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The Secret Year of Zara Holt: A richly imagined story of fashion, scandal, betrayal and undying love
Not yet published
Expected 31 Dec 30464 pages, Paperback
Expected publication December 31, 2030
About the author
Kimberley Freeman
18 books699 followersPen name of Kim Wilkins.
Kimberley was born in London and her family moved back to Australia when she was three years old. She grew up in Queensland where she currently lives.
Kimberley has written for as long as she can remember and she is proud to write in many genres. She is an award-winning writer in children’s, historical and speculative fiction under her birth name Kim Wilkins. She adopted the pen name Kimberley Freeman for her commercial women’s fiction novels Duet and Gold Dust to honour her maternal grandmother and to try and capture the spirit of the page-turning novels she has always loved to read. Kim has an Honours degree, a Masters degree and a PhD from The University of Queensland where she is also a lecturer. She lives in Brisbane with her young family.
Kimberley was born in London and her family moved back to Australia when she was three years old. She grew up in Queensland where she currently lives.
Kimberley has written for as long as she can remember and she is proud to write in many genres. She is an award-winning writer in children’s, historical and speculative fiction under her birth name Kim Wilkins. She adopted the pen name Kimberley Freeman for her commercial women’s fiction novels Duet and Gold Dust to honour her maternal grandmother and to try and capture the spirit of the page-turning novels she has always loved to read. Kim has an Honours degree, a Masters degree and a PhD from The University of Queensland where she is also a lecturer. She lives in Brisbane with her young family.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
Review of advance copy
It’s beautifully written, but also a striking portrayal of a toxic love story and the sacrifices women often feel compelled to make in order to be loved ... and our insecurities ... which we create!
What begins as something deeply romantic unfolds into something far more complicated and ambiguous. The shift is especially powerful when H's infidelity comes to light - it reframes everything that came before it. I also really appreciated how the book highlighted Z's strengths and growth as an imaginative businesswoman, giving her character depth beyond the relationship.
It was an engaging and thought-provoking read. A question stays with me - if it's not mad, is it love? And a quote - you are asking the wrong question, it's not about whether you love him but whether he can make you happy.
What begins as something deeply romantic unfolds into something far more complicated and ambiguous. The shift is especially powerful when H's infidelity comes to light - it reframes everything that came before it. I also really appreciated how the book highlighted Z's strengths and growth as an imaginative businesswoman, giving her character depth beyond the relationship.
It was an engaging and thought-provoking read. A question stays with me - if it's not mad, is it love? And a quote - you are asking the wrong question, it's not about whether you love him but whether he can make you happy.
December 1, 2025
Written after the author read a biography on Zara Holt, so, based on true facts but is a novel. Loved the story. Zara was an amazing woman and bought to life brilliantly.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews