Blackwattle Lake

Blackwattle Lake

by Pamela Cook

For Eve Nicholls, walking up the driveway of her childhood home stirs up a whirlwind of emotion. The horses she loved still dot the paddocks, but the house is empty and the silence allows the past to come flooding back. She’s glad to have her best friend Banjo the kelpie with her, along with a bottle of bourbon.

Her plan is simple – sell the farm, grab the cash and get the hell out.

Within days of her return, Eve runs into all the people she hoped to avoid: the uncle who can't forgive, the ex who moved on and the best friend he moved on with. Sorting through a lifetime of clutter provides a distraction and slowly, she begins to discover the girl she used to be.

Angie Flanagan – adventurous, animal-loving, vulnerable. When tragedy strikes once more, Eve realises that changing her name all those years ago has not changed who she really is or the truth of what happened.

Genres: Romance, Family, Australia

Audiobook

First published November 27, 2012

About the author

Pamela Cook is the author of five page-turning women’s fiction novels. Her stories feature flawed but strong women, tangled family relationships and deal with the complications of life. Her most recent novel, Cross My Heart (September 2019) is a haunting story of friendship, guilt and redemption set in the beautiful central west of New South Wales. Pamela's previous novels are Blackwattle Lake (2012) Essie’s Way (2013), Close To Home (2015) and The Crossroads (2016). Pamela is the co-host of the exciting new podcasts Writes4Women and Writes4Festivals, and is proud to be a Writer Ambassador for Room To Read, a not-for-profit organisation that promotes literacy and gender equality in developing countries. When she’s not writing, reading or podcasting she wastes as much time as possible riding her handsome quarter horses, Morocco and Rio.


She loves to connect with readers both in person and online:

www.pamelacook.com.au
www.facebook.com/PamelaCookAuthor
www.writes4women.com
Twitter @PamelaCookAU
Instagram @pamelacookwrites and @w4wpodcast

Reviews

[Angella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blackwattle Lake is clearly marketed as rural women's fiction.
While it will more than satisfy readers of this genre, I think it is disappointing that other readers looking for compelling and well written novels are likely to look at the cover and conclude this book is not for them. I think it deserves a wider audience.
The character development is nuanced and emotionally engaging. The plot is carefully crafted. What I enjoyed most, though, was the language used to describe the landscape. The descriptions are vivid and poetic but never detract from the unfolding story.
This is a fast and rewarding read.

[Lauren Keegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blackwattle Lake is the debut novel by Australian author, Pamela Cook. This story was not the happy rural romance novel I was expecting, rather it was far grittier than I expected and would fit more comfortably in the rural fiction genre.

The protagonist, Eve Nicholls returns to her hometown, the place she was known as the wild child and formerly known as Angie Flanagan. Haunted by the fatal night that took her sister's life, Eve isn't keen to stick around town for long. After more than a decade estrangement, Eve returns to her mother's home following her death. She's accompanied by her best friend Banjo, her faithful dog and best friend. He becomes just as real a character in the story as Eve.

The mood is instantly set with Eve's voice, it's clear she's not happy with her life and probably depressed. She carries a heavy weight- guilt- that has prevented her from moving forward with her life. She drinks a lot and doesn't care much for her appearance and she's self-depracating and lonely.

Cook’s narrative descriptions of the land are subtly interwoven into the story and even though it didn’t feel like much was happening in terms of the plot, I was certainly drawn into Eve's world. She intends to get the house on the market, take the money and move up north, but as she settles into the home characterised by both positive and negative memories of her childhood, she is drawn back into the rural lifestyle. In the second half of the book, or in fact probably the final third is when the suspense begins to ramp up and Eve is forced out of her melancholy and is to face big decisions in her life. Her dog is bitten by a snake and she also stands by the town when a nasty bushfire looms on them.

The appearance of Eve's ex-boyfriend from her teenage years takes her by surprise and to be honest I wasn't quite sure where the author intended to take this storyline given he was married to her childhood best friend and they had a young daughter together. There were also a few interactions with the local vet which hinted at possibilities of relationship development, however this wasn’t really explored in the story. Although I really wanted a romantic plot to ensue, I soon realised this wasn’t the purpose of the story, rather it was to explore Eve's identity and and the way in which she learns to make amends with her mistakes. I quite liked the emotional journey Eve went on, albeit it felt a little rushed at the end when a whole heap of stuff happened at once. But I did like seeing her kick into action and take charge of her life.

I really enjoyed Blackwattle Lake and was immediately drawn into the protagonist's world. I think Cook has made her mark on the rural fiction genre and I’m really looking forward to seeing what she comes up with next.

[Janine · Rating 5 out of 5]

First book in a long time that I've read from Pamela. I believe this was her first published novel and I listened to this on audiobook and thoroughly loved it. Such a compelling story and I am really looking forward to the next book in this series which I think is Out Of the Ashes. Well done Pam!!
Readers of Womens Fiction or Rural Fiction will really enjoy this. Excellent narration as well. So glad a sequel is in the works as I believe there is a story to continue.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Eve Nicholls arrived at the gateway of her former home, along with Banjo, her beloved kelpie, she wasn’t sure what to feel. The emotions were raging within her, though she was trying to tamp them down. When she found she didn’t have the key to the padlocked gate, she grabbed her bag from her kombi and together she and Banjo scrambled through the fence and walked toward the house. The look of abandonment surrounding the house caught the back of her throat...but she saw there were still some horses on the property. She had missed the horses, missed riding when she’d been in the city. Twenty years was a long time to be away, and now that her mother had passed away, and the property was hers, she wasn’t sure what to think.

Wandering through the house, she was amazed at how it all seemed the same. Her mother, Nell, obviously hadn’t changed much in the time she’d been away, parts of the house seemed to be in danger of falling down around her. The memories came flooding back, and when Harry pulled up and they had words, once again, she realized that nothing had changed in people’s perceptions of her as well. The low profile that she had been determined to keep, while she readied the farm for sale was a pipe dream….

That first night she wrote herself off, the bourbon deadening the memories, both of her past, when she was sixteen years old, and a rebel at heart, when the horror of that time had been tucked away in a private spot in her mind, not to be released…and her current situation, her loser of an ex, one she had needed to get away from. The next morning, sporting a vicious hangover, she realized she needed to look after the horses, the drought meant there was little feed for them, so hand feeding was the answer. With Banjo at her side, she set about checking the sheds, delighted to discover “Fred”, the farm vehicle, still ran.

As Eve, or Angie as she was formerly known, began setting the house to rights for auction, she bumped into old friends, friends who had cut her off years before. When injury, accidents and then tragedy occurred, Eve found herself questioning everything about herself…Auntie Margo seemed to be only person on her side. But was the past catching up with her? Suddenly the thought that nothing, not her name change, nor running away, had altered the tragic events of the past, hit her.

I absolutely loved this debut novel by Australian author Pamela Cook. I devoured it in a matter of hours, absolutely intent on reading until the end. The emotion was such that it had me in tears several times. Beautifully written, I have found another Australian author who has moved into my favourites. Highly recommended.

I was lucky enough to win my copy of this book, which is signed by the author as well:)

[Shelleyrae at Book'd Out · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Pamela Cook's debut novel, Blackwattle Lake, Eve Nicholls has returned to her hometown after an absence of twenty years, having inherited the family farm upon her mother's death. She plans to sell up and move on as quickly as possible, unwilling to remain in the community that drove her away twenty years ago. But as Eve sorts through a lifetime of clutter and memories, she is forced to confront the consequences of the choices she made as a teenager, and find a way to live with them if she is to have the future she hopes for.

I was expecting what has become a reasonably formulaic storyline for the rural fiction genre (misled in part by the cover) only to be pleasantly surprised by Blackwattle Lake. This is largely a character driven novel focusing on the protagonist's need to confront the tragic circumstances that precipitated her abandoning her home, family and friends, though she is also forced to cope with external challenges including a raging bushfire that menaces the community.

The moment Eve swore, lit a cigarette and poured herself a drink while her kelpie, Banjo, lay panting at her feet, I knew we were going to get along. She felt familiar in an indefinable way and is probably one of the most authentic characters I have encountered in a while. She is complicated in ordinary ways and though defensive and abrupt at times, Eve invokes sympathy without pity.

For me, the absence of a traditional romantic subplot was refreshing. There are a few interesting moments with the childhood sweetheart she left behind, the cheating ex who follows her to beg for forgiveness and the vet who saves Banjo's life but they contribute to developing Eve's character rather than providing a convenient distraction from her journey.

I found the realism of character, crisis and landscape in Blackwattle Lake very engaging. Cook proves to be a skilled writer, deftly capturing natural dialogue and behaviour. From the first page I was able to create a mental picture of Eve's surroundings with small details, such as the "crushed Coke can littering the path", and the "humming of cicadas working their way up to a crescendo somewhere above her head" providing sensory realism to the scene.

Well written, with appealing characterisation and an engaging storyline, Blackwattle Lake is an appealing contemporary novel set in rural Australia which I truly enjoyed. I look forward to reading more from Pamela Cook in the future.

[Dale Harcombe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coming home with her dog Banjo after a number of years away, Eve Nicholls finds some things have changed. Others haven’t. What hasn’t changed is the guilt she carries for teenage decisions that radically altered her life and that of the mother from who she was estranged for so many years. Eve’s plan is to sell up, Mossy Creek Farm, left to her by her mother and leave as quickly as possible. She plans to put the place up for auction and use the money to set up a new life minus Marcus, the no hoper boyfriend, she has recently left.
Formally known as Angie Flanagan, I found some of Eve’s decisions hard to agree although the author manages to make her reasoning mostly understandable. The thing that got me in this novel was the way decisions made as a teenager can have lasting effects and also how words spoken in anger can have damaging effects that linger.
I liked the setting, the hint of romance and the exploration of character. I loved the character of Aunty Margo, who was a stabilising influence.
A good read, the tension and excitement is ramped up towards the end and kept me turning the pages faster. The ending seems to me to leave it open to a sequel.
I enjoyed this debut novel by Pamela Cook and was glad I brought it home from the library despite the cover. I am so sick of these types of covers with young women in akubras.

[Jenn J McLeod · Rating 5 out of 5]

The back cover of Pamela Cook’s Blackwattle Lake reads: “for those who long to uncover who they used to be, and who they might still become.”

Perfect! I love those self-discovery stories about as much as I love a coming home to the country story, especially one that is authentic in both setting and character – characters so well developed and depicted I could see every one of them.

The story of Blackwattle Lake is Eve’s to tell (for the most part). She’s a woman forced to return to the country town of her youth after her mother’s passing. What I loved the most was the very real (and very flawed) main character. Hardened by hurt, the tough talking, smoking, clapped-out kombi driving protagonist is far from ‘the usual’. The writing is smooth and fresh, making for effortless reading. The storyline so cleverly plotted that it keeps you turning pages until a couple of unexpected tragedies and the discovery of Eve’s past demons has you holding your breath. (And then there's Banjo!)

Readers of both rural romance and commercial women's fiction will love Blackwattle Lake and I will definitely be reading the next book from this author.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blackwattle Lake is about forgiveness and love. Eve Nicholls thought she would never come home to her childhood home. However, that was not the case. When her mother died and left her the farm, Eve had to go back to the farm to get the property ready to sell. On arrival, things started to happen to Eve and Eve release she needs to accept her past and move on. The readers of Blackwattle Lake will continue to follow Eve to see what happens.

Blackwattle Lake was the debut novel of Pamela Cook, and I enjoyed reading it. The characters and the way they are portrayed and intertwine with each other excellently done by Pamela Cook. Blackwattle Lake engaged me with the plot from the first page. Blackwattle Lake was well written and researched by Pamela Cook. I like the description of the settings of Balckwattle Lake by Pamela Cook.

The readers of Blackwattle Lake will learn about the consequences of rural bush fires on everyone involved. Also, the readers of Blackwattle Lake will learn about the problems living in a small rural community.

I recommend this book

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely debut novel by Pamela Cook set around Eve returning home to her small country town following the death of her estranged mother. The reasons behind their estrangement are slowly unearthed throughout the story as Eve battles to come to terms with, and finally move on with her life.

I had thought that the story line was heading towards romance, however it was soon apparent that this was more about Eve's personal and emotional journey. Although I felt the story line was similar to others I'd read in the past (country girl returning home), it soon took on a story of it's own and I found it quite refreshing, especially with respect to the "happily ever after" romance side of things.

[Jennie Orchard · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic debut novel for Pamela Cook! I was drawn in to the story from the very beginning as Evie returns in her battered combi to rural Yarrabee, twenty years after abandoning her family, her home, her childhood and adolescence. So much has changed and yet so little has changed. It's painful to confront the excruciating pain and the guilt of her past, but unless she does, she'll never be able to move on with her life.

Slowly Evie is drawn back into the web of community, persuaded by a series of dramatic events to think about healing wounds which are still raw, to come to terms with her losses and contemplate a more peaceful future.

'Blackwattle Lake' resonates with the values of the community which knew Evie as a child and now embraces her as an adult. The landscape and the animals play an important part in Evie's healing process but above all, it's the warmth and solidarity at the core of the Yarrabee community which makes the difference. This is storytelling with a huge heart.

[Carol Preston · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd say three and a half stars for Aussie fiction in the now popular 'rural' genre. It's Pamela Cook's debut novel and it's well written and engaging. She stays in the main character's POV (Eve) throughout but gives good insight to other characters too. There's a good unfolding narrative about homecoming, dealing with the past, resolving old hurts and envisioning a new future. It's certainly not a traditional romance but has elements of love triangles and the struggles of romantic relationships. It was a little predictable and I felt there were a few swear words that were really unnecessary for the story or the character. Overall, an enjoyable read with a satisfying end and a good sense of Australian small town life and struggle.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. Its 1:47am and I've just finished this book, and am desperately hoping that the rumours that Pamela Cook is writing a sequel are true. This book is nothing short of amazing and I very much look forward to reading more of Pamela Cook's writing in the future.

Full review to follow shortly.

[Melanie1999 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book!!!! I recommend this to anyone!!!!!

[Trish Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the setting and the fact this novel was about a personal emotion journey other than romance. Great read

[Jaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed eve's story of struggling to let go, Self forgiveness and acceptance. Is it possible the story is not yet finished with two possible story line available to be told??

[Dee Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Audiobook (excellent narration). This was a surprisingly deep and moving book. I thought this was going to be an outback romance story - but this was so much more - in fact there really was no romance at all. Eve/Angie/Evangeline returns to her family farm after her mother's passing. She left 20 years ago after her little sister's passing and never looked back. Her return forces her to come to terms with not only her mothers passing but also her role in the death of her little sister. The author did such a great job of relaying Eve's sadness, guilt and vulnerability. This is ultimately a coming of age story and a homecoming. Yes Eve is already grown up (in her 30s) and she has no family left, but her return to the farm forces her to confront her demons and ultimately make her peace with them. My favourite part of the book was the bushfire scene. So well written.

[Tanya · Rating 2 out of 5]

After her mother's death, Eve returns to the family property she fled 20 years ago. Whilst some things have changed, some have remained the same: such as the memories she was running away from as a 17 year old.

I'm having a hard time rating/reviewing this book. Whilst there were some parts I thoroughly loved, there were other parts that were a hard slog to get through. Sometimes Eve was a character you wanted to like, other times you just wanted to slap some sense into her! Unfortunately though we didn't get to know the other characters too much, it really was the "Eve story".

After the build up though, the end just sort of...fizzled. So many storylines didn't have any resolution. I'm not sure if that's intentional to allow for future books, but it was disappointing.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the Aussie characters and scenery. The major theme of forgiveness of others and self was very powerful. The main negative was a descriptive sex scene that added nothing to the plot or characters.

[Angie Flanagan · Rating 4 out of 5]

To be honest this book took me a couple of chapters to get into it. Wasn’t for sure what was happening and where the story might go. But every chapter was something new, and unexpected.

Also the name of the main character cracked me up cause it’s my name lol!

[Jen]

DNF audiobook half an hour in. Thought I’d try this one although it’s not my usual kind of book, as it had good reviews and reader ratings. But from the first paragraph onwards, it really wasn’t a style of writing I could enjoy listening to.

[Jade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobooked. This was something different from what I usually read lately. But this was definitely worth listening to. The character goes through rememberence, forgiveness, and courageness. Coming back to her hometown birthplace brings back a lot of memories and old timers.

[Cheryll · Rating 2 out of 5]

A quick read. Love the big font! It just didn't grab me. And if you ask me - Angie/Eve was to blame...

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read.

[Mary Ladrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent listen on audio. Great story and engaging. Loved it!

[IE · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super quick read, lacking in the romance… seemed like something was going to build up but then fizzled out. The story ended quite abruptly!

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, Eve went back to where the her story began. Could she forgive yourself for what happen here. Read it and see.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable book with a simple plot about family relations and life decisions. Maybe a bit predictable but heart warming.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book in only a couple of days.

I loved the whole concept of it not being your typical girl/ guy heads home to find their true love still pinning away story. It was intriguing constantly changing and you could almost picture Blackwattle Lake and what happened there, it was quite erie. The homestead sound so much like so many I remember so I could settle into this book so easily.

The whole story was just so beautifully written and accurate of country life to a tee.

This being Pamela's first book I look forward to her next because I will definitely be picking it up, I just wish this has a follow up so we could see how Eve actually moves forward. It was a great read 5/5

[Cynthia · Rating 3 out of 5]

At the beginning I thought the story was a typical bad girl returns home and then makes good and finds love, but it was not a romance story at all. It turned out to be a good Aussie story centered on the central character that eventually is able to deal with her past.

[Bettina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. Very mysterious and heartbreaking at the same time. Reading about the bush fires reminded me of the Black Saturday fires a couple of years back. Another great rural book.