Boondaburra by Natalie Lonsdale

Boondaburra 
by Natalie Lonsdale

About the Author

Natalie Lonsdale is a former Early Childhood Educator who is currently studying to be a Library Technician. Natalie loves children's literature, photography, travelling, history, and eucalyptus trees. Boondaburra is Natalie's first book, and she is working on several more. Natalie has a heart to write stories that encourage children to delight in God's word and in His love.

About the Book:

Boondaburra is sad. Why do the other animals make fun of him just because he is different?When tragedy strikes in the Australian bush, Boondaburra learns that being unique has its advantages. Boondaburra is the story of a platypus' journey from rejection to accepting and understanding his uniqueness, and the friends who come to accept and admire those differences.

My Thoughts:

I love this book.

Boondaburra is a gentle-natured little platypus who loves swimming in the billabong. Many of the other animals make mean and cutting remarks about his physical appearance and he can't help shedding a few tears. But Boondaburra has a wise mother who explains that the Creator surely made them unique for a special purpose. One day, during a raging bushfire, he finds himself in the position where he needs to use his features to be a hero.

I've come across many other stories aimed to help children cope with the effects of teasing and this is one of my favourites. The illustrations are so poignant, cute and accurate. I love how the sensitive theme is all tied in with some excellent background knowledge about Australian flora and fauna. Great teamwork by Natalie Lonsdale and Shannon Melville. I hope Kindy and Junior Primary School teachers all across the country use it for story times. 

 

Ellenvale Gold

Ellenvale Gold
by Amanda Deed

About the Author

Amanda Deed grew up in the South Eastern suburbs of Melbourne in a Christian home, and found faith at an early age. She has followed her passion to serve the Lord through music and literature since her teen years. Now married, with three children, Amanda enjoys the variety of being a mother, finance administrator, musician and historical romance writer. Her debut novel, The Game, won the 2010 CALEB Prize for fiction, and Ellenvale Gold was a finalist for the same prize in 2012. For more information go to www.amandadeed.com.au.

Website is http://www.amandadeed.com.au/

About the Book:

It is the time of Australia’s harsh rogue-filled goldrush of the 1850’s when Miss Penelope Worthington suddenly finds herself orphaned, isolated and alone. With a large sheep station to run single-handedly, she has little option but to enlist the aid of a mysterious, but sinister stranger.
But who is the more treacherous? Gus—the scruffy, trespassing, ex-convict who co-incidentally shows up looking for work just when she desperately needs a farmhand or Rupert—the handsome, wealthy neighbour who would willingly marry her at the drop of a hat and solve her apparent dilemma?
Repeatedly, her faith is tested as she faces the unforgiving elements, deceit, lies and uncertainty. But where and how will it all end? But…is it the end? Will vengeance return or
will Penny’s faith prevail?

My thoughts:

What I loved about this book is that it was more than just a good romance novel. The hardships faced by brave pioneers living in the goldrush era were a highlight for me. Miss Penny Worthington couldn't sit back and daydream about her two suitors. She had to use all her fitness and intelligence just to stay alive. Yet, as you'll see in the story, the Australian bush is more than just a harsh, hot place settlers found themselves. It was full of beauty and surprises for those with courage and determination to stick it out. I like seeing books set in this time period in Australia. The heroine's gradual softening and change of heart gives a nice dimension of character development.   

Ellenvale Gold Available at Amazon

Tangled Secrets

Tangled Secrets
By Carol Preston

About the Author

Carol lives in Wollongong, NSW with her husband, Neil. As well as writing novels based on her family history, Carol has a private counselling practice and enjoys reading, gardening, spending time with her four grandchildren and bushwalking. She has pursued with great admiration the lives of her ancestors in Australia and has greatly enjoyed writing novels based on their stories and the inspiring history of the Australian people. For more information about Carol's books and her other interests she can be contacted on her website: www.carolpreston.com.au

About the book

In tragic circumstances Beth and her brothers are left in England to grow up without their parents. When Beth's childhood dream to be reunited with her father in Australia finally eventuates she finds that dreams do not always come true.The reality she faces is a tangled web of disappointment, deceit and mistakes. Further abandonment follows. Will she ever find true love? And will she discover she doesn't have to be alone before it is too late?Set in the early colonial days of New South Wales and based on real characters in the mid 1800s.Revisit Charlotte and Thomas from Charlotte's Angel and Mary's Guardian, and meet new characters in this new novel by Carol Preston. Mary's Guardian was a finalist in the fiction section of CALEB 2011.

MY THOUGHTS

By now, I've read enough books by Carol Preston to have an idea of what I may expect. She writes well-crafted stories set in Australia's Colonial period, and because they are based on her own family history research, the plots may take sudden and surprising twists. "Tangled Secrets" was no exception. It is very easy to feel empathy for the heroine, Beth, who believed she was acting wisely to get herself out of a bad family situation and instead, found herself in a far worse predicament. As readers, we know the signs were there from the very start, but that's part of what makes reading fun. We can't always make wise predictions in our own lives but at least we can do it in books.

I was pleased to revisit Charlotte and Thomas from "Charlotte's Angel" as I'd been wondering how they'd been finding married life. Yet although I'd recommend that each book in the series be read consecutively, it isn't highly necessary, as each story focuses on different characters and sits alone.

Knowing that the author, Carol Preston, is a psychologist in her work apart from writing, I could understand how she was able to write the thinking patterns and habits of characters such as William Thorne so convincingly. I was very satisfied with the way Beth's story ended for her and hope you will be too.

Tangled Secrets Available at Amazon

God's Poetry

God's Poetry
By Anne Hamilton

About the Author:

Anne Hamilton, a longtime writer and mathematician, has a number of publications to her name. Anne has a trilogy of short books about how maths integrates with God’s great creation called The Singing Silence The Winging Word an The Listening Land. She has just had published her 27 year project a young adult fantasy Many-Coloured Realm.

Short Book Description:

What’s in a name? Shakespeare said a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. But is that true? Are names simply labels to be swapped around indiscriminately? Or are they more significant? God’s Poetry is about identity and destiny as well as the ancient concept of the power of names to body forth purpose and meaning. It’s also about why most of us never come into the calling prophetically breathed into what we are called.

Genre: Non Fiction

My Thoughts

A couple of people I showed this book to thought it was a poetry book and immediately said, "No thanks, I don't read poetry." I want to make it clear that this is not a poetry book but rather, the title suggests that we, with the names we're given, are each individual works of God's poetry. If you venture into the book, get ready for some amazing, true-life examples of how peoples' names have shaped not only their characters but their life's works. Several times, I thought, "Wow, that must be more than a coincidence." It is not light reading for relaxing with, but something meaty for those times you feel like delving deeply into some interesting study. Towards the end, Anne Hamilton gives some tips on how we might begin to plumb the mysteries of our own names or those of others, but I don't dare to think I could ever do as complete and thorough a job as she does. It did make me wonder, "What have I set in motion for my kids, through the names I've chosen?" Altogether, an unusual and interesting read.

God's Poetry Available at Amazon

A Simple Mistake

About the Author:

Andrea Grigg grew up in Auckland, New Zealand, but has lived most of her life in Australia. She lives with her husband on Queensland's Gold Coast, where they have raised their three adult children – two daughters and a son. If she isn't teaching ten-year-olds, being a domestic executive or socialising, Andrea can be found in her cave, writing stories.

Short Book Description:

When Nick and Lainey meet again after 10 years so much has changed. Nick is now a famous celebrity and Lainey is the girl he left behind. As a member of a highly successful band and with an emerging acting career Nick can have any girl he wants. Now he wants Lainey back.

They had been so close when growing up, but after Nick left to seek fame and fortune, Lainey had never heard from him again. Now she has moved on from what she felt for Nick as a teenager. Or has she?

After discovering what kept them apart for so long, they tentatively rekindle their past romance. The feelings are just as strong as before but can Lainey accept Nick's lack of faith? And can their new relationship survive Lainey's secret?

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

My Thoughts:
This is a good, chunky, contemporary read. I found it interesting that its starting point, in a way, occurs at the spot where many other fiction stories end. After years of estrangement, misunderstanding and the passage of time, the hero and heroine have found each other again. They are mutually interested in pursuing what might have been. That's not a common spot to start. The big feature of this story, though, is the fact that Nick is now a well-known celebrity in both the music industry and on the screen. Both he and Lainey have huge adaptations to make, as they know their relationship can never be quite like it was before. This was written very believably and well. There are even threads left open for a possible sequel. I'd be interested to see whether they can trace the whereabouts of another pivotal character named Liam, who wasn't introduced in this story.   

A Simple Mistake Available at Amazon

Back to Resolution by Rose Dee

Back to Resolution Available at Amazon

by Rose Dee

About the Author:

Rose Dee

Rose Dee was born in Ingham, North Queensland, Australia. Her childhood experiences growing up in a small beach community would later provide inspiration for her first novel.

Rose, who holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree, decided to try her hand at writing two years ago. The result of that attempt is her first novel, 'Back to Resolution'.

Her novels are inspired by the love of her coastal home and desire to produce exciting and contemporary stories of faith for women.

Rose’s other releases include, 'Beyond Resolution' - the second book in the 'Resolution' series. And ‘A New Resolution’ – the final book in the series.

Rose has also co-written a novel in conjunction with three other outstanding Australian Authors; ‘The Greenfield Legacy’.

Rose resides in Mackay, North Queensland with her husband, young son, and mischievous pup, Noodle.

Book Description:

Back To Resolution

Bay Anders is lost. She enjoys every privilege a wealthy upbringing affords, but the void in her soul refuses to be filled.
Her mother's dying revelation drives Bay to the brink of self destruction, before a move to Australia changes everything. She embarks upon a search for her father that leads her to his island home, into a hazardous melting pot of hostile locals and a mystery – her father's disappearance.
The only person who can help her is a strong, selfassured and intensely magnetic man. Bay must fight an overwhelming attraction to stay focused on her goal.

Flynn McKenna is hiding from the world. A past filled with mistakes drove him to withdraw from society and live in seclusion. But the arrival of a woman he cannot avoid
shatters his solitary existence. As the search for Bay's father unites them, can he resist his desire for her?
It becomes a race against time as developers try to take over the island.

From the glittering streets of LA, to the beautiful
Daintree forest in North Queensland, to the idyllic island `Resolution', Back to Resolution is a romantic mystery that shows how far a little faith can go.

Website - http://rosedee.com/

My Thoughts

  I'm glad this book was chosen to review in December as it's ideal for Christmas holidays. 

The heroine, Bay, can't express what she needs in words but senses that none of her friends can supply it anyway. When she's cut off without a cent by her stepfather, an offer to work as a photographer in Australia's lush, tropical Daintree seems the only option open to her.

An incredible lead to her long-lost father who has almost receded from her memory draws her to an island paradise named Resolution. She meets two extremes of Aussie manhood; the gruff and enigmatic Flynn, who hides more than a painful past behind his thick beard, and the fastidious and un-chivalrous Ashley, who seems ill-equipped for his job as park ranger. Bay has no idea that a world of crime lurks beneath the idyllic setting and that she has what some crooks desperately need.

As summer holiday season is upon us here in Australia, this is the perfect book to tuck away in your luggage to read while sitting by pools drinking pina-colada (if you get the chance). I'd love to be sitting on the sandy shore of Resolution watching the sun set over the horizon.

Back to Resolution Available at Amazon

"Sooner or Later we all Stop Laughing" by Roz Baker

Beth Conroy is no ordinary heroine. She's a middle-aged vagrant with lack-lustre hair over a parched and haggard face and for some reason, she's traveling alone in one of the most harsh, dust bowl regions of Australia. When she settles for the job of cook at a filthy lumberjack's camp for pittance, the reader can't help wondering why she'd bother. Her plucky and unflinching spirit and the way she handles herself in an environment that would send any other woman running is incredible. The question which begs answering is what has happened in Beth's past to bring her there. That is the question which the rest of the book answers.

The story weaves deftly between scenes from Beth's former, completely different lifestyle and her new existence at the camp. When I found out the horrendous circumstances she suffered, my admiration for her increased tenfold. Is there a chance that anything good can enter Beth's life in such a seemingly God-forsaken place when everything that ever meant anything to her had already been stripped away? Can she possibly bring her innate strength and goodness to help anybody else, releasing her personal bitterness and anger at the same time? Can there be such a thing as renewed love in her life? I must warn other readers to keep a box of tissues on hand. If you're like me, you'll definitely need them.

It's no surprise that it takes a remarkable author to create such an amazing heroine. Roz Baker is a national speaker and author who travels around Australia sharing her own story of survival from brain surgery as well as how she has managed her career as a self-published author with incredible success. "Sooner or Later we all Stop Laughing" is now in its 4th print run and selling even better than it did when it was first released in 2004. Over 20 000 books have been sold in the trilogy. You can visit her at www.rozbaker.com.au or contact her at PO Box 4003, Forster, 2428 NSW. Her new book, "Seed of Hope" is also available as both hard copy and e-copy for kindle.

 Sooner Or Later We All Stop Laughing Available at Amazon