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Cheryl Burman
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Keepers: Emotionally gripping historical women’s fiction (Book 1 of Keepers) Kindle Edition

by Cheryl Burman (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.1 out of 5 stars 670 ratings

'A beautifully crafted, emotionally gripping tale of love, resilience, and self-discovery. An unforgettable read!' Reader's House Magazine

At eight months pregnant, Raine shouldn’t be on a jolting bus crawling through snow searching for her husband. He might not want to be found. She might not want to find him.

When Raine Merrett’s beloved Pop falls ill, her family is forced to leave the peaceful countryside for a migrant camp on the flat plains outside post WW2 Adelaide. Life in the cramped Nissen hut is harsh, but Raine tackles her hated new life with gritty persistence.

Teddy Greene, newly arrived in Australia from war-torn London, shares Raine’s struggles.

But when Teddy and his best friend rescue Raine from a drunken attack, their heroism ignites a whirlwind of passion, uncertainty, and heartache.

Caught between the expectations of her times and her own desires, Raine's struggle to discover where her true path to happiness lies will test both her courage and her resilience.

Inspired by true events, Keepers is an emotionally charged story of love, abandonment and self-discovery.

Readers love Keepers

  • "This book gives a new meaning to the phrase 'a page-turner.' I couldn't put it down."
  • "Women's fiction at its best. I was kept guessing till the end."
  • "A heart warming tale of love, drama, and the importance of family—good, bad, and ugly."


An Amazon Charts Bestseller
Chill with a Book Premier Readers' Award
Readers’ Favourite Five Stars
"A treat to savour." – Discovering Diamonds


Book 1 in the Keepers series. Walking in the Rain and The Past can Wait, standalone spinoffs to Keepers, are available on Amazon. Also in Kindle Unlimited.

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  1. Book 1 of 3
    Keepers
  2. Print length
    321 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    April 2, 2021
  5. File size
    487 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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From the Publisher

historical fiction romance australia
mountains with wood cabin text: such an immersive, lovely book - though far from tame
'You'll laugh, cry and reflect on what love is. What resilience is.’

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08WHFWV98
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Holborn House Ltd (April 2, 2021)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 2, 2021
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 487 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 321 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 out of 5 stars 670 ratings

About the author

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Cheryl Burman

Cheryl Burman

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Cheryl Burman grew up as the child forever reading on her bed. But as this was Australia, she was also often tempted outside to the beach and the yabby creeks near her suburban home. When she moved to the Forest of Dean in SW England she, like Tolkien and Rowling, was inspired to write. Given she is lucky enough to live in a place chock-a-block full of history, legend and myth, there is much to draw on. She does so, as well as on her own childhood in Australia.

She started with middle grade fantasy, discovered a taste for historical fiction, also that short stories and flash can be fun, and now she has moved on to historical fantasy. She likes a challenge and a change.

As Cheryl Mayo, she is a former Chair of Dean Writers Circle and a founder of Dean Scribblers, which encourages the creative writing spark in young people in the community. She is also the co-author, with her (now sadly deceased) border collie of the ever-popular Sammy's Walks Dog friendly Walks in the Forest of Dean, which is available on Amazon and in local outlets in the Forest of Dean.

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
670 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this historical women's fiction book engaging, with one mentioning they read it in two sittings. The story features complex romantic relationships and an intriguing historical backdrop, while the characters and writing style receive positive feedback. Customers appreciate the book's authenticity, with one noting its true-to-life portrayal, and another highlighting its beautiful descriptions of Australia.

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10 customers mention "Readability"10 positive0 negative

Customers find the book compelling and easy to read, with one customer mentioning they finished it in two sittings.

"...The descriptions? Wow. I can’t get over how immersive the experience of this novel is, not just about describing scenery, buildings, or even actions..." Read more

"...Highly recommend this book and Chris to Ms. But man for sharing a gripping tale!" Read more

"I already want a sequel. This was a book I read in two sittings, which is unusual for me...." Read more

"A Skillfully Written, Compelling Read..." Read more

9 customers mention "Romance"9 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the romance in this historical women's fiction, appreciating its complex relationships and intriguing historical backdrop.

