Time for tea with Michelle Upton, author of ‘Terms of Inheritance’

Time to sit and share a cuppa with Michelle Upton, author of Terms of Inheritance published by HarperCollins and available on 30 November. Welcome Michelle to Great Reads & Tea Leaves, I so much enjoyed reading your book. 

Thanks so much for having me on your blog, lovely.

Normally I would ask if you are a coffee or tea drinker and if the latter, what is your preferred brew. However, as there are other drinking options on offer in your book - what would you prefer? A merlot, maybe?

Haha, you can't beat a great merlot, and I love a coffee first thing in the morning too, but I'm also a tea lover. My two favourite teas are the Green Rose and the Red, Green and Dreamy blends from T2.

Ohhh! I am such a fan of those two blends. Just a bit on your writing background as I see you love writing short stories and was shortlisted for the 2021 Banjo Prize. How did these (if at all) help make you into the author that you are today?

I love writing short stories and always enter the Furious Fiction short story competition with the Australian Writers Centre. There is something so rewarding about writing a short story over 55 hours and then sending it out into the world. I get to explore writing in different genres and get to create fabulous new characters and worlds. What I also like about writing short stories is that once the deadline hits, there's no more editing. It is what it is - my story is complete. In comparison, writing a novel takes months and years to finish, so writing short stories gives me the satisfaction of completing a story in just a few days and then letting it go.

Entering Terms of Inheritance into The Banjo Prize in 2021 was one of the best decisions I ever made. My manuscript was read by the fabulous publishing team at HarperCollins Australia, and two weeks after I got the call to say it had been shortlisted, they said they loved it so much they wanted to publish it. Oh, my word, I've been pinching myself ever since!

Working with my publisher Roberta Ivers has been an incredible experience. Her passion for the Turner women in Terms of Inheritance makes my heart burst. Getting to work with Bert and some of the best editors in the publishing world has made me a better writer and has been a dream come true.

Was this the book you always wanted to write? Did you have some cathartic feelings - I know I did - as you so eloquently captured aspects of what many women go through in the various stages of their life?

As soon as I had the premise for this novel, I couldn't wait to start writing it. Not only was there a lot of fun and games to be had, but there's so much of me in these characters too. I drew so much from what I have learnt over the years, from the mental and physical challenge of running a marathon when my daughter was sixteen months old to losing my dad to cancer when he was only fifty-nine. Writing Terms of Inheritance was a way for me to put down on paper what I've learnt over my life and was a chance to reflect on how I've grown and changed.

Michelle, you provide some wonderful words of wisdom that could be appreciated at any age. What is one of your favourite things about this family's journey and do you have a favourite sister? 

I love that the Turner women each have their own journey to go on and all have very different challenges to overcome both externally (their allocated task) and internally. This was so rewarding to write.

Picking a favourite sister is like picking a favourite child – I love them all. Mel was such a blast to write as she would say the funniest things, and I loved contrasting Jacki and Isla's lifestyle (they're both multi-millionaires) with the rest of the Turner women (who have regular-paying day jobs). Isla's spiritual journey is close to my heart as I went on my own journey (which I'm still on) after my dad passed away. My life changed, and I strongly believe this is a gift he left for me.

I believe there are a number of themes and issues in this book, everything from sisterly relationships to discovering the true and important things in life. How would you sum up the main takeaway for those reading Terms of Inheritance?

I could go on and on about all the themes and issues, but I think some of the key takeaways are families are complicated. They can be the most effortless relationships but also the most challenging. Also, the greatest changes happen within us when we step out of our comfort zone, which is annoying because comfort zones feel so good. And then there's the importance of letting go, so we're not held back from the life we're supposed to live.

I would like to congratulate you on perfectly combining heartfelt emotions laced at times with humour and real laugh out loud moments. No easy feat one would imagine. Was it a challenge to exact such opposites?

Wow! Thank you so much, Helen. When I realised Terms of Inheritance was going to have lots of humour, I thought can I write funny? And my response was, well, there's only one way to find out. So, to hear you say that you laughed out loud means so much to me. Thank you. My natural response when I write is to go deep, so that came naturally, and when it came to the humour side of it, it all came from the characters. Their personalities, matched with the situations they

find themselves in, created some great comical moments.

When you are not writing Michelle, how do you enjoy passing the time? Can you tell us some of your favourite authors or recommended reading?

