characters are wonderful, some are delightful and sweet and others are crotchety and downright grumpy. Most of all it's a story about relationships, connections, and families come in all sorts of packages, forms of mothering and kindness and five big stars from me....more
Ellen Sutton is a nurse and midwife in Albany and her last boyfriend broke her heart. Ellen has her parents, brother Bodhi and his partner Ingrid and Ellen Sutton is a nurse and midwife in Albany and her last boyfriend broke her heart. Ellen has her parents, brother Bodhi and his partner Ingrid and her sister Carrie for support. Ellen enjoys delivering babies, at thirty she wants to settle down and dreams of having children of her own and she needs to find the right man!
Her younger sister Carrie is a hairdresser and make-up artist, her business is booming, she has a new boyfriend and for the first time it seems serious. Bodhi and Ingrid live together, she’s a chef, and Ingrid and Ellen are good friends. Out of the blue, Ellen suddenly leaves her job, moves to remote Calla Station, and becomes a Jillaroo. It makes no sense to her family, their shocked, and confused and miss her.
Bodhi and Ingrid and Carrie and her boyfriend Fin are visiting Karijini country, going camping and Ellen’s meeting them at Dale’s Gorge. Bodhi has a big surprise planned for Ingrid and Ellen is nervous about seeing everyone. The atmosphere is rather tense, family dynamics can be complicated, in this case it’s an understatement and they don’t know why?
I received a copy of The Wrong Sister from Hachette Australia and in exchange for an honest review. This is the first book I have read by Fiona Palmer, it won’t be my last, I was hooked from the first chapter, I liked the mixture of characters and especially Hans the backpacker. Ms. Palmer’s descriptions of the iconic Australian landscape are vivid and you can picture the rocky hills, ghost gums, shrubs, grasses, termite mounds, walking trails, waterfalls and swimming holes in your mind. The narrative has a meaning and makes you think about life, loss, following your dreams and being true to yourself. How honesty is the best policy and don’t keep secrets, you can’t imagine what someone else is feeling or going through unless you have walked in their shoes and no one is perfect and everyone can make a mistake. Five stars from me, live, laugh, love, and remember don't put so much pressure on yourself to be faultless....more
Four generations of the Knighton women live under the same roof in 1982, Greaty is the head of the family, her parents owned the old house in the ClarFour generations of the Knighton women live under the same roof in 1982, Greaty is the head of the family, her parents owned the old house in the Clare Valley and it was once a Cobb & Co Inn. Her mother Emily gave her a copy of, The Women’s Annual, printed in London in 1905 and it’s full of helpful advice for young ladies.
Greaty or Dorothy is seventy five, she’s a wonderful cook and she won’t let anyone go hungry and Greaty likes to invite people over to eat on the weekends. Gran or Flora is fifty five, she and her best friend Wilma like to protest against social injustice and of course Wilma is invited to the weekend feasts. Mum or Lucy, is the mother of Holly, she’s the youngest Knighton girl, pretty Lucy has two suitors Si Walters and the recently separated Zac Carson.
Holly is twelve, she’s obsessed with Olivia Newton-John and her latest movie Xanadu. She’s determined to be famous like her idol, unfortunately Holly hasn’t been blessed with golden vocal chords, and instead she and her friend Barry Jones take dancing lessons. They plan to enter a dance marathon held at Adelaide’s Celestial Theater, win, and Holly will be able to have her teeth straightened and then the sky's the limit.
