The Sugar Palace
Fiona McIntosh
Reviewed by Helen
Nothing better than a sugar fix and a good book, Fiona McIntosh has given her readers both with another fabulous story with this one, set around Sydney and The Rocks in the 1920’s while the building of The Sydney Harbour Bridge was going on we meet Grace Fairweather and learn of her dreams to open a confectionary shop and I loved it.
Grace is working in her parent’s grocery store in The Rocks but her dream is of making her own confectionary, lollipops, toffee, fudge you name it Grace wants to make it and make it available to everyone. Her mother is keen for Grace to settle down and marry police officer Norman Jenkins, but Grace is holding back, she wants to make her own decisions not be told what to do. Then along comes cheeky Londoner Alfie Sweeting and there is an instant spark between them and Alfie is keen to encourage and help Grace to aim and see success with her dream.
Grace’s mother Mary and Norman are not happy when Grace speaks up about getting married but soon they can all see that Alfie may be the one for Grace, Alfie is keen to help get the Grace’s shop The Sugar Palace open, Alfie also has a past that tends to run towards the criminal side and soon there are some not so nice people hanging around and causing lots of problems. Brothel owners and gambling and drug dealing criminals play a big part in this story, and keep you turning the pages to see what happens.
This is a wonderful story with wonderful characters who come to life on the pages, this time is Sydney was a hard time and MS McIntosh made me feel like I was there, I loved Grace’s strength and determination and Alfie might have had a tough life earlier on but he is smart and eager to please the woman he loves.
This is a story that I highly recommend, the excitement of opening the shop and the confectionary described had my mouth watering, so many fabulous characters to come along and meet, don’t miss this one.
Grace is working in her parent’s grocery store in The Rocks but her dream is of making her own confectionary, lollipops, toffee, fudge you name it Grace wants to make it and make it available to everyone. Her mother is keen for Grace to settle down and marry police officer Norman Jenkins, but Grace is holding back, she wants to make her own decisions not be told what to do. Then along comes cheeky Londoner Alfie Sweeting and there is an instant spark between them and Alfie is keen to encourage and help Grace to aim and see success with her dream.
Grace’s mother Mary and Norman are not happy when Grace speaks up about getting married but soon they can all see that Alfie may be the one for Grace, Alfie is keen to help get the Grace’s shop The Sugar Palace open, Alfie also has a past that tends to run towards the criminal side and soon there are some not so nice people hanging around and causing lots of problems. Brothel owners and gambling and drug dealing criminals play a big part in this story, and keep you turning the pages to see what happens.
This is a wonderful story with wonderful characters who come to life on the pages, this time is Sydney was a hard time and MS McIntosh made me feel like I was there, I loved Grace’s strength and determination and Alfie might have had a tough life earlier on but he is smart and eager to please the woman he loves.
This is a story that I highly recommend, the excitement of opening the shop and the confectionary described had my mouth watering, so many fabulous characters to come along and meet, don’t miss this one.
5 stars
October 10, 2023 by Penguin Random House Australia
