The former Gaiety Girl is no stranger to falling in love, having had her heart shattered by the death of her beloved fiance during the First World War, but she cannot shake off this feeling that Toby is not the man for Callie. Phoebe is shocked when she finds out that her niece has left everything that was familiar to her behind for a life in Egypt with a man who shouldn’t be trusted. When she finds herself falling head over heels in love with charming Welshman Toby, Callie impulsively decides to follow her heart and elope to Egypt with a man whose handsome face hides a plethora of secrets that could immerse his new bride into a maelstrom of jeopardy and danger. Despite her glamorous Aunt Phoebe urging caution and telling her to think twice before plunging headlong into anything, Callie is determined to make the most out of life. Having had an idyllic childhood in Scotland surrounded by loving family and friends, spirited Callie has grown from a mischievous child into a beautiful young woman with the world at her feet. Orphaned Callie might never have known her parents, but she has certainly never wanted for affection or love. Would love to hear what other readers think!Īn outstanding historical novel that will linger in the mind long after the last page is turned, The Postcard is award-winning author Leah Fleming’s best book yet. I personally think we should have had more of Melissa and less of Phoebe. Somehow this seems to lesson the high points in the story especially what happens to Callie during the war. The trouble with the narrative begins when Callie grows up and her experiences are sandwiched between Phoebe's.

For me Fleming did Scotland and Callie's childhood really well. I decided to actually write this review and award three stars because of the subject matter that Fleming has tackled and also because I don't normally read popular fiction and I'm still not sure if my criticisms are because of that fact or because of the construction of the books.

It wasn't until I got home that I discovered the reference to Beaulieu Abbey that really intrigued me and after being naughty and checking the acknowledgements I quickly realised what Fleming had taken on. I thought, at first, that Leah Fleming was an Australian Woman Wirter but no, she isn't.

I bought it for the train last week mainly because it was about 1930s London and 2002 Australia. I've actually only read 133 pages of The Postcard and skimmed the rest.

The Postcard by Leah Fleming