Review: Little F*ckers by Ryan Martin

This is not a book about perfect parenting. It's about embracing the glorious messiness of family life and celebrating the win of getting through another day, humour intact. 

Little F*ckers is not a book to be read cover to cover but more to jump to the chapters that cover your current parenting struggles.

Ryan Martin gives advice on many different challenges, scenarios and solutions. He uses humour as a great leveler and many scenarios and solutions come from his own life experiences as a parent.

There are sections on communication, helicopter parenting, building resilience, setting reasonable boundaries, technology and much more.

I found the section on building gratitude in your children the most interesting and liked that even with the author this was a bit hit and miss however even when you don't think you're getting through to your teen they will say or do something that will show you they are listening and taking it in.

The chapters jump around from toddlers to teens. I would have liked the book to be presented more in chronological age order making it easier for parents to navigate.

I found Little F*ckers to have some good content with practical advice that appears to be easy to put into practice. Ryan Martin adds plenty of humour and his own fails which prevents the book from coming across as preachy.

There is also advice to parents to lead by example.

"Your child doesn't need you to be infallible or to pretend you've got everything figured out. They need you to show them what it looks like to be human, to take responsibility when you mess up, and to bounce back with humility and grace rather than defensiveness and excuses." Ryan Martin - Little F*ckers.

There is an extensive index in the back allowing the reader to look up a situation and go straight to the relevant pages.

I think the takeaway from Little F*ckers is to put down that phone, connect with your children and have some fun. You will make mistakes but remember to celebrate the wins.

My rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Publisher: Macmillan Australia

Publication date: 26th May 2026

Genre: Non Fiction / Parenting

Pages: 425

RRP: AU$36.99 (trade paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

#parentingbooks #nonfiction #ryanmartin #parentingwithhumour #parentingadvice #australianauthor #ausbookbloggers

Review: A Single Witness by Christine Balint

It takes seven women to make a single witness. - Venetian Proverb

A Single Witness is the evocative and moving story of Anna Maria's battle to be heard in a male dominated world. Set in the mid 1700's, in a small rural town outside of Venice, A Single Witness is a fictional tale based on a true story. 

Christine Balint has extensively researched the area and the time period, even visiting the small town itself and perusing original documents from the Venetian archives, to bring Anna Maria and her story to life.

Thirteen-year-old Anna Maria lives with her grandmother and father in the small mountain village of Piovene. She is terrified of her violent, alcoholic father and tries to keep out of his way by making herself invisible to him. However she is only a slight girl and when he gets her alone he sexually assaults her.

Terrified that this will be her life going forward, Anna Maria first approaches the local priest, who is meant to protect his parishioners.  The church and the local priest had a huge standing in these small communities and he was the one people looked to to solve disputes and be the moral guardian of the village. However, he rejects her claims. 

She then tells an older trusted friend who also doesn't want to be involved and turns her away. Even her Grandmother doesn't, or doesn't want to, believe her.

The immense amount of courage it would take to tell someone what is happening to her is daunting. Everyone is afraid of her violent, criminal father. Anna Maria never gives up. Whilst she has a voice she is determined to be heard and after walking 29 kilometers she confronts the Council of Ten in Venice. Her claims can now not be ignored but it isn't an easy road and those she loves are telling her to say she lied.

"You can't do this!" Nonna continues, her soft voice firm, 'Things happen to women, but they don't talk about it. Things might be unpleasant or inconvenient but a woman puts up with them. Who do you think you are, talking to the Justice about such things? What will they think of us? We are respectable people. We go to church every Sunday. You must tell them it's not true, Anna Maria. Go back to Vicenza. Tell them you were lying." - A Single Witness

Christine Balint has included conversations and everyday activities that are honed from her imagination and research. However the basis of the story is in fact true.

I found A Single Witness to be a thought-provoking read. I was in awe of Anna Maria's courage when everyone was against her and the villagers were quick to place blame on the victim. I am sure many girls/women would have, and did, suffer in silence.

