Book Review: The Night on the Darling River by Darry Fraser

 The Night on the Darling River is a wonderfully immersive historical fiction set in 1894 Australia, during the rising tensions of the shearers' strikes.

 

Whilst most of the story is set in Echuca on the Murray River, it was the night Tess spent on the Darling River that changed her life forever.

 

Tess has finally summoned the courage to leave her abusive husband, stealing away in the dead of night, only to find herself hiding on the wrong boat. She is inadvertently caught up in the violence between union and non-union shearers and ends up wounded and stranded on the banks of the Darling River. Tess finds friendship in Ava, a young woman deserted by her husband.

Darry Fraser brings to life the tent cities on the banks of the Darling where women have the choice of following their husbands from town to town or staying put and praying they will return.

 

I was totally addicted to Tess's story and the action and danger never let up. Fraser has created some marvelous characters; strong women banding together, kind generous men and there are always those we want to see get their just deserts. 

I love Australian Historical Fiction and The Night on the Darling River did not disappoint. Darry Fraser has given her readers a story that is rich in danger with a light romance thread dispersed throughout. Fraser highlights the plight of women during this period of history and the devastating effects of flooding on the riverside towns and their residents.

 

I'm excited to read more of Darry's backlog!

 

My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Content: domestic violence

 

Publisher: Harlequin Australia

Publication date: 4th December 2024

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 416

RRP: AU$32.99 (paperback)

Source: courtesy of the publisher

 

Other books I've read by Darry Fraser:

The Milliner of Benigo

The Last Truehart 

 

Book Review: Ten Ways to Find Love ... and how to keep it by Dr Lisa Portolan

I'm probably not the best person to review Ten Ways to Find Love as I've been married for 40 years and the dating scene has changed a lot since I met my husband. However, the "How to Keep It" part may be of interest to those in relationships AND those looking for love. 

Dr Lisa Portolan has a PhD that relates to dating apps and how intimacy is navigated and negotiated through digital landscapes. This makes me think that Lisa is well equipped to write a thought provoking book on love. 

The book is written in two parts with part one being Ten Ways to Find Love.

1. Date like you're on holidays 

2. Turf the little white lies

3. Sharing

4. Kindness

5. Get rid of the shopping list

6. Accept yourself as perfectly flawed

7. Invest in yourself

8. Get beyond the chitchat

9. A delicate balance

10. Positivity

I agreed with Lisa's 10 key headings, they all seemed pretty straightforward. However when she gets into case studies it's all about hook-ups, fakeness online and unrealistic expectations. It's little wonder people can't find a real lasting relationship.

 

Part two is ten ways to keep love. Again with ten key headings.

1. Love as work

2. I choose you

3. Use your words

4. Once upon a time in love

5. Physical touch and passion

6. Create a relationship that's right for you

7. The individual and the team

8. Kindness

9. Breaking the rules

10. Fun

Part two also includes case studies and quotes from people who have been in long term relationships.

 

"Complicating the issue is our consumer culture's fixation on the disposable and the new. When it comes to finding love, many of us become stuck in a cycle of looking for the next, even better relationship. Ironically, while we are on this quest for romantic novelty, we may also be craving long-term partnerships, feeling like failures if we don't achieve them." 

Although I didn't really find anything to connect with in this thought provoking book I think it will be of interest to readers who enjoy self-help books.

 

My rating 3 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐

 

Publisher: Echo Publishing

Publication date: 4th February 2025 

Genre: Non Fiction / Self Help

Pages: 272

RRP: AU$29.99 (paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

 

 

Book Review & Giveaway: My Name is Gucci - A Dog's Story by Sun Jung

 My Name is Gucci is a poignant exploration of connection, past traumas, and the profound impact animals have on our lives.

Sun Jung's novel, narrated from the unique perspective of Gucci, a rescue dog, masterfully unravels the secrets that bind him and his owner together.

 

Gucci, a cross dalmatian bitzer, lives in a Singaporean animal shelter until he finds himself transported to Sydney, Australia after being adopted by an unnamed writer. The story delves into the interwoven destinies of Gucci and his adopter.

