Golden Hope

4.5★s

It was 1901 and Dolores and Clytie Hart, mother and daughter were part of the Wildebrand’s Circus which was travelling throughout country Victoria; setting up the big top and entertaining folks from near and far. But Vlad, her mother’s partner was a cruel and vindictive man; Dolores suffered mightily at his hand. And Clytie, though angered and frustrated, was no match for the knife thrower. The day Rom Delaney approached the circus with an offer for them to perform at the little town of Hoffnung was the beginning of a new life for Clytie and her mother.

After a successful show for the locals the night they arrived, the circus folk didn’t expect what happened the following day. But the haste of packing up again and the viciousness of Vlad meant the decision for Dolores and Clytie to remain in Hoffnung wasn’t a difficult one. Clytie was sad to say goodbye to the only family she had ever known, but they all promised to write. As the two women settled into a life much different to what they’d been used to, the locals were divided in their feelings. Some were welcoming; some were not. But a young and innocent Clytie knew she liked Rom; Dolores though was wary as Rom seemed a man of the world.

Hoffnung’s locals mostly worked at the Golden Hope gold mine – but their fortunes were few and far between. With the Boer War still decimating the brave men on the fighting front, the powers that be were asking for volunteers, so Rom enlisted, leaving in a hurry. But when tragedy struck, Clytie found herself alone; the infrequent letters from Rom the only thing keeping her going. Her future looked bleak; would Rom return? Many others wouldn’t…

Golden Hope by Aussie author Johanna Nicholls is a sweeping historical drama set at the turn of the century. It is the time of suffragettes and the vote for women. It is also filled with secrets and lies and an intriguing mystery which fascinated me when all was revealed. Even though Golden Hope felt a little slow to begin with, it didn’t take long before the story captivated me, carrying me along for the ride. A thoroughly enjoyable read, Golden Hope is one I highly recommend.

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