BOOK CLUB: The Widow of Ballarat

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Author: Darry Fraser
ISBN: 9781489250407
RRP: $29.99
Publication Date: 19th December 2018
Publisher: Harlequin Mira

The Widow of Ballarat is Darry Fraser’s third novel and although it clearly stands on its own as a novel, there is a link to her previous two books, the Murray River series.

Set in Ballarat, the day after the infamous Eureka Stockade uprising in the goldfields, Fraser continues to demonstrate her research skills and ability to seamlessly blend historical fact with fascinating, engaging and realistic characters.

Fraser pulls no punches in highlighting the hardships of working on the goldfields during the gold rush in the mid 1800’s. The requirements for all to pay their monthly gold licence fee, even those who weren’t digging but providing services such as laundry “in case they came across a nugget in their work”, the desperation that led to the Eureka Stockade uprising, and the dramatic over response by the government troopers, and the violence that so many women endured at the hands of their fathers and husbands.

Nell Amberton is the central character in this tale. Forced into matrimony by her father with the sickeningly violent Andrew Amberton even before his first wife’s body has even cooled in the grave, Nell vows not to end up the same way. Amberton taunts her that she will only be secure when she produces a male heir, as stated in his legal papers.

The morning after the Eureka Stockade uprising Amberton drags Nell and some bags of gold into a carriage to flee the goldfields, abandoning the men who are working his claim. When the carriage is stopped by a bushranger, Amberton, like the bullying coward he is, uses Nell as a shield as he exits the coach. It comes as a great surprise to all then, when the bullet that fells Amberton does not come from the bushranger’s gun, leaving both Nell and the bushranger to wonder where the bullet came from.

But for a woman in the 19th century, the death of her husband, even one as cruel as Amberton, did not afford any security. Unless Nell was delivered of a male heir, as per Amberton’s will, then she had no claim to the property they lived in, or any form of support, and would likely be returned to her scoundrel of a father so he could sell her off in matrimony again. Reluctantly she finds herself living with Amberton’s sister, who clearly considers Nell to be a burden, and her nephew Lewis, who wants Amberton’s purported gold to address his own financial woes.

Nell must use all her wits to ensure that she remains a free woman and salvages her future from the pit of despair in which she finds herself, while at the same time trying to understand the feelings she seems to be developing for the handsome young bushranger, whose face she has not seen, yet is drawn towards.

This is a fabulously written book, which deals with a tumultuous period in Australian history, in an honest and realistic manner, and yet also encompasses love, loyalty, the beginning of the movement towards rights of women and the amazing strength to survive that some women demonstrated.

At her book launch Darry Fraser stated that she felt the need to write this book to explain where a character in the River Murray series sprang from, and for those familiar with her previous books there will be an “Aha” moment. For those who may not have read Fraser’s prior work I hope this book inspires you to seek them out.

Highly recommended 5 stars.

This guest review was submitted by our Beauty and Lace Club member: Marcia who was lucky enough to meet the author at a book launch.

You can follow Darry Fraser on Facebook, Twitter and her Website.

The Widow of Ballarat is available now at Harlequin, Angus and Robertson, Booktopia and where all good books are sold.

Thanks to Harlequin 20 of our Beauty and Lace club members will be reading The Widow of Ballarat so please be aware there may be spoilers in the comments below.

26 thoughts on “BOOK CLUB: The Widow of Ballarat

  1. Set in the days of the Ballarat gold rush era in the mid nineteenth century, The Widow of Ballarat, is the story of Nell. As a young woman Nell is sold into a violent marriage by her drunken father. Her husband is subsequently killed, fleeing the Eureka Stockade, at a violent and lawless time in Australian history.
    Nell is left without financial support and determines that she will be an independent woman and sets about obtaining work and a home for herself, in a time when women’s rights were not recognised, and women did not work outside the home.
    However, the goldfields were a different story with women having their own businesses and mining licences. Nell goes to work for her friend Flora, who has a laundry. It is back breaking, hot work in the goldfields.
    But Nell has a secret and faces many challenges keeping the secret.
    This story combines romance, history and mystery as Nell struggles to maintain her independence and develop a relationship that will support her ideals.
    The author Darry Fraser provides a great insight into life on the goldfields, the inequities for women and the unjust British law for miners which led to the Eureka Stockade and its subsequent violence by government troops.
    Thankyou Beauty and Lace and Harlequin for The Widow of Ballarat – a good read!

  2. I have read many historical romances over the yeas, but none set in Australia, or in a time that was a huge part of our rich history.
    Set in the 1900’s, a great time of change, as women became more forthright, and worked for their survival .Many are still ‘sold’ by their fathers, and suffer at the hands of a violent husband, as is the main character, Nell.
    The story tells of her brutal arranged marriage, and a father just as brutal, but out of it comes death and freedom, setting wrongs right, and eventually, true love.
    I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, the first I have read by Darry Fraser. and will be seeking out her other titles.
    Sincere thanks to Beauty & Lace, and Harlequin, for the opportunity to read this page turner of a book, 5/5

  3. I really enjoyed reading The Widow Of Ballarat by Darry Fraser.
    I love historical fiction and this novel certainly does not disappoint .
    It was especially enjoyable to myself living in rural Victoria all my life and being able to recognise so much of the novels settings was a lovely change .
    Set in the late 1800’s, we follow the story of our main character Nell who is sold into a very violent marriage by her alcoholic father.
    The pattern of abuse continues with her new husband .
    When things change abrubtly Nell has to fend for herself in a time when women werent recognised as being able to do so nor should they try to do so.
    A story with mystery, romance and historical aspects I really enjoyed the Widow Of Ballarat and look forward to reading more to come from Darry Fraser.
    Thank you to Beauty and Lace and Harlequin for the opportunity to read and review this great novel.

  4. Thank you Beauty and Lace and Harlequin for selecting me to read The Widow of Ballarat.

    I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

    A historical romance set in Ballarat during the Gold Rush.

    It gave a great insight into how life was during those times.

    I very much liked Nell’s character and her independence. I loved how Nell’s character began to grow by making friendships and how her romance blossomed.

    I enjoyed this book very much and will definitely keep a look out for more books by Darry Fraser!

  5. Having spent part of my life living in Ballarat and knowing the history of the region, I enjoyed reading ‘The Widow of Ballarat’ and matching the story with my knowledge of the geographical area along with the history.

    Nell brought the story alive for me as I imagined being a woman living and enduring the Gold Rush times. Certainly not an easy journey but one definitely worth knowing and the author showed great knowledge of the happenings of the day which made it very believable for me.

    Thankyou Beauty and Lace as well as Harlequin for the opportunity to read and review this book.

  6. Nell Amberton shows such bravery as a newly wed trying to work to help support herself in such trying living conditions in the Goldfields of Ballarat.

    She witnesses the death of her husband and then begins the fight for her own survival ensuring she has work in the Goldfield laundry she meets another strong and courageous woman in Flora. They support each other through the hardest of times just to survive.

    After a devastating fire erupts in Nell’s camp tent she is perused for the whereabouts of her late husbands gold bars to which she has sewn some into the hem of her long day dress.

    She sees this as a form of survival to help her start her new life as a Widow

    Darry Frazer has opened my eyes to the history of great pioneer women within Australia

    Her style of writing keeps the reader fully engaged and allows your imagination to look into the way it was for women in early settlement times, it shows you they had confidence in themselves to follow thier dreams and to be a voice to be heard and listened to.

    A most enjoyable book to read.

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