Happy Wednesday Friends :)
I hope you're all doing well, and I want to thank you for all for taking the time to stop by The Preppy Book Princess for another book review.
My province is still under orders where we're not allowed to gather with other households, and we're just coming out of an extreme cold spell. So those two situations have basically meant that I've had a lot of extra reading time on my hands lately, so I've been getting through my stack of review books much faster than normal.
Today's review is from a first time author for me, and I'm excited to share with you all about my experience.
The Girl in the Painting by Tea Cooper:
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Publication Date: March 9th, 2021
Genre: Christian Fiction/Historical Fiction
Synopsis:
A young prodigy in need of family.
A painting that shatters a woman’s peace.
And a decades-old mystery demanding to be solved.
Australia, 1906
Orphan Jane Piper is nine years old when philanthropist siblings Michael and Elizabeth Quinn take her into their home to further her schooling. The Quinns are no strangers to hardship. Having arrived in Australia as penniless immigrants, they now care for others as lost as they once were.
Despite Jane’s mysterious past, her remarkable aptitude for mathematics takes her far over the next seven years, and her relationship with Elizabeth and Michael flourishes as she plays an increasingly prominent part in their business.
But when Elizabeth reacts in terror to an exhibition at the local gallery, Jane realizes no one knows Elizabeth after all—not even Elizabeth herself. As the past and present converge and Elizabeth’s grasp on reality loosens, Jane sets out to unravel her story before it’s too late.
From the gritty reality of the Australian goldfields to the grand institutions of Sydney, this compelling novel presents a mystery that spans continents and decades as both women finally discover a place to call home.
(synopsis from goodreads).
My Review:
The Girl in the Painting was my first experience with a Tea Cooper novel, and I ended up being pleasantly surprised. This was a beautiful, historical fiction novel that wraps the reader up into a dual timeline set in historic Australia. We mainly follow Michael and Elizabeth Quinn, Irish immigrants to the land down under, and an orphan girl named Jane who they've taken into their home as their new ward.
Jane quickly adapts to the dramatic change in her lifestyle, and is beyond grateful that these generous siblings have chosen to give her the opportunity to better her education, and help out with the accounts at the family business. However, Michael and Elizabeth are both harboring deep, dark secrets that threaten the family's security and stability. Once brought to light, Jane struggles to solve the mysteries surrounding the two people she's come to care the most about, but will stop at nothing to do so.
I found myself enchanted with this lovely novel right from the opening pages, and I loved how poetic and whimsical so much of the writing was. The mystery kept me glued to the pages, as I found myself completely engrossed and immersed in everything unfolding, and while I had guessed some of the mystery correctly, certain parts of it still ended up surprising me.
I loved my first experience with a novel by this author, and really enjoyed the way that the past and present collided, and the focus on strong female heroines who dared to go against society's expectations for females during this time period. I would wholeheartedly pick up a book by this author in the future, and I'll definitely be recommending this one.
Final Rating: 4/5.
Thanks so much to Thomas Nelson for allowing me to advance read and review this!
I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary advance reader copy of this novel from the publisher (Thomas Nelson) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to give a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thanks so much for reading guys! Have a great rest of your day :)
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