What do you think?
Rate this book
Distance
Forty-year-old Welsh mum Isobel Richardson can cope with most her husband's redundancy, a shortage of money, three spirited kids and a demanding old house. She sees the loss of Leo's job as a chance for new beginnings and her drive and determination propel the family towards a sparkling new life in Australia. Isobel's mother Helen, however, is devastated. Cold and unsupportive, she rejects Isobel's invitation to join in the family adventure and throws the guilt card firmly down on the table. When the family lands in Oz and the longed-for dream unfolds, unbearable guilt at leaving a broken Helen behind is compounded by the pain of missing absent son Ben – and all the while Mother Nature is hatching some plans of her own. Has the great Australian dream really eluded her after all?
300 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 13, 2013
About the author
Nene Davies
9 books42 followersBorn in England to Welsh parents, Nene was raised in beautiful Pembrokeshire, West Wales. In 2002 Nene, her husband and three children emigrated to Australia and now live at the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland. Nene's debut novel, Distance, was published in 2013 and she has gone on to complete the trilogy with Further and Surfacing.
Redhanded was published in November, 2016 and Whitethorne in 2018. The Narrows was published in 2020. Nene has a coffee shop,Chapter, and a bookstore, Hannah Jones. She is the founding director of the Capricorn Coast Writers Festival.
http://www.nenedavies.com
@nene_davies
@nenedavieswrites
Redhanded was published in November, 2016 and Whitethorne in 2018. The Narrows was published in 2020. Nene has a coffee shop,Chapter, and a bookstore, Hannah Jones. She is the founding director of the Capricorn Coast Writers Festival.
http://www.nenedavies.com
@nene_davies
@nenedavieswrites
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
June 29, 2013
Distance is not my usual kind of read and I have to admit that I probably would not have read this book were it not for the fact that it was written by a friends mother. I was however very pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. I couldn't put the book down, much to the annoyance of my husband. Every spare 5 minutes was spent reading another chapter.
The opening chapter had me hooked straight away, it gave the impression that this novel was not going to be just a story but that it was going to teach me valuable lessons about life and family and I was not disappointed.
The author's ability to draw me into the characters feeling was fantastic. Nene created a world of emotion for me, from highs to lows, frustration and anxiety. I felt myself getting engrossed in the protagonists feelings, the elation at knowing she was doing the right thing for her family and also the guilt of leaving her mother behind. I felt myself thinking of things I would say to Nana Helen if she was my mother and how I would deal with the guilt. The most emotional piece for me came in Chapter 30 in which the protagonist describes leaving her eldest son Ben at School, I finished the Chapter in floods of tears. It taught me that to be a good parent is to allow your children to make decisions about their own lives and support them in that. The ending again pulled at my heart, I don't think I have read such a beautiful conclusion to a novel. But to say that the final Chapter was a conclusion is not strictly true, it is more of a "one door closing and another one opening", it was a perfect ending but also a perfect beginning to hopefully another honest and well written novel.
You hear stories about people that have moved overseas, how it was the best decision of their lives and how the sun always shines on them but I don't think I have ever heard anyone be as honest about it all as this book has been. It's refreshing to hear that it's not all plain sailing and I for one can not wait to see if another instalment in the "Richardsons" life is in the process of being constructed.
A must read for all.
The opening chapter had me hooked straight away, it gave the impression that this novel was not going to be just a story but that it was going to teach me valuable lessons about life and family and I was not disappointed.
The author's ability to draw me into the characters feeling was fantastic. Nene created a world of emotion for me, from highs to lows, frustration and anxiety. I felt myself getting engrossed in the protagonists feelings, the elation at knowing she was doing the right thing for her family and also the guilt of leaving her mother behind. I felt myself thinking of things I would say to Nana Helen if she was my mother and how I would deal with the guilt. The most emotional piece for me came in Chapter 30 in which the protagonist describes leaving her eldest son Ben at School, I finished the Chapter in floods of tears. It taught me that to be a good parent is to allow your children to make decisions about their own lives and support them in that. The ending again pulled at my heart, I don't think I have read such a beautiful conclusion to a novel. But to say that the final Chapter was a conclusion is not strictly true, it is more of a "one door closing and another one opening", it was a perfect ending but also a perfect beginning to hopefully another honest and well written novel.
You hear stories about people that have moved overseas, how it was the best decision of their lives and how the sun always shines on them but I don't think I have ever heard anyone be as honest about it all as this book has been. It's refreshing to hear that it's not all plain sailing and I for one can not wait to see if another instalment in the "Richardsons" life is in the process of being constructed.
