Book Review: The Long Road Home by Fiona McCallum

The Long Road Home

by

Fiona McCallum

Publisher: Harper Collins Australia 
Imprint: HQ Fiction
Publication date: 23rd March 2020
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Pages: 412
RRP: $32.99 AUD
Format read: Trade paperback
Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 Alice Hamilton is enjoying her new life in Ballarat with the freedom to explore her future now she's stepped away from the constraints of her upbringing. She's learnt the hard way that knowledge is power, and is looking forward to her legal studies, then making a difference as a lawyer with heart.

But whilst Alice's life is looking up, back in Hope Springs the world of her former husband Rick Peterson is unravelling. After a chance meeting a few months earlier, Rick and Alice have reconnected. And it's fortunate they have, because Rick is about to need Alice's friendship like he's never needed it before.

Rick has always felt a bit lost - as a farmer, he could never admit he didn't feel the deep connection to the land that the only son and third generation farmer should. And now he's suddenly being forced to come to terms with just why his heart isn't in it and what's behind his fractured relationships. Has his whole life been a lie - and if so, where did that lie begin?

The Long Road Home follows on from A Life of Her Own and whereas this story stands alone you will want to read the previous story about Alice’s struggle to achieve a life away from her emotionally abusive family.

I know in the first book I found it hard to connect with Alice as a lot of the story was centred around her negative thoughts.

“At the end of the day, Alice, we’re responsible for our own happiness and wellbeing. Once you realise that, life becomes a lot easier to manage.”

Now Alice has moved away from her family and started to do more of what pleases her she has become more aware of how negative she was and has striven to turn this around. I applaud Alice for this as it must have been hard. But you can see the difference it made when she smiled more, laughed more.

This story is not only about Alice’s road to self discovery. When her ex-husband Rick needs a shoulder to lean on after a death in the family Alice is there for him. Rick’s story is heart-felt. As explosive secrets are uncovered he finds he has no-one to turn to in his hometown of Hope Springs and is heartily welcomed into Alice’s new circle of friends in Ballarat.

I loved the mystery surrounding Rick and how Alice and Rick slowly uncovered the details. It was shock after shock and I was eagerly invested in finding out the final outcome.

The Long Road Home is an emotional story of self discovery, long held secrets and finding your true calling from one of Australia’s much loved novelists.

My rating  4/5   ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Fiona McCallum was raised on a cereal and wool farm near Cleve on South Australia's Eyre Peninsula and remained in the area until her mid-twenties, during which time she married and separated. She then moved to Melbourne and on to Sydney a few years later.

An avid reader and writer, Fiona returned to full-time study as a mature-age student and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in professional writing and editing and a second major in history in 2000. She then began a consultancy providing writing and editing services to the corporate sector. While studying, and then working, Fiona found herself drawn to writing fiction where her keen observation of people and their everyday lives could be combined with her love of storytelling.
Now a full-time novelist, Fiona writes heart-warming stories that draw on her rich and contrasting life experiences, love of animals and fascination with human nature. Her first novel, Paycheque, was published in 2011 and became a bestseller. In the nine years since, Fiona has written another ten bestselling novels: Nowhere Else, Wattle Creek, Saving Grace, Time Will Tell, Meant To Be, Leap of Faith, Standing Strong, Finding Hannah, Making Peace and A Life of Her Own. The Long Road Home is Fiona's twelfth novel.
Fiona currently resides in suburban Adelaide.

Click on the book cover to read my review:

This review is part of the Book Lover Book Review Aussie Author Challenge  and the Australian Women Writers challenge

 

 

Book Review: The Year That Changed Everything by Cathy Kelly

The Year That Changed Everything

by

Cathy Kelly

Publisher: Hachette Australia 
Publication date: 27th February 2018
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Pages: 320
RRP: $29.99AUD
Format read: Trade paperback
Source: Own read

Three women celebrate their birthdays . . . 30. 40. 50. But their milestone birthdays marks the start of a year that will change everything . . .

Ginger isn't spending her 30th the way she would have planned. Tonight might be the first night of the rest of her life - or a total disaster.

Sam is finally pregnant after years of trying. When her waters break on the morning of her 40th birthday, she panics: forget labour, how is she going to be a mother?

Callie is celebrating her 50th at a big party in her Dublin home. Then a knock at the door mid-party turns her perfect life upside down . . .



 

It’s Callie’s 50^th Birthday. The day her whole life will implode and she, and her rebellious 14 year old daughter, will need to completely reassess their lives.

It is also Sam’s 40^th Birthday. A day that will see all Sam’s dreams come true but will also open up every insecurity she has ever felt.

Ginger should be celebrating her 30^th Birthday but instead she is attending best friend Liza’s wedding. She really doesn’t mind, her birthday can wait and there is a cute guy that has been very attentive. A chance overheard conversation has Ginger’s whole idea of friendship, and her own self image, shattered.

