What do you think?
Rate this book
An Unsuitable Bride
It’s 1918, the war’s nearly over and people are looking for fun. Anna Hall is delighted when her wealthy, older fiancé, Max Elliot invites her on a holiday to the Hunting Lodge in the beautiful Megalong Valley, Blue Mountains. But once there, she finds everything is not as it seems. Everyone has secrets and she soon finds herself entangled in a dangerous web of lies and deception.
Anna has a secret too but she cannot admit it for fear of vilification.
Max has a secret that will destroy Anna’s life, only he’s not prepared to tell her until he’s had his fun with her.
Jack-of-all-trades at the Hunting Lodge, Thomas Rutherford, has three secrets. He’s fallen for Anna, knows the real story as to why her fiancé, Max can’t marry her; he also doesn’t wish to admit he has shellshock and can no longer work as a doctor.
But the worst secret of all is how did Max’s last fiancée, Cora Hanson die?
Will Anna be next?
Anna has a secret too but she cannot admit it for fear of vilification.
Max has a secret that will destroy Anna’s life, only he’s not prepared to tell her until he’s had his fun with her.
Jack-of-all-trades at the Hunting Lodge, Thomas Rutherford, has three secrets. He’s fallen for Anna, knows the real story as to why her fiancé, Max can’t marry her; he also doesn’t wish to admit he has shellshock and can no longer work as a doctor.
But the worst secret of all is how did Max’s last fiancée, Cora Hanson die?
Will Anna be next?
292 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 13, 2024
2 people are currently reading
14 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
March 30, 2024
If you are looking for a historical romance set in Australia with wonderful characters a fabulous setting then this is one to pick up, Cathleen Ross’s newest is set in 1918 in the Megalong Valley in The Blue Mountains New South Wales and was a one sitting read for me, I was up late finishing this one, it is so good.
World War one is coming to an end and young Anna Hall, who has a secret she must keep has just become engaged to wealthy Max Elliot, Anna met Max at work he is a buyer and seller of ladies fashion and she would love to one day design fashions, she is swept away by his attention and love, Max invites her to attend a weekend at a hunting lodge in the Megalong Valley she agrees provided she has her own room, so as she can meet his friends and their wives.
Thomas Rutherford is working at the hunting lodge, he is a jack of all trades and does a bit of everything at the farm that supplies The Grand Hydro Majestic with its food staples, he is instantly drawn to the beautiful Anna when she arrives but Thomas has not long returned from the war and is still not back to his usual self and he has secrets.
When Anna arrives she feels that things aren’t as they should be Max is doting on her and talking about a future together with children but is she ready to go forward, it is not long before everything changes again as Anna uncovers secrets that Max has kept and that a previous fiancé has died here at the lodge, but how and she is now staying at the lodge due to a road that has been washed away, her and Thomas are getting closer and they are investigating the death of the woman, what will they discover?
Secrets, lots of secrets Anna, Thomas and Max have, how will they all unravel will Anna and Thomas get the answers they want and will they find love and happiness?
This is a fabulous story and I loved it from start to finish, the characters are so good all of them, the workers at the lodge added so much to the story, Cook, Betty and Mrs. Turner, this story pulled me in and has a little of everything, romance, mystery danger and intrigue and it is one that I would highly recommend.
World War one is coming to an end and young Anna Hall, who has a secret she must keep has just become engaged to wealthy Max Elliot, Anna met Max at work he is a buyer and seller of ladies fashion and she would love to one day design fashions, she is swept away by his attention and love, Max invites her to attend a weekend at a hunting lodge in the Megalong Valley she agrees provided she has her own room, so as she can meet his friends and their wives.
Thomas Rutherford is working at the hunting lodge, he is a jack of all trades and does a bit of everything at the farm that supplies The Grand Hydro Majestic with its food staples, he is instantly drawn to the beautiful Anna when she arrives but Thomas has not long returned from the war and is still not back to his usual self and he has secrets.
When Anna arrives she feels that things aren’t as they should be Max is doting on her and talking about a future together with children but is she ready to go forward, it is not long before everything changes again as Anna uncovers secrets that Max has kept and that a previous fiancé has died here at the lodge, but how and she is now staying at the lodge due to a road that has been washed away, her and Thomas are getting closer and they are investigating the death of the woman, what will they discover?
Secrets, lots of secrets Anna, Thomas and Max have, how will they all unravel will Anna and Thomas get the answers they want and will they find love and happiness?
This is a fabulous story and I loved it from start to finish, the characters are so good all of them, the workers at the lodge added so much to the story, Cook, Betty and Mrs. Turner, this story pulled me in and has a little of everything, romance, mystery danger and intrigue and it is one that I would highly recommend.
May 4, 2024
A brilliant five star sleep deprived,
It’s just gone four a.m. as I write this review so that should speak for itself. Cathleen Ross has a wonderful writing style with which she has painted the Australian setting vividly with her descriptive phrases; brought all her characters to life and created an intriguing, suspenseful story but not at the expense of emotion and satisfying romance.
