Review: Sunshine through the Rain

Title: Sunshine through the Rain

Author: Penelope Janu

Publisher: 29th November 2023 by Harlequin Australia, HQ & MIRA

Pages: 416 pages

Genre: romance, women’s fiction

My Rating: 4 cups

Synopsis:

For readers of Karly Lane, Fleur McDonald, Maya Linnell and Rachael Johns - a heartfelt and fresh rural romance about trust, hope and finding your place in life from an award winning and much loved author.

Country vet Primrose Cartwright knows more about heartache than most but in the close-knit community of Ballimore, she's found a place to call home. Prim has her work and the love of her sisters, and she doesn't need anything else - certainly not Blake Sinclair. The new vet in town, Scotsman Blake has a love-them-and-leave-them reputation. He is curiously protective of Prim, but his privileged upbringing and jet-set life are nothing like her own. Prim has tried - and failed - at the dating game. Even if there's a burning attraction between them, the last man she could ever trust is Blake. Blake finds Prim fiercely independent, vulnerable, and unlike any other woman he has ever known. But Prim won't tell him her secrets unless he tells her his own, and Blake's pain is buried deep. Will Prim's determination to unravel the mystery that threatens her career bring Prim and Blake together or tear them apart? As the storm clouds gather, can Prim and Blake confront their painful pasts and create a future together? Will they find the sunshine through the rain?

My Thoughts

Penelope always guarantees an engaging read with her books - I absolutely loved Shelter From the Storm, so I couldn’t wait to read this third book on the Cartwright sisters, Prim. This tale kept me engaged from beginning to end.

‘Phoebe on one side, Patience on the other. Just the three of us. They know me. I know them. I trust them.’

With much on offer, this really is more than your standard rural romance. Of course, there is a lovely relationship with a wonderful leading man but it is clearly evident the research that Penelope has gone into for this book. There is an engaging mystery with an environmental issue which I always fully appreciate about Peneolope’s books. The details concerning ethical farming and the use of hormones with a UN agent even getting involved was topical.

As always the Australian Outback is on display with life in a small rural town and the community that comes together in times of need. A special aspect that Penelope often includes is for all the animal lovers out there - on this occasion Prim being a vet, there is a range of animals and one cannot help but be moved by her advocacy for animal rights and welfare. Add onto that details on veterinary procedures and the life of animals kept in a zoo and there is much to appreciate and take on board.

‘I remember everything. The needing and wanting and craving. The finding and keeping and sharing. The sunshine through the rain.’

Yet for me I was captured by the themes concerning childhood trauma and facing/overcoming fears, especially with issues surrounding Prim’s stutter and the impact - past and present - of that. This was a wonderful novel about healing and being brave enough to go after your dreams. With tensions brewing, family dramas, animal welfare, Sunshine through the Rain is a highly engaging read.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: Shelter from the Storm

Title: Shelter from the Storm

Author: Penelope Janu

Publisher: 4th January 2023 by Harlequin Australia, HQ & MIRA

Pages: 413 pages

Genre: women’s fiction, romance, contemporary

My Rating: 5 cups

Synopsis:

When Patience Cartwright is stranded in her home town, the last thing she expects is a second chance at love...

Fiercely independent naval officer, Patience Cartwright has never had a place to call home, but she knows where she doesn't belong. After an unhappy childhood and a badly broken heart, she'll never return to the country.

But to save her career, Patience is forced to accept a secondment - to an environmental team working near the town where she grew up. There she encounters once more the infuriatingly attractive biologist Hugo Halstead - the very man she's sworn never to forgive.

Given their history, Hugo, as self-assured and honest as Patience is secretive and self-contained, has vowed never to trust her again, but that doesn't stop him feeling just as helplessly drawn to her complicated mix of courage and fragility as he ever was.

As Patience recuperates from a life-threatening illness in the small country town of Horseshoe Hill, she realises the beauty of the landscape and close-knit community promise something very different to the future she's mapped out.

But could the secrets she keeps and the shadows of her past, send her adrift all over again?

My Thoughts

‘Prim said we remind her of a Jane Austen novel. Have you read Persuasion?’

Penelope always guarantees an engaging read with her books and I am excited to say that Shelter From the Storm is my favourite of hers thus far. There is just so much to this tale which kept me engaged from beginning to end, especially if you love second chance romance with flavours of Jane Austen’s Persuasion. 

‘If I were on the ocean, I could search the stars to navigate. I’d know where to look for the lights. How do I navigate now?’

With much on offer, this really is more than your standard rural romance. Of course, there is a super relationship with a wonderful leading man but it is clearly evident the research that Penelope has gone into for this book. There is an engaging mystery with the environmental issues which I always loved about Peneolope’s books. As always the Australian Outback is on display and I have added a few more locations to my bucket list. There is small town rural living and the whole community that comes with that which is always fun to read - I really need a Greta in my life #loveGreta. A special aspect that Penelope often includes is for all the animal lovers out there - especially those who love horses. 

‘There are fences to keep things in, and fences to keep them out. On what side of the fence do I belong?’

Yet for me I was enamored with themes concerning confronting childhood trauma and facing/overcoming fears with the inclusion of Patience being a math genius. This was a wonderful novel with a story of self-discovery, healing and being brave enough to go after your dreams. With tensions brewing, family dramas, environmental issues, Shelter From the Storm is a must read. 

‘A river, a creek and a sandstone house. A shelter from the storm, a place to call home.’

