What do you think?
Rate this book
Staircase to the Moon
An alternate cover edition exists here.
Perth, Western Australia, 1913:
When her conservative family tries to force Emily into an arranged marriage with a much older, wealthy man, she decides to take destiny into her own hands and escape her strict father and overbearing brothers. She embarks on a ship to North-Western Australia to take up employment as a private seamstress for a large and rich farming family, who welcome her with open arms. Surrounded by the breathtakingly beautiful and remote landscapes of the Kimberly region, Emily starts to believe that happiness and love really are possible in her new life. But storm clouds are gathering, and as the men of Kimberley march off to war in Europe, Emily must step up to prove herself against all the odds. And that's when things start to turn out different than she ever could have imagined ...
Additional titles of Elizabeth Haran, available as e-books: "River of Fortune," "Under a Flaming Sky," "Island of Whispering Winds," and "Flight of the Jabiru".
For fans of adventurous romance novels set in exotic places, such as works by Sarah Lark or Rebecca Maly.
About the author: Elizabeth Haran was born in Bulawayo, Rhodesia and migrated to Australia as a child. She lives with her family in Adelaide and has written fourteen novels set in Australia. Her heart-warming and beautifully written books have been published in ten countries and are bestsellers in Germany.
Perth, Western Australia, 1913:
When her conservative family tries to force Emily into an arranged marriage with a much older, wealthy man, she decides to take destiny into her own hands and escape her strict father and overbearing brothers. She embarks on a ship to North-Western Australia to take up employment as a private seamstress for a large and rich farming family, who welcome her with open arms. Surrounded by the breathtakingly beautiful and remote landscapes of the Kimberly region, Emily starts to believe that happiness and love really are possible in her new life. But storm clouds are gathering, and as the men of Kimberley march off to war in Europe, Emily must step up to prove herself against all the odds. And that's when things start to turn out different than she ever could have imagined ...
Additional titles of Elizabeth Haran, available as e-books: "River of Fortune," "Under a Flaming Sky," "Island of Whispering Winds," and "Flight of the Jabiru".
For fans of adventurous romance novels set in exotic places, such as works by Sarah Lark or Rebecca Maly.
About the author: Elizabeth Haran was born in Bulawayo, Rhodesia and migrated to Australia as a child. She lives with her family in Adelaide and has written fourteen novels set in Australia. Her heart-warming and beautifully written books have been published in ten countries and are bestsellers in Germany.
516 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 26, 2016
53 people are currently reading
64 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Haran
32 books45 followersElizabeth Haran was born in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe (known as Southern Rhodesia.
Afterwards, her family moved to England and wandered from there to Australia. Today she lives with her husband in a seaside suburb of Adelaide in South Australia. She has two grown sons. Her passion for writing she discovered early 30s.Previously she worked as a model, owned a nursery and worked with young children in a primary school.
facebook. Elizabeth Haran Australian Author
Afterwards, her family moved to England and wandered from there to Australia. Today she lives with her husband in a seaside suburb of Adelaide in South Australia. She has two grown sons. Her passion for writing she discovered early 30s.Previously she worked as a model, owned a nursery and worked with young children in a primary school.
facebook. Elizabeth Haran Australian Author
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
Read
January 19, 2016Copy provided by NetGalley
When I saw that this book was set in Australia, I glommed onto it. And it turned out that the strongest element of this romantic novel is the setting: it is clear that Haran knows Australia, and her love for it imbues the descriptions of scenery, weather, and the sensory experience of the inland stations, where most of this story is set.
Emily is in her twenties, confined at home by her dad and three brothers, not allowed to do anything but her part in the family business, tailoring. The only good part of her life is her Uncle Freddy, who cooks and cleans for the family, but he can't do anything about the oppressive atmosphere. When the brothers arrange for her to marry a disgusting looking man whose behavior matches his looks, she secretly runs away, taking a position as a seamstress on a station.
Though she has only made men's clothes, she has somehow learned in secret how to design and make stylish women's clothing, and so fits right in among the McBrides of North Bundaloon Station in the vast area called the Kimberley. The senior McBrides are warm, welcoming people, with one son and three daughters, and a staff of Aboriginal people. Emily also meets Harry, the senior stockman, and his son Angus, a big flirt.
The time is on the eve of World War I. The early part of the book is taken up with Emily's awful home life, her arduous ship journey to Derby, and then settling into station life. Emily is immediately accepted by everyone, and she turns out to be super talented. The only drawback is her immediate attraction to Liam, the handsome McBride son and heir--but he is engaged to the beautiful daughter of a nearby station. Emily keeps her feelings to herself; her total lack of experience with romance makes her uncertain, which was rather refreshing .
Emily is relishing life on the station, especially among women, when war happens, and pretty much most of the menfolk volunteer. Who is going to do the work of the station if there are no men around? The refined, gently brought up women begin losing their refinements, one by one--led by Emily, who is willing (and able) to tackle anything.
The story, fairly linear until this halfway point, begins to pick up its pace. The women have to contend with all kinds of station problems, weather at the forefront, compounded by the emotional lives of the women, some with men gone, others involved with those staying behind. The narrative takes a sympathetic view of the Aboriginal peoples, demonstrating how that culture strongly influenced the white population even while the government was carrying out horrific repressions.
The one character who is treated mostly as a comedic figure is the Chinese cook, though toward the end he gets to become a human being. Many of the other characters veer close to stereotype now and then, aided by prose with a tendency to tell the reader (sometimes repeatedly) what just happened emotionally, as if the reader can't be trusted to pick it up from the heavily adverb-peppered dialogue tags and descriptions. (There were also far, far too many punctuation and grammar errors that I hope will be fixed before the final book is released.)
Overall I'd call this one heartwarming historical romance, falling firmly into the "sweet" category, that is, the one sexual relation (and it's one of the most interesting story arcs) is kept strictly off-stage, with the women dealing with the result. The descriptions of Australia at that period were gripping, the prose the strongest when evoking station life, peopled with colorful subsidiary characters.
