Book Review: The Lost Letters of Rose Carey by Julie Bennett

 The Lost Letters of Rose Carey

by

Julie Bennett

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Publication date: 1st May 2024

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 368

RRP: $32.99AU (trade paperback)

Source: uncorrected proof from publisher

 

Review: The Lost Letters of Rose Carey

The Lost Letters of Rose Carey was inspired by the life of vaudeville star, swimmer and actress Annette Kellerman.

 

Narrated through the dual timeline of Rose in 1923 and Emma in 2024. 

 

In 1923 Rose is going through a hard time financially and she needs to reinvent herself. She has an amazing new act that will put her in the spotlight again. However tragedy strikes and she starts to question everyone close to her not knowing who she can trust.

I absolutely loved Rose's story! She was such a strong inspirational woman. Many of Annette Kellerman's achievements are mentioned throughout the story which had me looking for more information on the internet. Her life was fascinating and beautifully portrayed through the character of Rose.

In 2024, Emma and her wife Lauren are struggling with failed IVF attempts and the pressure it is putting on their marriage. Emma finds some old film canisters and letters and is soon pulled into researching the life of Rose Carey. I wasn't so captivated with Emma's story and couldn't see the parallels between her and Rose's lives.

I would have been quite happy to read a whole book on Rose Carey alone.

The Lost Letters of Rose Carey is a fascinating story of love and betrayal. The book moves along at a fast pace through passion, heartache, mystery and unexpected twists.

I loved the final connection to women and fitness, to love, celebrate and look  after their bodies.

My rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Julie Bennett's debut novel:

THE UNDERSTUDY

 

Book Review: Family Trust by Peter Wilson

 Family Trust

by

Peter Wilson

A trust fund to die for...

Publisher: Self Published

Publication date: 26th April 2024

Genre: Crime / Thriller

Pages: 222

RRP: $4.58AU (Kindle Ebook) 

Source: Courtesy of the author

 

Review: Family Trust

Family Trust by Peter Wilson is a highly entertaining and engaging crime thriller with themes of wealth and corruption. Wilson takes his readers into the murky world of money, privilege and power.

 

The story is told through multiple timelines covering three generations.

In the 1960's financial lawyer Henry Taylor was employed to set up a trust fund owned by good friends William Harris and Edward Griffon, two of the wealthiest men in Australia.

 

Present time is Harris & Griffon's grandchildren, Mel, David & Rachel. They have all had tumultuous childhoods and Mel believes someone is trying to kill her.

Family Trust is a story about greed, wealth and betrayal. I didn't know who or what to believe as twist after twist is revealed. I found the majority of characters to be very unlikeable as greed takes over from good manners and honesty.

 

Det Senior Constable Kirsty Campbell is introduced to the story as she investigates the murder of a male sex worker with strong links to the Harris family. I would love to see Kirsty Campbell as the main character in a series of her own.

Wilson adds moments of  humour amongst the tension and mayhem.

 

Fans of crime fiction will love this story of money, murder and manipulation. It will have you second guessing all the way through.

 

my rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

 

Available now in eBook on Amazon.

Book Review: The One That Got Away by Karly Lane

 The One That Got Away

by

Karly Lane

Twenty years ago, Alex ran. As far and as fast as she could.

But to return is her only escape.....

 

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Publication date: 30th April 2024

Genre: Contemporary fiction / rural romance

Pages: 339

RRP: $32.99AU (trade paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

Review: The One That Got Away

Karly Lane's stories just keep getting better and better!

 

With The One That Got Away Karly Lane has delivered another heartfelt, small town, romance story that is sure to garner rave reviews. 

Alex leaves the small coastal town of Rockne Heads. a fictional town on the NSW North Coast, vowing never to return. However when she decides to buy and settle in the English countryside she must return to Australia, and Rocky, to go through her father's belongings and sell the family home.

Sullivan (Sully) has lived in Rockne Heads all his life. He has taken over the family fishing business and built it up to the successful company it is today.

He never expected to see Alex Kelly again after she left Rocky without even a goodbye. When he bumps into her on the street all the emotions are back and he is not going to let her go again without a fight.

I loved everything about this second chance romance story. There is a deep mystery running through the story about something that happened when the characters were teens. An event that tore the whole town apart and turned them against one of their own.

Lots of flashbacks slowly fill the reader in, keeping me totally glued to the pages.

This is a slow burn romance with just enough angst to keep me wondering if our main characters will end up together. 

Karly has included some heavy topics around teenagers and the mistakes they make. 

In The One That Got Away Karly Lane astutely explores the complexity of small town living.

My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Other books I've reviewed by Karly Lane:

FOOL ME ONCE

FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE 

MR RIGHT NOW

ONCE BURNT,TWICE SHY 

SOMETHING LIKE THIS

A STONE'S THROW AWAY 

TAKE ME HOME

TIME AFTER TIME 

THE WRONG CALLAHAN

 

 

Book Review: The Lost Lover by Karen Swan

The Lost Lover

by

Karen Swan

Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia

Publication date: 30th April 2024

Series The Wild Isle #3 

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 420

RRP: $34.99 (trade paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

Review: The Lost Lover

Could my heart be any more shattered!! 💔

 

If you are following this series you will know each book follows one of the young women on the isle of St Kilda the year before they are evacuated.

Through extremely clever plotting Karen Swan has written three (so far) completely different stories involving the same characters and timeline but through a different point of view.

The Lost Lover, Flora's story, is another epic installment of The Wild Isle series, superbly written and heartbreaking.

