Book Review No 22: Into My Arms by Kylie Ladd

When Sky and Ben meet purely by chance, there is an instant connection between them. Both are a little perplexed by the intensity of it but ultimately they have no choice but to give in to a force that is bigger than both of them. Although this means Skye needs to break off her previously happy relationship with Hamish, she knows that Ben represents the kind of love that only comes along once, if ever.

Although surprised by Skye’s decision, her family are supportive and welcome Ben into their circle. Skye, her twin brother Arran and mother Nell are close, even more so after recently losing Skye’s dad Charlie to the ravages of dementia. It is only after Nell notices a particular trait in Ben that she begins to wonder and worry. The idea seems too unreal to begin with, too fanciful to be possible. The odds of it being true are infinitesimally small – yet she knows she can’t remain silent. As much as she knows it will break her daughter’s heart Nell finally breaks her silence and then the fallout begins.

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).

Book Review No 16: The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty

I am a big fan of Liane Moriarty and having especially loved her last book (The Hypnotists Love Story), I was really looking forward to The Husband's Secret. Within the first few pages I was hooked and knew that I would definitely not be disappointed.

The three main characters Cecilia, Tess and Rachel are introduced in separate small chapters and at first seem to have little in common except a vague tie in to The Biggest Loser being on TV at a particular moment in time. However it soon becomes clear they are all part of the St Angela's Primary School community in Sydney and like six degrees of separation their lives already have and will continue to overlap in many ways.

Book Review No 15: Educating Alice by Alice Greenup

At 18 Melburnian Alice decided to quit uni and travel around Australia with a friend by motorbike. During her travels she stops in to see a family friend in Mackay, Queensland and on a whim applies for a temporary job as a governess on a remote cattle station. It is here that she meets a young jackaroo named Rick and from that moment her life is changed forever.

Theirs is not an easy courtship - Alice returns to Melbourne for a while, before transferring her studies to Brisbane and Rick spends a year away working in the very remote Kimberley's. Although initially drawn to the outback life, it takes Alice a while to fully adapt and accept that if she marries Rick their lives will be forever tied to the land. As newlyweds they take a huge gamble with the purchase of their own property and face many obstacles as the unrelenting drought brings them to their knees. Just when it seems things are going their way Alice is involved in a devastating accident and it is only with huge amounts of courage and tenacity that she makes a good recovery before going on to give birth to three children.

Book Review No 14: House For All Seasons by Jenn. J McLeod

An old house, a small town, several different stories that weave together...what a great idea! LOL. This charming book has many similar elements to my own novel, so naturally I was very eager to read it. And I definitely wasn't disappointed.

Sara, Poppy, Amber and Caitlin were once good friends when they all lived in the small NSW town of Calingarry Crossing. Central to their friendship was their association with The Dandelion House - a place they all spent time at under the wise and watchful eye of Gypsy. However a tragedy rocked their friendship and the town on school muck up day back in 1989 and one by one the four girls fled the town and their friendship.

Twenty years later all four women are shocked to discover that Gyspy has willed the old house to them, but before any decisions can be made about its future, each of them must spent a season back in Calingarry Crossing, alone. All are reluctant at first, but in turn they acquiesce and each then embarks on their own journey to healing the past.

Book Review No 13: Bush Nurses by Annabelle Brayley

Back in the 1980s I used to love the TV show The Flying Doctors. Set in a tiny outback town in NSW, it was based around the work done by not only the actual doctors who flew great distances to treat sick and injured patients, but also the nurses who ably assisted them. Like many viewers I assumed that the storylines on the show were probably exaggerated for effect – to create more drama and keep the audience on the edge of their seats. Apparently I was wrong. In reading Bush Nurses, I realised that The Flying Doctors only touched the surface.