Book Shelf: Love Song (Daughters of the Outback #3) by Sasha Wasley

There was something about Charlie. Something about the way he questioned and teased her, brought her outside of herself … the way he’d made her crash headlong into love just by singing to her.

At age seventeen, Beth Paterson was determined to study medicine at university, despite the heartache of losing her mother. Tutoring Charlie Campbell worked well with her plan – but falling in love with him sure didn’t, and neither did getting her heart broken when he abruptly left town.

Now Charlie is a big star on the alternative rock scene, while Beth is a respected doctor in her hometown. When Charlie comes back to fight for the tiny community where he was raised, neither one of them can ignore the resurgence of wild attraction they once shared.

Beth swore no man would ever hurt her again – least of all this man. But some love songs can never be forgotten, especially when they were written for you …

From the author of Dear Banjo comes a book to make your heart sing and your spirits soar.

More info on Goodreads.....


Review:

Love Song is the third instalment in Sasha Wasley’s Daughters of the Outback series and is another deftly told rural fiction that smoulders with romance, friendship and the Australian heart.

As a teenager close to finishing school, Beth Paterson was determined to study medicine and tutoring Charlie Campell fit in beautifully with her plan. Talented in music and eager, Charlie was one of the few Indigenous kids in the region and had something special about him that made falling in love with him almost effortless….until the day he abruptly left town and broke Beth’s heart. Fast forward almost two decades and Charlie is a successful singer and Beth a highly respected doctor in town. Returning to Mount Claire for the first time since he left, Charlie is hoping to stand up for the local community where he was raised and with Beth’s seeing to their medical needs, crossing paths was almost inevitable. As is the renewed spark of attraction that surges between them. Beth swore no man would ever hurt her the way Charlie did but as old feelings resurface, will Beth give the one who broke her heart another chance? Or will she lose out on a true chance of love due to old hurts and wounded pride?

I’m not naturally drawn to rural fiction, but if they were all written the way Sasha Wasley writes her novels, I may just be converted! Beautifully written and emotionally rich, Love Song is a passionate and poignant story about first love and the ones that stay with you. Set in the stunning Kimberley valley and the Australian outback, Love Song offers a glimpse into natural Australian heritage and wilderness as protagonist and eldest Patterson daughter Beth finds herself coming into contact with her first love; a man whose rejection left her heartbroken.

As with sisters Willow and Free, I was excited to begin Beth’s story and looking forward to getting to know this practical and meticulous doctor. Beth has always come across as serious and organised in a way her sisters haven’t. Perhaps this is a side effect of being the oldest sibling and having to take on extra responsibility after their mothers passing, but it was refreshing to see a softer, vulnerable side to Beth. She was left shattered when Charlie left, effectively ending their relationship, and as Love Song progresses, there is a lot of emotions and feelings that need to be addressed by Beth before she is ready to trust and take a chance again.

I found I really appreciated the Indigenous aspect that was included within the story. Aboriginal heritage is so ingrained in our Australian history and I don’t think we as a society often offer it the respect they as a people and a culture deserve. I loved that Sasha Wasley wrote about an indigenous love interest who was successful and grounded as well as exploring their communities while paying homage to both their history and current situations. Charlie was sexy as hell and his nieces Jill and Pearl adorable. The moments with the Madjinbarra community felt authentic and well executed on Wasley’s part.

Throughout the series I have fallen in love with Willow, Free and Beth and have enjoyed seeing them find their own happily ever afters. Love Song marks the end of the series but Sasha Wasley ties everything up beautifully and leaves readers feeling satisfied that all three sisters will live a lifetime of love and happiness. Wonderfully written and littered with Australian heritage and mannerisms, Love Song concludes a fantastic rural fiction series that I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend!

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by publisher (Thank you Sofia!)
Publisher: Penguin Random House
Format: Paperback
Australian RRP: $32.99
Release Date: June 4th 2019
Buy: Angus & Robertson | Booktopia | The Book Depository | Amazon
Final Thoughts: A wonderful read that concludes the series beautifully; Love Song is a delightful read.

