Historical Fiction
20th century historical fiction with romantic elements,
with each book set during the WW2 years.
Melbourne, 1945. Born into a well-to-do family, Maggie Johnson wants freedom from her parents’ strict conservative beliefs and their unbending desire for her to marry the right sort of man. Instead, Maggie longs to forge her own path in life. Lil Kelly, who lives in the slums, works tirelessly to care for her mother and sister. Lil looks for contentment wherever she can find it, not daring to dream of more.
When their paths cross during the exhilarating celebrations of Victory in the Pacific Day, they form a secret friendship. Determined to help lift Lil out of poverty, Maggie finds herself in need of her friend’s help when her carefully ordered world collapses.
As Maggie discovers the strength and vibrancy within the close-knit community of southern Fitzroy, Lil is inspired to take a chance and look beyond the only life she has ever known.
In a world where destiny is dictated by the street where you were born, can Maggie and Lil find the courage to pursue their dreams and follow their hearts?
An unlikely friendship between two young women from opposite ends of Fitzroy sparks lifechanging transformations they could never have anticipated.
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“What a beautiful soul-stirring Australian historical novel ... about friendship, family, class, loss and generational expectations.”
“A finely-written tale of the class divide in post-war Melbourne. Jennie Jones entwines friendship, family and the drama of poverty versus wealth into a satisfying story that highlights the importance of love and a meaningful life.”
A war. The girl she'd been. And the woman she was forced to become.
Townsville, 1942. Young women aged sixteen and over are obliged by law to join the war effort, and Emma Hatton's world is at last about to change. Longing to escape the humdrum poverty of oceanside Blueholm Bay and the demands of her domineering mother, Emma reaches the bustling wartime mayhem of Townsville where the city streets are filled with glamorous GIs and red lipstick is the colour of the day. Befriending charismatic Cassie O'Byrne, Emma believes her adult life has finally begun.
Private Frank Kendrick's kisses make her heart beat faster and with all the talk of his family in California, surely a proposal is imminent. But after a hasty seduction, Frank disappears and Emma finds herself in trouble.
Her family's solution is the Holy Refuge of Saint Philomena in Brisbane, a prison-like 'home' where unmarried, pregnant young women are sent to repent and used as drudges while they wait out their term before their babies are forcibly adopted. Longing to keep her child, Emma befriends other girls struggling in this cruel environment while her dearest friend of all seeks a way to help.
Cassie's solution, and the courageous choices Emma must make, lead her to true adulthood, forever friendships ... and a home and family she could never have anticipated.
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“... a moving, utterly unputdownable story, with one of the most compelling protagonists of the year.”
“... a heartbreaking historical novel by Aussie author Jennie Jones. A thoroughly enjoyable novel which I recommend”