This story will stay with me… not only as I struggle now through the rest of my week with fatigue from lack of sleep!
I highly recommend AN UNSUITABLE BRIDE.
Brilliant!
It’s just gone four a.m. as I write this review so that should speak for itself. Cathleen Ross has a wonderful writing style with which she has painted the Australian setting vividly with her descriptive phrases; brought all her characters to life and created an intriguing, suspenseful story but not at the expense of emotion and satisfying romance.
This story will stay with me… not only as I struggle now through the rest of my week with fatigue from lack of sleep!
I highly recommend AN UNSUITABLE BRIDE.
Brilliant!
April 8, 2024
loved the story and Australian location!
I quite enjoyed this book. Seeing Australia during WWI thru the Author’s writing, added a dimension I found really added to the story.
A lot of twists and turns throughout the novel, with a happy ending !
I quite enjoyed this book. Seeing Australia during WWI thru the Author’s writing, added a dimension I found really added to the story.
A lot of twists and turns throughout the novel, with a happy ending !
June 4, 2024
A beautiful, multi-layered romance set in the Megalong Valley in the final months of WWI highlighting the complex attitudes towards morality and race that existed at the time.
I couldn't put the book down after page one when I was plunged into the Australian bush with a sweet, kind, and lovely heroine, and a truly admirable hero who has to fight his demons so that he can fight for his sweetheart.
Highly recommended!
I couldn't put the book down after page one when I was plunged into the Australian bush with a sweet, kind, and lovely heroine, and a truly admirable hero who has to fight his demons so that he can fight for his sweetheart.
Highly recommended!
March 26, 2024
Oh wow. This novel was just soooo good. There were so many layers and stories intertwined. It was wonderful. I couldn't put it down. I thought it was going in one direction but it actually went in another.
A fantastic read. Highly recommended!
A fantastic read. Highly recommended!
August 17, 2024
An Unsuitable Bride
Blue Mountains 1918: With the war continuing after four years, Anna is delighted when Max invites her to the Blue Mountains to celebrate their engagement with his friends.
Once they are there, Max is injured and Anna discovers all is not what it seems and she is caught up in a web of lies and deceit.
I loved this story of love, lies and secrets.
Blue Mountains 1918: With the war continuing after four years, Anna is delighted when Max invites her to the Blue Mountains to celebrate their engagement with his friends.
Once they are there, Max is injured and Anna discovers all is not what it seems and she is caught up in a web of lies and deceit.
I loved this story of love, lies and secrets.
May 22, 2024
This book ticked many boxes for me and I read it at one sitting when I should have been engaged elsewhere. It resonated as so true to life in Australia in 1918, despite the slightly early arrival of the Spanish flu as an important vehicle for the story.
I've often stood at the Hydro Majestic Hotel and looked down into the Megalong Valley, wondering how people got down there other than by walking. It's well explained in the story. My great uncles signed up early to serve in WWI, one as an Australian doctor and his brother in the artillery, where he was killed in the dying days of that atrocious war. It inflicted survivor guilt on his brother, making it easy for me to identify with the hero of this story, Thomas.
As well as her descriptions of an Australian landscape and wildlife, the author also seemlessly included the background details of the attitudes to Germans here in WWI; the class structure of the time; the closeknit relationships in a rural community; the ingredients for, and preparation of, meals; the cars of the time (including the crank handles and the choke); the attitudes to pregnant, unmarried women; the sleazebag behaviour of some men; the characteristics of a gentleman.
Being able to identify with the setting and the characters makes a huge difference to my enjoyment of fiction and this book completely satisfied me as a reader. Highly recommended.
I've often stood at the Hydro Majestic Hotel and looked down into the Megalong Valley, wondering how people got down there other than by walking. It's well explained in the story. My great uncles signed up early to serve in WWI, one as an Australian doctor and his brother in the artillery, where he was killed in the dying days of that atrocious war. It inflicted survivor guilt on his brother, making it easy for me to identify with the hero of this story, Thomas.
As well as her descriptions of an Australian landscape and wildlife, the author also seemlessly included the background details of the attitudes to Germans here in WWI; the class structure of the time; the closeknit relationships in a rural community; the ingredients for, and preparation of, meals; the cars of the time (including the crank handles and the choke); the attitudes to pregnant, unmarried women; the sleazebag behaviour of some men; the characteristics of a gentleman.
Being able to identify with the setting and the characters makes a huge difference to my enjoyment of fiction and this book completely satisfied me as a reader. Highly recommended.
January 14, 2025
Cathleen Ross once again demonstrates her exceptional storytelling skills with 'An Unsuitable Bride,' a captivating historical romance set in the picturesque Megalong Valley, NSW, just after World War I. This novel is a true testament to her versatility as a writer, weaving a rich tapestry of strong characters facing their own challenges and navigating complex relationships.
