Julie Brooks

A surprise inheritance. A hidden past. Brisbane, 2024 Barista and budding artist Mia Curtis is shocked to receive a package all the way from England informing her she's the heir to her late grandmother's cottage. Feeling lost in her own life, Mia travels across the world to claim her inheritance, where she begins to unravel the secrets passed down through the generations of women in her family. Sussex, 1821 Philadelphia Boadle wakes to find her husband, the tailor Jasper Boadle, dead. As the daughter of the local cunning woman, Philadelphia is soon accused of murder by witchcraft. Her future and that of her own daughter is at stake, unless she can convince the village she's done no wrong... Acclaim for Julie Brooks: 'A sweeping tale of family secrets, betrayal, jealousy, ambition and forbidden romance . . . Fans of The Thorn Birds and Downton Abbey will love the epic scope of this novel' ALI MERCER 'I thoroughly enjoyed this immersive story . . . and I can pay it no greater compliment other than to say, I wish I'd written it' KATHRYN HUGHES

A book of treasures. A wealth of secrets. The Keepsake is a thrilling dual-time novel, with a fascinating, complex woman at its heart, wealth of twists, turns and secrets, and an absolute book club treat, perfect for fans of Lucinda Riley, Rachel Rhys and Hannah Richell............................................... Saturday: Pot-au-feu for luncheon. Father willed away inheritance. Betrayed by Edward.1832. The morning after her father's funeral, Prudence Merryfield wakes to the liberating thought that this is the first day of her new life. At thirty-five and unmarried, she is now mistress of her own fate. But a cruel revelation at the reading of her father's will forces Prudence to realise that taking only the most drastic action will set her free. Present day. Eliza is gifted a family heirloom by her aunt - a Georgian pocket book, belonging to her ancestor, Prudence Merryfield, whose existence reverberates through the lives of generations of Eliza's family, the Ambroses. Intrigued by what she reads inside, Eliza is drawn more and more into the infamous 'Merryfield Mystery'. What happened to Prudence who so bravely dared to defy convention two hundred years ago - then disappeared?.............................................. Praise for Julie Brooks's The Secrets of Bridgewater Bay:'A sweeping tale of family secrets, betrayal, jealousy, ambition and forbidden romance . . . Fans of The Thorn Birds and Downton Abbey will love the epic scope of this novel' ALI MERCER'I thoroughly enjoyed this immersive story which spans both generations and continents. The evocative details and impeccable research make for a delightful reading experience and I can pay it no greater compliment other than to say, I wish I'd written it' KATHRYN HUGHES'This is an epic dual-time novel which draws the reader in right from the start and keeps you in thrall until the very last page. The writing is superb, the descriptions detailed, lush and evocative' CHRISTINA COURTENAY'A gripping story full of family secrets: the price of love and loss within two generations . . . convincing and poignant' LEAH FLEMING'Rich in evocative detail - the complex mystery kept me guessing right up to the last page' MUNA SHEHADI

A book of treasures. A wealth of secrets. The Keepsake is a thrilling dual-time novel, with a fascinating, complex woman at its heart, wealth of twists, turns and secrets, and an absolute book club treat, perfect for fans of Lucinda Riley, Rachel Rhys and Hannah Richell.'Wow! What a spellbindingly beautiful masterpiece of a book! . . . It is without doubt one of my top reads ever! Brilliantly researched, beautifully written . . . I guarantee you will love it and it will leave you changed' RENITA D'SILVA'I love historical fiction and this added the extra touch of a mystery . . . I would love to read more from Julie Brooks!' ? ? ? ? ? reader review'[An] interesting and captivating historical mystery and five stars from me' ? ? ? ? ? reader review'I really enjoyed this story. It had an intriguing plot, excellent research . . . and a double love story to boot' ? ? ? ? reader review'A totally engrossing dual time line novel that was both well researched and also had great depth with the characters' ? ? ? ? ? reader review'This book was beautifully written . . . A story which kept me hooked, with mysteries to uncover' ? ? ? ? ? reader review'A pure DELIGHT' ? ? ? ? ? reader review.............................................. Saturday: Pot-au-feu for luncheon. Father willed away inheritance. Betrayed by Edward.1832. The morning after her father's funeral, Prudence Merryfield wakes to the liberating thought that this is the first day of her new life. At thirty-five and unmarried, she is now mistress of her own fate. But a cruel revelation at the reading of her father's will forces Prudence to realise that taking only the most drastic action will set her free. Present day. Eliza is gifted a family heirloom by her aunt - a Georgian pocket book, belonging to her ancestor, Prudence Merryfield, whose existence reverberates through the lives of generations of Eliza's family, the Ambroses. Intrigued by what she reads inside, Eliza is drawn more and more into the infamous 'Merryfield Mystery'. What happened to Prudence who so bravely dared to defy convention two hundred years ago - then disappeared?.............................................. Praise for Julie Brooks's The Secrets of Bridgewater Bay:'A sweeping tale of family secrets, betrayal, jealousy, ambition and forbidden romance . . . Fans of The Thorn Birds and Downton Abbey will love the epic scope of this novel' ALI MERCER'I thoroughly enjoyed this immersive story which spans both generations and continents. The evocative details and impeccable research make for a delightful reading experience and I can pay it no greater compliment other than to say, I wish I'd written it' KATHRYN HUGHES'This is an epic dual-time novel which draws the reader in right from the start and keeps you in thrall until the very last page. The writing is superb, the descriptions detailed, lush and evocative' CHRISTINA COURTENAY'A gripping story full of family secrets: the price of love and loss within two generations . . . convincing and poignant' LEAH FLEMING'Rich in evocative detail - the complex mystery kept me guessing right up to the last page' MUNA SHEHADI

