2013 R*BY – Finalists Reviews for bookthingo.com.au

My first "Guest Review" posts were for the delightful Kat over at Bookthingo as part of her preview of the 2013 R*BY Finalists (for more about the awards check out their website Romance Australia ) I got to read two books -  Wattle Creak by Fiona McCallum which I was looking forward to after enjoying her earlier books, and Queen of the Road by Tricia Stringer who I hadn't heard of before but after reading this book have tracked down her earlier books!

 

Here are the two reviews - hope you enjoy them as much as I did!

Queen Of The Road
by Tricia Stringer

Tricia’s heart warming story of Angela “Angel” Ranger’s struggle as a single mother trying to keep her head above water grabbed my attention and held it through to 4.30am when I finished.

The characters in Queen of the Road are believable and very relatable as are the situations they are in, and  this book covers allot of them - Juggling Credit Card debt, Struggling single parent, Fake Friends, Annoying Ex’s, Interfering (step)Parents, Alcohol issues and small town struggles.

Angela is struggling with overwhelming debt when a fair-weathered “friend” asks her to be a fill-in bridesmaid. Throw in a manipulative step-mother’s sudden interest in her granddaughter, an ex who sudden arrival everyone knows about but her and a morning after the wedding she’d rather everyone would forget suddenly and her father’s offer to fill in on the Adelaide to Munirilla run driving “Big Red” seems to be a good idea. But with Claudia, her four year old daughter, to look after, a small country town who were expecting their new freight driver to be a huge MALE trucker with the ironic nickname of “Angel” and someone who seems to be out to sabotage her every move could this decision cause more pain the pleasure?

Throw into this mix is the delightful but mysterious “just call me Coop”. The hansom fill-in farm manager has always been a loner and somewhat of a drifter. He pretends to be stoic but underneath beats a heart of gold. He’s worried about his elderly boss Alice and is ready to move on as soon as she is better and back home but then life gets in the way when he walks into the trucking depot to collect a spare part only to meet the always friendly Claudia and the intriguing Angela. Suddenly loner Coop has all sorts of excuses to come into “town” and lets him mind wonder to the possibility of a family of his own.

While Angela & Claudia quickly falls into life on the road things are never going to be smooth sailing for this hard work single mum and everything seems to be conspiring against her to fail. But will her determination, quick thinking and budding relationship with Coop be enough to save her?

Tricia’s story has just the right mix of suspense, mystery, friendship, romance in a wonderful rural setting which will make Queen of the Road at home on your shelf along with Fiona Palmer, Rachel Treasure and Margareta Osborne. If you love Loretta Hill’s style of strong women in non-traditional job’s you’ll quickly fall in love with Queen of the Road.

Wattle Creek 

by Fiona McCallum

 

A book that tackles depression, suicide, and the complex issues faced by small farming communities, with dignity and compassion.

Having already loved reading Paycheque and Nowhere Else by the talented Australian Author Fiona McCallum, I was looking forward to devouring Wattle Creek and was not disappointed.

Wattle Creek starts off with a somewhat confronting scene of Damien attempting suicide, but then Fiona lets you into the lives of Damien and the farming community of Wattle Creek, who like most farming communities in Australia, are struggling with drought and the like. In comes city psychologist Jacqueline, who takes the opportunity of a 12-month posting to escape her own issues. She wants to try and make a difference in this town, but is just not sure how. With lots of lovely, well-meaning locals and bush telegraph that would put most 24-hour news stations to shame, Jacqueline quickly falls for this small town and its favourite son.

McCallum tackles some confronting issues in Wattle Creek—most predominantly, something that is unfortunately faced by many of our hardworking farmers and that is depression and suicide. Damien’s struggles are handled with the dignity and compassion they deserve, and the complex issues that small farming communities deal with are not handled lightly. While this may not sound like an uplifting read, ultimately it is, and McCallum’s handling of the topic is never preachy; the information is obviously well researched never tries to be a self-help book. The relationship between city girl Jacqueline and third-generation ‘accidental farmer’ Damien is realistic and honest and heart warming.

I’m looking forward to reading Saving Grace — Fiona’s next book and the first in her new series, The Button Jar (her first three books are stand alone).

 

Cozy Light, Cozy Night by Elisa Kleven

Cozy Light, Cozy Night

by Elisa Kleven

Elisa's richly illustrated book Cozy Light, Cozy Night takes you through the seasons with lots of family fun and multicultural activities. While it may be a bit much for younger readers to read on their own the illustrations are engaging and this would make a lovely story for parents to read aloud to their children.



This book would be a great addition to any children's collection and would also be valuable in a school library.

The Snatchabook by Helen Docherty - Illustrated by Thomas Docherty

The Snatchabook

by Helen Docherty, Thomas Docherty (Illustrations)

Eliza Brown and her friends love nothing more than a great story before bed but when a Snatchabook comes to town things change quickly and no body is happy.

Just what is a Snatchabook - well I'm not going to spoil that for you. But I will tell you this much, Helen Docherty has created a beautiful sorry that will quickly become a favourite bedtime story. Thomas Docherty's illustrations help to bring this story alive.

I can't wait for this book to come out in print so I can get a copy for me - and one for my new Cousins so it can become her bedtime book.

