It was 1969 when Dawn Ellis, Tommy, Patty, Carol and Keith headed in Tommy's combi van to a weekend of music, peace, freedom and love, across America It was 1969 when Dawn Ellis, Tommy, Patty, Carol and Keith headed in Tommy's combi van to a weekend of music, peace, freedom and love, across America to Woodstock. Dawn's parents had been reluctant for her to go, but her older sister, Ruth, had managed to persuade them. She was so excited, as were all the young people. The crowds were phenomenal; the atmosphere electric; the music out of this world. But the Woodstock weekend changed the lives of those five young people forever...
2010 and fashion photographer Sydney Meredith was heading home to her parents between photo shoots when she received a call from a hospital, stating Sydney was next of kin to a woman called Destiny, who was in a coma. The woman on the phone was bemused when Sydney said she didn't know the woman, and wouldn't be coming. But questions to her parents and their reactions, sent Sydney on the next plane to Santa Monica. And then the secrets and lies, the heartache and confusion, started to come to the surface.
Woodstock is an extraordinary and outstanding historical novel by Aussie author Michelle Montebello which I totally loved! This author writes wonderful stories, with all I've read a hit! This one is up there with one of her best. The characters are so realistic, the time of Woodstock when peace was felt by the crowds, on the back of the horrific war in Vietnam - all came together to create an exceptional novel with plenty of twists along the way. Highly recommended.
With thanks to the author for my digital uncorrected proof ARC to read and review....more
Detective Sergeant Bec Harpin loved her little home on the mountain, not worrying about the daily commute into Melbourne, but the night a friend3.5�s
Detective Sergeant Bec Harpin loved her little home on the mountain, not worrying about the daily commute into Melbourne, but the night a friend, barrister Carolyn Moorhouse, called her, asking her to come to her office immediately, Bec didn't hesitate. This time the drive seemed longer than usual, but when Bec arrived, and was confronted by Carolyn's distraught assistant, and a dead body lying between them on the floor, Bec was stunned. Why hadn't Carolyn called the police? Did she even know the woman she'd called friend for many years?
When police were called to a small unit in suburban Melbourne by a neighbour, they were shocked to see an elderly woman bound and gagged in a chair, dead. Doreen was a well loved neighbour, quiet and unassuming, and in a nearby unit, actor Nikki Cardone was shattered by Doreen's death. With Bec being transferred to Doreen's death as she was too close to the Moorhouse crime, she and her two offsiders - Wendy and Shaun - worked hard to come up with answers. It seemed the more they searched, the more questions they had...
One Night is the 2nd in A Bec Harpin Crime Series by Aussie author Rozzi Bazzani and I enjoyed the detailed plot, the twists and intrigue, which spread to Sydney as well as around Melbourne and the nearby countryside. Recommended.
With thanks to the author for my digital ARC to read and review....more
FBI Agent Eden Cross returned to her home town of Adamstown, not only to catch up with her family, but to continue her quest to discover her best4.5�s
FBI Agent Eden Cross returned to her home town of Adamstown, not only to catch up with her family, but to continue her quest to discover her best friend, Morgan Anderson's whereabouts. Morgan went missing ten years prior, and Eden's whole life from then on had been spent wondering what had happened. She continued to hold her suspicions about Morgan's then boyfriend, to the point of being blinded to anything else. But when human remains were found in the Raven's Lake Mine site, the FBI were brought in. Was it Morgan?
The Collector was devastated his collection had been discovered. All the years of work he'd put in - gone. Would he have to start his hunt again? He couldn't stop now...
The Collector is the 1st in the Eden Cross series by husband & wife team, Aussie authors Bill Duncan and Catherine Lee and although it was a little rough at the beginning, it soon settled into an intense and gripping rhythm. Eden is a feisty character, a little too hot headed, but hopefully she'll soon relax into her role. A read I enjoyed, The Collector is one I can easily recommend.
With thanks to the authors for my digital ARC to read and review.
Merged review:
4.5�s
FBI Agent Eden Cross returned to her home town of Adamstown, not only to catch up with her family, but to continue her quest to discover her best friend, Morgan Anderson's whereabouts. Morgan went missing ten years prior, and Eden's whole life from then on had been spent wondering what had happened. She continued to hold her suspicions about Morgan's then boyfriend, to the point of being blinded to anything else. But when human remains were found in the Raven's Lake Mine site, the FBI were brought in. Was it Morgan?
The Collector was devastated his collection had been discovered. All the years of work he'd put in - gone. Would he have to start his hunt again? He couldn't stop now...
The Collector is the 1st in the Eden Cross series by husband & wife team, Aussie authors Bill Duncan and Catherine Lee and although it was a little rough at the beginning, it soon settled into an intense and gripping rhythm. Eden is a feisty character, a little too hot headed, but hopefully she'll soon relax into her role. A read I enjoyed, The Collector is one I can easily recommend.
