Book Review & Giveaway: Crows Nest by Nikki Mottram

Crows Nest

by

Nikki Mottram

A Dana Gibson Mystery 

 

Publisher: University of Queensland Press

Publication date: 31st January 2023

 

Genre: Crime / Rural

 

Pages: 320

 

Source: Courtesy of the publisher via DMCPR 

 

My review of Crows Nest

Crows Nest is a compelling rural crime debut from Nikki Mottram placing her firmly on the list of notable Australian crime writers.

  

I was pulled into the story right from the start. Dana Gibson is a relatable, flawed character. She has had a few life altering dramas and instead of facing her demons she decides to flee from Sydney to Toowoomba. 

 

Dana is a community services worker, well respected in Sydney, but she has to prove herself before she is trusted in this small country town.

I really connected with Dana. She acts on impulse, often regretting her actions later. She is quick to snap and slow to open-up which makes people wary of her.

 

Crows Nest is a police procedural with a different twist. Not happy with the way the police are handling the murder investigation Dana starts her own investigation, evidence board and all. I loved Dana’s little side-kick and mini sleuth Angus, her 11 year-old neighbour. He was a clever little thing and had a sad story of his own.

Crows Nest has themes of dysfunctional families, small town secrets and lack of resources for community workers

Nikki Mottram has written a clever mystery deeply rooted in its small town setting.

 

I am looking forward to the second book, Killarney.

 

My rating  5/5   ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

About the author 

Nikki Mottram writes crime fiction and has a background in child protection. She has a psychology degree from University of Queensland and has worked in London and Australia in positions protecting and promoting the welfare of children at risk of harm. She has been published in the Boroondara Literary Awards anthology and shortlisted for the Fish Short Story Prize and the Hal Porter Short Story Competition. In 2018, she was the recipient of a Katharine Susannah Pritchard Writers' Centre Fellowship. She grew up and resides in Toowoomba, and brings to her work an understanding of rural communities.

Giveaway

Thanks to DMCPR and University of Queensland Press I have one paperback copy to give away. Entry is via the form below. Entries close at 6pm AEDT on 18th February 2023.

 

This giveaway is now closed and the winner was announced HERE

Book Review: The Journey by James Norbury

The Journey

by

James Norbury

Big Panda and Tiny Dragon 

 

Publisher: Penguin Australia

Imprint: Michael Joseph

 

Publication date: 18th October 2022 

 

Pages: 160

 

RRP: $35.00AU Hardcover

 

Source: Beauty & Lace Book Club

 

The following review appeared first on Beauty & Lace Book Club 

 

My review of The Journey: Big Panda and Tiny Dragon

This is the perfect book if you are having a bit of self doubt or wondering where you are heading in life. James Norbury has used Buddhist philosophies as Big Panda guides Tiny Dragon through some of life's trying moments. Having a friend by your side makes change just that little bit easier.

My granddaughter grabbed this book and read it as soon as it arrived. She loved the enchanting story about Panda and his best friend Dragon.

The Journey is not aimed at one particular age group, its appeal is all-inclusive.

For children it's an exciting adventure story. For adults it is a story of friendship, overcoming adversity, being in the moment, acceptance, gratitude and weathering life's storms.

The Journey is a beautiful book that would make a precious gift for both child and adult. Charmingly presented in hardcover with gold foil features and a ribbon bookmark. The illustrations move from black and white sketches to colour water washes to tie in with the mood of the story.

This is the second book in the Big Panda and Tiny Dragon series and I'm eager to get the first.

My rating 5/5  🐼🐉🐼🐉🐼

 

 

Book Review: Broad River Station by Fleur McDonald

 Broad River Station

by

Fleur McDonald

Broad River Station is Fleur McDonald's 20th Novel and a ripper of a read! 

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Publication date: 1st November 2022

Genre: Contemporary/Rural/Crime

Pages: 368 

RRP: $29.99 Paperback

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

My review of Broad River Station

Broad River Station is another engrossing, rural set, police procedural from Fleur McDonald.

 

Wanting to be near her elderly grandmother, newly graduated police officer Mia Worth has moved to Broad River and is about to start at her first station as the only female with five male police officers.

Mia is treated as a liability, not only because she is a female but also a rookie.

I love how Fleur writes strong female characters in male dominated roles and we see them push ahead through prejudice and adversity.

 

A few different plot lines are introduced in Broad River Station, all relevant to rural communities; Mia's grandmother has dementia but in moments of lucidity she alludes to a mystery surrounding Mia's father, an organic farmer's crop is sabotaged and a young child goes missing.

 

I enjoyed getting to know Mia and how she fits into Broad River and nearby Burra. Det Dave Burrows is a secondary character but it was nice to have some familiar faces pop in with Dave and Kim, Jack and Zara. I love how Dave gives advice to both Jack and Mia and encourages them in their jobs, just like Bob did with Dave when he was younger.

