3.5 to 4 stars. I quite enjoyed this book, although it's not my favourite by Ms. James. Beckett and Quinn were well-suited, and the ending of the book3.5 to 4 stars. I quite enjoyed this book, although it's not my favourite by Ms. James. Beckett and Quinn were well-suited, and the ending of the book was satisfying. I did find the 'mystery' section of the book didn't really work that well for me, but otherwise, the romance was believable and enjoyable to read. I liked that Quinn was a judge.
I did find Beckett's daughter a little too precocious. I would also have liked a little more about the scenery and settings of both Montana and Brisbane. The New Zealand and Australian settings in her other books have been a real part of my enjoyment, and I missed that a little in this one. But overall, another good read from Ms James, even if not her best book. ...more
Well worth a read, particularly for Australians. A straightforward writing style, and not a long read. Pascoe convincingly argues that Australian AborWell worth a read, particularly for Australians. A straightforward writing style, and not a long read. Pascoe convincingly argues that Australian Aboriginal culture pre-1788 was more sophisticated and complex than has previously been taught and promoted.
Much of the evidence comes from the journals, diaries and other writings of the early white explorers and settlers, who undeniably and repeatedly referred to villages and agricultural management of the land, right across the country. It seems that the Aboriginals were not just simple hunter-gatherers haphazardly wandering the landscape, as generations of Australian children have been taught. The written records, some old photographs and drawings, as well as some remaining physical sites, put paid to that idea quite clearly.
A fascinating and impactful book that is helping to change the way that Aboriginal culture of the past is regarded. Clearly much more investigation and archaeology needs to be done, but this book sets out a clear message while being very readable. 5 stars for the powerful message of the book....more
3.5 to 4 stars. I enjoyed this third book in the series, although perhaps not quite as much as I enjoyed Book 2 (A Strange Likeness).
This one was abo3.5 to 4 stars. I enjoyed this third book in the series, although perhaps not quite as much as I enjoyed Book 2 (A Strange Likeness).
This one was about Thomas Dilhorne, twin of Alan (from Book 2), and son of Tom and Hester from Book 1 (Hester Waring's Marriage.) It's set in the 1850s on the wild and rambunctious goldfields of Ballarat in Victoria, Australia. As an Australian, I'm familiar with the area and something of its history. This certainly added to my enjoyment of the book, although I'm not sure whether the book would appeal as much to readers from other countries. Maybe?
For me, the book felt realistic in many aspects, and the picture of the rugged life on the goldfields felt quite convincing. The basic trope was amnesia of the main male character, Thomas, after being bashed, robbed and left for dead on the streets of Melbourne. It took most of the book for Thomas to regain his memory and identity completely. This aspect of the book also felt believable, although I'm no expert on brain injury and memory loss. Not a trope I normally like in my HR reads, but in this case, Thomas (or Fred as he was known) was sweet and funny and very likeable, and it worked as a storyline.
The romance with Kirstie was quite a slow burn, and did not draw me in as much as I wanted it to. I guess Thomas/Fred's issues from his past made it hard for him to move on with Kirstie, and this held the romance back. Still, I did enjoy the story.
A side character featured in the book was an entertainer, Rosie, who clearly represented the famous Lola Montez, who did indeed make her mark on the Ballarat Goldfields in the 1850s. (view spoiler)[ Sadly, Montez died in 1861 of syphilis, so if the fictional Thomas/Fred really did have an affair with her, he may have gone that way too. Eek! Thanks heavens for fiction. LOL.
One disappointment in the book was that we never find out about Geordie Farquhar's history, or what became of him after the events of the book. I liked Geordie's character and wish a little more had been revealed about him. (hide spoiler)]
So, a good read that I whipped through quite quickly. I now intend to read the other books in the series....more
3.5 stars. A short novel, almost a novella. The adventures and experiences of an Australian man and the challenges faced during a period of sudden glo3.5 stars. A short novel, almost a novella. The adventures and experiences of an Australian man and the challenges faced during a period of sudden global warming. In this story, the imagined cause of the global warming is not due to humans, but to an event external to Earth. A grim scenario but an interesting read. I liked the integrity of the central character and his friends....more
3.5 stars. 4 stars for the amazing true story, but only three for the writing style, which wasn't that engaging.
