New Release Book Review: The Valley of Lost Stories by Vanessa McCausland

January 13, 2021January 13, 2021 Amanda BarrettLeave a comment

Title: The Valley of Lost Stories Author: Vanessa McCausland Published: December 2nd 2020 Publisher: HarperCollins Books Australia Pages: 416 Genres: Fiction RRP: $32.99 Rating: 4.5 stars Beautiful, beguiling and treacherous … Big Little Lies meets Picnic at Hanging Rock in a secluded valley over the Blue Mountains. Four women and their children are invited to the beautiful but remote Capertee Valley, west of the Blue Mountains. Once… Continue reading New Release Book Review: The Valley of Lost Stories by Vanessa McCausland

2020 Reviews · dual time frame · fiction · historical fiction · mystery

Book Review: The Last Train by Sue Lawrence

January 12, 2021 Amanda BarrettLeave a comment

Title: The Last Train Author: Sue Lawrence Published: January 24th 2018 Publisher: Allen & Unwin Pages: 352 Genres: Fiction, Historical, Mystery RRP: $32.99 Rating: 3.5 stars At 7 p.m. on 28 December 1879, a violent storm batters the newly built rail bridge across the River Tay, close to the city of Dundee. Ann Craig is waiting for her husband, the owner of a large… Continue reading Book Review: The Last Train by Sue Lawrence

#20BacklistIn2020 · 2020 Reviews · contemporary fiction · dual time frame · historical fiction

#20BACKLISTIN2020 Backlist Book Challenge: The Imperial Wife by Irina Reyn

November 16, 2020 Amanda BarrettLeave a comment

In a desperate bid to reduce the books that are collecting dust on my TBR shelves, I have decided to collaborate with another avid reader and fellow book reviewer, Nicole from Certified Book Addicts. The #20BACKLISTIN2020 challenge is a self paced challenge hosted by Jaylamm.Reads, Reading and Sunshine, and Cassidys.Bookshelf. The overall goal of this challenge is to read… Continue reading #20BACKLISTIN2020 Backlist Book Challenge: The Imperial Wife by Irina Reyn

#aww2020 · 2020 Reviews · dual time frame · historical fiction · new release

New Release Book Review: The Silk House by Kayte Nunn

October 14, 2020 Amanda Barrett8 Comments

Title: The Silk House Author: Kayte Nunn Published: June 30th 2020 Publisher: Hachette Australia Pages: 384 Genres: Fiction, Historical RRP: $32.99 Rating: 5 stars Weaving. Healing. Haunting. The Top-Ten bestselling story of a mysterious boarding school sheltering a centuries-old secret… Australian history teacher Thea Rust arrives at an exclusive boarding school in the British countryside only to find that she is to look after the first… Continue reading New Release Book Review: The Silk House by Kayte Nunn

#aww2020 · 2020 Reviews · book bingo · contemporary fiction · dual time frame · historical fiction

#Book Bingo 2020 Round 9: ‘Themes of Culture’- The Things She Owned by Katherine Tamiko Arguile

September 11, 2020 Amanda Barrett5 Comments

Book Bingo 2020 is a collaboration challenge I am completing for the third year with my favourite bloggers, Theresa Smith Writes and The Book Muse. On the second Saturday of each month, beginning on Saturday 11th January 2020, Theresa, Ashleigh and I will complete a book review post, outlining our respective bingo card entries. The Book Bingo 2020 card… Continue reading #Book Bingo 2020 Round 9: ‘Themes of Culture’- The Things She Owned by Katherine Tamiko Arguile

2020 Reviews · Britain · contemporary fiction · dual time frame · historical fiction · new release

New Release Book Review: The Sea Gate by Jane Johnson

September 10, 2020 Amanda Barrett7 Comments

Title: The Sea Gate Author: Jane Johnson Published: September 2nd 2020 Publisher: Head of Zeus – GB Pages: 448 Genres: Fiction, General RRP: $32.99 Rating: 5 stars One house, two women, a lifetime of secrets… Following the death of her mother, Becky begins the sad task of sorting through her empty flat. Starting with the letters piling up on the doormat, she finds… Continue reading New Release Book Review: The Sea Gate by Jane Johnson

2020 Pop Sugar Reading Challenge · 2020 Reviews · contemporary fiction · dual time frame · historical fiction

POPSUGAR READING CHALLENGE 2020: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

August 28, 2020 Amanda Barrett12 Comments

Today I am marking off my thirtieth #30th checkpoint category for the POPSUGAR READING CHALLENGE 2020 with: Aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one is more astounded… Continue reading POPSUGAR READING CHALLENGE 2020: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

2020 Pop Sugar Reading Challenge · 2020 Reviews · contemporary fiction · dual time frame · historical fiction

POPSUGAR READING CHALLENGE 2020: Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton

August 1, 2020 Amanda Barrett3 Comments

Today I am marking off my twenty eighth #28th checkpoint category for the POPSUGAR READING CHALLENGE 2020 with: After the death of her beloved grandmother, a Cuban-American woman travels to Havana, where she discovers the roots of her identity-and unearths a family secret hidden since the revolution . . . Havana, 1958. The daughter of… Continue reading POPSUGAR READING CHALLENGE 2020: Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton

#aww2020 · 2020 Reviews · contemporary fiction · dual time frame · historical fiction · new release

New Release Book Review: The Lost Jewels by Kirsty Manning

July 13, 2020 Amanda Barrett4 Comments

Title: The Lost Jewels Author: Kirsty Manning Published: March 31st 2020 Publisher: Allen & Unwin Pages: 336 Genres: Fiction, Historical/Contemporary RRP: $32.99 Rating: 5 stars From the bestselling author of The Jade Lily comes a thrilling modern-day treasure hunt brimming with family secrets. ‘…seamlessly blending fact with fiction to create a truly stunning story, it’s a heartwarming tale by one of Australia’s best… Continue reading New Release Book Review: The Lost Jewels by Kirsty Manning