A must read for all.
July 4, 2015
New reader
This is the first Nene Davies book that I read and it held my one quite well. There were several things that I could relate to and that is a plus. When I was close to finishing the book, I thought it's ok....there's a sequel.
This is the first Nene Davies book that I read and it held my one quite well. There were several things that I could relate to and that is a plus. When I was close to finishing the book, I thought it's ok....there's a sequel.
November 16, 2013
Last night I closed my computer on the last page of Distance with a lump in my throat and tears stinging my eyes. I was hooked from the beginning as I could identify so much with the story as it unfolded in front of me. Loved the part about living on Ramsay Street, how many of us from the UK can imagine living there as the howl of the wind whistles through the sash windows of the old houses we live in and in front of us on the TV screen is the out door perfect life we would like for the summer but experience for 2 days a year when living in Wales.
As an expat I too have left a child behind and the feelings that Isobel felt resonated with me. Nene has described the 2 worlds she lived in perfectly, I was left with a feeling that on the last page her world was complete.
I felt as the book went on it became more confident in its descriptions and started to paint the whole picture so we were living in someone else's life. I am glad I was not living in your house at one point though, if you know what I mean.
Thank you for the best read I have had for a long time and looking forward to the next book.
As an expat I too have left a child behind and the feelings that Isobel felt resonated with me. Nene has described the 2 worlds she lived in perfectly, I was left with a feeling that on the last page her world was complete.
I felt as the book went on it became more confident in its descriptions and started to paint the whole picture so we were living in someone else's life. I am glad I was not living in your house at one point though, if you know what I mean.
Thank you for the best read I have had for a long time and looking forward to the next book.
October 5, 2015
Told in the third person through the eyes of Isobel Richardson, Distance tells the story of a family migrating to Australia from Wales. This is a longed for move, not made easy because of many complications.
The time this story spends in Wales is real and atmospheric—the reader gains insight into what it feels like to live there through winter. The author, who clearly has a connection to this wild place, sets scenes with clarity and emotion.
When the action moves to Queensland, Australia, the mood shifts slightly. This is a different country with an atmosphere all its own. The author manages to convey this through action and dialogue.
Throughout the story, the emotions and actions of the characters in their given situations seem valid. Isobel is a person who feels emotions intensely and this causes her problems. The reader lives through these difficult times with the character.
The end is satisfying.
Distance is a fine piece of storytelling. Recommended.
The time this story spends in Wales is real and atmospheric—the reader gains insight into what it feels like to live there through winter. The author, who clearly has a connection to this wild place, sets scenes with clarity and emotion.
When the action moves to Queensland, Australia, the mood shifts slightly. This is a different country with an atmosphere all its own. The author manages to convey this through action and dialogue.
Throughout the story, the emotions and actions of the characters in their given situations seem valid. Isobel is a person who feels emotions intensely and this causes her problems. The reader lives through these difficult times with the character.
The end is satisfying.
Distance is a fine piece of storytelling. Recommended.
January 7, 2014
Isobel Richardson's life in South Wales is a happy enough one - she and husband Leo have three great kids and a nice house they have renovated into a true family home. Yet amidst this contentment Isobel has long yearned to live in Australia, although it is a dream she has never taken any steps towards realising. Then fate intervenes in a roundabout kind of way. At first Leo's redundancy from the power plant he has worked at for twenty years is devastating. But then after much stress and soul searching, Isobel and Leo realise it is just the push they need to take the plunge and move down under.
The Richardson family's path to emigration is not a smooth one. First they have to deal with the critical disruption to eldest son Ben's schooling, but much worse is the complete opposition put up by Isobel's mother Helen. Mother and daughter have always been close however Helen point blank refuses to join them as they emigrate and worse still withdraws completely even before they leave. Yet Isobel and Leo know it's now or never and set off on their great adventure with great hopes for a better life.
Anybody who has emigrated or even moved a great distance within their own country will relate to the struggles and joys that the Richardson family encounter as they settle into their new life in sunny Queensland. From the unfamiliar places, terms and phrases to the need for air-conditioning even in winter, the story has a "real-life" feel to it that makes the characters easy to relate to. The wrench of leaving family behind so far away is also dealt with in an honest and raw way, which again is a theme many readers will relate to.
