New Sweet Historical Romance Series Set in 1870s Australia

Jenni Ward : 28th May 2025

After the popularity of A Lady Most Intrigued it got me thinking about what I love to read and write. As an Australian author, I’ve long wanted to write a series of sweet historical romances set in 1870s Australia and this one has been quietly simmering for years — bits of research tucked into notebooks, covers mocked up on my laptop, fragments of dialogue scribbled while waiting for the kettle to boil. Now, at last, it’s beginning to take real shape (besides there’s something magical about starting a new series!)

I’m excited to share that I’m working on a new series of sweet historical romances, all set in Australia during the 1870s. These are stories about everyday people navigating love, family, and society in a decade of huge change — and I can’t wait to bring them to readers next year.

Why 1870s Australia?

I chose this era because it was a turning point — not just in Australia, but globally. Railways were expanding, telegraph lines were connecting once-isolated communities, and class divisions were being challenged in new ways. The old world of rigid hierarchy was beginning to shift, while new opportunities (and tensions) were shaping people’s lives.

As an author, I’m fascinated by how love finds a way during these transitions. A seamstress dreaming of independence, a fisherman torn between tradition and progress, a wealthy family trying to hold on to status — the backdrop of change gives their romances extra richness.

A night time scene with an old lighthouse shining its yellow beam of light out over a stormy ocean as the waves batter the sandy and rocky shore. Text at the the base of the image reads: stories to warm the heart. Jenni Ward, Author

A Lighthouse and a Fishing Town

Each book in the series is set against a different backdrop of 1870s Australia. One story takes place in Port Fairy, a bustling Victorian fishing town watched over by its famous lighthouse. Another explores the wide skies of the outback in the Northern Territory, where isolation and resilience shape everyday life. There’s a tale unfolding in the vineyards of the Barossa Valley in South Australia, where families worked the land and traditions blended with change. By moving from coast to outback to hills, the series highlights the rich variety of places and people that made up colonial Australia.

Fabrics, Fashion, and a Seamstress Heroine

One of my main heroines is a seamstress, and I’ve been having far too much fun researching fabrics and fashion of the 1870s. This was an era when class could be seen in the cut of a dress or the quality of a man’s coat. The wealthy flaunted imported silks and elaborate trimmings, while working-class women made do with sturdy cottons and wools.

For a seamstress character, clothing is more than fabric — it’s livelihood, pride, and sometimes even survival. It also offers a fascinating window into the divide between rich and poor. Through her eyes, we see both the artistry of creating beauty and the harsh reality of working long hours to make ends meet.

A representation photograph of what a Victorian-era, 1870s seamstress shop might have looked like in Australia. With shevles lines with bolts of fabric, cloths, and cottons, while mannequins with partially completed ladies' dresses stand to one side. A large working desk is in the middle of the room. Text at the bottom of image reads: stories to warm the heart. Jenni Ward, Author.

Writing Progress — 120,000 Words and Counting

This May, I took part in the May I Write A Novel challenge — and somehow managed to write over 120,000 words in a single month. I honestly don’t know if I’ll ever manage that again!

That whirlwind of writing energy allowed me to finish three stories I’d already been working on, and to make real headway with this new series. Since then, I’ve slowed to a steadier pace (closer to 1,000 words a day), but I’m grateful for the momentum. The drafts are now in hand, though there’s still plenty of editing, fact-checking, and polishing to come.

A Glimpse Ahead

I’m not revealing full details yet, but here’s what you can expect from this new series:

Sweet, clean romance — stories that focus on heart and hope.
1870s Australia — outback towns, bustling ports, and changing cities.
Class contrasts — love across divides of wealth and status.
Everyday heroes and heroines — a seamstress, a fisherman, and others whose quiet lives are worth celebrating.

I already have five covers mocked up (though one may yet change), and I’m excited to see these stories take final shape in the months ahead.

Stay Connected

If you enjoy sweet historical romance like A Lady Most Intrigued (A Grimm Regency Tale : Book 4) — but want one with an Australian flavour in the Victorian-era — this is a series you won’t want to miss. I’ll be sharing sneak peeks, behind-the-scenes research tidbits, and cover reveals as we get closer to release.

👉 Be sure to join my newsletter for sneak peeks, cover reveals, and updates on my 1870s Australian romance series as it progresses from draft to book!
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