Title: Destiny Cottage
Author: Dieter Gartelmann
Publisher: XlibrisAU
ISBN: 978-1664101098
Pages: 366
Genre: Romance / Historical
Reviewed by: Christina Avina

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Love stories are beloved for a reason. They speak to the heart of any good romance, which is two souls connecting on a deeper and more impactful level, and finding themselves drawn to one another to spend more and more time together. The love in any good romance story is made even sweeter when we get to see the hardships and struggles each person in the romance overcame to get to the point where their paths crossed.

In author Dieter Gartelmann’s Destiny Cottage, an epic love story is explored as readers dive into the stories of Baozhai and Wei. Baozhai seeks to avoid an arranged marriage to a brutal soldier, and escapes into the unknown. Meanwhile, Wei has spent a lifetime learning to master his family’s style of Kung-Fu after being bullied as a child, and soon finds himself dealing with a broken heart after his first wife leaves him for a richer man. As the two meet and fall in love, they decide to strike out on their own and find success in Australia, where destiny calls for them with promises of gold and riches. Soon, Wei and Baozhai are bound together, and work as a team to find love and wealth in the 19th century.

This is a beautifully written blend of historical fiction and romance. The author takes readers into an often-overlooked era of history, as we explore the Asian culture and history of the two protagonists set against the backdrop of the gold rush era which saw people not only flock to places such as California, but to countries like Australia as well. Wei and Baozhai are both strong and emotionally-driven characters, utilizing a strength and determination that makes them stand out amongst the gold seekers of the outback. The relationships the two build not only with one another but with characters like Baozhai’s mother or young women seeking shelter from a harsh world, make the story flow smoothly and the characters more empathetic to one another’s history.

This is a gripping tale of adventure and romance that is perfect for readers who enjoy detailed historical fiction dramas and heartwarming romances. As a fan of both genres, it was easy to lose myself in the author’s narrative, delving into some of the protagonist’s amazing culture. Getting to see the characters go up against many of the problems that were faced in those days, from arranged marriages of young women far too young to be married, to fighting the stereotype that women need men to be successful in life and more, made this book and the narrative within an edge-of-your- seat read.

A breathtaking, emotional and engaging read, author Dieter Gartelmann’s Destiny Cottage is a must-read novel. A heartfelt journey of love, overcoming the odds and history in the making, the author does a great job of highlighting history and culture in the midst of an emotionally-driven narrative which sees romance bloom naturally and inescapably.