She was Maori, aged anywhere between three and five years old. Her dirty, matted hair hung past her shoulders, and sweet, heart-shaped little face was filthy.

When Kitty Farrell is offered a trinket by a street urchin, her impulsive response will change both of their lives forever, and place an unexpected strain on Kitty’s marriage. For the past four years, she has sailed the high seas on the trading vessel Katipo with Rian, her wild Irish adventurer, but when they return to the Bay of Islands in 1845, they find themselves in the midst of a bloody affray.

Their loyalties and their love are sorely tested, and Kitty’s past comes back to haunt her when she encounters the bewitching child she names Amber. As the action swirls around them, Kitty and Rian must battle to be reunited as they fight for their lives and watch friends and enemies alike succumb to the madness of war and the fatal seduction of hatred.

HarperCollinsPublishers NZ 2008

I've had this book for years and there's no doubt why I have bought it :D And just now when I saw the price tag on the book I remembered I bought this at Whitcoulls in NZ, OMG!! :O It was probably on my first trip, i.e. in May 2009. I always buy books by local authors when I travel (or that's how it was until March 2020, before COVID-19 pandemic, who knows when - if ever - travelling will be safe again..)

However, as I still have not read the book, in 12,5 years, it's better to let it go. Maybe it'll find a reader at the upcoming BC meet-up in Hämeenlinna ;)

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About the author: https://www.read-nz.org/writer/challinor-deborah/

Uusiseelantilainen Amber on mukana huomisessa Hämeenlinnan BC-miitissä!

New Zealand <3

I started reading this eagerly and it was somewhat promising untill they came to NZ and started talking about the possibility of war. They built up "hype" about the conflict for several pages and when it finally came the author concentrated on Kitty falling in a cave. After that it was all less fascinating. Amber came along after halfway and somehow things happened too conveniently after that.

I checked some of the historical parts to learn they were facts, that was fascinating! I didn't know all the maori words so it was somewhat difficult to follow at times.

Kirja lähtee yhdelle ystävänpäiväarvontani voittajista :)
Lukuiloa!

To the winner of my Valentine's Day draw :)

Thank you! Tämäpä onkin kaukaa tuotu, kiitos kierrättäjille!