2021 Books in Review

In 2021 I had an excellent reading year with 87 books read. There was more time at home due to COVID so I also managed 54 jigsaws (well down on 2020)!So a quick breakdown: Non-fiction - 6 (mainly about rural stuff) Teen - 25 (So many good teen spy series - hooked. Finished the Conspiracy 365 series which was excellent) Rural Fiction/Romance - 46 (Absolutley loved these again) General Fiction - 10 (a few randoms - bookclub/crime mainly. I listened to 47 audiobooks - generally while driving or re-finding my love of jigsaw puzzles but well down on 2020. So 2022 is here and I will aim again for 52 books - fingers crossed I get there. Before I go my stand out reads.... I LOVED Sanctuary by Judy Nunn - incredible book. And I read the first 3 books in the Matilda Saga by Jackie French - what an incredible series! Happy reading! (Also I think I'm going to switch to Good Reads to record 2022 - might do summary on Facebook)!

Book: Matilda Next Door

Summary: Aussie farm girl Matilda Moore kicks off her dream trip to London by flat-sitting for her childhood friend. But London is daunting, crowded and noisy, and that’s before Tilly finds a baby on the doorstep. There’s a note attached: “Henry, if you’re reading this, please know the worst has happened.” Probability expert Henry Church has finally returned home to Wirralong, Australia to see his grandparents when he gets a phone call from Tilly that breaks every statistical analysis. The probability of him being the father is marginal. Plus, he knows nothing about caring for a baby. Emotions and socializing are even bigger mysteries. He begs Tilly for help—can she cut her holiday short and bring the baby to Wirralong? Tilly will do almost anything for her childhood best friend, but falling in love with him and his motherless baby is an emphatic no. Out of the question. Or is it? What I Thought: A lovely enjoyable read.

Book: Road to Gundagai

Summary: Blue Laurence has escaped the prison of her aunt's mansion to join the Magnifico Family Circus, a travelling troupe that brings glamour and laughter to country towns gripped by the Depression. Blue hides her crippled legs and scars behind the sparkle of a mermaid's costume; but she's not the only member of the circus hiding a dark secret. the unquenchable Madame Zlosky creates as well as foresees futures. The bearded lady is a young man with laughing eyes. A headless skeleton dangles in the House of Horrors. And somewhere a murderer is waiting ... to strike again. This third book in the Waltz for Matilda saga is set in 1932, at the height of the Depression. Miss Matilda is still running Drinkwater Station, but has put aside her own tragedy to help those suffering in tough economic times and Joey, from the Girl from Snowy River, uses his new medical skills to solve a mystery. What I Thought: I was skeptical that this could be as good as the forst 2 with the circus as the theme but boy was I wrong - yet again such a magical magical story. Amazing series so far.

Book: Elsa Goody Bushranger

Summary: 1896 Robe, South Australia When Elsa Goody's father and brother George die in quick succession she and her sister Rosie are in trouble. Pursued by an unpleasant suitor with dubious motivation, Elsa leaves for Victoria on the hunt for a fortune in gold coins that her brother has hidden. If Elsa can find it she will be able to save Rosie and herself from married slavery. Their quest leads them on a cross-country journey to find the last man who saw her brother alive, Ezekiel Jones. But Elsa is not the only one looking for buried treasure. She and Rosie are beset by bushrangers and in the confusion Elsa is accused of being an accomplice. Luckily not everyone believes that Elsa is a criminal. When she finally catches up with Ezekiel, it's clear that for him she can do no wrong. But with everyone chasing her and bloody violence on the horizon, life is becoming increasingly complicated. Will she and Rosie ever manage to solve the mystery, find the gold and free themselves from a dark future? What I Thought: Enjoyable but not my fav of hers. I wanted more bushranger stuff!

Book: Time Will Tell

Summary: When Jess discovered love with Daniel in the tiny outback town of Gowrie, her previous troubled life was cast aside. However, differences in their backgrounds, her doubts about real love and the urge to return and support her twin brother Johnno, forced her to make a decision to leave. A new home in the small community of Tamborine Mountain provides an opportunity to contemplate how she really feels and what is important. Johnno lives nearby and new friends and a romantic encounter give her a fresh start — but is this what she really wants? And if it isn’t, will Daniel welcome her back with open arms? The tranquil setting of Tamborine Mountain joins forces with the outback of Queensland to continue the story of Two Heartbeats. Will the decision be taken out of Jess’s hands, pushing her further away, or will her heart lead her to where she will find true happiness? What I Thought:

Really enjoyed this sequel.

Book: Heartbreak Country

Summary: To overcome her tragic past and move on, Bingun school teacher, Tilly Schroder, longs to love again but her yearning lies neglected. Instinct tells her there is more behind the accidents five years ago but how to uncover the truth? When a stranger returns to the district, change rustles into the small country town. New information comes to light, the catalyst for long hidden revelations. Can Tilly resist his mysterious appeal to finally break free and leave the past behind? What I Thought: Really enjoyed this one and looking forward to more from this author.

Book: Something to Hide

Summary: With the sickening realisation that his cover has been blown, Detective Dave Burrows knows his family is in serious danger from the vicious stock thieves and murderers, Bulldust and his brother Scotty. Devastating news brings Dave back to Barrabine, where circumstances force him to question his determination to stay in the police force. How could he live with himself if anything happened to Mel and the kids? Mel, understandably frightened, must decide who she'll listen to. Can she trust Dave to handle this threat hanging over their family, or is her father right to argue that she should leave her marriage immediately? What I Thought: I enjoyed this one. Really loving the old Dave background. Interesting to see what happend next!

Book: Two Heartbeats

Summary: When Jess heads west for a fresh start in a small mining town, the dusty, outback plains are a far cry from her former life in the city. Despite having no knowledge of country life, she finds herself loving the isolation and local people who she lives with. All she has to do is keep her head down and work hard to create a better life for herself and Johnno, the only person she has ever truly cared about. As relationships develop and change, Jess discovers the caring warmth of a welcoming family and a circle of friends who look out for her. She begins to feel that maybe for once, her life is heading in the right direction. However, problems arise when her temper and stubborn nature collide with her new boss Daniel, who is suspicious of her background story. Has Jess told him everything, or is there a hidden secret to justify his earlier distrust of her? With a cast of eclectic characters, set amidst the rugged outback of Australia, Two Heartbeats is a story of friendship, resilience and the hope that ultimately loving relationships may triumph over obstacles defined by the past. What I Thought: i really enjoyed this - new author on the list!