Review: The Orchard at Rosevale by Nicola Marsh

The Orchard at Rosevale by Nicola Marsh is a heartwarming and immersive read and I was immediately drawn into the characters’ lives.

Cruz was living his dream working as a chef at a top Melbourne restaurant until he is called back to the family avocado farm after his father’s death. Cruz hates the farm and simply wants to sell it but his father's will stipulates Cruz needs to work the farm for 12 months to inherit.

Ferne, Cruz’s mother, is eager to escape the farm, which holds only bad memories, and start a life of travel. Ferne employs Elora, a social media marketer, to update the farm’s socials and improve their website. Ferne wants to get as much money as possible when it's time to sell. 

Elora and Cruz have instant friction and an underlying sizzle of attraction.

After her husband's death Ferne discovers long held secrets and is crushed by this discovery. But a chance meeting and a new friendship reconnects her to an old flame, one she regrets letting go.

Nicola Marsh has delivered a grumpy/sunshine romance plus a second chance mature romance. It’s not often you get two get romance tropes in one story and both executed with finesse.

Even thought the majority of characters were getting over past hurts the story had a fun vibe brought about by Cruz and Elora's flirty banter.

I loved every character, all so real with real hurts. I even had a soft spot for the posthumous antagonist Mac.

My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Publisher: Harlequin Fiction

Publication date: 28th July 2026

Genre: Contemporary Fiction / Romance

Pages: 337

RRP: AU$32.99 (trade paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

#theorchardatrosevale #nicolamarshauthor #contemporaryfiction #romance #ausbookbloggers #aussieaugust26 #australianauthor #ruralromance

Review: The Cross Thieves by Alan Fyfe

The Cross Thieves is a sharply observed literary fiction set in a small town on the outskirts of Mandurah, Western Australia. 

Alan Fyfe highlights the plight of the homeless, food insecurity and the difficulties faced by the impoverished in our digital world.

The Cross Thieves is set over one night where brothers Gark and Pell, two teenage boys who have found themselves homeless after a series of unfortunate events, go on a quest for revenge after the murder of a friend. The brothers' hunger and desperation is vividly described.

Fyfe keenly depicts the boys' passion for what is right. In a spontaneous act of revenge, and not really thinking through the consequences, they steal a cross with their nemesis' name engraved on it, a member of the town's biggest criminal family.

The Cross Thieves, although set over one night, has backstory told through letters from their mother to her sister and conversations between characters. The author often breaks the fourth wall and speaks to the reader directly.

Fyfe adds plenty of dark humour as the boys race through the night, cross in tow, coming across other characters in their covert operation. I loved that the boys spent the whole night running and fearful, not knowing what to do next only to end up right back where they started. This really appealed to my sense of humour.

There is a side story about a religious zealot, Pastor Joshua Chord, who twists religious texts to suit his own agenda. His involvement in the boys' mother and aunt's lives is told through letters between the two women. Crossing paths with the boys on this fateful night will have dire consequences for the pastor.

The Cross Thieves is the second book in a trilogy and I can honestly say I didn't feel like I had missed anything by not reading the first book. There is plenty of backstory interspersed throughout to let the reader know what preceded. I'm not generally good with literary fiction but I found The Cross Thieves grew on me more after I finished the book. I kept thinking about the characters and how true to life they felt.

Fyfe portrays Gark and Pell's circumstances with compassion and highlights the fierce bond the brothers have.

The Cross Thieves is coarse, violent and darkly funny with real characters, straight from struggle street.

My rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Publisher: Transit Lounge

Publication date: 1st March 2026

Genre: Literary Fiction

Pages: 208

RRP: AU$32.99

Source: Courtesy of the publisher via Quikmark Media

#thecrossthieves #alanfyfe #literaryfiction #bookssetinwesternaustralia #australianauthor #ausbookbloggers #aussieaugust26

Review: Flowers in July by Anna Maynard

I really enjoyed Dancing With Bees by Anna Maynard and Flowers in July is even better! Flowers in July is an emotional and heart-warming read.

Mary moves to Hobart, Tasmania with her boyfriend Felix to complete a six month term at Hobart hospital to advance her career in medicine.

Mary feels responsible for her family; her sister is a struggling single mother and her mother is alcohol dependent. The guilt over leaving them behind is immense.

When she finds out her boyfriend is cheating on her, again, she packs up and leaves. However her confidence is low and she finds herself blaming his actions on her own failings.

Mary has seen the brooding and intimidating emergency doctor Abel Sutherland at work and does her best to stay out of his way. But when a wilderness training retreat throws them together sparks fly.

Anna Maynard portrays the grumpy, brooding male protagonist so well. Her men always have a kind and gallant heart inside that grumpy exterior.

Mary was very easy to like. She was smart, kind hearted and a bit socially awkward.

Flowers in July was such a fun read. I liked both Mary and Abel and loved seeing them get flustered around each other. This is a slow-burn romance but not frustratingly slow. I feel that Maynard paced it well.

There are themes of living your own life and the fact that propping people up all the time, even though you love them very much, isn't helping them get their life together.

Flowers in July is a witty, heartfelt and uplifting read filled with lovable characters and laugh-out-loud moments.

My rating 5 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Publisher: Echo Publishing

Publication date: 31st march 2026

Genre: Contemporary Fiction/Romance

Pages: 336

RRP: AU$34.99 (trade paperback)

Source: courtesy of the publisher

#flowersinjuly #annamaymaynard #contemporaryromance #australianauthor

Review: A Farm in Golden Clouds by Leearna Shaw

A Farm in Golden Clouds is a heart-wrenching story about losing the love of your life and finding the strength to build a new life for yourself and your children.

Two years after her husband's death Indi Carmichael is struggling to keep their farm afloat. Her children are still not coping and the farm takes her every waking moment.

Ben Whittam is at Kestrel Creek filming a sequel to his smash-hit movie. However, grief is ripping him apart and the film is heading towards being a huge flop. His young son's nightmares are also escalating.

Whilst Leearna Shaw focuses on surviving loss and the ensuing grief A Farm in Golden Clouds is also about how finding love unexpectedly can lead to healing.

I love how Indi and Ben's relationship grew organically through understanding each other's loss. They were so natural together, becoming good friends first. This is a slow-burn romance dripping with emotion as the characters help each other work through their pain.

Leearna Shaw adds moments of humour that lighten the theme of loss.

The farming descriptions and everyday farm life were excellent, placing me right there on the farm and building empathy for Indi's plight. She is such a likeable character.

A Farm in Golden Clouds is a fabulous debut. Maybe a bit too heartbreaking for this reader at times. However, the characters were all loveable, their demons were real and I did get the anticipated HEA at the end.

I am looking forward to seeing what Leearna Shaw comes up with next!

My rating 4.5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐½

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Publication date: 31st March 2026

Genre: Rural Romance / Contemporary

Pages: 384

RRP: AU$34.99 (trade paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

#leearnashaw #ruralromance #afarmingoldenclouds #newrelease2026 #debutfiction

#australianauthor #ausbookbloggers 
 

Review: Stay Buried by Jane R. Miles

As Cyclone Tracy tears through Darwin, Christmas Eve 1974, four girls disappear into the heart of the outback. No tracks. No bodies. No answers.

Decades later, one returns. 

Inspired by true events Jane R. Miles' debut novel Stay Buried is a hauntingly powerful read.

2004 - The parents of four missing girls gather together in front of the Police Commissioner awaiting the latest development in the case of the girls disappearance on the night cyclone Tracey hit Darwin in December 1975.

1975 - One of the missing girls, eight-year-old Lisa-Marie narrates events as they happen.

The 2004 timeline is narrated by Von (Evelyn) who is positive her mother Sally's disappearance, only weeks before the girls, is linked. However, no-one is interested in down-and-out Sally or the daughter she left behind.

Lisa-Marie is one peculiar little girl and reading her narration of the story is spine-tingling. She's outspoken and a manipulator. Her character retains believability as she often reverts back to how you would expect an 8 year old to act.

While the reader knows what happened to the girls, the final outcome remains a mystery until the end of the book.

Miles delivers the story with a tense, creepy atmosphere and a continual foreboding feeling hangs in the air. There are plenty of chapter ending cliff-hangers that keep those pages turning and jaw-dropping reveals making Stay Buried a book you'll find hard to put down.

I was pulled into the mystery and amazed at the girls' sheer will to survive that overcame social and ethical norms. Stay Buried is a chilling and thought provoking read.

My rating 4.5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐½

Publisher: HQ Fiction

Publication date: 28th July 2026

Genre: Crime / Thriller

Pages: 322

RRP: AU$32.99 (trade paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

#stayburied #crimethriller #lockeddoorthriller #hqinsiders #ausbookbloggers

Winner of a copy of The Windmill in the Silver Gums announced!!

 I will be posting new giveaways in the first week of every month.

Bookmark my page and check back often so you don't miss a giveaway.

A huge thank you to everyone who entered my giveaway for a paperback copy of The Windmill in the Silver Gums by Leonie Kelsall.  The giveaway closed on the 15th July 2026 and the winner was randomly selected (using Wheelofnames) from all correct entries.

Congratulations to........ 

The winner has been notified and has seven days to provide a mailing address.

 

Please check under the Giveaway tab (which is in the drop down menu top right on a mobile device) for more great giveaways!

Review: Rebel Spirits by Paula J. Beavan

Rebel Spirits is such an immersive read. I immediately liked the main character Ellen and felt empathy for her circumstances. I have read, and loved, Paula J. Beavan's Among the Grey Gums and Rebel Spirits did not disappoint.

Set in the NSW Hunter River area in the 1860's, Ellen Maguire is left to manage the family Inn and look after her recalcitrant father and wayward brother after her mother's death.

I love Beavan's female leads. They are strong, stubborn and feisty but also fiercely loyal to their family. Ellen has a big heart and we see this time and again as she saves an injured Jack Bell from perishing in the bush, takes in two orphaned children and repeatedly forgives her brother for his wild adventures.

Whilst we follow Ellen's predicament trying to keep the Inn afloat and her growing attraction to newcomer to town, Jack Bell, we are also plunged into a light mystery as Jack tries to find his runaway niece.

Even though Rebel Spirits has plenty of depth it is an easy read and Beavan's two main characters are extremely likable. The story flows well and there is always something happening to keep the reader invested.

I loved the inclusion of Ellen's pet llama Simon which added some humour to the story. Beavan also introduces the concept of herbal medicine and tinctures made especially for women. Which I believe were very common during this period in Australia. The inclusion of an Illegal still and fighting matches added suspense.

Rebel Spirits is an all round feel-good historical fiction story with a feisty female lead and a kind and compassionate male lead.

My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Publisher: Self Published

Publication date: 27th May 2026

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 350

Price: AU$7.99 (in the Kindle store)

Source: eCopy from author

#rebelspirits #historicalfiction #australianauthor #paulajbeavan #ausbookbloggers #booksreleasedin2026 #bookssetinaustralia