The Money Club

 The Money Club

Fiona Lowe

Reviewed by Helen

This is another awesome, brilliant story from master story teller Fiona Lowe, this story is set in the small town of Glingilly where the residents know each other and mix at the local club, Izzy Harrington lives with her partner Brad Quinn, Brad has grown up here and is well known and is very popular with the residents, until, he isn’t.

Izzy can feel their relationship changing as Brad jet sets around the world and insists that she dresses to the nines as she runs the events for The Elite Club he runs, nothing but the best, but Izzy is waiting with her bags packed and ready to leave him he was due home an hour ago but the only arrivals are very angry men pounding on the door and the police, they want Brad and Izzy has no idea where he is.

Many families including Birdie and Mike Essen, their son and daughter in law Jack and Lucy Essen along with lots other residents have been members of the Elite and Fortune Club and now the money is gone, these people have lost everything, and they are after their money with Brad’s parents Judy and Bevan out of town they go after Izzy.

Fiona Lowe has dug deep into the lives of these people who have lost everything they had been working for, some might say it was greed others doing their best to make sure they had the best in life and retirement, health is affected, friendships and family as the people of Glingilly struggle and search for answers to where their money has gone, the stress levels are high and you can feel their pain every turn of the page.

This is compelling reading, a book that was so hard to put down, I felt so close to these characters the emotions running high, you could feel the pain as people’s hearts were broken but it also shows the strength and determination to go one and find the truth even if they might not get their money.
I do highly recommend this book but make sure you have nothing because you won’t want to put it down once you have picked it up, MS Lowe you rock this story is excellent. The ending is so very good.

My thanks to Harlequin AU and Netgalley for my digital copy to read and review

5 stars

May 1, 2023 by HQ Fiction

Homecoming

 Homecoming

Kate Morton

Reviewed by Helen

This is my first Kate Morton book and it won’t be the last, wow it captured me fully from the start and it was so hard to put down, yes it is a big book but the story needed that, the story of three woman, family secrets that have been kept for sixty years, a crime or a tragedy a family lost and a long time before all the questions are answered, a must read but don’t plan on doing anything else while reading.

The Adelaide Hills Christmas Eve 1959 and local Percy Summers discovers something that will haunt him forever, the police are called and everyone living in the small town of Tambilla try to understand what has happened, it is so baffling, inexplicable that something like this could happen in this quiet town.

London 2018 and Jess has been living and working as a journalist for twenty years, but is now unemployed and single when she gets a call to say that her beloved grandmother Nora has had a fall in her house in Vaucluse and that it might be a good idea if she returns home, Nora was on her way to the attic, a place that Jess had been told never to go to when she was a little girl growing up in this house, why was Nora on her way to the attic?

Jess’s mother Polly lives in Brisbane and they are not close since Jess was bought up by Nora, Jess is here alone in Sydney and starts to investigate why her grandmother wanted to get up to the attic what she finds after internet searches is a true crime book written by Daniel Miller on an unsolved family tragedy that left a mother and three children dead and a baby missing and that these people were related to Nora, Jess and Polly and Jess is not going to give up until she gets the answers.

A compelling story that will open family secrets and not just in the Turner family, it looks into what people will do to protect the people you love, it is such a fabulous story so well told so articulate, the characters are fabulous, the emotions are running through the pages, it made me feel all of the emotions as I read this book, I got so invested in this one it was hard to let go when I needed to put it down, and it is one that I will not forget.

I do highly recommend this one, it is one not to be missed if you love a good mystery, with strong characters and one that is told so well.

5 stars

April 4, 2023 by Allen & Unwin

The Redgum River Retreat

 The Redgum River Retreat

Sandie Docker

Reviewed by Helen

Another beautiful story from the wonderful pen of MS Sandie Docker, her stories are filled with emotion and honest people and stories that will pull the reader in from page one and this one is a gorgeous story of love, hope, heartache and healing as Rosalie, Sarah and Melody put the past behind them and look to the future in the small town of Redgum River.

Sarah is a gifted cellist and single mum to Melody, driving home from a concert at the Opera House they are in a terrible car accident that sees Melody seriously injured, leaving her in a wheel chair and not speaking and Sarah blaming herself for what happened, this will change their lives.

Rosalie is Sarah’s grandmother a famous photo journalist through the years, she grew up in Redgum River, during the second world war Rosalie took photos for the YMCA snapshot cause and became very close to two brothers Edward and Albert but when they return from the war life is not the same and Rosalie leaves Redgum River vowing never to return.

When Sarah finds a hatbox with a photo album in it she discovers precious photos that her grandmother had taken and this is something that Granny Rose has never spoken about and then they discover a music retreat in Redgum River, will this be the answer to bring Melody’s speech back or will it be too hard for Rosalie to return to her past.

Rosalie will do anything to help her beloved Sarah and Melody even if it means returning to her past and uncovering secrets and a mystery that is decades old. A gorgeous heartwarming and heartbreaking tale that will see truths come out and hearts healed it shows the strength that these three family members show. I do highly recommend this one it is sure to keep you turning the pages with a cast of awesome characters and such a beautiful setting.

5 stars

March 21, 2023 by Penguin Random House Australia

The Wonderful Thing About Phoenix Rose

 The Wonderful Thing About Phoenix Rose

Josephine Moon

Reviewed by Helen

I loved this story so very much, it is beautiful, there are not enough words to describe the happy feelings that I found while reading this one, the joy it gave me seeing Phoenix take on a task that was hard for her but her caring and loving heart gave her strength and determination, this is a must read book.

Phoenix is thirty five and is a high school teacher and she loves her job, she has a loving partner Zack, but after a recent medical episode is now on sick leave, Phoenix is an Autist and is coming to terms with the way she is, finally seeing who she is, she belongs to this wonderful online group, Downunder Auties and one of the members gives a cry out for help and Phoenix puts her hand up to help with Zack cheering her on, and is on her way to Tasmania from Brisbane.

Within a day Phoenix is now in charge of Rita, the Shetland pony, Humphrey the dog, two cats Audrey and Marilyn and four chickens, Phoenix makes the decision to give them homes herself and take them back to Brisbane this is going to be one huge road trip and she knows she needs help and the Downunder Auties step in and soon Lily, who is also Autistic meets up with Phoenix and joins up as travelling companion and the road trip starts.

Two neurodivergent woman with a menagerie of eccentric animals in a borrowed van a hired horse float and this trip is sure to meet a few problems on the way not to mention the ferry crossing at the start of the trip, add to that the rescue of more animals along the way, the pressure Phoenix is getting from her principal about her return to work and the fact that Lily is also being pushed by her family. But Lily and Phoenix are fast becoming close friends and the Downunder Auties are stepping in to help as they go.

This story taught me a lot about neurodivergent people and who they are, that they are all individuals and it showed me the love, caring and empathy that they show, it shows that asking for help is a good thing, this is a beautifully told story there is heartbreak, joy, determination along the way as I got to know Phoenix, Lilly, Zack and the many other Downunder Auties who stepped in and helped along the way, they are awesome characters and I loved them all.

This is a book that I highly recommend, make sure you have nothing else planned because you won’t want to put it down once you pick it up and Phoenix Rose and her menagerie and friends are going to stay with me for a long time to come, don’t miss this one.

My thanks to Penguin AU for my copy to read and review.

5 stars

April 18, 2023 by Penguin Random House Australia

Into the Night

 Into the Night

Fleur McDonald

Reviewed by Helen

Just WOW again, I know Dave Burrows is yours Fleur McDonald and I thank you so much for sharing him with me, this is another awesome rural suspense, you take me to the outback, you pull me in and I feel like I am a part of the story, another keeper.

