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Book Review: Cockatoo Cove by Maya Linnell
I’ve talked here plenty of times about how much I enjoy Maya Linnell‘s writing – her rural romance novels are the perfect blend of sweet and serious, and come with such a feeling of familiarity and nostalgia that make them a perfect comfort read for me. So it probably comes as no surprise at all that I’ve been looking forward to her newest novel – Cockatoo Cove – hitting shelves today. The lovely team at Allen and Unwin kindly sent me an early copy, which I devoured in just a few sittings over the weekend, and I’m excited to share some of my thoughts. I’ve popped the blurb for Cockatoo Cove…
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Book Review: Wallaby Lane by Maya Linnell
The arrival of a brand new novel from Maya Linnell is always an exciting event, and this year it was exactly what I needed to cheer me up the week we returned from our overseas holiday. I devoured this sweet slice of rural romance so quickly, and it hit the mark perfectly on all the things I love about Maya’s novels. As always, the publisher’s blurb is below and you can find my thoughts underneath that. What is Maya Linnell’s Wallaby Lane about? From interviewing local flower growers to receiving blue ribbons for her show baking, Lauren Bickford’s genuine love for her hometown is almost as strong as her ambition to become…
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New books to look out for… The Homestead in the Eucalypts by Léonie Kelsall
Léonie Kelsall is one of my favourite Aussie fiction writers and it is always a pleasure to see her name pop up next to a new book in her publisher’s publicity catalogues. I love Léonie’s books for their authentic characters and settings, and the way she balances some really sweet rural romance stories with heavier but also really relatable topics and themes. This year we’ve been extra lucky to have two new titles from Léonie – The Blue Gum Camp came out in January and we only have to wait until July 4 for The Homestead in the Eucalypts to arrive. Here’s the synopsis from the publisher Focused on pursuing…
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Review :: The Wild One by Janet Gover
Last year I read Janet Gover’s Christmas at Coorah Creek and loved it so much that I vowed to read more of the Coorah Creek series. The perfect opportunity came up when I spotted The Wild One on NetGalley a little while ago. This is the second book in the Coorah Creek series – I think it is the kind of series where it might be nice but certainly isn’t necessary to read the books in order (I’ve now read book 3, followed by book 2 and loved them both). It was a joy to revisit this rural community – scroll down for my full review. What is Janet Gover’s…
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Review :: Kookaburra Cottage by Maya Linnell
In Kookaburra Cottage we're leaving rural Victoria behind as Maya takes us to South Australia's Limestone Coast wine region - bringing along all the heart and warmth I've come to love in her books. I was charmed by the setting and by April and Connor from the very start of the book and was so invested in their stories that I sped through this one in just a few sittings - I had to keep reading to find out how things would turn out for them.
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Review :: Five Bush Weddings by Clare Fletcher
Romance books are hot right now, and since so many of the books I’m seeing on the shelves and the socials are from OS authors I’m on a mission to find and read and rave about as many Aussie titles as I can. Five Bush Weddings by Clare Fletcher caught my attention the moment I laid eyes on that divine cover. The dress, the boots, the bouquet of Aussie flora – it is all perfect. I was hanging out for pub day, and then was lucky enough to win an advance copy in a giveaway on social media from the lovely Penguin Random House team. What is Five Bush Weddings…
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Review :: Paperbark Hill by Maya Linnell
Ok, I have some big feelings about today’s review! I have been with Maya Linnell and her warm and wonderful (and fictional) McIntyre family since the first book, Wildflower Ridge, came out in June of 2019. In fact, Maya was kind enough to join me here on my blog to chat about Christmas in December of 2018! So I’m not sure how I feel about having read the last book in this series about these wonderful women! (Although I’m thrilled to have seen on her social media pages that Maya is working on something new for next year). I feel like each of these books has been such a joy…
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Christmassy :: What to Buy the Writer in Your Life :: Maya Linnell
It hardly feels like Christmas without a visit here on the blog from my lovely friend and Aussie rural romance star Maya Linnell. Maya released her third novel this year – Magpie’s Bend, which takes us back to the world of the McIntyre sisters where we get to know Lara a bit better. I have probably said this before, and sorry to Penny, but Lara might just be my favourite sister yet! I’ve popped the synopsis of Magpie’s Bend right down at the bottom of the post, and you can check out my review here. Like I said up the top there, Maya is a bit of a Christmas regular…
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Aussie Christmas romance books
Ok, so it is all well and good to be dreaming of a white Christmas, and charmed by cosy stories of love and snowfall and Christmas, but really that is just so far from the reality of our sunny summer Christmases here that sometimes I just want to read something still cosy and sweet (or a bit spicy!) that reflects our seasons. I thought I’d share a couple in case you would like a summer Christmas read too. One of my favourite Christmas books is Sandy Barker’s The Christmas Swap, which is set at Christmas across the snowy US and UK, as well as sunny Sydney. I really loved the…
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Review :: The Wattle Seed Inn :: Léonie Kelsall
PR executive Gabrielle Moreau knows she has an easy life, but when her business partner claims she lacks career passion she takes ownership of a dilapidated pub in a tiny riverside settlement to prove she can be a success without falling back on her privilege. Eighteen months ago, Settlers Bridge stonemason Hayden Paech had it all: a job he loved, good mates and a close family. All he needed was the right woman to come along and he was ready to settle down. But one poor choice stole that chance and he’ll never risk caring for anyone again. Living at Wurruldi Hotel for … goodness, so many years, Ilse has…
