The Pride of the Peacock Holt, Victoria

A young Englishwoman inherits a share in an Australian opal mine and trades Victorian propriety for the raw heat of the outback. Jessica Clavering arrives expecting gemstones and fortune — what she gets is a web of family secrets, dangerous rivals, and a landscape that doesn't forgive mistakes. Holt weaves Gothic romance with colonial adventure, centering the story on a legendary opal called the Green Flash, cursed or coveted depending on who's telling the story. The Australian setting is vivid and unforgiving, the mystery atmospheric, and Jessica herself sharp enough to hold her own among men who'd prefer she disappeared. Perfect for fans of historical romance with backbone — think *Thorn Birds* energy with a treasure map and higher stakes.