The narrative beautifully unfolds the seemingly insurmountable conflicts between family members, love interests, and the dynamic between upper and lower-class characters, culminating in an unforgettable finale. Ross masterfully captures the essence of the era, addressing the aftermath of war, the burgeoning growth of Sydney and its surrounds, and the resilience required to overcome natural disasters, deception, and resource limitations.
I was thoroughly enchanted by the vivid settings, well-drawn characters, and the plot twists that kept me guessing until the very last page. 'An Unsuitable Bride' is not just a story; it's an immersive experience that will linger in your mind long after you've turned the final page. I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking a beautifully crafted historical romance filled with intrigue and heart!
The narrative beautifully unfolds the seemingly insurmountable conflicts between family members, love interests, and the dynamic between upper and lower-class characters, culminating in an unforgettable finale. Ross masterfully captures the essence of the era, addressing the aftermath of war, the burgeoning growth of Sydney and its surrounds, and the resilience required to overcome natural disasters, deception, and resource limitations.
I was thoroughly enchanted by the vivid settings, well-drawn characters, and the plot twists that kept me guessing until the very last page. 'An Unsuitable Bride' is not just a story; it's an immersive experience that will linger in your mind long after you've turned the final page. I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking a beautifully crafted historical romance filled with intrigue and heart!
November 4, 2024
Anna Halle has a few secrets, one being she has German heritage, and her father is in Holsworthy Internment Camp. Not a popular scenario in 1918 Sydney, with Australia at war with Germany. She's been swept off her feet and is now engaged to the wealthy Max Elliot, who takes her a Hunting Lodge in the Megalong Valley in the Blue Mountains for a few days. All legit, Anna insists on her own room. But she's met with some strange reactions when she says she's engaged to Max. And there is something sinister about a bloodied room on the property where something terrible seems to have happened, but no-one will talk about it. Then there is the enigmatic Thomas, who works on the property - a strangely attractive man who's suffering with grief and shell shock from the war. Everyone seems to have secrets, including Anna. Alarmingly, Max is also displaying feet of clay, and Anna has doubts about his integrity. Then the influenza hits and things go from bad to worse. This was a single-sit read for me, the story was extremely compelling and I couldn't put it down. Bravo, Cathleen Ross.
June 28, 2024
This is a wonderful book, with a powerful sense of both time and place. Set in the magical Megalong Valley in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, towards the end of the First World War, it's an intriguing story of love and betrayal. Kind-hearted Anna comes to a hunting lodge in the Megalong Valley for a weekend with her dashing fiancé Max, who has promised her the world. She trusts him implicitly, but over the course of the weekend, it becomes apparent that Max may not be all that he seems. Then Max has to leave to seek medical attention, and Anna is trapped in the Valley by a landslide. She has to work to pay for her board, and she rapidly earns the love and admiration of the other staff, including farmhand Thomas. But there are secrets in the Valley, and Anna has secrets of her own. Something terrible has happened there, and nobody wants her to find out what it is. Cathleen Ross is a masterful storyteller, and this novel is absolutely compelling.
May 8, 2024
Well written and well researched, this book kept me reading well into the night.
Anna comes to a Hunting Lodge in the Megalong Valley, Blue Mountains, with Max her fiance.
The date is 1918 and the war is nearly over but the effects are long lasting, even here.
When Max is injured, Anna finds herself trapped in the valley, but loving the isolated beauty of the place.
She befriends some of the staff and also Thomas, a returned soldier with a past. But there are secrets
in this place, and the more Anna digs the more dangerous it feels.
Couldn't wait to see what happened next. Well worth reading.
Anna comes to a Hunting Lodge in the Megalong Valley, Blue Mountains, with Max her fiance.
The date is 1918 and the war is nearly over but the effects are long lasting, even here.
When Max is injured, Anna finds herself trapped in the valley, but loving the isolated beauty of the place.
She befriends some of the staff and also Thomas, a returned soldier with a past. But there are secrets
in this place, and the more Anna digs the more dangerous it feels.
Couldn't wait to see what happened next. Well worth reading.
July 12, 2024
An Unsuitable Bride
Another wonderful read by Cathleen Ross, one I wasn't able to put down once I'd started.
Secrets always have a way of coming out, no matter how hard you try to bury them.
Wonderful characters, during a horrendous time during WW1 and the sad bigotry of the time.
Well worth reading.
If you've never visited the beautiful Megalong Valley, the hunting lodge is still there today, old and unused, only barely visible from the road, but I could picture it well.
Another wonderful read by Cathleen Ross, one I wasn't able to put down once I'd started.
Secrets always have a way of coming out, no matter how hard you try to bury them.
Wonderful characters, during a horrendous time during WW1 and the sad bigotry of the time.
Well worth reading.
If you've never visited the beautiful Megalong Valley, the hunting lodge is still there today, old and unused, only barely visible from the road, but I could picture it well.
June 4, 2024
A gorgeous love story with plenty of secrets and intrigues, set in a beautifully rural Australian valley. I loved every single character in this book, and was drawn in by the historical details. A hugely enjoyable read.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews