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Hope's Road
From the author of the bestselling Bella's Run comes another captivating rural romance set in the the rugged, beautiful high country of East Gippsland.
Hope's Road connects three very different properties, and three very different lives …
Sixty years ago, heartbroken and betrayed, old Joe McCauley turned his back on his family and their fifth-generation farm, Montmorency Downs. He now spends his days as a recluse, spying upon the land - and the granddaughter – that should by rights have been his.
For Tammy McCauley, Montmorency Downs is the last remaining tie to her family. But land can make or break you - and, with her husband's latest treachery, how long can she hold on to it?
Wild-dog trapper, Travis Hunter, is struggling as a single dad, unable to give his son, Billy, the thing he craves most. A complete family.
Then, out of the blue, a terrible event forces the three neighbours to confront each other - and the mistakes of their past …
Hope's Road connects three very different properties, and three very different lives …
Sixty years ago, heartbroken and betrayed, old Joe McCauley turned his back on his family and their fifth-generation farm, Montmorency Downs. He now spends his days as a recluse, spying upon the land - and the granddaughter – that should by rights have been his.
For Tammy McCauley, Montmorency Downs is the last remaining tie to her family. But land can make or break you - and, with her husband's latest treachery, how long can she hold on to it?
Wild-dog trapper, Travis Hunter, is struggling as a single dad, unable to give his son, Billy, the thing he craves most. A complete family.
Then, out of the blue, a terrible event forces the three neighbours to confront each other - and the mistakes of their past …
416 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2013
7 people are currently reading
463 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 39 reviews
November 4, 2014
Tammy McCauley is kept busy running Montmorency Downs the family property situated in East Gippsland in Victoria. This property has been in the family for many generations. As well as working hard on the farm, Tammy is also having to deal with her abusive husband which is starting to take its toll on Tammy. So the day her huband comes home and announces he's moving out, Tammy should be relieved, but she's not. Tammy must now come to terms with the fact that her marriage has failed and she could now lose the family farm.
Joe McCauley lives like a hermit and has nothing to with anyone including family. It was sixty years ago when when, Joe walked away from the family farm and he never went back. Living on his own all these years has turned, Joe into bitter and cranky old man. Joe lives within spying distance of the farm, but no matter what goes on over there he never goes back.
Single father, Travis Hunter is a wild dog trapper who finds it hard bringing up his son, Billy on his own. What Billy really needs is a family which is something, Travis is unable to provide for him. Travis spends a lot of his time away from home whilst trapping dogs which means, Billy is left to fend for himself a lot.
On the day day that something terrible happens in the area all three neighbours come together, but just how will, Joe react when he comes face to face, Tammy? Will Joe let his guard down and let, Tammy into his life or will he return to his lonely and isolated life? And will, Tammy keep the family farm or will it be torn away from her?
A fabulous and very entertaining read by Aussie author Margareta Osborn. A story about family, domestic violence and loss. A truly enjoyable read and one in which I have no hesitation in highly recommending
March 14, 2013
In Hope's Road, Margareta Osborn's second novel, she returns to the Victorian highlands and the rural community she knows so well. Montmorency Downs is home to Tamara McCauley who inherited the dairy farm upon her grandparents tragic death. Tammy loves the land and is proud of her heritage but when her marriage breaks down Tammy risks losing her family legacy as her faithless husband tries to force a sale. High on the hill at the boundary of the property lives Joe McCauley, sixty years ago he walked away from Montmorency Downs and cut all family ties when his brother married the woman Joe had fallen in love with. When the elderly Joe is injured, Tammy surprises herself by volunteering to care for the old man, along with wild dog trapper and Joe's neighbour, Travis Hunter. Forced to keep company, a fragile bond is forged between Tamara, Travis and Joe, cemented by the needs of Travis's young son, Billy, but as their pasts threaten to overwhelm them, they risk losing everything.
Vivid, authentic characterisation is becoming a hallmark of Osborn's writing. I feel as if her characters could easily walk right off the page and slot neatly into my local community. Tamara McCauley is gutsy, intelligent and hard working but not without her vulnerabilities after years of insidious abuse from her husband. The portrayal of Travis Hunter as a single father out of his depth is well done, and his son, Billy, is just adorable. Curmudgeonly Joe McCauley evokes sympathy, despite his temper and his inability to let go of a sixty year old grudge. These are complex characters that demonstrate real growth as tentative connections are made and strengthened through shared adversity.
Osborn's minor characters are equally colourful personalities, from the eccentricities of Tammy's best friend, Lucy, to the flirty desperation of local school teacher Jacinta Greenaway, whose single minded pursuit of Travis provides some amusingly awkward moments. Even the abusive Shon Murphy, Tammy's husband, is a man who also inspires some pity when it would have been simpler to simply paint him as a villian.
At it's core, Hope's Road is a contemporary romance but the storyline also touches on issues such as domestic violence, abandonment and elder care. The connection with family and the need to belong is a major theme illustrated by the relationship between Tamara and Joe, and Travis and his son. As rural fiction, the connection between the characters and the land also plays a vital role.
I really like the way in which Osborn approaches rural life in Hope's Road. The romantic view of farm life cedes to the reality of dairy farming, graphically depicted when Tammy's cows suffer bloat, and newborn calves come under attack from a wild dog.
I find Margareta Osborn's writing style particularly appealing though I am not entirely sure why I connect with it so strongly. I think because I find her characters so believable, her plot's have a realism I appreciate and her stories are well grounded in settings that are familiar to me. I enjoy the author's sense of humour and feel the narrative flows well. The dialogue is authentic, though fair warning, it may be a little coarse for some at times. I thought the pace was good, firmly establishing character and back story before introducing the conflicts. I love that Osborn slips in a mention of the characters of Bella's Run connecting the two stories, even if only peripherally.
Hope's Road is a fine example of contemporary rural fiction. It's no wonder the genre is enjoying a surge in popularity with such appealing characters and engaging stories capturing the readers imagination. Hope's Road will definitely be on my favourites list for 2013 and I am happy to endorse it.
March 9, 2013
Hope’s Road is a more mature book, in some ways, than Bella’s Run. At the heart of this novel is a long running family feud, which subtly touches the lives of many residents in the farming community of Naree. Bella’s Run, with its young and adventurous protagonists was more like a frantic road movie, whereas Hope’s Road is a sweeping family epic. This new novel relies less on shock value and delves deeper into what makes the characters tick, providing plenty of sexual tension though far less actual sex! The two novels do share detailed and (I presume) realistic descriptions of the beauty and terror that rule rural life, from peaceful moments of watching the stars to the horrors of tempestuous weather, shielding livestock from predators and financial insecurity.
Tammy McCauley inherited the property of Montmorency Downs from the grandparents who raised her when her mother died young. It borders the properties of her great uncle – an embittered man who has not spoken to Tammy since she was a child – and Travis Hunter – a single dad with no real clue how to make life for him and his son anything greater than basic survival. In the mix is Tammy’s abusive husband, Shon, who leaves her early in the book but who wants to stake his claim on the family property. Tammy must find a way to put the ghosts of the past behind her in order to open a new chapter on life at Montmorency Downs.
Hope’s Road is packed with quirky locals from Tammy’s loud mouthed best mate Lucy, to the predatory women with their sights set on the enigmatic Travis. High on the hill, self-styled grumpy old man, Joe McCauley, watches the world through his rifle sight and ponders the mix of sadness and stubbornness that caused the deep rift between he and his brother Thomas (Tammy’s grandfather). Hope’s Road is not the rollicking ride Osborn delivered with Bella’s Run, but a story that unfolds gently, allowing each of the main characters an epiphany that will bring them to the inevitable happy ending. Having said that, not all of the loose ends are tied up with a bow in this novel and it seems Osborn has left herself space to carry aspects of the plot into a third novel, particularly in matters concerning Travis and his charismatic son Billy.
