Review: Lavender Hill by Alissa Callen

 Lavender Hill is the first book in a new series set in the fictional town of Windamere in rural Tasmania. I absolutely loved Alissa Callen's Snowy Mountains series and whilst it is sad to leave those much loved characters behind I'm excited to get into a new series, set in a new location, with new characters.

After nine years in France, horticulturist Rylea Laurent is back in rural Tasmania, due to her father's ailing health, to help on the family's lavender farm.

She left the country after her brother's death on a camping trip with his best friend. She is now ready to face her loss and find out what really happened on that fateful night.

Kane Ashford is also freshly returned to Windamere. Kane is there to repair his family's old farmhouse. He is also determined to unravel the mystery of his brother's death on the same camping trip as Rylea's brother.

Rylea and Kane had a connection before he took his surviving brother and mother and fled the town. Now the two must put aside their feelings and work together to uncover the mystery of that deadly camping trip.

I loved getting both Rylea and Kane's thoughts via the dual narrative. The tension and unspoken feelings between them pulsed from the page.

Although there is a compelling mystery running through the story, Rylea and Kane's denied attraction to each other is equally captivating. The tension between the two is so well portrayed.

The banter between Kane and his brother Denevan is light, fun and typical male talk. Rylea and her sister Darcy also have a close and endearing relationship. Alissa Callen knows how to get to the heart of real people.

I already love all these new characters. Windamere's older residents are filled with love and gossip, they are well meaning and quite funny. And what is a small rural town without a group of matchmakers; enter Viola Gilbert and The Windamere Gardening Girls. Try as the boys might to avoid them, they know your every move and will get you in the end.

The addition of working dogs and even a pet lamb who thinks he's a dog, the devastation of storms and introduced plants brought the country atmosphere right into my home.

In Lavender Hill, Alissa Callen combines mystery, country life and romance to deliver a heartwarming story about healing your past and allowing yourself a second chance at love.

I've noted a whole list of characters who need their chance at love. I'm looking forward to returning to Windamere and seeing who is next to find their HEA. I'm already pairing up characters for future books. 😂

Lavender Hill is a captivating story brimming with heart and a dash of mystery and drama. Another compelling novel from the queen of small-town fiction!

My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Publisher: HQ Fiction

Publication date: 28th January 2026

Series: A Windamere Novel #1

Genre: Contemporary Fiction / Rural Romance

Pages: 368

RRP: AU$32.99 (trade paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

#lavenderhill #alissacallen #australianauthor #bookssetintasmania #ruralromance #smalltownfiction #ausbookbloggers #newrelease #publishedin2026

Other books I've read by Alissa Callen

SNOWY MOUNTAINS DAUGHTER

SNOWY MOUNTAINS CATTLEMAN

SNOWY MOUNTAINS PROMISE

SNOWY MOUNTAINS DAWN

THE BOUNDARY FENCE

A COUNTRY VET CHRISTMAS

Review: The Duke's Secret by Sue Williams

 The Duke's Secret is a fictional tale inspired by Sue William's own family mystery that they are related to the Duke of Wellington. An ancestor is said to be the illegitimate child born from a passionate affair between The Duke and a maid.

The Duke's Secret is narrated through the dual timelines of the maid Mary Ann in 1793 and Ava in 2025.

Ava has recently connected with an absent father and he mentions a family mystery that they are descendants of The Duke of Wellington. Ava decides to take up the investigation and find some proof.

Mary Ann is indentured at 13 to work in the stately home of a dashing British Army officer. Mary Ann is intelligent and outspoken and as the years pass she forms a bond with The Duke.

I found the story quite slow and it bogged down about a third through. Ava's research and trips to battle scenes could have been evocative however they came across as reading straight from history books. I never felt like I was with Ava trying to unravel the mystery.

Mary Ann's story was interesting however I felt it was unbelievable taking into account her standing.

There is also a side story of Ava's gas-lighting and controlling boyfriend Darren, and this really had my blood boiling. I was eager to see if Ava would eventually see that he was undermining her confidence. The addition of Ava's journalistic investigation into housing and development seemed out of place and only resulted in another avenue for Darren to undermine her.

The Duke's Secret is food for thought on family stories handed down through generations. We all have them!

My rating 3 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Publication date: 3rd February 2026

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 433

RRP: AU$34.99 (trade paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

spoiler ahead

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The inconclusive ending left me feeling a little let down.

Review: The Devil's Daughter by Danielle Steel

I always have the same problem when reading a Danielle Steel novel. It takes me a few chapters to fall into her "telling" style of narration.

The Devil's Daughter is a story about two sisters with very different personalities and the narrator - the older boring sister - will mention this fact over and over again.

Billie whined about her life throughout the entire book and this really got my goat. The younger sister Mickie, an actress and model, was the cause, in Billie's mind, of all her problems.

However when Billie can't find a job after graduation Mickie offers to have Billie stay with her and also gets her a job in a cafe. But still Billie complains.

Mickie is dating a high-profile plastic surgeon when a major scandal threatens to blow her world apart. Will the sisters reconnect over this catastrophe?

Billie was totally annoying and the second point-of-view from the plastic surgeon Dr Addison was equally annoying.

What I loved; Mickie!! She knew what she wanted in life and was determined to get it. When things went sour she threw everyone under the proverbial bus. I loved it!

I was a bit conflicted with The Devil's Daughter whilst I couldn't wait to see what was in store for Mickie, I felt the ending was quite unrealistic and all wrapped up too conveniently.

Whilst Steel may be after a younger audience with the added sex scenes I think she may be pushing away her tried and true older long-time readers.

My rating 2.5 / 5 ⭐⭐½

Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia

Publication date: 13th January 2026

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Pages: 320

RRP: AU$32.99 (trade paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

#thedevilsdaughter #daniellesteel #contemporaryfiction #ausbookbloggers 

Review: The Adventuress of Albany by Darry Fraser

I always devour Darry Fraser's historical fiction novels and The Adventuress of Albany was no exception. The colonial Australian setting is always evocative and I love learning more about life in the early days of settlement.

The beauty of the land, strong female characters and swoon-worthy men make her novels a must read for me.

The Adventuress of Albany opens in 1881 and Molly Bentley is eager to start her life of adventure. Her father sends her and her chaperone Mrs Caldicott to Albany in Western Australia. It doesn't start well when Molly is knocked down on the street and rescued by the enigmatic Leo McRae.

The action and danger didn't let up from the very start of the book. I was totally immersed in Molly's story and there was reveal after startling reveal. Some of which took me totally by surprise.

Molly and Leo's story is never without complications. In a world where reputation matters and sinister sources are out for the take, Molly and Leo come face to face with criminals, murderers and blackmail.

I loved that Molly was such a strong woman. She lived an affluent life in England but she wasn't adverse to roughing it and even shooting a gun if it was necessary.

This riveting story was wrapped around the true events of Princes Albert and George's visit to Australia and extracts from the princes' journal add a level of authenticity to the otherwise fictional tale. Life in the 1880's isn't romanticised in The Adventuress of Albany and I liked that Fraser added the filth and hardship.

My rating 5/ 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Publisher: HQ Fiction

Publication date: 25th November 2025

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 429

RRP: AU$32.99

Source: ARC courtesy of the publisher

#theadventuressofalbany #australianauthor #historicalfiction #ausbookbloggers #darryfraser #hqfiction #newrelease 

Review: My Wonderful Disgrace by Kate & Angourie Rice

My Wonderful Disgrace is the second novel by mother and daughter team Kate & Angourie Rice. A laugh-out-loud, bold and highly entertaining tale of how even the best laid plans can go terribly wrong.

The story is narrated through Amy Middleton's journal entries, statements made to police, the school newsletter and group chat rooms. 

Amy Middleton is the year 12 cohort rep. The school ball is her big event and she has it all planned. The dress, the speech, the presentation are all organised and when Leo suggests he and Amy go to the ball together, she is on top of the world.

Angourie and Kate Rice have delivered an hilarious and believable tale that involves a comedy of errors that gain momentum until the entire night ends in mayhem.

Seventeen-year-olds do silly things. They don't always think with their brains and the word consequences doesn't seem to be in their vocabulary. Rice delivers the "unfortunate series of events" with just the right amount of sensationalism, and the responses from other students felt true to life.

The book starts with a mystery feel. Police interviews are being recorded however the reader has no idea what happened. As the story evolves it gets more and more bizarre. I loved it!

This isn't a preachy story however there is a lesson about inappropriate photo sharing and if you are the victim of this heinous crime hold your head high because it's the sharers who have done something shameful and embarrassing, not you.

My Wonderful Disgrace is a brilliant story of resilience and mettle.

Having put six children through high school I could honestly believe all the silly, ridiculous and outrageous things that happened in this book.

My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Recommended age 14+

Publisher: Walker Books Australia

Publication date: 1st May 2026

Genre: Young Adult

Pages: 304

RRP: AU$21.99 (paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

#mywonderfuldisgrace #youngadult #australianauthor #newrelease 

Winner of a copy of At cafe 64 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 At Cafe 64 by Shaeden Berry.  The giveaway closed on the 14th May 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 for more great giveaways!

Review: Where There's Smoke by Karly Lane

 Where There's Smoke by Karly Lane is everything I expected it to be; heartwarming, moving and intelligent.

We first meet Kenzie Knight in Once Burnt Twice Shy. She is the daughter of the main character Samantha Murphy, and in that book we find out Kenzie is pregnant. Five years on and Kenzie has four-year-old Poppy and is running a highly successful event management company.

Kenzie is planning the high profile wedding of socialite Sasha Delsanto. On meeting Sasha's fiancé Ewan she realises they have history and what she has to tell him will change both their lives forever.

I loved that the chemistry was still there between Kenzie and Ewan and with the dual narrative of both characters I was never left to how each of them felt.

Karly Lane always writes rich and vibrant farming scenes that reveal the beauty as well as the harshness of the land. The reader is made aware there can be hard times but there is also an element of humour involved.

I thoroughly enjoyed the slow-burn romance and the anticipated road-bump was huge and believable.

Ewan Campbell was a great character, easy to like, he was straightforward and upfront, especially about how he felt.

Where There's Smoke is a heartwarming story of two people who deserve a second chance. A story of long held secrets and new beginnings with memorable characters and a fun plot. It definitely left me wanting more of Kenzie, Ewan and Poppy.

My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Publication date: 28th April 2026

Genre: Contemporary Fiction / Romance

Pages: 352

RRP: AU$34.99 (trade paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

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