Weekends with the Sunshine Gardening Society
Weekends with the Sunshine Gardening Society

Author: Sophie Green

Publisher: Hachette Australia

Published: 2023-07-26

Total Pages: 424

ISBN-13: 0733649432

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Noosa Heads, 1987: Newly divorced Cynthia has returned to her home town from Los Angeles to reconnect with her 19-year-old daughter, who is pregnant and determined not to listen to her mother's advice. Cynthia's former best friend, Lorraine, has been stuck mowing lawns as part of a business she shares with her husband - his dream, not hers. When Cynthia convinces Lorraine to join the local Sunshine Gardening Society, they meet young widow Elizabeth, and rootless, heartbroken Kathy. The four women soon discover the society is much more than an opportunity to chat about flowers. Rather, it offers them the chance to lend a helping hand to people whose lives need a bit of care and attention right along with their gardens. Between pulling up weeds and planting natives, the women learn from each other that some roots go deep, and others shallow; that seeds can lie dormant for a long time before they spring to life, and that careful tending is the key to lives and friendships that reach their full potential. Praise for Sophie Green: 'This is a warm treat of a novel, filled with great music and small-town charm' WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN 'Atmospheric and incredibly descriptive, reading a Sophie Green book is the greatest escape' WHO 'A tender, heartwarming read' NEW IDEA 'Reading this book was like snuggling beneath a warm beach towel after a bracing dip in the ocean' JOANNA NELL 'Heartwarming, fulfilling and Australian as a lamb roast and full-bodied shiraz' THE AUSTRALIAN WOMEN'S WEEKLY

The Shelly Bay Ladies Swimming Circle
The Shelly Bay Ladies Swimming Circle

Author: Sophie Green

Publisher: Hachette Australia

Published: 2019-07-23

Total Pages: 432

ISBN-13: 0733641172

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It's 1982 in Australia. THE MAN FROM SNOWY RIVER is a box office hit and Paul Hogan is on the TV. In a seaside suburb, housewife Theresa takes up swimming. She wants to get fit; she also wants a few precious minutes to herself. So at sunrise each day she strikes out past the waves. From the same beach, the widowed Marie swims. With her husband gone, bathing is the one constant in her new life. After finding herself in a desperate situation, 25-year-old Leanne only has herself to rely on. She became a nurse to help others, even as she resists help herself. Elaine has recently moved from England. Far from home and without her adult sons, her closest friend is a gin bottle. In the waters of Shelly Bay, these four women find each other. They will survive bluebottle stings and heartbreak; they will laugh so hard they swallow water, and they will plunge their tears into the ocean's salt. They will find solace and companionship, and learn that love takes many forms. Most of all, they will cherish their friendship, each and every day. 'A tender, heartwarming read' New Idea 'An upbeat story about suburban life and female solidarity' Spectrum 'A delightful novel about the power of female friendship' Sunday Age 'Reading this book was like snuggling beneath a warm beach towel after a bracing dip in the ocean.' - JOANNA NELL Praise for Sophie Green's THE INAUGURAL MEETING OF THE FAIRVALE LADIES BOOK CLUB 'Tender, intimate, heartwarming, fulfilling and Australian as a lamb roast and full-bodied shiraz' The Australian Women's Weekly **Includes BONUS extract from Sophie Green's new novel, Thursdays at Orange Blossom House**

Thursdays at Orange Blossom House
Thursdays at Orange Blossom House

Author: Sophie Green

Publisher: Hachette Australia

Published: 2021-07-28

Total Pages: 403

ISBN-13: 073364614X

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From the author of beloved Top Ten bestsellers The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club and The Shelly Bay Ladies Swimming Circle comes a delightful new novel about friendship, love and finding yourself. Far North Queensland, 1993: At 74, former cane farmer Grace Maud is feeling her age, and her isolation, and thinks the best of life may be behind her. Elsewhere in town, high school teacher Patricia has given up on her dreams of travel and adventure and has moved back home to look after her ageing parents, while cafe owner Dorothy is struggling to accept that she may never have the baby she and her husband so desperately want. Each woman has an unspoken need: reconnection. And that's how they find themselves at Orange Blossom House, surrounded by perfumed rainforest, being cajoled and encouraged by their yoga teacher, the lively Sandrine. Together, they will find courage and strength - and discover that life has much more to offer than they ever expected. Set amid the lush beauty of tropical Queensland, Thursdays at Orange Blossom House is a heartwarming story of friendship and family, of chances missed and taken, and the eternal power of love. Praise for Sophie Green: 'Sophie Green has established herself as a leading writer of warm-hearted tales about female friendship and second chances' Canberra Weekly 'A tender, heartwarming read' New Idea 'An upbeat story about suburban life and female solidarity' Spectrum 'Reading this book was like snuggling beneath a warm beach towel after a bracing dip in the ocean' JOANNA NELL 'Heartwarming, fulfilling and Australian as a lamb roast and full-bodied shiraz' The Australian Women's Weekly

