Book Synopsis:
Success would depend on taking a dangerous risk.
When Blaise Hill, a feisty young journalist from one of Sydney’s toughest neighbourhoods, is dispatched to London at the dawn of the swinging sixties to report on Princess Margaret’s controversial marriage to an unconventional photographer, she is drawn into an elite realm of glamour and intrigue.
As the nation faces an explosive upheaval, Blaise must grapple with a series of shocking scandals at the pinnacle of British society. Yet, haunted by a threat from her past and torn between two very different men, who can she trust in a world of hidden motives and shifting alliances? If she makes the wrong choice, she will lose everything.
Inspired by real events, The Royal Correspondent is a compelling story of love and betrayal, family secrets and conspiracy that takes you from the gritty life of a daily newspaper to the opulent splendour of Buckingham Palace.
My Review:
The Royal Correspondent is an absorbing and entertaining read which was perfect to read over the Jubilee weekend.
Firstly I really liked Blaise and I enjoyed following her throughout the book. She’s a strong lady, who isn’t afraid to reach for her dreams despite lots of opposition. It was nice to see her grow from the very bottom of the ladder to one of the top jobs though hard at times to see people’s attitudes towards her because she was a woman.
The author does a great job of setting the scene in this book and I loved how she manages to transport me from Australia to London. There are lots of fashion and music references which really helped to bring the swinging sixties to life for me. As someone who’s unlikely to step into a newspaper office I especially liked all the little details the author includes about working there. I’d never considered how noisy it might be and how sexist it was for the women who worked there, with women only being able to work in certain areas.
This book had a great pace to it and there always seemed to be something happening to keep me reading. I enjoyed going on the journey with Blaise and read the book in a couple of days. This was the first book I’ve read by this author but I’d definitely like to read more from her in the future.
Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and the publisher for my copy of this book.
About The Authors:
I began my media career while I was still a student at the University of Sydney, performing voice-overs for TV and radio commercials (I hereby confess to being the “We Try Harder” Avis Girl).
After graduating with Honours in Government, I spent six months as an international intern on the staff of a Congressman in Washington DC. I returned to Australia to work as a reporter and newsreader on a regional television station in Queensland.
Back in Sydney, possessed by a long-term fascination with fashion and a passion for writing, I became a regular contributor of feature articles, interviews and reviews for major national and metropolitan publications including The Australian, Sydney Morning Herald Good Weekend Magazine, Cleo and Harper’s Bazaar.
I then wrote the landmark book Best Dressed: 200 years of Fashion in Australia followed by Parade: The story of Fashion in Australia (both HarperCollins Australia). This led to my appointment as the Editor of Harper’s Bazaar, then Portfolio, Australia’s first magazine for working women.
A mid-life career change, inspired by my role as the President of The Royal Hospital for Women Foundation, saw me undertaking postgraduate studies in Applied Psychology and the establishment of a successful psychotherapy practice.
A decade later, I found I was once more unable to resist the lure of the written word. My memoir, Rosetta: A Scandalous True Story, has been optioned for the screen by a major studio.
My first novel, The Paris Model (2020) was not only an Australian bestseller (thank you, lovely readers) but was published in the United States and Canada with Europe to follow in 2021.
Even better, my latest novel, The Royal Correspondent was published in Australia in February 2021 and has already been sold to North America. A dream come true!
I have two beautiful children and live in Sydney with my husband.
I’m also a keen student of art, fashion, history and politics and am exceedingly fond of Paris.
(Taken from the author’s website)
Over The Rainbow Blog 