Monday 12 July 2021
Mailbox Monday - 12th July 2021
Thursday 8 July 2021
Spotlight: Red Earth Diaries by Jason Rebello
Their intention was to learn about the country and its people first-hand ... a land they would someday call home.
Swimming with sharks, cuddling cute koalas, chartering private helicopters, venturing deep into ancient rainforests, and getting to know plenty of locals – the couple had incredible experiences in this stunning country.
Their travel story is interwoven with snippets of history and provides the reader with a glimpse of Australia as viewed through the eyes of newly arrived migrants.
Join Jason and Ambika on their spectacular journey of discovery.
'Red Earth Diaries' is founded on four primary pillars: a migrant’s journal, a travelogue, a glimpse into Australian history, and an inspirational tale. The central message of the book is for everyone to chase their dreams - however distant and impossible they may seem.
Jason, with his wife and two children, is now settled in Australia.
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TheEvolvingBackpacker
Author Website - www.evolvingwordsmith.com
Monday 28 June 2021
Book Review: Good Indian Daughter by Ruhi Lee
So Ruhi sets herself a mission to deal with the potholes in her past before her baby is born. Delving into her youth in suburban Melbourne, she draws a heartrending yet often hilarious picture of a family in crisis, struggling to connect across generational, cultural and personal divides.
Sifting through her own shattered self-esteem, Ruhi confronts the abuse threaded through her childhood. How can she hold on to the family and culture she has known and loved her whole life, when they are the reason for her scars?
Ruhi Lee writes with candour and humour. Her memoir, written as she awaits the birth of her first child, is a journey into a life lived with an underlying guilt for not being the daughter her parents had envisaged.
Good Indian Daughter is an engaging read. with Ruhi Lee’s relaxed style of writing I found myself fully immersed in her story. Many areas of Ruhi’s story will resonate with readers, even those not of Indian descent.
Ruhi Lee is a strong voice for girls and women everywhere who are being subjugated and unheard. She speaks openly on bullying, body image problems, religion, misguided advice, depression, anxiety, racism and abuse.
Reading Ruhi’s story made me sad, angry and overwhelmed but Ruhi’s humour throughout also gave me a few laughs which lightened, although didn’t lessen, the overall feel of the book.
Good Indian Daughter is a brave and open story of shedding the guilt and living your own life.
4 / 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Challenges entered: Australian Women Writers Challenge #AWW2021
Friday 25 June 2021
Book Review: Take Me Home by Karly Lane
Then Gran's will is read and everything changes.
It seems simple: a road trip across Scotland, a country Gran loved, to locate the family castle; meet some long lost cousins; oh, and work out what she wants to do with the rest of her life before returning home. Not a problem.
That is unless the family castle is a ruin that has pretty much been lost in time; the family Elle has never met seem to be hiding a mysterious secret; her over-achieving parents are breathing down her neck, and she's running out of time to make a decision about her future.
Take Me Home is a glorious lesson in life, love and finding your true destiny.
Karly Lane has long been one of my favourite authors with her romance novels set in rural Australia.
With Take Me Home, inspired by her own ancestry, Karly Lane has written her first contemporary novel which moves from Australia to the Scottish Highlands.
Elle’s much loved grandmother dies with the bucket-list they had compiled together, unfulfilled. Homebody Elle was comfortable in the small rural town she had grown up in and her job in the local supermarket, even if her lack of ambition was a bone of contention with her mother. However after the reading of her grandmother’s will that requests Elle take the trip to Scotland and visit the castle that Iona had loved as a child and scatter her ashes there Elle gets to live the dream her and her gran had never quite got around to doing.
Take Me Home was such a fun read. Elle was very easy to connect with and I adored Elle and her gran’s relationship. Even though we read about it after Iona’s death we can clearly see how close they were. I just loved Iona’s determination and spark, she had a great sense of humour.
I enjoyed the armchair travel through Scotland to all the tourist spot and the little snippets of history about the places. I also loved the Outlander tie in.
Karly Lane has added a cheeky paranormal element in the story and a tiny touch of magical realism or maybe that was just Elle’s imagination. You decide.
Take Me Home is a story of self discovery as Elle meets her Scottish family, including her arty cousin, she feels right at home. She can now see where not only her looks come from but also her artistic talent.