Review of House on Burra Burra Lane by Jennie Jones

The House on Burra Burra Lane (The Swallow's Fall Series #1)
by Jennie Jones (e-book)

When I read the preview for Jennie Jones' debut novel The House on Burra Burra Lane I instantly added it to my reading wish list and I have to say it definitely didn't disappoint.

This rural romance has all the right ingredients - great Australian Rural backdrop, lovely small town with all the usual quirks and stories, a girl next door trying to get her life in order and a ruggedly handsome, always helpful, little bit mysterious guy and a great story line and Jennie has a best seller on her hands.

Sammy has left her life and its associated hassles in Sydney and moving into her "new" (rundown) farm house on Burra Burra Lane in the Snowy Mountain town of Swallow Falls (population 87) and after literally falling (thanks to Ruby the pig) for Vet and part time carpenter Ethan it seems that things might finally be falling into place for Sammy.

But as in real life things are never that easy - every time Ethan seems to get closer he pulls away to the point that even their friendship seems to be at risk. Can these two loveable characters ever work things out or will old man Grandy, Swallow Falls patriarch have to give them both a big push??

This book held my attention from start to finish, my only regret was that I didn't get the time to sit down and read it straight through.

This is the first book in the Swallow Fall's series and I eagerly look forward to the next instalment of this lovely small town. I would definitely want to buy a print copy if it comes out - it will fit in well along with the other great Australian Rural Authors already on my shelf.

 

 

Review of Promise Me Something by Sara Kocek

Sara Kocek’s book Promise Me Something tackles some serious issues and won’t be for everyone.

I could relate to Reyna at the start of this book with having to start at high school somewhere different from all of your friends because the Government says you live on in the “wrong street”.

On top of starting High School Reyna has to cope with looking after her father who was injured in an car accident which his girlfriend was driving, and missing her mother who was killed by a drunk driver when she was young.

Its never easy to start high school especially when you are shy and don’t know anyone so when Olive decides to save Reyna from cafeteria hell of eating alone Reyna’s original feeling is relief but Olive isn’t your everyday school girl. She says exactly what she think, no filter attached and nobody else likes her. Reyna has her doubts but with a lack of other friends sticks with Olive. But Olive has another life and when Reyna find out she is not sure how to react. Add in your request “Mean Girls” a party and its a recipe for disaster for these high school kids.

But this isn’t a warm fluffy high school story. It tackles issues of bigotry, suicide, alcoholism and at the heart of it – teens coming to terms with issues of homosexuality. It has some mostly believable  twists and turns and overall was an interesting read.

Reivew of Half Moon Bay by Helene Young

Half Moon Bay
by Helene Young

I've always enjoyed watching mystery/CSI kind of shows on TV but this was probably my first foray into the world of Romantic Suspense books and I wasn't let down.

The story starts with photojournalist Ellie Wilding on her way to Afghanistan to meet up with her sister, investigative journalist Nina but she ends up having to bring her home in a coffin. Two years later she is back home in the not so sleepy coastal town of Half Moon Bay when the locals need her skills to fight corruption and possible drug running which pulls her into the path of danger that had gotten Nina killed. Nick Lawson fell in love with Ellie the first time he saw her trying to organise a medivac for his sister and has never been able to get her out of his head. But she was the last person he expected to see in Half Moon Bay.

Ellie doesn't know who to trust, and trying to avoid falling for the hansom Mr Lawson is harder than expected, and if she could just remember where she knew him from he might be able to put the pieces of the puzzle together. But with so many lies can Ellie find the truth in time??

I loved this fast moving novel that has twists and turns to keep you hooked right to the end.

I'm looking forward to reading her Boarder Watch Series just as soon as I can swing past Torquay Books and pick them up!

I was fortunate enough to meet Helene at a recent Get Reading Author Tour visit to Waurn Ponds Library and this Award Winning Author is just as lovely in real life and she is in print.

If you haven't read her books yet check out her website and Get Reading! http://www.heleneyoung.com/

Children's Books

Ok, so I will admit I don't have kids of my own but I do love and treasure children's books. I still have all the books I had as a child. I have fond memories of being read to as a child and my dad can still recite by memory one of our favourite stories.

What do I love about children's books? They are simple and to the point, many have BEAUTIFUL illustrations. And I believe all kids should be encouraged to read from babies which is why I always give books as presents to babies and children of friends and family - I'm known for it :)

Here are a couple that I have read recently.

A Year on Our Farm by Penny Matthews Illustrated by Andrew McLean This is a beautiful well illustrated book which discusses the what happens in a year on the farm. It is truthful account and if your reading it to young children you may have to "gloss over" some of it but I really liked this book. It covers topics like the different months and seasons, Life and Death on the farm, feral animals and the weather (including Drought and Flood). Andrew's illustrations are beautiful. Little Mates Series by Susannah McFarlane Illustrated by Lachlan Creagh These cute book series have 26 (so far they have released up to Vocal Violet) plus some bonus books. Each book is based on a letter of the alphabet with Australian animals and very cute (if not somewhat of a tongue twister sometimes). They are aimed at young kids but will need adults to read the books to them. These make great gifts, especially if your fortunate enough to match the child's name to the book like I did with my cousin's little girl Amelia her mum Katie and a friend's girl Ruby.

Books always make great presents - no sugar and can be used again and again

Happy Reading
xoxo