Synopsis

Inkerman, Queensland, Australia

Fall 1889

Jennie Stewart, an unemployed governess, is looking to escape the rule-abiding town of Inkerman.  After the death of her childhood friend, Grace, Jennie takes refuge with several other friends at a beach house, needing to embrace the freedom she so craved…and hopefully find a clue that might lead her to discover who killed her friend and why.

John Atheling, an estate steward, made many personal sacrifices to get to his position, including distancing himself from the fairer sex and their manipulative ways.  His ordered life turns to chaos when he finds the nanny, Grace, dead.

Being given leave from his job, John accepts an invitation from his childhood friend to join him and several others on a retreat to the beach.  He reluctantly accepts after discovering one of the men joining them is suspected of knowing the truth about Grace’s death.

Arriving at the beach, John discovers who the rest of his companions would be over the coming days, including Jennie, a woman who ignites a longing in him that both thrills and scares him.  He hadn’t come to the beach to be lured into the seductive web of a woman, but nor could he deny the instant attraction he has to her.

Jennie should have treated John as the stranger he was, but she was drawn to him, desires burning in her that she couldn’t – and didn’t want to – ignore.  Struggling to remember why she’d come to the beach, she fought against the lure of love and passion, reminding herself that love at first sight was nothing more than a fairytale.

Will John and Jennie surrender to their heart’s desire, or will they fall victim to the murderer they’re chasing before they discover if love at first sight really exists?

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Review

Cultures vary from country to country, but desires between men and women remain the same no matter where you live.

Jennie was trained to be a governess to children of wealthier parents. While in school in England, she met three other women: Mary, Grace, and Beatrice. She, and the others, find themselves in Australia in the same town. What are the odds? Of course, Beatrice is from this town, and I wonder if she helped engineer their arrival. Their friendship remained, even if Beatrice was a bit standoffish to everyone because of who her father was and the opportunities she had compared to the other three.

I really liked Jennie’s character, except when she was being silly or obstinate in various situations. I’m not sure why she had such a hard time with trust. Perhaps it was tied to an incident in England where a man attacked and nearly raped her. A man that somehow also ended up in this same Australian town. You will quickly discover that he is sadistic and blames his lack of women on Jennie. This does not bode well for her future, especially her safety.

John is enamored by Jennie. He doesn’t know who she is until he ends up at the beach with her and 4 other people. She had visited the estate where he worked to see her friend Grace, which is how John somewhat recognized her. This trip allows them time to meet, discover who they are, and what their future can hold for the two of them. It is a rocky start, but if you believe in love at first sight, this is what happens to them. While there was a mutual attraction, they had to also deal with misconceptions and lies told by another party member about them. These lies spread doubt, which makes it harder for John and Jennie to trust each other initially.

I admired Jennie’s strength and desire to shed the propriety society in Australia had set down regarding apparel and thoughts. This is common for the late 1800s, and Jennie would be considered something of a rebel or blue stocking in her desire to enjoy a bohemian lifestyle. Both John and Jennie have some baggage that also creates distrust. Had they spoken plainly to one another and been blunt about certain situations, many misunderstandings could have been avoided.

Some drama happens near the end, but I will not spoil that for the reader. Let’s just say that certain situations came to a head at the end of the book, and things could have ended badly for John and Jennie.

I enjoyed this story and the multiple layers of the characters that added dimension to the story. I couldn’t believe the actions of one character. Actually, I could believe it, but not to the extreme level by the end of the story. I also felt like I learned something about Australia and its culture at the end of the 1800s.

We give this book 4 paws up.

About the Author

Faye Hall spent her early years listening to stories about the families – including her own – who settled townships in and around her hometown in North Queensland, Australia.  The local townspeople, including her own parents, told her stories of corruption and slavery, along with family secrets and forbidden love.

Faye’s passionate stories combine controversial subjects, and provocative encounters as her characters struggle to survive the lifestyle in early rural townships throughout Australia.

When she’s not writing, Faye enjoys sharing a bottle of wine with her husband and encouraging the varied interests of their larger than average family.

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