With thanks to the authors for my digital ARC to read and review....more
Lottie Fairchild was the owner of a little antique shop in Banalla in New South Wales, and loved history; she researched and had started writing a booLottie Fairchild was the owner of a little antique shop in Banalla in New South Wales, and loved history; she researched and had started writing a book about the generations of women in her family. The town was in the process of organising a festival which would focus on long ago bushranger Jack McNally, with Lottie one of the committee members. Lottie's best friend Cher, was descended from the notorious bushranger and was also keen to discover more. When the guest of honour, history professor and author Damien Loxley, arrived on a black beast of a motor bike, he was nothing like the committee had imagined - Lottie spent some time showing him the area, the sights and historical buildings, before the festival. But it was the search for a colonial woman who had vanished one hundred and fifty years prior, which added to the mystery; it felt like looking for a needle in a haystack. Would they discover evidence of Catherine's life and death?
Needle in a Haystack is another exceptional read by Aussie author Karly Lane which I thoroughly enjoyed. Combining the historical elements was well done; the current day research, the characters and more, were excellent. Highly recommended.
With thanks to Allen & Unwin AU for my ARC to read and review....more
Kate and Riley arrived in Forest Gully, all prepared for a new start. The drive from Tenterfield to southern Victoria had been a long one, and K4.5�s
Kate and Riley arrived in Forest Gully, all prepared for a new start. The drive from Tenterfield to southern Victoria had been a long one, and Kate was nervous about being Riley's full time carer after her sister, Riley's mother, had died. But she was determined. She loved her nephew dearly; the property she had bought for them would hopefully see them right. Her new neighbour, Gus, seemed like he didn't want a neighbour of any sort. Their two properties were running together with no fences between and the sheep were all on the verandah when Kate and Riley arrived. As Kate grew to know Gus, and he them, their differences were obvious. Gus wanted to hide away from everyone due to his past. Kate was a caring person, wanting to help her new community. What would be the outcome for these two people who'd had trauma in their pasts? And would Riley settle into Forest Gully successfully?
Sheep Gully Road is my first read by Aussie author Laurelle Cousins and I'll definitely be looking at her previous books. She successfully created three (plus) excellent characters, with Kate, Riley and Gus. But also Speedy (Gus' dog) and the townsfolk, most of who were great. I enjoyed Sheep Gully Road very much, and recommend it highly.
With thanks to the author for my digital ARC to read and review....more
Feargus Kincaid was a volatile individual, with anger always close by. But he was also a kind and gentle man when the mood struck him. His main probleFeargus Kincaid was a volatile individual, with anger always close by. But he was also a kind and gentle man when the mood struck him. His main problem was the drink, which was to prove his undoing throughout most of his life. When he was walking his girlfriend Valma, home from her late night shift at the pub, they were set on by three thugs. If it hadn't been for Gus' mate, Paddy, that would have been it for both of them. Gradually, crime, gangsters, even the Mafia, filtered through Gus' life, and his two sons Jamie and Malcolm as well as his sister, Maggie, bore the brunt. Life in and around Perth, as well as Kalgoorlie, was hard, with the vast, unforgiving landscapes, and complications seemed around every corner...
Beginning in 1939 and spanning 27 years, Feargus, although it's book #2, is actually set prior to the first in the series, GOLD!. It centres around Feargus, who is a very unlikeable character, his sons, and their lives over those 27 years. Aussie author Thomas Greenbank has written of the harsh climate, the severe living conditions especially with rationing during the war years and for some time after, and the stand over merchants who threatened businesses on a weekly, if not a daily basis. Domestic violence features as well, in a time when it was "okay" to beat your wife and kids!!! (I really like the cover!) Recommended to fans of dark Aussie noir.
With thanks to the author for my digital ARC to read and review....more
Erica Masters left Perth, her son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter after learning her abusive husband, Geoff, had changed his will to leave everythiErica Masters left Perth, her son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter after learning her abusive husband, Geoff, had changed his will to leave everything to Kieran. She was shocked, but when Kieran said he would need to sell the family home, and Erica could move in with them, she decided a complete new start was what she needed, and Pelican Crossing on the east coast of Australia, where her brother lived and where she'd lived as a youngster, was calling to her. And as she settled into her new life in the Crossing, she realised she felt free at last.
Jamie Whittaker had lived in Pelican Crossing his whole life, was a fisherman and charter boat owner. His wife had left him with two teenage boys who had now grown into young men he was proud of; it was rough when Cindy left, but he knew he was happier without her. When he knew Erica was back in town, his memories shot back to when they were high school sweethearts. He still felt the same about Erica, but would she feel the same as him?
Safe Harbour in Pelican Crossing is the 5th in the Pelican Crossing series by Aussie author Maggie Christensen and it was nice to catch up with old "friends" from previous books. Such a closely integrated community - I'd love to visit :) Recommended.
With thanks to the author for my digital ARC to read and review....more
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