The Palace of Lost Virtue

 The Palace of Lost Virtue

Anthea Hodgson

Reviewed by Helen

Anthea Hodgson takes her readers on and adventure back to Kalgoolrie in 1898 gold is everywhere and it plays a big part in the story and then there is the duel time line that takes us to 1926, come along and meet two woman from very different sides of the track who make friends and where they end up.

1898 and Marigold Harrington arrives with her mother in Kalgoolrie in search of her father who left their happy home in Toorak Melbourne in search of gold to make their lives better, Marigold is a member of The Christian Woman’s Temperance and she is determined to help woman wherever she can, especially those who are in brothels and the such, but she never thought her life would change the way it did.

Pansy Arlington has come to Western Australia from Kentucky USA after her life changed and now she owns and runs The Palace of Pleasure she has built her business up from nothing and has some very good girls working for her, Pansy does love a drink though so when Marigold arrives doing her best to talk to Pansy and the girls and change their minds about what they are doing, Pansy is not going to listen, but Pansy sees a strength in Marigold and also kindness.

It is not long before Marigold and Pansy become good friends and although their lives run in different circles they are there for each other especially when Marigold finds herself in a difficult situation and Pansy steps up and helps Marigold but it means the end of their friendship but does it really.

1926 sees Marigold still in Kalgoolrie but life is very different for her now things have changed she has been through a lot but she is still the most determined woman there is and there is a lot that keeps her going especially the court case regarding the murders of two policeman, her and her neighbour Gert are full of interesting information, will they find the killer or killers?

This story is based on true events, it was a hard time and I loved this one I loved Pansy she is a wonderful character as is Marigold and the girls Rosie and Bertha, there is a twist at the end that I did not see coming but I applauded it, I do highly recommend this one to any lover of a good Aussie historical fiction. Thank you Anthea Hodgson for another fabulous story.

4 stars

April 21, 2026 by Penguin Australia

The Diamonds of Tilly Devine

 The Diamonds of Tilly Devine

Jackie French

Reviewed by Helen

Constance McKie has just lost the mother she loved, she has been caring for her for the last seven years as she fought her battle with cancer it is 1931 and the Sydney suburb of Surry Hills is not the best place to live, the depression has changed people’s lives and now what is Connie to do, there are not many choices, starve, jump of the gap or become a street walker when Tilly Devine the queen of the brothels offers her a choice that is hard to refuse.

Connie weighs up her options and takes on the job of one of Tilly’s Diamonds these woman are beautiful, know how to keep secrets they are upper class, Tilly keeps her Diamonds separate from her other businesses and she plays matchmaker arranging marriages to wealthy men who needs to keep their personal lives secret and soon Connie finds herself married to businessman Ted Glendenning, they have met a few times and Connie is convinced that she will be happy with her paper marriage but after two days of marriage she realises that there is no way she is going to be happy and the mouse that Ted thought he married turns around when they arrive at the country property that Connie is supposedly to spend her life on the farm away from the city.

Soon Connie with some changes she is settled into her new life in the country and life is so very good for her but when a murder is suspected, things change very quickly connections to Tilly Devine must be kept under wraps, bribery, blackmail and so much more bring big changes to this once happy place, will Connie survive all that is happening? After all Diamonds are very strong.

This is such a great story MS. French has bought to life an era that was very hard for so many people and combined fact and fiction and bought her readers a story that is complex and immersive there are so many plots and so many fabulous characters Connie is such a strong and determined woman and Tilly Devine was always a woman not to be messed with and it shows in this story. I do highly recommend this one to anyone who loves historical fiction, I loved it.

My thanks to Harlequin Harlequin Enterprises for my copy to read and review.

4 stars

June 30, 2026 by Harlequin Enterprises

I've Grown Accustomed to My Scott

 I've Grown Accustomed to My Scott

The Mackenzies Take London #2

Sara Bennett

Reviewed by Helen

Book two in this wonderful series and we see the second Mackenzie brother Rory arrive in London to continue on in his reckless life he has no intention of falling in love or heaven forbid marrying, Rory is about the carefree life but things just might change when he ends up in a duel and then with his caring ways rescues and marries Grace, it is to be a paper marriage only he will see her settled in a home and he can go on his merry way or that is what he thought.

Grace sadly is known as Disgrace after a scandal when she thought a man would be able to help her escape her cruel stepfather, but when her stepfather finds her another husband and he ends up in a duel with a Scotsman is seems the she will now marry Lord Rory Mackenzie although she knows that it is a marriage on paper Grace dearly wants to make it real one at least once she is shocked when Rory refuses, he is a man of his word.

But with Rory’s Aunt Jennie encouraging them to be seen out in public to push the scandal away their time spend together sees them forming a relationship that is growing and soon they are sharing a bed and things are changing for both of them but falling in love was never on the plan for either but life has a way of changing things could they find a HEA together?

This is a truly a lovely story one that I loved Rory and Grace are made for each other and I do highly recommend this one and the series and I can’t wait for the next one bring it on I am looking forward to getting to know the next Mackenzie sibling.

My thanks to Dragonblade Publishing and Netgalley for my copy to read and review.

5 stars

June 6, 2026 by Dragonblade Publishing, Inc

Rebel Spirits

 Rebel Spirits

Paula J Beavan

Reviewed by Helen

This is another fabulous Australian historical from one of my favourite authors, Paula J Beavan it is 1865 and we are in the small town of Jump Up Creek in The Hunter Valley of New South Wales and we meet the Maguire’s, Paddy and his two adult children Ellen and Michael, times have been hard since the death of wife and mother and since the railway went through, their roadside inn The Harp and Hound known as one of the best is no longer getting the patronage that it had and Ellen had promised her mother that she would keep things running and look after her father and brother.

Ellen continues to make the woman’s elixir that has been handed down from her granny then to her mother and now Ellen but when needs must with the help of their cook Mrs. Reid Ellen is soon doing something that she never would have thought possible, making poteen to an old family receipt and this could bring them back from the brink of ruin or destroy everything they have known as a family.

When Ellen rescues and injured Englishman Jack Bell who is searching for his long lost niece, Ellen offers him a place to stay and the care he needs for a while but soon there is a pull that she is not sure about, and it appears that Jack is feeling the same but they are from two very different worlds and with what she is doing at the moment nothing can happen.

Dangers seems to be appearing from all corners now when the mystery niece arrives with her secrets and what of her brother Michael and the things he is up to with the poteen she has been making and the sly grog shops and the neighbour who is after their land and the police are doing their best to contain the sly grog throw in a couple of children some Llamas and Alpacas and a race horse and this story has all that is needed for a wonderful story that had me smiling, cheering Ellen on and turning the pages.

I loved this one from start to finish, the author has bought the era, the characters and the events to life on the pages, who will Ellen choose family or the handsome Jack Bell? I do highly recommend this one, I never miss a Paula J Beavan story you will be transported back in time and get hours of reading joy, many thanks MS. Beavan for another fabulous story.

My thanks to the author for my digital copy to read and review.

5 stars

May 27, 2026 by Paula J Beavan

The Marriage Trap

 The Marriage Trap

Victoria Purman

Reviewed by Helen

1960 in a suburban town in Adelaide and we meet the Langley family, Len, Olive, Cathy and Evelyn there are also another two sons and another daughter but they have married and moved out, this story concentrates on the three females Olive, Cathy and Evelyn and what life was like starting at 1960 and going through to 1970 and it was a bit different to what we know now come along and meet them.

Olive is sixty and is a strict catholic she has had five children the last one Evelyn was a change of life baby and born when she was fifty it was a big shock, did she ever want five children probably not but as a married woman and catholic there was not a lot she could do but she always hoped that her daughters would one day have a little more control over their lives.

Cathy is twenty and at teachers college she has her life planned teaching for a couple of years before she settles down and marries and starts a family of her own but she would like more control about those things but when she meets Andy she discovers that love is opening up a new world for her and one night will change all of her plans for the future and she finds herself married but one thing is for sure she is determined to decide how many children she has and she just might get that wish when there is talk of a contraceptive pill, this will change her life.

Evelyn is ten and is very smart she loves the family dictionary she uses it all the time she loves listening in on adult conversations and will look up any word that she does not know the meaning of and along the way she soon discovers that life for a woman is not all it is made out to be will things be different as she gets older, she certainly want sit to be.

I did enjoy this story and getting to know these three females and what life was like back then although I was born in the 1950’s and married in the 1970’s things were still changing for the better for me there is a lot of back story information throughout about the contraceptive pill and the catholic church and the thoughts of the men who ran it, did Olive’s ideas change over the years as her girls grew into woman? One thing is for sure I am glad things have changed for woman.

My thanks to HQ Fiction and Netgalley for my copy to read and review.

4 stars

May 1, 2026 by HQ Fiction

The Governess's Guide to Spells and Managing Misfit Marquesses

 The Governess's Guide to Spells and Managing Misfit Marquesses

The Parasol Academy #2

Amy Rose Bennett

Reviewed by Helen

I am loving this series, the first one was brilliant and now we get to know Parasol Academy Governess Hermina Davenport when she takes matters into her own hands to protect a child, come along for a journey filled with danger, fun and so much more.

Mina Davenport takes her job very seriously and when she is sacked form her job as Governess to a young, orphaned Viscount, she will use all of her magical powers that she needs to protect him and gets herself on the ship that is whisking him away to The Artic by his new guardian, too late to walk down the gangplank she uses her tel-ley-porting spell and finds herself and young Christopher on another boat this one belongs to an Irishman a huge man who has recently become a Marquess and here the journey starts with Phineas O’Connell , Lord Kinsale and his rather pugnacious pug Brutus.

Phineas grew up on the streets of Dublin and being a Lord was the last thing he expected and his life so far has not been easy he stutters and his accent is strong and he is finding it hard to fit in with The Ton, but when a mysterious woman and young child just arrive on his yacht, are they stowaways he has no idea but before long he comes up with a plan that this governess can help him with his etiquette and his elocution but first he must have a young ward to be able to hire her and in steps young pick pocket Tom Fleet, soon Mina, Phineas, Christopher and Tom are living and learning together.

This really is a fabulous story Phineas and Mina are perfect together and it shows when evil and supernatural forces make themselves known putting them all in danger Phineas stands his ground and will do anything to protect the woman he has fallen in love with and Mina a true Parasol Academy Governess uses all of her powers magical and beyond to keep them safe as she falls for her big bulking Irishman.

I do highly recommend this one, a fabulous historical romance with a twist it is as fabulous as the first one in the series and I am really hoping we will have more in the series, I loved it is filled with emotion, it is sensual and so much fun, Brutus is the best so many awesome characters.

My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my copy to read and review.

5 stars

March 31, 2026 by Kensington

The Hobart Hotel

 The Hobart Hotel

Mary-Lou Stephens

Reviewed by Helen

I loved this one, again MS Stephens has not disappointed me this story, it is absolutely fabulous told in two time lines, with wonderful characters and settings I fell into it and savoured the story.

1939 and it is the big opening for the Riviera Hotel in Wrest Point Tasmania and Mrs. Sabine Winters has travelled from Europe to be at the opening she is looking forward to the glamour after all that she has been through in Spain and now what is happening in Europe, she will have some choice selections for her (stolen) collection of jewellery she is sure, what happens is she is blackmailed by Mr. Grey into joining him in spying and she soon finds herself married to Mr. Grey and landing in Uruguay, South America where she puts herself in danger to get information about the Nazis who are doing their best to take over the country.

In 1973 Hobart is the place to be with the opening up of Australia’s first casino at The Wrest Point Hotel Casino and twenty year old Jenny Davis and her friends attend the opening and Jenny has found a gorgeous gold dress at the back of her mother’s wardrobe and she wears it, it really is special and she is soon approached by one of the managers and asked if she would like to become a Ladybird and Croupier but she knows that her mother will not stand for it she is against the Casino, but matters are taken out of her hands and soon Jenny finds herself, training to become a Ladybird, making new friends and earning more money that she ever did but is also causes a rift between her and her mother and soon she is living in The Riviera Hotel. With Jenny’s twenty first birthday coming up she finds a letter with a key that says this will change her life and soon Jenny and her friends will be uncovering an old mystery that will change her life.

This is a fabulously told story of two strong woman, two awesome settings it really is a page turner and has everything an historical fiction story needs, mystery, romance and adventure, I loved both Sabine and Jenny and the two timelines, the 1973 one bought back lots of memories for me with bands and music and The House or Merewether, I remember The Casino opening and all the fanfare that went with it. The ending is just the best, a fitting end to an awesome story.

I do highly recommend this one I loved it.

My thanks to Harlequin AU and Netgalley for my digital copy to read and review.

5 stars

April 1, 2026 by HQ Fiction