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The Smuggler's Wife #4
The Cloud Leopard's Daughter
A story of love, family, adventure and intrigue, set against backdrops of the gold rushes in Australia and New Zealand and the Opium Wars in China. Kitty and Rian Farrell sail their schooner Katipo III in Dunedin Harbour in 1863, they are answering a call for help from their friend Wong Fu. His daughter has been kidnapped and taken to opium-ridden Hong Kong. The Farrells agree to try to find her, but as they sail closer to their quarry, the stakes jump dramatically. Kitty's adopted daughter Amber is kidnapped when they are forced to stop at Manila, and it looks like the same party is behind this crime. Kitty, Rian and their crew must not only search for two young women, they must navigate dangerous shoals of pirates, corrupt officials, greedy rulers, wronged lovers and petty grievances.The Cloud Leopard's Daughter continues the story of Kitty, Rian and Amber - now wiser and stronger - as they straddle both sides of the law against the backdrop of gold rushes in Australia and New Zealand and the Opium Wars in China
392 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2016
42 people are currently reading
203 people want to read
About the author
Deborah Challinor
24 books248 followersBorn in Huntly, she holds a PhD in New Zealand history from the University of Waikato. Challinor has worked as a fulltime writer and historian since 2000.
Primarily known for her historical novels, Deborah Challinor’s first published books were non-fiction history books, including the best-selling Grey Ghosts: New Zealand Vietnam Vets Talk About Their War (Hodder Moa Beckett, 1998).
Her first historical novel, Tamar, was published in 2002 and has been reprinted six times. Tamar is set in Auckland, Hawke’s Bay and South Africa and covers the period from 1879 until the Boer War. The series continues with White Feathers (2003) and Blue Smoke (2004).
Union Belle (2005) tells the love story of a young woman caught up in the 1951 waterfront strike, and Kitty (2006) is set in the Bay of Islands in nineteenth century New Zealand. Both novels have been at the top of the New Zealand fiction bestseller list.
Attention to historical detail is an important part of writing for Challinor. ‘I base my novels on actual historical events, and it’s very important to me to research those events in depth and to present them accurately,’ she says.
Reviewing Union Belle in North and South magazine in April 2005, Warwick Roger commented that: ‘You can smell the beer and cigarette smoke in the public bar of the Huntly Hotel, hear the band at the Saturday night dances at the miner’s hall … it’s a book I kept sneaking back to whenever I had a spare quarter hour, eager to advance the story.’
Fire (HarperCollins, 2007), Challinor's seventh novel, is set in Auckland during the hype leading up to the royal visit of 1953, but is based on the Ballantyne’s department store fire of 1947 in Christchurch. A powerful and dramatic story of passion, ambition and greed, it became a number one bestseller.
Amber, the sequel to Kitty, was published later in 2007 and also became a bestseller. Amber opens in New Zealand in 1945, on the eve of the Northern War in the Bay of Islands, in which Kitty is caught up. Sent to Auckland away from the fighting, Kitty encounters an orphaned part-Maori girl she names Amber. Together they return to the Bay of Islands, where both Kitty must risk her own life to save Amber’s.
Isle of Tears (HarperCollins NZ Ltd, 2009) is a story about 14-year-old Scottish immigrant Isla McKinnon and her younger brothers and sister. When they are orphaned they are adopted by Taranaki Maori and become caught up in the wars in Taranaki, the Waikato and the Bay of Plenty.
A revised edition of Challinor’s Grey Ghosts (HarperCollins NZ) was published in 2009. This edition included a new chapter on how the New Zealand Vietnam veteran community has fared since the book was first published in 1998.
Primarily known for her historical novels, Deborah Challinor’s first published books were non-fiction history books, including the best-selling Grey Ghosts: New Zealand Vietnam Vets Talk About Their War (Hodder Moa Beckett, 1998).
Her first historical novel, Tamar, was published in 2002 and has been reprinted six times. Tamar is set in Auckland, Hawke’s Bay and South Africa and covers the period from 1879 until the Boer War. The series continues with White Feathers (2003) and Blue Smoke (2004).
Union Belle (2005) tells the love story of a young woman caught up in the 1951 waterfront strike, and Kitty (2006) is set in the Bay of Islands in nineteenth century New Zealand. Both novels have been at the top of the New Zealand fiction bestseller list.
Attention to historical detail is an important part of writing for Challinor. ‘I base my novels on actual historical events, and it’s very important to me to research those events in depth and to present them accurately,’ she says.
