"Fresh voice from downunder"

Katherine "Kitty" McKenzie was only twenty-one when she lost her parents and a sister to typhoid. Suddenly, she has six other siblings dependent upon her to take care of them. It's not an easy task facing her. Not only is what's left of her family is in deep morning, she learns that she has no money; her parents were in debt and hadn't made any plans to see their children cared for in the event of their deaths. The carefree, secure life they had is no longer an option.

Kitty is forced to sell their home and all their worldly goods just to keep the family together. Through hard work, she rises from a clerk in a clothes stall to eventually opening her own teashop. Along the battle to see her siblings cared for, she makes friends with Max and Connie Spenser, who try to support Kitty. Even with Kitty falls in love with Ben Kingsley, the romance is not troublefree, bringing Kitty even more decisions.

A fresh voice, Australia's Anne Whitfield brings life to this tale of a woman's perseverance, of her discovering she is stronger than she ever knew. It's a gentle story of woman's struggle to keep life at bay, while holding true to her brothers and sisters. The writing is sharp, and pulls the reader into the story, makes them care. Obviously, there will be another book dealing with Kitty's journey to Australia. I eagerly look forward to it and more from this talented writer.

Reviewed by DeborahAnne MacGillivray
Posted July 18, 2006

Summary

Suddenly left as the head of the family, Kitty McKenzie must find her inner strength to keep her family together against the odds. Evicted from their resplendent home in the fashionable part of York after her parents? deaths, Kitty must fight the legacy of bankruptcy and homelessness to secure a home for her and her siblings.