Book Review: We Begin At The End by Chris Whitaker 

I have been making my way through my TBR pile this month, and when We Begin At The End got to the top, I didn't know just quite what I was in store for. I had read a brief description of what it was about, and it seemed pretty interesting, so I was excited to get reading.
Well! This book blew me away. It's so different from anything I have ever read. I fell right into the story and didn't want to leave.
I've struggled with putting a review up for this book as I'm not sure if I'll do it justice. 
To me, it felt like it was more than just reading a story. It was a moving experience, and a real joy to read such brilliant story-telling.

I could go on about how much I enjoyed it but for now, onto the review.

The story begins with a man named Vincent King. 
Vincent has been locked up in prison for the past 30 years for the killing of 7 year-old Sissy Radley, who was the younger sister of his girlfriend at the time, Star. 
Vincent was just 15 years old when he committed the crime.
Now, he has been released from prison and heading back to live in the small town of Cape Haven in California where he was born and raised. 
His best friend is police chief 'Walk' Walker, who has always supported Vincent. 

The townsfolk haven't forgotten Vincent or the case, including Star, who is now a single mum to 13 year-old Duchess and 6 year-old Robin.
Star struggles to be a good parent (or any sort of parent really) to her children as she is consumed by the demons of her past and spends her days drinking away the pain.
As a result, Duchess takes on the role of carer to both Star and also to her younger brother. She has had to grow up way before her time and her lack of regular childhood has hardened her.
She uses her ferocity as a protective mechanism, adapting the title of 'outlaw' to her persona. 
When Duchess tries to protect her mother from property developer Dickie Darke, she unknowingly sets of a chain of events that result in tragic circumstances and see her and Robin being sent to live with their estranged grandfather in Montana.

There is so much more to this story but I'm not going to detail what else happens as I don't want to spoil the experience for others. 
Quite simply, Chris Whitaker has written an exquisite novel. The characters have immense depth which allows the reader to become very attached emotionally (and I was so attached!) 
Duchess Day Radley is brilliant and she was my favourite character, but Walk also stole my heart.
 I read We Begin At The End  in a few of days, and it only took me that long as I was torn between wanting to know where the story would go and not wanting the story to end.
When I did finish it, I was so taken by it that I couldn't even pick up another novel. 
I then re-read it, and was glad that I did as I loved it even more the second time round!
I am looking forward to reading Chris's other novels as he has well and truly won me over with this one.

We Begin At The End is available through Allen & Unwin RRP $29.99 

Book Review: Sheer Water by Leah Swann

I've seen this book popping up all across social media with high praise, and was fortunate to read it recently.
I didn't know what the story was about, but those that had read it were using words like "tragic" and "heart-breaking" to describe it.
After finishing it within a couple of days, it is evident why those descriptions were used.
This was a very emotional, tender and devastating novel, written beautifully.

The story begins with a woman named Ava and her two sons, 9 year-old Max, and 4 year-old Teddy, driving to a new residence in the fictional coastal town of Sheerwater.
Ava is hoping to put the past behind her, which includes her abusive husband Lawrence, but she is nervous that she hasn't made the correct choice.
Nevertheless, she is determined to make a fresh start for herself and the boys.
About half an hour away from their destination, they witness a tragic accident involving a light plane crashing into  vacant grassland near the side of the road.
Ava makes the snap decision to get out of the car and assist, leaving her sons in the car.
Once paramedics and other passersby arrive to the scene, Ava heads back to the vehicle but makes the shocking discovery that her boys have gone missing and nowhere to be seen.
Who has taken the boys? Or did they wonder off on their own?

The story unfolds over three days and I felt that the beginning and ending were the best parts, although having said that, I would've liked to have an ending with more closure. An epilogue would've been helpful to provide that resolution. 
Sheer Water is told in alternating chapters from Ava's, Lawrence's, and Max's perspectives, and I thoroughly enjoyed the narrative of Max.
In fact, if the entire book was from his perspective, I would've given this 5 stars.
As mentioned, this is a highly emotional novel with an element of mystery, and one that will leave you thinking even after you have finished reading it. 

Sheer Water is available now through Harper Collins Australia, RRP $32.99 

Book Review: Fool Me Once by Karly Lane

I don't mind reading the occasional rural romance, particularly with the vast range of talented female Australian authors available, including Karly Lane.
Her latest novel, Fool Me Once, is her fifteenth book, and I had the opportunity to read it recently.

Georgie Henderson is a cattle manager on a farm called Stoney Creek in the New England region of New South Wales. 
Farming has always been in her blood, with her family once owning a property named Tamban.
Sadly, Tamban was sold off to a large corporation after her father turned alcoholic following the death of Georgie's beloved mum years ago.
She's been managing Stoney Creek since the elderly owner Harry had a stroke and had to move closer to his family in Melbourne.
It is a job that  she loves, and although it can be difficult, she feels at home on the farm, and dreams of one day saving enough money to buy back Tamban.
Shannon is Georgie's outgoing life-long best friend and it is her idea for the two to attend a B& S Ball. 
Georgie decides to go along reluctantly, and it is there that she meets handsome businessman Michael Delacourt.
The two have an instant connection and end up doing something that neither of them would usually would do - spending the night together.
The following morning after making a hasty exit, Georgie thinks that they will never see each other again, but Michael has other plans and it isn't long before he tracks her down and the two fall head over heels.
A whirlwind trip to Hawaii where they decide to get secretly married follows, but sadly, the honeymoon period quickly vanishes when Georgie uncovers a terrible secret that Michael has been keeping. 
She feels as though she can never trust him again, but he wants to try and work things out.

This was an enjoyable read for me, I like how the story highlights the importance of women in farming.
Georgie is a strong, determined and passionate character, and those qualities shine through during the story.

Fool Me Once is available now through Allen & Unwin Australia, RRP $29.99