White Gardenia [Paperback]

Shanghai, 1938. Anya Kozlova is a Russian émigré living a life of privilege in the French Concession when Japanese bombs shatter everything. Fleeing with her father through war-torn China, she ends up in Australia — alone, stateless, and forced to rebuild from nothing. Belinda Alexandra weaves a sweeping saga across continents and decades, from the glittering nightclubs of old Shanghai to the jazz clubs of 1950s Sydney. At its heart is Anya's search for identity and belonging, and the mystery of her mother's white gardenia perfume — a scent that haunts her past and might unlock her future. Rich with historical detail and emotional depth, this is epic storytelling that lingers. For readers who love Amy Tan, Kate Morton, or anyone drawn to stories of resilience, reinvention, and the long shadows of war.