I'm an Australian, but I've never hea3.5 stars. 4 stars for the amazing true story, but only three for the writing style, which wasn't that engaging.
I'm an Australian, but I've never heard of Winifred Steger or this book, which I stumbled across by chance on a library shelf. Steger led a pretty extraordinary life, and the book was well worth the read. As an emigrant English woman in early twentieth century Australia, her choice to marry a Muslim and to convert to Islam was highly unusual. Her children were regarded as 'half-castes', and she lived between two worlds.
But Steger was clearly a woman of great personal strength. She accompanied her husband on the Hajj to Mecca, and she lived for a time in India. Back in Australia, she wrote about her experiences in popular magazine serials, under the pseudonym of 'The Washerwoman' (which she actually was at some periods in her life). After being eventually reunited with some of her children with whom she had lost touch, Steger died aged 99. Her life was truly a unique saga.
The book opened my eyes about many things I had previously known little about: e.g. the life of Afghan camel drivers in early outback Australia, and a bit about the turbulent history of Afghanistan in the 1920s, with the abdication of its royals and the coup by a harsh ruler who was eventually deposed. Steger, amazingly enough, had become a personal friend of Queen Soraya, and was going to be governess to her children when events were overtaken by history....more
4.5 stars. I read this after recently reading the powerful Holocaust book Schindler's Ark by Thomas Keneally, which of course the film Schindler's Lis4.5 stars. I read this after recently reading the powerful Holocaust book Schindler's Ark by Thomas Keneally, which of course the film Schindler's List was based on. I believe the book is known as Schindler's List in the USA.
In this memoir, Keneally starts by recounting the amazing story of how he first met Poldek Pfefferberg while randomly shopping for a briefcase in Beverly Hills, after his own briefcase had broken. Poldek, a Holocaust survivor thanks to Schindler, seems to have been a force of nature. It was he who first told Keneally about Schindler and pushed for the story to be told, and the whole journey began from that point.
Poldek and Keneally travelled widely together researching the book. The writing of the actual book is recounted, winning the Booker Prize, being signed for the film rights with Steven Spielberg, the making of the Academy Award winning film. The book concludes with the death of the by then elderly Pfefferberg.
It's a very engaging and fascinating read. Keneally tells the story with honesty and his typical touches of wry self-deprecation. I would recommend reading the memoir only after reading the book or seeing the film, though....more
3.5 to 4 stars. A repressed English woman stranded in Port Adelaide, South Australia in the 1860s is forced by circumstance to take a position as gove3.5 to 4 stars. A repressed English woman stranded in Port Adelaide, South Australia in the 1860s is forced by circumstance to take a position as governess to three rowdy children in the Australian outback. The children's father, grandson of a convict, is raising them alone, as his wife walked out several years ago, when the youngest child was a baby. They fall in love and finally marry.
A familiar trope, (falling in love with the nanny) but a very different and beautifully drawn setting. As an Australian, I really appreciated the setting and historical elements of this book. It's mostly set in the Flinders Ranges, north of Adelaide, a rugged, remote, dusty, and beautiful place. I'm lucky enough to have visited the area, and I can well recall its magnificent beauty, the extraordinary quality of the light, and the remnants of the dusty ruins of stone buildings abandoned by the early settlers such as those depicted in this book. The settlers naively lacked any understanding that the district was totally unsuitable for the kind of farming they tried to introduce, and most were driven out by drought and difficulty.
So the storyline felt quite fresh to me in this unique setting, and the characters' experiences rang true. I liked Amanda and I enjoyed her slow journey towards loving the outback and its people, as well as her romance with Patrick. Patrick was well-drawn and likeable as well. He felt very Australian, and his love for his children was admirable. His persistence in the face of incredible challenges was also to be admired.
So I enjoyed the read. Now I'm sad I've finished all three of Ms Proctor's Australian-set historical romances in short order. Boo. None left to read now. I will try her other HRs with different settings and see how I find them. Maybe I will try her Sebastian St Cyr books one day too.