Gucci's owner's past traumas are revealed through Gucci's memories of past lives as Jung skillfully shows how lived experiences can haunt our present, shaping our fears and influencing our actions.

 

The recurring theme of reincarnation suggests an almost spiritual connection between dog and owner that transcends time.

 

Told with warmth and wit My Name is Gucci is a compelling read for anyone who has experienced the unconditional love of an animal.

 

I quickly fell in love with Gucci and became totally caught up in his story. He has an intuitive sense of how those around him feel. Gucci is timid and anxious, yet brave, and fully committed to helping his owner overcome her traumas.

 

My Name is Gucci: A Dog's Story is a beautifully written, poignant and heart-wrenching story. I found this lovable and quirky read hard to put down. 

Content: dog fighting, allusion to suicide, puppy farms.

 

My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

Publisher: Transit Lounge Publishing

Publication date: 1st November 2024

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Pages: 272

RRP: AU$32.99

Source: courtesy of the publisher

 

GIVEAWAY

 

With thanks to Transit Lounge I have two paperback copies of My Name is Gucci to give away.

One here on my blog and one on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/theburgeoningbookshelf/  

This giveaway is open to Australian addresses only and ends at 6pm AEDT on 21st March 2025

 

This giveaway is now closed and the winner was announced here: https://theburgeoningbookshelf.blogspot.com/2025/03/winner-of-copy-of-my-name-is-gucci.html

 

 

Book Review: The Book Club & Other Stories by Natalie Conyer

 The Book Club & Other Stories is a collection of nineteen crime stories by Australian author Natalie Conyer.

 

I loved Shadow City and I was excited to read a collection of short crime stories written by the same author.

The Nineteen stories cover many different crime scenarios; there is murder, mystery, the supernatural, scammers and twists galore.

 

What I loved about these stories is although most involved a murder it wasn't overly descriptive and the humour in each story far outweighed any gruesomeness. The stories were all so different in character, setting and plot which made each one feel like a whole new adventure.

 

The Book Club & Other Stories features nineteen highly engaging stories. It is a book you can pick up and put down at will or you can simply read it all the way through, like I did.

 

My rating 4.42 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐(averaged over 19 

 stories)

 

Publisher: Clan Destine Press 

Publication date: 1st November 2024

Genre: Crime / Short Stories

Pages: 229

RRP: AU$32.95 (paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

 

 My review of Shadow City

Book Review: The Lost Recipes by Ross Dobson

 Losing yourself in nostalgia is like a balm. Ross Dobson brings his readers The Lost Recipes, forgotten recipes, steeped in nostalgia. Recipes that have been overlooked, disregarded and barely noticed.

 

If you love cooking, nostalgia and all things Australia, you will love The Lost Recipes. Honestly, even if you hate cooking you will love this book! Filled to the brim with simple, delicious and easy to make recipes, with a huge dollop of nostalgia.

The recipes are set out in four sections:

• Fruit & Veg
• Meat & Seafood
• Baking
• Sweets

Each recipe is headed with the source; town and date.

Some recipes are from as early in Australian Colonial history as 1876 to 1952. Some recipes include a few words from Ross about techniques and his memories.

 

The book includes an extensive bibliography of the newspapers and magazines he found the recipes in, most of which no longer exist although can still be read through Trove.

 

I remember The Commonsense Cooking Book used in school Home Economics classes and I feel Ross Dobson has taken common sense cooking to a whole new level.

 

My rating 5 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

Publisher: Echo Publishing

Publication date: 29th October 2024

Genre: Non Fiction / Cooking

Pages: 240

RRP: AU$34.99

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

 

Book Review: Lemons are a Girl's Best Friend by Janet Hayward

With girls using beauty products at a younger age Lemons are a Girl's Best Friend is a fabulous tool to empower girls to look for all natural treatments for skin, body, hair and nails. Treatments that you can make at home.

 

This cute little pocket sized book gives us 30 inexpensive and natural beauty treatments and 30 healthy treats to nourish your body from the inside and outside.

