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sadiereadsagain's review against another edition
4.0
I picked this book up as I've read and really enjoyed Sarah Maine before - I read [b:Women of the Dunes|36374001|Women of the Dunes|Sarah Maine|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1523649865l/36374001._SY75_.jpg|58061207] last year. I thought that book has a really great blend of mystery, a touch of modern-day romance and historical fiction. This story is completely set in the past, and has a prominent romance premise. I'm not a romance reader at all, but I figured I was in good hands with this author so gave it a try.
This is the story of Rose and Will, who meet when Will jumps into the treacherous water to save her from a shipwreck, off the beach of a New Zealand gold-mining town in the 1800's. Will has come to New Zealand from Scotland, where in desperation he committed a crime to pay his way to join the gold rush. Rose has been sent away by her employers, after a scandal in the household she was a maid to in Australia. Will then saves Rose again, this time from a life of prostitution in the town's hotel, by asking her to marry him. This story follows Will to a newly discovered gold-field, trying to find enough to give him and Rose the life they both dream of. Whilst Will is away, Rose finds work with the local photographer, Fraser, until Will is established enough for her to join him. But a misunderstanding sees Will left for dead after a fight with the photographer, and Rose blackmailed into a life on the run with Will's former gold-mining partner, the rough and dangerous Robbie. We follow Rose as her situation goes from bad to worse, and Will as he chases her from New Zealand, to Australia and back to Scotland - the country he thought he would never be able to return to.
As I had hoped, Sarah Maine didn't let me down in this book. Whilst this does have a romance at its core, this book is not dominated by that one element. It is compulsively readable, full of historic fact from a period of history I knew nothing about, and is really more about the jeopardy that Rose finds herself in. Maine is incredibly good at setting a scene, and each character had a really strong presence. I particularly enjoyed the character of Rose, who we meet when she has been beaten down by life, but who grows in both confidence and courage. This book isn't particularly deep in comparison to my usual choices, but it still covers a lot of themes and is a fun read.
My only quibble was with the ending. Not in how it came about, but how it played out. For me, after the build up, the ending itself felt a bit stunted and not the thrilling climax I was hoping for. I'd have loved to see both that and the aftermath given more page time to really feel like a conclusion.
I was sent a Netgalley of this title from Hodder and Stoughton in return for a review. All opinions are my own.
This is the story of Rose and Will, who meet when Will jumps into the treacherous water to save her from a shipwreck, off the beach of a New Zealand gold-mining town in the 1800's. Will has come to New Zealand from Scotland, where in desperation he committed a crime to pay his way to join the gold rush. Rose has been sent away by her employers, after a scandal in the household she was a maid to in Australia. Will then saves Rose again, this time from a life of prostitution in the town's hotel, by asking her to marry him. This story follows Will to a newly discovered gold-field, trying to find enough to give him and Rose the life they both dream of. Whilst Will is away, Rose finds work with the local photographer, Fraser, until Will is established enough for her to join him. But a misunderstanding sees Will left for dead after a fight with the photographer, and Rose blackmailed into a life on the run with Will's former gold-mining partner, the rough and dangerous Robbie. We follow Rose as her situation goes from bad to worse, and Will as he chases her from New Zealand, to Australia and back to Scotland - the country he thought he would never be able to return to.
As I had hoped, Sarah Maine didn't let me down in this book. Whilst this does have a romance at its core, this book is not dominated by that one element. It is compulsively readable, full of historic fact from a period of history I knew nothing about, and is really more about the jeopardy that Rose finds herself in. Maine is incredibly good at setting a scene, and each character had a really strong presence. I particularly enjoyed the character of Rose, who we meet when she has been beaten down by life, but who grows in both confidence and courage. This book isn't particularly deep in comparison to my usual choices, but it still covers a lot of themes and is a fun read.
My only quibble was with the ending. Not in how it came about, but how it played out. For me, after the build up, the ending itself felt a bit stunted and not the thrilling climax I was hoping for. I'd have loved to see both that and the aftermath given more page time to really feel like a conclusion.
I was sent a Netgalley of this title from Hodder and Stoughton in return for a review. All opinions are my own.
krelbc's review against another edition
wasn’t for me. not what i expected
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual content
larawade's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
lyndsreadsbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
jmatkinson1's review against another edition
3.0
New Zealand in 1866 and Will Stewart has left behind his past in Scotland to search for gold. Life is hard but the rewards could be great. One evening a huge storm drives a ship onto the rocks and Will rescues a young woman. To save her from a life of prostitution he marries her and builds a cabin by his claim. Will finds a cache of gold which he hides from his partners but, when he disappears after a fight, Rose is taken by another man. Will determines to reclaim his Rose even if it means confronting the sins of his youth.
This book is a bit of a mixed bag for me. I loved the beginning of the book based around the gold rush shanty towns and the life there but as the photography theme crept in the realism seemed to fade. By the time the action moved to Australia I was less armoured and the final chapters in Scotland I found underplayed. That's not to say that Maine isn't a good writer and certainly has a feel for a stunning start to a book.
This book is a bit of a mixed bag for me. I loved the beginning of the book based around the gold rush shanty towns and the life there but as the photography theme crept in the realism seemed to fade. By the time the action moved to Australia I was less armoured and the final chapters in Scotland I found underplayed. That's not to say that Maine isn't a good writer and certainly has a feel for a stunning start to a book.
burrowsi1's review
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
billiefletch's review against another edition
3.0
An easy page-turner with an interesting historical setting. Wish the ending was explored more.
ameliamorris's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
dorkphoenixrising's review against another edition
4.0
If you love historical fiction, and are a fan of the likes of Stacey Hall and Bridget Collins then check this out.
Starting in 1866, New Zealand, the narrative splits between Will, a digger joining the gold rush and seeking to make a fortune, and Rose, a young woman whose passage to NZ was paid for and arranged by her baby daddy's family after falling pregnant out of wedlock. The pair meet for the first time in the beginning few pages as Rose's boat shipwrecks and Will saves her from drowning. Oh, how dramatic
Starting in 1866, New Zealand, the narrative splits between Will, a digger joining the gold rush and seeking to make a fortune, and Rose, a young woman whose passage to NZ was paid for and arranged by her baby daddy's family after falling pregnant out of wedlock. The pair meet for the first time in the beginning few pages as Rose's boat shipwrecks and Will saves her from drowning. Oh, how dramatic