 

Broad River Station is another fantastic read from Fleur McDonald. If you haven't yet gotten into Fleur's books, what are you waiting for!!!

 

Rural crime at its best. Fleur knows farming and the rural setting and it's evident in her stories.  

 

My rating 5 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

About the author

 

Fleur McDonald has lived and worked on farms for much of her life. After growing up in the small town of Orroroo in South Australia, she went jillarooing, eventually co-owning an 8000-acre property in regional Western Australia.

Fleur likes to write about strong women overcoming adversity, drawing inspiration from her own experience in rural Australia. She has two children and an energetic kelpie.

 

 Other books I've reviewed by Fleur McDonald

Without a Doubt 

Something to Hide 

The Shearer's Wife 

Rising Dust 

Red Dust 

Red Dirt Country 

Deception Creek 

 

Book Review: The Work Wives by Rachael Johns

The Work Wives

by

Rachael Johns

Publisher: Harlequin Australia

 

Publication date: 3rd November 2022

 

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

 

Pages: 528

 

RRP: $32.99 Paperback

 

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

My review of The Work Wives

The Work Wives is narrated through three very different, yet connected, women. Debra, a single mum in her early 40's, Quinn, a 27 year old dating app addict and Ramona, Debra's 15 year old daughter.

 

Debra and Quinn work together and are best friends. 

When the tall and handsome new Director of Sales is introduced Quinn is instantly keen to get to know him better, only Debra already knows him, they have history.

 

Being a SAHM for decades now I'd never heard the term 'work wives' but I enjoyed the pair's work antics with emails and meet-ups in the photocopy room. I liked that Johns included an age-gap friendship between Debra and Quinn and how they encouraged each other to do things differently. But it wasn't all plain sailing between them, there was also plenty of friction which kept the story interesting. I also enjoyed the generational friendship between Quinn and her elderly neighbour. Quinn really was an exceptional character, young and full of life but also caring and a little lost.

 

With themes of romance, misogyny, bullying, teenage dramas, cancel culture, gaslighting, friendship and social media Rachael Johns has packed a lot of drama into The Work Wives. It's a long book but it moves along at a fast pace.

It might come across as a little contrived but I loved it anyway and couldn't put it down, reading late into the night.

My only let down was the plot twist - I may have even groaned.

I loved that it was set in my home town of Sydney, with lots of local landmarks, and I think Rachael did a fabulous job of the setting. 

My rating 4 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐⭐

About the author

Rachael Johns is an English teacher by trade, a mum 24/7, a Diet Coke addict, a cat lover and chronic arachnophobe. She is also the bestselling, ABIA-winning author of The Patterson Girls and a number of other romance and women's fiction books including The Art of Keeping Secrets, The Greatest Gift, Lost Without You, Just One Wish, Something to Talk About, Flying the Nest and How to Mend a Broken Heart. Rachael rarely sleeps, never irons and loves nothing more than sitting in bed with her laptop and imagining her own stories. She is currently Australia's leading writer of contemporary relationship stories around women's issues, a genre she has coined 'life-lit'. Rachael lives in the Swan Valley with her hyperactive husband, three mostly gorgeous heroes-in-training, two ravenous cats, a cantankerous bird and a very badly behaved dog.Rachael loves to hear from readers and can be contacted via her website rachaeljohns.com. She is also on Facebook and Instagram.

 

Guest Book Review: Why Do Birds Do That? by Dr Grainne Cleary

 Why Do Birds Do That?

by

Dr Grainne Cleary

Over fifty answers to the most often asked questions.

 

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Publication date: 5th October 2022

 

Genre: Non Fiction / Wildlife

 

Pages: 288

 

RRP: $32.99AUD Paperback

 

Source: Won in a competition

 

Guest review of Why Do Birds Do That?

I was so happy to win this book in a competition because I knew of two young avid bird enthusiasts who would be fascinated by the facts and information found within. 

 

The book was shared between the cousins and here is what they thought of it...

 

Dom, 13

I enjoyed reading the book as I am crazy about birds. I like the way the book was written with the questions and then the answer was given in the first two lines. I really liked how it gave me extra information on the bird behaviour.

 

Owen, 13

It was a good book for anyone interested in birds. I liked the book because it answers common questions on birds. I liked the way the book was written with questions and answers, and it was easy to read.

 

 

 

Dom and Owen enjoy going bird watching and talking about birds. They have attended bird watching events with local bird observers club. 

Thank you Dom and Owen for your reviews. I am pleased you both enjoyed the book.

 

About the book

For thousands of years birds have fascinated us. We've observed what they do - their behaviours, their characteristics, their survival skills, the food they eat and their habitats - and wondered why they do it.


Why Do Birds Do That? answers many of these often-asked questions, such as: Why do birds sing in the mornings? Why are some birds so colourful and others are not? Why do starlings form murmurations? Why do birds have 3 eyelids? and Why do birds attack their own reflections?

