Review: Eva Reddy's Trip of a Lifetime

Title: Eva Reddy's Trip of a Lifetime

Author: Fiona McKenzie Kekic

Publisher: 29th July 2025 by Harlequin Australia, HQ & MIRA 

Pages: 352 pages

Genre: Travel | Women's Fiction

Synopsis:

When Eva Moore wakes up on her fiftieth birthday, her drab middle-class life immediately starts to unravel. First, she receives an anonymous Facebook message claiming her husband is having an affair. Next, she is restructured out of her job by her obnoxiously young boss. Then, just when she thinks her life can't get any worse, her elderly parents wilfully go missing from their group tour of India. All they've left behind is an increasingly bizarre series of TikTok videos.

Eager to put some distance between herself and her failing marriage, Eva undertakes a rescue mission, determined to save her parents from certain disaster. She wants to find them. But what Eva really needs is to find herself. If she can do that, she might get a second chance at life and love - and, along the way, become an inspiration to anyone who fears their best days are behind them ...

My Thoughts

Eva Reddy's Trip of a Lifetime is exactly what the title promises - and so much more. Fiona McKenzie Kekic has crafted a beautifully written, emotional story that’s equal parts adventure, soul-searching, and self-discovery.

‘Hello again, women of indeterminate age! My name is Eva Reddy. And welcome to my blog ‘Wizened & Wild’, where I ponder the challenges and everyday injustices that accompany female middle age.’

From the very first page, I was drawn into Eva’s world - a woman at a crossroads, bravely stepping outside of her comfort zone and into the unknown. The journey that follows is filled with humour, heartbreak, warmth, and hope. Kekic’s writing shines with vivid settings, compelling characters, and authentic emotion, making Eva's personal transformation feel both real and deeply relatable. From the author:

‘To all those women who feel trapped and invisible. Ignore what social media and our ageist culture would have you believe. You can be anything you want to be. We’re way past caring what other people think. So, find your power. Middle age is just the beginning.’

Eva is the kind of protagonist you cheer for from beginning to end. Her voice is sharp, witty, and deeply human. Whether she's navigating unfamiliar Indian cities or confronting the truths she's spent years avoiding, every step of her journey feels earned and impactful. I highly recommend reading this as it left me feeling inspired, a little teary-eyed, and completely satisfied (especially with all the 1980s references).

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review:The Italian Secret (Billie Walker Mystery #3)

Title: The Italian Secret (Billie Walker Mystery #3)

Author: Tara Moss

Publisher: 26th August 2025 by HarperCollins Publishers Australia

Pages: 384 pages

Genre:  General Fiction (Adult) | Historical Fiction | Mystery & Thrillerss

Synopsis:

#1 internationally bestselling author Tara Moss returns with an immersive post-war mystery as glamorous investigator Billie Walker follows a trail of secrets to Italy’s sun-drenched Neapolitan coast

Naples, 1943. Deep within a secret network of underground tunnels, a woman takes shelter from a wartime air raid and prays her husband will return home safe.

Pacific Ocean, 1907. A girl embarks on a lonely journey to begin a new life far from home.

Sydney, 1948. Billie Walker, recently returned from a stint as a wartime investigative journalist, has reopened her father’s private inquiry office. One day, Billie is cleaning out old filing cabinets when she uncovers a dusty box whose contents just might upend everything Billie thought she knew about her late, beloved father.

Soon Billie is on the scent, uncovering the secrets of her family’s past, travelling aboard the first post-war luxury passenger ship from Sydney to Naples in search of answers. And as the trail leads her toward two women whose history may be entwined with her own, she realizes she might be putting all three of them in harm’s way. Billie’s father had an enemy—one who may now be stalking Billie around the world—and the closer Billie gets to the truth, the more danger she finds herself in.

My Thoughts

I am ever so happy to have been lost in Billie Walker’s world once more - my new historical female heroine! The Italian Secret is the third novel in the Billie Walker series by Tara Moss and I loved it! Although not necessary to have read the previous two (Tara does provide a catch up and some background) I highly recommend you do. This is a post WWII private investigator you will not want to miss out on!

’He was the one who had taught Billie to search out answers, to be curious about the world and the people in it. He had taught her to solve the whys of the world.’

These books are a gorgeous blend of mystery, history, and glamour! This time the setting is a cruise ship then the stunning backdrop of post-war Italy, this book had me hooked from the first page. 

Moss paints a vivid picture of 1950s Rome, full of secrets, fashion, and intrigue. Billie, as always, is smart, stylish, and utterly captivating — think Audrey Hepburn meets Veronica Mars. If you're into vintage noir, strong female leads, and a little bit of danger wrapped in silk and shadows, The Italian Secret is a must-read. 

I highly recommend this series and reading the books in order. The Italian Secret is such a wonderful historical mystery book filled with exciting, emotional and highly addictive storylines. I can't wait to see what Billie gets up to next! Perfect for fans of historical thrillers with a cinematic flair. 

'So it is not an illness at all, you suspect?' She shook her head. 'No. I don't think so?

'You believe these deaths are connected?'

'Yes, I fear they are, she said. 'Almost certainly’

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.