Review: The Artist’s Secret

Title: The Artist’s Secret

Author: Alexandra Joel

Publisher: 4th January 2023 by HarperCollins Australia

Pages: 379 pages

Genre: romance, women’s fiction

My Rating: 5 cups

Synopsis:

The sweeping new saga of strong heroines and family secrets from the bestselling author of The Paris Model. While searching for her lost sister, art historian Wren Summers takes on the glittering world of New York's auction houses.

A missing girl, a hidden masterpiece, and the search for the truth

1965: A beautiful young couple escapes the suffocating weight of family expectations to live a life free of materialism and tradition. But the past does not always let go so easily ...

1987: Art historian Wren Summers starts her dream job at Sydney Art Museum and quickly makes a name for herself. She keeps quiet about her unconventional upbringing and flighty but talented artist mother. Then, just as everything she has built looks to come crashing down around her, shocking family secrets come to light.

Wren heads to New York in search of answers as well as a fresh start, and is swept up in the glittering world of fine art sales and high-stakes auctions. Can she navigate the swirling temptations and pitfalls of glamour and romance, betrayals and deceit while holding true to what is right?

My Thoughts

Alexandra Joel … take a bow 👏 I loved your previous books but I feel that The Artist’s Secret is next level, your best yet - wonderful! A dual time narrative going between 1965 and 1987 seamlessly weaving historical fact and fiction that provides her readers with a highly engaging tale.

‘These were the moments art historians lived for.’

This book presented a riveting tale that I was so eager to return to and lose myself in. The story was well written incorporating themes of art, workplace discrimination, family secrets, love and friendships set against backgrounds from Sydney, Rome and New York. The 1965 timeline briefly touches on a young couple running away from conscription to the Vietnam war. The main focus is on Wren in the 1980s and I enjoyed her journey from hippie childhood, to attempting to break into the Art Auction scene which takes her all around the world and even facing up against the Mafia. There is action and adventure, romance and betrayals all set against a highly engaging story. 

‘You know, it doesn't matter where you have come from. What counts is who you want to be.’

I have no doubts that there is something for everyone in this multi-layered story - from art and auctions, from finding love and even yourself. Readers are sure to be enthralled with this intriguing and lively tale.

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: Her Worthy Rake

Title: Her Worthy Rake

Author: Charlotte Anne

Publisher: 1st January 2023 by Escape Publishing

Pages: 288 pages

Genre: regency, romance

My Rating: 3 cups

Synopsis:

Sparkling Regency romance full of wit, warmth and mystery from a fabulous new voice. If you like Georgette Heyer or all things Bridgerton, you'll love this. Is falling for this rake a mistake?

Owen Tattershall might not have a title or immeasurable wealth like other gentlemen of his ilk, but he does have rather excellent taste in the waistcoat department-and taste counts for a lot amongst the ton. It also doesn't hurt that his adopted mother is the dowager Marchioness of Faye and his kind-of-cousin is the Duke of Woodhal. Unfortunately, prestige didn't save his family from the ravages of war, and now what's left is held together by nothing more than heartbreak, hope and bravado. To keep his memories of the war at bay, Owen immerses himself in his work ... until the day Sophy Calder comes colliding into his life.

Sophy has been fending for herself ever since her twin brother was press ganged to fight against Napoleon's forces. But the war ended almost two years ago, and still he hasn't returned. Knowing something dreadful has happened, Sophy is determined to find her missing brother, even if it means infiltrating the world that snatched him from her. But when she encounters Owen, she quickly finds her growing attraction for the only man who's taken her seriously threatening her long-mastered control.

An addictive romp from start to finish, this delightful Regency romance is set in the world of The Unworthy Duke, but is a standalone read.

My Thoughts

‘A gentleman’s daughter she might be, but that mattered little now she was orphaned and unwed at the age of six and twenty, with little of her own but the charity of her missing brother, whose farm had not yielded a decent income for the last three years.’

Charlotte Anne’s debut,  The Unworthy Duke was such a fun read with a warning for purists that it was very much contemporary and not your classic regency tale. She has followed it up with Her Worthy Rake and it follows in very much the same vein. 

The premise was promising, however, it does not quite gel together in execution for me. Charlotte brings mystery and emotion to this particular historical romance yet the pacing was somewhat off and the story seemed to lose its way a bit at times. I am all for reimaginings but this one upped the ante in terms of contemporary regency adaptation to the extent that it left me undecided.

Regency fans need to investigate. This is the type of read - perfect for those in between, lighter literary needs - filled with mystery, steam and requisite angst to come together in creating an engaging tale for modernists. 

‘There’s an important reason why Sherry doesn’t want to be found, even by his sister.’

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 Library at Wagtail Ridge

Title: The Library at Wagtail Ridge

Author: Janet Gover

Publisher: 30th November 2022 by Harlequin Australia, HQ & MIRA

Pages: 400 pages

Genre: romance, contemporary

My Rating: 4 cups

Synopsis:

An unexpected and unusual inheritance sets a young woman on the road to discover her mother's deepest secret. A charming and heartfelt rural romance perfect for readers of Rachael Johns and Karly Lane.

When Lou Taylor inherits a quaint country cottage and a mobile library full of books from her birth mother, she heads to the small town of Wagtail Ridge to learn more about the woman she never knew. Curiously, the last piece of the bequest is a handwritten letter, the first of many Luca left scattered along the library's route in hopes of finally sharing her secrets with the daughter she had to give up.

The townspeople of Wagtail Ridge flock around Lou, wanting to share the stories of Luca's life, but she knows she must learn about her birth mother in the way Luca intended. Jake Barnes, her new neighbour, offers to help her follow the trail, but weighing on his conscience is a promise he made to Luca - a secret that now stands between him and the woman who's slowly capturing his heart...

As the kilometres fly by, Lou gradually untangles who her mother was and what lay behind the choices she made. At the same time, she finds herself drawing ever closer to kind, handsome Jake. But will it all be enough to keep her in Wagtail Ridge when she has another happy life waiting for her in the city?

A captivating story of love, family and belonging from award-winning romance author Janet Gover.

My Thoughts

The Library at Wagtail Ridge is a heartwarming story of Lou as she seeks to discover more about her birth mother and ultimately, herself. She travels to Wagtail Ridge where she has been bequeathed a cottage and mobile library. Throughout her journey, Lou is often angry and frustrated until, through a series of letters, she begins to understand the actions her birth mother made. Along the way Lou develops relationships (romantic and otherwise) with the local community who wish to welcome and embrace her. 

‘This was about who she was - and she really didn’t know the answer to that any more.’

All up this is a book with a number of themes, primarily one concerning the story of adoption. Through the anger Lou feels at the disruption to her life, she will learn to get all the facts about situations before jumping to any conclusions. The two main features in this read for me were twofold. Firstly, the mobile library. It was wonderful of Janet to shine the spotlight on these very remote communities and just how special and crucial such visits were. 

‘Library day was obviously something of a social occasion for the people who didn’t get many chances to just chat … The library was more than just a place to find a book.’

Secondly, the nod given - through the various letters Lou received from her birth mother - of wonderful Australian classics - The Shiralee, Seven Little Australians, Picnic at Hanging Rock, My Brilliant Career - just to name a few. I love these books and they are a part of Australian literary culture.

‘Knowing I could spend my life in that room surrounded by literally thousands of books was a gift … Then I was given the mobile library to run. What a perfect combination: books and the open road.’

The Library at Wagtail Ridge is an easy read with a focus on the importance of community and finding a home where you belong. In essence it is a dedication to these small rural towns and the binding love of all things literary. 

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: Inside Bridgerton

Title: Inside Bridgerton

Author: Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers

Publisher: 29th November 2022 by Hachette Australia

Pages: 285 pages

Genre: non fiction, Bridgerton

My Rating: 5 cups

Synopsis:

Inside Bridgerton is the intimate behind-the-scenes story of the hit Shondaland series on Netflix, from Shondaland executive producers Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers.

Full-colour and beautifully designed, Inside Bridgerton is the official book about the show, and includes never before seen photographs, first-hand accounts on casting, insight into the decisions behind the costumes and sets, directors' accounts on shooting your favourite scenes, and more from the creative minds that launched a cultural phenomenon.