I love hanging out with my kids and husband when I'm not writing. I love to walk, and of course, I looove to read. I pretty much read across all genres. I've been binge-reading Taylor Jenkins Reid this year, and I loved The Maid by Nita Prose. Some of my favourite novels include All Our Shimmering Skies by Trent Dalton, The Midnight Library by Matt Haig, More Than This by Patrick Ness, Pillars of The Earth by Ken Follet, and Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts. I loved the Banjo Prize winners' novels The Torrent by Dinuka McKenzie and The Whispering by Veronica Lando. Honestly, I could go on and on. Oh, and Finding Me by Viola Davis is a must-read, and my absolute life-changing non-fiction read is A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle and The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer.

Thank you for your time today, a lovely tea break and chat Michelle. Congratulations on the release of your new book -it would make the perfect gift this Christmas - and I can't wait to see what you offer your readers next. 

Thank you so much for having me, Helen. It's been so much fun! 

XXX

 

Review: The Boxing Baroness

Title: The Boxing Baroness

Author: Minerva Spencer

Publisher: 25th October 2022 by Kensington Books

Pages: 288 pages

Genre: historical romance 

My Rating: 3 cups

Synopsis:

Inspired by the real-life Boxing Baroness, acclaimed author Minerva Spencer sparkles with this brilliantly imagined story of her romance with an infuriating duke in the first of a witty, Regency-set, feminist series exploring the role of women in a rigidly patriarchal society. A new generation of readers and Bridgerton fans will delight in the rapier sharp wit, sexual fireworks, and thought-provoking entertainment of The Boxing Baroness. 

Magnetic and educated, Marianne Simpson has the manner of a lady and the looks of a lover, not a fighter. Neither of which explains her occupation as a boxer in her uncle’s circus, Farnham’s Fantastical Female Fayre. Nonetheless, when St. John Powell, the exquisitely handsome Duke of Staunton, begins turning up at her shows, she finds herself dangerously distracted by the powerful peer’s mysterious presence. With her safety at stake, Marianne’s days in the ring are numbered. But how long can she fight her attraction to the man the ton calls Lord Flawless?

 St. John Powell doesn’t just want Marianne Simpson, he needs her … to rescue his brother, who is being held for ransom by a treasonous English baron—the man all of Britain knows as the Rake of Rakes. 

 No matter how little Marianne wants to see her duplicitous ex-lover, the man responsible for the humiliating nickname the Boxing Baroness, St. John must convince her. Even if it means climbing into the ring with the beautiful boxer and taking everything she’s got . . .

My Thoughts

The Boxing Baroness sounded an interesting book as it appeared to contain many unique and interesting elements involving the historical romance genre. There is an all female circus with a female athlete/boxer (Boxing Baroness because she was married to a Baron for a while). Whilst the writing was solid, the plot required a rather large leap of faith (and that was not involving the boxing element as one might first suspect).

“I know that you sent me to school hoping that I could find respectable work, but if nobody would hire me as a governess before I started boxing, they’re hardly likely to do so now that I’m the Boxing Baroness, are they?”

This book was one of those quick flick reads that gave flashbacks to the ol’ Mills & Boon bodice ripping tales. As mentioned, the plot is rather crazy even though it appeared straightforward. I ventured into the read thinking the boxing aspect would be the element ‘outside the box’. Not so. It was secret identities - both strange and surreal - of characters including Napoleon Bonaparte and the exiled King of Sweden that left me perplexed. There is no doubt that the writer is talented with a good cast of characters and whipping dialogue inclusive of many steamy romantic moments. 

“Perhaps being raised in a circus, by Barnabas, was more of a blessing than I thought.”

I commended Minerva for writing a unique historical romance. There is a large portion of the story that is factual and will have you racing to Google to learn more. This book though will not be to everyone's tastes due to its less than conventional storyline and stepping outside the usual genre. Still, sampling this author may prove entertaining and worth your while.  

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: The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris

Title: The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris

Author: Daisy Wood

Publisher: 27th October 2022 by Avon Books UK

Pages: 400 pages

Genre: historical fiction, WWII

My Rating: 4.5 crowns

Synopsis:

From an exciting new voice in WWII historical fiction—and the author of The Clockmaker’s Wife—comes a tale of love and a betrayal that echoes through generations…

Paris, 1940: War is closing in on the city of love. With his wife forced into hiding, Jacques must stand by and watch as the Nazis take away everything he holds dear. Everything except his last beacon of hope: his beloved bookshop, La Page Cachée.

But when a young woman and her child knock on his door one night and beg for refuge, he knows his only option is to risk it all once more to save a life…

Modern day: Juliette and her husband have finally made it to France on the romantic getaway of her dreams—but as the days pass, all she discovers is quite how far they’ve grown apart. She’s craving a new adventure, so when she happens across a tiny, abandoned shop with a for-sale sign in the window, it feels fated.

And she’s about to learn that the forgotten bookshop hides a lot more than meets the eye…

My Thoughts

‘He will call his shop La Page Cachée - The Hidden Page - because he knows the magic that is to be found within the covers of a book.’

The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris is the second book I have read by Daisy and I absolutely loved it! To have a combination of Paris, WWII and a bookshop in past and present timelines was wonderful. There is a love of literature woven throughout and setting up a bookstore in Paris is a dream for many. With themes of love, war and betrayals, it all comes together for a riveting read. 

‘Bookstores and libraries were her spiritual home, so quiet and calm and full of knowledge - and now here was the ghost of a bookstore on her doorstep.’

The two past and present storylines meld together in a surprising mystery. Included are the tragedies of WWII with the Nazi occupation of Paris and Daisy does a superb job of telling not only the love story of Jacque and Mathilde but also his evolution throughout this experience. The contemporary tale, whilst a well worn trope of marriage breakdown and moving to a new country for rediscovery is well used, with the addition of setting up a bookstore and discovering family heritage, Daisy does a solid job of it. All up is a poignant tale told from many aspects with engaging characters and tribulations to overcome. 

‘All my life, I’ve been making decisions based on what other people wanted.This adventure is just for me. Is that selfish? Maybe, but I don’t want to wake up in thirty years’ time and realise I’ve wasted my life. We only get one shot–might as well make the most of it.’

My only wish would have been more focus on the unfolding of the family mystery as opposed to the setting up of the bookstore in Paris. The story came to a close quickly, whereas I wished to be immersed in the discovery for longer. The two timelines weave together well with the historical narrative being slightly stronger - I really appreciated the evolution of Jacque’s character and the risks taken as being part of the French Resistance. 

‘Books were his livelihood, his passion, his raison d’être; how could he allow them to be destroyed? He had already accepted so much humiliation from the Nazis but this was a step too far.’

The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris is a story of love and courage, sacrifice and surrender. It’s a tale of heartbreak and hope as the two lead characters from both timelines are on a journey of self discovery. I highly recommend it as I found it a moving and memorable story. 

‘Here’s to you and The Forgotten Bookshop. May she soon be remembered.’

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: The Butterfly Collector

Title: The Butterfly Collector

Author: Tea Cooper

Publisher: 3rd November 2022 by Harlequin Australia, HQ & MIRA

Pages: 400 pages

Genre: historical fiction 

My Rating: 4.5 cups

Synopsis:

What connects a botanical illustration of a butterfly with a missing baby and an enigma fifty years in the making? A twisty historical mystery from a bestselling Australian author.

1868 Morpeth Theodora Breckenridge, still in mourning after the loss of her parents and brother at sea, is more interested in working quietly on her art at the family's country estate than she is finding a husband in Sydney society, even if her elder sister Florence has other ideas. Theodora seeks to emulate prestigious nature illustrators, the Scott sisters, who lived nearby, so she cannot believe her luck when she discovers a butterfly never before sighted in Australia. With the help of Clarrie, her maid, and her beautiful illustrations, she is poised to make a natural science discovery that will put her name on the map. Then Clarrie's new-born son goes missing and everything changes.

1922 Sydney When would-be correspondent Verity Binks is sent an anonymous parcel containing a spectacular butterfly costume and an invitation to the Sydney Artists Masquerade Ball on the same day she loses her job at The Arrow, she is both baffled and determined to go. Her late grandfather Sid, an esteemed newspaperman, would expect no less of her. At the ball, she lands a juicy commission to write the history of the Treadwell Foundation - an institution that supports disgraced young women and their babies. But as she begins to dig, her investigation quickly leads her to an increasingly dark and complex mystery, a mystery fifty years in the making. Can she solve it? And will anyone believe her if she does?

My Thoughts

A new Australian historical fiction book by Tea Cooper always gives reason to celebrate as her books guarantee great escapism. 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. Much like Theodora’s paintings in the novel, Tea has beautifully captured time and place in this wonderful story. 

‘She was different, she knew she was. She'd always known. Something was out there waiting for her and one day she would grasp it between her fingers and know her search had ended.’

