Another great Aussie drama set in the outback at the time of the gold rushes, ‘The Currency Lass’, is full to the brim with great locations, well rounded characters and an engaging plot. I just love these strong female leads and Catherine Cottingham surely fulfills that role in the first few pages as she follows her intuition to do what is right.
Venturing from Sydney to the Hunter Valley, and a little of Bathurst during the gold rushes, the 1850s is a time of privilege for some but hardship for many. The interesting added dimension to this particular historical tale is that of a travelling circus - an inside view to life on the road. So there are many aspects to this tale that make it unique: circus acts, victors and villains, truth and lies, courage and love.
Although young, Catherine is a worthy heroine who courageously faces many challenges head on. As she fights for her home and against an arranged marriage, as she champions the poor and struggles to do what is right, you cannot help but admire her. Sergey matches her for courage, honesty and determination with their relationship tested at times in wanting to support each other in achieving their goals.
I do enjoy reading tales of this era and highly recommend taking this journey back to a time in Australia where people struggled to start afresh in making a new life for themselves. Tea Cooper has presented a memorable tale of a bygone era.

“It makes me a currency lass, nothing more, nothing less, the first generation born in this land to convict parents.”



This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release

Who wants to runaway to the circus Catherine Cottingham does after the death of her beloved father and the push for her to marry the wealthy Sydney business man Henry Bartholomew to save their property in The Hunter Valley Catherine takes a risk with the horseman Sergey Petrov whom she meets at one of the first circus performances held in Sydney in 1851, and what a journey this one turns out to be a journey of finding truths and righting wrongs and of course finding love.

Catherine is determined to save the sprawling property that is home to many and loved by her but marrying Henry even though that was her father’s dying wish is not something that Catherine wants she finds him pompous he makes her skin crawl very unlike her first meeting with equestrian Sergey there is a spark a light that connects them instantly and when Sergey steps in to help Catherine when most needed a friendship begins one that will bring them closer together in more ways than just their love of horses.

Sergey and his sister Valentina and their friend circus owner Rudi have been on a mission for the past five years travelling from Hobart Town to Sydney then onto The Hunter Valley to clear the name of Sergey’s brother and bring the real murderer to justice. But meeting Catherine will change Sergey and unknown at the beginning she will help with his mission. She opens his eyes to love and maybe a life together but first they must bring down a forger and murderer and save the property.

This is a beautiful story a story that takes us from Sydney to The Hunter Valley and then onto the gold fields around Bathurst in the 1850’s a time of struggle and hardship for some and lets us see into the lives of the travelling circus and the people who entertain so well, but it is a story of love and truths with characters so rich and engaging. I loved Sergey he is a hero worth his weight in gold a hero of honour and so good with horses and Catherine what a beautiful caring loving heroine she made the perfect partner for Sergey. I highly recommend this trip back in Australian history it is sure to keep you turning the pages as MS Cooper weaves a magical story that had me turning the pages smiling and sighing thank you MS Cooper for a keeper.

This review will appear on the link below approx 13th February

After knowing Henry Bartholomew only one week, Catherine was horrified at her father’s plans for her to marry him. Bartholomew was her father’s age – Catherine only twenty. She didn’t want to marry him; she couldn’t stand to look at him with his sneering pomposity and disgusting odour. But her puzzlement and confusion at her Pa’s wishes suddenly took a back seat when she was faced with his sudden but not totally unexpected death. Catherine’s grief was intense; her wish to take her Pa from Sydney where he’d passed, back to their property of Cottington Hill in the Hunter Valley, just outside Maitland utmost in her mind. He needed to be laid to rest in the family plot.

With the reading of the will, Catherine knew finally what had possessed her father to make the plans he had. She also knew desperation and the very real need to make plans; and quickly…

When opportunity arose, Catherine grabbed it with both hands. A travelling circus which she had briefly seen while in Sydney was camped in Maitland – running away with the circus was such a cliché but it seemed to fit. And it was only until she turned twenty one; six months away. The lead performer, Russian Sergey Petrov and his handsome stallion Tsar captivated her. She never tired of watching them perform. But camping and performing in the goldfields of inland NSW proved to be dangerous; Catherine was a strong and independent young woman – but she was in over her head. What would happen when tentacles of evil slowly wrapped themselves around her? Would she be able to return safely to Cottington Hill?

The Currency Lass is ANOTHER brilliant historical fiction novel by Aussie author Tea Cooper – I loved her previous two; The Horse Thief and The Cedar Cutter, and this one didn’t disappoint. Set in colonial NSW in the mid-1800s around areas from Sydney to Wollombi, Morpeth, Maitland, Jerrys Plains and beyond, with travel by steamer and coach, and of course horse-back, the author’s descriptions make the reader realise how much has changed (thankfully!). Her research is meticulous with the Historical Note at the end interesting and well worth reading. I have no hesitation in recommending The Currency Lass highly.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this digital copy to read in exchange for my honest review.

Book blurb...

She can run but she can’t hide…

As her father’s only heir, Catherine Cottingham expects to inherit their sprawling property in the Hunter Valley. What she doesn’t understand is why her father is trying to push her into a marriage to the pompous and repulsive Sydney businessman Henry W. Bartholomew.

When the will is read it becomes clear money, or the lack of it, lay behind her father’s plans. Catherine is mortified — as a married woman all her possessions will pass to her husband, the overbearing Bartholomew. Her only alternative is to wait until her twenty-first birthday and inherit the property in her own right, but can she elude such a determined man until then?

A chance encounter with a travelling circus and its fiery lead performer, Sergey Petrov, offers the perfect solution and Catherine escapes to the goldfields. But there is more to the circus than spangles and sawdust and Catherine finds herself drawn into a far-reaching web of fraud and forgery…

A stunning new novel from the bestselling author of The Horse Thief and The Cedar Cutter



My thoughts…

Thank you, Tea Cooper, I loved reading The Currency Lass. If all Australian Historical Romance novels are as good as this one, I may have found a new genre I enjoy.

My heart went out to Catherine with each challenge she faced - great gumption. I was cheering for her through her fight to ensure the property, and tenants, remained in the family, as her father would have wanted.

Sergey was dreamy and a dream come true for Catherine. The roads they travelled together tested them both, their love and trust in each other as they continued their search for the truth.

I loved the era this plot was set in and I found myself so in character that I was riding with Sergey hoping he would be able to save the day. The question is, did he? You’ll love the answer and inhale the sawdust of the circus and the beauty of the bush by reading this enchanting story.

This review will be placed on my blog shortly.