Friday, February 26, 2016

Book: My Wild Ride


Summary: Fiona Johnson was born a city girl. But she was always drawn to horses. Aged 10 she saved all of her pocket money to buy a saddle at a garage sale. Eventually, after months of nagging her parents, she persuaded them to buy her a horse to go with the saddle. And so began a life-long love affair with horses and Rodeo.

Fiona eventually moved from city to country when she met the love of her life Matt. Sadly tragedy struck shortly after they were married. Fiona was diagnosed with Leukaemia, a rare form of cancer. She wasn't given very long to live.

But Fiona is a fighter. She was determined to beat her illness. And determined to fulfill her dream of participating in Rodeo events. Shortly after her release from seven months in hospital, Fiona decided now was the time to finally learn how to rope. She desperately wanted to be part of the Rodeo world. After many failed practice sessions, she eventually got the hang of it and went on to win the rookie title for ladies breakaway roping in 2005. Now ten years later, in remission and with two children, she can look back at the most difficult time in her life and revel in her triumph over near tragedy.


What I Thought: A nice story - very courageous. We need to appreciate the everyday xoxo

Book: Theodore Boone - Fugitive


Summary: Theo thought the danger had passed, but he’s about to face off against an old adversary: accused mur­derer and fugitive Pete Duffy.
On a field trip to Washington, DC, Theo spots a familiar face on the Metro: Duffy, who jumped bail and was never seen again. Theo’s quick thinking helps bring Duffy back to Strattenburg to stand trial. But now that Duffy knows who he is, Theo is in greater danger than he’s ever been in before. Even when every­thing is on the line, Theodore Boone will stop at nothing to make sure a killer is brought to justice.


What I Thought: I enjoy this series - a little far fetched but still cool :)

Friday, February 19, 2016

Book: McKellan's Run


Summary: Years ago, Violet Beckett made the mistake of falling for the wrong McKellan brother and both she and her younger sister, Lily, paid the price. Now eight years later, fate has brought Violet and her daughter, Holly, back to the house Violet grew up in. As soon as Violet runs into James 'Mac' McKellan, she wonders if she should run all the way back to the city. But something about the look in his eyes makes her want to linger. Can she trust him, can she trust herself or will she be burned again? James McKellan has had a soft spot for Violet Beckett for longer than he can remember. It almost killed him to watch his brother woo her, use her and finally lose her. From their very first encounter he's hooked. But how can he convince her that not all McKellans are the same?

What I thought: Another new author - totally hooked. Loved this one!

Book: Crystal Creek


Summary: Medical student Christina Price has worked hard to rise above an upbringing filled with neglect and the assumption that she would never amount to anything. She promised herself she was never going back to Townsville. But when a twist of fate lands her in a Townsville army base clinic, she must confront past hurts if she wants to succeed and, just maybe, find love. Captain Aiden Bell is used to the hard life of an army officer. But his career has taken an emotional toll that he hasn't dealt with until meeting Christina stirs memories, desire - and hope.

 What I thought: Enjoyed this - a little bit of medicine and some military in their too!

Book: The Falls

Summary: For as long as she can remember, Teagan Bliss has wanted to manage her family's property. She's invested everything in the farm, knowing that when her parents retire she'll be ready to take the reins. But when a family betrayal leaves her reeling, Teagan is forced to rethink her entire future.Heartbroken, Teagan flees to her aunt's property in the idyllic Falls Valley. Vanessa is warm and welcoming and a favourite of the locals who drop in regularly for cocktail hour. Teagan soon catches the attention of sexy local farrier Lucas Knight, and with a new job, new friends and the prospect of a new relationship, she slowly begins to open up again. But the village is a hotbed of gossip and division and when Teagan gets caught up in town politics, Lucas and Vanessa become concerned. As the tension in town escalates, Teagan must decide who to trust. But when she realises those close to her have been keeping secrets, the fallout may split Teagan apart forever.

 What I thought: Another great little read - naturally far fetched but hey I gotta escape!

