Die Blüte des Eukalyptus

by Johanna Nicholls

A stunning epic bringing the passions and heartaches of colonial Australia to vivid life.Jack Andersen is a proud Currency Lad with a swagger in his step and a joke for his mates, until he discovers the wife he's besotted with has left him, and taken their young daughter with her. Fuelled by revenge he starts a long search for his wife and vows never to trust 'good women' again.Few people seem to think a Gypsy like Keziah Stanley could ever be a 'good woman'. Separated by the law from her beloved Gypsy husband, Keziah decides to travel to Australia to find the love of her life. Keziah boasts she can read anybody's future... but her own life is proving harder to read.Daniel Browne already knows what his future will be - the life of a great artist. And he's determined to follow his dream; no matter what.When this volatile trio is thrown together in colonial Australia, they form an extraordinary alliance that will challenge the establishment. Love, hate, survival and revenge - all will discover the truth.

Genres: Historical Fiction

Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Johanna Nicholls comes from a theatrical family. She was a journalist and magazine feature writer in Sydney, Melbourne and London. In television she worked as a researcher/writer and Head Script Editor of TV Drama at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Johanna has lived in England, Italy and Greece. Her home is an 1830s convict-built sandstone cottage in Birchgrove, Sydney, where she is currently writing her fourth Australian historical novel and researching her fifth. Her first saga, Ironbark, was published by Simon & Schuster in Australia and New Zealand in 2009 and 2010. Ghost Gum Valley was published in 2012 and 2013. The Lace Balcony (2014) is her third novel to have been translated into German and published in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Golden Hope will be published in 2016.

Reviews

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book from the word go.
I had not heard of this Author before, and she is one that I will not forget, and am already seeking out her others.
The book took hold right from the first page. I love historical fiction especially Australia.
I loved the way the characters really stood out, they were described well and came to life from the word go.
Great! Great! Great!

[Kylie Bevan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took a few chapters to warm to this tale, however very much enjoyed it once I did.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5stars. Really enjoyed this story. Some events were slightly confusing.

[Jülie ☼♄  · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book, it is fast paced and keeps the readers' attention. Rather like an Australian "western", complete with cowboys and girls!

I love looking for new Australian novels about the early colonial times and the country, as there are some very good writers now taking on some of the more familiar Australian colonial historical stories and legends and using a mixture of fact and fiction to bring a real flavor to the stories. Also the descriptions of the beautiful country scenes and places are generally quite accurate, often citing and describing genuine towns.
Ironbark is the name of a place in Australia as well as being the name of a native hardwood Eucalyptus tree common to those parts.


Johanna Nicholls has done a great job with this story and I would recommend it to anyone that loves an action packed book. I look forward to more of her books.

[Lauren Keegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Caroline Turnock · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book - very hard to put down.

[Janine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really struggled with this at the beginning and put it down a few times but after reading some reviews and seeing the high rating I persevered and am please that I did as it was a great story.

[Louise Morrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

very good, fell away a bit towards the end, but then just picked up...great ending.....

[Sandra Davy · Rating 5 out of 5]

trixrestorations@ihug.co.nz

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gosh, what a great story. Slow start but couldn't get enough of it half way through. The ups and downs on early settlement in Australia. Absolutely loved it.