A forbidden love. A suitcase of old diaries.A secret so powerful it could bring a monarchy to its knees.“An exquisitely told, beautifully realised historical tale.” – Mrs B’s Book Reviews“Haunting and beautiful.” – DemelzaThe rules were crystal clear. She broke them all… with little money, she must take a job as a parlourmaid at the mysterious North Head Quarantine Station. It’s a place of turmoil for passengers and strict rules for employees.
But Rose discovers some rules were made to be broken.
2019 … Over a century later, Emma Wilcott is struggling to help her dementia-suffering grandmother from wandering at night. Her long-term memories are leading her somewhere, and Emma realises she is searching for someone from her past.
Emma’s investigation takes her to the Quarantine Station where she meets Matt, the station carpenter, and together they unravel a mystery so compelling it has the power to change lives, to change everything Emma ever knew about herself.
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Just finished reading this excellent story of The Quarantine Station by Michelle Montebello, set in Sydney Australia.
“The rules were crystal clear. She broke them all…”
An enjoyable time-slip love story set at the Q station in Manly at the end of WW1 and when the Spanish Influenza epidemic was rife. Lots of twists and turns, and genealogical fun.
The Quarantine Station is one of those books that stays with you long after you turn the final page. Michelle Montebello has a beautiful voice and it shines through this haunting story set in Sydney over one hundred years.
Two stories and a mystery drew me in to a world where fear of disease and rules define the lives of one couple, and the impact of those rules impact on the other. Both stories are so well told it made it hard to let go of the characters.
I strongly recommend The Quarantine Station to everyone who loves powerful writing, fabulous characters, and a unique look at the past.
The Quarantine Station
There are not nearly enough words to describe how much I loved this book! The Quarantine Station is unlike any book I have ever read. It was full of mystery, suspense, heartbreak, drama and forbidden romance.
What makes this book even more amazing is the way the author intertwined two stories set a century a part. This book follows the life of Emma in the present and then goes back to tell us her great grandmother, Rose’s story. We get to view the world through both of their eyes as Emma tries to solve the mystery of why her Grandmother keeps wondering to the water at night.
This book really does have it all. I was hooked from the very moment I began reading, and on the edge of my seat multiple times. There were so many twists and turns that every time i thought I had something figured out I would realize I was wrong.
I was so fascinated by the setting this book takes place in that I had to stop reading at one moment just to look it up and learn even more about it myself. The author truly out did herself when she brought this place to life in her book and this is definitely not your typical love story.
Join Emma on her quest for answers and uncover so much more than you will ever expect. Trust me, you will not be disappointed.
This is a must read book for sure! – By Alisa
I am not sure where to start with this one, it is an amazing story with twists and turns as we relive life during the 1900’s it was a hard time then in Sydney with the first world war raging and then in 2019 as we try to solve a mystery that started back in 1918. Once you pick this one up you are not going to want to put it down so make sure that you have nothing else planed, as you get to know Rose and Thomas, Gwendoline, Emma and Matt and a cast of fabulous characters.
It is 1918 and Rose Porter has arrived from England, it is war time and jobs are hard to get, she applies for a job as parlourmaid at the North Head Quarantine Station, this place has rules that must be followed and the work is hard with dangerous disease ever present, but there is also love to be found for Rose with Thomas the carpenter, they take a big risk, but Rose is such a strong and caring person, lots happen in this time that will have tears flowing with special guests and the friends that Rose makes.
Now 2019 and Emma Wilcott is caring for her 100 year old grandmother Gwendoline who suffers dementia, and she keeps escaping from the aged care home she lives in searching for something from her past and Emma sets out on a quest to find what it is she is looking for, this takes her to The Quarantine Station where her Grandmother lived till she was seven, and here she meets Matt the carpenter, and not only do they unravel the mystery they also journey to a HEA that has lots of ups and downs.
This is really a fabulous story with so many fabulous people who are so easy to like and love, I was cheering them on, there were tears and the two romances just made my heart soar, it is beautifully written and the setting is awesome so much history there and MS Montebello bought The Quarantine Station and the people to life, this is a story that should not be missed and I do highly recommend it, thank you MS Montebello this is one for the keeper shelf.