MAREE: The Last Chance Mail Order Bride by Crystal Anne Tilden
When Violet is jilted by her fiancé for a rich older woman, she reluctantly agrees to answer an ad as a mail order bride. After many months of corresponding with this nice widower, she changes her mind and returns to her home town. Many twists and turns, the story of love lost and a sweet easy read.
SHEILA: Wildhorse Creek by Kerry McGinnis
Sheila is not normally a fan of this genre but in this book thought the author told a 'good tale'. Set in 1973 in the Gulf of Carpentaria on a sprawling cattle run, it chronicles the ups and downs, the highs and lows of life on a cattle property. She thought the descriptions of the countryside and the people who lived there were very accurate as the author had lived most of her life in the bush. A good tale.
MARGARET: The Outback Heart by Fiona Palmer
Margaret described it as a romance with an underlying theme.....a young fellow who has had a heart transplant, befriends a young girl who also has had a transplant. When she dies, he is so distressed he moves away so that his family wont have to feel this pain if anything happens to him. It was interesting to see how these people feel about themselves, the donor and the grief they put their family through.
CHERYL: Call Me When the Cross Turns Over by Darcy Niland
Written in 1957, the cross refers to the Southern Cross and tells of a young lady trying to learn and survive in the harsh outback conditions of the times.
The Girl in the Hard Hat by Loretta Hill
This book was written in 2013 and tells of a young woman trying to make her way in a
mining community in the Pilbara.
These 2 books highlight the different place women now have in society, the changing lifestyle in the bush and the language used .
CLAURINE: Border Watch by Helene Young
Set in North Queensland, the story is mainly a mystery but with hints of a romance. There were very good descriptions of the country but the story revolves around a terrorist operation and who should be protecting northern Australia. It is the first book in a series of 3.
CONNIE: Heart of the Valley by Catherine Hein
This was chosen by Connie as it is set in a horse stud in the Hunter Valley and had a personal connection as her granddaughter worked there. There were great descriptions of the horse studs and the love the characters showed for their horses.
But as a love story, she looked at it from an older person's perspective and found much frustration as to what the younger people considered 'true love'.
BETH:
Beth also read the same book, and having come from the area, praised the descriptions of the community and the neighbours. This she found more interesting than the romance, which she thought was only a minor part of the story and a bit silly. She related more to the horses!
JULIA:
Julia also read the book, enjoying the author's knowledge of horses and the running of the properties.
She commented on the important role that women have in this industry.
LIBBY: Outback Blaze by Rachael Jones
Libby described it as a 'shocking book'. The story revolves around a fire in the small town of Bunyip Bay with the main male character called Blaze! The romance in the story was too much like Days of Our Lives. She couldn't recommend it.
WENDY: Right as Rain by Tricia Stringer
Based in South Australia, the story involves a young woman who has returned to work on the family farm with her father. But when he becomes ill, her mother encourages her brother ( who has never shown any interest in working on the land) to take over the farm. The plot is worked through and well resolved.
The romantic interests of the various characters are also quickly sorted out.
Wendy enjoyed the book and also learnt a lot about corriedale sheep.
ROSEMARY S: Tracking North by Kerry McGinnis
Rosemary thought the setting of far northern Queensland was well described and there was enough suspense to hold your interest through the book. It was an easy read but with a predictable ending.
JOAN: Rocking Horse Hill by Catherine Hein.
Joan was encouraged to read this book following a visit in June to the library by the author. She came from family where 3 generations had been involved with horses and had been very enthusiastic in her presentation. Joan described the story as 'very predictable'.
JUDY:
Judy also read this book, and having grown up in Adelaide, found some place and family names had greater meaning for her. Again, the family fortunes and inheritance rites are thrown into turmoil when a new comer arrives on the farm. After a couple of near misses and eventually a tragedy, all is resolved. An easy read, good for holidays.
LESLEY: Heartland by Catherine Hein
Another book by Catherine Hein which seems to follow the formula of many books in this genre.
Beautiful girl who doesn't realise she is beautiful.
Handsome guy who has issues.
Horsey theme which helps to heal her broken heart.
Family misunderstandings.
Ended as you expect.
ROSEMARY also read the book.
Surprisingly, there were quite graphic sex scenes in this book! The love story was between an older man and a younger woman. There were also some annoying characters.
Rosemary said she enjoyed it but had read better.
JO: Red Dust by Fleur McDonald
After the death of her husband in a plane crash, a young woman takes on the daunting task of looking after the cattle property. As well as coping with her husband's death, she also has to contend with rumors that his death was not an accident, and a cattle rustling gang.
Jo loved it.....'it had everything in it'.
LAURA: Rain Dance by Karen Wood
A 16 year old greenie and vegan, lives on the mid north coast with her father. When he is laid off from his job as a builder, they move to a job on a cattle station.
The rich young son comes home from private school. Sweet young love occurs but with no sex or romance.
There are issues of rich v poor, climate change, cold seam gas, water shortages, and bushfire all in this one summer period! But Laura still described it as 'well written'.
TAM: Crimson Dawn by Fleur McDonald
Romance was secondary to the story with the underlying theme being women coping with responsibilities on the land. They are tough, independent women dealing with things in a man's world. They have to do double the amount of work to prove they are capable.
Tam described it as a good bedtime read.
PRU: Driftwood by Mandy Magro
Set in north Queensland, Pru described it as the 'simplest read'. A young girl who will never met her biological father, determines to become a jillaroo to be more like him. As she begins life on a country station, there are many references John Deere tractors, R M Williams clothes etc almost as if they are sponsors of the author. She has written 3 books in 3 years.
ED: Dark Country by Bronwyn Parry
The story is set in a small town in western New South Wales.When a convicted murderer returns after completing his sentence, he is immediately suspected when a body is found in the boot of his car. But the local police sergeant isn't convinced of his guilt.
Ed enjoyed it, finding it interesting but predictable.
Other Recommendations:
KRIS: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
A thriller, with a wife disappearing on their 5th wedding anniversary. It is riveting with many plot twists and nothing as it seems.
DECEMBER: Enjoy reading a book about TRAVEL and come along to discuss. All welcome.