Reviewing Union Belle in North and South magazine in April 2005, Warwick Roger commented that: ‘You can smell the beer and cigarette smoke in the public bar of the Huntly Hotel, hear the band at the Saturday night dances at the miner’s hall … it’s a book I kept sneaking back to whenever I had a spare quarter hour, eager to advance the story.’
Fire (HarperCollins, 2007), Challinor's seventh novel, is set in Auckland during the hype leading up to the royal visit of 1953, but is based on the Ballantyne’s department store fire of 1947 in Christchurch. A powerful and dramatic story of passion, ambition and greed, it became a number one bestseller.
Amber, the sequel to Kitty, was published later in 2007 and also became a bestseller. Amber opens in New Zealand in 1945, on the eve of the Northern War in the Bay of Islands, in which Kitty is caught up. Sent to Auckland away from the fighting, Kitty encounters an orphaned part-Maori girl she names Amber. Together they return to the Bay of Islands, where both Kitty must risk her own life to save Amber’s.
Isle of Tears (HarperCollins NZ Ltd, 2009) is a story about 14-year-old Scottish immigrant Isla McKinnon and her younger brothers and sister. When they are orphaned they are adopted by Taranaki Maori and become caught up in the wars in Taranaki, the Waikato and the Bay of Plenty.
A revised edition of Challinor’s Grey Ghosts (HarperCollins NZ) was published in 2009. This edition included a new chapter on how the New Zealand Vietnam veteran community has fared since the book was first published in 1998.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
January 31, 2019
Learning of the kidnapping of Kitty and Rian Farrell’s daughter Amber’s best friend Bao from Sydney by her uncle shocked them into action. They docked in Dunedin Harbour – disgusting and smelly in 1863 – and caught the Cobb & Co coach to Otago to meet with Bao’s father, and their good friend. Wong Fu revealed why Bao had been kidnapped – he was a Cloud Leopard, and when he died the title and responsibility would pass on to Bao. But Wong Fu’s brother wanted the title for himself; hence the kidnapping and sending of Bao to China where she would be forced into a marriage.
Kitty and Rian set sail with their crew, including daughter Amber for Hong Kong, with a detour to Sydney on the way. But the closer they got to Hong Kong, the more danger they were in. And when the unthinkable happened, the race was on. For they had much more at stake – they must rescue Bao as well as someone who had become tangled in the opium wars of China…
The Cloud Leopard’s Daughter is the 4th and final installment in The Smuggler’s Wife series by NZ/Aussie author Deborah Challinor and I enjoyed it very much. I loved the reintroduction of Friday, Harrie and Sarah of the Convict Girls series; I laughed out loud on many occasions. Friday hadn’t changed and it was great to catch up with her and her friends once again. I love this author’s work, and fortunately still have a couple to read, including her latest release, From the Ashes. Highly recommended (but read this series in order or this one won’t mean much at all!)
Kitty and Rian set sail with their crew, including daughter Amber for Hong Kong, with a detour to Sydney on the way. But the closer they got to Hong Kong, the more danger they were in. And when the unthinkable happened, the race was on. For they had much more at stake – they must rescue Bao as well as someone who had become tangled in the opium wars of China…
The Cloud Leopard’s Daughter is the 4th and final installment in The Smuggler’s Wife series by NZ/Aussie author Deborah Challinor and I enjoyed it very much. I loved the reintroduction of Friday, Harrie and Sarah of the Convict Girls series; I laughed out loud on many occasions. Friday hadn’t changed and it was great to catch up with her and her friends once again. I love this author’s work, and fortunately still have a couple to read, including her latest release, From the Ashes. Highly recommended (but read this series in order or this one won’t mean much at all!)
April 22, 2017
The last book in the Smuggler's Wife series. I love this author, and while this series isn't my favourite of hers, I have still really enjoyed reading it, and have been looking forward to this last book for ages.
So, I have to admit, I feel a bit let down. This book feels like an after-thought. A book added to make a series of 4. Rather disappointed.
Here's some things I did not like about this book:
Oh, I did like that we saw a small glimpse of the Convict Girls! Friday and Harrie and Sarah made an appearance, which was a nice surprise :)
Overall, I'm disappointed, but I will still read more from this author - the Convict Girls series still remains my most favourite ever. Hope the next series is better :)
2.5 stars
So, I have to admit, I feel a bit let down. This book feels like an after-thought. A book added to make a series of 4. Rather disappointed.
Here's some things I did not like about this book:
Oh, I did like that we saw a small glimpse of the Convict Girls! Friday and Harrie and Sarah made an appearance, which was a nice surprise :)
Overall, I'm disappointed, but I will still read more from this author - the Convict Girls series still remains my most favourite ever. Hope the next series is better :)
2.5 stars
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June 29, 2018– The unmissable adventure of The Cloud Leopard’s Daughter –
The first time I tried to write a novel, it was a pirate story. A high school student at the time, I spent every waking moment daydreaming about plotlines and researching piracy and maritime terms. Each evening, I told my very patient little brother my latest discoveries and plot devices and faithfully emailed my best friend my latest chapters for critique.
The Cloud Leopard’s Daughter stirred both my memories of this early writing project and my imagination. This is the fourth novel in The Smuggler’s Wife series, so even though I’m clearly a fan of the genre, I was a little concerned that I’d be lost in a forest of already established characters and plot arcs from previous books. It’s a testament to Deborah Challinor’s (The Convict Girls series, My Australian Story: Vietnam) prowess as a writer that instead of feeling like someone who’d come late to the party, I instead felt like a special guest.
As a writer, Challinor explained all necessary backstory graciously. Where it may have been tempting to spend undue time focusing on the details, she provided just enough detail to keep a new reader with her. I was surprised to find that I felt more like a fellow crew member than an intruder poking my nose into the lives of strangers. After I finished, I wanted to thank Challinor for her consideration for her readers, and not just for producing a brilliant story.
This installment of the series begins in 1863 and follows the adventures of a crew of smugglers led by the protagonists of the previous novels, Rian and Kitty Farrell. These outlaws embrace the marginalized of society, which was one of my favorite things about The Cloud Leopard’s Daughter. The crew consists of the orphaned, the transported and several who are marginalized simply because of their race, gender, or sexuality. It’s a different bunch, and I love that. Who wouldn’t love a diverse gang of adventurers with stories to tell?
This gang of misfits band together to save Bao, the daughter of an old friend who happens to be the ‘Cloud Leopard’ - the leader of a Chinese Tong. The journey takes them to Australia, the Philippines, Hong Kong and beyond as their quest intensifies with yet another kidnapping - this time it’s Kitty and Rian’s own daughter at stake. And the pirates holding her have a task of Herculean proportions for Rian to accomplish in exchange for her life.
If the author’s well-crafted and friendly style of writing wasn’t enough to make me want to read more, her website would. Historical fiction is her specialty, specifically history relating to New Zealand and Australia. But this isn’t some stuffy history professor that dabbles in fiction; Deborah Challinor happens to be an avid lover of punk music, tattoos, and antiques in addition to being a prolific best-selling author of gripping novels. How could you expect anything less than the wonderfully unexpected from this woman? She’s my new hero (it’s quite a long list, but welcome to the club, Deborah).
I plan to pick up more of her novels. Quite frankly, I feel robbed that I haven’t been exposed to more of her work! Learn from my mistakes, people. Grab a glass of your favorite beverage and read up me hearties, yo ho! (Yes, I went there. Don’t sit there judging me, just get reading!)
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This review was first published on Narrative Muse, http://narrativemuse.co/books/the-clo..., and was written by Micah Orsetti. Narrative Muse curates the best books and movies by and about women and non-binary folk on our website http://narrativemuse.co and our social media channels.
The first time I tried to write a novel, it was a pirate story. A high school student at the time, I spent every waking moment daydreaming about plotlines and researching piracy and maritime terms. Each evening, I told my very patient little brother my latest discoveries and plot devices and faithfully emailed my best friend my latest chapters for critique.
The Cloud Leopard’s Daughter stirred both my memories of this early writing project and my imagination. This is the fourth novel in The Smuggler’s Wife series, so even though I’m clearly a fan of the genre, I was a little concerned that I’d be lost in a forest of already established characters and plot arcs from previous books. It’s a testament to Deborah Challinor’s (The Convict Girls series, My Australian Story: Vietnam) prowess as a writer that instead of feeling like someone who’d come late to the party, I instead felt like a special guest.
As a writer, Challinor explained all necessary backstory graciously. Where it may have been tempting to spend undue time focusing on the details, she provided just enough detail to keep a new reader with her. I was surprised to find that I felt more like a fellow crew member than an intruder poking my nose into the lives of strangers. After I finished, I wanted to thank Challinor for her consideration for her readers, and not just for producing a brilliant story.
This installment of the series begins in 1863 and follows the adventures of a crew of smugglers led by the protagonists of the previous novels, Rian and Kitty Farrell. These outlaws embrace the marginalized of society, which was one of my favorite things about The Cloud Leopard’s Daughter. The crew consists of the orphaned, the transported and several who are marginalized simply because of their race, gender, or sexuality. It’s a different bunch, and I love that. Who wouldn’t love a diverse gang of adventurers with stories to tell?
This gang of misfits band together to save Bao, the daughter of an old friend who happens to be the ‘Cloud Leopard’ - the leader of a Chinese Tong. The journey takes them to Australia, the Philippines, Hong Kong and beyond as their quest intensifies with yet another kidnapping - this time it’s Kitty and Rian’s own daughter at stake. And the pirates holding her have a task of Herculean proportions for Rian to accomplish in exchange for her life.
If the author’s well-crafted and friendly style of writing wasn’t enough to make me want to read more, her website would. Historical fiction is her specialty, specifically history relating to New Zealand and Australia. But this isn’t some stuffy history professor that dabbles in fiction; Deborah Challinor happens to be an avid lover of punk music, tattoos, and antiques in addition to being a prolific best-selling author of gripping novels. How could you expect anything less than the wonderfully unexpected from this woman? She’s my new hero (it’s quite a long list, but welcome to the club, Deborah).
I plan to pick up more of her novels. Quite frankly, I feel robbed that I haven’t been exposed to more of her work! Learn from my mistakes, people. Grab a glass of your favorite beverage and read up me hearties, yo ho! (Yes, I went there. Don’t sit there judging me, just get reading!)
----------
This review was first published on Narrative Muse, http://narrativemuse.co/books/the-clo..., and was written by Micah Orsetti. Narrative Muse curates the best books and movies by and about women and non-binary folk on our website http://narrativemuse.co and our social media channels.
February 3, 2024
Having greatly enjoyed a few other Challinor books, I was unfortunately disappointed with this one. I almost gave up a few times, finding it a bit boring in places and some aspects just silly. It won't put me off reading more of hers, tho! Generally a brilliant Kiwi author!!
August 5, 2023
This is the fourth and final book in The Smuggler’s wife series by New Zealand author and historian Deborah Challinor. The story centres around the abduction of Amber’s friend Bao to China, as she is to be the new Cloud Leopard master after the passing of her father, a role her uncle jealously covets. Kitty and Rian Farrell sail the Katipo III to Bao’s rescue, but along the way their daughter Amber is also kidnapped.
This is another rollicking adventure on the high seas, set in the 1860s, taking in the tragedy of the opium trade in China, and England’s crucial role in this. Sadly this book was very disappointing in terms of the characters. Kitty seems to have morphed into a waspish shrew, constantly belittling Rian. I’m not sure if she swallowed a bucket of lemons, but she doesn’t have a single positive thing to say the entire book. Amber is just a total brat. I found myself double and triple checking that she was actually 23-years-old as her demanding, truculent behaviour seemed far more in keeping with a 13-year-old. I also didn’t enjoy the conclusion to Israel’s story, it just felt unnecessary. And lastly to add to my woes, the accents in the audio-narration by Louise Crawford were atrocious. So I find my self torn between a two star and three star rating for the final book of an otherwise enjoyable series: 3 for the adventure, 2 for ruining the characters. Let’s call it 2.5
This is another rollicking adventure on the high seas, set in the 1860s, taking in the tragedy of the opium trade in China, and England’s crucial role in this. Sadly this book was very disappointing in terms of the characters. Kitty seems to have morphed into a waspish shrew, constantly belittling Rian. I’m not sure if she swallowed a bucket of lemons, but she doesn’t have a single positive thing to say the entire book. Amber is just a total brat. I found myself double and triple checking that she was actually 23-years-old as her demanding, truculent behaviour seemed far more in keeping with a 13-year-old. I also didn’t enjoy the conclusion to Israel’s story, it just felt unnecessary. And lastly to add to my woes, the accents in the audio-narration by Louise Crawford were atrocious. So I find my self torn between a two star and three star rating for the final book of an otherwise enjoyable series: 3 for the adventure, 2 for ruining the characters. Let’s call it 2.5
April 29, 2022
This is the first Deborah Challinor book I've read and I found it an enjoyable and quick read, despite not reading the earlier books in the series. I liked the historically researched aspects of this rom-com-fantasy-period story and the characters. It was a fun read rather than a moving one. I found the dialogue to be too modern at times to fit with the historical context but as I enjoyed the story as a whole I just kind of absorbed it in a "steam punk" kind of fashion and didn't let it bother me - it made it more humorous. I enjoyed the cultural diversity of the characters, the use of te reo and the settings, much more thoughtful than a lot of novels. Apparently the voices and accents in the audio-book are excruciating so stay clear of those as if correct, that totally destroys my sentiment.
Kitty and Rian Farrell take their schooner on a quest to rescue an old friend's daughter, Bao. Bao has been kidnapped and is somewhere in China (just as well a tip off leads them to Hong Kong), while her father Wong Fu (whom they have known from prior Ballarat, Australia gold fields adventures) is dying in Otago, New Zealand. Kitty and Rian's daughter Amber becomes a lead character in the novel when she too is held to ransom by a pirate who wants Rian to intervene in Chinese / English politics and impact the English Opium trade. The historical notes from the author at the end are definitely worth a read.
Kitty and Rian Farrell take their schooner on a quest to rescue an old friend's daughter, Bao. Bao has been kidnapped and is somewhere in China (just as well a tip off leads them to Hong Kong), while her father Wong Fu (whom they have known from prior Ballarat, Australia gold fields adventures) is dying in Otago, New Zealand. Kitty and Rian's daughter Amber becomes a lead character in the novel when she too is held to ransom by a pirate who wants Rian to intervene in Chinese / English politics and impact the English Opium trade. The historical notes from the author at the end are definitely worth a read.
July 1, 2019
Great Saga of goldfields and early nz and the endorsing in a way of Chinese way of life, they equally in the class system as nz was at that time, and one sorry for concubines and the ones kidnapped, The heroic Wife of the captain is entertaining reading in all she does, around the world in often fierce passages, raises a daughter and seems to be a equal mate for her partner, this two things not heard of much in this time, and she is brave.
The lot interesting and so are the CHARACTERS THAT SEE THE CHINESE AS FRIENDS AND EQUALS and the saving of what the terrible characters get up to is quite bizzare and flout the law, and the negotiation of the women who will give back becoming the Cloud leopard for money, clever as applied to his ego.
The description of the harbour and squalor of communities really shows the filth that people lived in
The lot interesting and so are the CHARACTERS THAT SEE THE CHINESE AS FRIENDS AND EQUALS and the saving of what the terrible characters get up to is quite bizzare and flout the law, and the negotiation of the women who will give back becoming the Cloud leopard for money, clever as applied to his ego.
The description of the harbour and squalor of communities really shows the filth that people lived in
June 21, 2020
Couldn't believe my luck finding this book. I thought the series had finished and was rather sad, but here it is and every bit as good as the others, if not better. I've dragged it out as long as I could. I was torn between wanting to read it in one sitting and loathe to finish it.
I have never in my life read a series of books that got better and better as they went along. No padding out the pages, no boring bits. Just full-on adventure mixed with real historical facts. Totally enthralling and set in my favourite places in the world.
Thank you so much Deborah. I love your books!! Just a small suggestion - Haunui's full story would be worth reading, I think. Any chance.....???? Please :0) !!
I have never in my life read a series of books that got better and better as they went along. No padding out the pages, no boring bits. Just full-on adventure mixed with real historical facts. Totally enthralling and set in my favourite places in the world.
Thank you so much Deborah. I love your books!! Just a small suggestion - Haunui's full story would be worth reading, I think. Any chance.....???? Please :0) !!
January 21, 2025
Well, out of the 4 books this was by far the best due to an appearance by the convict girls!!
Made me grin ear to ear reading Fridays name again!
I really struggled with this series. I have loved all of Challinor’s books so far and whilst I didn’t dislike Kitty, Amber, band of gold… I found them super slow and I was lacking enthusiasm to pick them up some days especially after LOVING the convict girls and even The children of war series.
This was the most action packed of them all but wasn’t overwhelming good.
Made me grin ear to ear reading Fridays name again!
I really struggled with this series. I have loved all of Challinor’s books so far and whilst I didn’t dislike Kitty, Amber, band of gold… I found them super slow and I was lacking enthusiasm to pick them up some days especially after LOVING the convict girls and even The children of war series.
This was the most action packed of them all but wasn’t overwhelming good.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 19, 2020
Audiobook performed by Louise Crawford: the worst pronunciation of Māori words imaginable, and the accent of the Māori characters are so stereotypical they are bordering on racist.
I suspect the Chinese accents are just as bad and the other accents are just grating.
I will try the print book in an attempt to finish it as I'm interested in the historical setting but the audiobook is impossible to sit through.
I suspect the Chinese accents are just as bad and the other accents are just grating.
I will try the print book in an attempt to finish it as I'm interested in the historical setting but the audiobook is impossible to sit through.
March 11, 2023
This fourth book in "The Smuggler's Wife" series was another thoroughly enjoyable read. I enjoy Deborah Challinor's books (even though I get a bit annoyed with some of her characters) because of the amount of well researched history that goes into them, especially the New Zealand history we never got to hear about at school. I know that when I pick up one of her books to read I'm going to learn something I didnt know from our past! Thanks Deborah!
July 3, 2024
I did enjoy this book , particularly at the end. Yes it is excessive to be kidnapped 4 times - I thought this was a comical satirical comment in the book! Agreed here.
The exploration of Chinese history was interesting.
I found some comical moments as insights into some of the characters quite enjoyable.
I think I enjoyed this book the most in the series - many characters woven into the story.helped to add depth to it.
The exploration of Chinese history was interesting.
I found some comical moments as insights into some of the characters quite enjoyable.
I think I enjoyed this book the most in the series - many characters woven into the story.helped to add depth to it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 13, 2020
This the 4th in the smuggler's wife series and it is a bit meh.
Was pleased when I finished it.
Clearly written and easy to read.
Did not like the way Israel was dealt with or the ending with someone going off with the pirate :insert vomit emoji:
Yes yes I realise this book has an historical setting, it still made my skin crawl.
Was pleased when I finished it.
Clearly written and easy to read.
Did not like the way Israel was dealt with or the ending with someone going off with the pirate :insert vomit emoji:
Yes yes I realise this book has an historical setting, it still made my skin crawl.
August 8, 2022
Interesting reading about New Zealand back in the days. Interesting depictions of Māori characters. Old school kind of vibe. Old school style of writing. Solid three stars. I hate not starting a series at the beginning but it is what it is seeing as this title was on the list and the others weren't. I want about to read them all to tick this one off.
August 29, 2024
Not realising this was #3 in a series, I ploughed in and was a little put off by references to the first two stories. I wish that had been displayed on the cover.
However, it eventually worked well as a stand alone once I became familiar with the characters. Fast paced, adventurous, far-fetched in parts but a rattling good yarn.
However, it eventually worked well as a stand alone once I became familiar with the characters. Fast paced, adventurous, far-fetched in parts but a rattling good yarn.
December 5, 2017
I didn't realize this book was part 4 in a series when I started reading it. Unfortunately the constant references to past events and the obvious need to tie up all the characters from earlier parts spoilt the storyline, which I also found increasingly unbelievable. Disappointing.
May 6, 2017
I have enjoyed this series but this book not so much as it dragged a bit. It was nice to meet Friday and the gang from the other series.
June 24, 2017
A little light, but sort of interesting. Hated the ending, very weak.
July 4, 2017
I found the Author's notes the best part of the book!
May 6, 2018
I love this author and once again she delivered. Fantastic read
August 8, 2018
Picked this up as the blurb sounded good, but have to admit I struggled to finish it.
August 29, 2019
Not as good as I had hoped tho to be honest it may be because I hadn’t read the earlier books in the series.
December 14, 2019
Interesting topic but seemed quite manipulated and unbelievable at times.
January 23, 2020
Loved it although I read this last book first.
Will definitely read the others in the series.
Will definitely read the others in the series.
December 27, 2020
Boring...
April 7, 2021
As usual an excellent informative read. Loved the history of the Chinese and gold mining in Lawrence. One gets. Dry immersed in Deborah Challinor’s stories.
April 10, 2023
Adventures, love, family, history... this was a fun series!
March 7, 2024
It seems like the author has to put a ‘patero’ in every book… it was funny the first time, seriously though, what is it with all these flatulence references in her books?!
February 11, 2025
Satisfying conclusion to the south pacific series.
March 20, 2017
Take some romance and adventure on the high seas, mix it with a bit of a history lesson on life in Australia in the gold rush era and you get an easy to read story which, although it is number 4 in the series, can still be read as a stand-alone story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews