Review: A Single Witness by Christine Balint

It takes seven women to make a single witness. - Venetian Proverb

A Single Witness is the evocative and moving story of Anna Maria's battle to be heard in a male dominated world. Set in the mid 1700's, in a small rural town outside of Venice, A Single Witness is a fictional tale based on a true story. 

Christine Balint has extensively researched the area and the time period, even visiting the small town itself and perusing original documents from the Venetian archives, to bring Anna Maria and her story to life.

Thirteen-year-old Anna Maria lives with her grandmother and father in the small mountain village of Piovene. She is terrified of her violent, alcoholic father and tries to keep out of his way by making herself invisible to him. However she is only a slight girl and when he gets her alone he sexually assaults her.

Terrified that this will be her life going forward, Anna Maria first approaches the local priest, who is meant to protect his parishioners.  The church and the local priest had a huge standing in these small communities and he was the one people looked to to solve disputes and be the moral guardian of the village. However, he rejects her claims. 

She then tells an older trusted friend who also doesn't want to be involved and turns her away. Even her Grandmother doesn't, or doesn't want to, believe her.

The immense amount of courage it would take to tell someone what is happening to her is daunting. Everyone is afraid of her violent, criminal father. Anna Maria never gives up. Whilst she has a voice she is determined to be heard and after walking 29 kilometers she confronts the Council of Ten in Venice. Her claims can now not be ignored but it isn't an easy road and those she loves are telling her to say she lied.

"You can't do this!" Nonna continues, her soft voice firm, 'Things happen to women, but they don't talk about it. Things might be unpleasant or inconvenient but a woman puts up with them. Who do you think you are, talking to the Justice about such things? What will they think of us? We are respectable people. We go to church every Sunday. You must tell them it's not true, Anna Maria. Go back to Vicenza. Tell them you were lying." - A Single Witness

Christine Balint has included conversations and everyday activities that are honed from her imagination and research. However the basis of the story is in fact true.

I found A Single Witness to be a thought-provoking read. I was in awe of Anna Maria's courage when everyone was against her and the villagers were quick to place blame on the victim. I am sure many girls/women would have, and did, suffer in silence.

Although this is a harrowing story Balint writes beautifully descriptive scenes on general life, farming practices, everyday household work, clothing and the community of the era, all which were fascinating to read.

A Single Witness is unflinching, powerful, haunting, poignant and thought provoking. A must read for historical fiction enthusiasts.

My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Publisher: Spinifex Press

Publication date: 4th may 2026

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 324

RRP: AU$34.95 (paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

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Winner of a copy of The Orchard at Rosevale Announced!!

 I will be posting new giveaways in the first week of every month.

Bookmark my page and check back often so you don't miss a giveaway.

 

A huge thank you to everyone who entered my giveaway for a paperback copies of The Orchard at Rosevale and Stay Buried.  The giveaway closed on the 28th August 2026 and the winner was randomly selected (using Wheelofnames) from all correct entries.

Congratulations to........ 

The winner has been notified and has seven days to provide a mailing address.

 

Please check under the Giveaway tab (which is in the drop down menu top right on a mobile device) for more great giveaways!

Book Giveaway: The Orchard at Rosevale + Stay Buried

Here is my very late August 2026 giveaway. 

This month's giveaway is for a paperback copy of The Orchard at Rosevale and a paperback copy of Stay Buried. One is a contemporary romance the other is a suspense thriller. Both books are great reads. Plus lots of extra reading themed goodies.

Click on the title to read my review.

The Orchard at Rosevale by Nicola Marsh

About the book:

Elora Curtis is an advertising genius. Her innovative campaigns propel her clients to new heights, and she assumes that marketing Kinstead Avocados, a struggling farm in regional Victoria, will be no exception. Until she encounters Cruz Wardlow, the grumpy owner, and makes the biggest mistake of her career ...

Renowned chef Cruz is stuck running the farm for one year - the final demand of his late estranged father. The last thing he needs is a brash city girl like Elora telling him how to run his business. Especially when the two have already met in circumstances he'd rather forget.