Told in alternating point of view of Callie, Sam and Ginger. Three complete strangers all sharing the same birthday and all found their lives changed forever in The Year That Changed Everything.

This is not only a story of how these three women fell apart and slowly rebuilt their lives and their confidence but also about family and finding true friendship where you least expect it. Each of the women, in their time of need, were supported by loving family.

I really enjoyed each woman’s journey and the anticipation of how they were going to meet but it is hard not to connect more with one character than another and Ginger was definitely my favourite.

We see, through Ginger, that body image is a real threat to someone’s self esteem and viscous comments by people posing as friends can reinforce this but when she has supportive people around her Ginger’s confidence soared.

There were also many wonderful supporting characters that were there to provide comfort, humour and even a love interest throughout the book.

The Year That Changed Everything is a feel good story of self discovery.

My rating  4/5    ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Photo credit; Goodreads

Cathy Kelly is published around the world, with millions of books in print. Cathy is the bestselling author of THE HONEY QUEEN, ONCE IN A LIFETIME, BETWEEN SISTERS and THE YEAR THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING, and is a No.1 bestseller in the UK, Ireland and Australia. Her trademark is warm and witty Irish storytelling about modern life, always with an uplifting message, a sense of community and strong female characters at the heart.
She lives with her family and their three dogs in County Wicklow, Ireland. She is also an Ambassador for UNICEF Ireland, raising funds and awareness for children orphaned by or living with HIV/AIDS.

 

 

Book Bingo - Round 4: A Prize Winning Book #BookBingo2020

How it Feels to Float by Helena Fox

This week I have chosen the category 'A prize Winning Book'.

The book I have chosen for this category is 'How it Feels to Float'.

 

WINNER OF THE VICTORIAN PREMIER'S AWARD PRIZE FOR WRITING FOR YOUNG ADULTS 2020

 

How it Feels to Float has also been longlisted and shortlisted for other notable awards.

 

SHORTLISTED FOR THE GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY YOUNG ADULT BOOK AWARD 2019
SHORTLISTED FOR THE NSW PREMIER'S LITERARY AWARDS ETHEL TURNER PRIZE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE'S LITERATURE 2020
SHOTLISTED FOR THE CBCA BOOK OF THE YEAR FOR OLDER READERS 2020
LONGLISTED FOR ABIA BOOK OF THE YEAR FOR OLDER CHILDREN 2020
LONGLISTED FOR THE INDIE BOOK AWARD FOR YOUNG ADULT FICTION 2020  

 

You can read my review here 

 

__________________________________________

 

 Book Bingo is a reading challenge hosted by Theresa Smith Writes , Mrs B’s Book Reviews and The Book Muse. The second Saturday of each month book bingo participants reveal which bingo category they have read and what book they chose.   

#BookBingo2020 

 

 

10 Books to help you stay optimistic and motivated

STAY IN PLACE

 

The wonderful and well read people at Pan Macmillan Australia have compiled a list of books to help us Stay at Home and stay optimistic and motivated in this time of uncertainty. 

Below, is a list of works by some of Pan Macmillan’s most brilliant minds to help you navigate the coming months. 

Whether you’re looking to learn a new skill, seeking guidance around mental health, or simply looking for a distraction, there is a book for you. 

  

STAY...WELL FED FOR LESS

 

SIMPLICIOUS FLOW
Sarah Wilson  In Simplicious Flow, Sarah blends the kitchen wisdom of generations past with her own stunningly fresh vision of how to be a conductor of good health and zero waste for every single meal you make.

 

STAY...CREATIVE IN THE KITCHEN 

 OSTRO

Julia Busuttil Nishimura 

Simple, delicious, generous food for every day, from salads and roasts to handmade pasta and pizza to simple bakes and show-stopping desserts all from the creator of inspirational website and Instagram feed, Ostro.

STAY...ECO

  A FAMILY GUIDE TO WASTE-FREE LIVING
Lauren and Oberon Carter

A Family Guide to Waste-free Living makes it simple and sustainable for families to eliminate waste in the home, at work and out in the world. This is a practical and inspiring resource for anyone wanting to live more sustainably.

STAY...AN ACTIVIST 

2040: A HANDBOOK FOR THE REGENERATION
Damon Gameau
Based on Damon Gameau's 2019 documentary, 2040: A Handbook for the Regeneration is a practical manual that provides you and your family with the tools and inspiration to live a more sustainable life - NOW. 

 STAY...HEALTHY 

HEAL
Pete Evans
So many of us are looking for practical changes we can make to nourish our body, be more active and find meaningful connection - ways to be stronger, happier and healthier, in a fast-paced world.  

STAY...SELF SUFFICIENT 

 THIS CHICKEN LIFE

Fiona Scott-Norman & Ilana Rose
A heart-warming celebration of chickens and the Australians who love them, featuring striking photography and stories that will move, delight and inspire you.

 

STAY...STRESS FREE

STRESSLESS
Matthew Johnson & Michael Player Fully illustrated, easy to follow and based on the latest medical science, StressLess is your go-to guide to identify and reduce your own stress and help others do the same.

 

STAY...PHILOSOPHICAL 

THE SUBTLE ART OF NOT GIVING A F*CK
Mark Manson In this generation-defining self-help guide, a superstar blogger cuts through the crap to show us how to stop trying to be "positive" all the time so that we can truly become better, happier people.

  

STAY...SANE

FIRST, WE MAKE THE BEAST BEAUTIFUL
Sarah Wilson Practical and poetic, wise and funny, this is a small book with a big heart. It will encourage the myriad sufferers of the world's most common mental illness to feel not just better about their condition, but delighted by the possibilities it offers for a richer, fuller life.

 

STAY...CONNECTED

 FAMILY, FOOD & FEELINGS
Kate Berry
Family, Food and Feelings charts the ebb and flow of family life around the four school terms, with recipes, activities and stories to keep you inspired throughout the year.

 Thank you to Pan Macmillan Australia for the above recommendations.

 

 

 

The Winners of a copy of Red Dirt Country announced

Once again I would like to thank everyone who entered my giveaway for a copy of Red Dirt Country . The giveaway closed on the 8th April and the winners were randomly selected (using Random org) from all correct entries. 



Congratulations to.....    Michelle P & Gloria A

Please see my Giveaway tab for more chances to win great books.

Book Review: The Cobra Queen by Tara Moss

The Cobra Queen

by

Tara Moss

Publisher: Echo Publishing 
Publication date: 3rd March 2020
Series: Pandora English #4
Genre: Young Adult / Paranormal
Pages: 298
RRP: $29.99 AUD
Format read: Paperback
Source: Courtesy of the publisher

In the months since Pandora English left the small town of Gretchenville to live with her mysterious great aunt in a supernatural Manhattan suburb, her whole world has been turned upside down.

Pandora has discovered she is the chosen one, the Seventh Daughter of a Seventh Daughter, and during the impending Revolution of the Dead, she alone will have the power to save all life as we know it. The Agitation is unfolding, building towards the Revolution, and Pandora can no longer deny the truth in these incredible prophecies. But what will she do when the moment comes? How can she stand against the army of the dead?

Pandora’s relationship to her spirit guide, Lieutenant Luke, is intensifying. She’s had to grapple with ghosts, vampires and necromancers. Now, with the Blue Moon approaching and a new exhibition opening at The Met, which celebrates an ancient female pharaoh done wrong in antiquity, powerful forces threaten to upend the balance of life and death. Pandora is given the chance to find out what happened to her parents all those years ago, but first she must put her own supernatural gifts to the test.  

I don’t do paranormal or vampires but seeing as this was sent to me as a review request I thought I would give it a go.

First of all it’s the fourth book in the Pandora English series so I wasn’t sure if I would find myself totally confused. I’m happy to say it was really easy to follow the story even though I hadn’t read the first three books.

Pandora works for fashion magazine, Pandora in her human life. She state the name similarity is purely coincidental. However Pandora English is also The Seventh, chosen to save all humankind against the rise of the undead. Pandora’s two worlds are distinctly separate in this book and her thoughts and fears are still mostly human. She hasn’t fully accepted her role as The Seventh although she has accepted the other world and its inhabitants. We follow Pandora as she navigates both worlds, somewhat awkwardly at times.

I enjoyed the character of Pandora. She was a bit scared about this whole saving the world scenario and even a little reticent. These are traits I like in a ‘chosen one' as it makes the story more realistic and we get to see more character growth.

I loved all the history, myths and legends of Ancient Egypt.

I did enjoy the story and Pandora was very likeable. I couldn’t quite do the ghosts and the sanguine/vampires and yes, the book gave me nightmares. Thank you Tara Moss.

Readers who devour paranormal will love this series.

My rating 4/5          ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

Tara Moss is an author, novelist, documentary maker and presenter, speaker and human rights advocate. Since 1999 she has written 11 bestselling books, published in 19 countries and 13 languages, including the acclaimed Mak Vanderwall crime fiction series and Pandora English paranormal series. Her first non-fiction book, the critically acclaimed The Fictional Woman, was published in 2014 and became a number one national non-fiction bestseller, and her iconic cover design, featuring her face labeled with ‘fictions’ or stereotypes about women won Best Non-Fiction Book Design. She is PhD Candidate at the University of Sydney and has earned her private investigator credentials (Cert III) from the Australian Security Academy.

This review is part of the Book Lover Book Review Aussie Author Challenge  and the Australian Women Writers challenge