 

DIY Beauty is huge with #diybeauty and #diyskincare garnering millions of views on Tiktok.

 

Lemons are a Girl's Best Friend has a list of 30 ingredients; fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds, with some facts about the benefits of each ingredient, and recipes to make delicious food and drinks with each ingredient plus how each ingredient can be made into a beauty product for skin or hair. 

I loved this little pocket book that extols healthy habits in a fun and fresh format.

 

Lemons are a Girl's Best Friend is the perfect gift for tweens and teens. It would be a great alternative to chocolate this Easter.

 

My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Publication date: 30th October 2024

Genre: Non Fiction / Beauty

Pages: 128

RRP: AU$24.99 (hardcover)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

 

Book Review: The Summerfield Saddler by Penelope Janu

Penelope Janu is passionate about the environment and conservation and I love that her stories reflect this passion and also include women that are strong and resilient and swoonworthy males that are respectful and caring.

 

Mackenzie Henry 'Mac' is passionate about continuing her ailing grandfather's fight to have a closed mine site rehabilitated. When he is accepted to make a documentary on the site and the proposed rehabilitation he asks Mac to go in his place. Norwegian conservationist and Antarctic explorer Kit Thorsen will be heading the documentary.

When Mac and Kit first meet after an accident on a film set, Mac's fierce independence and Kit's need to protect form an instant barrier between the two and sparks fly.

Now they must put their own grievances aside and work together. 

 

The Summerfield Saddler is a fabulous story about two very independent people who find they have the same core values however it takes the two of them some time to realise that they don't have to fight against their feelings. This is a heartfelt slow-burn romance with a touch of spice and wonderful descriptions of  Australia's beautiful flora and fauna.

I've enjoyed Janu's previous books and I found The Summerfield Saddler to be another moving and inspiring read.

 

My rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

Publisher: Harlequin Australia

Publication date: 4th December 2024

Genre: Contemporary Fiction / Romance

Pages: 435

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

Book Review: Opal by Patricia Wolf

A DS WALKER THRILLER

 

Opal delves into the high-stakes dog eat dog world of opal mining. 

 

Mark is rumoured to have found a million dollar opal, soon after he is found dead, in bed with his ex business partner's wife. Both have been  brutally murdered.

Is this the work of a jealous husband or someone looking for the rumoured opal?

 When DS Walker arrives in the small outback town to pick up his cousin, Blair, he is immediately pulled into the investigation. Overnight the town becomes isolated by rising flood waters and there is no way out.

 

A town isolated by flood waters, relentless heat and a killer in their midst makes for compelling reading.

 

As DS Walker assists local police the suspect list rises and it appears many in the small town had a grudge against the murdered man. Throw in the mix disgruntled opal miners and a fugitive who doesn't want to be found and Wolf has created a tense and atmospheric read.

 

Each book in the series reads well as a standalone with the major murder investigation wrapped up by the end of the book. However there is also an ongoing story, throughout the three books, with an outlaw motorcycle gang involved in drug manufacture.

 

Even though Opal got a little bogged down at times this dark and gritty police procedural kept me invested until the final breath holding conclusion.

 

I highly recommend all three books to crime readers looking for a new series to delve into. 

 

My rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

Publisher:  Echo Publishing

Publication date: 1st October 2024

Series: DS Walker #3

Genre: Crime / Thriller

Pages: 320

RRP: AU$32.99 (trade paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

Other books in the series

OUTBACK 

PARADISE

Book Review: Australia's Greatest Stories by Graham Seal

 Australia's Greatest Stories wasn't quite the book I was expecting it to be. With a subheading of TrueTales, Legends and Larrikins, I was expecting a book of great Aussie yarns, true stories with a bit of a Banjo Patterson feel. 

Australia's Greatest Stories is more a series of events that formed Australia as we know it today. 

From pre-colonisation to major events in history that formed our nation; the changing face of politics in Australia, the gold rush, the Spanish flu, the great depression, world war two, major inroads by Australian women just to name a few.

 

Graham Seal has written a comprehensive history of Australia including facts and achievements by people who have previously been excluded from our history. 

