Book: Lost & Found

Summary: At seven years old, Millie Bird realises that everything is dying around her. She wasn't to know that after she had recorded twenty-seven assorted creatures in her Book of Dead Things her dad would be a Dead Thing, too. Agatha Pantha is eighty-two and has not left her house since her husband died. She sits behind her front window, hidden by the curtains and ivy, and shouts at passers-by, roaring her anger at complete strangers. Until the day Agatha spies a young girl across the street. Karl the Touch Typist is eighty-seven when his son kisses him on the cheek before leaving him at the nursing home. As he watches his son leave, Karl has a moment of clarity. He escapes the home and takes off in search of something different. Three lost people needing to be found. But they don't know it yet. Millie, Agatha and Karl are about to break the rules and discover what living is all about. What I Thought: Loved it – really quirky. Reminded me a bit of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine.

Book: Bottlebrush Creek

Summary: Between managing a bustling beauty salon, hectic volunteer commitments and the lion's share of parenting two-year-old Claudia, Angie McIntyre barely has time to turn around. And with each passing month, she feels her relationship with fly-in, fly-out boyfriend Rob Jones slipping through her fingers. When Rob faces retrenchment, and the most fabulous fixer-upper comes onto the market, Angie knows this derelict weatherboard cottage will be the perfect project to draw their little family together. There's just one catch: the 200-acre property is right next door to Rob's parents in south-west Victoria. It doesn't take long for rising tensions to set a wedge between the hard-working couple. Angie and Rob have to find out the hard way whether their grand design will draw them closer together or be the very thing that tears them apart. What I Thought: Loved it – enjoying this author as books are set close to where I live.

Book: Shadows in the Dust

Summary: Jenna Montrose is on the run from the man who killed her father. Alone and always moving from town to town, Jenna trusts no one, not even the cops. She arrives in remote Smokey Creek, outback West Australia, where she takes a job as a jillaroo on a cattle station. Perhaps this time her archenemy won't be able to find her. Dan Simmonds has demons of his own to conquer, having spent two years in jail for a crime he didn't commit. He needs to keep this job as a jackaroo to re-build his reputation. But he can't seem to shake the protective instinct Jenna awakens, when he sees through her lies to her desperate vulnerability. She's so full of contradictions, he's not sure she's worth fighting for. When they become trapped together in the desert, Dan admits she provokes emotions he thought buried deep. Jenna is drawn to Dan's courageous heart and welcoming smile, but desperate not to reveal her secret, will she revert to her habit of running away when the murderer reappears? Or will she let him help her, and turn the hunter into the hunted? What I Thought: I enjoyed this one – new author for me.

Book: Death Run (Rich & Jade)

Summary: Twins Rich and Jade Chance are on vacation with their father, master spy John Chanceaor so they think. The British government actually sent their father to keep tabs on a Swiss banker who is trying to escape from the Tiger, a ruthless criminal. But the banker is captured and taken to a remote Scottish castleaalong with Rich Now itas up to Jade and her father to rescue them. Will they be able to stop the Tiger before Richas time runs out? What I Thought: Really loved this one. Off to find the next book in the series.

Book: July (Conspiracy 365)

Summary: The double key code still stumps Cal. He travels to a secluded convent to ask his great-aunt Millicent what she knows about the mystery. What I Thought: Awesome read. Bring on the next book.

Book: June (Conspiracy 365)

Summary: The stakes are raised when small-town cops hunt down Cal after his narrow escape in Uncle Bart's plane. What I thought: Loving this series. Looking forward to watching the TV series too.

Book: A New Ending

Summary: Digging for dinosaur bones in the Aussie outback gets complicated when a helicopter pilot with a heart of gold messes up Jo's plans. Joanna spends her days digging up dinosaur fossils in the Queensland outback, dreaming of one day leading her own excavation team. When she saves a kid from a runaway excavator, she has no idea she’ll be getting a golden ticket in the mail to attend a flash party on New Year’s Eve in Sydney’s glamourous harbour. A ticket for her ... plus one. She’s living in a tent. She doesn’t own a dress. She definitely doesn’t have a plus one. But somehow, at the stroke of midnight, she’s going to find herself with a happy new ending. What I thought: Loved this novella – bring on the next book.

Book: Hurricane Gold (Young Bond)

Summary: As the sun blazes over the Caribbean island of Lagrimas Negras, its bloodthirsty ruler is watching and waiting. Criminals come here to hide, with blood on their hands and escape on their minds. On the mainland, in the quiet town of Tres Hermanas, ex-flying ace Jack Stone leaves his son and daughter in the company of James Bond. What I thought: This was a bit slow but certainly ramped up in the end. Really enjoyable.

Book: The Bush Telegraph

Summary: It's been more than ten years since Maddy Locke left Spinifex, the small outback town where she gave birth to her daughter, Bridget. Now she's back to prove she's got what it takes to run the medical centre and face the memories of that challenging time in her life. But everything's changed - the old pub is gone, her new colleagues aren't pleased to see her, and it's drier and hotter than ever. Station owner, Connor Fairhall, thought he'd left the drama behind in Sydney, but moving back to Spinifex with his rebellious son, Jayden, hasn't been the fresh start he'd envisioned. His brother, Kyle, is drinking too much and the only bright spot on the horizon is meeting Nurse Maddy, who's breathing new life into the weary town up the road, little by little. Can Maddy ignore the rumours about Connor and risk her heart again? Or will the bush telegraph spread along the wire fences and stand in the way of trust? What I Thought: A really enjoyable read – nice to revisit this town.