But I recommend this one if you like HR, whether you are Australian or not. A quality writer....more
3.5 to 4 stars. An enjoyable "forbidden" romance between an Irish convict and the gently-bred daughter of the house where he is assigned. It takes pla3.5 to 4 stars. An enjoyable "forbidden" romance between an Irish convict and the gently-bred daughter of the house where he is assigned. It takes place in colonial Tasmania, Australia, and creates a pretty accurate and horrifying picture of the way convicts were treated in Tasmania in the early days.
Jessie is a pretty mixed-up young lady who has been dominated by her strict and joyless mother, and the milieu she was raised in with its strict behaviour expectations. It takes much of the book for Jessie to start to understand that she needs to break free of the cloying restrictions and allow herself the freedom to explore who she really is.
The relationship with Lucas, her assigned groom, grows slowly, with Lucas knowing well that it could lead to disaster for both of them. The book is quite angsty at times, and although I had a few guesses about how the HEA might be reached, it was a little nerve-racking along the way for this reader.
The ending sequence is dramatic and exciting, and a good way to finish the book. I very much enjoyed the Australian setting and the level of historic authenticity. I could wish Jessie had been a little clearer in her understanding of herself sooner rather than later, but both she and Lucas were still engaging characters. Overall, a solid read....more
I was a little surprised at how much I enjoyed this read. Set in about 1840 in London and Yorkshire, it's an unusual HR in that the hero, Alan, is theI was a little surprised at how much I enjoyed this read. Set in about 1840 in London and Yorkshire, it's an unusual HR in that the hero, Alan, is the son of a highly successful businessman (and former convict) from colonial Sydney in Australia. Alan is sent to England by his father to investigate what is going wrong with the London branch of the family business. I can't remember when I've read a HR like this - sometimes it's an American in London, but not an Australian. As I'm Australian myself, I loved this aspect of the book, and wish there were more like it.
Once in London, Alan is mocked and jeered at by some of the Upper Class young toffs as a primitive colonial. But this delightful, charming and clever young man soon puts them straight. His integrity, work ethic and strength of character shine out against some of the empty young wastrels.
In London, Alan meets one of these young toffs, Ned, who looks like an identical twin to Alan, which is intriguing, as Alan already has a (non-identical) twin brother back in Australia. Solving the mystery of why Ned and Alan look so alike takes the whole book, and the resolution of this aspect of the story is quite satisfying.
Alan also meets a wonderful young lady named Eleanor, who is his match in every way. They slowly fall in love, and their romance is another lovely aspect of the book. It's underplayed a little, and is not explicit (it's a clean read) but it's nicely done and quite involving. Eleanor and Alan are both very likeable characters that you can really root for, and you wonder throughout the book whether they'll eventually make a home together in England or Australia. Again, not revealed till near the end.
I was engrossed by this book and enjoyed the read right through. (view spoiler)[I loved the revelation of Eleanor's real father, and didn't mind the fact that Eleanor will never know she is related to "Little Vic" (Queen Victoria). I also understand Alan's father Tom Dilhorne's decision in Sydney not to try for the title and property that should be his. He has made a very successful life for himself, and does not want to try to live in the past or hurt others in the inevitable fallout. These aspects of the story were done well and felt realistic IMO. I'm sure there are hidden stories like this in families around the world, with descendants sometimes never to know the secrets of their illustrious ancestry. (hide spoiler)]
The writing and characterisations did feel a little 'old-fashioned' at times (the book was published in 2000) but this did not worry me at all. I liked the writing style, the characters and plot. The author knows her history and it was quite convincing to me.
