Book: A Diamond in the Dust

Summary: Within minutes of landing in Kununurra, Frauke Bolten had made up her mind to get on a plane back home to Germany. It was 1981 and the dusty frontier town was no place for a woman. However, Frauke stayed, determined to help her husband carve out a new life farming. Tragedy struck just three years later when Friedrich took his own life and she was left to raise their family alone.

Twenty-six years after she sold her first necklace off the back porch, Kimberley Fine Diamonds in Kununurra is now home to one of the world's largest collections of Argyle pink diamonds, with a client list that includes Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman. Frauke is credited for not only pioneering an industry, but for putting the tiny outback town and its precious diamonds on the map.

A Diamond in the Dust is a tale of love and loss, hardship and heartache, but ultimately the inspiring story of how a naive young girl from Germany overcame tragedy to pioneer a diamond empire in one of the most unforgiving terrains on earth.




What I Thought: A lovely memoir - so much love and loss. An enjoyable read.

Book: Nobody But Him

Summary: At the age of eighteen, Julia Jones left her hometown — the small beachside town of Middle Point — with a head full of grand plans. Plans for an exciting life in a town that didn't involve a main street with only one pub or a particular boy named Ryan Blackburn.

But fifteen years and a lifetime later, Julia's forced to put her career and big-city life on hold when she returns home to finalise her mother's estate. Which is exactly where she runs smack-bang into the town's hero, Ry. As in Ryan Blackburn! The sensible thing to do? Stay the hell away from him and head back to Melbourne as fast as her stilettos can carry her! But instead, Julia finds his offer of a helping hand and a hot body too delicious to refuse.

Soon, she's ignoring her better judgement and diving into an ‘I'll think about it tomorrow' fling with Ry. But what she doesn't realise is that tomorrow has a way of sneaking up on you...and that saying goodbye to her hometown — and to Ry — is so much harder the second time around. 


What I Thought: A nice summer romance.

Book: Sweet Wattle Creek

 

Summary: The chance discovery of an antique wedding dress weaves together the fascinating stories of three women from different eras: Sophie, in hiding from a troubled past; Belle, who must lose everything to learn what really matters; and Martha, forced to give up those she loves in order to avoid exposure.

It’s 1931 and Belle Bartholomew has arrived in rural Sweet Wattle Creek to claim her inheritance – a run-down grand hotel formerly owned by Martha Ambrose. Determined to solve the mystery of her birth and the reason why she was bequeathed the hotel Belle runs into difficulties with the townsfolk and their desire to keep their secrets safe.

Sixty years later Sophie Matheson is on a quest to find Belle and her family after discovering the wedding dress. The Sweet Wattle Creek Centenary brings more challenges when her past catches up and she must fight for all that matters to her. Who were Belle and Martha and what links their lives together?

What I Thought: Enjoying these simple historical/present day sagas.