Book Review No 21: Whisky Charlie Foxtrot by Annabel Smith

William (Whisky) and Charlie are identical twins. Inseparable as children they gradually grew apart in their teens and young adulthood with Whisky being the outgoing, popular, successful one and Charlie believing he is trailing in his brother's wake. Now in their early thirties the twins have not really spoken for years but then one phone call changes everything. Whisky has been seriously injured in a car accident and is in a coma and Charlie realises he may never get the chance to say all the things he wants to say to his brother.

Although based around Whisky and Charlie, this book is much more than that. It is the story of a family fractured by divorce, distanced by immigration and deceived by secrets but also bolstered by love and acceptance and just getting on with things. It is full of wonderful secondary characters and realistic dilemmas (I especially like the character of Rosa). As for Charlie - he both irritated and endeared himself to me, but as the story unfolded further and more of the past was revealed I came to understand him much more fully.

Book Review No 20: Dark Horse by Honey Brown

Sarah Barnard is not in a good place. Her business has gone bust, her marriage is over and she just can't face Christmas with her parents. So she throws a few essentials together, saddles her horse Tansy and heads for the rugged Mortimer Ranges to spend the Christmas break alone. It is not until she is on the mountain that she realises a massive downpour is on its way and it is only through sheer grit and determination that she makes it to the old bushranger's hut at the top of the mountain. Undergoing renovation it is a very basic shelter, but it is enough to keep Sarah and Tansy safe and dry.

Bunkering down to ride out the rain and accompanying flood, Sarah is beyond startled when a lone man calls out for help in the night. Heath appears normal but there is definitely something about him that makes Sarah uneasy. Why won't he answer any questions about himself? And why is he so far in the middle of nowhere without any hiking gear or food? Sarah and Heath are forced to share the makeshift shelter, but she cannot shake her feeling of unease. But it is only when she realises her carefully hidden gun has been removed that she starts to panic.

Book Review No 19: Hopetoun Wives by Fran Cusworth

The tiny town of Hopetoun in Western Australia has been transformed from a sleepy coastal village to a booming mining town. New housing estates are being built at a rate of knots and families are pouring into the area. Amidst all these new arrivals are three women - Jasmine, Miranda and Brigid. Jasmine is there reluctantly - she cheated on her husband and is now willing to do anything to make it up. Miranda is the mine managers wife and is happy to be back in Australia after living overseas for years. And Brigid has relocated after years of coping with Fly In Fly Out to try and reign in her husband Jack's crippling debts.

While Miranda is used to the mining lifestyle, Jasmine and Brigid are still learning the ropes. They are surprised and a little dismayed to find themselves secondary to their husbands and the jobs they do and are unprepared for how some of the locals feel about the way the mine has changed their town. Forming a friendship the three women buy and overhaul the only cafe in town and transform it into a booming business - although their personal lives are not so successful. Jasmine is dismayed to find herself attracted to another man and Brigid knows that Jack still yearns to spend every cent he earns and more. 

Book Review No 18: The Rules of Conception by Angela Lawrence

At the age of 35 Rachael has ticked a lot of items off her "to do" list - she's got her own apartment in Sydney, her career is flying high and she has a full social life with a great circle of friends. Yet, she has started to feel the pull of her biological clock and after the end of another relationship decides that it's now or never - she is going to have a baby alone.

Thus begins an entertaining and educational process - the selection of her unborn child's father. Rachael explores many options, ultimately deciding on a known donor who wants a child but doesn't want to be an involved parent. Digby appears to be the perfect potential father and once she chooses him Rachael doesn't waver in her choice. Once she makes the decision, Rachael creates a timeline and begins the process. After this the pregnancy happens relatively easily (which may have been a little unrealistic) and Rachael's road to parenthood begins.

Book Review No 17: Missing You - by Justine Ford

Although a very interesting and easy to read book, Missing You is also a very sad collection of stories focusing on missing people in Australia. I'm not sure of the exact statistic, but a lot more people go missing in this country than you hear about in the media. Fortunately most of them do turn up, but for the small percentage that don't, the result is unimaginable heartbreak for the family and friends left behind.

Justine Ford has selected a handful of particularly perplexing cases - both recent and some dating back several decades. While we may all have heard of the missing Beaumont children, few of us are probably aware of the three year old girl named Linda who was snatched from a beach in Wollongong in 1970 and was never seen again. It is obvious that her family are still grieving for their lost daughter/sibling despite the passage of time. And in telling stories like these you come to understand that the not knowing is the very worst agony. As horrific as a death is, at least you know and can grieve. When somebody goes missing without a trace all you can do is wonder and hope (however futile it may seem).