The Burgeoning Bookshelf: 2025

Tuesday, 28 January 2025

Book Review: Getting Back Up Again by Craig Semple

In a world that often glorifies toughness and resilience, acknowledging vulnerability can be challenging, especially in professions that are lauded for their ability to endure and overcome.

Getting Back Up Again gives step by step strategies to getting your life back on track.

After twenty-five years on the police force, and a sudden and devastating collapse of his mental health, Craig Semple realised he could no longer outrun the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. Craig talks about his struggles, and in his inspiring book Getting Back Up Again, offers readers a candid and profound exploration of his own mental health journey.

Craig candidly shares his struggles and triumphs. This down to earth approach not only makes his experiences relatable but also paves the way for others to recognise their own challenges and embark on their own journey towards recovery.

Getting Back Up Again is not merely a recounting of personal struggles, it is a roadmap for resilience. Craig offers readers practical strategies for navigating life's challenges and illustrating that recovery is possible for anyone willing to take that first step.

Getting Back Up Again is not only a powerful tool for people battling with mental health issues but also for their family and loved ones.

My rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Publisher: Echo Publishing

Publication date: 24th September 2024

Genre: Non Fiction / Self Help

Pages: 192

RRP: AU$24.99 (paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

Friday, 24 January 2025

Book Review: Outback by Patricia Wolf

A few months ago I received Opal by Patricia Wolf for review. I saw then that this was book #3 in a series and book #1, Outback, had garnered many rave reviews. I knew then I had to purchase the first two books and read them before I delved into Opal.

Outback is the debut crime fiction novel from Australian author Patricia Wolf and an introduction to AFP officer DS Lucas Walker.

Walker is on leave in his hometown of Caloodie, in remote western Queensland, to spend time with his sick grandmother. When a couple of German backpackers go missing in the area he is asked to help out on the case. Every day is crucial in this hot, dry, desolate land.

Patricia Wolf never lets her readers forget how hot it is! The heat, isolation and danger is so well portrayed you can feel yourself overheating and feeling parched.

The author uses dramatic irony as we know details the police don't have which adds to the tension. Chapter heading with number of days missing adds to the intensity of suspense.

The introduction of Barbara Guerra from the Berlin police department was a great addition and I hope she will be back in future books.

Outback reads well as a stand alone as the major crime is wrapped up in this book however there is a minor plot involving a motorcycle gang that has the potential to run through future books.

When you can feel the searing heat and see the haze lifting off the road you know the author has the setting just right. What started at a mildly slow pace soon picked up with an intensity that had me glued to the pages.

My rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Publisher: Echo Publishing

Publication date: 8th November 2022

Genre: Crime

Pages: 356

Source: Own copy

Wednesday, 22 January 2025

Book Review: The Girls from Fitzroy by Jennie Jones

The Girls from Fitzroy is a remarkable story of the power of friendship.

Set in 1945 post war Melbourne the story follows Maggie who comes from a well to do family and Lil who lives in the slums on the other side of town. Two unlikely friends meet during the end of war celebrations and secretly become the best of friends.

The Girls from Fitzroy is a beautiful story about friendship and women supporting each other. Jennie Jones highlights the differences between the haves and have-nots and how during this period of history there was definitely a class divide, neither venturing into the other's territory.

I loved how Maggie could see beyond the poverty, to the people of the slums and how they helped each other. Jennie Jones highlights how hard times could befall anyone.

I enjoyed both Maggie's and Lil's stories, their ups and downs, and how they worked together for a better life for the whole community.

Through The Girls from Fitzroy Jennie Jones shows the judgemental side of high society but also highlights the best of humankind with women like Maggie and Lil who pushed for better conditions for women and workplace childcare. There were also many businesses behind the scenes that gave to the poor.

The story was slow to start but once I was immersed in Maggie's world the pages flew by and I was eager to see where Maggie and Lil's stories would take them.

My rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Publisher: Harlequin Australia

Publication date: 30th July 2024

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 384 (paperback)

Source: Own copy

Book Review: Daughter of the Home Front by Jennie Jones

Daughter of the Home Front is set in Queensland during WWII and follows the hopes and dreams of Emma as she battles against societal expectations of women.

Living in a small country town not far from Townsville 15-year-old Emma has dreams of one day travelling the world. The American soldiers have come to town, splashing their money around and showing local girls a whole new way of life. Emma quickly gets caught up in the excitement and glamour.

I quickly became totally invested in Emma's world. As the men go off to fight, many women are left to bring up the children and work to put food on the table and a roof over their heads. However the war also opened up new opportunities for single women and Emma soon finds herself working in Townsville and free of the constraints of her mother and younger siblings. Emma is young and naive and soon finds herself pregnant and alone. Society has a dim view of unmarried mothers and Emma is sent to a prison-like home to await the forcible adoption of her baby.

Daughter of the Home Front is a heartrending story of enduring friendship and resilience of spirit that encompasses many societal issues of the time.

Daughter of the Home Front is a story about true friendships, war brides, bad choices, unmarried mothers, stolen babies and second chances.

I always enjoy stories set during WWII and more so if they are from the perspective of Australians during the war, whether it be soldiers or civilians and Daughter of the Home Front didn't disappoint. The story is beautifully drawn with believable characters and a powerful and emotional plot.

My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Publisher: Harlequin Australia

Publication date: 5th October 2022

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 419 (paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

Friday, 17 January 2025

Book Review: Wings Above the Mallee by Léonie Kelsall

Wings Above the Mallee is Léonie Kelsall's 7th novel and finds us back in Settlers Bridge, a small town that has entered my heart along with all of its residents. I love the community spirit, the gossip and the matchmaking seniors.

Amelia arrives in Settlers with her rescue pets, dusty the magpie and Biggles the possum. She is running from heartache and won't connect with anyone too deeply as the fear of caring again is too great. She has come to visit good friend Taylor and work a temp job for a few months before moving on again.

Heath is now living in Settlers Bridge with his father Sean who is battling an alcohol addiction. Heath is angry and despondent which is his way of coping with the guilt and grief over the death of his wife.

I loved the relationship between Sean and Heath. Sean kept an eye on Heath and always looked for some brightness in every day and made sure to point this out to Heath. He never gave up on Heath even though he had his own problems.

Wings Above the Mallee is the story of two broken people coming together but fearing that their combined grief may be too much to bear. There is always an underlying message of hope that they could help each other to heal.

You will find lots of heartache in Wings Above the Mallee, which overwhelmed me at times, however the lovely community balanced this out with their matchmaking and fun gossip. Throw in a dose of animal rescue, communities working together and some teenage rage all making Wings Above the Mallee a book not to be missed.

Wings Above the Mallee is an exploration of grief, loss, guilt and addiction and the long process to forgiveness and healing.

My rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Publication date: 7th January 2025

Genre: Contemporary Fiction / Rural Romance

Pages: 338

RRP: AU$32.99 (trade paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

Other books by Leonie Kelsall

THE FARM AT PEPPERTREE CROSSING

THE WATTLE SEED INN

THE WILLOW TREE WHARF

THE RIVER GUM COTTAGE

THE BLUE GUM CAMP

THE HOMESTEAD IN THE EUCALYPTS

Sunday, 12 January 2025

Book Review: The Homestead in the Eucalypts by Léonie Kelsall

Firstly I want to thank fellow blogger Helen Sibbritt for generously sending me a copy of The Homestead in the Eucalypts. I absolutely loved it!! I think it may be my favourite book of 2025. I'm calling it early. What a way to start the year!

The Homestead in the Eucalypts is a dual time-line narration which is something different from Léonie's previous book and she really smashed it. The change between time-lines was smooth and the connection was well plotted.

The prose are beautiful and the historical love story between Anna & Luke was perfectly portrayed. But I've digressed because The Homestead in the Eucalypts is Taylor's story. Taylor is the compassionate and hardworking doctor we have all come to love from the previous books. Taylor initially comes across as self-centred as she is having a hard time with life not quite going her way. She is pulled between living her own life and also supporting her mother. But underneath this pouty exterior is the Taylor we love and we see it emerge throughout the book.

I loved how Léonie Kelsall connected the two time-lines with parallels between Taylor and Anna's lives. There is lots of character growth and even though it includes two love stories Anna & Luke's captured my heart.

The Homestead in the Eucalypts also brought together exactly how many of Setters Bridge residents are related and it truly added another dimension to the previous books.

Bravo Léonie Kelsall, you went out on a limb and made it work!! More historical fiction please!

My rating 5 / 5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Publication date: 2nd July 2024

Genre: Historical Fiction / Romance

Pages: 432

Source: Gifted from a friend

Other books by Leonie Kelsall

THE FARM AT PEPPERTREE CROSSING

THE WATTLE SEED INN

THE WILLOW TREE WHARF

THE RIVER GUM COTTAGE

THE BLUE GUM CAMP

Saturday, 4 January 2025

Wrap-up of my 2024 Reading Challenges

It's that time of year when we look back over our challenge pledges and see how we went.

This year's Dymoncks Reading Challenge was divided into 3 sections each lasting a few months. The challenge was set out like a menu with Entree with 8 prompt from Jan - Mar, Main with 10 prompts from Apr - Jul and Dessert with 8 prompts from Aug - Oct. Unlike the 2023 challenge the 2024 challenge didn't have pins for completing each section. With us all thinking the challenge ended in October Dymocks then added an extra challenge Christmas Leftovers from Nov - Dec with 4 prompts.

This is such a fun and easy challenge which anyone can join by posting books read on Instagram with #dymocksreadingchallenge. The 2025 challenge is out now.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------