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: On the Same Page

Title: On the Same Page

Author: Penelope Janu

Publisher: 1st April 2022 by Escape Publishing

Pages: 368 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: women’s fiction, romance, contemporary

My Rating: 4.5 cups

Synopsis:

By day Miles Franklin, named after the famous author, is a successful lawyer. By night, in secret, she writes historical romance novels under the pen name Emma Browning. When 'Emma's' novels win one of Australia's biggest literary awards, Miles's perfectly ordered life begins to unthread at the bindings. Especially when Lars Kristensen, CEO of the publishing company contracted to publish the prize-winning books, insists on meeting the author.

Besides mutual antipathy and sexual attraction, socially anxious Miles and supremely confident Lars have nothing in common. Nothing. But the more time they spend together, the more blurred the lines between fact and fiction and love and hate become.

Miles is determined to both protect her privacy and to keep writing-even if it means mastering pole dancing, choreographing a love scene in the back of a horse-drawn carriage, and confronting the prejudices of her parents and publishers.

Like the heroines in her books, Miles has the grit to stand her ground. But Lars has the smouldering looks, arrogance and pride of all her romantic heroes rolled into one. And he is good at reading between the lines. Who is going win this battle of wills? Can Miles and Lars ever be on the same page?

My Thoughts

On the Same Page is a light hearted and easy to read book by Aussie author Penelope Janu. Fans of romance fiction will really enjoy this novel with some much needed escapism; how could I not pick it up with the lead name of Miles Franklin (aka My Brilliant Career!) However, being the author Penelope is, delve a little deeper and you will find some interesting themes.

‘My Brilliant Career was a love story, Maurice.’ I force a shaky smile. ‘But it wasn’t a romance.’ ‘Of course.’ He smiles sympathetically. ‘The heroine Sybylla refuses the hero’s proposal. It lacks the secret ingredient.’ ‘There is no happy ending.’

Firstly, I loved the exploration of the romance genre and the supposed/probable/likely flack it receives from the ‘more respected’ genres. The underlying innuendo here was on point. I appreciated how cleverly Penelope brought under the spotlight the many styles of writing. 

‘Historical romance novels are extremely popular.’ ‘They’re formulaic rubbish for simple-minded women,’ Dad says. ‘What were the judges thinking?’

I loved the many references and nods to famous literature, characters and quotes. Not only did it demonstrate Penelope’s great love for these books, it was like a love letter for those of us who adore some of the classics. The inclusion of the writing of a Regency romance in parallel with the main story interspersed throughout was fun and again demonstrated Penelope’s finesse.

‘I wonder if Jane Eyre’s Mr Rochester had perfect diction? Is that why she fell in love with him, even though he was bad-tempered and kept a mad wife in the attic? Did Persuasion’s Anne Elliot fall in love with Captain Wentworth’s military stance and impeccable manners? Wentworth put his hands behind his back when he was cross. Lars puts his in his front pockets. What about Wuthering Heights ….’

Front and centre, of course, this is a rom-com with all the comedy of errors and encounters. It’s light, fluffy and fantastic. A truer example of the enemies to lovers trope would be hard to find. Penelope includes a subplot of teenage crisis - a bit too much? …. hhmm … I’m not sure. Whilst I applaud the statement being made here, I don’t think it needed to be included. 

On the Same Page has everything romance readers look for from the witty and fun banter, to a swoon worthy leading man. With memorable literary references and a solid case for the respect owed to romance writers, I suggest all lovers of this genre get On the Same Page.

‘It supports my view that love stories count, that romance novels are important and should not only be celebrated and admired, but valued and respected. Romance novels care for readers, just as readers care for them.’

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: Up on Horseshoe Hill

Title: Up on Horseshoe Hill

Author: Penelope Janu

Publisher: 18th November 2019 by Harlequin Australia, HQ & MIRA

Pages: 352 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: romance, cultural, Australia

My Rating: 4 cups

Synopsis:

Jemima Kincaid loves her home, her horses and her job as a farrier. Life has not been kind to her, but Jemima is happy in the close-knit rural community of Horseshoe Hill, which rallied around in her hour of need. Even so, she is fiercely independent and will never rely on anyone again.

Particularly a man like Finn Blackwood.

An infuriatingly attractive geneticist and wild animal vet, Finn threatens not only the serenity of Jemima's present, but that of the future she has so carefully mapped out. But as their paths continue to cross, she finds her attraction to Finn impossible to counter, even as the trauma of her past threatens to undo her. Finn is fascinated by Jemima's solitary nature and unique vulnerabilities but Jemima knows all about loss and how to avoid it. Don't let anyone get close in the first place ...

As the past begins to cast long shadows, Jemima and Finn discover that a kiss can bring worlds together-or tear them apart. Will they finally face their fears and find love on Horseshoe Hill?

My Thoughts

I was positively anticipating my first Penelope Janu book as she is so highly regarded. I was not disappointed. There is much to engage the reader with this well written, multi dimensional tale of love and loss, mystery and suspense and two strong leading characters.

With much on offer, this really is more than your standard rural romance. Of course, there is a great romance with a wonderful leading man. Yet the twist of having one with dyslexia and the other with anaphylaxis makes for a unique union. There is also a mystery running throughout which is engaging. I also appreciated Penelope’s understanding of dealing with long term grief. It was refreshing to have an author present true to life challenges for a character that has undergone such tragic loses. It does not simply go away. There is small town rural living and the whole community that comes with that which is always fun to read. A special aspect of this particular story is one for animal lovers. With the two leading characters having particular roles - a farrier (loved learning about that) and a geneticist/vet who specialises in wild animals - it makes for wonderful reading for animal lovers. Add into the mix a few trips with engagements at the  Dubbo Western Plains Zoo (giraffes and rhinos) and there is much to entice the reader. 

Horseshoe Hill is a novel that I would recommend for animal lovers, for rural romance lovers and for those seeking an engaging read. 

‘Is refusing to tell the truth as bad as telling lies? It can’t be, can it?’

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