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!

Book: The Cartographer’s Secret

Summary: 1880 The Hunter Valley - Evie Ludgrove loves to map the landscape around her home - hardly surprising since she grew up in the shadow of her father's obsession with the great Australian explorer Dr Ludwig Leichhardt. So when an advertisement appears in The Bulletin magazine offering a one thousand pound reward for proof of where Leichhardt met his fate, Evie is determined to figure it out - after all, there are clues in her father's papers and in the archives of The Royal Geographical Society. But when Evie sets out to prove her theory she vanishes without a trace, leaving behind a mystery that taints everyone's lives for thirty years. 1911 - When Letitia Rawlings arrives at the family estate in her Model T Ford, her purpose is to inform her great aunt Olivia of a bereavement. But Letitia is also escaping her own problems - her brother's sudden death, her mother's scheming and her own dissatisfaction with the life planned out for her. So when Letitia discovers a beautifully illustrated map that might hold a clue to the fate of her missing aunt, Evie Ludgrove, her curiosity is aroused and she sets out to discover the truth of Evie's disappearance. But all is not as it seems at Yellow Rock estate and as events unfold, Letitia begins to realise that solving the mystery of her family's past could offer as much peril as redemption. What I thought: really enjoyed this - wanted to hear more about the map side of things but interesting none the less!

Book: The Final Siren

Summary: Jed Delaney is a household name and considered one of the best ruckmen in the AFL. But after a devastating career-ending injury, he's faced with returning to the small town of Glengarrick to figure out what comes next. Georgina Purcell always wanted to leave Glengarrick, but ten years after Jed left town taking a secret with him and breaking her heart in the process, she's still stuck wondering what her future holds. When Jed walks back into her life acting like nothing has changed, sparks fly. But their feelings for one another can't change Jed's painful secret...that Georgie might be the reason for his retirement from the game he loves. Will the lure of a new opportunity within the AFL be too much for Jed to walk away from? Or can he leave it all behind for a chance of happiness with Georgie? What I Thought: Loved this one. Bring on book #2.

Book: The Girl From Snowy River

Summary: The year is 1919. Thirty years have passed since the man from Snowy River made his famous ride. But World War I still casts its shadow across a valley in the heart of Australia, particularly for orphaned sixteen-year-old Flinty McAlpine, who lost a brother when the Snowy River men marched away to war. Why has the man Flinty loves returned from the war so changed and distant? Why has her brother Andy 'gone with cattle', leaving Flinty in charge of their younger brother and sister and with the threat of eviction from the farm she loves so dearly? A brumby muster held under the watchful eye of the legendary Clancy of the Overflow offers hope. Now Flinty must ride to save her farm, her family and the valley she loves. Set among the landscapes of the great poems of Australia, this book is a love song to the Snowy Mountains and a tribute to Australia's poets who immortalised so much of our land. The Girl from Snowy River combines passion, heartbreak, history and an enduring love and rich understanding of our land. It continues the grand saga that began with A Waltz for Matilda. What I Thought: Oh such a magical series. Absolutely loved this book. I'll have a little rest then tackle book 3!

Book: Ali Cross - Like Father, Like Son

Summary: When Ali sees a friend get hurt, he's the best person to find out who did it. Even if he's only a kid. After all, he's Alex Cross's son. Solving crimes runs in the family. What I Thought: Another enjoyable book.

Book: Starting Over (Mindalby)

Summary: When fashion designer Serena Quinlan arrives in Mindalby for the annual cotton festival, she is hoping to do two things: meet local leather worker Paul Carey and check out all the 50–year–old men to see if they might be her father. She doesn't expect the explosive attraction she feels towards Paul, nor the untimely and unwanted arrival of her ex–fiance. When her search for her father leads to unexpected results, Serena will be torn between the past she came searching for and the possibility of a future she never expected. Mindalby, a small town, a community, a home. But when the mill that supports the local cotton farmers and employs many of the town's residents closes unexpectedly, old tensions are exposed and new rifts develop. Everyone is affected and some react better than others, but one thing is certain: living on the edge of the outback means they have to survive together, or let their town die. What I Thought: Another enjoyable read. Need to give the small town a break though before returning!

Bookgroup Book: The Art of Free Travel - A Frugal Family Adventure

Summary:

Patrick, Meg and their family had built a happy, sustainable life in regional Victoria. But in late 2013, they found themselves craving an adventure: a road trip. But theirs was a road trip with a difference. With Zephyr (10), Woody (1) and Zero their Jack Russell, they set off on an epic 6,000km year-long cycling journey along Australia's east coast, from Daylesford to Cape York and back. Their aim was to live as cheaply as possible - guerrilla camping, hunting, foraging and bartering their permaculture skills, and living on a diet of free food, bush tucker, and the occasional fresh road kill. They spent time in Aboriginal communities, joined an anti-fracking blockade, documented edible plants, and dodged speeding cars and trucks on the country's most dangerous highways. What I Thought: Abcolutely loved this book. Totally sucked in. What an amazing adventure.

Book: Midwife in the Jungle

Summary: Jacinta McLeod met Dr Jonah Armstrong delirious with malaria, and, even then, she needed to fight off the urge to know more about this fascinating patient. When the chance came to follow him to the wilds of Papua New Guinea and into a dangerous medical mission up the Sepik River, she took it, despite Jonah’s absolute ‘no’! Jonah had already lost his baby sister in the unsafe world of PNG. Now headstrong Jacinta had arrived, and he had to keep her safe. Despite his efforts, very soon they were both held captive in the jungle with a death sentence over their heads. There was too little time to admit how much he wished he could spend his life with her. Who will save them both?? What I Thought: Easy enjoyable read.

Book: Magpie's Bend

Summary: Bush nurse Lara McIntyre and journalist Toby Paxton are thrust into the limelight when an accident puts the beating heart of their community in jeopardy. The small country town of Bridgefield can't manage without their general store and post office, but Lara can't stomach the idea of out-of-town buyers revamping it with no regard for what the residents want or need. She's also unsure about where Toby's allegiances lie in this fight. Loyalties are put to the test as the locals attempt to save the shop, with personal agendas, old grudges and misunderstandings threatening their best efforts. What I Thought: Really loved this one. Also familiar settings which I love!

Book: Thorn on the Rose

Summary: Pearl in a Cage ended in May 1939 when, just fifteen years old, Jenny Morrison fled Woody Creek for a new life in Melbourne. She left behind a dysfunctional family, a town of small-minded gossips and, most tragically, a newborn baby – the product of a vicious rape. Mustering all her strength, she resolved to put her past behind her, reclaim her identity and pursue her dream of becoming a famous singer... Yet just months later she is back – wiser and with an expensive new wardrobe – but with a second child growing in her belly. Cruelly labelled the 'town slut', she finds refuge in Gertrude, her kind-hearted, dependable granny and Woody Creek's indomitable midwife, and settles into a routine in the ever-expanding household. Exactly how Vern Cooper – the one man Gertrude truly loves – fits into this family of misfits is something that Gertrude will have to grapple with. Jenny thrives and, daring once again to dream, leaves Woody Creek for a second time and moves to Sydney, where at last it seems that the beautiful young songstress may find happiness...But can the past ever truly be buried? And will Jenny Morrison ever fulfil her destiny? What I Thought: Wow - I wasn't sure if book 2 would be any good but by gosh this was just as brilliant. What an amazing author. I'll have a break again before tackling book 3!

Book: Diamonds & Dust

Summary: Sheryl McCorry grew up in the outback carrying crocodiles to school for show and tell. When she was 18 her family moved to Broome, and it was the first time she'd ever used a telephone or seen a television. A year later, only hours after being railroaded into marriage by a fast-talking Yank, Sheryl locked eyes with Bob McCorry, a drover and buffalo shooter. When her marriage ended after only a few months, they began a love affair that would last a lifetime and take them to the Kimberley's harshest frontiers. Sheryl became the only woman in a team of stockmen. She soon learned how to run rogue bulls and to outsmart the neighbours in the toughest game of all – mustering cattle. The playing field was a million acres of unfenced, unmarked boundaries. Sheryl went on to become the first woman in the Kimberley to run two million-acre cattle stations, but her life was not without its share of tragedy. Her story is an epic saga of life in one of the toughest and most beautiful terrains in Australia – a story of hardship, drought, joy and triumph. What I Thought: I love these reads. Looking forward to book 2!

Book: The Wild One

Summary: Can four wounded souls find love? Iraq war veteran Dan Mitchell once disobeyed an order – and it nearly destroyed him. Now a national park ranger in the Australian outback, he’s faced with another order he is unwilling to obey ... Photographer Rachel Quinn seeks out beauty in unlikely places. Her work comforted Dan in his darkest days. But Quinn knows darkness too – and Dan soon realises she needs his help as much as he needs hers. Carrie Bryant was a talented jockey until a racing accident broke her nerve. Now Dan and Quinn need her expertise, but can she face her fear? And could horse breeder, Justin Fraser, a man fighting to save his own heritage, be the man to help put that fear to rest? The wounds you can’t see are the hardest to heal... What I Thought: Really enjoyed returning to this town. Lovely book.

Book: Theodore Boone - The Accomplice

Summary: Theo has been worried about his good friend Woody Lambert. Woody is struggling at school and making bad choices. But when Woody is arrested—an unwitting accomplice to armed robbery—Theo knows he is innocent. Racing the clock while Woody sits in jail, Theo will do everything in his power to help his friend and save Woody from an unforgiving system where justice is not equal for all. What I Thought: I love Theo - easy read.

Book: Johnny Delgado - Like Father, Like Son

Summary: The Foster Estate is on the verge of a gang war. But Johnny's got problems of his own. Find the man who killed his father, find out why, get revenge. The truth is out there. Johnny just needs to kick down a few doors to get it. What I Thought: Again an easy enjoyable read.