Review: Something to Talk About

Title: Something to Talk About (Rose Hill, #2)

Author: Rachael Johns

Publisher: 20th April 2020 by Harlequin Australia, HQ & MIRA

Pages: 368 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: fiction, contemporary, women’s fiction, romance

My Rating: 3.5 cups

Synopsis:

Dairy farmer Tabitha Cooper-Jones has a heart of gold, yet she's the eternal bridesmaid. Everyone's best mate. Despite facing some serious challenges over the years, she's built a successful ice-cream business and cafe, she's adored by her family and is an integral part of her hometown - there's just one thing missing from her life. But the last thing Tab wants is a man - or worse, love - to stop her achieving her dream.

In town for a temporary teaching contract, Fergus McWilliams thinks the small community of Walsh will be the perfect place to stay under the radar but he couldn't be more wrong. Suddenly, the kids' cricket team coached by Ferg is inundated with female supporters - single female supporters - and that's only the beginning.

The only woman who doesn't seem to have her sights set on Ferg is Tabitha. Despite a disastrous first meeting and a visit from a past love, circumstances keep throwing them together. Neither can deny the sparks between them, but can friendship even be possible for these two strong-willed people?

My Thoughts

Something to Talk About is the second book in the Rose Hill Series by Aussie author Rachael Johns. I read and enjoyed Talk of the Town so I was eager to return to familiar places and faces. That being said, while this book is listed as a sequel it can very easily be read as a standalone should you not have read the first book. Whilst my reading was enhanced through previous knowledge, Rachael does a good job of providing just the right amount of background details for new readers to feel comfortable with their knowledge of relationships.

This is the story of Tabitha and it was wonderful to see her claim her own space and time in the spotlight. Her entry is fun, emotional and heartwarming as she is quite the character - literally. She has much going on inclusive of her past, the present and exciting upcoming future events. Her love interest here of Fergus certainly sizzles (literally with lots of physical interactions) with the usual ups and downs, misunderstandings and confrontations. You know where the story is going and how it will end up, so it’s all about the journey and this is an emotionally charged one, much like Tabitha herself. 

A definite plus of these books is how well Rachael captures life in a rural community - events and residents together - providing a snippet of the everyday. With everything from the weekly ‘Stitch and Bitch’ sessions to the committee for the upcoming Show, the reader gets a real feel for life in a small farming community. Rachael also touches upon some heartfelt themes - cancer, living with a disability and care for the elderly. The incident with Mrs Lord particularly resonated with me and I thought Rachael did a good job on all these sensitive issues. 

All up, it was enjoyable to return to the local town and with a solid story about love and overcoming its many obstacles. 

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.