This book follows on from Hester Waring's Marriage, about Alan's parents in old Sydney town in Australia. I read and liked it about a year ago. I think A Strange Likeness could easily be read as a standalone, but having read book 1 added extra enjoyment. I now want to go straight on to book 3, An Innocent Masquerade, which is set in Melbourne and Ballarat, Australia in the 1850s (Gold Rush era) and it's about Alan's twin, Thomas. I hope it's as good as book 2....more
3.5 to 4 stars. A kind of prequel to the Dilhorne Dynasty, although it's listed as 'Book 6'??? (This may be a mistake - it's listed as Book 0 elsewher3.5 to 4 stars. A kind of prequel to the Dilhorne Dynasty, although it's listed as 'Book 6'??? (This may be a mistake - it's listed as Book 0 elsewhere.) It takes place in colonial Sydney town in Australia in about 1812, just before the events of Hester Waring's Marriage. Tom Dilhorne is a close friend of Alan, the hero of this book, and Tom plays a strong secondary role in the book. (view spoiler)[ in later books, Tom Dilhorne names one of his twin sons Alan after his friend Dr Kerr, and one of Dr. Alan and Sarah's daughters Bethia, is later to marry the other of Tom's twins, Thomas. (hide spoiler)]
But the book is all about Sarah and her blossoming relationship with former convict Dr Alan Kerr. As a background/setting, the book creates an interesting picture of early Sydney, with its snobbish upper-class 'Exclusives' and restless military men, who hold up their noses at Emancipists (former convicts) such as Dr Kerr and Tom Dilhorne. But as Governor Lachlan Macquarie (an actual historical figure) believes, it is the Emancipists who will form the backbone of this new developing nation. Many of the upper class and military men will simply return to England when their time is done, but the Emancipists will stay and make their lives here.
Sarah has been hurt by her ex-fiance in England, and came to Sydney almost on a whim with her artist brother John. Before long, Sarah starts to like New South Wales and many of the people around her. She fits in here much better than she ever did at home, and soon makes up her mind never to return to England.
The romance with Alan is sweet, although it has a few rocky moments. It was easy to guess what was going to happen when (view spoiler)[ the letter arrived from England (hide spoiler)]. But apart from this slightly cliched aspect, the storyline worked quite well. I enjoyed the read, and I'm now interested in following the ongoing story of the Dilhorne Dynasty. At present I plan to read all of the books. I've got 3 more to go. We'll see....more
3.5 stars. Set in the early 1800s in old Sydney Town. I was fascinated by the setting of this book. (I'm Australian). At that time it was a rambunctio3.5 stars. Set in the early 1800s in old Sydney Town. I was fascinated by the setting of this book. (I'm Australian). At that time it was a rambunctious frontier type town that was beginning to show vestiges of becoming a civilised society. It was full of English soldiers, free settlers, convicts, ex-convicts, and the much-downtrodden population of local aborigines, who are touched on briefly but sympathetically in this story. Sydney had prostitutes, rum and corruption aplenty.
The book focuses on Tom Dilhorne, an English former convict who has already worked out his sentence and been emancipated. Tom is intuitive, clever and driven. He has used the opportunities available in this raw town to make himself into an enormous business success, and an extremely wealthy man.
Hester is from a different class - also English, she is the daughter of free settlers from the gentry class. But her parents have died, leaving Hester alone, desperately poor, and literally starving. She agrees to a marriage of convenience with Tom, and over time they fall deeply in love. Tom treats Hester as a genuine equal and partner, teaching her about the business world and also teaching her to play and enjoy life. Their relationship develops into a lovely thing.
There is plenty of drama and misadventure before the final page, and the ending is quite satisfying.
The writing style of this book feels a little old-fashioned. (It was published in 2000). I wasn't sure whether to round down to 3 stars, but decided to round up to 4 stars because the story kept my interest all the way through and I kept wanting to turn the page and read on. I also enjoyed the glimpse into Australian history. There aren't that many HRs set in this place and time. So while it isn't a perfect book, I still enjoyed the read, and will definitely try some of the other 'Dilhorne Dynasty' books. ...more
I really enjoyed this book, my first by this author, and I intend to read more - at least her other two HRs set in Australia, anyway. I also just founI really enjoyed this book, my first by this author, and I intend to read more - at least her other two HRs set in Australia, anyway. I also just found out Proctor is also C.S. Harris, author of the popular Sebastian St Cyr books (although I haven't read any of them).
A well-written and historically accurate story set in the wild and raw period of the early 1800s in New South Wales, Australia. A lovely romance forms the basis of the story, and I really enjoyed the development of Bryony's relationship with Captain Hayden St John, late of the British Indian Army. It was a bit of a slow burn, but there was lots of UST (almost too much at times) as the captain lusted after his assigned convict woman, and she equally lusted after him. Finally they gave in and got together, but the story doesn't end there, and there were further twists and turns to come before the lovely and satisfying epilogue.
