Summer of Serenity

By: Nicola Marsh ISBN: 978-1-8672-2540-9 Mira (2021) “Summer of Serenity” is a light and undemanding romance that has a lot of pleasures for romance readers, but also a significant flaw. Near Acacia Haven, a small Victorian town, is the intentional living community of Serenity. Summer O’Reilly has grown up in Acacia Haven and supports many … Continue reading Summer of Serenity →

The River Mouth

By: Karen Herbert ISBN: 9 781760 990466 Fremantle Press (2021) “The River Mouth” by Karen Herbert plays out as a crime novel, but is just as much a social commentary about sexism, racism, and secrets. It’s dark and absorbing, and I found myself ruminating on it for some time after I’d finished it. The story … Continue reading The River Mouth →

Spring Blossoms at Mill Grange

Author: Jenny Kane ISBN: 9781800246058 Aria Fiction (2021) “Spring Blossoms at Mill Grange” is an engaging little love story. It is part of a series, but stands well on its’ own. Mill Grange is a manor house in England. Sam and Tina are restoring it, turning it into a retreat for Veterans. Because they use … Continue reading Spring Blossoms at Mill Grange →

Till Daph Do Us Part

By: Phillipa Nefri Clark ISBN: 978-0-6488652-2-3 Self published (2021) “Till Daph Do We Part” is a novel that falls smack bang into the middle ground. It’s not dreadful, but nor is it particularly good or memorable. It’s just mildly diverting. John has retired from the day to day operations of his real estate agent. Now … Continue reading Till Daph Do Us Part →

The Marriage Sabbatical

By: Gemma Johns ISBN: doesn’t appear to have one Spectrum Books (2021) “The Marriage Sabbatical” revolves around an interesting premise and a credible plot. However, flat characters and unemotional and unengaging writing made it a bit of an effort to read. Charli is the youngest of three sisters, and when her wife announces that she … Continue reading The Marriage Sabbatical →

Permafrost

By: SJ Norman ISBN: 978-0-7022-6342-2 University of Queensland Press (2021) “Permafrost” is a collection of short stories, although one is close to novella length. It’s a collection that is likely to arouse strong feelings: some will immediately loathe it, while others will love it. Each of the stories is deliberately ambiguous; there is no clear … Continue reading Permafrost →

A Song of Flight

(A Warrior Bards Novel) By: Juliet Marillier ISBN:978-1-76078-423-2 Macmillan (2021) “A Song of Flight” is the third in a trilogy, and the latest in an extended series of lightly linked novels set in the same world. Despite this, it’s fairly accessible to new readers. While it will be most enjoyable to those who have been … Continue reading A Song of Flight →

Echoes of War

By: Tania Blanchard ISBN: 978 0 7553 7929 3 Simon and Schuster (2021) “Echoes of War” is a historical fiction set in Europe, but with links to Australia through some non-fictional aspects. It’s a novel that will appeal to plenty of readers, but which failed to connect with me. It’s frustrating to read a novel … Continue reading Echoes of War →