The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club
The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club

Author: Sophie Green

Publisher: Hachette UK

Published: 2018-03-01

Total Pages: 418

ISBN-13: 0751570397

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'This gorgeous book completely carried me away' Jenny Ashcroft, author of Island in the East 'The perfect novel to curl up with on a cosy night in' Hello 'An absolute gem of a novel' Better Reading Australia You are warmly invited to join the Fairvale Ladies book club . . . 1978. Life in Australia's vast Northern Territory isn't always easy. Telephones are not yet common, and the treacherous seasons make even travelling to the next town a struggle. But Sybil Baxter is finding a way to connect . . . Bringing together her daughter-in-law Kate, who is finding it hard to adjust to married life, and her old friend Rita, often far away working hard for the Flying Doctors, Sybil starts a book club. Joined by Sallyanne, a mother of three with a trouble marriage, and Della, who moved to the country looking for adventure, they come together to bond over their favourite stories. But as life throws up challenges to each of its members, the club might just provide these five women with what they need more than anything: a friendship capable of overcoming any distance and weathering all seasons. _________________ Join other readers in discovering the joy of the Fairvale Ladies . . . 'A book showing more kindness between its pages than any I have read before' NetGalley Reviewer 'A warm hearted, generous book . . . it was a pleasure and a comfort to come back to the characters each night' Virginia McGregor, author of Before I Was Yours 'I didn't want this story to end and would happily spend time in this world each day' Amazon Reviewer 'The story is timeless, the characters realistic and descriptions of the landscape breathtaking' Amazon Reviewer 'Heartwarming and fulfilling' Australian Women's Weekly 'Wonderfully atmospheric' Sunday Mirror __________________ Perfect for readers of The Chilbury Ladies' Choir, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society, The Sunday Lunch Club and The Lido.

The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club
The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club

Author: Sophie Green

Publisher: Hachette Australia

Published: 2017-08-08

Total Pages: 298

ISBN-13: 0733636578

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***THE TOP TEN AUSTRALIAN BESTSELLER*** 'The perfect novel to curl up with on a cosy night in' Hello 'The story of these resilient women is tender and intimate . . . As heartwarming, fulfilling and Australian as a lamb roast and full-bodied shiraz' Australian Women's Weekly LONGLISTED FOR THE INDIE BOOK AWARD FOR DEBUT FICTION 2018 SHORTLISTED FOR THE AUSTRALIAN BOOK INDUSTRY AWARDS 2018: General Fiction Book of the Year and LONGLISTED FOR THE AUSTRALIAN BOOK INDUSTRY AWARDS 2018: Matt Richell Award for New Writer of the Year Books bring them together - but friendship will transform all of their lives. An epic saga of five very different women who come together in the Northern Territory of the 1970s. In 1978 the Northern Territory has begun to self-govern. Cyclone Tracy is a recent memory and telephones not yet a fixture on the cattle stations dominating the rugged outback. Life is hard and people are isolated. But they find ways to connect. Sybil, the matriarch of Fairvale Station, run by her husband, Joe, misses her eldest son, Lachlan. It is up to their second son, Ben, to take his brother's place, while Kate, Sybil's English daughter-in-law, is thousands of miles away from home and finding it difficult to adjust to life at Fairvale. Rita, Sybil's oldest friend, is now living in Alice Springs and working for the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Sallyanne, mother of three, dreams of a life far removed from the dusty town of Katherine where she lives with her difficult husband. And Della, who left Texas for Australia looking for adventure and work on the land, needs some purpose in her life. Sybil comes up with a way to give them all companionship: they all love to read, and she starts a book club. If you loved The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society, The Little Coffee Shop of Kabul and The Little Paris Bookshop, you will devour this story of five different women united by one need: to overcome the vast distances of Australia's Top End with friendship, tears, laughter, books and love. 'An absolute gem of a novel, with the most evocative sense of place . . . A definite treat for any book club' BETTER READING 'This close-knit Australian saga has rightly earned comparisons to THE THORN BIRDS' iBOOKS EDITOR 'A delightful novel... Sophie Green's beautiful mingling of the book club members' lives down through the years is a testament to her clever storytelling... She provides vivid descriptions of both the triumphs and hardships of life in the outback so readers can empathise with all the joys and heartaches experienced by each one' STARTS AT SIXTY **Includes bonus extract from Sophie's heartwarming new novel Thursdays at Orange Blossom House**

Home and Away
Home and Away

Author: Sophie Green

Publisher: Hachette Australia

Published: 2015-12-16

Total Pages: 256

ISBN-13: 0733635636

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WORLD PREMIERE. The Braxton family face their biggest challenge yet in this thrilling story featuring never-before-seen material inspired by the one-off Presto special episode Home and Away: An Eye for An Eye. Contains Exclusive Scenes Not Shown on TV. Ricky is left devastated after her beautiful baby boy, Casey, is abducted in a calculated act of revenge by Brax?s foe, Gunno. In a race against time, Heath, Ash and Kyle frantically search for Casey while Bianca, Ricky and Phoebe frantically try to save ransom money. But as the clock ticks, a shocking revelation about Brax threatens to turn upside down the life that Ricky has built for herself. What does this mean for her rekindled romance with the gorgeous, reliable Nate? Incredibly moving and dramatic, Home and Away: An Eye for An Eye takes you into the hearts and minds of the Braxton family and your favourite characters in the tight-knit community of Summer Bay. It will leave you on the edge of your seat.

The Councillor
The Councillor

Author: E. J. Beaton

Publisher: Penguin

Published: 2021-03-02

Total Pages: 450

ISBN-13: 075641699X

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When the death of Iron Queen Sarelin Brey fractures the realm of Elira, Lysande Prior, the palace scholar and the queen's closest friend, is appointed Councillor. Publically, Lysande must choose the next monarch from amongst the city-rulers vying for the throne. Privately, she seeks to discover which ruler murdered the queen, suspecting the use of magic. Resourceful, analytical, and quiet, Lysande appears to embody the motto she was raised with: everything in its place. Yet while she hides her drug addiction from her new associates, she cannot hide her growing interest in power. She becomes locked in a game of strategy with the city-rulers - especially the erudite prince Luca Fontaine, who seems to shift between ally and rival. Further from home, an old enemy is stirring: the magic-wielding White Queen is on the move again, and her alliance with a traitor among the royal milieu poses a danger not just to the peace of the realm, but to the survival of everything that Lysande cares about

Elizabeth and her German Garden
Elizabeth and her German Garden

Author: Elizabeth von Arnim

Publisher: Lindhardt og Ringhof

Published: 2021-02-23

Total Pages: 98

ISBN-13: 8726552884

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Elizabeth von Arnim’s novel "Elizabeth and Her German Garden" was first published in 1898. It was instantly popular and has gone through numerous reprints ever since. This story is the main character Elizabeth’s diary, where she relates stories from her life, as she learns to tend to her garden. Whilst the novel has a strongly autobiographical tone, it is also very humorous and satirical, due to Elizabeth’s frequent mistakes and her idiosyncratic outlook on life. She comments on the beauty of nature and shares her view on society, looking down on the frivolous fashions of her time and writing "I believe all needlework and dressmaking is of the devil, designed to keep women from study." The book is the first in a series about the same character. Elizabeth von Arnim (1866–1941), née Mary Annette Beauchamp, was a British novelist. Born in Australia, her family returned to England when she was three years old; and she was Katherine Mansfield’s cousin. She was first married to a Prussian aristocrat, the Graf von Arnim-Schlagenthin, and later to the philosopher Bertrand Russel’s older brother, Frank, whom she left a year later. She then had an affair with the publisher Alexander Reeves, a man thirty years her junior, and with H.G. Wells. Von Arnim moved a lot, living alternatively in the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Germany, Poland, before dying of influenza in South Carolina during the Second War. Elizabeth von Arnim was an active member of the European literary scene, and entertained many of her contemporaries in her Chalet Soleil in Switzerland. She even hired E. M. Forster and Hugh Walpole as tutors for her five children. She is famous for her half-autobiographical, satirical novel "Elizabeth and her German Garden" (1898), as well as for "Vera" (1921), and "The Enchanted April" (1922).

Whenever You're Ready
Whenever You're Ready

Author: Trish Bolton

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Published: 2024-01-30

Total Pages: 295

ISBN-13: 1761188402

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A love letter to the lives of older women, Whenever You're Ready is a moving and perceptive novel about three women searching for a way forward in the wake of a sudden loss. 'Tender, warm-hearted and wise.' Toni Jordan 'Each of the women in this novel feels like she could be a friend.' Sophie Green An unexpected death finds Lizzie, Alice and Margot at various crossroads in their lives, torn between looking back and moving on. Lizzie is reeling from her discovery of a decades-old secret that changes everything she thought she knew about her friends, her family and her marriage. Alice has always been the good-time girl, as charismatic presenting the weather on television as she is working as a life model. But decades of piecemeal gigs have left her with a rapidly unravelling safety net. Meanwhile, Lizzie's perfectionist daughter Margot is realising that, despite having built herself a faultlessly curated life, she hasn't put her troubled past behind her as neatly as she thought she had. Whenever You're Ready is a sweetly wise and gently wistful novel about the secrets and seasons of three intertwined lives. 'Bolton is a natural-born storyteller and her debut novel is a gift to us all.' Lee Kofman 'Social commentary shot through with wicked humour. I loved it.' Lucy Treloar 'Engaging, moving and full of heart.' Suzanne Leal 'Trish Bolton renders visible the complex lives of older women who are so often invisible in our culture. A page-turner of a novel.' Sian Prior 'The grief in Bolton's novel is weighty and pervasive, but her tone is light and matter-of-fact; it's as if Sally Hepworth wrote Jennifer Down's Bodies of Light. Bolton has written through the "not knowing what to say" of grief. This book will also appeal to fans of Gail Honeyman with her rendering of retired, but not retiring, women.' Books + Publishing

Art Hour at the Duchess Hotel
Art Hour at the Duchess Hotel

Author: Sophie Green

Publisher: Hachette Australia

Published: 2024-07-31

Total Pages: 413

ISBN-13: 0733650570

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Sophie Green, Top Ten bestselling author of The Bellbird River Country Choir and Weekends with the Sunshine Gardening Society, returns with a warm-hearted new novel about friendships, fresh starts and finding yourself. Mornington Peninsula, 1999. Wife and now grandmother Joan has checked into the grand old Duchess Hotel to find herself again after thirty-five years of being who her husband and family have wanted her to be. Peninsula local and soon-to-be octogenarian Frances is distracting herself from getting old, and avoiding her self-interested son by escaping to the warmth of the Duchess where the hotel staff treat her like the person she still is. Meanwhile Frances's daughter, Alison, is trying to manage significant disruptions at home while hoping to finally prove to her mother that she's just as worthy of love as her brother. New to the Duchess, hotel maid Kirrily is feeling the weight of a lifetime of responsibility, struggling to balance bills and work and family, and keeping thoughts of how there must be more to life at bay. With its old-world glamour, sprawling seaside grounds and air of possibility, the Duchess Hotel might just be the place to help the women rediscover who they are and bring some spark back to their lives. When Joan decides to pick up a brush and start painting for the first time in decades, she inspires Frances and Kirrily - and, eventually, Alison - to join her. Over canvas, conversation and creativity they will learn that you should always hold onto your dreams and that new friends can give you the courage to live life on your own terms. 'A great book club pick [for] fans of Elizabeth Strout's Lucy by the Sea, Meg Bignell's The Angry Women's Choir and Joanna Nell's Mrs Winterbottom Takes A Gap Year' BOOKS+PUBLISHING Praise for WEEKENDS WITH THE SUNSHINE GARDENING SOCIETY 'Warm and uplifting' WOMAN'S DAY 'Delightful' BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS 'An enjoyable and heartwarming read' ABC GARDENING AUSTRALIA MAGAZINE 'A compassionately written story full of joy and hope' YOUR TIME MAGAZINE 'A ray of sunshine . . . and such a great armchair escape' THE VILLAGE OBSERVER Praise for the novels of Sophie Green 'Atmospheric and incredibly descriptive, reading a Sophie Green book is the greatest escape' WHO MAGAZINE 'Heartwarming, fulfilling and Australian as a lamb roast and full-bodied shiraz' THE AUSTRALIAN WOMEN'S WEEKLY 'A warm treat of a novel, filled with great music and small-town charm' WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN 'Reading this book was like snuggling beneath a warm beach towel after a bracing dip in the ocean' JOANNA NELL