A Scottish castle, a legend, a prophecy, family secrets and a fledgling romance made Take Me Home a story I did not want to end.
Karly Lane has proven herself time and time again in the rural romance genre and now she has smashed the contemporary fiction genre with Take Me Home.
5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
About the author
Karly Lane lives on the mid north coast of New South Wales. Proud mum to four children and wife of one very patient mechanic, she is lucky enough to spend her day doing the two things she loves most - being a mum and writing stories set in beautiful rural Australia. Take Me Home is her first book set beyond the rural Australian landscape.
This review first appeared on the Beauty & Lace website
Challenges entered: Australian Women Writers Challenge #AWW2021
Wednesday 23 June 2021
Book Review: Dinosaur Snap and Dinosaur Flap by Jeanne Willis & Peter Curtis
Each book features one dinosaur highlighting their unique features and personality.
Dinosaur Flap is in a flap. She can’t relax, worried about her eggs being trampled. She scares away Stomp and Bash when they venture near but Honk with her loud honking would make a good guard so Flap asked her to stay and sound an alarm when someone comes near. Now Flap can get some much needed sleep.
Dinosaur Snap is fierce with a big snapping jaw. Whack has his spiky tail to protect him and Whizz is so fast Snap can’t catch him. Snap thinks little Squeak would make a tasty treat but Roar is always there to protect his little friend.
Other dinosaurs in the series pop in and out of each story, sometimes helping and sometimes causing havoc.
Jay loves these books and we have read them over and over. When the next two in the series arrived he let out a squeal of delight. We have since purchased a couple more in the series and have our eye on the next ones we want to buy. Yes, WE! I enjoy these stories too. So much fun!
I like how each dinosaur has a name that relates to their personality. They are like a little community. Jay can name them all and points them out as they appear in each other’s books.
We have always been big fans of Dinosaur Roar and Ten Terrible Dinosaurs and this new collection adds to the delight by naming the dinosaurs and giving them personalities.
The front of each book has the correct pronunciation of the dinosaurs scientific name. Which is very helpful as some are quite a mouthful. The rear of the book points out specific features of that dinosaur.
With bright illustrations and rhyming text these board books are sure to appeal to little dinosaur enthusiasts and their parents.
5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thursday 17 June 2021
Book Review: Digging Up Dirt by Pamela Hart
Unfortunately, 'help' comes in the form of Dr Julieanne Weaver, archaeologist, political hopeful, and Poppy's old enemy. She declares the bones evidence of a rare breed of fat-tailed sheep, and slaps a heritage order on the site. The resultant archaeological dig introduces Poppy to Tol Lang, the best-looking archaeologist she's ever met - and also Julieanne's boyfriend.
When Julieanne is found murdered in Poppy's house, both she and the increasingly attractive Tol are considered suspects - and so Poppy uses her media contacts and news savvy to investigate other suspects. Did Julieanne have enemies in the right-wing Australian Family party, for which she was seeking preselection, or in the affiliated Radiant Joy Church? Or at the Museum of New South Wales, among her rivals and ex-boyfriends? And who was her secret lover?
Can Poppy save herself, and Tol ... and finally get her house back?
Tuesday 15 June 2021
Book Review: Saying Yes by Ella Sparkle
She was going to get married to her college boyfriend, land a job at a prestigious law firm and, after attending law school, would work her way up to partner. She’d have it all; the man, the job, the white picket fence.
After things just not working out as planned, Jenna must say goodbye to her old plans and her dreams of a picture perfect future with that guy and that job, living that life.
Instead, she decides to rethink her strategy, instead of planning everything to perfection, Jenna takes a risk and starts ‘Saying Yes’ to new opportunities.
Saying Yes to a new job.
Saying Yes to flirting with the hunky Nick.
Saying Yes to a summer fling before starting law school.
Jenna and Nick might just have something magical, they’re crazy about each other from the moment they meet - are they crazy enough to make it work?
Ella writes the kinds of romance stories she likes to read with sexy, funny, nice guys and strong, smart, sassy women... tossing in a healthy dose of awkwardness, a whole lot of drama, a sprinkle of comedy, a ride on the emotional roller coaster and a little bit of sparkle for everyone.
Ella is living out her own happily ever after with her Prince Charming. After seventeen years together he still gives her butterflies and makes her heart race. They live together with their children, small dogs, and a big black cat who has deemed herself queen of the castle.