Two women set sail for Australia, bound by a terrible truth. But only one will make it off the ship.'The writing is polished and evocative, the twists and turns are surprising, and the characters' stories emotionally compelling'? ? ? ? ? reader review'Stunning . . . Julie Brooks has written an impeccably researched novel with a wonderful sense of history and character . . . I thoroughly recommend it to lovers of historical fiction'? ? ? ? ? reader review'An incredibly moving story of two women . . . Beautifully written the books draws you in from the start. It's very emotional as the story moves from the different timelines'? ? ? ? reader reviewThe Secrets of Bridgewater Bay is a darkly gripping dual-time novel, with a wealth of twists, turns and secrets, and an absolute book club treat, perfect for fans of Lucinda Riley, Rachel Rhys and Hannah Richell.'A sweeping tale of family secrets, betrayal, jealousy, ambition and forbidden romance . . . Fans of The Thorn Birds and Downton Abbey will love the epic scope of this novel' ALI MERCER'I thoroughly enjoyed this immersive story which spans both generations and continents. The evocative details and impeccable research make for a delightful reading experience and I can pay it no greater compliment other than to say, I wish I'd written it' KATHRYN HUGHES'This is an epic dual-time novel which draws the reader in right from the start and keeps you in thrall until the very last page. The writing is superb, the descriptions detailed, lush and evocative' CHRISTINA COURTENAY'A gripping story full of family secrets: the price of love and loss within two generations . . . convincing and poignant' LEAH FLEMING'Rich in evocative detail - the complex mystery kept me guessing right up to the last page' MUNA SHEHADI........................................... England, 1919: Rose and Ivy board a ship bound for Australia. One is travelling there to marry a man she has never met. One is destined never to arrive. Australia, 2016: Amongst her late-grandmother's possessions, Molly uncovers a photograph of two girls dressed in First World War nurses' uniforms, labelled 'Rose and Ivy 1917', and a letter from her grandmother, asking her to find out what happened to her own mother, Rose, who disappeared in the 1960s. Compelled to carry out her grandmother's last wish, Molly embarks on a journey to England to unravel the mystery of the two girls whose photograph promised they'd be 'together forever' . . . ........................................... Readers LOVE The Secrets of Bridgewater Bay:'This story was gripping and a joy to read''A touching and beautifully written story of friendship''I was totally gripped from the start, it was well written with good characters and I loved the dual timeline aspect. There was so much going on in this story and I just couldn't put it down''An emotional book . . . well written and interesting. I could imagine this book being discussed in book club' A book a treasures. A wealth of secrets. Look for Julie's next compelling novel, The Keepsake.

One liner: Examines the state of the performing arts in America: audiences, artists, and performing groups and their financial health. Abstract text: What is the state of the performing arts in America at the turn of the 21st century? After decades of expansion, how are performing arts organizations faring? Has demand for live performances been increasing or decreasing? Are more Americans choosing the performing arts as a profession? And what is the likely effect of the internet on the arts? The authors identify key trends affecting audiences, artists, arts organizations, and financing for all the performing arts. The most dramatic growth in demand for the performing arts has taken place in the market for recorded and broadcast performances. Live performances are increasingly provided by small performing groups at the community level--low-budget dance troupes, music groups, and theater ensembles that perform for little or no pay. In a few major cities, the largest and best-known organizations are growing even larger by focusing on star-studded productions that pull in the crowds. But conventional midsized arts organizations--once seen as the foremost purveyors of culture to middle America--are under significant financial stress. These and other trends suggest that policies that support artists and arts organizations may be less effective than strategies encouraging greater participation in the arts by a wider range of Americans in a wider range of art forms.