The Goldminer's Sister

'There are people in this town with the gleam of gold in their eyes and cold steel in their hearts.'

Drawn by her brother's promise of a fresh start in Australia, Eliza Penrose journeys from England to the gold-mining town of Maiden's Creek, only to arrive in the shadow of tragedy.

Finding herself alone and friendless in a town where answers about her brother's fate remain frustratingly elusive, Eliza seizes an unexpected chance to establish herself as the settlement's schoolteacher.

Among the townspeople she encounters is Alec McLeod, the mine's engineer and her brother's friend, who still carries the memory and guilt of his wife's death. Though he's rebuffed the attention of every eligible woman in town, Alec finds himself unexpectedly drawn to Eliza-an attraction complicated by a promise he made to her brother.

While Alec struggles between his growing feelings for Eliza and his obligations to the mine and its men, Eliza delves into the mystery surrounding her brother's death. As secrets, lies, and betrayals circle around them, both Alec and Eliza are drawn deeper into the town's web of secrets.

When disaster strikes the mine, the truths begins to surface. The revelations come at a heavy price, and Eliza and Alec risk losing everything they have fought for, including their lives.

With time running out and stakes rising, will their newfound bond be enough to overcome the forces threatening to tear them apart?

"Meticulously researched, Alison imbues this tale with a sense of era and place. I was transported to late nineteenth century rural Victoria... Alison Stuart has struck gold with The Goldminer's Sister. History, mystery and romance. She really has hit her stride as a fabulous storyteller and historical novelist." (Better Reading)