When I saw that this book was set in Australia, I glommed onto it. And it turned out that the strongest element of this romantic novel is the setting: it is clear that Haran knows Australia, and her love for it imbues the descriptions of scenery, weather, and the sensory experience of the inland stations, where most of this story is set.
Emily is in her twenties, confined at home by her dad and three brothers, not allowed to do anything but her part in the family business, tailoring. The only good part of her life is her Uncle Freddy, who cooks and cleans for the family, but he can't do anything about the oppressive atmosphere. When the brothers arrange for her to marry a disgusting looking man whose behavior matches his looks, she secretly runs away, taking a position as a seamstress on a station.
Though she has only made men's clothes, she has somehow learned in secret how to design and make stylish women's clothing, and so fits right in among the McBrides of North Bundaloon Station in the vast area called the Kimberley. The senior McBrides are warm, welcoming people, with one son and three daughters, and a staff of Aboriginal people. Emily also meets Harry, the senior stockman, and his son Angus, a big flirt.
The time is on the eve of World War I. The early part of the book is taken up with Emily's awful home life, her arduous ship journey to Derby, and then settling into station life. Emily is immediately accepted by everyone, and she turns out to be super talented. The only drawback is her immediate attraction to Liam, the handsome McBride son and heir--but he is engaged to the beautiful daughter of a nearby station. Emily keeps her feelings to herself; her total lack of experience with romance makes her uncertain, which was rather refreshing .
Emily is relishing life on the station, especially among women, when war happens, and pretty much most of the menfolk volunteer. Who is going to do the work of the station if there are no men around? The refined, gently brought up women begin losing their refinements, one by one--led by Emily, who is willing (and able) to tackle anything.
The story, fairly linear until this halfway point, begins to pick up its pace. The women have to contend with all kinds of station problems, weather at the forefront, compounded by the emotional lives of the women, some with men gone, others involved with those staying behind. The narrative takes a sympathetic view of the Aboriginal peoples, demonstrating how that culture strongly influenced the white population even while the government was carrying out horrific repressions.
The one character who is treated mostly as a comedic figure is the Chinese cook, though toward the end he gets to become a human being. Many of the other characters veer close to stereotype now and then, aided by prose with a tendency to tell the reader (sometimes repeatedly) what just happened emotionally, as if the reader can't be trusted to pick it up from the heavily adverb-peppered dialogue tags and descriptions. (There were also far, far too many punctuation and grammar errors that I hope will be fixed before the final book is released.)
Overall I'd call this one heartwarming historical romance, falling firmly into the "sweet" category, that is, the one sexual relation (and it's one of the most interesting story arcs) is kept strictly off-stage, with the women dealing with the result. The descriptions of Australia at that period were gripping, the prose the strongest when evoking station life, peopled with colorful subsidiary characters.
February 8, 2016
Staircase to the Moon by Elizabeth Haran is the first book that I have read by this author, but it definitely won't be the last.
The story begins when we hear about the life of young seamstress, Emily. She lives and works with her father, 3 brothers and Uncle in the family tailor shop. Unfortunately those men, with the exception of her uncle, are all overprotective of her. They don't even let her go to the shop on her own. She feels suffocated, but the last straw is when her brother arranges, with her father's permission, for her to marry. The man they choose for her has his own tailoring business and all they are looking at is the fact that with them married the businesses can expand. They don't care at all about Emily's feelings. She finds the man repulsive, and is determined not to marry him.
Fortunately, previous to the first date she was forced into with him, Emily had applied for a job Outback in a place called Kimberly, a place hundreds of miles from home. She wasn't sure if she would have the courage to run away, especially to a place so different to what she was used to living in. But she applied for, and was accepted as seamstress to the family and arrangements were made for her travel. After her disastrous date where her supposed betrothed couldn't keep his hands to himself, Emily knows she has made the right decision, and the following day begins her journey. Not only a journey to her new home for the next 6 months, but a metaphorical new journey in her life.
From there we read not only about her relationship with the members of the McBride family, and how she learns to adapt to the Outback way of life, but we also learn about all of the McBride family and their relationships with each other. During Emily's stay there World War 1 begins and 3 of the male characters join the army and leave for Europe. From this part in the book we read about how the women left at home cope without their men, not only emotionally, but having to run the station as well. We follow their trials and tribulations, and we also have letters from the men at war, sent to their loved ones, to give us an idea of how they are coping. When those letters stop, but the war continues, we as readers are as anxious about the missing men as their loved ones. Will the men ever come home, will the station have to be sold, will life ever be the same again? You will have to read the book to find out.
Although there were couples amongst the characters in the book, I have to say that I don't consider this book to be a romance. It's more of an historical drama. Saying that, the book is so good, I didn't mind the lack of romance. Reading all about life on an Australian station, about the beauty of the land, and all the historical facts that the author told, was just wonderful. The story was so believable, and the characters so deep, it was such a pleasure to read. Each chapter wrought new emotions, and to help ease the sadness of some of the story was the wonderful telling of the antics of the new Chinese chef on the station. He brought some much needed comic relief.
I absolutely loved this book, and will definitely read more of this author's work, especially as again, the books are set in Australia. I used to live there, and yet I learned quite a lot that I didn't know from reading this book! If you like family saga type stories, don’t mind that there is little romance, and perhaps you have a yearning to learn about Australia, and who wouldn't, it's a gorgeous place, then this is the book for you.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
The story begins when we hear about the life of young seamstress, Emily. She lives and works with her father, 3 brothers and Uncle in the family tailor shop. Unfortunately those men, with the exception of her uncle, are all overprotective of her. They don't even let her go to the shop on her own. She feels suffocated, but the last straw is when her brother arranges, with her father's permission, for her to marry. The man they choose for her has his own tailoring business and all they are looking at is the fact that with them married the businesses can expand. They don't care at all about Emily's feelings. She finds the man repulsive, and is determined not to marry him.
