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Northern Rivers #2
Substitute Child
Scott Wyatt had been a constant presence in her life, which was surprising given that he had died before she was born. Because of this, Charlotte Wyatt never quite felt that she was an only child. In fact, some days she felt like the substitute child – born of grief to replace the memory of a child who only lived a day.
No one ever called her ‘Substitute child’ to her face. But she heard it in the words not said. For example, when her mother would introduce her, she could swear that she could him them thinking, ‘Oh you’re the child who came after Scott died.’
Her mother had been married before she met her father. There was definitely a back story to their relationship …
And so to now…
A deckhand in France discovers a bottle with a letter inside. The bottle has floated all the way from Byron Bay in Australia to the south of France. The discovery prompts a whirlwind journey for Charlotte Wyatt into the world of paparazzi, European royalty and the criminal underworld.
Substitute Child is the story of a student travelling to the other side of the world to collect a bottle with a love letter to a brother she never knew and a journey to discover who she is and what she wants from her life. All the while responding to three potential suitors, including Scott, her lifelong nemesis who may have been named after her brother.
The Northern Rivers Series
Boy from Bangalow (Prequel)
Over Byron Bay
Substitute Child
Roman Roulette
Missing in Myanmar
Nonsense in the North
No one ever called her ‘Substitute child’ to her face. But she heard it in the words not said. For example, when her mother would introduce her, she could swear that she could him them thinking, ‘Oh you’re the child who came after Scott died.’
Her mother had been married before she met her father. There was definitely a back story to their relationship …
And so to now…
A deckhand in France discovers a bottle with a letter inside. The bottle has floated all the way from Byron Bay in Australia to the south of France. The discovery prompts a whirlwind journey for Charlotte Wyatt into the world of paparazzi, European royalty and the criminal underworld.
Substitute Child is the story of a student travelling to the other side of the world to collect a bottle with a love letter to a brother she never knew and a journey to discover who she is and what she wants from her life. All the while responding to three potential suitors, including Scott, her lifelong nemesis who may have been named after her brother.
The Northern Rivers Series
Boy from Bangalow (Prequel)
Over Byron Bay
Substitute Child
Roman Roulette
Missing in Myanmar
Nonsense in the North
252 pages, ebook
Published October 30, 2019
2 people are currently reading
7 people want to read
About the author
Jane Ellyson
10 books18 followersI’ve a deep connection to the far north coast of New South Wales in Australia where my novel Over Byron Bay is set. My great grandparents owned a farm a little way out of Byron Bay and grandparents a farm at nearby Mullumbimby.
I started writing Over Byron Bay in my last year at university in Lismore which is also located in the beautiful Northern Rivers area of New South Wales. For all the wannabe writers out there, let me report that it’s never too late to tell your story. It took 30 years for me to get Over Byron Bay written and published and I’m thrilled with my heart wrenching story of loss and love.
I’ve travelled extensively and lived in some lovely locations around the world including London, Paris and Nice. Nice, in the south of France was home for over a decade so it’s perhaps not surprising that the Cote d’Azur as it is more commonly known, takes centre stage in my second novel Substitute Child.
My heroine Charlotte Wyatt, visits London, Paris, Antibes, Cannes, Îles de Lérins and Monte Carlo on her journey to collect a bottle with a message inside. Her parents had thrown the bottle into the ocean off Byron Bay 20 years previously. It’s a thriller romance. It’s the story of a student on a journey to discover who she is and what she wants from life. It has fairy tale elements and lots of fun.
It’s also a wonderful travel story. The south of France where a fair chunk of the story is set is beautiful. I love the deep blue of the Mediterranean Sea, the craggy rocky outcrops along the coastline and the orange, yellow and pink painted houses.
I’ve recently written the backstory to Over Byron Bay. You can pick up a copy for free by joining my mailing list at www.janeellyson.com
I currently live at Possum Creek just out of Bangalow in northern New South Wales in Australia, well I would if I could, rather than being the pen name of someone who’d prefer to remain anonymous.
I started writing Over Byron Bay in my last year at university in Lismore which is also located in the beautiful Northern Rivers area of New South Wales. For all the wannabe writers out there, let me report that it’s never too late to tell your story. It took 30 years for me to get Over Byron Bay written and published and I’m thrilled with my heart wrenching story of loss and love.
I’ve travelled extensively and lived in some lovely locations around the world including London, Paris and Nice. Nice, in the south of France was home for over a decade so it’s perhaps not surprising that the Cote d’Azur as it is more commonly known, takes centre stage in my second novel Substitute Child.
My heroine Charlotte Wyatt, visits London, Paris, Antibes, Cannes, Îles de Lérins and Monte Carlo on her journey to collect a bottle with a message inside. Her parents had thrown the bottle into the ocean off Byron Bay 20 years previously. It’s a thriller romance. It’s the story of a student on a journey to discover who she is and what she wants from life. It has fairy tale elements and lots of fun.
It’s also a wonderful travel story. The south of France where a fair chunk of the story is set is beautiful. I love the deep blue of the Mediterranean Sea, the craggy rocky outcrops along the coastline and the orange, yellow and pink painted houses.
I’ve recently written the backstory to Over Byron Bay. You can pick up a copy for free by joining my mailing list at www.janeellyson.com
I currently live at Possum Creek just out of Bangalow in northern New South Wales in Australia, well I would if I could, rather than being the pen name of someone who’d prefer to remain anonymous.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 13, 2020
Young adults will enjoy Charlotte’s adventure to Europe and romantic explorations with three smart suitors. Substitute Child has all the ingredients of a captivating story including fashion, luxury, yachts, flirtations and royals. (I anticipate a TV series at some point.)
I also very much liked the descriptions of places visited by Charlotte including the Antibes port, the itineraries around Cannes, Iles de Lérins and Monaco. Looking forward to reading the next instalment.
I also very much liked the descriptions of places visited by Charlotte including the Antibes port, the itineraries around Cannes, Iles de Lérins and Monaco. Looking forward to reading the next instalment.
November 17, 2021
A suspenseful coming of age story
I enjoyed following Charlotte’s journey as she accepted the challenge of travelling half way around the world to meet the sailor who found the message in a bottle thrown in the ocean by her parents 20 years before. Charlotte grows in confidence with each adventure she faces and she comes to recognize her worth to her friends and to her family. I loved how real people were sprinkled through her story and played small roles in her adventures.
I enjoyed following Charlotte’s journey as she accepted the challenge of travelling half way around the world to meet the sailor who found the message in a bottle thrown in the ocean by her parents 20 years before. Charlotte grows in confidence with each adventure she faces and she comes to recognize her worth to her friends and to her family. I loved how real people were sprinkled through her story and played small roles in her adventures.
November 24, 2019
Fascinating insight into the world of fashion and digital media
This book proved to be more than the blurb suggested. The whirlwind in which Charlotte finds herself, after a message bottle thrown into the sea by her parents is found, is quite spectacular, coupled with what happens owing to her similarity to a European celebrity. I shall be interested to read the next book.
This book proved to be more than the blurb suggested. The whirlwind in which Charlotte finds herself, after a message bottle thrown into the sea by her parents is found, is quite spectacular, coupled with what happens owing to her similarity to a European celebrity. I shall be interested to read the next book.
November 15, 2023
This book is written with insight and at a good pace. The story intrigued me from the first page turn, with the mystery taking Charlotte from her hometown in Australia, quickly to London, then Paris and Cannes. I enjoyed all Charlotte's adventures. A great read and highly recommended.
December 27, 2019
This was a fun and entertaining story. What starts out as a magazine interview trip to Europe turns into an exciting adventure for Charlotte with a good dose of romance and danger mixed in. If you enjoy coming of age stories and French culture, you will love this book!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews