A stunning historical tale of loss, desire and courage that is full of the terror and the beauty of the Australian bush, for readers of The Thorn Birds, The Naturalist’s Daughter and The Widow of Ballarat. To forge a new life she must first deal with her past…1871. Adelaide Greaves and her young son have found sanctuary in the Australian town of Maiden’s Creek, where she works as a … of Maiden’s Creek, where she works as a postmistress. The rough Victorian goldmining settlement is a hard place for a woman – especially as the other women in town don’t know what to make of her – but through force of will and sheer necessity, Adelaide carves out a role.
But her past is coming to find her, and the embittered and scarred Confederate soldier Caleb Hunt, in town in search of gold and not without a dark past of his own, might be the only one who can help. Can Adelaide trust him? Can she trust anyone?
When death and danger threaten – some from her past, some born of the Australian bush – she must swallow her pride and turn to Caleb to join her in the fight, a fight she is determined to win…
‘Meticulously researched and brilliantly realised, Alison Stuart’s novel of vengeance, love and the power of a determined woman is hugely enjoyable.’ Tea Cooper, author of The Woman in the Green Dress
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Great story set in the Australian pioneer landscape.
This was an exciting and interesting story with several sub plots full of suspense and action. Great primary and secondary characters. A great read.
I thoroughly enjoyed this read and stayed up late to finish it. The characters are well-drawn and the story engrossing. Alison Stuart’s historical research is solid and fascinating, deftly woven through the story to vividly recreate the Victorian goldfields and the landscape. I’m looking forward to the next book!
A gripping, wonderfully well-researched romance set in a small gold-mining town in Victoria, Australia.
What a great book. Fabulous characters who had me hooked from the start. Set in gold rush period Australia. Strong writing and an author with real talent. I got through this book in a weekend.
I love MS Stuart’s books, she has a fabulous way with words and this story is just fabulous, her first set in Australia and can I say how much I loved this one it kept me up very late last night finishing it. I love Adelaide and Caleb, they are wonderful honest characters that have been through a lot and come through with love and friendship, this one is a must read.
Adelaide Lewis had led a secluded and privileged life in England, an only child with an uncaring wealthy father, but at a ball her life changes forever, her and her maid and best friend Netty arrive in Melbourne here she gives birth to her son Daniel and creates a new life for them all. Soon she is taking up the role of postmistress in the small gold mining town of Maiden’s Creek, she is strong and caring. Life is about to change again for Adelaide when a newcomer arrives in town an American with secrets.
Caleb Hunt has arrived in Australia after serving as a confederate soldier what he has seen and been through is enough to bring a man down but her moves on and decides to take his chance at gold mining after winning a claim in a game of chance, he arrives in Maiden’s Creek to find that he has been let down badly. Then he meets the beautiful postmistress and her son and there is a pull toward this woman, he feels that he may be able to open up to her, and then the time comes when he needs to open up to a secret that will help the town and when danger arrives in town in the form of an old friend of Adelaide’s, Caleb steps up and life is about to get a whole lot better for him.
This book is such a page turner, so many emotions it is moving and so well researched and written, it pulled me in from page one, the setting, the characters the depth of friendship and struggle that was a way of life back then. I loved getting to know Caleb and Adelaide the strength they drew from each other had me cheering them on. I do highly recommend this book, it really is a wonderful story, thank you MS Stuart this one is a keeper.
*3 Stars*
Copy kindly received by Harper Collins/Harlequin Australia for an honest review.
This was an interesting enough book, although for the most part it seemed pretty cruisey to me. There was a bit of mystery as to both Caleb and Adelaides past, but until maybe the last 1/4 of the book, nothing really crazy or big happened.
The writing style of the author is great and the detail and research that must have been done to get things correct and so believable would’ve been extensive, I just think the storyline itself kind of just rolled along easily for the most part. Not to say its a bad book, because its not. It was just a nice cruisey read for me this week, and I took my time with it.