For me, the best novels intertwine historical events with deeply emotional personal stories. Flawed characters, fractured family relationships and a few unexpected plot twists take a novel to the next level. Flashlight took me on a historical and cultural journey alongside three flawed individuals, all trying to make sense of a world that betrays them at every turn. At times, I really did not like these characters, at others I applauded their courage and resilience in the face of great odds.
At first I thought this novel was going to be a nice piece of whimsy, an interesting conceit with a handful of quirky characters. But its slight length belies its deep understanding of love and loss. It's a meditation on grief that is full of life and love.
What a romp! A light and whimsical take on a Regency romance for those readers wishing that Jane Austen still walked among us (and was penning many more books). A witty comedy of manners with a dash of Regency fashion — the title says it all.
“Bridgerton fans will swoon over this entertaining romp through Britain’s Regency-era high society.” —People
"A Lady's Guide to Fortune Hunting is a sharp, modern, and absolutely delicious take on the marriage plot. Sophie Irwin's debut is one of the most fun, romantic books I've read in a long time. I cannot wait to see what she does next." --Taylor Jenkins Reid, New York Times bestselling author of Malibu Rising
A whip-smart debut that follows the adventures of an entirely unconventional heroine who throws herself into the London Season to find a wealthy husband. But the last thing she expects is…
A home. A disappearance. And a mystery that spans a century...
When Cass leaves London with a fractured heart, she plans to settle in Australia, specifically in the beautiful area of Victoria coastline where she spent so many happy holidays. Yet when she arrives, her house is not quite what she'd envisaged - doing a place up is one challenge, living with things that go bump in the night is quite another.
Years earlier, Minna and her mother have escaped war torn Europe to join the fairgrounds. There, Minna meets Albert, a man who clearly wants a wife who will also be a full-time worker on his farm near Venus Bay. Albert has no interest in Minna, nor tolerance of her desire to become a writer. When he, and then Minna, both disappear, the mystery of what has happened to them stays buried, seemingly for ever...
It will take Cass, and the discovery of a hidden book, to unravel the secrets of a childhood and a marriage, and a story that will also help her live again.
Two women, decades apart, and a house that brings them together.