Book Shelf: True Blue (Paterson Sisters #2) by Sasha Wasley

Love is random. Accidental. You just live your life and then one day it’ll hit you with the right person.

Wandering soul Freya ‘Free’ Paterson has finally come back home. Idealistic and trusting, she’s landed the job of her dreams working on an art project with the local school, but she hadn’t planned on meeting the man of her dreams as well.

With his irresistible Irish accent, Constable Finn Kelly is everything Free wants – genuine, kind . . . and handsome as hell. He’s also everything Free isn’t – stable and dependable. Yet despite the passion simmering between them, he just wants to be friends. What is he trying to hide?

As Free throws herself into the challenges of her new job, fending off the unwelcome advances of a colleague and helping to save her beloved Herne River, Finn won’t stay out of her way, or out of her heart.

But just when she needs him the most, will Finn reveal his true colours?

More info on Goodreads...... 


Review:

True Blue is the second novel in Sasha Walsey’s Paterson Sisters series is another passionate and riveting rural fiction tale brimming with romance and personal development.

Freya “Free” Paterson is known for her wandering heart and her flighty nature, but after all her travelling she has finally returned to her home town of Mount Clair after landing a job working on an art project for the local high school. Working with the kids is easier than Free thought and as she finds herself inspired by their passion and desire to learn, Free begins flourishing in her new job. It also doesn’t hurt that she seems to have met the man of her dreams in Irish expat Constable Finn Kelly. If only he would give into the desire that simmers between them instead of holding her at arm’s length. As Free throws herself into work and the recent redevelopment plans for the local dam, fighting against her feelings for Finn becomes near impossible. Sometimes love finds you where you least expect and when it’s real, overcoming your differences can have the power to make or break your relationship. Will Free convince Finn to take a chance on them? Or will the level headed but kind policeman decide Free’s spirit too much to handle?

After falling in love with Willow and Paterson Downs in the first novel, Dear Banjo, I was so excited to visit the characters once more. Introducing readers to Free Paterson, the younger sister of previous main character Willow, True Blue is perfect for those wanting to get to know Willow’s sister, but can also be easily read as a stand lone novel. Sasha Wasley once again draws readers into a lush country town and fills it with vibrant personalities full of colour and kindness.

As expected, there’s a lot to love within True Blue. Encompassing so much beauty about the Australian outback and Aussie spirit, True Blue is captivating with its poise and integrity. Through Free, Wasley explores important themes including the effects of land development on agriculture and finding ones own version of happiness and mixes them with romance, friendship and humour against a quintessential Australian backdrop.

Free is very much the passionate individual and her way of seeing the world is unlike many others. Though she has travelled abroad quite a bit, Free is still somewhat naive about the nature of man and tends to see the best in things. Her kindness and inability to understand peoples motives gets her in trouble throughout True Blue as does her flighty and harebrained, often forgetful, nature. There are moments whilst reading you will find yourself shaking your head at Free but she honestly is just a good person and she expects everyone to be the same.

In True Blue Free finds a friend and then lover in the form of Finn. Admittedly Finn was less “Irish” than I expected after reading the books description, but I enjoyed the genuine, down to earth individual he was. Free and Finn’s relationship begins with a series of funny misunderstandings that make for a laugh and I especially enjoyed seeing how they ended up “sharing” Max—that made me laugh.

Fun, light but beautifully written and instilled with just enough Australian heritage and heart, True Blue is another authentic tasting rural fiction story and leaves me highly excited to see what Sasha Wasley has up her sleeve where the final Paterson Sister, Beth, is concerned. I have no doubt it will be as bewitching as its predecessors!

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by publisher (Thank you guys!)
Publisher: PenguinRandom House AU
Format: Paperback
Australian RRP: $32.99
Release Date: May 28th 2018
Purchase: Bookworld | Booktopia | The Book Depository | Amazon
Final Thoughts: Another great Australian story full of heart. I'm looking forward to reading about the final sister Beth as soon as I can.

Book Shelf: Dear Banjo by Sasha Wasley

They were best friends who were never meant to fall in love – but for one of them, it was already way too late.

Willow ‘Banjo’ Paterson and Tom Forrest were raised on neighboring cattle stations in the heart of the Kimberley. As young adults, sharing the same life dreams, something came between them that Willow cannot forget, and now ten years have passed. When her father falls ill, Willow is called home to take over the running of the family property, Patterson Downs. Her vision for a sustainable, organic cattle station is proving hard to achieve. She needs Tom’s help, but is it all too late, and too difficult, to make amends?

A pile of Tom’s heartfelt letters has remained unopened and unspoken between them. Willow must find the courage to finally bring them out. Their tattered pages reveal a love story like no other – and one you’ll never forget. Dear Banjo is a wildly romantic and utterly captivating story about first love and second chances, from an exciting new Australian author.

More info on Goodreads.....


Review: 

Dear Banjo is Sasha Wasley’s first release published by Penguin Australia and is a hardy and endearing rural fiction set in the rich Australian outback that explores a delightful tale of romance, growth and the possibilities that come with finally facing your fears.

Growing up on neighbouring cattle stations, Willow “Banjo” Paterson and Tom Forrest were best friends, planning for their future until something came between them that saw Willow run for the hills. Ten years have passed since that fateful day, but when her father falls ill, Willow returns home to look after the family property. Having always dreamt of running a sustainable, organic cattle farm, all Willow’s hard work and research over the course of her academic career are about to pay off, yet putting research into action is harder than she thought. Willow needs Tom’s help, but approaching her former best friend is near impossible. Willows guilt over the multiple heartfelt letters Tom sent, left unopened and unread keep her from reaching out. Willow knows Tom poured his heart and soul into his words and she refused to even read them, fear keeping her from acknowledging what happened between them. Back in the Kimberley, Willow will find herself finally reading the letters so beautifully written and needing to decide once and for all where her heart lies. Yet with all the hurt and pain between them, can Tom forgive Willow or is their friendship destroyed forever?

In the interest of full disclosure, Sasha Wasley isn’t a new author to me. I’ve read a number of her YA novels written under the name S.D. Wasley in the past, however Dear Banjo was a completely different experience from the talented Aussie author. With the story featuring such a beautiful depth and development that only comes from a well written adult novel, Dear Banjo was an absolute joy to read and very hard to put down at times.

Rural fiction isn’t normally a genre I would seek out, but I was thoroughly entranced by the tale Wasley has created and quickly found myself lost amongst the wide open plains, hidden valleys and cattle stations of the Kimberley region in Western Australia that was so wonderfully depicted. It felt lush and vivid and very authentic. It was like being right alongside the characters as they mustered cattle and organised the day to day running of their farms.

Dear Banjo featured an independent and capable main character in the form of Willow as well as a laid back, genuine love interest in the form of Tom Forrest. They truly were solid characters with flaws, insecurities and individual personality traits. Their time apart hadn’t diminished the powerful friendship they shared and Sasha Wasley perfectly transitioned them into something more as Willow was forced to face her fears and true feelings.

Sasha Wasley packs a lot of endearing moments into Dear Banjo as well as a lot of light-hearted humour. Tom’s letters to Willow are absolutely adorable and so beautifully written. Admittedly it makes you think “what if” often as you read the tale. What if Willow had read them? What if she’d stayed? What if she’d reached out to Tom? Yet, as a novel that explores regrets, fears and even the power that comes with taking chances, Dear Banjo couldn’t have unfolded better.

Littered with a vast cast of tangible characters, including Willow’s two very different, but equally intriguing sisters Beth and Free who I hope will get their own stories, Dear Banjo is a perfectly told romance by Sasha Wasley that is enriched with the Australian spirit and entrancing until the very end. 

Rating:

Source: Sent for review by publisher (Thank you guys!)
Publisher: Penguin Australia
Format: Paperback
Australian RRP: $32.99
Release Date: May 29th 2017
Purchase: Bookworld | Booktopia | The Book Depository | Amazon
Final Thoughts: A rivetting read, I'm very much looking forward to whatever Sasha writes next!