I found these little known historical events to be quite interesting and at times amusing.

 

The book is not written in chronological order but rather through a series of nine headings with events, stories, poems and images that fit under each heading.

 

Graham Seal adds a very extensive notes section with links to articles to verify his research.

 

Australia's Greatest Stories would be of interest to anyone wanting to know the real Australia and the people behind some of the country's little known events. 

 

My rating 3 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐

 

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Publication date: 1st October 2024

Genre: Non Fiction / History

Pages: 343

RRP: AU$34.99 (trade paperback)

Source: courtesy of the publisher

 

 

Book Review: Endgame by Sarah Barrie

A CHAIN OF MURDERS, A PSYCHOTIC KILLER, A GAME SHE CANNOT WIN.

 

Endgame is the fourth and final book in Sarah Barrie's Lexi Winter series. 

 

I think anyone who has read the first three books in this series can't help but feel empathy and admiration for Lexi. She had an abusive childhood and problematic youth however turned her life around and became a vigilante chasing child abusers and dishing out her own justice until she was employed by the police to use her skills to uncover abusers with the law on her side.

Endgame is another action packed story and the pace is non-stop. Lexi must stop her nemesis, Damon Vaughn, a serial child predator, before more people are killed. Vaughn's mind games are relentless and Lexi starts to second-guess who she can really trust. 

 

Endgame has dual plot-lines of teen rape culture and drug use, and Lexi's chase to stop Vaughn. I was intrigued to see how the two storylines would connect.

There is also a myth about a ghost that haunts the beach causing paranoia to run rife amongst the teens of the town. 

 

Endgame is dark and gritty, a compelling read. I found Lexi wasn't as self-assured and hard hitting as in previous books but it was a fitting ending to the series with all loose ends nicely tied up.

 

The Lexi Winter series is a series that I would recommend be read in order to attain the full benefit of the stories.

 

My rating 3 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐

 

Publisher: Harlequin Australia

Publication date: 13th November 2024

Series: Lexi Winter #4

Genre: Crime / Thriller

Pages: 416

RRP: AU$34.99 (trade paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

Other books in the Lexi Winter Series

UNFORGIVEN

RETRIBUTION 

VENDETTA

 

 

Book Review: Paradise by Patricia Wolf

Paradise is the second instalment in Patricia Wolf's DS Walker Thriller series. Paradise is another riveting crime novel that includes brutal murders and outlaw bikie drug gangs.

 

AFP officer Lucas Walker is in Surfers Paradise on the Queensland coast, on leave to recover from injuries sustained in Outback. He is also under review for putting a huge undercover operation at risk.

 

Lucas once again gets involved in a murder investigation, helping out the overburdened Queensland police force.

 

There is never a dull moment in Paradise! I was pulled into the story right from the prologue and was intrigued to see how Wolf would pull the different plot-lines together.

Characters from the previous book do feature in Paradise however with a bit of backstory included it reads well as a standalone.

 

Wolf combines a compelling mystery with non-stop action and a perfect sense of place with vivid descriptions of the Gold Coast making Paradise a book I found hard to put down. 

The use of colloquial language and Aussie slang plus Walker's longing for his hometown and connection to country give the book a unique Aussie flavour.

I loved Paradise even more than Outback. It is a wonderful follow on for this new series. I'm looking forward to the next book!

My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Publisher: Echo Publishing

Publication date: 17th May 2023

Series: DS Walker #2

Genre: Crime / Thriller

Pages: 357

Source: Own copy

OUTBACK

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

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

 

  

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

Book Review: Out in Nowhere by Fleur McDonald

 Out in Nowhere is the novel where we say goodbye to Detective Dave Burrows, the country detective who wears his heart on his sleeve. Readers have been through much with Dave and it's sad to see him hang up his hat. However, Barker Police Station looks to be in good hands with Constable Mia Worth.

 

Mia really proved she's got what it takes to be a great country cop in Out in Nowhere.

Fleur McDonald knows how to pull her readers into a story and I was fully invested within the first few pages.