Although this is a harrowing story Balint writes beautifully descriptive scenes on general life, farming practices, everyday household work, clothing and the community of the era, all which were fascinating to read.

A Single Witness is unflinching, powerful, haunting, poignant and thought provoking. A must read for historical fiction enthusiasts.

My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Publisher: Spinifex Press

Publication date: 4th may 2026

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 324

RRP: AU$34.95 (paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

#asinglewitness #historicalfiction #christinebalint #bookssetin1700 #historicalvenice #australianauthor #ausbookbloggers 

Winner of a copy of The Orchard at Rosevale 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 copies of The Orchard at Rosevale and Stay Buried.  The giveaway closed on the 28th August 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!

Book Giveaway: The Orchard at Rosevale + Stay Buried

Here is my very late August 2026 giveaway. 

This month's giveaway is for a paperback copy of The Orchard at Rosevale and a paperback copy of Stay Buried. One is a contemporary romance the other is a suspense thriller. Both books are great reads. Plus lots of extra reading themed goodies.

Click on the title to read my review.

The Orchard at Rosevale by Nicola Marsh

About the book:

Elora Curtis is an advertising genius. Her innovative campaigns propel her clients to new heights, and she assumes that marketing Kinstead Avocados, a struggling farm in regional Victoria, will be no exception. Until she encounters Cruz Wardlow, the grumpy owner, and makes the biggest mistake of her career ...

Renowned chef Cruz is stuck running the farm for one year - the final demand of his late estranged father. The last thing he needs is a brash city girl like Elora telling him how to run his business. Especially when the two have already met in circumstances he'd rather forget.

For Ferne, Cruz's mother, she can't wait to escape Rosevale Grove. She's been tethered to the small country town long enough and is ready to explore the world. But a mishap renders her immobile for a month and she's forced to confront her future when Taj, a blast from her past, makes her re-evaluate her quest for freedom.

Three hearts yearning to start over, but will they find that what they've been looking for has been right in front of them the whole time?

Stay Buried by Jane R. Miles

About the book:

Christmas Eve, 1974.

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

Decades later, one returns.

She claims to be one of the missing. But is she? There is no proof of who she is, only a keepsake that once belonged to another missing woman - Sally, a teen mother whose disappearance never mattered to anyone but Von, the daughter she left behind. Sally's return rekindles the cold case, as desperate families plead for answers - and a dark mystery begins to surface.

A hidden bunker ... a ghost ... scratches on a concrete wall ... pictures inside a View-Master ... and the little girl who understood the darkness better than anyone.

Inspired by true events, Stay Buried is the darkly thrilling tale of secrets unearthed, the will to survive and a legend that refuses to die.

GIVEAWAY

Enter via the form below to win a paperback copy of The Orchard at Rosevale & Stay Buried. The giveaway is open to Australian addresses only and entries close at 6pm AEST on 28th August 2026.

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.

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

Review: Simply Beside Herself by Judith Katherine

 Simply Beside Herself is the fabulous contemporary debut by Australian author Judith Katherine.

Elizabeth Daley lives in a care home. Everything is done for her. She doesn't need to think about a single thing.

Adrift since her husband died almost two years ago Elizabeth reaches a turning point when she sees her own lifeless body sitting on a park bench. With the help of a friend she leaves the home with one small bag.

For me, this story started off a bit depressing however with great character development by Judith Katherine we see Elizabeth blossom as she comes to see she has always been an extension of her husband. She strives to reclaim her independence.

Simply Beside Herself is a mature-age coming of age as Elizabeth, with the help of a life-long friend, rediscovers herself and a love for life itself.

We are introduced to Elizabeth's daughter Ellen after she is informed that her mother is missing. Ellen is drowning in self doubt, socially awkward and she is desperately trying to fit in with the other parents at her children's school. Ellen is trying to balance working, homelife and her two children. While her life is in total disarray she must now find her missing mother.

I loved that this story is about all the characters. We get the thoughts and dreams of many of the side characters as well as Elizabeth and Ellen.

Judith Katherine's prose has a beautiful depth and sensory richness however the story was a bit over described for my liking.

Heartwarming and encouraging Simply Beside Herself is a story of friendships old and new, setting your own limits and responsibility, and reclaiming your independence.

My rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Publisher: Affirm Press

Publication date: 28th April 2026

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Pages: 384

RRP: AU$34.99 (Trade paperback)

Source: ARC from the publisher

#simplybesideherself #judithkatherineauthor #contemporaryfiction #australianauthor

#debutnovel #2026release 

Book Giveaway: The Windmill in the Silver Gums by Leonie Kelsall

My July 2026 Giveaway is extra special because three days ago my blog reached 1 Million pageviews!!! I am so excited for this milestone.

This month's giveaway is for a paperback copy of The Windmill in the Silver Gums by Leonie Kelsall. Leonie's books are all set in the rural town of Settlers Bridge however they all standalone so there is no need to have read the previous nine books.  

You can click on the title below to read my review.

The Windmill in the Silver Gums by Leonie Kelsall

About the book:

In the wake of a tragic accident, Indi Jaensch shoulders the weight of generations, determined to keep the family property near Settlers Bridge viable. But drought, debt and ruthless competition from an agribusiness tycoon are taking their toll.

Local farm worker Blake Robertson is a welcome ally in her battle to save not just her property but the district itself. Yet will Blake prove to be her Atlas or her Achilles heel?

Over a century earlier, as war sweeps the world, impulsive nineteen-year-old Rose Lehmann dreams of serving as a nurse in Egypt. Instead, she falls for the charms of a farmer of German heritage, Kurt Jaensch, who longs to enlist but is branded - with all his kind - as the enemy on home soil. Instead of the adventure she yearns for, Rose finds herself pregnant and alone, holding together a farm and a family in a hostile nation.

When Indi discovers Rose's journals, her great-great-grandmother's voice echoes across the years, bolstering Indi's resolve to fight for the land both women have learned to love. But with betrayal close to home and the bank circling, Indi needs more than courage and loyalty to save her farm. She needs a plan.

GIVEAWAY

Enter via the form below to win a paperback copy of The Windmill in the Silver Gums. The giveaway is open to Australian addresses only and entries close at 6pm AEST on 15th July 2026.

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED

Review: The Windmill in the Silver Gums by Leonie Kelsall

I was so excited to read The Windmill in the Silver Gums I have loved the Settler's Bridge series and it was great to be back with so many familiar characters. It was like visiting old friends.

1915 - Rose is eager to escape the small town she lives in. When she meets the handsome Kurt Jaensch she is impatient for marriage and to move to the grand home of the Jaensch family. She is not interested in farming, there will be workhands for that. However, the war changes everything.

Present day - After Indi's father is involved in a farming accident, Indi finds herself working the farm on her own. Finances are tight but she is determined not to lose the family farm that has been handed down through the generations.

In The Windmill in the Silver Gums Leonie Kelsall highlights the hardships of working on the land for a living. Readers living in farming communities will resonate with her characters' circumstances whilst city dwellers will feel empathy and possibly obtain a clearer understanding of the plight of farmers as they are at the mercy of the weather, shortage of funds and life-altering farming accidents.

I loved how characters from previous books pop in and out of the narrative. It gives that added level of connection whilst also leaving the book able to be read as a stand alone.

The dual timeline gives the reader a feel for how farms are more than just a livelihood as they are handed down from generation to generation. The farm is in their very being.

Leonie Kelsall has ventured more into the farming side of rural life in The Windmill in the Silver Gums than her previous novels which were more community focused.

Even though the story held my interest right from the start I would have liked a bit more romance between Indi and Blake. However, they got there in the end.

My rating 4 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Publication date: 30th June 2026

Genre: Rural Fiction / Romance

RRP: AU$34.99 (trade paperback)

Pages: 368

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

Other books by Leonie Kelsall

THE FARM AT PEPPERTREE CROSSING

THE WATTLE SEED INN 

THE BLUE GUM CAMP

THE WILLOW TREE WHARF

THE RIVER GUM COTTAGE 

THE HOMESTEAD IN THE EUCALYPTS

THE WINGS ABOVE THE MALEE

THE PATH THROUGH THE COOJONG TREES

THE IRONBARK PROMISE

#thewindmillinthesilvergums #leoniekelsall #australianauthor #settlersbridgeseries

#ruralromance #ruralfiction #ausbookbloggers

Review: The Diamonds of Tilly Devine by Jackie French

The Diamonds of Tilly Devine is a darkly compelling tale set in Sydney during the 1930's, a time of deep hardship and poverty, especially for women. 

I have seen Tilly Devine and her brothels and criminal activity pop up in many historical fiction novels set in Sydney. However, Jackie French gives her readers a new spin on Tilly Devine's many ventures. She arranges marriages of convenience, for a price.

The Diamonds of Tilly Devine is a riveting read. The story follows Connie as she agrees to an arranged marriage in exchange for a life of luxury.

I enjoyed the character of Connie she was a little naive but soon grew into a  fiery, outspoken women whilst retaining her kind heart.

I really didn't know what to expect with this story as the plot diverged off on different tangents. However, I have to say it was never boring or predictable. I was totally immersed wondering what would happen next. French has delivered a story that is a combination of historical fiction, murder, mystery and romance.

I loved how Tilly was always quietly in the background protecting her girls. Her reach was far and wide.

Everyone of Jackie French's characters is beautifully fleshed out, whether they are the main characters or supporting characters they all made their mark on the story.

My rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Content: sexual abuse

Publisher: Harlequin Australia

Publication date: 30th June 2026

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 368

RRP: AU$34.99 (trade paperback)

Source: Uncorrected proof from the publisher

Review: Finding the Bones by Natalie Conyer

I have quite enjoyed Natalie Conyer's previous books and Finding the Bones was no exception. 

Inspired by the unresolved case of missing heiress Juanita Nielson, in Finding the Bones, Conyer imagines a scenario where the bones of a missing person are found decades after their disappearance.

In 1987 we meet Belle Fitzgerald, a conservation activist living in Kings Cross.

Current day - workmen on a dig uncover an open grave. Acting Inspector Jackie Rose is called in to lead the investigation. It appears to be the bones of missing heiress Belle Fitzgerald.

We first met Jackie Rose in Shadow City where she works on a case with police officer Schalk Lourens, before he returned to South Africa.

Jackie's father is retired detective Stanton Rose, revered hero of the 80's and Jackie feels she is forever working in her father's shadow.

Finding the Bones is an immersive police procedural. As we get Jackie's investigation unfolding we also get real events in a separate timeline decades earlier. This gives the reader insight into information and events that Jackie isn't aware of yet.

Natalie Conyer gives her protagonist a personal moral dilemma that she must work through. A professional conflict of interest.

Finding the Bones is a compelling story that kept me turning the pages. We also get to know Jackie on a more personal level and find this case has life changing consequences for her. Jackie and her work partner Kinsella are both extremely likeable characters and it was good to learn more about both of them as well as getting a gritty police investigation.

My rating 5/ 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Publisher: Echo Publishing

Publication date: 3rd March 2026

Genre: Crime / Mystery

Pages: 309

RRP: AU$34.99 (trade paperback)

Source: courtesy of the publisher

Other books by Natalie Conyer

Shadow City

Present Tense

The Bookclub and other stories

#findingthebones #crimefiction #ausbookbloggers #natalieconyer #australianauthor

Winner of a copy of Finding the Bones 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 Finding the Bones by Natalie Conyer.  The giveaway closed on the 14th June 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!