Hayden had lost his wife in childbirth, leaving him with a tiny son to care for. Bryony was an English convict, a widow, assigned to look after the baby. Their at times angsty story takes place mainly in the setting of Hayden's farm on the Hawkesbury River out of Sydney. Although the farm itself is fictional, the places in the book are real, and as an Australian this added an extra layer of interest for me. I very much enjoyed the historical setting.
But the amazing story of Hayden and Bryony's experiences, both together and before they knew each other, was fascinating and kept the story moving. I found it a very involving read. The cruel events that occurred did actually take place for many of Australia's early settlers, and one has to admire their persistence and courage in the face of tragedy and constant challenges.
The secondary characters were interesting and added to the story. Overall it was well written, and I'm keen to read more by this writer. Although first published in 1997, it didn't feel dated, except perhaps for several references to "loins" tightening. Oh dear. Otherwise, no purple prose or other dated features, and it didn't have the feel of a bodice ripper. Just a darned good read.
I read this book for the RATA 2021 challenge with HRBC, January setting: Around the World (other than Britain or America).
A light and enjoyable CR with a touch of a mystery to be solved. Nice romance between a billionaire and a chef who randomly met on a beach. I liked thA light and enjoyable CR with a touch of a mystery to be solved. Nice romance between a billionaire and a chef who randomly met on a beach. I liked that the first 2/3 or so was set mainly in Byron Bay, a beautiful part of east coast Australia. I've been there and I enjoyed reading about the setting and descriptions of that magnificent place.
The last section moved to the US with a bit of back and forthing to Byron Bay again....more
4.5 stars. A well-written and very readable biography of a woman who led an extraordinary life. She and her husband and their descendants had a big im4.5 stars. A well-written and very readable biography of a woman who led an extraordinary life. She and her husband and their descendants had a big impact on the course of Australian history, particularly in regards to agriculture, but also government. But it's a fascinating story and I would recommend it beyond just Australian readers as it has wider interest IMO.
Elizabeth was from a fairly simple, but educated family in Devon, England. She married when young, to an ambitious young soldier, John Macarthur. To further his career, John took a posting in the then very new convict settlement in New South Wales, Australia. Not many wives travelled with their husbands to Australia at this time, and Elizabeth was a fairly rare one who did. She had a son aged less than one year, and when they sailed she was also pregnant.
John and Elizabeth travelled with the Second (Convict) Fleet. Elizabeth kept a journal of the trip so we have some idea of how terrible the journey was, both from her journal and from other historic records. During the trip Elizabeth gave birth to a baby girl, but the baby died and was buried at sea. Both her husband and son were seriously ill during the trip and she feared both could die.
Sydney town at that time was a very primitive place. Most of the population were convicts, and there were very few women. Relations with the aboriginal population were still relatively cordial (as long as they kept out of the invading whites' way). There was a shortage of everything, including food. Elizabeth had to contend with all of this as well as a husband whose behaviour was often proud and unpredictable towards others. His behaviour in later life demonstrates clear symptoms of what today we label 'bipolar', and perhaps he was always a bit that way. He and Elizabeth always appeared to love each other, though, through thick and thin.
John and Elizabeth became farmers and John resigned his commission. The eventual fame and success of the Macarthur farming ventures in Australia is legendary, especially in regards to the founding of the wool industry. But this book follows the humble beginnings and the long, rocky road to success. There were good times and bad. There were periods of years at a time when Elizabeth ran all of the farming enterprises herself when John was away in England. She must have been an extraordinary woman. She had numerous children, she ran several farms at separate sites, she organised and managed a large group of employees, many of them convicts. John was often her helpmeet, and the children also helped as they grew up.
But there were times of drought, illnesses, the infamous 'rum rebellion', in which John was a key player, and numerous other challenges to be faced. As the author states, Elizabeth would have worked hard all day every single day.
In the end she lived a long life and died peacefully in old age, although she never returned home to her native Devon to visit her family. The many letters exchanged help give this detailed picture of her life that the author has collated.
So, a fascinating read, and a reminder that 'the good old days' should not be romanticised. It was tough! Well done to the writer for her scholarship and for writing such an accessible and interesting biography....more