Book Review: Snowy Mountains Daughter by Alissa Callen

Snowy Mountains Daughter

by

Alissa Callen 

 

The road home isn't for the faint-hearted... 

Publisher: Harlequin Enterprises Australia 

Imprint: Mira

Publication date: 3rd February 2021 

Genre: Small town fiction / Rural romance

Pages: 352

RRP: $29.99AUD

Format read: Paperback

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

About the book

 

Peony flower farmer Clancy Parker was born and bred in the Australian high country. Small-town Bundilla is the only place she will ever truly belong, even if staying means remaining alone. The man she'd loved is long gone and single men are as rare as a summer snowfall.

As soon as he could, street artist Heath MacBride escaped his complicated family and traded mountain peaks for city concrete. Now a commission to paint a mural on Bundilla's water tower brings him home. It doesn't matter how long he's been away, the animosity of his cattleman father hasn't waned. As soon as the water tower is painted, he will be gone.

But between steadfast Clancy, who'd once been his muse, a free-spirited kelpie who becomes his shadow and a corrosive family secret, his best laid plans disintegrate. When life again backs him into a corner, will he have no choice but to leave or will he and Clancy have the second chance they'd each thought would forever remain out of reach?  

My review

Alissa Callen has delivered again with her latest novel featuring the resilience of bush communities, the volatility of Mother Nature and the healing power of animals.

Bundy, companion, matchmaker and social media sensation, is the town's resident kelpie. Loved by everyone but owned by no-one. Like The Littlest Hobo on the much loved T.V. series Bundy has a sixth sense for who needs his company most and roams from person to person.

Clancy Parker was born and raised in the country town of Bundilla in The Brindabellas. This was her life and unlike many young people, who couldn't wait to leave, she loved everything about the town.

Heath McBride left the town as soon as he could and has made a name for himself as a mural painter. Now back in town to paint the town's water tower he must also face Clancy, the love of his life.

Wow! Alissa Callen has packed so much into this story. There's good friends Clancy and Heath who secretly have a crush on each other but both are reluctant to take the plunge and open up and risk destroying their friendship. We see, through Clancy, that farming isn’t all about cattle and sheep. She has a flower farm which is definitely a time consuming occupation also entirely at the mercy of Mather Nature. One bad storm at the wrong time and it's all destroyed.

Heath is home to paint a mural on the town's water tower which is a fascinating story on its own. Tie into that his estrangement from his father and it makes Heath an interesting and complex character to explore.

If you haven't seen the wonderful murals going up on water towers and silos all over Australia have a look at the website that captures them in all their glory.

Australian Silo Art Trail

https://www.australiansiloarttrail.com/

Callen doesn't just give a brief obligatory mention of the Aussie countryside, fauna and flora she makes them a part of the overall story giving you the feel and sense of actually being there amongst it all.

A wonderful community of characters were included and I wanted to hear all their stories. Ned, Cynthia and her daughters dropping off sweet offerings, twins Millicent & Beatrice, Mabel the journalist, Clancy's best friend Brenna, Taite, Trent the Vet and Rebecca the florist were all important threads in the story. I'm hoping we will visit them again in future books.

Snowy Mountains Daughter is vividly described from the snow capped mountains to the gum trees and wooden bridges the setting comes alive on the page. A free-roaming kelpie, a second chance at love and a dying mans confession make Snowy Mountains Daughter a story that will have your emotions reeling.

5/5  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

About the author

Photo credit Goodreads

When USA Today bestselling author Alissa Callen isn’t writing she plays traffic controller to four children, three dogs, two horses and one renegade cow who really does believe the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. After a childhood spent chasing sheep on the family farm, Alissa has always been drawn to remote areas and small towns, even when residing overseas. Once a teacher and a counsellor, she remains interested in the life journeys that people take. She also is partial to historic homesteads and country gardens and has been known to drive hours to see an open-garden. She currently lives on a small slice of rural Australia in central western New South Wales. 

 

 

Challenges entered: Australian Women Writers Challenge 

                                 Aussie Author Challenge

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