We know from previous books Flora's life is set. She has a rich fiancé and when she leaves the island they will be married. 

The Lost Lover starts a year earlier than the previous books and we find out how Flora and James met and fell in love. It is not as plain sailing for Flora as we were led to believe.

There was so much in this book the previous books didn't reveal and I was captivated all over again by the harshness and the beauty of St Kilda.

There are brief mentions of events in previous books however Swan is careful not to simply rehash the first two books. The Lost Lover goes further and details Flora's life off the island where her extraordinary beauty sees he welcomed into Paris high society.

The Lost Lover ends on one of Karen Swan's notorious cliff hangers making me eager for book 4.

The Wild Isle series would have to be one of the best Historical Fiction series I have read!

My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Other Karen Swan books I have read:

CHRISTMAS BY CANDLELIGHT

THE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

THE CHRISTMAS PARTY 

THE CHRISTMAS POSTCARDS 

TOGETHER FOR CHRISTMAS

THE GREEK ESCAPE 

THE HIDDEN BEACH

MIDNIGHT IN THE SNOW 

THE SECRET PATH

THE SPANISH PROMISE 

THE LAST SUMMER  The Wild Isle #1

THE STOLEN HOURS The Wild Isle #2

 

 

 

Book Review: The Mistress of Dara Island by Averil Kenny

The Mistress of Dara Island

by

Averil Kenny

A tropical paradise is her birthright ... but will its dark secrets destroy her dreams?

 

Publisher: Echo Publishing

Publication date: 3rd April 2024

Genre: Historical / Mystery

Pages: 368

RRP: $32.99AU (trade paperback)

Source: courtesy of the publisher

Review: The Mistress of Dara Island

The Mistress of Dara Island is an enchanting story of power, money and long held secrets, set on a fictitious island off the coast of far north Queensland.

 

Tahlia (Tally) is the only child of Nerissa the owner of Dara Island and one day the land that she loves will pass to her. However the exclusive resort is currently run by her rich and powerful father, and he wants Tally to have nothing to do with it.

 

The willful and determined Tally was not scared to stand-up to her cruel and militant father. He banishes her from the island but she vows to return and claim her birthright.

 

Set in the 1960's Averil Kenny richly evokes the beauty and seclusion of the island with a luxury resort on one side and the other filled with treacherous peaks covered in jungle. 

I loved the wonderfully portrayed characters in this story and many of the chapters ended on little cliff-hangers that kept me eagerly reading.

What starts as a story about a willful girl and her love of the island soon morphs into a suspenseful mystery with plenty of jaw-dropping twists.

The Mistress of Dara Island is the perfect holiday read!

My rating 5 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Another fabulous book I have read by Averil Kenny:

THOSE HAMILTON SISTERS

 

 

 

Book Review: Sunrise Over Mercy Court by Fiona McCallum

 Sunrise Over Mercy Court

by

Fiona McCallum

Just when they thought they were done....

Publisher: Harlequin Australia

Publication date: 5th April 2023 

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Pages: 496

RRP: $32.99AU now in B format $22.99AU

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

Review: Sunrise Over Mercy Court

I have read a few of Fiona McCallum's novels and I have really enjoyed them. However, Sunrise Over Mercy Court was a miss for me.

 

Elsie and Howard have been together for almost 60 years and at 78 they are tired of the aches and pains, bored with life and low on finances. They plan on getting all their affairs in order then end their life, peacefully together, before their 79th birthday.

 

Sunrise Over Mercy Court was quite depressing and I couldn't at all connect with Elsie and Howard. Their talk of methods of suicide were so ludicrous it was funny. Then I felt bad for thinking it was funny because it is a serious topic.

I really don't like the use of drugs to add humour in a story, even if they are light recreational drugs. 

8 year old neighbour Milly was a breath of fresh air, wise beyond her years, and also the magic elixir that made all Elsie & Howard's aches and pains magically disappear.

 

My rating 2 / 5 ⭐⭐

I don't know who I could possibly recommend this book to. However here are some of Fiona's books I do recommend!

TRICK OF THE LIGHT

THE LONG ROAD HOME

HER TIME TO SHINE 

A LIFE OF HER OWN

 

 

 

 

Book Review: The Wartime Vet by Ellie Curzon

 The Wartime Vet

by

Ellie Curzon

Publisher: Bookouture

Publication date: 4th April 2024

Series: A Village at War #3 

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 331

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

Review: The Wartime Vet

The Wartime Vet is a cozy mystery/historical fiction set in 1942 country England during WWII.

 

Laura moves from her job as a small animal vet to the country town of Bramble Heath where she is employed to care for the local farm animals; the sheep and cows that will provide food for the nation.

 

I loved that Laura was strong and determined, the 1940's were a hard time for women to be taken seriously in jobs that were usually undertaken by men. When she believes that someone is sabotaging the farms she does not falter at going over her curmudgeonly bosses head to notify a higher authority. 

 

Ellie Curzon includes the invaluable work of the Land Girls Army and how they had to overcome sexism and suspicion.

I could easily imagine the small country town of Bramble Heath with children evacuated from the city running around on the farms. However these idyllic little towns didn't escape the air raid-sirens and the danger of enemy bombs.

 

The Wartime Vet is a cozy mystery novel with a light romance thread running through the story. It also explores heavier themes of PTSD, disrespect for servicemen with mental health problems, traitors, the land girls army and how women had to fight for the same recognition given to men.

 

My only complaint is that it became quite repetitive at times, going over and over things that had already been explained.  

 

My rating 3.5 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐½