New Release Book Review: Whitsunday Dawn by Annie Seaton
About the Book:
With the pristine beauty of the Whitsundays under threat, can they expose the truth in time? Australian author Annie Seaton brings to life a new area of romance – Eco-Adventure. Perfect for fans of Di Morrissey.
When Olivia Sheridan arrives in the Whitsundays as spokesperson for big mining company Sheridan Corp, it should be a straightforward presentation to the town about their proposed project. But when a handsome local fisherman shows her what ecological impact the proposal will have, Olivia is forced to question her father’s motives for the project.
Struggling with newly divided loyalties, Olivia is thrown further into turmoil when she is mistaken for a woman who disappeared more than sixty years before. When it becomes clear that Captain Jay is also keeping secrets, Olivia realises that there is more to these sunshine–soaked islands than she ever expected.
Seeking to uncover the truth, Olivia is drawn into a dangerous game where powerful businessmen will stop at nothing to ensure their plan goes ahead, even if that means eliminating her…
Against the epic Far North Queensland landscape, this is the story of two women, separated by history, drawn to Whitsunday Island where their futures will be changed forever.
My Thoughts:
What a wonderful story Annie Seaton weaves within the pages of her latest novel, Whitsunday Dawn. With its dual timeline narrative, Annie explores environmental threats to our barrier reef and corporate corruption in an eco-adventure-romance in the present day; while back in the 1940s, she explores the Japanese threats to Australia’s coastline during WWII and the efforts that were put into place for protection, along with island life, old fashioned war time romance, and the horror of imprisonment in the Japanese work camps. There is so much going on in this novel and so many reasons to love it; a true un-put-downable story for lovers of contemporary and historical fiction alike.
Annie Seaton fleshed out all of her characters fully, she maintained an edge of suspicion and threat throughout both timelines to perfection, and she knew just the right moments to apply a romantic touch without undermining the more serious aspects of the story. There is a lot of sadness throughout this novel, not just within the events but also within the character’s lives. I was appalled at Olivia’s father and his treatment of her, but I was also deeply saddened at the way corporations nullify the importance of environmental protection. There is no room for seeing, truly seeing with absolute clarity, the bigger picture of setting aside environmental protection for monetary gain if you are only ever focused on the dollars. Annie really tapped into this with intricate detail and precise analogy.
There were also plenty of wrenching moments within the WWII sections of this story. So many WWII novels orbit around the war in Europe. It was refreshingly real to read about the war that was on our back door and the effects this had on our everyday lives as well as those who were fighting in the air and out at sea to keep our country free. I particularly enjoyed Annie’s depictions of island life back in the 1940s, the beauty and the harshness of it.
There was a bit of uncertainty within me as to how these two storylines were going to fully mesh, but rest assured, Annie steers you home with the skill of a true storyteller. I highly recommend Whitsunday Dawn. It would make an ideal book club selection and a perfect gift for a wide range of readers.
Thanks is extended to HarperCollins Publishers Australia via NetGalley for providing me with a copy of Whitsunday Dawn for review.