This is a slower read than Bella’s Run; it’s one to take your time with rather than a page-turner. It is, of course, romantic – both in the boy-meets-girl sense and in its celebration of rural life, but it also has something to say about contemporary Australian society. The difficulties experienced by certain characters in terms of marriage disputes and custody arrangements, for example, as well as issues like maintaining independence in old age cut across all sectors of society, rural or urban. The addition of these more substantial subplots make this a meaty sort of romance novel – and probably serve to make the story’s actual central romance, when it finally takes shape, all the more satisfying.
A full review of this book can be viewed at http://thischarmingmum.com
Tammy McCauley inherited the property of Montmorency Downs from the grandparents who raised her when her mother died young. It borders the properties of her great uncle – an embittered man who has not spoken to Tammy since she was a child – and Travis Hunter – a single dad with no real clue how to make life for him and his son anything greater than basic survival. In the mix is Tammy’s abusive husband, Shon, who leaves her early in the book but who wants to stake his claim on the family property. Tammy must find a way to put the ghosts of the past behind her in order to open a new chapter on life at Montmorency Downs.
Hope’s Road is packed with quirky locals from Tammy’s loud mouthed best mate Lucy, to the predatory women with their sights set on the enigmatic Travis. High on the hill, self-styled grumpy old man, Joe McCauley, watches the world through his rifle sight and ponders the mix of sadness and stubbornness that caused the deep rift between he and his brother Thomas (Tammy’s grandfather). Hope’s Road is not the rollicking ride Osborn delivered with Bella’s Run, but a story that unfolds gently, allowing each of the main characters an epiphany that will bring them to the inevitable happy ending. Having said that, not all of the loose ends are tied up with a bow in this novel and it seems Osborn has left herself space to carry aspects of the plot into a third novel, particularly in matters concerning Travis and his charismatic son Billy.
This is a slower read than Bella’s Run; it’s one to take your time with rather than a page-turner. It is, of course, romantic – both in the boy-meets-girl sense and in its celebration of rural life, but it also has something to say about contemporary Australian society. The difficulties experienced by certain characters in terms of marriage disputes and custody arrangements, for example, as well as issues like maintaining independence in old age cut across all sectors of society, rural or urban. The addition of these more substantial subplots make this a meaty sort of romance novel – and probably serve to make the story’s actual central romance, when it finally takes shape, all the more satisfying.
A full review of this book can be viewed at http://thischarmingmum.com
March 6, 2013
Hope’s Road is home to three distinct properties: Old Joe McCauley lives up on the hill, Tammy McCauley owns and runs Montmorency Downs just below the hill and than there is Travis Hunter’s place on the other side of the road. In many ways this novel is about these three properties, their owners and the differences and similarities between the generations. It’s a feel good novel about the human spirit, life’s high and lows and what it means to be loved and love in return, be that by family, friends or simply the land.
At its very essence, Hope’s Road is a novel full of country life – the good, the bad, the ugly and the indifferent every day affairs. It’s true to life and doesn’t sugar coat, nor does it overlook, the more country aspects like many rural narratives tend to do. All of which makes for a refreshing read evoking honest everyday responses from its readers – I for one, couldn’t help but scrunch up my nose at the bloat scene with the cows or stop my gut from churning at the prospect of putting my entire arm up a cows bum. I laughed with Tammy’s friends (especially the free spirited Lucy) and sympathised with Tammy during her relationship break down. I read more desperately during the flood scene and found myself shaking with the revelations that a helpless main character was missing (I’m treading carefully here to ensure I don’t spoil the story for you). I found myself almost crying whilst reading the epilogue before my brain even processed what was happening. Simply put, Hope’s Road is a book about life in the country and all that it entails.
Osborn has taken great care to create strong and independent characters that really come to life as the story progresses. At the start of the narrative, I personally couldn’t stand the character of Joe McCauley. The almost ninety-year-old cranky man irritated me to no end, and while I was sympathetic to his back story – he lost the woman of his dreams and his family property to his older brother all in one go – I still didn’t like the old man. And yet somehow, cranky old Joe crept silently under my radar and made me not only like him, but love him for all his differences and faults. Having isolated himself from the community years earlier, Joe is used to being alone. In many ways he craves it. That is until a freak accident occurs and Joe finds himself in hospital and facing a long rehabilitation time to heal his broken hip. It’s here that Joe is forced to accept help from the outside in the form of his neighbour, Travis and his young son Billy, and his grand-niece, Tammy McCauley, who Joe has spoken to once (and not kindly) in her entire life. It’s through these encounters that Joe really comes to life.
Tammy McCauley is a likeable character who refuses to give up and in many ways personifies the country’s underdog figure that as Australians we love to go to bat for. Upon discovering her husbands’ unfaithfulness, Tammy is prepared to kick him straight out and would have, had he not decided to leave her first. Despite nursing this personal hurt and shame, she knows the bush telegraph has likely spread the word before Shon (her Husband) has even left the property and is prepared to face the gossip head on. What she’s not ready for however is Shon’s continued onslaughts, and his biggest betrayal yet; Shon wants half the farm and he’s prepared to force Tammy to sell if need be.
In many ways, Travis Hunter is not you average male protagonist love interest. He is a scruffy, but good looking, man who prefers the company of the bush and in many regards he is like Old Joe McCauley; both men are at one with the land, for at least outside amongst the bush they know what to expect and how to behave. Society and past relationships have not been kind to Travis, leaving him unable to connect properly with his young son, Billy, who is desperate for a bit a love and understanding. Together the pair go through a remarkable journey in the book as they learn to reconnect with themselves, the land around them and together they unknowingly repair a generation old grunge between Old Joe and his brother’s granddaughter.
What I particularly loved about this book was just how much each character grew and developed across the narrative. Like the setting around them, the characters were constantly evolving and developing to better face the new challenges confronting them. They relied heavily on each other and learnt to overcome issues of pride and past hurt. I particularly enjoyed the unconventional re-entry of Billy’s mother, as a prominent art figure and all the turmoil and challenges it presented to our little band of characters. However I really wish that Osborn had extended this story arc a bit more.
In fact my only complaint with the narrative is that in many ways I felt the ending was rushed. As a whole, Hope’s Road is a well-paced narrative that builds steadily towards a personal and environmental (flood) climax only to kind of stop in the middle of everything and end abruptly. While the addition of an epilogue did answer and tie many lose ends up, I found myself still asking but what happened? Yes, all the characters are accounted for, and our protagonists have learnt some pretty heavy lessons, but I wanted to see their growth even further, I wanted to see more of their transformations; I needed to see how they got from point A to point B rather than simply being told that they did. I wanted to see how Tammy was going to save her farm. I felt certain that the paintings were going to come into play here, for Osborn stressed through out the course of the novel just how expensive they were but nothing came to fruition there. Likewise, I wanted to witness and understand the repairs being made to Travis and Billy’s relationship, especially seeing as the last time we saw these two together, they were at such a cross roads I couldn’t imagine where Osborn was taking them. While I understand the departure of a key figure kind of explained this to an extent, I didn’t feel it soothed the pain caused, nor did it repair the damage it had already caused. In many ways, I felt I needed that glimpse of reconciliation between father and son to complete their growth as characters, but also to complete the overarching ach of the story.
Apart from the whiplash of the stories ending, I really enjoyed Hope’s Road, and look forward to reading more of Osborn’s work in the future.
My thanks goes to the publisher (Random House Australia) and NetGalley for the copy I received to review.
This novel was read as part of my Australian Women’s Writing Challenge 2013.
This review originally appeared on my blog - The Never Ending Bookshelf - on March 6, 2013 and can be found here: http://theneverendingbookshelf.blog.c...
At its very essence, Hope’s Road is a novel full of country life – the good, the bad, the ugly and the indifferent every day affairs. It’s true to life and doesn’t sugar coat, nor does it overlook, the more country aspects like many rural narratives tend to do. All of which makes for a refreshing read evoking honest everyday responses from its readers – I for one, couldn’t help but scrunch up my nose at the bloat scene with the cows or stop my gut from churning at the prospect of putting my entire arm up a cows bum. I laughed with Tammy’s friends (especially the free spirited Lucy) and sympathised with Tammy during her relationship break down. I read more desperately during the flood scene and found myself shaking with the revelations that a helpless main character was missing (I’m treading carefully here to ensure I don’t spoil the story for you). I found myself almost crying whilst reading the epilogue before my brain even processed what was happening. Simply put, Hope’s Road is a book about life in the country and all that it entails.
Osborn has taken great care to create strong and independent characters that really come to life as the story progresses. At the start of the narrative, I personally couldn’t stand the character of Joe McCauley. The almost ninety-year-old cranky man irritated me to no end, and while I was sympathetic to his back story – he lost the woman of his dreams and his family property to his older brother all in one go – I still didn’t like the old man. And yet somehow, cranky old Joe crept silently under my radar and made me not only like him, but love him for all his differences and faults. Having isolated himself from the community years earlier, Joe is used to being alone. In many ways he craves it. That is until a freak accident occurs and Joe finds himself in hospital and facing a long rehabilitation time to heal his broken hip. It’s here that Joe is forced to accept help from the outside in the form of his neighbour, Travis and his young son Billy, and his grand-niece, Tammy McCauley, who Joe has spoken to once (and not kindly) in her entire life. It’s through these encounters that Joe really comes to life.
Tammy McCauley is a likeable character who refuses to give up and in many ways personifies the country’s underdog figure that as Australians we love to go to bat for. Upon discovering her husbands’ unfaithfulness, Tammy is prepared to kick him straight out and would have, had he not decided to leave her first. Despite nursing this personal hurt and shame, she knows the bush telegraph has likely spread the word before Shon (her Husband) has even left the property and is prepared to face the gossip head on. What she’s not ready for however is Shon’s continued onslaughts, and his biggest betrayal yet; Shon wants half the farm and he’s prepared to force Tammy to sell if need be.
In many ways, Travis Hunter is not you average male protagonist love interest. He is a scruffy, but good looking, man who prefers the company of the bush and in many regards he is like Old Joe McCauley; both men are at one with the land, for at least outside amongst the bush they know what to expect and how to behave. Society and past relationships have not been kind to Travis, leaving him unable to connect properly with his young son, Billy, who is desperate for a bit a love and understanding. Together the pair go through a remarkable journey in the book as they learn to reconnect with themselves, the land around them and together they unknowingly repair a generation old grunge between Old Joe and his brother’s granddaughter.
What I particularly loved about this book was just how much each character grew and developed across the narrative. Like the setting around them, the characters were constantly evolving and developing to better face the new challenges confronting them. They relied heavily on each other and learnt to overcome issues of pride and past hurt. I particularly enjoyed the unconventional re-entry of Billy’s mother, as a prominent art figure and all the turmoil and challenges it presented to our little band of characters. However I really wish that Osborn had extended this story arc a bit more.
In fact my only complaint with the narrative is that in many ways I felt the ending was rushed. As a whole, Hope’s Road is a well-paced narrative that builds steadily towards a personal and environmental (flood) climax only to kind of stop in the middle of everything and end abruptly. While the addition of an epilogue did answer and tie many lose ends up, I found myself still asking but what happened? Yes, all the characters are accounted for, and our protagonists have learnt some pretty heavy lessons, but I wanted to see their growth even further, I wanted to see more of their transformations; I needed to see how they got from point A to point B rather than simply being told that they did. I wanted to see how Tammy was going to save her farm. I felt certain that the paintings were going to come into play here, for Osborn stressed through out the course of the novel just how expensive they were but nothing came to fruition there. Likewise, I wanted to witness and understand the repairs being made to Travis and Billy’s relationship, especially seeing as the last time we saw these two together, they were at such a cross roads I couldn’t imagine where Osborn was taking them. While I understand the departure of a key figure kind of explained this to an extent, I didn’t feel it soothed the pain caused, nor did it repair the damage it had already caused. In many ways, I felt I needed that glimpse of reconciliation between father and son to complete their growth as characters, but also to complete the overarching ach of the story.
Apart from the whiplash of the stories ending, I really enjoyed Hope’s Road, and look forward to reading more of Osborn’s work in the future.
My thanks goes to the publisher (Random House Australia) and NetGalley for the copy I received to review.
This novel was read as part of my Australian Women’s Writing Challenge 2013.
This review originally appeared on my blog - The Never Ending Bookshelf - on March 6, 2013 and can be found here: http://theneverendingbookshelf.blog.c...
March 10, 2013
The Blurb
"From the author of the bestselling Bella's Run comes another captivating rural romance set in the the rugged, beautiful Australian bush.
Hope's Road connects three very different properties, and three very different lives …
Sixty years ago, heartbroken and betrayed, old Joe McCauley turned his back on his family and their fifth-generation farm, Montmorency Downs. He now spends his days as a recluse, spying upon the land - and the granddaughter – that should by rights have been his.
For Tammy McCauley, Montmorency Downs is the last remaining tie to her family. But land can make or break you - and, with her husband's latest treachery, how long can she hold on to it?
Wild-dog trapper, Travis Hunter, is struggling as a single dad, unable to give his son, Billy, the thing he craves most. A complete family.
Then, out of the blue, a terrible event forces the three neighbours to confront each other - and the mistakes of their past …"
Thoughts and Summary
“Forever is a long time to live with regret …”
A decades old family feud, a stubborn old man, a determined young woman and a man trying to come to grips with raising his son!
Having not read Margareta’s first novel, Bella’s Run, I was quite intrigued to discover this new to me author and so, when I was invited to be part of the Blog Tour, I jumped at the opportunity to read this Australian romance which borders on a family saga. Being a fifth-generation farmer herself, Margareta Osborn writes about what she knows, blending life and love on the land, thus creating a novel with characters who have depth and the added bonus of a slow building romance.
Tammy McCauley is strong-willed, determined and confident in her skin as a farmer, and she’s not about to allow her husband’s indiscretions and philandering to get her down, tenaciously confronting life on the land with a hands-on approach whilst trying to pluck up the courage to tell him to leave, after a sudden bout of physical abuse. Thankfully he’s about to save her the trouble by announcing that he’s leaving … but not without a financial battle looming of which the one hundred and fifty year old Montmorency Downs is going to be the victim! To make matters worse, she still has to break the news to her estranged uncle.