In an easy-to-find question & answer format, Why Do Birds Do That? provides fascinating and comprehensive information about the birds we watch every day.

If you have ever wondered why birds behave as they do, you will find the answers in this book.

 

About the author

 

Dr Grainne Cleary received her PhD from Trinity College, Dublin. She has lived and worked in Australia for many years where citizen science became a passion. Grainne has been a Research Fellow at Deakin University and has also worked at Sydney University, Taronga Park Zoo and National Parks & Wildlife NSW.

Grainne, author of Your Backyard Birds, is an enthusiastic communicator about birds and their habits. She is often sought for radio interviews, q&a segments and television to discuss topical birding news.

Recommended for all bird enthusiasts.

 

 

 

 

 

Book Review: The Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi

 The Kaiju Preservation Society

by

John Scalzi

Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia

Imprint: Tor

Publication date: 29th March 2022

Genre: Science Fiction

Pages: 264

RRP: $32.99AUD Paperback

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 My review of The Kaiju Preservation Society

I have to start this review with an admission. I had no idea what a Kaiju was!! It's clearly evident that I am not an avid science fiction fan. That being said, I really enjoyed this book; it was a lot of fun.

 

The story opens on the cusp of the COVID pandemic and after losing his job at a tech start-up company Jamie takes a job as a food delivery person. One of the customers offers Jamie a job at an animal rights organisation working in the field to protect and preserve large animals. What he doesn't tell Jamie is the animals the team care for are not here on Earth.

 

The story that follows is filled with humour as Jamie and the rest of the team, who mostly have PHD's in biology, geology or physics, go about studying the Kaiju. Jamie seems to be there as general dogsbody and comic relief. He is quick with the sarcasm and doesn't take himself too seriously. Jamie is a very likeable main character.

The parallel Earth was all well explained and very simplistic in it's execution. The Kaijus and their biological makeup, nuclear energy and whole ecosystem is pure escapism and I couldn't get enough of them.

I loved the banter between the team it was a lot of lighthearted fun with plenty of schoolyard humour. 

There was never any real sense of danger even though the characters did encounter potentially dangerous situations. This, combined with the level of humour, made me think the book was more for the young adult audience rather then the die-hard Sci/Fi fan.

 

recommended for 13 - 16 years (and those just wanting a bit of fun)

 

 

My rating  4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

 

About the author

 

John Scalzi is one of the most popular and acclaimed SF authors to emerge in the last decade. His debut, Old Man’s War, won him science fiction’s John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer. His New York Times bestsellers include The Last Colony, Fuzzy Nation, The End of All Things and Redshirts, which won 2013’s Hugo Award for Best Novel. Material from his widely read blog Whatever has also earned him two other Hugo Awards. He lives in Ohio with his wife and daughter.  

Book Review: Shelter From the Storm by Penelope Janu

 Shelter From the Storm

by

Penelope Janu

When Patience Cartwright is stranded in her home town, the last thing she expects is a second chance at love.... 

 

Publisher: Harlequin Australia

 

Publication date: 4th January 2023

 

Genre: Contemporary Fiction / Romance

 

Pages: 448

 

RRP: $29.99AUD paperback

 

Source: Better Reading Preview

 

My review of Shelter From the Storm 

Patience Cartwright’s life is the Navy, all she wants is to be at sea. A clash with her superiors sees her with the choice of either leaving the Navy forever or accepting a secondment to work with a group of environmentalists on a national project.

There is only one problem, Hugo Halstead, the man who broke her heart years ago is head biologist on the team.
 

I love how Penelope Janu has delivered a story about the environment and biodiversity that is wonderfully informative and blended it with a heartfelt romance. In Shelter From the Storm Janu effortlessly weaves vivid descriptions of the countryside and local bird-life into the narrative.
 

Patience is a delightful character, smart and stubborn but also vulnerable. She is a character you will warm to right from the beginning. Patience excels at all things mathematical and she uses maths as a coping mechanism to calm herself by counting and doing equations and calculations in her head. I enjoyed this side of Patience because calculus has always fascinated me and I love anything numbers.
 

In Shelter From the Storm Penelope Janu touches on subjects such as occupational sexism, child abuse, PTSD, environmental issues and biodiversity. I loved all the information on frogs and it’s easy to see this is a topic dear to the author.
 

I totally enjoyed Shelter From the Storm brimming with secrets, twists and a heartwarming romance. It is a captivating story about breaking down walls, overcoming past hurts and moving on with your life.

 

My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

About the author

Penelope Janu lives on the coast in Northern Sydney with a distracting husband, a very large dog and, now they are fully grown, six delightful children who come and go. Penelope has a passion for creating stories that explore social and environmental issues, but her novels are fundamentally a celebration of Australian characters and communities. Penelope enjoys riding horses, exploring the Australian countryside and dreaming of challenging hiking adventures. Nothing makes her happier as a writer than readers falling in love with her clever, complex and adventurous heroines and heroes.

 

Other books I've read by Penelope Janu.

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