"...Keepers is historical fiction, literary fiction, women’s fiction, and bitter-sweet romance all seamlessly combined in a reading experience you won’t..." Read more

"...This is the hallmark of good historical fiction: being true to the time as much as can be done with the research materials available...." Read more

"Keepers is a wonderful journey back in time to 1950s Australia and a captivating look into the lives of three young people-Raine, Teddy and Alf...." Read more

"...Cheryl Burman is heartfelt women’s fiction set against an intriguing historical backdrop. In my book, the irresistible combination...." Read more

8 customers mention "Character development"8 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, with one customer noting the heroine's substance and another highlighting it as women's fiction.

"...The characters are likable and relatable, with some uncomfortable exceptions, but this is Raine’s story...." Read more

"...Each character has so much texture and complexity, with unique backgrounds and reactions to similar situations...." Read more

"...Raine is a remarkable character with many facets. She is strong and also vulnerable...." Read more

"...But the heroine was a woman of substance and she stood her ground with her wayward husband." Read more

5 customers mention "Writing style"5 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing style of the book, with one noting how it is beautifully punctuated with birds.

"...Cheryl’s incredible writing style brought the characters to life, and I found myself cheering for, yelling at, and commiserating with them along the..." Read more

"...Surroundings are perfectly written in a manner in which the reader feels they are right there, in the thick of the scenery, weather, terrain, and..." Read more

"...The drab circumstances of Raine’s daily existence are beautifully punctuated with birds, fauna, and flora typical of Australia’s countryside...." Read more

"...transported to the setting and time period by this author’s eloquent writing. I adore the characters and the story...." Read more

3 customers mention "Authenticity"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the authenticity of the book, with one noting its true-to-life portrayal and another highlighting its many details to pick up.

"...We’re given so much authentic detail in the novel that we feel the sights, sounds, and smells of the cramped quarters these characters experience...." Read more

"...There are so many details to pick up in this novel that had to have been purposely researched and detailed for the sake of authenticity...." Read more

"a true gem and absolute delight..." Read more

3 customers mention "Pacing"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the pacing of the book, with one noting its captivating look and another highlighting its exquisite descriptions of Australia.

"...Each character has so much texture and complexity, with unique backgrounds and reactions to similar situations...." Read more

"...Her exquisitely beautiful descriptions of Australia created vibrant pictures in my mind and transported me to a place I’ve never been but could..." Read more

"...The setting of Australia in the 50s is absolutely charming. It isn’t picture-perfect...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Mark Scott Piper
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Skillfully Written, Compelling Read
    Reviewed in the United States on September 7, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    If you have any interest in historical fiction, then you’ll love Cheryl Burman’s Keepers as much as I did. Burman thrusts her readers into a world of poverty and hardship in Australia during the late 40s and early 50s. We’re right there with her characters in that environment. Clearly, she has done her research. Keepers is the story of family, friendship, love, personal sacrifice, hardship, and coming of age in less-than-ideal circumstances.

    Burman has a knack for creating a melancholy tone that provides an undertone for the entire novel. That tone moves the story along smoothly--even when the lives we’re tracking are full of ups and downs. The narrative switches back and forth in time, and the point of view switches between the main characters Raine, Teddy, and Alf. That could lead to reader confusion, but in Burman’s deft hand, we never get lost in the action or the plot.

    We’re given so much authentic detail in the novel that we feel the sights, sounds, and smells of the cramped quarters these characters experience. We can almost hear the sound of our boots crunching the snow, and we can feel the warmth of holding an infant close to shield it from an unforgiving world. The weather is almost another character in the story.

    The characters are likable and relatable, with some uncomfortable exceptions, but this is Raine’s story. Her emotional and physical journey draws us in from the first page and never lets us go. We share her pain, frustration, love, and determination. She is a strong young woman who manages to cope with whatever life throws her way. She suffers more than she should have to along the way, but we’re rooting for her to succeed the whole time. Whether she’s successful or not isn’t revealed until the very end. You’ll have to read Keepers to find out for yourself.

