Red Dirt Home

By: Renae Black

ISBN: 9781038 900852

HQ Fiction (2024)

This is just the sort of romantic fiction I enjoy most – a genuine story with some real substance to it beyond the romance. It’s believable and moving, while still respecting the tropes of the genre.

Paige Bennett has found her dream job as a station hand at Whitetail Ridge. And then one day an unexpected act of violent betrayal leaves her mentally and emotionally devastated, homeless, and unemployed.

Paige’s best friend works on Karilga Station, which is more or less Whitetail Ridge’s neighbour, with of course significant distances involved. Paige winds up there. She’s uncertain of a lot of things, including how comfortable she might be there in the long term. Not only will she have to deal with her immediate problems, but there’s a long time prickly relationship with the owner’s son to grapple with.

Jackson Brady is a player, and hasn’t shown a lot of commitment to anything. In fact, an explosive argument with his father eight months ago resulted in him being kicked off the station. He’s drawn back at the same time Paige arrives, as the result of a serious accident which incapacitates his father. He’s always been attracted to Paige, but she’s had no interest in being another of his conquests.

This is not just a story of Paige and Jackson’s relationship. It’s also a story of Jackson maturing and growing into his potential, and of Paige learning to deal with an all too common trauma.

This is a sensitively written novel. Black walks the line between explicit and too reticent with great tact. Throughout the novel, Paige’s feelings and reactions are treated with great compassion. Some might say that some of this is resolved a bit too quickly, but that’s merely a function of the time frame of the novel. It’s certainly not painted as easy.

Similarly, Jackson’s story is also quite compressed, though in his case that’s in part because it’s been forced on him by his father’s accident. I found it credible, and again Black treats him with considerable compassion and a lack of judgement.

The majority of characters are very empathetic, and all are realistic and strongly drawn. Despite a strong plot, I felt this was a very character driven novel. Most readers will care about the characters, and be drawn into their stories quickly and easily.

This novel should appeal strongly to most romance readers. It should also appeal to readers who like character based stories, including people who turn up their noses at romance as too shallow or cliched. Neither accusation could be leveled at this very enjoyable novel.