Reviewed by Caitlyn Lynch for Readers' Favorite

New Beginnings by Iris Blobel is a very sweet romance about Sophie, a young woman struggling to take care of her little sister after the pair of them are orphaned. Inheriting a house from a mysterious benefactor seems like a gift from God for Sophie, even if she does have to uproot herself and Mia from Sydney and move to Hobart, Tasmania, for it. This was well-plotted out, with a completely plausible reason for a stranger leaving Sophie her property which is revealed in a clever and intriguing way. Mark O'Connor is the Hobart attorney handling the property transfer, who finds himself hopelessly drawn to Sophie.

I know Hobart very well; my in-laws live there and I usually spend a couple of weeks there every year. Iris Blobel does a nice job drawing the charming, vintage feeling of Hobart for us in words with some beautifully descriptive language, putting in features that Hobart locals and even visitors will surely recognise like the Salamanca Markets, the Botanic Gardens and the way that Mount Wellington is always there as the backdrop to the city. The end of the book feels a little rushed and I was sad to see it finish so quickly, I would have enjoyed a longer read. I think New Beginnings might be the only book I've ever read which is set in Hobart, come to think of it. I might have to remedy that by going and reading the rest of Iris Blobel's Beginnings series, which are apparently also set there. If this one is any guide, they’ll be well worth the effort.