    Keepers is historical fiction, literary fiction, women’s fiction, and bitter-sweet romance all seamlessly combined in a reading experience you won’t soon forget.
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  • Rue S
    5.0 out of 5 stars A historical romance in 1950s Australia wrought with metaphor and emotional turbulence... powerful
    Reviewed in the United States on May 24, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Keepers by Cheryl Burman is a historical romance that explores 1950s Australia alongside a group of youth stricken by the end of WWII, struggling to find their place in a world that’s changing due to the yielding of time and tragedy. With descriptions that are like gems in a coal mine of fraught desires and confusion, this painstakingly researched book explores how they fit in relationships that become entangled in self-worth and fear of further abandonment and trauma.

    Hands down, fans of historical fiction should give this book a go. There are so many details to pick up in this novel that had to have been purposely researched and detailed for the sake of authenticity. This is the hallmark of good historical fiction: being true to the time as much as can be done with the research materials available.

    Fans of romance will enjoy this love triangle with true-to-life, intricate emotional entanglements. The romance and relationships themselves are complex. Burman doesn’t take the easy, cliche way out by any means, and keeps us guessing until the very end. Each character has so much texture and complexity, with unique backgrounds and reactions to similar situations. Yes, there is a lot of miscommunication and mistakes made concerning motivations on the part of the characters, but it’s done in a way that’s natural and understandable, rather than just to feed intentioned drama.

    The descriptions? Wow. I can’t get over how immersive the experience of this novel is, not just about describing scenery, buildings, or even actions, but metaphors for thoughts and emotions. It’s sophisticated with Burman’s fingerprints all over every sentence, down to where each comma lays.

    Despite being a decent size novel, over 300 pages, I read Keepers quickly, devouring it. And that is my final testament to the strength of this novel. It dealt with heavy subjects in a way that didn’t feel heavy or overwrought. Burman did a great job of taking our hand and traveling through an adventure of the heart with us while preserving our own.
    One person found this helpful
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  • JShort
    5.0 out of 5 stars A riveting must-read!
    Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Keepers is a wonderful journey back in time to 1950s Australia and a captivating look into the lives of three young people-Raine, Teddy and Alf. Thrown together by circumstances beyond their control, they manage to forge a tenuous friendship that includes romance, betrayal, disappointment, and forgiveness. Cheryl’s incredible writing style brought the characters to life, and I found myself cheering for, yelling at, and commiserating with them along the way. Her exquisitely beautiful descriptions of Australia created vibrant pictures in my mind and transported me to a place I’ve never been but could visualize perfectly. This genre-bending novel is a must-read for anyone who loves historical fiction and romance, but I believe anyone who appreciates a well-written story about family, friendship, and personal sacrifice will fall in love with Keepers.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Joy Finder
    5.0 out of 5 stars a must read heartbreaking romance of life after the happily ever after
    Reviewed in India on July 5, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Keepers by Cheryl Burman is the bittersweet tale of a young woman in the 1950's who is desperately in love with a young man. The kind of man, mama's warn- will break your heart. This girl's sensible head keeps warning her against falling in love with him but when your knees go weak and your heart beats fast at the sight of him who has time for such paranoia? It's much easier to give into those feelings and suffer at leisure and suffer Raine does when he leaves her and disappears after a silly argument.
    Now here is the twist.
    Teddy, her husband's best friend, Alf is devoted to Raine . When Teddy disappears Alf steps in like a valiant knight. Who will Raine choose - the child man who is always looking for reassurances.? The man who tends to put himself first and the woman and children he is supposed to love always second or the guy who is always there for her? The awkward but loving friend who wants to be more than a friend?
    Will she choose a lifetime of watching what she says and mollycoddling or choose the man who treasures her?
    Keepers is all about love, but it is also about choices and the paths we take. This wonderful book by Cheryl Burman is testimony to the aching truth of many a woman today, falling in love is easy, staying in love and being there for each other through better or worse, not so much.
    A definite must read for all girls with stars in their eyes who might need a bit of a reality pill. Also a must read for all romantics because the book ultimately carries the message that true love triumphs against all odds.
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  • Daisy Wood
    5.0 out of 5 stars A profoundly thought provoking, and beautifully written book
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 2, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Keepers is a story to savour. A story of a bygone era, when nothing was really new, but people were so glad they had survived WWII. Her unique ability to draw you in to that time, so that you feel and smell the ambience, is remarkable to say the least.

