Böcker av Mazi McBurnie

The book is about a family torn apart by the loss of four sons in the First World War and how they find happiness in their grief in different ways and with other people. Miranda is the main character. She is a strong, determined woman who achieves a great deal without family support initially. There are many interesting characters who assist in supporting the main character. There are twists and turns to delight readers on every page. The story is set in 19181920 when times were tough in Australia following the war, especially in small country towns. The white roses theme runs throughout the book as a symbol of hope and forgiveness.

The novel opens with a woman dressed in all black, performing a vengeful act on her husband of fifteen years, whom she has just found out to have committed bigamy with a twenty-three-year-old woman in another part of Australia and has a child with her, leaving Mary to feed and bring up her seven children with little support and no money. The story moves through Marys life as she tackles poverty head-on and makes a living using her skills to make whisky. Her family is linked to a wealthy doctors family, and as the children grow and mature, their stories come into play. There is sadness, grief, hurt, and love in all its many forms, and there is forgiveness, gentleness, and respect. The novel draws on family history passed down through generations, although names have been changed. It is a story about family love and forgiveness, which many people will enjoy reading for pleasure.