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  A Hidden Life

  Adele Geras

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  When Constance Barrington dies, she leaves behind a wealthy estate and a complex family network. But when the whole family gathers to hear her last will and testament, they are in for a terrible shock. Constance - possessed of a long memory and a spiteful disposition - altered her will shortly before her death. The new provisions are far from fair; some benefit hugely and others hardly at all. Constance's granddaughter, Louise, is bequeathed the copyright for her late grandfather's novels (barely remembered, long-since out of print and valuable only as a reminder of the man she loved). It is a paltry inheritance and one that comes to symbolise the inequity at the heart of the Barrington family. Soon, old family feuds and long-hidden resentments come to the surface - and with them, secrets start to emerge. But it is through Louise's inheritance - those dusty, long-forgotten books - that the most explosive secret of all will come to light, bringing with it a very different future for her and the rest of the family.

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  The Eyes That Look - The Secret...

  Julia Grigg

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  We may have eyes that look – but how clearly do we see?
  This compelling novel of art and adventure, Julia Grigg's debut, is set in the feverish creativity of mid-sixteenth century Italy. Francesco Bassano wants to find out how and why an extraordinary painting was made; the story traces his quest to discover the secrets of the portrait's past. Francesco's journey, his coming-of-age, takes him and his questions to Venice, Verona, Maser and Florence. Encountering the High Renaissance's masters Titian, Veronese and Vasari in the very act of creating and recording the era's stupendous art and architecture, he is witness to astonishing achievements. Enthralled, he learns of the determination needed for innovation and the sacrifices demanded of an artist if cherished ambition is to become reality. Little by little he unravels what lies behind the painting, gaining new understanding of love, truth and beauty, and of loyalty, devotion and the unbreakable bond between a master and his dogs. However, in delving deeper, the past's dark side reveals itself: cruelty, inhumanity and human frailty – and Francesco cannot avoid the experience of bitter betrayal.
  A spirited, entertaining fiction drawing on historical facts, The Eyes that Look is multi-sensual in its storytelling, inviting readers to revel in the unrivalled artistic riches of the Italian Renaissance.

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  Where We Belong

  Lynn Austin

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  The Adventure of a Lifetime for Two Indomitable Socialite Sisters In the city of Chicago in 1892, the rules for Victorian women are strict, their roles limited. But sisters Rebecca and Flora Hawes are not typical Victorian ladies. Their love of adventure and their desire to use their God-given talents has brought them to the Sinai Desert--and into a sandstorm. Accompanied by Soren Petersen, their somber young butler, and Kate Rafferty, a street urchin who is learning to be their ladies' maid, the two women are on a quest to find an important biblical manuscript. As the journey becomes more dangerous and uncertain, the four travelers sift through memories of their past, recalling the events that shaped them and the circumstances that brought them to this time and place.

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  The Secrets of Castle Du Rêve

  Hannah Emery, Katy Sobey

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  In the quaint, seaside town of Silenshore a legacy of secrets is about to be revealed… 
  Growing up in the imposing Castle du Rêve during 1940s wartime, young Evelyn longs for a life outside the castle walls. She dreams of attending glamorous parties, gracing the silver screen and being swept off her feet by a dashing, debonair beau. But innocent Evelyn is unaware that her bid for freedom from the oppressive castle will change the course of more than just her life… 
  In the early Sixties, sweet, intelligent Victoria meets the man of her dreams! Yet the expression of their love comes with consequences. In the shadow of the mysterious castle, is their relationship doomed from the start? 
  In the present day, Isobel has just learned she’s pregnant. An unexpected challenge she can only hope she’s up to. Except living in the father of her child’s family home, beneath the eyes of the castle, all is not as it seems… Soon secrets that have been hidden for decades threaten to change the lives of Isobel’s new family irrevocably. 
  Three women’s lives tangled together in a web of secrets, scandal and deceit, as the legacy of Castle du Rêve is finally discovered… 
  A must read for those who enjoyed the Richard & Judy bestseller, Amy Snow. 
  The historical saga unfolds, revealing a top psychological thriller that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. The romance that blooms amidst the secrets and scandals adds a layer of complexity to the narrative. 
  For fans of Karen King (One Summer in Cornwall), Jenni Keer (The Legacy of Halesham Hall), Alexandra Walsh (The Forgotten Palace), Charlotte Duckworth (The Perfect Father), and Vanessa Garbin (No Friends of Mine). 
  HarperCollins 2022

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  Buddha in Redface

  Dr. Eduardo Duran

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  Story is told by a narrator who is a psychologist in Indian country. What appears to be a consultation with a patient ends up meeting with his teacher, Tarrence. Tarrence proceeds to take the narrator into a dreamtime journey that melts the worldview held by the story teller. The dream leads the narrator to a place in which the energy generated by ancient dreamers must be balanced. The lack of balance brought on by the power dreamers and their ceremony resulted in the atomic bomb. New realms also give insights as to why the bomb was dropped on Japan. Throughout the story there are conflicts between western and Indigenous ways of knowing, the main protagonist being Carl, who is a psychiatrist.

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  Australia Felix

  Henry Handel Richardson

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  The story of Richard Mahony, a doctor trained in Edinburgh who comes to Ballarat in the gold rush of the 1850s. At first he runs a shop but later he marries and returns to medical practice. His story is interwoven with that of his wife's brothers and sister. Even after his medical practice becomes successful he is still unhappy living in the colony and decides to return home to Britain. Richard is a restless irritable man whose character is said to be based on the author's own father. This book is the first of the trilogy 'The Fortunes of Richard Mahony', but stands well on its own. The other two books of the trilogy are still protected by copyright in the USA, but may be found on Project Gutenberg Australia. (Summary by tabithat)

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