Reviews
Dressed By Iris
'Mary-Anne O’Connor is a bestselling Australian novelist who delivers rich, sweeping works of historical fiction. Her novels In a Great Southern Land, Gallipoli Street and Worth Fighting have all made their way onto our previous Top 100 lists, while her last novel, Sisters of Freedom, delighted BR readers with its passionate tale of three sisters following their hearts to unexpected places. ...Richly imagined and splendidly told, Dressed by Iris is a feel-good story about love, family and following your dreams.' - Fabulous Historical Fiction: Read Our Review of Dressed by Iris by Mary-Anne O’Connor | Better Reading
'What an incredibly powerful, insightful historical masterpiece! Dressed By Iris, in my opinion, is Mary-Anne O’Connor’s best yet. A story about hope and sacrifice. It kept me fixed on its pages with its heart-felt drama, well-defined characters, true-to-the era settings and unsettling social issues.' - Review of ‘Dressed By Iris’ by Mary-Anne O’Connor — Cindy L Spear
'What an incredibly powerful, insightful historical masterpiece! Dressed By Iris, in my opinion, is Mary-Anne O’Connor’s best yet. A story about hope and sacrifice. It kept me fixed on its pages with its heart-felt drama, well-defined characters, true-to-the era settings and unsettling social issues.' - Review of ‘Dressed By Iris’ by Mary-Anne O’Connor — Cindy L Spear
Sisters of Freedom
'Passionate and empowering...Meticulously researched, thought-provoking and utterly compelling, Sisters of Freedom is yet another marvelous Australian historical from Mary-Anne O’Connor, cementing her place at the top of this genre.' - Better Reading
'No doubt exists in my mind that Australia needs to wake to the fact that living within its shores is a major talent, a young woman whose Sisters of Freedom captures truly the spirit of the dawn of a federated nation.' - Queensland Reviewers Collective
'Mary-Anne O'Connor fills the pages of this wonderful, well researched and heartfelt novel, with the love of three young women, daughters, wives and suffragettes. Women who could easily be any one of us today...I loved it. I cried tears of sadness, of joy and relief and tears of hope for a better world.' - Starts at Sixty
'No doubt exists in my mind that Australia needs to wake to the fact that living within its shores is a major talent, a young woman whose Sisters of Freedom captures truly the spirit of the dawn of a federated nation.' - Queensland Reviewers Collective
'Mary-Anne O'Connor fills the pages of this wonderful, well researched and heartfelt novel, with the love of three young women, daughters, wives and suffragettes. Women who could easily be any one of us today...I loved it. I cried tears of sadness, of joy and relief and tears of hope for a better world.' - Starts at Sixty
Where Fortune Lies
'Mary-Anne always weaves multiple layers to her tales, and here is no different. A cast of complex and truly compelling characters reels you in and takes you on an absolutely riveting adventure. I was completely sold on this story from the start.' - Better Reading
'A wonderful tale of love, adventure and bushrangers in colonial Australia...gripping and compelling' - Canberra Times
'A mix of history and escapism, and a strong sense of place, makes this novel an enjoyable read for lovers of Australian stories' - R.M. Williams Magazine
'Heartfelt and poignant' - Goodreads review
'A wonderful tale of love, adventure and bushrangers in colonial Australia...gripping and compelling' - Canberra Times
'A mix of history and escapism, and a strong sense of place, makes this novel an enjoyable read for lovers of Australian stories' - R.M. Williams Magazine
'Heartfelt and poignant' - Goodreads review
In A Great Southern Land
'Dramatic, gripping and colourful, it’s historical fiction of a quality that will take you on a beguiling roller-coaster ride, skillfully written by an author inspired by her own family history.' - Better Reading
'...outstanding historical drama...deep and emotive.... In a Great Southern Land is an amazing and powerful read ' - Unseen Library
'Beautiful, engaging storytelling.' - Sunday Telegraph
'...outstanding historical drama...deep and emotive.... In a Great Southern Land is an amazing and powerful read ' - Unseen Library
'Beautiful, engaging storytelling.' - Sunday Telegraph
War Flower
'War Flower by Aussie author Mary-Anne O’Connor was utterly, heartbreakingly brilliant! Written with compassion, understanding, love and caring, the author has blended the facts of a horrific war with a heart-warming fiction to make War Flower a “real” story' - Brenda, Netgalley
'The story has multiple stories within that wove together in what was an attention grabbing story. Ms O'Connor's third book is heartfelt and full of controversial moments.' -Talking Books
'The story has multiple stories within that wove together in what was an attention grabbing story. Ms O'Connor's third book is heartfelt and full of controversial moments.' -Talking Books
Worth Fighting For
'Worth Fighting For is a well-researched and compelling read. I read the book in one sitting. I simply could not put it down. With beautiful prose and an enthralling storyline, I have no hesitation in recommending this book.' - Mary Anne Yarde, Blogspot, http://maryanneyarde.blogspot.com.au/2016/09/bookreview-worth-figting-for-histfic.html
'...the moral and psychological strength of Junie will have readers on her side as she seeks the happiness she deserves,' -The Weekly Times, Dec 2016
'If you have an interest in Australian history - especially during the dramatic days before and during WW2; if you love a bit of danger, action and romance in your novels; and if you are looking for a fresh, new voice in Australian fiction, then absolutely give this book a try.' - A Reader's Heaven
'War-times experiences of Mary-Anne's mother Dorn Best are woven skilfully through the plot...easy to read and well told (Worth Fighting For) will strike a chord with anyone who was a part of the 'golden generation' of Australians who faced the war with courage.' - Outback Magazine, Oct 2016
'...the moral and psychological strength of Junie will have readers on her side as she seeks the happiness she deserves,' -The Weekly Times, Dec 2016
'If you have an interest in Australian history - especially during the dramatic days before and during WW2; if you love a bit of danger, action and romance in your novels; and if you are looking for a fresh, new voice in Australian fiction, then absolutely give this book a try.' - A Reader's Heaven
'War-times experiences of Mary-Anne's mother Dorn Best are woven skilfully through the plot...easy to read and well told (Worth Fighting For) will strike a chord with anyone who was a part of the 'golden generation' of Australians who faced the war with courage.' - Outback Magazine, Oct 2016
Gallipoli Street
'Through her sensitivity, beautiful writing and gift as a story teller O’Connor’s readers will come to know and love her characters as she pays homage to Australia’s brave diggers and medicos.' Read more: http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/country-living/gallipoli-street-mary-anne-oconnor
‘As we reflect on the lasting impact of a war that occurred a hundred years ago, Mary-Anne O’Connor brings us a story celebrating the good that can spring from war—love, hope and courage. In the heart-warming and heart-wrenching Gallipoli Street, the lives of three families will be irrevocably altered by the politicians and the powerful who send the nation’s youngest and strongest to fight wars on their behalves. Some will never return from the battlefield, some will never be the same but throughout it all, from one Great War to the next, family and faith provides the ultimate reminder of what it truly means to be human.’ - The Hoopla
Read more: http://thehoopla.com.au/gallipoli-revisited/
Read more: http://thehoopla.com.au/gallipoli-revisited/
'Written with passion and a wide-eyed sense of curiosity about the past, this novel moved us deeply.' - Apple iBooks
Read more: https://itunes.apple.com/au/book/gallipoli-street/id950556236
'I could shout from the rafters about this story, it was just that good.' - Talking Books
http://talkingbooksblog.net/gallipoli-street-by-mary-anne-oconnor-book-review/
Read more: https://itunes.apple.com/au/book/gallipoli-street/id950556236
'I could shout from the rafters about this story, it was just that good.' - Talking Books
http://talkingbooksblog.net/gallipoli-street-by-mary-anne-oconnor-book-review/
Interviews
2GB: (0:58:24) http://www.2gb.com/audioplayer/208686
6PR: http://www.6pr.com.au/news/worth-fighting-for-a-family-account-20161010-grz3ub.html
QBD Book of the Month: http://blog.qbd.com.au/2015/04/03/author-interview-mary-anne-oconnor/
Librarian Lavender: http://www.librarianlavender.com/2015/11/australia-days-guest-post-what-was-your.html
6PR: http://www.6pr.com.au/news/worth-fighting-for-a-family-account-20161010-grz3ub.html
QBD Book of the Month: http://blog.qbd.com.au/2015/04/03/author-interview-mary-anne-oconnor/
Librarian Lavender: http://www.librarianlavender.com/2015/11/australia-days-guest-post-what-was-your.html