AustLit

'James and Maggie Smith meet Hugh Rivett at university, where they share a house. Maggie goes to London to research the founders of the Order of the Temple. She believes that her feelings for Hugh will never be returned, where she becomes involved in the recovery of a missing medieval manuscript. After early retirement Hugh's occupation brought him into contact with a sexual abuser from his childhood; in search of respite he goes to visit Maggie and James, where he is concerned with the fate of John Economou, an asylum seeker. ' (Publisher's blurb)

'Lucy Macdonald, a young coloratura soprano, is on the verge of a promising operatic career and is being wooed by the handsome baritome, Giacomo. But Lucy has to contend with a jealous rival, the diva Stella, as well as her own mother's efforts to regain control of Lucy's story.

'During three summers of beautiful singing in Sydney and Milan, Lucy strives to find her own 'voice' through a series of offstage dramas which threaten tragedy on the scale of grand opera.

'Imagine yourself sharing Lucy's adventures against the dramatic backdrop of the Sydney Opera House during a horrendous bushfire season and the wonderful ambience of La Scala, Milan, as she sings the roles of Lucia in 'Lucia di Lammermoor', Violetta in 'La Traviata' and Turandot in the opera of the same name.

'As she copes with her operaric career and strives for independence, independent woman, Lucy ponders the fate of the three tragic heroines whose fates were so dramatically taken out of their own hands.' (Publication summary)

'Story of a family of McLeods, beginning with George McLeod who left the Highlands in 1773 on the ship Hector for Nova Scotia, and following generations who came to Australia in 1852, up to present day descendants. ' (Publisher's blurb)