Heart of Gold

by Fiona Palmer

CJ Wishart is a hardworking country girl with a heart of gold but a life that can be tough. Her job as a wool classer is back-breaking, her family life is a disaster and, after a string of dating debacles, she's put men in the too-hard basket.

When strong, handsome Lindsay arrives on the scene as their new shearer, CJ can't help but take notice. They have an undeniable spark, but can she handle the complications and potential heart-break of falling in love?

With help from her best friend and an endearing old farmer, CJ learns that when you stay true to yourself and open your heart, anything is possible.

Genres: Romance, Australia

377 pages, Paperback

First published February 23, 2011

About the author

Bestselling rural author of books set in outback Western Australia. Small communities, farming, great aussie characters and mother nature. Also writes YA.

Reviews

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Country girl CJ Wishart worked as a wool classer. It was hard work, but CJ wasn't scared of hard work. Lately her family life hasn’t been going so well and as for dating men that was going from bad to worse, so the long hard working days kept her mind off her problems.

When Lindsay their new shearer turns up on the property CJ can’t help noticing how strong and handsome he looks. CJ wonders how good a shearer he is and it doesn’t take long for her to find out and she is quite amazed at how good and fast he is. CJ and Lindsay get along right from the start and it's not hard for them to be drawn to each other. Only problem is CJ had decided after a few bad experiences with recent men she was sworn off men or was she.

Heart of Gold by Aussie author Fiona Palmer was a delightful and a very entertaining read. Great characters with a rural setting all of which I thoroughly enjoyed. Highly recommended.

[Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!! I am an Aussie girl who grew up on a farm in the wheatbelt, and when I was younger worked as a rousie in a shearing shed, and did sheapwork on the farm. As soon as I started reading this book I was back in the country, I could smell the shearing shed, I could feel the wool in my hands, I could hear all the noises and picture it all vividly like it was yesterday!! Fiona Palmer knows her subject well and just nails all the details!!! I also loved the story, I love a romance about real people with real problems and real life situations, what a great read!!! I look forward to reading the rest of her books!!

[Janine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely heart warming story that touches on some tough issues.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! Mostly I read it with a smile or with a lump in my throat.

Thoughts while reading…

This book has themes of depression and takes a look at how men deal with it. There are many organisations ready to help people with depression get themselves out of that dark downward spiral. Knowing the signs of depression, and encouraging seeking help, could be the best thing you ever offer a friend or loved one.

read more... http://t.co/F2sma97S

[Lynn Pittard · Rating 3 out of 5]

I heard about this book on Bush Telegraph while travelling in the South Australian outback. A romance set in the West Australian shearing sheds, with a parallel storyline of depression particularly in rural situations. Very readable.

[Helene Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely heartwarming story set amongst the rough and tumble of the shearing sheds.

[Vicki Basham · Rating 5 out of 5]

CJ Wishart is a hardworking country girl with a heart of gold but a life that can be tough. Her job as a wool classer is back-breaking, her family life is a disaster and, after a string of dating debacles, she's put men in the too-hard basket.

When strong, handsome Lindsay arrives on the scene as their new shearer, CJ can't help but take notice. They have an undeniable spark, but can she handle the complications and potential heart-break of falling in love?

With help from her best friend and an endearing old farmer, CJ learns that when you stay true to yourself and open your heart, anything is possible.

[Vicki Robe · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite country romance authors who never lets you down. She just seems to have the right mix of every aspect of the characters (main and support), the storyline, and elements of surprise and emotions in her stories.

They are never boring, they keep the pages turning and take you on emotional journeys that only Fiona Palmer can.

This is an earlier title from 2011 and is well worth the read.

[Sharon Haylock · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first Fiona Palmer book I have read & as an Aussie Farm girl I feel a mild sense of disloyalty for only giving it a three star rating. Good on you Fiona for some Aussie outback romance,etc; but for me it was a very predictable story line. No surprises in it. It didn't leave me busting to go the library to get my hands on more of your books I'm afraid.

[Sarah Scowen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I decided to buy this book as it was an author i had never read before and the write up at the back of the book sounded interesting. i now know not to buy or read books by this author as the swearing and blasphemy was entirely unnecessary in my opinion and i choose not to bring more into my life than is unavoidable.

[Rhonda M · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book although a few times I was over reading about shearing and wanted more actual story development. However, the characters were interesting and the author doesn't hide from depicting the ugly truth of depression, addiction and domestic violence. Im just glad the heroine got her happy ever after at the very finale as I was concerned she may settle for someone else!

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another good read by Fiona Palmer. This one really touched on a sensitive subject, especially so for the rugged and tough country fellas. Just another aspect of some of the hardships faced throughout life and how some have so much more to handle in their lives than others.

[Chris Avalon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was beautifully written and was captivating. Good story line as well. For me this is a nice in between book. Relaxing, don't have to think too much, just get taken away with a love story in an Australian farm setting

[Mrs B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Romance in the shearing shed...rousie and aspiring shearer CJ soon falls for manly Lindsay and his superior shearing techniques. After a serious car crash, the pair’s love life takes a difficult turn, but by the end they are reunited for a happy ending.

[Aileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

An inspirational story of how CJ overcomes all sorts of obstacles in her life, but is still determined to fullfill her dreams. Heart of Gold was one of those books that gave me a giggle and also brought tears to my eyes. I enjoyed reading it.

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice story

[Robyn Coyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely, warming story. A great read.

[Cheryl Coles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Aussie read

[Rae Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

CJ is a rousing with a drunk father and scared mother who is trying to keep the family together. Along comes Gun shearer Lindsay with his dreams. Together they fall in love and overcome all.

[Melissa Rutland · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can never go wrong with a Fiona Palmer story. Another heart warming story of being true to yourself. Really enjoyed this book.

[Amanda - Mrs B's Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Passion in the shearing sheds of Western Australia plays the backdrop to Fiona Palmer’s rural fiction novel, Heart of Gold. CJ Wishart is Palmer’s outback heroine in Heart of Gold. CJ is a young woman who exudes a tough as nails attitude, but underneath has a vulnerable side. This tough exterior is needed in CJ’s line of work, she works in a male dominated field of the sheep shearing business as a wool classer. When the shearing team in which CJ works with loses an all important worker, CJ steps up to the challenge. Learning the craft of sheep shearing is a tough gig, but newbie sheep shearer Lindsay takes CJ under his wing, seeing her potential. Love appears on the horizon for Lindsay and CJ, but a tragic accident and difficult home life for CJ may get in the way for these two young lovers.
Heart of Gold is the fourth novel I have read by West Australian author Fiona Palmer. I am a great fan of her works and this book was definitely no exception. Another rural romance? Make no mistake, although the book contains a wonderful outback romance but it contains so much more. Palmer highlights some serious issues in Heart of Gold. Both CJ’s Father and male lead Lindsay, suffer debilitating injuries that impair their ability to work. Here, Palmer chooses to highlight the very serious issue of depression in men from country locales. Palmer handles this storyline with the right level of sensitivity it duly deserves. Palmer also draws in alcoholism and domestic abuse into her novel, both such crucial issues and highly relevant in both country and city settings. I applaud Palmer for bringing these matters to the forefront in her novel. The setting of Heart of Gold was another standout in this novel. Having read alot of Australian rural fiction releases, I still greatly appreciated the setting in Heart of Gold. It was refreshing and insightful having the book set in the shearing sheds. I was completely entertained by the culture of the workers of the shearing sheds. I also found the book educative, as I learnt the finer details of the shearing profession, of which I found enlightening. The dialogue has a distinctly strong Aussie flavour and I loved the inclusions of Australian music along the way.
An Australian novel that exudes realism and the strength of the true blue spirit, Heart of Gold is a more than welcome addition to any bookshelf.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really great story well researched characters and true to outback life down to a tee.

This is the second book by Fiona that I have read recently and as far as country romance goes I highly recommend her offerings.

I know a couple of CJ's from my hometown, who have to deal with people suffering from injuries who have then acquired depression along the way. The parts of the book relating to depression were extremely real and highly relatable to, for anyone who knows anyone in a similar situation.

I won't go to far into the book but both outcomes in both cases of depression could have gone either way and were handled in a very kind, compassionate and genuine way for the reader.

I loved Lindsay and how he enters CJ's life and the whole shearing shed gang (I am sure I know a few of those guys but the names where changed)

I found it refreshing that this book took the line of a woman can do anything she puts her mind to, its a very inspirational read.

I loved it and can't wait to read more of your books.

[Louisa Eggleton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't know what to expect with this book - I guess a light hearted romance set on an Aussie farm.
But I was pleasantly surprised! While the plot went along at good pace, it wasn't the storyline that kept me glued. It was the wonderful characters! They were written so well, and I was so interested in what would happen to them that kept me up late reading, regretting it the next day when the dark circles appeared under my eyes!
The description of people and places was wonderful and my tears in then last couple of chapters made me re-rate this book from a three to a four - well, if I could it's a four and a half. A wonderful book and now I'm interested in reading more of her books - I think she has one more.

[Dianne Sidebottom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another book from the local library. I gave 5 stars because of the subject matter in the book. It's very real n the book could be my story is my story in parts. "Heart of Gold" was mentioned in the book to be "Burt Kelly" who was the supporter, friend, father figure that CJ had in her life. The book tackled depression, coping after an injury (car accident) which changes abilities to do things. It's hard when you need separation from those who love much. But there is no guarantees you will not fall into despair again it's a day at a time journey.

[Bec Whyte · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this author by chance while I was waiting to read a Rachael Treasure book. I had read rural books before but the experience wasn't great with the exception of Rachael so I didn't expect much. I was pleasantly surprised and have now read all Fionas books. Great author, authentic style and her stories never disappoint

[Alyssa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can't get in to Fiona Palmer books.... I'm a country girl myself and I just find them cringe worthy. I think she can definitely write, that's not the problem. But I find all her stories very corny and quite 'try-hard.' I feel embarrassed for the characters and the conversations they have. 2 stars for what this book could have been.

[Kerri Fitzmaurice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Believable characters, interesting plot (romance and adversity), with a uniquely Australian flavour.

[Pauline · Rating 5 out of 5]

great Aussie farm yarn

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

*3.5 Stars*
Good Aussie romance. Enjoyable read.

[Carmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book was great couldn't put it down and i loved the characters