With vivid memories of a life once lived, a love lost, another found and a bird’s eye view from McCauley’s Hill, Joe McCauley is quite capable of keeping an eye on his once loved Montmorency Downs through the eye of his rifle! Lonely by choice and stubbornness after the death of his loving wife, he’s never quite let go of the fact that his brother, Tammy’s grandfather, stole his girl right out from under his nose. Preferring to indulge in bitterness for the hand that life has dealt him, Joe never leaves McCauley’s Hill, instead, relying on both his land and the kindness of others to sustain him. With no children of his own and preferring the company of his dogs, he’s not prepared for the feelings which are going to surface when a young boy enters his life threatening to tame this cynical, crass old man whose use of profanity when finding himself in situations which had me laughing out loud, just added to his dynamic character – a genuine bushie!! Whilst I found him to be rather unlikeable at the beginning, once I warmed up to him, he managed to wrap me around his little finger.
Travis Hunter a wild dog tracker is new in town after recently relocating to be near his mother who is now in a local nursing home. Overwhelmed with angst and desperately in need of healing, thanks to years-old divide between him and his brother as well as his ex-wife’s abandonment which still gnaws at him, he tends to keep to himself and is still struggling to come to terms with the fact that he is now solely responsible for raising his son, Billy. While he’s not looking for a relationship, a few interactions with Tammy sees him becoming quite taken with her resilience, determination and caring attitude, all of which soon threaten to topple the barriers he’s built up around himself.
While the three properties are all adjoined to Hope’s Road, Tammy has never met her great-uncle (her closest encounter being a bullet whizzing past her head at about the age of seven) but with the arrival of the new neighbours, that is about to change, with a needless accident, a massive flood and little Billy and Montmorency Downs being the ties that will bind these once whole people together.
With uniquely fleshed out characters, such as Joe, who kept me thoroughly entertained with his antics, Margareta brings us a story about loss, courage and second chances proving that no matter what life throws at you, there is always hope.
Margareta has penned a warm and satisfying read in which she manages to convey her deep love of the bush – a novel I thoroughly enjoyed, although the unexpected ending had me reaching for the tissues.
About the Author
Gippsland author Margareta Osborn has penned Hope's Road, inspired largely by her own life living on family property sourcing back over 150 years, which is still owned and farmed on by herself and her family. Facing plenty of adversity in both her personal and professional lives, she’s encountered numerous floods, marriage break-up and lived with a hearing impairment since the age of seven.
Margareta’s love of the bush, and the people who live there, is evident in her writing. The resilience they show, their sense of togetherness and the spirit of community is strong, and she truly manages to give an insight into life on the land.
Home is the beautiful Macalister Valley of East Gippsland where with her husband and three children she spends many hours in the mountains in which her stories are set.
Bella's Run is her first novel and she is also the author of the bestselling e-novella, A Bush Christmas.
"From the author of the bestselling Bella's Run comes another captivating rural romance set in the the rugged, beautiful Australian bush.
Hope's Road connects three very different properties, and three very different lives …
Sixty years ago, heartbroken and betrayed, old Joe McCauley turned his back on his family and their fifth-generation farm, Montmorency Downs. He now spends his days as a recluse, spying upon the land - and the granddaughter – that should by rights have been his.
For Tammy McCauley, Montmorency Downs is the last remaining tie to her family. But land can make or break you - and, with her husband's latest treachery, how long can she hold on to it?
Wild-dog trapper, Travis Hunter, is struggling as a single dad, unable to give his son, Billy, the thing he craves most. A complete family.
Then, out of the blue, a terrible event forces the three neighbours to confront each other - and the mistakes of their past …"
Thoughts and Summary
“Forever is a long time to live with regret …”
A decades old family feud, a stubborn old man, a determined young woman and a man trying to come to grips with raising his son!
Having not read Margareta’s first novel, Bella’s Run, I was quite intrigued to discover this new to me author and so, when I was invited to be part of the Blog Tour, I jumped at the opportunity to read this Australian romance which borders on a family saga. Being a fifth-generation farmer herself, Margareta Osborn writes about what she knows, blending life and love on the land, thus creating a novel with characters who have depth and the added bonus of a slow building romance.
Tammy McCauley is strong-willed, determined and confident in her skin as a farmer, and she’s not about to allow her husband’s indiscretions and philandering to get her down, tenaciously confronting life on the land with a hands-on approach whilst trying to pluck up the courage to tell him to leave, after a sudden bout of physical abuse. Thankfully he’s about to save her the trouble by announcing that he’s leaving … but not without a financial battle looming of which the one hundred and fifty year old Montmorency Downs is going to be the victim! To make matters worse, she still has to break the news to her estranged uncle.
With vivid memories of a life once lived, a love lost, another found and a bird’s eye view from McCauley’s Hill, Joe McCauley is quite capable of keeping an eye on his once loved Montmorency Downs through the eye of his rifle! Lonely by choice and stubbornness after the death of his loving wife, he’s never quite let go of the fact that his brother, Tammy’s grandfather, stole his girl right out from under his nose. Preferring to indulge in bitterness for the hand that life has dealt him, Joe never leaves McCauley’s Hill, instead, relying on both his land and the kindness of others to sustain him. With no children of his own and preferring the company of his dogs, he’s not prepared for the feelings which are going to surface when a young boy enters his life threatening to tame this cynical, crass old man whose use of profanity when finding himself in situations which had me laughing out loud, just added to his dynamic character – a genuine bushie!! Whilst I found him to be rather unlikeable at the beginning, once I warmed up to him, he managed to wrap me around his little finger.
Travis Hunter a wild dog tracker is new in town after recently relocating to be near his mother who is now in a local nursing home. Overwhelmed with angst and desperately in need of healing, thanks to years-old divide between him and his brother as well as his ex-wife’s abandonment which still gnaws at him, he tends to keep to himself and is still struggling to come to terms with the fact that he is now solely responsible for raising his son, Billy. While he’s not looking for a relationship, a few interactions with Tammy sees him becoming quite taken with her resilience, determination and caring attitude, all of which soon threaten to topple the barriers he’s built up around himself.
While the three properties are all adjoined to Hope’s Road, Tammy has never met her great-uncle (her closest encounter being a bullet whizzing past her head at about the age of seven) but with the arrival of the new neighbours, that is about to change, with a needless accident, a massive flood and little Billy and Montmorency Downs being the ties that will bind these once whole people together.
With uniquely fleshed out characters, such as Joe, who kept me thoroughly entertained with his antics, Margareta brings us a story about loss, courage and second chances proving that no matter what life throws at you, there is always hope.
Margareta has penned a warm and satisfying read in which she manages to convey her deep love of the bush – a novel I thoroughly enjoyed, although the unexpected ending had me reaching for the tissues.
About the Author
Gippsland author Margareta Osborn has penned Hope's Road, inspired largely by her own life living on family property sourcing back over 150 years, which is still owned and farmed on by herself and her family. Facing plenty of adversity in both her personal and professional lives, she’s encountered numerous floods, marriage break-up and lived with a hearing impairment since the age of seven.
Margareta’s love of the bush, and the people who live there, is evident in her writing. The resilience they show, their sense of togetherness and the spirit of community is strong, and she truly manages to give an insight into life on the land.
Home is the beautiful Macalister Valley of East Gippsland where with her husband and three children she spends many hours in the mountains in which her stories are set.
Bella's Run is her first novel and she is also the author of the bestselling e-novella, A Bush Christmas.
January 28, 2016
bit too much swearing for my liking but love hearing about the Gippsland area, which is close to where l live.
April 16, 2024
I chose this book as the cover stood out to me in the Australian section of my local library. It's listed as a romance novel however the main storyline keeps it down-to-earth in a not mushy way.
The characters are all extreme examples of what they represent (a fiercely independent female dairy farmer, an old loner who hates even the mere sight of other people, etc.) however it shows how people with different personalities can make up the fabric of a small town in rural Victoria. Each character experiences growth by the end of the story and even the unlikely ones won a place in my heart by the end.
The ending felt a bit rushed however that's the only minor issue. I wasn't aware that there was a previous book in the series which I will make a point of reading shortly.
The characters are all extreme examples of what they represent (a fiercely independent female dairy farmer, an old loner who hates even the mere sight of other people, etc.) however it shows how people with different personalities can make up the fabric of a small town in rural Victoria. Each character experiences growth by the end of the story and even the unlikely ones won a place in my heart by the end.
The ending felt a bit rushed however that's the only minor issue. I wasn't aware that there was a previous book in the series which I will make a point of reading shortly.
March 6, 2013
Some sixty years ago, Joe McCauley returned to his family farm Montmorency Downs on top of the world, ready to propose marriage to the woman of his dreams. But while he’d been away working hard to earn the money to pay for the ring, his beloved had settled down with someone else – his very own brother. Joe turned his back on his family and never spoke to them again. Even though he managed to find happiness in his own marriage later on, he could only watch from high up on his rocky land as his brother successfully farmed the family spread. Joe inherited nothing, not an acre of the successful dairy farming pasture. Now all these years later, he watches his great niece from afar.
Tammy McCauley is the sole remaining McCauley left on Montmorency Downs. Other than crabby old Uncle Joe up the hill, who has barely spoken to her, Tammy spends most of her days working on the farm alone with only an older couple for help. Her husband has been after most of the glory for doing very little of the work for years now and it seems as though he’s about to finally do her a favour and leave for good, although it comes with a terrible price. Demanding a payout for his share of the land, Tammy knows that she just doesn’t have the capital – thanks in part to her husband’s spending. It seems like even with the best advice, Tammy might have to bite the bullet and put the farm on the market, for the first time in 150 years, since the land was settled.
Travis Hunter is a dog trapper who has settled back in the area to be close to his mother, in a nearby nursing home, and provide a hopefully stable home life for his son Billy. Travis’s mother had been looking after Billy prior to her stroke while Travis worked wherever he was needed. He has no real idea how to be a father and has trouble relating to his son. But Tammy McCauley isn’t afraid to tell him that he needs to step it up a little more and Travis finds himself taken with the country beauty despite the fact that she’s married.
Slowly, the barriers between Joe, Tammy, Travis and Billy begin to blur as they each begin to dream that there might be happiness and a family waiting for them. But mother nature has a way of forcing her way in and there’ll be a battle for land and life first.
Hope’s Road is the second full-length novel from Margareta Osborn, author of Bella’s Run. We return to the Gippsland area and this time we meet Tammy McCauley, last of a farming dynasty. The only remaining member of the McCauley family left on Montmorency, Tammy has some tough decisions to make. Her mistake in marrying someone who didn’t love the land, but wanted to make something from it looks like it’s going to cause her a lot of trouble. Despite being left Montmorency by her grandparents, Tammy and her husband Shon together bought a piece of land and now Shon wants his share of it. If Tammy can’t come up with the money (and it looks like she can’t) then she’s going to have to sell. And she’s going to have to confess that to her great uncle Joe, a man who she is only just starting to get to know after years of him being estranged from the whole family. Tammy has come to care about Joe and she knows that the news that she may have to sell the farm will destroy him and set their blossoming family relationship way back.
Tammy has also had young Billy Hunter helping out around the farm, which has brought her into contact with his father. Sparks fly as Tammy isn’t afraid to tell him straight up that he needs to man up and lift his game. Billy is aching for a family, having been abandoned by his mother and has had little to do with his father in recent years. Travis is doing his best but it isn’t enough and he needs to learn to open up to Billy and reassure him, make him see that he’s loved and wanted. Travis doesn’t really know how to do that and he needs Tammy to show him what life could be like with his son and someone to care for. Trav is still very wary after the way in which his marriage ended and Tammy has known unhappiness too, so they have that in common.
I think the relationships in this book are so well done. Osborn captures perfectly the crotchety old recluse in Joe, the hopeful young boy in Billy, the slightly clueless and out of his depth father in Trav and the determined young woman in Tammy. The way in which she creates connections and builds on them to flesh out proper blossoming relationships is quite a joy to read. I especially enjoyed the way that Billy and Joe connected. Billy had gone without a father for a long time and now the one he had was busy, often out working. Joe was desperately lonely – he and the woman he married were never blessed with children so no grandchildren either. They brought out something in each other. Joe trusted Billy enough to begin to teach him farm things – driving a tractor, looking through the scope of a rifle. And in Joe, Billy found a male role model, a grandfatherly type, someone who wouldn’t threaten the bond that he was beginning to build with his father, but help facilitate it, in his crusty old way. It was clear that all the players in this quartet needed each other in different ways and most were possessed of pride that would’ve made it a lot more difficult if it weren’t for the charm and sweetness of Billy. A lot of the time he was the glue that brought and kept them together.
My only minor criticism is that the first 40% of the book was quite slow. Once I hit over the halfway mark it really picked up and became pretty impossible to put down.
Tammy McCauley is the sole remaining McCauley left on Montmorency Downs. Other than crabby old Uncle Joe up the hill, who has barely spoken to her, Tammy spends most of her days working on the farm alone with only an older couple for help. Her husband has been after most of the glory for doing very little of the work for years now and it seems as though he’s about to finally do her a favour and leave for good, although it comes with a terrible price. Demanding a payout for his share of the land, Tammy knows that she just doesn’t have the capital – thanks in part to her husband’s spending. It seems like even with the best advice, Tammy might have to bite the bullet and put the farm on the market, for the first time in 150 years, since the land was settled.
Travis Hunter is a dog trapper who has settled back in the area to be close to his mother, in a nearby nursing home, and provide a hopefully stable home life for his son Billy. Travis’s mother had been looking after Billy prior to her stroke while Travis worked wherever he was needed. He has no real idea how to be a father and has trouble relating to his son. But Tammy McCauley isn’t afraid to tell him that he needs to step it up a little more and Travis finds himself taken with the country beauty despite the fact that she’s married.
Slowly, the barriers between Joe, Tammy, Travis and Billy begin to blur as they each begin to dream that there might be happiness and a family waiting for them. But mother nature has a way of forcing her way in and there’ll be a battle for land and life first.
Hope’s Road is the second full-length novel from Margareta Osborn, author of Bella’s Run. We return to the Gippsland area and this time we meet Tammy McCauley, last of a farming dynasty. The only remaining member of the McCauley family left on Montmorency, Tammy has some tough decisions to make. Her mistake in marrying someone who didn’t love the land, but wanted to make something from it looks like it’s going to cause her a lot of trouble. Despite being left Montmorency by her grandparents, Tammy and her husband Shon together bought a piece of land and now Shon wants his share of it. If Tammy can’t come up with the money (and it looks like she can’t) then she’s going to have to sell. And she’s going to have to confess that to her great uncle Joe, a man who she is only just starting to get to know after years of him being estranged from the whole family. Tammy has come to care about Joe and she knows that the news that she may have to sell the farm will destroy him and set their blossoming family relationship way back.
Tammy has also had young Billy Hunter helping out around the farm, which has brought her into contact with his father. Sparks fly as Tammy isn’t afraid to tell him straight up that he needs to man up and lift his game. Billy is aching for a family, having been abandoned by his mother and has had little to do with his father in recent years. Travis is doing his best but it isn’t enough and he needs to learn to open up to Billy and reassure him, make him see that he’s loved and wanted. Travis doesn’t really know how to do that and he needs Tammy to show him what life could be like with his son and someone to care for. Trav is still very wary after the way in which his marriage ended and Tammy has known unhappiness too, so they have that in common.
I think the relationships in this book are so well done. Osborn captures perfectly the crotchety old recluse in Joe, the hopeful young boy in Billy, the slightly clueless and out of his depth father in Trav and the determined young woman in Tammy. The way in which she creates connections and builds on them to flesh out proper blossoming relationships is quite a joy to read. I especially enjoyed the way that Billy and Joe connected. Billy had gone without a father for a long time and now the one he had was busy, often out working. Joe was desperately lonely – he and the woman he married were never blessed with children so no grandchildren either. They brought out something in each other. Joe trusted Billy enough to begin to teach him farm things – driving a tractor, looking through the scope of a rifle. And in Joe, Billy found a male role model, a grandfatherly type, someone who wouldn’t threaten the bond that he was beginning to build with his father, but help facilitate it, in his crusty old way. It was clear that all the players in this quartet needed each other in different ways and most were possessed of pride that would’ve made it a lot more difficult if it weren’t for the charm and sweetness of Billy. A lot of the time he was the glue that brought and kept them together.
My only minor criticism is that the first 40% of the book was quite slow. Once I hit over the halfway mark it really picked up and became pretty impossible to put down.
January 5, 2022
One thing I like about Margarita’s books are that what you are reading comes from experience of living on the land. This was a wonderful rural fiction story about love, loss and survival set in Gippsland. I really admired Tamara who was single handedly running a dairy farm on her own preserving the family inheritance. Travis was a bounty rider who culled wild dogs which was an interesting story to read about.
Highly recommend this book, read it in 3 days!
Highly recommend this book, read it in 3 days!
August 16, 2020
Really easy read & I loved it!!! I’m a fan of MO books. Look forward to more!! In this crazy COVID & super stressed world reading is my only outlet & chance to distract my brain but to be effective the book has to thoroughly engage my mind. This one definitely did that. Thank you x
October 8, 2025
FORMAT: Paperback
WHY: Books that have been on my TBR list or pile that started in 2013
THOUGHTS: Love a good Aussie outback book and this filled it. Type of book you pick up and go...oh just one more chapter!
RECOMMENDED: Owning Land, independent female, cows!
WHY: Books that have been on my TBR list or pile that started in 2013
THOUGHTS: Love a good Aussie outback book and this filled it. Type of book you pick up and go...oh just one more chapter!
RECOMMENDED: Owning Land, independent female, cows!
August 5, 2021
If it didn't have all of the unnecessary swearing i would have given it more stars as the story line was quite good. I won't be reading any books from this author again.
March 13, 2013
Hope's Road is Margareta Osborn's second full-length novel to be released with Random House. It's packed with plenty of family drama, a strong, hard-working heroine and of course romance.
Set in a country town of East Gippsland, Tammy McCauley is fighting to keep Montmorency Downs- the property that characterises her family heritage and hard work ethic- up and running when her abusive husband leaves her for the town publican and wants a financial settlement super quick. Tammy is coming to terms with the fact that her decade-long marriage has come to an end and she could possibly lose the family farm.
The story is told from the viewpoints of Tammy, her estranged uncle Joe and single-dad, Travis Hunter. Travis' young son Billy works as a farmhand for Tammy who can see how eager Billy is to get his father's attention. However, Travis still hasn't come to terms with his family situation, his wife walked out on him and then his mother had a stroke leaving him to raise a young boy on his own. He doesn't know how to be the father Billy needs, but Tammy doesn't hold back in giving him some suggestions.
The three adults are brought together when an accident up on Joe's property involving the old bloke and young Billy requires a hospitalisation. For the first time in her life she comes face to face with her uncle Joe, a verbally abusive, bitter old man. Surprisingly she and Travis both volunteer to help care for Joe as he recovers from his injury. The attraction between Tammy and Travis is palpable but there's a lot of issues that seem to get in the way of them doing anything about it for awhile. In this regard, the pacing of the first half of the story was quite slow, but I think it did provide a good foundation for character building of Joe, Tammy and Travis and allowed for the relationship between the couple to unfold naturally. I think Joe's perspective provided some insight into Tammy's family life and he also reminded me of my cranky old Pop. My mum and I travelled up to Newcastle to visit him in Hospital after he had a mild heart attack and though he wasn't verbally abusive like Joe, he certainly was a pain in the butt when it came to accepting help!
Osborn writing allows the reader to sink into the story and feel as though you're part of the community. I feel as though I could picture Tammy's daily routine and predict her reactions and yet there's still enough room for plenty of surprises. Early in the story Tammy's experience of domestic violence was portrayed credibly, though I do wish she'd had the opportunity to kick him out instead of him leaving! My only criticism would be that for a woman who'd experienced such an abusive marriage I'd have expected her to struggle with trusting Travis or experience a bit more anxiety about running the farm on her own- but that's a minor issue with the story in my opinion.
Hope's Road is a family saga that explores generational issues, domestic violence, grief and loss, but also hope and passion and characters that feel so real. It'll be well received by fans of rural lit and contemporary romance.
Set in a country town of East Gippsland, Tammy McCauley is fighting to keep Montmorency Downs- the property that characterises her family heritage and hard work ethic- up and running when her abusive husband leaves her for the town publican and wants a financial settlement super quick. Tammy is coming to terms with the fact that her decade-long marriage has come to an end and she could possibly lose the family farm.
The story is told from the viewpoints of Tammy, her estranged uncle Joe and single-dad, Travis Hunter. Travis' young son Billy works as a farmhand for Tammy who can see how eager Billy is to get his father's attention. However, Travis still hasn't come to terms with his family situation, his wife walked out on him and then his mother had a stroke leaving him to raise a young boy on his own. He doesn't know how to be the father Billy needs, but Tammy doesn't hold back in giving him some suggestions.
The three adults are brought together when an accident up on Joe's property involving the old bloke and young Billy requires a hospitalisation. For the first time in her life she comes face to face with her uncle Joe, a verbally abusive, bitter old man. Surprisingly she and Travis both volunteer to help care for Joe as he recovers from his injury. The attraction between Tammy and Travis is palpable but there's a lot of issues that seem to get in the way of them doing anything about it for awhile. In this regard, the pacing of the first half of the story was quite slow, but I think it did provide a good foundation for character building of Joe, Tammy and Travis and allowed for the relationship between the couple to unfold naturally. I think Joe's perspective provided some insight into Tammy's family life and he also reminded me of my cranky old Pop. My mum and I travelled up to Newcastle to visit him in Hospital after he had a mild heart attack and though he wasn't verbally abusive like Joe, he certainly was a pain in the butt when it came to accepting help!
Osborn writing allows the reader to sink into the story and feel as though you're part of the community. I feel as though I could picture Tammy's daily routine and predict her reactions and yet there's still enough room for plenty of surprises. Early in the story Tammy's experience of domestic violence was portrayed credibly, though I do wish she'd had the opportunity to kick him out instead of him leaving! My only criticism would be that for a woman who'd experienced such an abusive marriage I'd have expected her to struggle with trusting Travis or experience a bit more anxiety about running the farm on her own- but that's a minor issue with the story in my opinion.
Hope's Road is a family saga that explores generational issues, domestic violence, grief and loss, but also hope and passion and characters that feel so real. It'll be well received by fans of rural lit and contemporary romance.
March 17, 2013
I received an eARC from Random House in exchange for this review, but my thoughts are my own. I deliberately haven’t read anyone else’s reviews yet either!
I am quite ‘into’ Aussie rural lit at the moment, having been introduced to it recently by both publishers and family who gave me books for Christmas! I always thought I knew it all about the country, being a former resident, but I’ve changed my mind. There’s so many different types/areas that make up rural Australia and in this book, Margareta Osborn has introduced me to a different kind of farming region in Victoria. This is a place where there’s a lot of rain, things are green and the type of farming is cattle. But don’t think that this book is all about farming. Oh no. The characters will stop you in a second.
Our protagonist is Tammy McCauley, stuck in a rapidly unravelling marriage and trying to make it on her farm with little help. On the hill, she’s watched over by her estranged great uncle, Old Joe. A rift in the family has now become a feud that’s lasted generations. New to the region is dog trapper Travis Hunter and his son Billy, who are haunted by their own past.
Although the story is told predominantly from Tammy’s point of view, we get to see inside Travis’ and Joe’s minds to learn their backstories and what they want – companionship and love – not too different from what Tammy’s looking for. As the story unfolds, both good and bad events bring these characters together. Tammy is very believable as a heroine I can relate to – she’s grounded, not supermodel gorgeous and has just enough flaws to be real. Old Joe is a crusty old character, grumpy but lovable. Billy is a sweet kid (portrayed very intelligently and becomes part of the group of the main characters – not always something you see with child characters) and Travis – well, he’s a nice guy and not just to look at…
These characters are supported by some incredibly funny friends – Lucy, a nurse with multi-coloured hair despairs at the thought of ever finding a man (or woman) while the way Jacinta (“call me Cin”) throws herself at Travis is hilarious, even risking her tiny car on a bush track! The villains are also heinous through their actions (one particular scene left me shocked), but they don’t always win.
As for plot, I found it believable and ultimately heart-warming, restoring my faith in the goodness of people (there’s not much goodness in peak hour rush, where most of my reading was conducted!). It reminded me of an Australia we don’t see much of anymore – mate helping mate and caring beyond what’s reasonably expected. The writing has a beautiful Aussie flavour to it too. It’s a little slow to start with, establishing the scene and each of the characters, but the ending is full speed ahead. I defy anyone to put down the book during the last 70 pages!
I look forward to reading Margareta’s other book, Bella’s Run, which I received for Christmas.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
I am quite ‘into’ Aussie rural lit at the moment, having been introduced to it recently by both publishers and family who gave me books for Christmas! I always thought I knew it all about the country, being a former resident, but I’ve changed my mind. There’s so many different types/areas that make up rural Australia and in this book, Margareta Osborn has introduced me to a different kind of farming region in Victoria. This is a place where there’s a lot of rain, things are green and the type of farming is cattle. But don’t think that this book is all about farming. Oh no. The characters will stop you in a second.
Our protagonist is Tammy McCauley, stuck in a rapidly unravelling marriage and trying to make it on her farm with little help. On the hill, she’s watched over by her estranged great uncle, Old Joe. A rift in the family has now become a feud that’s lasted generations. New to the region is dog trapper Travis Hunter and his son Billy, who are haunted by their own past.
Although the story is told predominantly from Tammy’s point of view, we get to see inside Travis’ and Joe’s minds to learn their backstories and what they want – companionship and love – not too different from what Tammy’s looking for. As the story unfolds, both good and bad events bring these characters together. Tammy is very believable as a heroine I can relate to – she’s grounded, not supermodel gorgeous and has just enough flaws to be real. Old Joe is a crusty old character, grumpy but lovable. Billy is a sweet kid (portrayed very intelligently and becomes part of the group of the main characters – not always something you see with child characters) and Travis – well, he’s a nice guy and not just to look at…
These characters are supported by some incredibly funny friends – Lucy, a nurse with multi-coloured hair despairs at the thought of ever finding a man (or woman) while the way Jacinta (“call me Cin”) throws herself at Travis is hilarious, even risking her tiny car on a bush track! The villains are also heinous through their actions (one particular scene left me shocked), but they don’t always win.
As for plot, I found it believable and ultimately heart-warming, restoring my faith in the goodness of people (there’s not much goodness in peak hour rush, where most of my reading was conducted!). It reminded me of an Australia we don’t see much of anymore – mate helping mate and caring beyond what’s reasonably expected. The writing has a beautiful Aussie flavour to it too. It’s a little slow to start with, establishing the scene and each of the characters, but the ending is full speed ahead. I defy anyone to put down the book during the last 70 pages!
I look forward to reading Margareta’s other book, Bella’s Run, which I received for Christmas.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
December 3, 2017
This story connects three different properties and three different lives.
Old Joe Mc Cauley was heart broken 60 yrs ago and he left home and their fifth generation farm, Montmorency downs. He spends his days as a recluse and spying on the land and his grand daughter.
Tammy Mc Cauley, Montmorency downs is the last remaining tie to his family. With her husband's behaviour and attitude in their relationship, wonder how long she can keep her cool and not break down.
Wild dog trapper, Travis Hunter is struggling as a single Dad. he is unable to give his son Billy, the only thing that he craves for, a complete family.
A terrible event bring the neighbours to confront each other and the mistakes of their past. An awesome and captivating romantic read.
Old Joe Mc Cauley was heart broken 60 yrs ago and he left home and their fifth generation farm, Montmorency downs. He spends his days as a recluse and spying on the land and his grand daughter.
Tammy Mc Cauley, Montmorency downs is the last remaining tie to his family. With her husband's behaviour and attitude in their relationship, wonder how long she can keep her cool and not break down.
Wild dog trapper, Travis Hunter is struggling as a single Dad. he is unable to give his son Billy, the only thing that he craves for, a complete family.
A terrible event bring the neighbours to confront each other and the mistakes of their past. An awesome and captivating romantic read.
February 25, 2013
Joe and Thomas McCauley both fell in love with the same young woman, and Mae chose Tom, as he was the elder of the two, and would inherit the property, Montmorency Downs, in the beautiful East Gippsland area of Victoria. Joe was devastated, and walked out the door, never to speak to or contact his family again.
Now, sixty years later, Joe is old, tired and lonely. He lives on the hill, high above the property which should have been his, and spends his days with his beloved dog, Boots, on the verandah of his old shack, spying on the property and shooting rabbits.
Tammy is Joe’s grand-daughter, and she runs Montmorency Downs basically on her own. Her husband of ten years is a drunk and a loser, and is also having an affair with the local publican, Joanne. He belts Tammy when he feels like it as well, and she’s finally had enough! Tammy has been having some help around the farm from ten-year-old Billy, the son of wild-dog trapper, Travis Hunter. She feels sorry for Billy, as his father seems to have no time for him, and his mother abandoned him when he was a baby. Billy revels in Tammy’s kindness and love, and enjoys the small things she lets him do at the farm.
Tammy’s property adjoins Travis’, as well as old Joe’s via Hope’s Road, and Travis has been checking on Joe now and then, just to make sure the old man is alright. But his gestures of kindness are rebuffed…Joe is a cranky old coot, and doesn’t need anyone’s help! Until the day he does….
I really enjoyed this novel, with the back stories on Montmorency Downs, the struggle by Tammy to keep the farm going, keep her cattle fed. The attraction between Travis and Tammy, and their struggle for denial of their feelings .. her battle with the husband, and the help of her friends. But I particularly liked old Joe, and his interaction with Billy, along with their love of Boots.
With thanks to NetGalley and Random House Australia for a copy of this novel to read and review.
Now, sixty years later, Joe is old, tired and lonely. He lives on the hill, high above the property which should have been his, and spends his days with his beloved dog, Boots, on the verandah of his old shack, spying on the property and shooting rabbits.
Tammy is Joe’s grand-daughter, and she runs Montmorency Downs basically on her own. Her husband of ten years is a drunk and a loser, and is also having an affair with the local publican, Joanne. He belts Tammy when he feels like it as well, and she’s finally had enough! Tammy has been having some help around the farm from ten-year-old Billy, the son of wild-dog trapper, Travis Hunter. She feels sorry for Billy, as his father seems to have no time for him, and his mother abandoned him when he was a baby. Billy revels in Tammy’s kindness and love, and enjoys the small things she lets him do at the farm.
Tammy’s property adjoins Travis’, as well as old Joe’s via Hope’s Road, and Travis has been checking on Joe now and then, just to make sure the old man is alright. But his gestures of kindness are rebuffed…Joe is a cranky old coot, and doesn’t need anyone’s help! Until the day he does….
I really enjoyed this novel, with the back stories on Montmorency Downs, the struggle by Tammy to keep the farm going, keep her cattle fed. The attraction between Travis and Tammy, and their struggle for denial of their feelings .. her battle with the husband, and the help of her friends. But I particularly liked old Joe, and his interaction with Billy, along with their love of Boots.
With thanks to NetGalley and Random House Australia for a copy of this novel to read and review.
March 12, 2013
When Margareta Osborn's first book, Bella's Run, came out she came and visited my local bookstore. Bree and I went to the signing and chatted with Margareta for ages. I duly bought the book, which Margareta signed, and that was that. I never actually got around to reading the book. Now, having read Hope's Road, I am pretty sure that I am the one who has missed out by not having read Bella's Run and I will be rectifying that as soon as I can! I feel like I should apologise profusely to Margareta! Sorry, sorry, sorry!
Hope's Road focuses on three people who live on three properties near each other that are connected by Hope's Road in the Gippsland region of Victoria. There is curmudgeonly old Joe, his estranged grand niece Tammy and neighbour Travis Hunter who lives with his young son Billy. All three of them are used to living pretty much alone and always self reliant. While for Joe and Travis this is pretty much a lifestyle choice, for Tammy this has come about as a result of being in an emotionally and, more recently, physically abusive marriage all the while trying to keep the family farm going.
To read more of my thoughts on this book head to
http://www.theintrepidreader.com/2013...
Hope's Road focuses on three people who live on three properties near each other that are connected by Hope's Road in the Gippsland region of Victoria. There is curmudgeonly old Joe, his estranged grand niece Tammy and neighbour Travis Hunter who lives with his young son Billy. All three of them are used to living pretty much alone and always self reliant. While for Joe and Travis this is pretty much a lifestyle choice, for Tammy this has come about as a result of being in an emotionally and, more recently, physically abusive marriage all the while trying to keep the family farm going.
To read more of my thoughts on this book head to
http://www.theintrepidreader.com/2013...
March 29, 2016
A beautiful Story writing by Margareta Osborn with an unexpected ending. It is about Tammy Mc Cauley is busy running Montmorency Dawns a farm she inherited formed her grandparents. Tammy has to deal with her abusive husband who is also having an affair with the local Publican. He comes home one day announces he leaving and wants his share of the farm. Tammy realizes her marriage has failed but also she has accept the fact she needs to sell the farm to give her ex-husband what he wants. Her Uncle Old Joe Mc Cauley lives up the hill, he believes the farm should have been his not his brother who passed away years ago. He has become a recluse not talking to anyone including his brother when he was alive. How ever a fall leaves him needing the help of Tammy and the neighbour on the other side of the hill Travis Hunter who is a single father who son is named Billy . The book is about family, trust, and being there for each other. There highs and lows as well. A must read.
April 16, 2013
I absolutely loved this book, was hooked from page 1. I loved all the characters, especially uncle joe, he might have been a grumpy old man but he had a good heart.
The story was full of all emotions, laughter, love, tears, happiness and sadness but was a great mix of emotions. I loved the fact that even though it was fiction, you could find something that relates to you in some way, whether it be the storyline or one of the many characters in the book. I found myself truly wrapped up in this book.
This was the first book of Margareta Osborn books I have picked up but since reading Hopes Road I have found out that she has written another two books, I'll be going out and grabbing myself a copy of bella's run and a bush Christmas today.
The story was full of all emotions, laughter, love, tears, happiness and sadness but was a great mix of emotions. I loved the fact that even though it was fiction, you could find something that relates to you in some way, whether it be the storyline or one of the many characters in the book. I found myself truly wrapped up in this book.
This was the first book of Margareta Osborn books I have picked up but since reading Hopes Road I have found out that she has written another two books, I'll be going out and grabbing myself a copy of bella's run and a bush Christmas today.
July 18, 2013
When I finished HOPE’S ROAD, I had to spend a few minutes looking around my room to readjust. To remind myself that it wasn’t me at Montmorency Downs: loving, laughing, struggling, surviving. Margareta Osborn’s characters are so real, so vivid, I loved (or hated) all of them. And how fabulous to be transported to a part of my own Victorian countryside that I know so little about, and get a deeper understanding of the work the farmers do, the struggles, sometimes horrors, they must face. Margareta paints a picture with such bright colours. HOPE’S ROAD is at least as wonderful as her first novel, BELLA’S RUN.
May 7, 2013
Being an initial skeptic of this genre, this is the second rural romance I have read. Much the like the first.. I found this engaging and fast paced, and whilst unlikely to win literary awards, supremely enjoyable! I liked all the characters quite a lot, and found it wasn't completely predicable. If you are a skeptic like me.. I encourage you to read hope's road! I don't think you'll be disappointed!
May 5, 2013
Growing up on a dairy farm myself, it was nice to see a dairy farm finally feature in one of these Aussie rural books. Enjoy reading all of Margareta's books and can't wait to read more. Tammy was a tough heroine in this book and was glad to see her a Trav finally make it in the end, and to see someone like Joe set in his ways, finally mellow in his old age. A great read.
June 7, 2016
396 pages. A young girl, losses her mum and grandmothers in a car accident, on her birthday while at school. A story about how the 3 men left behind pull together and help raise her. About how protective they become of her. I think they smother her to much, she needs room to grow, then she meets Matthew and life slowly changes for her.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 22, 2013
A really quick read filled with dramatic events that unfold on the page for the reader. One gets caught up in the desire to see romance unfold after a marriage from hell. Interesting spin with the family relationships too. A recommended read for those Aussie farm/bush romances.
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August 21, 2014Another wonderful warm-hearted read by Margareta Osborn.
If you haven't read Aussie rural romance, do yourself a favour and pick up these totally readable books.
Realistic characters, tough heroines, sexy heroes and an interesting secondary cast.
If you haven't read Aussie rural romance, do yourself a favour and pick up these totally readable books.
Realistic characters, tough heroines, sexy heroes and an interesting secondary cast.
March 4, 2013
Very enjoyable read. This one has a bit of everything, It’s funny ,sad and one of a kind. I think this one is well wroth giving a read too!
March 26, 2013
Another fantastic read from the wonderful Margareta osborn. I loved this book from start to finish.Couldn't put it down.
April 5, 2013
Great storyline and characters with a beautiful, yet emotional ending.
January 3, 2014
Another excellent book by Margareta Osborn. Loved it!!!
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