For Ferne, Cruz's mother, she can't wait to escape Rosevale Grove. She's been tethered to the small country town long enough and is ready to explore the world. But a mishap renders her immobile for a month and she's forced to confront her future when Taj, a blast from her past, makes her re-evaluate her quest for freedom.

Three hearts yearning to start over, but will they find that what they've been looking for has been right in front of them the whole time?

Stay Buried by Jane R. Miles

About the book:

Christmas Eve, 1974.

As Cyclone Tracy tears through Darwin, four girls disappear into the heart of the outback. No tracks. No bodies. No answers.

Decades later, one returns.

She claims to be one of the missing. But is she? There is no proof of who she is, only a keepsake that once belonged to another missing woman - Sally, a teen mother whose disappearance never mattered to anyone but Von, the daughter she left behind. Sally's return rekindles the cold case, as desperate families plead for answers - and a dark mystery begins to surface.

A hidden bunker ... a ghost ... scratches on a concrete wall ... pictures inside a View-Master ... and the little girl who understood the darkness better than anyone.

Inspired by true events, Stay Buried is the darkly thrilling tale of secrets unearthed, the will to survive and a legend that refuses to die.

GIVEAWAY

Enter via the form below to win a paperback copy of The Orchard at Rosevale & Stay Buried. The giveaway is open to Australian addresses only and entries close at 6pm AEST on 28th August 2026.

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.

Review: The Orchard at Rosevale by Nicola Marsh

The Orchard at Rosevale by Nicola Marsh is a heartwarming and immersive read and I was immediately drawn into the characters’ lives.

Cruz was living his dream working as a chef at a top Melbourne restaurant until he is called back to the family avocado farm after his father’s death. Cruz hates the farm and simply wants to sell it but his father's will stipulates Cruz needs to work the farm for 12 months to inherit.

Ferne, Cruz’s mother, is eager to escape the farm, which holds only bad memories, and start a life of travel. Ferne employs Elora, a social media marketer, to update the farm’s socials and improve their website. Ferne wants to get as much money as possible when it's time to sell. 

Elora and Cruz have instant friction and an underlying sizzle of attraction.

After her husband's death Ferne discovers long held secrets and is crushed by this discovery. But a chance meeting and a new friendship reconnects her to an old flame, one she regrets letting go.

Nicola Marsh has delivered a grumpy/sunshine romance plus a second chance mature romance. It’s not often you get two get romance tropes in one story and both executed with finesse.

Even thought the majority of characters were getting over past hurts the story had a fun vibe brought about by Cruz and Elora's flirty banter.

I loved every character, all so real with real hurts. I even had a soft spot for the posthumous antagonist Mac.

My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Publisher: Harlequin Fiction

Publication date: 28th July 2026

Genre: Contemporary Fiction / Romance

Pages: 337

RRP: AU$32.99 (trade paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

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Review: The Cross Thieves by Alan Fyfe

The Cross Thieves is a sharply observed literary fiction set in a small town on the outskirts of Mandurah, Western Australia. 

Alan Fyfe highlights the plight of the homeless, food insecurity and the difficulties faced by the impoverished in our digital world.

The Cross Thieves is set over one night where brothers Gark and Pell, two teenage boys who have found themselves homeless after a series of unfortunate events, go on a quest for revenge after the murder of a friend. The brothers' hunger and desperation is vividly described.

Fyfe keenly depicts the boys' passion for what is right. In a spontaneous act of revenge, and not really thinking through the consequences, they steal a cross with their nemesis' name engraved on it, a member of the town's biggest criminal family.

The Cross Thieves, although set over one night, has backstory told through letters from their mother to her sister and conversations between characters. The author often breaks the fourth wall and speaks to the reader directly.

Fyfe adds plenty of dark humour as the boys race through the night, cross in tow, coming across other characters in their covert operation. I loved that the boys spent the whole night running and fearful, not knowing what to do next only to end up right back where they started. This really appealed to my sense of humour.

There is a side story about a religious zealot, Pastor Joshua Chord, who twists religious texts to suit his own agenda. His involvement in the boys' mother and aunt's lives is told through letters between the two women. Crossing paths with the boys on this fateful night will have dire consequences for the pastor.