A young farmer is found dead at the bottom of a windmill. It is written off as a farming accident by everyone including Dave, but Mia is not so sure and thinks more questioning and more digging needs to be done. I loved Mia's tenacity and drive!

When the deceased's old Uni friends gather for the funeral another of their group is found dead after a terrible accident.

 

With a compelling, tension filled mystery and cliff-hanger chapter endings Out in Nowhere is a book I found impossible to put down. I read it in one day.

 

Fleur McDonald writes about the hardships, remoteness and isolation of rural life with an authentic rural voice.

Out in Nowhere is a fitting, suspense filled ending to the Det Dave Burrows series.

 

My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Publication date: 29th October 2024

Genre: Crime / Mystery / Suspense

Pages: 336

RRP: AU$32.99 (paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher 

 

Other books I've read by Fleur McDonald

RED DUST

THE SHEARER"S WIFE 

BROAD RIVER STATION

VOICES IN THE DARK 

INTO THE NIGHT

DECEPTION CREEK 

WITHOUT A DOUBT

RED DIRT COUNTRY 

SOMETHING TO HIDE 

RISING DUST

SHOCK WAVES 

 

Book Review: Kookaburra Cottage by Maya Linnell

Kookaburra Cottage is set in the wine region of rural South Australia. I love that Maya Linnell showcases different types of agriculture in her books, such as wineries, horticulture and floriculture.

 

April Lacey is a horticulturist and her produce wins many awards at the local Penwarra Show each year. Her father owns and runs the Lacewing Estate winery.

April hopes to bring the tired looking winery up to date but is facing resistance from her father. She decides to start on the old cottage turning it into a B&B.

Connor Jamison has arrived from England to learn all he can from Australian wine makers and secures a job at Lacewing Estate.

 

Kookaburra Cottage is a gorgeous heart-warming story filled with the most fabulous characters. I loved the fun of the baking disasters and the cooking classes taken by April and Connor. The lead up to the Penwarra Show and all the events of the day were a delightful part of the story.

 

There are ups and downs for April and Connor to work through and a disastrous event that has everyone pitching in to help out.

Both April and Connor have old hurts to overcome. Can they let go of their past to start over again?

 

Kookaburra Cottage is a heart-warming story filled with sweet country charm, perfect to sit back, relax and immerse yourself in rural South Australia's wine country.

Kookaburra Cottage would have to be my favourite of all Maya Linnell's novels.

 

My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Publication date: 1st January 2023

Genre: Contemporary Fiction / Rural Romance

Pages: 376

Source: Own Copy

 

Other books by Maya Linnell

PAPERBARK HILL

MAGPIE'S BEND

BOTTLEBRUSH CREEK 

WALLABY LANE

 

 

Book Review: Paperbark Hill by Maya Linnell

Paperbark Hill is Maya Linnell's fourth novel featuring the McIntyre sisters Lara, Diana, Penny and Angie. 

 

Paperbark Hill is Diana's story. Two years on from her husband's tragic death from an accident Diana is realising her dream of growing dahlias on a commercial level whilst also caring for her four young sons.

 

Ned Gardiner and his two children are off to their next stop for Ned's locum work as a pharmacist when he gets a call that his father has died. Putting his job on hold he returns to the family farm to sort out his father's affairs.

 

Paperbark Hill is such a fun story. I loved Diana! She is bubbly and confident, speaks her mind and is not afraid to ask for help.

Ned and Diana both have tragedy in their past and whilst Ned needs to reconcile with his mother and forgive the past, Diana is wracked with feelings of betrayal when she thinks about spending time with Ned. She also must deal with her eldest son's antagonism toward Ned as he feels he will take his father's place.

Paperbark Hill is not only Diana's story but a story about the whole community and how they come together and help each other.

 

Maya Linnell's sweet, slow-burn romance reads are very realistic. Spend a country Christmas with the McIntyre clan. I enjoyed being back with Diana, Lara, Penny and Angie. 

 

My rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Publication date: 31st May 2022

Genre: Contemporary Fiction / Rural Romance

Pages: 384 

Source: Courtesy of the publisher