    We see the struggle of those such as Teddy, whose family, amongst others, took the offer of the assisted travel to Australia, from the bombed-out streets of London’s East End. Everything is alien to them, even the Nissan huts where these families were first housed. Then we have Raine, a native Australian, whose family have moved from their house to come to be near their Pop, who is in the local hospital suffering from TB. An illness which was rife in that time. Antibiotics had just been discovered.

    Their friendship is fraught with doubt and misgiving, as neither trusts the other, leading to a catastrophic misunderstanding.

    This story will ring so true for those who have lived through an era such as this. A time of anticipation and hope, but also one of great uncertainty, which Cheryl Burman captures perfectly in her narrative.

    I loved this book, with its roller-coaster of emotions, and it was not till some way through that I truly understood the meaning of the title. Keepers is one to embrace, savour, and read again. I would highly recommend it.
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  • JennyGraves
    5.0 out of 5 stars A great read
    Reviewed in Australia on January 25, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    I’m not usually a big fan of romance novels, but I couldn’t resist one set in the 50s in the country I’ve chosen to call home.

    This isn’t quite like most romances. It is, as the author describes it, emotionally gripping. I really loved all the characters, although at times I wanted to bang their heads together! And right up until the end, I wasn’t sure how it was going to play out.

    A worthy addition to your reading list.
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  • Emma Lombard Author
    4.0 out of 5 stars This book put me through the wringer
    Reviewed in Australia on April 12, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    The story is told in a unique narrative that blends past and present. This took a little getting used to at first. Though it was soon clear that this was the author’s intended style throughout.

    Burman’s opening chapters paint the all-too real mundane drudgery of motherhood and morning sickness—and include delightful motherly snippets like Raine washing her baby’s teaspoon, which he dropped on the floor, in her tea.
    Pop’s dwindling illness is fully realised by the author—poignant and realistic with his up and down days. As someone who has dealt with a terminally ill family member, Raine’s relationship with Pop was relatable.
    From his first charming smile, Teddy was a completely likeable character, until he wasn’t. He doesn’t half put poor Raine through the wringer! He’s also so maddeningly tied to his awful mother’s apron strings.

    For readers looking for a dive back into the slower-paced world of a more somber time of yesteryear. It follows the everyday family and work lives of characters—capped by regular weekend dances—who are just trying to survive the hardship of post-war poverty.

    If you’re after a book with slow-burning angst that has you yelling in exasperation at the characters’ unpredictable decisions, then this book is for you.
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  • @the_book_fort
    4.0 out of 5 stars This is a book to lose yourself in and fall in love
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 27, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    This is a book to lose yourself in and fall in love with the characters. The main protagonist, Raine, finds herself alone and in a desperate situation. I related to her vulnerability now that she is a mother, compared to the strong and feisty younger version of herself. For me, Raine made the book! The time period was really interesting to read about; post WWII an influx of Brits migrated to Australia for a better life, only to find themselves in migrant camps and on a harder road then they were sold. The plot is a slight slow burn to start with, but then I was fully committed to following Raine and Teddy’s journey. I also enjoyed the descriptions of the landscapes and the challenges this brought. There are complex relationships throughout that added a gritty but relatable dimension.

    Thank you for the gifted ARC @cherylburmanauthor @randomthingstours and Holborn House.
    Customer image
    @the_book_fort
    4.0 out of 5 stars
    This is a book to lose yourself in and fall in love

    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 27, 2023
    This is a book to lose yourself in and fall in love with the characters. The main protagonist, Raine, finds herself alone and in a desperate situation. I related to her vulnerability now that she is a mother, compared to the strong and feisty younger version of herself. For me, Raine made the book! The time period was really interesting to read about; post WWII an influx of Brits migrated to Australia for a better life, only to find themselves in migrant camps and on a harder road then they were sold. The plot is a slight slow burn to start with, but then I was fully committed to following Raine and Teddy’s journey. I also enjoyed the descriptions of the landscapes and the challenges this brought. There are complex relationships throughout that added a gritty but relatable dimension.

    Thank you for the gifted ARC @cherylburmanauthor @randomthingstours and Holborn House.
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