I really enjoyed this book!

We are following the lives of Michael and Elizabeth who travel to find their parents. Upon arriving Michael finds that his Mam has died and his Da is nearly in the grave himself.

Michael fights to provide for himself and his sister and builds a prosperous business. As Elizabeth grows into a young woman and all of the challenges that comes with it, Michael uproots them and brings them to Maitland.

Enter the incredible and determined Jane Piper. Michael arrives at the orphanage one day and, taken by her mathematical abilities, brings her home with him and Elizabeth and they provide her with money, an education and essentially, a family.

This story follows the incredible changes that can happen to a family, the emotional upturns, the secrets, the triumphs.

This was my first book by this author, but I will be looking out for more of her books.

I really enjoyed this book. I haven’t read that many books taking place in Australia while the country and its history is certainly very interesting.

Jane was a wonderful character, she made me laugh so hard. She was smart, sweet, strong and vulnerable all at the same time. Elisabeth and Michael's story was intriguing and I loved their big hearts.

The mystery storyline was well thought out and well executed.

I recommend this book.

This is another dual timeline novel, but this time following the same character between the two timelines. We start in Maitland, Australia in 1906 where brother and sister Michael and Elizabeth Quinn have just taken in a local orphan, Jane, who happens to be a math prodigy. The siblings raise the girl and continue to nurture her learning while slowly giving her more responsibilities with their thriving business.

The story alternates periodically back to Michael and Elizabeth’s initial journey to Australia and how they came to run an auction house and end up in Maitland. Their story is not without hardship as they follow many other colonists in early Australia to the mines in search of fortune, though Michael is more astute investing in the materials needed to mine than in the mines themselves.

Elizabeth’s tale makes a drastic pivot when an artist’s exhibition causes her to collapse on the floor in terror moaning and start to lose hold on her sanity in the subsequent days. Jane makes it her business to figure out why a painting could cause such a reaction and what she can do to help her benefactor.

Cooper’s novel features two strong women, who value their independence and seek to understand their place in the world. The mystery, though a bit predictable, was interesting nonetheless. This was a quick and enjoyable read and I recommend picking this one up when it comes out on March 9th!

The Girl in the Painting tells multiple stories, one of the childhood of a young orphan and how she comes to be a ward of an influential family. The other, the immigration story of a young boy and his sister from Ireland to Australia.

A historical fiction title that was very period correct and interesting. It moves a long a smooth pace and the writing is very good.

Although not billed as such, it seemed to fit more as a YA historical fiction since the viewpoints are mostly of children through flashbacks. It did include some romance elements but I wouldn't rate it as a romance per se. Completely clean and fine for all readers 12 and up.

Let's start at the beginning!! I loved the cover and was intrigued by the title, that's what lead me to read The Girl In The Painting by Tea Cooper. As I read, I couldn't wait to see what happened next. There were so many twist and turns, I found myself sitting on the edge of my seat. I wanted to get to the end to see what happened, but when I got there I wanted it to go on and on. So I down loaded other books by Tea Cooper on my Kindle. I can't wait to go on my next adventure with this very talented writer.
I thank Thomas Nelson for allowing me, through NetGalley, to read this book. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I loved this historical novel set in Australia. This was a book I couldn't put down. The characters were complex and interesting. The story intriguing. Spoiler alert: I would just have a question about the possible romance at the end.

#netgalley #thegirlinthepainting

What a beautiful story, it was a delight to read. It will enchant you from page one to the end.

For some reason, this was not an easy read for me. It was a struggle to continue reading and finally finish. It started out slow and remained that way until the last couple of chapters. I believe I would have enjoyed the story better if more time was spent in the 1860s. The story alternates between two timelines which were fine but I think I would have enjoyed the story better if the author spent more time on the 1860s timeline. I often find myself immersed in the narrative when I read but I was unable to get myself there with this story. Most of the characters fell flat for me except for Elizabeth and Marigold. I liked that Elizabeth was not afraid to display her emotions. Her character grew. I was fascinated with Marigold and her artistry. A woman artist during that time period is noteworthy! I wanted to know the obstacles she faced and more about her marriage. The historical facts and events intertwined in the story were of great interest but the story as a whole, not so much.

I don't usually enjoy books that jump around to different decades, but this book segues easily between the mid 1800s and early 1900s. While sometimes a bit slow in the beginning, I actually enjoyed the lack of in-your-face action and it allowed the author time to develop the characters. The second half is where the mystery of the "girl in the painting" really takes off. This was a wonderfully enjoyable read. (Now off to add the other books by this author to my to-be-read list!)

Tea Cooper, in The Girl In The Painting, weaves an intriguing tale about a young prodigy in need of a family, a painting that shatters a woman’s peace and a decades-old mystery demanding to be solved.

Nine-year-old Jane Piper is an orphan who captures the attention of philanthropist siblings, Michael and Elizabeth Quinn. Convinced she’s a mathematical savant, they take her under their wing and bring her home to further her schooling. She flourishes under their care for the next seven years.

When visiting the National Gallery with Jane, Elizabeth ‘takes a turn’ and Jane, with her penchant for puzzles, decides to investigate the cause of Elizabeth’s terror. The novel picks up pace at this point and readers are taken on an investigation across continents and decades as they hurry alongside Jane and the siblings to uncover their past, full of secrets, in hopes of healing their future.

This dual timeline historical novel centers around a sibling immigration to Australia in the 1860s. The strong female protagonists are highlighted against the fascinating Australian backdrop. Cooper’s strength is her fine attention to her descriptive setting. It is rich in detail to the point where it’s almost lifelike. At times I felt like I was immersed in the setting, having taken a time travel. Readers are whisked from the English countryside to Sydney, Maitland Town and the Australian goldfields. Although I didn’t connect to the characters as much as I was hoping, I did like Michael for his unrelenting care of Elizabeth as well as his drive to find his parents and provide care. It would have been easy for him to give up once he arrived in the goldfields. It was great to see a female lead who loves math and an author (also a teacher) who took this opportunity to share her love of learning and teach readers. This historical mystery is full of atmosphere and detail making it a must-read for historical fiction lovers.

Thank you to Tea Cooper, Thomas Nelson, and NetGalley. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thank you #NetGalley for allowing me to give my honest opinion on #TheGirlInthePainting. When I requested it, it seemed mildly interesting, and I do like some of Tea Cooper's other books. I started reading and was about a quarter of the way in and enjoying it but I was putting it down and coming back to it as life got in the way. Then bam, all of a sudden I couldn't put it down. I read the last three quarters of the book in one sitting. The story alternates between 55-65 year old siblings Michael and Elizabeth Quinn and their charge Jane Piper, and young Michael and Elizabeth Quinn when they immigrated to Australia after the Irish Famine. This book book was enjoyable and I loved the turns it took as well as the number of interesting facts/history that furthered the story.

Not realizing I had already read this book (and paid for it) I requested it again. I loved it the first time around and while I didn't finish it the second time, I will have to say it was a wonderful book. I'm not giving details of what was written (there is enough of that). I'll just say I enjoy this author and look forward to other novels written by her. No, I won't be requesting any future books written by her on NetGalley, why bother with books that are making second rounds and being promoted as first coming out. I will be leaving one star, not because of Ms. Cooper, but the publisher and this site aren't worthy of my request. I will not be giving a rating on Goodreads or Amazon.

The Girl in the Painting is a historical fiction novel by best-selling Australian author, Téa Cooper. In Maitland Town in 1913, Jane Piper is still counting her blessings that Michael and Elizabeth Quinn chose her from the orphanage. Not to adopt, but to further her education and realise an undreamt-of career as an accountant. In her first interview, she told Michael: “I like numbers, sir. See, they don’t lie, sir. Not like people. There’s only right or wrong, no in-betweens” and that still holds true.

But one day, at the Technical College with Elizabeth to view an exhibition, her benefactor takes a turn. What can have reduced this unfailingly poised lady to a gibbering mess? Aunt Elizabeth wants to ignore the whole episode, to dismiss it, but Jane can’t let it go. Especially when it happens again. She will use her deductive powers to learn what has affected her beloved patroness so.

Fifty years earlier, a sweet blue-eyed four-year-old girl slipped her hand into young Michael Ó’Cuinn’s as they boarded a ship for their assisted passage to join parents Michael and Aileen Quinn in Sydney. The news that greeted them on arrival was a shock, however, and Michael had to leave Elizabeth with the Camerons while he sorted out a place to safely raise a child: the goldfields at Hill End wouldn’t fit the bill, but that’s where his Da was.

Several narrators tell the story over two timelines, and Cooper easily captures the era and the setting. Her characters are interesting and engaging and it’s utterly impossible not to fall in love with little Jane from the first chapter. Cooper gives the reader lots of historical tidbits mingled with a good dose of intrigue and a hint of romance, and wraps it all in wonderfully evocative prose. Marvellous Australian historical fiction!
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction

I was so incredibly swept away in this novel! I loved the Australian setting, the history, the split time storytelling, the unique characters, and the threads of mystery woven throughout the whole book. It was one of those "Can't stop reading - NO ONE INTERRUPT ME!" reads—so much so that as soon as I finished it, I downloaded several other Tea Cooper novels to my kindle. Plus, I'm pretty sure I could spend plenty of time just gushing over the cover—gorgeous. The Girl in the Painting is entirely captivating!

THE GIRL IN THE PAINTING by TEA COOPER is a historical romance novel which takes place in Australia in the late 1800's and early 1900's, It is an emotional read, with the author dealing with English orphans and Irish and Chinese immigrants and their experiences in a sometimes unfriendly land.
I like Jane Piper, with her nonstop chatter, mathematical brilliance and inquisitive nature. I also like Michael Quinn and his sister Elizabeth who saw something good in Jane and took her into their family.
The story is well worked out and it is interesting to see what life was like in Australia in those days.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Thomas Nelson. The opinions in this review are completely my own.