When Dave and Bob are called out to Yorkenup not that far out of Perth where there has been a fire and farmer Leo Parry and his beloved dog Coffee are missing there is no trace of either of them anywhere and Dave is filled with unanswered questions, is it arson, suicide or something else?

As the investigation begins questions are asked of his wife, Jill Leo’s Parents Stephen and Jan and all of his best friends and the answers are the same Leo is a good bloke, loving husband, father and son everyone is distraught and they need answers but Dave’s spider sense is running high, investigations take them out to more rural areas, searching and hunting for clues and answers, will they find him alive or not?

This is another compelling and gripping story from one of the best rural suspense authors, the characters are bought to life on the pages and my mind is working overtime to solve the mystery again. Hats off to Dave and Bob for their charm and integrity to get the job done and well, I still have a few of the books to catch up on and I can’t wait for the next one to be released. I do highly recommend this story once you pick it up you won’t want to put it down, I loved it.

My thanks to Allen & Unwin for my copy to read and review.

5 stars

April 4, 2023 by Allen & Unwin AU

The Summer Place

 The Summer Place

Janette Paul

Reviewed by Helen

This is such a beautiful story, meeting these three woman and getting to know them was lovely, will we see them find their joy and happiness in the special summer place of Hope Head, a place filled with memories from their past, will it be the place of the future for them?

Erin was a sports teacher, she cycled, surfed and ran but all of that changed when she was hit by a truck while cycling, now her days are spent in rehab and struggling with her life, so when she is invited to her brother Blake’s wedding on the beach at Hope her emotions are running riot.

Jenna is an engineer and fell in love with Blake many years ago as they were studying together mathematical nerds together, how will if feel seeing the man you love marry someone else?

Cassie, best friend of the grooms’ mother, Joanne, has been married three times is now a widow, had plans from her teenage years in Hope Head to become an artist but life got in the way and now she works in an art gallery in Barcelona the invitation to the wedding comes as Cassie is struggling with health and craving a new lease on life.

This story is beautifully told as we learn what each of these woman have gone through the emotions the heartbreak and the hope of joy and Hope Head is the place to hopefully bring them this joy, will they find love and happiness, will they find the life they want and need to see them into the future?

Janette Paul pulled me into this story, made me feel a part of it and I loved my visit to Hope Head on the coast of New South Wales, written with heartfelt love and feeling, it has such wonderful characters that add so much to these woman’s lives, a must read and it is one that I would highly recommend.

My thanks to the author and publisher Macmillan

5 stars

April 26, 2023 by Macmillan Australia

The Wakes

 The Wakes

Dianne Yarwood

Reviewed by Helen

This debut book tells the story of past friends and strangers bought together through death and the wakes that happen after them, come along and get to know Clare, Louisa, Chris and Paul and lots more characters, a little as they work their way through life and things that go with it, lots of different emotions, happy, amusing and sad.

Clare has just separated from her husband, she is stunned by this happening, and she needs to take time off her high pressured job and come to terms with it and work out the future.

Louisa has just moved to her new house and works mowing lawns and general gardening when she is asked to take on catering for wakes, this sounds good because she is a chef as well and she is willing to give anything a go.

Chris is a doctor and works in the emergency department and he and his wife have just separated after the stress of many unsuccessful attempts at IVF.

Paul works in advertising he is single and shared a flat with Chris and his brother Dan many years ago in London, his brother Dan is married to Beth the girl he introduced to them all those years ago
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Clare agrees to help her friend and neighbour Louisa with a new business she has started catering for wakes this might have been a bit more than Louisa could handle but with Clare’s help the business is soon growing, this brings them in contact with many people including Chris and Paul

This story is heartwarming and with lots of laughter at times as they all tell their story in different ways, their troubles and the things that make them happy they are all very different with hugely different personalities and some will get on really well and some show tension between each other, I did very much enjoy getting to know them all and I did love the food they made for the wakes it is so much better than the normal sandwiches. A very interesting story.

My thanks to Hachette AU for my copy to read and review.

4 stars

March 1, 2023 by Hachette Australia