Fortunately, previous to the first date she was forced into with him, Emily had applied for a job Outback in a place called Kimberly, a place hundreds of miles from home. She wasn't sure if she would have the courage to run away, especially to a place so different to what she was used to living in. But she applied for, and was accepted as seamstress to the family and arrangements were made for her travel. After her disastrous date where her supposed betrothed couldn't keep his hands to himself, Emily knows she has made the right decision, and the following day begins her journey. Not only a journey to her new home for the next 6 months, but a metaphorical new journey in her life.
From there we read not only about her relationship with the members of the McBride family, and how she learns to adapt to the Outback way of life, but we also learn about all of the McBride family and their relationships with each other. During Emily's stay there World War 1 begins and 3 of the male characters join the army and leave for Europe. From this part in the book we read about how the women left at home cope without their men, not only emotionally, but having to run the station as well. We follow their trials and tribulations, and we also have letters from the men at war, sent to their loved ones, to give us an idea of how they are coping. When those letters stop, but the war continues, we as readers are as anxious about the missing men as their loved ones. Will the men ever come home, will the station have to be sold, will life ever be the same again? You will have to read the book to find out.
Although there were couples amongst the characters in the book, I have to say that I don't consider this book to be a romance. It's more of an historical drama. Saying that, the book is so good, I didn't mind the lack of romance. Reading all about life on an Australian station, about the beauty of the land, and all the historical facts that the author told, was just wonderful. The story was so believable, and the characters so deep, it was such a pleasure to read. Each chapter wrought new emotions, and to help ease the sadness of some of the story was the wonderful telling of the antics of the new Chinese chef on the station. He brought some much needed comic relief.
I absolutely loved this book, and will definitely read more of this author's work, especially as again, the books are set in Australia. I used to live there, and yet I learned quite a lot that I didn't know from reading this book! If you like family saga type stories, don’t mind that there is little romance, and perhaps you have a yearning to learn about Australia, and who wouldn't, it's a gorgeous place, then this is the book for you.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
February 24, 2016
I didn't know what to expect with Staircase to the Moon, as the author was new to me. I was intrigued by the summary and that it takes place in Australia pre-WW1. As I started the book, I was drawn rapidly into the story and life of Emily. What a childhood she must have had with her three brothers and father watching every move she made. I laughed at the part where she shares the moment her brothers "discover" that she's a developing girl. How simply embarrassing it would have been for everyone!
I enjoyed watching Emily's character develop as she pulls herself up by the bootstraps and decides to take the running of her life into her own hands. I can't imagine setting out the way she did during that time into the unknown isolated wilds of Kimberly Australia!
The whole time I was reading this book, I was bringing to mind the movie Australia as it too takes place on an isolated ranch with a city girl trying to help make ends meet against the odds.
I totally called the ending, but I shed tears during that last chapter. I haven't cried for a book in forever!
There are 2 places where there is a curse word (I think just two), but no violence and no sex (though one of Emily's dates puts his hand on her thigh at dinner...she dumped her soup on him).
I enjoyed having the tie-in of the war and "living" the war through the letters that were being written by the family members overseas to those back in Australia on the ranch. I felt the homelife was portrayed pretty real, even down to the despair of the mother as she receives those dreaded war telegrams that changed so many peoples' lives in an instant during wartimes.
I also think the mentions of the racism that there was during that time against the Aboriginal and Chinese peoples gave another level of depth to the story too.
Oh, as a side, the interaction between the Chinese man Hop-Sing and Emily had me grinning and chuckling several times. I loved how they had a love/hate relationship throughout the book that morphed and changed as they both grew to know each other better. What a character that Hop Sing was!
*Disclaimer: I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. I was not compensated in any other way and was not obligated to write a positive review.
I enjoyed watching Emily's character develop as she pulls herself up by the bootstraps and decides to take the running of her life into her own hands. I can't imagine setting out the way she did during that time into the unknown isolated wilds of Kimberly Australia!
The whole time I was reading this book, I was bringing to mind the movie Australia as it too takes place on an isolated ranch with a city girl trying to help make ends meet against the odds.
I totally called the ending, but I shed tears during that last chapter. I haven't cried for a book in forever!
There are 2 places where there is a curse word (I think just two), but no violence and no sex (though one of Emily's dates puts his hand on her thigh at dinner...she dumped her soup on him).
I enjoyed having the tie-in of the war and "living" the war through the letters that were being written by the family members overseas to those back in Australia on the ranch. I felt the homelife was portrayed pretty real, even down to the despair of the mother as she receives those dreaded war telegrams that changed so many peoples' lives in an instant during wartimes.
I also think the mentions of the racism that there was during that time against the Aboriginal and Chinese peoples gave another level of depth to the story too.
Oh, as a side, the interaction between the Chinese man Hop-Sing and Emily had me grinning and chuckling several times. I loved how they had a love/hate relationship throughout the book that morphed and changed as they both grew to know each other better. What a character that Hop Sing was!
*Disclaimer: I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. I was not compensated in any other way and was not obligated to write a positive review.
February 26, 2016
... outback life and love in the early 1900's
Once again, reading Elizabeth Haran's works, I feel like I've entered an Australian travelogue mixed in with Mary Grant Bruce's 'Billabong' series for adults.
The story is interesting, the Australian 'cinderella' seamstress being dictated to by the men of her family (successful tailors) out of a misguided love, organizing her life and her marriage to their advantage. All in an unknowing misogynistic way. Emily Scott rebels and runs off from Perth to the far north of Western Australia to a cattle station out from Broome.
Of course there's the wonderful women of the family, the gorgeous son, World War 1, 'drought and flooding rains.' (referencing My Country by Dorothea MacKellar).
You meet all the characters that one expects from the outback. The mysterious bad tempered chinaman on the voyage up to Broome is certainly interesting, if unlikeable.
I can't help it, I keep looking for Nicole Kidman to step off the set!
I didn't know that during World War 1 the Australian government commandeered the larger boats and thereby the livelihoods of the coastal transport seaman. I can understand why that might have happened but the loss of livelihood and access to remote places increasing the isolation of those north western areas must have been hard.
Staircase to the Moon is a natural phenomena that occurs along the northwestern coast when the full moon reflects off the tidal mud flats once a month from March to October. The book's title is quite a lovely nuanced choice.
Romance and adventure in the Australian outback in the early nineteen hundreds. What's not to like.
A NetGalley ARC
Once again, reading Elizabeth Haran's works, I feel like I've entered an Australian travelogue mixed in with Mary Grant Bruce's 'Billabong' series for adults.
The story is interesting, the Australian 'cinderella' seamstress being dictated to by the men of her family (successful tailors) out of a misguided love, organizing her life and her marriage to their advantage. All in an unknowing misogynistic way. Emily Scott rebels and runs off from Perth to the far north of Western Australia to a cattle station out from Broome.
Of course there's the wonderful women of the family, the gorgeous son, World War 1, 'drought and flooding rains.' (referencing My Country by Dorothea MacKellar).
You meet all the characters that one expects from the outback. The mysterious bad tempered chinaman on the voyage up to Broome is certainly interesting, if unlikeable.
I can't help it, I keep looking for Nicole Kidman to step off the set!
I didn't know that during World War 1 the Australian government commandeered the larger boats and thereby the livelihoods of the coastal transport seaman. I can understand why that might have happened but the loss of livelihood and access to remote places increasing the isolation of those north western areas must have been hard.
Staircase to the Moon is a natural phenomena that occurs along the northwestern coast when the full moon reflects off the tidal mud flats once a month from March to October. The book's title is quite a lovely nuanced choice.
Romance and adventure in the Australian outback in the early nineteen hundreds. What's not to like.
A NetGalley ARC
February 26, 2016
Australia - 1913
Emily Scott, age 22, works in her father’s tailor shop in Perth. Stifled by her strict father and 3 overbearing brothers, Emily feels positively suffocated. Her mother passed away when Emily was just 8, leaving her surrounded by all males. Her father’s brother, Freddy, came to live with them after her mother passed. He is a fun man who manages to keep the house going and everyone well fed.
Her father and brothers think she should marry and introduce her to a repulsive older man who wants to marry her. She is so disgusted by him that she decides to take a drastic step to escape this fate. Unbeknownst to her family, she accepts a position as a seamstress in a remove area.
As she is waiting for the train to depart from her hometown, she meets an older woman, Annie, who befriends her and accompanies her on part of the trip. We follow Emily and the adventures of her trip aboard ship. She meets so many interesting people, including a very cranky Chinese man who has just been hired as the cook at the same estate where Emily is heading. After a long and exhausting trip, she is delighted to find a beautiful home and enormous estate owned by the McBride family, including their son and 3 daughters for whom she will sew. Everyone is so nice and they welcome her graciously.
When World War I breaks out, many of the men decide to join up leaving the women to keep the home front going. The difficulties they face with massive rains and droughts, places a huge burden on them all. The women step up and take on jobs that they never thought they could do.
The story includes all of the family members and those who work for them. There is happiness, sadness, fear, humor, and love.
This was a wonderful, wonderful saga. Those who live in Australia or have never visited will be fascinated by the descriptions of the country itself and the people that live there. This is one of those books that deserves more than the five stars I awarded it.
Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley
Emily Scott, age 22, works in her father’s tailor shop in Perth. Stifled by her strict father and 3 overbearing brothers, Emily feels positively suffocated. Her mother passed away when Emily was just 8, leaving her surrounded by all males. Her father’s brother, Freddy, came to live with them after her mother passed. He is a fun man who manages to keep the house going and everyone well fed.
Her father and brothers think she should marry and introduce her to a repulsive older man who wants to marry her. She is so disgusted by him that she decides to take a drastic step to escape this fate. Unbeknownst to her family, she accepts a position as a seamstress in a remove area.
As she is waiting for the train to depart from her hometown, she meets an older woman, Annie, who befriends her and accompanies her on part of the trip. We follow Emily and the adventures of her trip aboard ship. She meets so many interesting people, including a very cranky Chinese man who has just been hired as the cook at the same estate where Emily is heading. After a long and exhausting trip, she is delighted to find a beautiful home and enormous estate owned by the McBride family, including their son and 3 daughters for whom she will sew. Everyone is so nice and they welcome her graciously.
When World War I breaks out, many of the men decide to join up leaving the women to keep the home front going. The difficulties they face with massive rains and droughts, places a huge burden on them all. The women step up and take on jobs that they never thought they could do.
The story includes all of the family members and those who work for them. There is happiness, sadness, fear, humor, and love.
This was a wonderful, wonderful saga. Those who live in Australia or have never visited will be fascinated by the descriptions of the country itself and the people that live there. This is one of those books that deserves more than the five stars I awarded it.
Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley
January 27, 2016
I got an early release of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. Although I gave it three stars, it is probably more like 3.5, but definitely not 4. The novel is set in the Australian Outback just prior and during World War I. Emily has grown up with her father, uncle and three brothers in a very restrictive environment in her father’s tailor shop. When her father arranges a marriage for her with a much older man, she escapes her home to take a seamstress job in the Australian Outback. Her journey from home on the train and boat is unnecessarily long and detailed. She finds a wonderful family with three daughters, and a son who welcome her as a family member. Although originally she was only hired for 6 months to sew for the women in the family, she stays longer through the start of the War and men leaving for Europe as part of the Australian Army. Although the second part of the book picks up speed, Emily’s story to me was often very far fetched. Not only she is an accomplished seamstress of ladies gowns, when she has never done that before, but she becomes an expert at everything, handling animals, riding horses, driving, roof repair, flood control, etc. The novel does give glimpses to the horrors of war, the treatment of the Aboriginals and the Chinese. The change in the Chinese cook from the beginning towards the end was very well portrayed through a comic character. Without giving spoilers, the end is partly predictable, partly totally unrealistic.
In some chapters, there was no separation between completely different places an dialogues, I assume this will be fixed in the final version.
Overall it was a good read with lots of actions, twists and turns.
Thank you Net Galley and Bastei Entertainment for giving me the early opportunity to read and review this book.
In some chapters, there was no separation between completely different places an dialogues, I assume this will be fixed in the final version.
Overall it was a good read with lots of actions, twists and turns.
Thank you Net Galley and Bastei Entertainment for giving me the early opportunity to read and review this book.
February 17, 2016
STAIRCASE TO THE MOON is one of those books that had the potential to be completely amazing--one of those historicals' you think about long after they're over, but it just missed the mark.
The book is set in the Australian Outback just prior and during World War I. Because her mother died when she was young, Emily grew up with her father, uncle and three brothers in a very strict and overprotective environment in her father’s tailor shop. When her brothers and father arrange a marriage for her with a much older (and gross) man, she escapes her home to take a seamstress job in the Australian Outback. This job ends up being a Godsend for her. he family has three daughters and one son, whom she's immediately attracted to, but not long after she arrives, the war starts and the men of the household she has come to love, end up leaving for Europe as part of the Australian Army.
This could've had everything. Emily was strong and determined. She was capable and helped push the other women in the house and motivate them to take care of themselves when the men were away. I think what was missing for me was a more personal connection with the characters, especially the main character. There was a void I'm not sure I can put my finger on, other than that the reader wasn't made to truly FEEL much from Emily. In fact, there is a romance toward the end that could've been so incredible, but it was just kind of "blah" because I couldn't emphasize with and feel the connections and emotions of the characters. Also, added detail and drawn out scenes where it wasn't needed drug the book down. If it weren't for these negatives, the book could've been epic. Instead, I was left thinking the book was just okay and feeling slightly disappointed.
The book is set in the Australian Outback just prior and during World War I. Because her mother died when she was young, Emily grew up with her father, uncle and three brothers in a very strict and overprotective environment in her father’s tailor shop. When her brothers and father arrange a marriage for her with a much older (and gross) man, she escapes her home to take a seamstress job in the Australian Outback. This job ends up being a Godsend for her. he family has three daughters and one son, whom she's immediately attracted to, but not long after she arrives, the war starts and the men of the household she has come to love, end up leaving for Europe as part of the Australian Army.
This could've had everything. Emily was strong and determined. She was capable and helped push the other women in the house and motivate them to take care of themselves when the men were away. I think what was missing for me was a more personal connection with the characters, especially the main character. There was a void I'm not sure I can put my finger on, other than that the reader wasn't made to truly FEEL much from Emily. In fact, there is a romance toward the end that could've been so incredible, but it was just kind of "blah" because I couldn't emphasize with and feel the connections and emotions of the characters. Also, added detail and drawn out scenes where it wasn't needed drug the book down. If it weren't for these negatives, the book could've been epic. Instead, I was left thinking the book was just okay and feeling slightly disappointed.
January 22, 2016
This book was provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
A book set in Australia, during World War I (a period I unfortunately don't read enough about), on a ranch? Sign me up! I"m so glad I requested this. I enjoyed this book quite a bit. I liked the character Emily, who was trapped in an oppressive home life with overprotective brothers and father. She made her own way through her determination, and that determination, resourcefulness, and hard work helped her throughout the rest of the novel.
While we don't see the actual War, we see what happens to the women left behind, as Emily's employer (who's become family) goes off to fight, along with his son and the son of his station manager. The women have to help keep the station going, with weather, the war and everything else conspiring against them.
The book is written in a meandering prose, wandering from character to character, which is not my favorite but it works here. It's a character driven novel, with the interactions between daughters and mother just as important as Emily's interactions with her beau and her rival Mr. Li. I've only been to Sydney and Brisbane, but the description of the Kimberley, along with the mentions of kangaroos and emus, and the billabongs and hot weather make me smile and reminisce about my vacation there. While there are a few technical errors in regards to formatting and typos, the book is well written and I hope these errors are fixed when the book is published.
I would definitely read more by this author, as historical fiction set in Australia isn't very easy to find here in America.
A book set in Australia, during World War I (a period I unfortunately don't read enough about), on a ranch? Sign me up! I"m so glad I requested this. I enjoyed this book quite a bit. I liked the character Emily, who was trapped in an oppressive home life with overprotective brothers and father. She made her own way through her determination, and that determination, resourcefulness, and hard work helped her throughout the rest of the novel.
While we don't see the actual War, we see what happens to the women left behind, as Emily's employer (who's become family) goes off to fight, along with his son and the son of his station manager. The women have to help keep the station going, with weather, the war and everything else conspiring against them.
The book is written in a meandering prose, wandering from character to character, which is not my favorite but it works here. It's a character driven novel, with the interactions between daughters and mother just as important as Emily's interactions with her beau and her rival Mr. Li. I've only been to Sydney and Brisbane, but the description of the Kimberley, along with the mentions of kangaroos and emus, and the billabongs and hot weather make me smile and reminisce about my vacation there. While there are a few technical errors in regards to formatting and typos, the book is well written and I hope these errors are fixed when the book is published.
I would definitely read more by this author, as historical fiction set in Australia isn't very easy to find here in America.
February 12, 2016
I received a copy of this book through Netgalley.
This is the first time I have read anything by Elizabeth Haran, I wanted to read this story because the setting was in Australia and it is hard to find much reading of this area. This book did not disappoint.
Emily is the only daughter in a house of men, her mother had died when she was young and her uncle came and lived with the family. The family sews men's wear and arrange a marriage for Emily with an older man who gropes her the first chance he has to have her by herself. She leaves her family in Perth and takes a job as a seamstress to a family in the Kimberly Region of Australia.
Was comes to Australia and most of the young men leave their family and homes to serve. The women who are left have to become resourceful to survive, and when the men return, they will not be quite the same as when they left.
I enjoyed this book and hope to read more from this author.
This is the first time I have read anything by Elizabeth Haran, I wanted to read this story because the setting was in Australia and it is hard to find much reading of this area. This book did not disappoint.
Emily is the only daughter in a house of men, her mother had died when she was young and her uncle came and lived with the family. The family sews men's wear and arrange a marriage for Emily with an older man who gropes her the first chance he has to have her by herself. She leaves her family in Perth and takes a job as a seamstress to a family in the Kimberly Region of Australia.
Was comes to Australia and most of the young men leave their family and homes to serve. The women who are left have to become resourceful to survive, and when the men return, they will not be quite the same as when they left.
I enjoyed this book and hope to read more from this author.
February 14, 2016
Staircase to the Moon written by Elizabeth Haran ⭐️⭐️⭐️
In 1913 pre World War 1, Emily Scott is fed up with being under the dictatorship of her father and brothers. Emily leaves her home in Perth to assume a position as a seamstress at a remote station in North-Western Australia. She seeks a new life with more freedom.
Emily is employed by a rich family with three daughters and a son. She is finding her life in this new home is wonderful. War breaks out the following year.
This book deals with the war and its effect on people. I enjoyed the authors narrative of Australia the life, the many hardships on a working station and the harshness of the climate in that country.
The story on a whole was good but much too long. Too much detailing. No room for the readers imagination. This author took so many sidebars to arrive at a most predictable ending. The book was too drawn out. I found it at time captivating and at times so repetitive and boring.
In 1913 pre World War 1, Emily Scott is fed up with being under the dictatorship of her father and brothers. Emily leaves her home in Perth to assume a position as a seamstress at a remote station in North-Western Australia. She seeks a new life with more freedom.
Emily is employed by a rich family with three daughters and a son. She is finding her life in this new home is wonderful. War breaks out the following year.
This book deals with the war and its effect on people. I enjoyed the authors narrative of Australia the life, the many hardships on a working station and the harshness of the climate in that country.
The story on a whole was good but much too long. Too much detailing. No room for the readers imagination. This author took so many sidebars to arrive at a most predictable ending. The book was too drawn out. I found it at time captivating and at times so repetitive and boring.
February 9, 2016
Though woven with an intriguing storyline, I did not really enjoy this book. While I do not have vast amounts of knowledge about Australian history, I do know that several historical aspects of this book--grammatical usage, character appearances, and moral obligations--were incorrect.
There are a few four-letter-words scattered here and there, but the writing is engaging.
I did not feel a particular attachment to the characters, yet I still enjoyed reading about their trials and triumphs.
Though I would forego recommending this book to many people, I would recommend it for those who are interested in seeing another country's view of World War I.
There are a few four-letter-words scattered here and there, but the writing is engaging.
I did not feel a particular attachment to the characters, yet I still enjoyed reading about their trials and triumphs.
Though I would forego recommending this book to many people, I would recommend it for those who are interested in seeing another country's view of World War I.
February 15, 2016
Copy provided by Netgallery. This is an excellent book. The characters are vibrant and believable. It also had a happy ending for all involved, which is very satisfying. I loved the author's description of life on an outback station in the early 20th century. It illustrates the vitality of the terrain and also the hardiness required from the people who inhabited it.
February 20, 2016
Well written and, for me, educational historical novel about a place and time I'm interested in. Emily is a terrific character- well rounded and sympathetic. i found myself rooting for her. You'll like this if you are interested in far away times and places. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I'm definitely looking forward to more from Haran= two thumbs up!
March 2, 2016
This book needs to remove all of the “tell” and add some “show”. When the first chapter turned out to be the author telling the lead character’s entire life story, I knew I was in some trouble.
There’s better Australian fiction about the World Wars out there.
Review copy.
There’s better Australian fiction about the World Wars out there.
Review copy.
April 9, 2019
I was looking forward to reading this book. I like Elizabeth Haran and I had read very good reviews about this one. The dialogues were repetitive and superficial and I stopped reading, waiting for something to happen.
September 4, 2021
Autorka E. Haran píše neuvěřitelně čtivě a její knihy mě vždy dokáží chytit za srdce a zcela pohltit. Láska k Austrálii z jejich slov přímo sálá, postavy jsou úžasně sympatické, dokáží si čtenáře získat a to i ty záporné. Myslím, že jsem po dlouhé době opět našla autora, jehož knihy mě nezklamou a které si budu šetřit na dobu, kdy si potřebuji přečíst knihu, která pohladí a podpoří.
December 16, 2016
Good read
I'm glad I read this book. Good story line and I found the people in the story very believable and kept my interest . However the story telling was quite predictable .there were many typo s that weren't caught.that doesn't affect the readability of course.
I'm glad I read this book. Good story line and I found the people in the story very believable and kept my interest . However the story telling was quite predictable .there were many typo s that weren't caught.that doesn't affect the readability of course.
May 17, 2018
it was good with historical background well researched, but not as good as the other one I read. It's worth the purchase and reading, it just didn't grip me the way the other one by Elizabeth haran did. I do intend to read more by her. She tells a good story
February 12, 2019
Een meisje loopt weg van huis omdat haar broers haar in een huwelijk willen dwingen. Ze neemt een positie aan als naaister op een cattle station en wordt daar heel gelukkig.
November 26, 2025
Von der ersten Seite an eine packende Geschichte!
December 18, 2025
ein dicker Schinken, der in Australien spielt - sehr schön zu lesen
February 2, 2016
This book was provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book was sweetly amazing. This was an unknown author to me, but some of my favorite authors are Aussies and I love historical romances, so I was excited to give this one a try. This was my first historical fiction book based in Australia, and I found myself researching the country, station life around WWI, and learning much about immigrants in Australia during that time frame.
With three major settings, Emily's story begins in Perth in 1913, one year before the start of WWI. She lives as a young single woman with her father and three excessively over-protective brothers, working together in the family Tailor Business. They plan out every step she takes in life, from the clothes she wears, who she is friends with, and who she will marry. Far beyond the time of arranged marriages, they try to marry her to an abhorrent man of wealth, thinking only of the family connection it will give them and that their sister will be provided for. Unable to breathe with the strict confinements her brothers have imposed on her (thinking they are helping and loving her), she secretly arranges to travel far up the coast to Kimberly, accepting a temporary position on a station (an enormous cattle ranch), as a seamstress to a wealthy station family. And this is where Emily's road to independence and adventure begins.
There are so many colorful supporting characters in the story that make it fun and draw you into the adventure. Her own character begins to change on the sea-voyage from Perth to Kimberly. From her "Auntie" Freddie, to Annie, the traveling wealthy wife to a Director, to the boat Captain Tom and his trouser wearing wife, Pat, to the argumentative Chinese Cook, Hop Sing, Emily learned to see herself as beautiful, courageous, resourceful, and worthy of deep friendships and eventually love. Her confidence and strength begin to grow on the journey north.
Arriving in Kimberly, dirty, exhausted, and with a mutual animosity for the Cook, Hop Sing, she is delivered by wagon to the palatial home of Kitty, the housewife of a wealthy Station owner. Kitty immediately welcomes her into her family. This is the first time Emily has lived with a mother figure or "sisters", but even more profound, the first time she has met a young man as handsome and kind as Liam, Kitty's only son.
Emily's time on the Station begins sweetly, with her fulfilling her obligation of creating a new fashionable wardrobe for the family, becoming friends with the sisters and the unfortunately engaged, Liam, and receiving the attentions of the family's Station Manager. Life had never been so glorious! And then Britain, and indirectly Australia, joins the war against Germany.
With the men naively enthusiastic to leave for battle, the tasks of running the Stations is left to the Women and the Aborigine Station Hands. Emily's resourcefulness, loyalty to her new adopted family, and courage are an example to the gently bred ladies of Kimberly, as they manage the property through trial after trial. There are heart-wrenching moments of great loss throughout their year on their own, and if their husbands, sons, and friends ever make it back from war, they will find their women and homes forever altered.
I sobbed through parts of the story, I laughed through most of the conflict between Hop Sing and Emily, and I enjoyed war fuzzies as Emily found love. I was entranced by the imagery, relationships, and history of Haran's book, and though a long one, I couldn't stop reading until the end. And what a sweet ending! This is now one of my favorite books and Haran keeps me loving those Aussie Authors.
This book was sweetly amazing. This was an unknown author to me, but some of my favorite authors are Aussies and I love historical romances, so I was excited to give this one a try. This was my first historical fiction book based in Australia, and I found myself researching the country, station life around WWI, and learning much about immigrants in Australia during that time frame.
With three major settings, Emily's story begins in Perth in 1913, one year before the start of WWI. She lives as a young single woman with her father and three excessively over-protective brothers, working together in the family Tailor Business. They plan out every step she takes in life, from the clothes she wears, who she is friends with, and who she will marry. Far beyond the time of arranged marriages, they try to marry her to an abhorrent man of wealth, thinking only of the family connection it will give them and that their sister will be provided for. Unable to breathe with the strict confinements her brothers have imposed on her (thinking they are helping and loving her), she secretly arranges to travel far up the coast to Kimberly, accepting a temporary position on a station (an enormous cattle ranch), as a seamstress to a wealthy station family. And this is where Emily's road to independence and adventure begins.
There are so many colorful supporting characters in the story that make it fun and draw you into the adventure. Her own character begins to change on the sea-voyage from Perth to Kimberly. From her "Auntie" Freddie, to Annie, the traveling wealthy wife to a Director, to the boat Captain Tom and his trouser wearing wife, Pat, to the argumentative Chinese Cook, Hop Sing, Emily learned to see herself as beautiful, courageous, resourceful, and worthy of deep friendships and eventually love. Her confidence and strength begin to grow on the journey north.
Arriving in Kimberly, dirty, exhausted, and with a mutual animosity for the Cook, Hop Sing, she is delivered by wagon to the palatial home of Kitty, the housewife of a wealthy Station owner. Kitty immediately welcomes her into her family. This is the first time Emily has lived with a mother figure or "sisters", but even more profound, the first time she has met a young man as handsome and kind as Liam, Kitty's only son.
Emily's time on the Station begins sweetly, with her fulfilling her obligation of creating a new fashionable wardrobe for the family, becoming friends with the sisters and the unfortunately engaged, Liam, and receiving the attentions of the family's Station Manager. Life had never been so glorious! And then Britain, and indirectly Australia, joins the war against Germany.
With the men naively enthusiastic to leave for battle, the tasks of running the Stations is left to the Women and the Aborigine Station Hands. Emily's resourcefulness, loyalty to her new adopted family, and courage are an example to the gently bred ladies of Kimberly, as they manage the property through trial after trial. There are heart-wrenching moments of great loss throughout their year on their own, and if their husbands, sons, and friends ever make it back from war, they will find their women and homes forever altered.
I sobbed through parts of the story, I laughed through most of the conflict between Hop Sing and Emily, and I enjoyed war fuzzies as Emily found love. I was entranced by the imagery, relationships, and history of Haran's book, and though a long one, I couldn't stop reading until the end. And what a sweet ending! This is now one of my favorite books and Haran keeps me loving those Aussie Authors.
June 6, 2016
REVIEW:
The Staircase to the Moon was a wonderful period piece not just about Australian history, but about a beautiful telling of the struggle of young women at the end of the Victorian age and through WWI. This was a time when their role was being re-defined and independence and self-reliance were being forced on many as men went off to fight "The Great War to end all Wars". What it showed me was that the struggles and stories that I have been well aware of about women in the U.S. are far more international. That the event of women coming forward and seeking autonomy was generational, not national. What an exciting discovery.
Elizabeth Haran told a compelling story of one young lady and her struggle for this self-autonomy but also told the stories of a family of ladies and the changes that they went through during this same period that helped to bring on their own independent spirits and growth. She gave depth to her characters that allowed the reader to feel the breath of life flying across the pages as the struggled to survive the battles of living in the "outback" while the men were gone to parts unknown to protect their way of life. I have no doubt that I could walk down the roads and through the halls that Ms. Haran built and recognize them if I came across the crossroads and buildings today. She was able to communicate the emotions and realities of living with such clarity, that the readers felt deep empathy with the characters, laughing and crying as triumphs and tragedies passed through their daily lives. There was no putting down this book. The pages seemed to turn themselves as I walked side-by-side with the characters through sand and mud, seeking a better life, striving to find fulfillment and love - hoping that what they knew their heart longed and desired for would be there for them, in the end. What a journey, what a read. It was as wild as the land from which it grew.
I give this book, Staircase to the Moon, a FIVE STAR review.
The Staircase to the Moon was a wonderful period piece not just about Australian history, but about a beautiful telling of the struggle of young women at the end of the Victorian age and through WWI. This was a time when their role was being re-defined and independence and self-reliance were being forced on many as men went off to fight "The Great War to end all Wars". What it showed me was that the struggles and stories that I have been well aware of about women in the U.S. are far more international. That the event of women coming forward and seeking autonomy was generational, not national. What an exciting discovery.
Elizabeth Haran told a compelling story of one young lady and her struggle for this self-autonomy but also told the stories of a family of ladies and the changes that they went through during this same period that helped to bring on their own independent spirits and growth. She gave depth to her characters that allowed the reader to feel the breath of life flying across the pages as the struggled to survive the battles of living in the "outback" while the men were gone to parts unknown to protect their way of life. I have no doubt that I could walk down the roads and through the halls that Ms. Haran built and recognize them if I came across the crossroads and buildings today. She was able to communicate the emotions and realities of living with such clarity, that the readers felt deep empathy with the characters, laughing and crying as triumphs and tragedies passed through their daily lives. There was no putting down this book. The pages seemed to turn themselves as I walked side-by-side with the characters through sand and mud, seeking a better life, striving to find fulfillment and love - hoping that what they knew their heart longed and desired for would be there for them, in the end. What a journey, what a read. It was as wild as the land from which it grew.
I give this book, Staircase to the Moon, a FIVE STAR review.
October 6, 2016
The cover and the setting of the Australia Outback in the early 1900's greatly appealed to me. Emily is the protagonist, a young woman who is overly oppressed by the overbearing males in her family. She longs to escape to somewhere she can be free. Instead, her family attempts to marry her off to a man she finds abhorant. What does she do? Well she escapes to a remote area of Australia and begins work as a seamstress for a lady and three daughters in a large manor house. As her time with the family runs out, and war threatens, Emily finds herself facing numerous adversities.
There is a really good story to be found in the pages of this book, but unfortunately, I could not finish it. I really wanted to like this book, but I have to admit I struggled with the primitive writing, typing errors, and overly modern prose that kept throwing me out of the story.
For more book reviews, please visit my blog, http://greathistoricals.blogspot.ca, where the greatest historical fiction is reviewed! For fascinating women of history bios and women's fiction please visit http://www.historyandwomen.com.
There is a really good story to be found in the pages of this book, but unfortunately, I could not finish it. I really wanted to like this book, but I have to admit I struggled with the primitive writing, typing errors, and overly modern prose that kept throwing me out of the story.
For more book reviews, please visit my blog, http://greathistoricals.blogspot.ca, where the greatest historical fiction is reviewed! For fascinating women of history bios and women's fiction please visit http://www.historyandwomen.com.
February 28, 2016
This book was sent to me from Netgalley. It was an interesting read but at times it seemed to wordy. I give the main character Emily props for knowing what she wants with her life and this it isn't with her family. She did what she had to do to escape from her controlling father and brothers. The last straw for her to flee was the arranged marriage her brothers deemed a good match. The boat ride to the Kimberly region was boring for me to read, even though it explains why Mr. Hopsing is along on the ride. The book had different pov's, which made it interesting to give an insight into the way of life on a station. There were a couple of surprises in which people were hooking up with whom. I also liked out is talked about how the Aborigines were treated. I kept thinking about the movie Rabbit Proof Fence while reading this book. Overall it was an interesting read but at times it did seem to drag.
May 18, 2016
Staircase to the Moon written by Elizabeth Haran ⭐️⭐️⭐️
In 1913 pre World War 1, Emily Scott is feed up with being under the dictatorship of her father and brothers. Emily leaves her home in Perth to assume a position as a seamstress at a remote station in North-Western Australia. She seeks a new life with more freedom.
Emily is employed by a rich family with three daughters and a son. She is finding her life in this new home is wonderful. War breaks out the following year.
This book deals with the war and its effect on people. I enjoyed the authors narrative of Australia the life, the many hardships on a working station and the harshness of the climate in that country.
The story on a whole was good but much too long. Too much detailing. No room for the readers imagination. This author took so many sidebars to arrive at a most predictable ending. The book was too drawn out. I found it at time captivating and at times so repetitive and boring.
In 1913 pre World War 1, Emily Scott is feed up with being under the dictatorship of her father and brothers. Emily leaves her home in Perth to assume a position as a seamstress at a remote station in North-Western Australia. She seeks a new life with more freedom.
Emily is employed by a rich family with three daughters and a son. She is finding her life in this new home is wonderful. War breaks out the following year.
This book deals with the war and its effect on people. I enjoyed the authors narrative of Australia the life, the many hardships on a working station and the harshness of the climate in that country.
The story on a whole was good but much too long. Too much detailing. No room for the readers imagination. This author took so many sidebars to arrive at a most predictable ending. The book was too drawn out. I found it at time captivating and at times so repetitive and boring.
March 4, 2016
I received a free copy from NetGalley for an honest review. Although the storyline was interesting with all the trials and tribulations of Emily's life, the later chapters seemed disjointed. The love story between Liam and Emily seemed so rushed towards the end and unrealistic. It would have made more sense to develop the relationship between Liam and Emily and not create it in the last few chapters.
February 15, 2016
An interesting glimpse into what life was like in rural western Australia during World War 1. Review based on ARC from NetGalley.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews