Join us at Books@Stones on Saturday 2 May for a special in-conversation event with bestselling author Mary-Lou Stephens with Leanne Lovegrove discussing her latest novel, The Hobart Hotel.

Glamour, intrigue and two women who will gamble their lives to survive ... the compelling new Tasmanian historical fiction from a bestselling Australian author.

December 1939: The grand opening of Australia's most glamorous and talked about hotel, the Wrest Point Riviera.

The equally glamorous Sabine Winters, recently arrived in Hobart from the Continent, anticipates a safe port from the storm that rages in Europe along with a few select items of jewellery to add to her (stolen) collection. What she doesn't expect is to be blackmailed into becoming a spy, torn from the safety of Tasmania and taken to the viper's nest of intrigue and plots that is South America during the rise of Nazi power. Her instincts and charms will only get her so far ...

February 1973: The grand opening of Australia's most glamorous, talked about and controversial hotel, the Wrest Point Hotel Casino.

Jenny Davies anticipates a night surrounded by dizzying decor and thrilling action. What she doesn't expect is an invitation to become a Ladybird, one of the casino's croupiers. But Jenny's choice to pursue this exclusive career creates a devastating chain of events that could destroy her life as she knows it. Can a mysterious letter and the gift of a key from a relative Jenny has never heard of somehow be the answer to all of her problems?

'This dual-time, glamorous story of intrigue, spies, trust, deceit, friendship, daring and luck - and so much more - will absolutely sweep you off your feet...' Karen Brooks, bestselling Australian author

Mary-Lou Stephens was born in Tasmania, studied acting at The Victorian College of the Arts and played in bands in Melbourne, Hobart and Sydney. Eventually she got a proper job - in radio, where she was a presenter and music director, first with commercial radio and then with the ABC.

She received rave reviews for her memoir Sex, Drugs and Meditation (2013), and her debut novel, The Last of the Apple Blossom (2021) was praised as 'an outstanding historical novel about women and the secrets and burdens they carry'. She is also the author of the bestselling novel The Chocolate Factory (2024), an historical fiction story about the Cadbury enterprise, also set in the lush landscape of Tasmania.

Mary-Lou has worked and played music all over Australia. Now she travels the world with her husband, slowly, and writes, mostly.

Leanne Lovegrove is a lawyer, wife and mother and a lover of romance and reading. Her law career created an addiction to coffee but provides countless story ideas. Leanne forever dreams of escaping to the country and that is why she writes small town and rural fiction. Her latest books include The Swiss Chocolatier and Buried In-Between. Other books include a new escapist millionaire series and she’s currently writing dual timeline women’s fiction. Her biggest passion is writing sweeping love stories with strong female heroines and set in the beautiful landscape of Australia. She lives in Brisbane, Australia with her husband and three children.

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All our events are free to attend, but bookings are required as seats are limited.

Contact the host of Books@Stones event: The Hobart Hotel by Mary-Lou Stephens