The four Knighton women are at a different stages of life, despite loving each other dearly and they have contrasting ideas and needs. A narrative about a family’s daily adventures, their quirky friends and neighbors, full of funny quotes and Australian language. A wise Greaty points out to Holly, what really matters in life, always listen to others and most of your own inner voice and especially when things don’t go as planned and nothing stays the same forever.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Knighton Women’s Compendium by Denise Picton, I’m only a couple of years older than the main character Holly, it took me back to being a teenager in the 1980’s, I danced and sang along to the Grease soundtrack with my cousin, we were both fans of Olivia Newton-John and we had so much fun. Four stars from me, a perfect choice for a book club read, it covers many relevant topics and makes you think about life, love, family, how you’re never too old to hit the dance floor and the impact music has on people....more
In 1943, Alix St Pierre is a PR consultant working in New York, she’s interviewed by the US government and it’s because she speaks fluent French, ItalIn 1943, Alix St Pierre is a PR consultant working in New York, she’s interviewed by the US government and it’s because she speaks fluent French, Italian and German. Alix is sent to Bern, Switzerland, here she’s working for Mr. Allen Dulles and the newly formed Office of Strategic Services. Alix is drawn into helping the Italian Partisans in the North of Italy, they need information about what’s happening in the war, supplies, and most of all weapons and ammunition.
In 1946, Alix returns to Paris, she’s hired by Maison Christian Dior to help him launch his new line of couture clothing, he wants his designs to highlight and follow the natural contours of a women’s body and introduce the world to his new look. He’s busy getting his premises ready, hiring models and he needs the American media to cover his fashion show. Alix comes up with an idea, to dress a famous film star, this will certainly grab their attention and she meets the infuriating editor Mr. Anthony Marsh.
Alix is still haunted by a failed mission towards the end of the war, and while in Paris she wants to try and find a member of the German army. He managed to escape the roundup of war criminals, they committed terrible acts of cruelty in Italy, nine men died and the man Alix loved. Alix has made a list of her old contacts, she won’t give up until she finds “the voice” and she needs the annoying American’s assistance.
Told from three timelines, before, during and after The Second World War. Natasha Lester has once again delivered a meticulously researched, beautifully written and enthralling historical fiction story. Maison Christian Dior’s message he wanted to prevail in his gowns was “live” and in Alix case she has to let go of the pain of the past and the guilt to be able to move forward.
Thanks to Hachette Australia and their publicity department for my copy of The Three Lives of Alix St Pierre, I enjoyed reading every single page, including the author’s extensive notes at the end, I discovered the gowns included in the narrative were designed by Christian Dior. I highly recommend this book to lovers of historical fiction, with an interest in fashion and five stars from me....more
Charlotte Ainsworth has no idea her father wasn't a mechanic during the Second World War, he was in fact a British agent working in France and a braveCharlotte Ainsworth has no idea her father wasn't a mechanic during the Second World War, he was in fact a British agent working in France and a brave one. In the summer of 1970, Charlotte is stunned when her dad Noah tells her the truth, she really can’t imagine her father being SOE and she wondered if her mum knew. Noah was wounded towards the end of the war, he fractured his skull, so he can’t remember somethings and others are jumbled up in his mind. Noah wants to thank the agent that saved his life and he needs closure.
Charlotte wants to help her father, she finds out the name of a professor and a military historian who have both been looking into the English Secret Operations Executives service in France, unfortunately some of the personal files have been destroyed and others are marked as classified.
Charlotte discovers her father knew two women operatives while in France, Chloe and Fleur and of course these are not their real names. Despite national security being tight and agents being thoroughly screened by the team at Baker Street, Charlotte uncovers someone might have been working as a double agent, a lot of the SOE’s were arrested towards the end of the war, around the time her father was wounded and was it because of the traitor?
The narrative has a dual timeline alternating from 1944 to the 1970’s and it’s told from the points of view of Chloe and Fleur while they were serving in in France and on leave in England.
At first women agents where used as couriers and wireless operators in the field, but as the war went on and while planning for D-Day invasion they needed them to do more and they did. The women had to speak fluent French, blend in with the population and these agents worked alongside their male peers, carrying out acts of espionage, sabotage, reconnaissance, they knew how to fire Bren light machine gun and use explosives.
I received a paperback copy of The Paris Agent by Kelly Rimmer from Hachette Australia in exchange for an honest review, once again Ms. Rimmer has blown me away with her latest impeccably researched and engrossing book, she uses real details and I learnt new and interesting facts about the Second World War. A story about duty, revenge, secrets, betrayal, lies, loss, bravery, sacrifice and love. My favorite characters were Noah, Chloe, Fleur, Charlotte, Theo, Ms. Elwood and Wrigley the dog. I became a big fan of Kelly Rimmer’s when I read her first novel, The Things We Cannot Say, a superbly composed historical fiction story and five stars from me....more
American socialite Rose Van Etten likes to live life at a fast pace, she races cars and she wants to use her ability to drive to help her country. SheAmerican socialite Rose Van Etten likes to live life at a fast pace, she races cars and she wants to use her ability to drive to help her country. She becomes an ambulance driver in WW I, and when Tin Lizzie's staffed by a German plane she knows she’s in big trouble. She’s transporting a seriously injured British officer, he whispers with his last breath that he want's tell someone he's sorry and gives Rose a key.
Rose returns home to Florida, to recuperate from being gassed and catching the Spanish flu and she’s also suffering from flashback from the war. In 1919, Rose is well enough to travel to the Northern Isle of Scotland to the Orkney’s, her friend Myrtle Morningstar is accompanying her, and Rose believes the mysterious British officer is from here?
Rose sees the natural beauty in Frest and the crumbling mansion Muckle Skaill, she buys it from its unscrupulous owner and want's to renovate the property. She employees Thorfinn Sinclair to be her land agent, he’s a local and he knows the area and the people who live the crofts. While the men were away fighting in the war, Sinclair kept the community going, and he’s the perfect person for the job. The islanders main source of income’s from sheep, they sell the meat and hides to the navy, spin the wool and knit beautiful jumpers. Rose is aware of the natural beauty in the remote area, she doesn’t want to change the local’s way of life, she wants to promote their cottage industries and increase their incomes.
Of course, Rose has another reason for going to Scotland, that’s to pass on the dying man’s message, he gave her a key, and who can she trust with her secret. Nearby, the old German imperial fleet is being guarded by the English Navy and Rose and Myrtle start doing some after hours surveillance.
I loved reading about the Scottish customs and traditions, and especially celebrating the Ceilidh and Rose's relationship with the Flett children. Violet Marsh has written a story that honors the brave women who served in WW I, the price they paid and the strength they needed to adjust to living in civilian life afterwards and many suffered from shell shock and Rose's characters one of these women.
Pieter and Lena de Vries live in the Netherlands, they own a farm and happily work together. The couple have been blessed with three children, Ans, WiPieter and Lena de Vries live in the Netherlands, they own a farm and happily work together. The couple have been blessed with three children, Ans, Wim and Maaike, the children have been raised to believe in the lord and follow their parent’s faith. Holland's a neutral country, when the German’s invade Poland and the de Vries family are very worried.
Ans finds life on the farm boring, she’s tired of going to church and she wants to move to Leiden. Herman Huizenga needs a companion for his wife Eloise, she suffers from a nervous condition, the threat of war has increased her anxiety and Ans keeps her company during the day. Ans meets Erik Brouwer, he’s a police officer in Leiden, he’s dedicated to his job and they fall in love. Her feelings towards the German's are very different to Erik’s, can she trust him and is he really a collaborator?
Miriam Jacobs lives in Cologne Germany, she’s a talented Jewish violinist, when it becomes unsafe to stay in their homeland she and her father escape to Holland. Here she meets Avraham Leopold, they fall in love, marry and start a family. The Nazi’s start targeting Jewish people, just like they did in Germany, they can't escape because Hollands surrounded and the Leopold family need to go into hiding.
The Netherlands endured five long years of German occupation, Holland was cut off from the rest of the world and what happened during this time was truly horrific. Chasing Shadows story recounts Lena, Ans and Miriam’s wartime experiences, strong, brave and extremely courageous women. Selfless, they protected the people they loved, helped others and their faith kept them going during the darkest of times. I received a copy of this book from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review, Lynn Austin has done it again, outstanding writing and five stars from me. https://karrenreadsbooks.blogspot.com/...more
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