The Cross Thieves is the second book in a trilogy and I can honestly say I didn't feel like I had missed anything by not reading the first book. There is plenty of backstory interspersed throughout to let the reader know what preceded. I'm not generally good with literary fiction but I found The Cross Thieves grew on me more after I finished the book. I kept thinking about the characters and how true to life they felt.

Fyfe portrays Gark and Pell's circumstances with compassion and highlights the fierce bond the brothers have.

The Cross Thieves is coarse, violent and darkly funny with real characters, straight from struggle street.

My rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Publisher: Transit Lounge

Publication date: 1st March 2026

Genre: Literary Fiction

Pages: 208

RRP: AU$32.99

Source: Courtesy of the publisher via Quikmark Media

#thecrossthieves #alanfyfe #literaryfiction #bookssetinwesternaustralia #australianauthor #ausbookbloggers #aussieaugust26

Review: Flowers in July by Anna Maynard

I really enjoyed Dancing With Bees by Anna Maynard and Flowers in July is even better! Flowers in July is an emotional and heart-warming read.

Mary moves to Hobart, Tasmania with her boyfriend Felix to complete a six month term at Hobart hospital to advance her career in medicine.

Mary feels responsible for her family; her sister is a struggling single mother and her mother is alcohol dependent. The guilt over leaving them behind is immense.

When she finds out her boyfriend is cheating on her, again, she packs up and leaves. However her confidence is low and she finds herself blaming his actions on her own failings.

Mary has seen the brooding and intimidating emergency doctor Abel Sutherland at work and does her best to stay out of his way. But when a wilderness training retreat throws them together sparks fly.

Anna Maynard portrays the grumpy, brooding male protagonist so well. Her men always have a kind and gallant heart inside that grumpy exterior.

Mary was very easy to like. She was smart, kind hearted and a bit socially awkward.

Flowers in July was such a fun read. I liked both Mary and Abel and loved seeing them get flustered around each other. This is a slow-burn romance but not frustratingly slow. I feel that Maynard paced it well.

There are themes of living your own life and the fact that propping people up all the time, even though you love them very much, isn't helping them get their life together.

Flowers in July is a witty, heartfelt and uplifting read filled with lovable characters and laugh-out-loud moments.

My rating 5 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Publisher: Echo Publishing

Publication date: 31st march 2026

Genre: Contemporary Fiction/Romance

Pages: 336

RRP: AU$34.99 (trade paperback)

Source: courtesy of the publisher

#flowersinjuly #annamaymaynard #contemporaryromance #australianauthor

Review: A Farm in Golden Clouds by Leearna Shaw

A Farm in Golden Clouds is a heart-wrenching story about losing the love of your life and finding the strength to build a new life for yourself and your children.

Two years after her husband's death Indi Carmichael is struggling to keep their farm afloat. Her children are still not coping and the farm takes her every waking moment.

Ben Whittam is at Kestrel Creek filming a sequel to his smash-hit movie. However, grief is ripping him apart and the film is heading towards being a huge flop. His young son's nightmares are also escalating.

Whilst Leearna Shaw focuses on surviving loss and the ensuing grief A Farm in Golden Clouds is also about how finding love unexpectedly can lead to healing.

I love how Indi and Ben's relationship grew organically through understanding each other's loss. They were so natural together, becoming good friends first. This is a slow-burn romance dripping with emotion as the characters help each other work through their pain.

Leearna Shaw adds moments of humour that lighten the theme of loss.

The farming descriptions and everyday farm life were excellent, placing me right there on the farm and building empathy for Indi's plight. She is such a likeable character.

A Farm in Golden Clouds is a fabulous debut. Maybe a bit too heartbreaking for this reader at times. However, the characters were all loveable, their demons were real and I did get the anticipated HEA at the end.

I am looking forward to seeing what Leearna Shaw comes up with next!

My rating 4.5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐½

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Publication date: 31st March 2026

Genre: Rural Romance / Contemporary

Pages: 384

RRP: AU$34.99 (trade paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

#leearnashaw #ruralromance #afarmingoldenclouds #newrelease2026 #debutfiction

#australianauthor #ausbookbloggers