Shondaland executive producers Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers offer exclusive insights, and introduce you to the series writers, producers, directors, cast, crew and talented creatives who brought Julia Quinn's beloved novels to the screen.

My Thoughts

Being the huge fan of Bridgerton I am, I was beyond excited to receive a copy of this sensational book. It’s always enlightening to get behind the scenes and become immersed in something you love. Not only is this a stunning book visually but it is filled to the brim with such interesting facts and details. This book now has pride of place on my bookshelves. 

‘We wrote this book to share with you the craftsmanship, effort, and beauty of what went into building the world of Bridgerton. We also wrote this book to sneak you a few behind-the-scenes secrets. After all, we could not enter the world of Lady Whistledown without a few whispers of hot gossip, could we? Settle in. Loosen your corset. Gentle Reader, this is for you.’

As Julia Quinn herself states in the book, ‘It was utterly brilliant. Different, yes, but beautifully done in a way that I never would have considered. It was perfect.’  This tome is filled with gorgeous glossy photos from behind the scenes. It was fabulous to learn of the various locations used for filming and how a production of this magnitude is undertaken. For example, the chapter on the complexities of production was such an eye opener with details of how characters would go through 10-15 people before arriving on set!

The book is divided into sections: 1.Writing the World  2.Hiring the World  3.Defining the Ton  4.Building the World  5.Beyond the Page  6.Visualising the World. Within these chapters there is such a range of information on topics from the costuming including jewelry and undergarments (‘The factory ultimately held eighteen hundred dresses, all cataloged. Phoebe alone had eighty-six dresses.’);  and of a particular personal interest, a historian who commented on matters of authenticity with everything from Regency slang to making readers aware of what it would have been like in reality:

‘In the period, the trees were lit up by lamps filled with whale oil- - which smelled dreadful, so the Pleasure Gardens would have absolutely stank.’

If you are a fan of Bridgerton (or even the logistics of a production of this magnitude) getting your hands on a copy of Inside Bridgerton is a no-brainer. It’s big, it’s brash and it is absolutely beautiful. 

‘And so, Dearest Reader, here is hoping that you have delighted in this peek behind the scenes of Bridgerton. … Our hope is that this book makes you more interested, invested, and curious about Bridgerton, of course, but also about world-building in general, and the exquisite care that goes into every moment of production, whether it happens onscreen or off.’

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 Next Girl

Title: The Next Girl

Author: Pip Drysdale

Publisher: 30th November 2022 by Simon & Schuster Australia

Pages: 368 pages

Genre: thriller, crime

My Rating: 5 cups

Synopsis:

Promising Young Woman meets High Fidelity in the dark and twisty new thriller from the bestselling author of The Sunday Girl, The Strangers We Know and The Paris Affair.

A bad day at work. A drunken night. A rogue Instagram follow. That’s all it takes to ruin a life … 

The question is, whose life will be ruined? When Billie wakes up in a strange guy’s bed, her first thought is: what happened last night? She can't even remember meeting him. And how the hell did she get to Coney Island?

Then reality bites and the memories flood in – the reason she was in that bar, drinking to start with: today she's going to get fired. Because yesterday her law firm lost a big case: Samuel Grange v Jane Delaney. And it looked like it was her fault.

It wasn't. Yet now Samuel Grange is free to drive off into the sunset in his stupid Porsche and do it all again to another woman. And all Billie can think is: What about the next girl? And the one after that? But there is nothing she can do to stop him.

Unless ... She could expose the truth about him on her own. Then everyone would see what he was really like. And he wouldn't be able to do it again.

The problem is, the only way to protect the next girl is to become the next girl. And, well, that could be a little risky ... even deadly.

My Thoughts

‘Because the only way for me to protect the next girl is if I am the next girl.’

The Next Girl is a standalone psychological thriller by bestselling Australian author, Pip Drysdale and I was so excited to finally sample her writing. All up I found an intelligent and interesting plot, with strong characters written in a most conducive way - this book kept me on the edge of my reading seat!

I liked Billie - complex and flawed - characteristics that make her totally believable. The story unfolds with her speaking to the reader which, to me, really hits the mark - it felt like reading her personal diary. Interspersed throughout is the crucial backstory where the reader learns about a past that helps make total sense of current unfolding events. I was hooked from the very beginning and eagerly turned the pages to find answers. 

‘I'm not sure how many more lies I have in me.’

This is a book that is fast paced and completely engaging as it is overflowing with suspense. The details are spot on, especially concerning the technology references which I loved. A domestic thriller that will hook you in and keep you guessing until you have all the puzzle pieces to complete the picture. 

‘I always thought that if I ever got caught for doing what I do, there would be some glory in it. That people would understand why. They might even applaud it.’

The suspenseful atmosphere Pip creates with twists and turns and both snappy sentences and short chapters were all impactful. This is a book that is sure to appeal to many. With the classic ‘whodunnit’ flavoured with many other serious and heavier themes including sexual violence, vengenance and revenge, coercion and control. This fast paced thriller with stalker vibes, several suspicious characters and a murder mystery is a read that completely drew me in. 

‘When I tell people I was drawn to working in the law because 'I wanted to help’, they always look at me like I'm a silly little girl with too much faith in the system. Like the world has some nasty surprises in store for me. But I’ve already had those nasty surprises; my way of helping isn't what they think it is.’

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: East of Alice

Title: East of Alice

Author: Annie Seaton

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

Pages: 340 pages

Genre: romance, contemporary, mystery, suspense

My Rating: 5 cups

Synopsis:

A gem-fossicking discovery echoes through time and leads to a dangerous journey through the red dust outback. A gripping mystery from Australian author Annie Seaton.

Gemma Hayden has returned to her hometown of Alice Springs for a new job as a primary school teacher. It's been six years since her family broke apart following the disappearance of her twin brother. And the scars still run deep.

Hard on the heels of her homecoming, Saul Pearce, the man she once loved, is reposted from Parks and Wildlife in Darwin back to Alice. When an old car wreck is uncovered, washed down the river to Ruby Gap, Saul investigates only to find that the wreck belonged to Ethan, Gemma's twin - and there's a coded note for her in the glovebox.

Joining forces, they trek through the rugged outback, piecing together clues that not only bring them to the attention of a criminal organisation, but lead them to uncover an even older puzzle ... One now lost to the history books.

With targets on their backs, will they unearth the truth in time?

My Thoughts

Having read Annie’s previous books I came in with high expectations as she is renowned for writing a great mystery. East of Alice makes it ‘three for three’ for me and I am now a fully fledged Annie Seaton fan. Having a dual timeline - turn of the century (1900s) and contemporary - the story unfolds from two main perspectives of the same family. I enjoyed this book so much as both stories are well told with a list of engaging aspects - mystery, action, adventure, danger, romance - all set in one of the most isolated locations in Australia. 

‘It’s not all for nothing,’ he murmured quietly as she clung to him, his khaki shirt bunched in her fists. ‘We’ve come this far, Gem. And we won’t give up until we search every bit of this ground. If that tin’s here, we’ll find it.’

Annie has once again completed faultless research in her endeavor to transport her readers. Ruby Gap and its history had me running off to Google and tied in with a sensational thriller/mystery made this a highly compelling read. There was so much to learn from not only the history of settlement in the area but also, as in Annie’s previous books, the contemporary storyline. The story itself is a good one! It is a slow build up but once it gets going the escalating tension will easily see you flying through the pages to a satisfying end. The two main characters, Gemma and Saul, are on their own journeys and I was really glad of the way Annie laid out their romantic relationship. Romance is not the sole focus here and the way the storylines plays out is most realistic. I also appreciated the minor step back in time with another mystery from last century which unfolded alongside the present day one. It added a nice touch with a fitting conclusion for closure. 

‘Gemma closed her eyes and tipped her head back. Total and absolute quiet. The encompassing silence of the outback cocooned her; she was home in the place she loved.’

East of Alice is certainly a book worth looking into on a number of levels. Annie takes the reader in directions they certainly would not be expecting. This is an another great read with its gripping tale, detailed descriptions of the Australian outback and relatable characters. If you haven’t read a book by Annie I highly recommend you do so - you won’t be disappointed. 

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.