Book: Set in Stone


Summary: Louise Samuels hasn’t been home to Stone Mountain since graduation night, twenty years ago. And she never, ever thinks about all she lost that night. So when her best friend convinces her to go back to their drought-stricken home for their school reunion they strike a deal. One hour: get in, shake your booty, get out. Lou knows all about deals – she manages acquisitions and mergers at the biggest law firm in Sydney. But the deal gets shelved when The Boy Least Likely to Succeed, Gage Westin, brings up long-buried memories, and her estranged mother calls with an SOS. Things get even more complicated when Lou agrees to help the local council but ends up working with the coal seam gas company Gage is fighting for control of his property.
When Lou discovers her mother is dying, she starts to wonder if it’s time to face the ghosts of her past and make peace with her home. But then things heat up with Gage, the gas company and the council, and Lou is forced to make a deal with the devil to save them all.
She’s just not sure if Gage Westin, and Stone Mountain, will ever forgive her for it.

What I thought: Another new author - hooked again. Love this trash!

Book: Coolibah Creek





Summary: Bec Roberts and her husband Andy adore each other. They're also passionate about their beloved station, Coolibah Creek, but are despairing as a relentless drought ravages their property. Bec is worried, too, about her best friend and neighbour, Maggie O'Donnell. Married to a difficult, hard-drinking man who's away for long periods, Maggie finds herself increasingly drawn to a stockman who works for the family. When tragedy strikes, Bec is pushed to the very limits of her endurance. How will her family and Coolibah endure the challenges they're facing?

What I thought: Another new author - really enjoyed this even though all a but far fetched. Liked how it was about a couple together from the beginning though - a different sort of romance.

Book: Turtle Reef





Summary: Unlucky-in-love zoologist Zoe King has given up on men. Moving from Sydney to take up an exciting new role in marine science in the small sugar town of Kiawa is a welcome fresh start. Zoe is immediately charmed by the region's beauty – by its rivers and rainforests, and by its vast cane fields, sweeping from the foothills down to the rocky coral coast. And also by its people – its farmers and fishermen, unhurried and down to earth, proud of their traditions. Her work at the Reef Centre provides all the passion she needs and Zoe finds a friend in Bridget, the centre's director. The last thing she wants is to fall for her boss's fiancĂ©, cane king Quinn Cooper, so she refuses to acknowledge the attraction between them – even to herself. But things aren't quite adding up at the Reef Centre and when animals on the reef begin to sicken and die, Zoe's personal and professional worlds collide. She faces a terrible choice. Will protecting the reef mean betraying the man she loves?

What I Thought: Really enjoyed this - a bit far fetched but it got my reading mojo back :)

Book: The Storyteller


Summary: Sage Singer is a baker. She works through the night, preparing the day’s breads and pastries, trying to escape a reality of loneliness, bad memories, and the shadow of her mother’s death. When Josef Weber, an elderly man in Sage’s grief support group, begins stopping by the bakery, they strike up an unlikely friendship. Despite their differences, they see in each other the hidden scars that others can’t. Everything changes on the day that Josef confesses a long-buried and shame­ful secret and asks Sage for an extraordinary favor. If she says yes, she faces not only moral repercussions, but potentially legal ones as well. With the integrity of the closest friend she’s ever had clouded, Sage begins to question the assumptions and expectations she’s made about her life and her family.

What I thought: Well I confess I started this last year and had to pause from reading it as the topic was so dark and confronting. I finished it this year - really well done - captivated, horrific, fantatstic. 

Thursday, February 18, 2016

2015 books in review

Well I am a tad behind with everything at the minute including this post.

In 2015 I had a dismal reading year for me with only 42 books (my mojo came and went). I barely read any of my bookgroup books either. So a quick breakdown:

Non-fiction - 5
Teen - 1
Rural Romance (I love this trash) - 24

So 2016 is here and I will aim again for 52 books - fingers crossed I get there - just so many other competing demands :)