In her latest offering, The Butterfly Collector, Tea writes a dual timeline narrative set in New South Wales 1868 and 1922. I appreciated the close proximity of the timelines with familial links as it enriched the story with aligned connections. Rich in research, Tea details two interesting events from this period in Australia. One is the fascinating story of initial sightings of the Monarch butterfly in Australia; the other, the much darker tale of what became of many babies from unwed mothers of the period. Another theme surrounded women’s independence, especially after WW1 and insights into such things as the advent of the bicycle providing more freedom - something I had never really considered before. 

Congratulations Tea on once again proving your prose is up there with the best. From strong protagonists, to family drama and mystery, to the breathtaking vistas of the bush with the magnificent flight of the butterflies - I highly recommend the tale that is, The Butterfly Collector with its tale of strength and persistence. 

‘… each individual butterfly hovered and danced above the sea of flowers, their first taste of nectar giving them strength for the moment they'd ensure their species survival.’

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: Dawnlands

Title: Dawnlands

Author: Philippa Gregory

Publisher: 15th November 2022 by Simon & Schuster Australia

Pages: 520 pages

Genre: historical fiction 

My Rating: 4.5 cups

Synopsis:

The “sweeping” (Parade) and “superb” (People) Fairmile series from #1 New York Times bestselling author Philippa Gregory continues as the fiercely independent Alinor and her family find themselves entangled in palace intrigue, political upheaval, and life-changing secrets in 17th-century England.

It is 1685, England is on the brink of a renewed civil war against the Stuart kings and many families are bitterly divided. Ned Ferryman cannot persuade his sister, Alinor, that he is right to return from America with his Pokanoket servant, Rowan, to join the rebel army. Instead, Alinor has been coaxed by the manipulative Livia to save the queen from the coming siege. The rewards are life-changing: the family could return to their beloved Tidelands, and Alinor could rule where she was once lower than a servant.

Alinor’s son, Rob, is determined to stay clear of the war, but when he and his nephew set out to free Ned from execution for treason and Rowan from a convict deportation to Barbados, they find themselves enmeshed in the creation of an imposter Prince of Wales—a surrogate baby to the queen.

From the last battle in the desolate Somerset Levels to the hidden caves on the slave island of Barbados, this third volume of an epic story follows a family from one end of the empire to another, to find a new dawn in a world which is opening up before them with greater rewards and dangers than ever before.

My Thoughts

‘There's no safe haven for us Stuarts!' he said bitterly. 'Don't you hear me? The west is all for Monmouth, and the north. The Scots are all for Argyll! If we're not safe in our own capital city, where we can fall back into the Tower if we come under siege,

then we're not safe anywhere!’

A new historical novel from Philippa Gregory is always cause for celebration. Few authors make historical dramas more inviting, whether it be through her Tudor Tales or life at the court of James II.  Dawnlands is the third installment in her The Fairmile Series where Philippa continues the story of independent Alinor and her family in 17th-century England. Readers who have read the first two in the series - Tidelands and Dark Tides - are sure to be delighted to return to this world. New readers fear not! This book can work as a stand-alone especially for those who appreciate strong female characters from such a recognised authority of women’s history. 

The Fairmile Series is the first by Philippa that features primarily fictional characters woven in amongst the more notable ones from history. Her tale has all the action, romance and drama that readers have come to expect from her writing. There are varying storylines told from a range POVs - royalty, tradespeople and slaves as examples. Readers are given insight into not only the history of England during this period but also the hidden caves on the slave island of Barbados and time in America as well. 

I have been a fan of Phillippa’s writing from the beginning and although I was somewhat apprehensive leaving the Tudor era, I have to say I am impressed with how this series has evolved. Some readers may find sections to be slow, however, experience will definitely be enriched if you have read the first two books of the series. There are many characters to follow and the ending indicates more to come in the series. As always Philippa brings history alive with compelling characters, whether they be real historical figures or fictional characters. 

Historical fiction is simply marvelous when you get to learn whilst reading a great story and these stories are so fresh from Philippa - simple people caught up in the momentous historical events of their time. I loved being immersed in everyday life as this epic story follows a family from one end of the empire to another searching for a new dawn in a world which is opening up revealing both new rewards and hidden dangers. 

‘There will be a dawn’, he told her. 'You're a child of the Dawnlands. It seems like a very dark night now for you, but you're young, you'll see a lot of dawns - and they'll be happier than this one, I promise you.'

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.