The characters in Distance are well drawn as are the physical descriptions of the two very different locations the novel is set. I could feel the biting cold of the UK winter and relate to the humid warmth of Rockhampton. The language is easygoing and the book is very readable from start to finish. The pace could probably have been a little faster in places and the earlier chapters compressed a little, but in saying that the story did not drag or get boring. My only other minor quibble would be that at times the line between novel and autobiography got a little blurred. I don't mean it is Nene Davies' own autobiography, just that the way the story is delivered sometimes felt narrated rather than shown through dialogue and action.
All in all this is a very enjoyable book that will have you laughing, crying and nodding your head in agreement in equal measure. I became engrossed in the Richardson family's journey and was kept engaged from start to finish. It is a wonderful debut by first time novelist Nene Davies and I look forward to her next book.
The Richardson family's path to emigration is not a smooth one. First they have to deal with the critical disruption to eldest son Ben's schooling, but much worse is the complete opposition put up by Isobel's mother Helen. Mother and daughter have always been close however Helen point blank refuses to join them as they emigrate and worse still withdraws completely even before they leave. Yet Isobel and Leo know it's now or never and set off on their great adventure with great hopes for a better life.
Anybody who has emigrated or even moved a great distance within their own country will relate to the struggles and joys that the Richardson family encounter as they settle into their new life in sunny Queensland. From the unfamiliar places, terms and phrases to the need for air-conditioning even in winter, the story has a "real-life" feel to it that makes the characters easy to relate to. The wrench of leaving family behind so far away is also dealt with in an honest and raw way, which again is a theme many readers will relate to.
The characters in Distance are well drawn as are the physical descriptions of the two very different locations the novel is set. I could feel the biting cold of the UK winter and relate to the humid warmth of Rockhampton. The language is easygoing and the book is very readable from start to finish. The pace could probably have been a little faster in places and the earlier chapters compressed a little, but in saying that the story did not drag or get boring. My only other minor quibble would be that at times the line between novel and autobiography got a little blurred. I don't mean it is Nene Davies' own autobiography, just that the way the story is delivered sometimes felt narrated rather than shown through dialogue and action.
All in all this is a very enjoyable book that will have you laughing, crying and nodding your head in agreement in equal measure. I became engrossed in the Richardson family's journey and was kept engaged from start to finish. It is a wonderful debut by first time novelist Nene Davies and I look forward to her next book.
July 4, 2013
This story takes us into the heart of a family. Dialogue and interactions feel absolutely authentic – between parents, between parents and children and between siblings.
When redundancy visits the Richardsons, all aspects of their secure lives in the Welsh coastal village are tested. Parental closeness is stretched thin enough to worry the children when solutions are elusive. Readers are taken on an emotional journey until Leo and Isobel’s innate resilience comes to the rescue and family balance is restored. But the pattern has been broken and a long held dream of living in Australia beckons.
Suddenly migration becomes possible and a new clutch of issues emerges; practical issues, complicated decisions, assumptions that don’t hold up, searing guilt and sorrow when Grandmother Helen refuses to go with them, leaving life-long friends.
Although the family throw themselves into living the dream, not everything is rosy in the land Down-Under and relationships and understandings are challenged again.
The writing seamlessly moves between the practical, the emotional and the lyrical. Two quotations show how the author has woven poetic or dramatic passages depicting the contrasts in the natural worlds in Wales and tropical Australia into the narrative:
“A biting wind cut straight through Isobel’s blue fleece, as she tramped along the beach with a beanie-topped and buffeted Leo at her elbow.
. . . . . the seemingly ownerless dogs hurtled along the edge of the seething water in a pack, tails tucked and haunches bunched as they tore after flying splats of dirty white beach foam.”
and
“A tiny Willie Wagtail was shimmying on a rough patch of vegetation at her side. The bird caught her attention with its joyful dance and as she watched it, her senses melted, her jaw relaxed and for the first time in a long while, she started to feel in control. Cautiously, she took Helen’s words and spread them out in front of her mind’s eye.”
This is a novel for anyone with an interest in family relationships, and particularly the stresses and strains of migration. If you’ve been there and survived, it will resonate. If you’re thinking of it, there are insights galore.
Although the story ends with a satisfying sense of rightness and completion so far, readers are left with a sense that the family will have more adventures to relate. Looking forward to the sequel.
Davies, Nene (2013-06-13). Distance (Kindle Locations 3919-3920). Really Blue Books. Kindle Edition.
When redundancy visits the Richardsons, all aspects of their secure lives in the Welsh coastal village are tested. Parental closeness is stretched thin enough to worry the children when solutions are elusive. Readers are taken on an emotional journey until Leo and Isobel’s innate resilience comes to the rescue and family balance is restored. But the pattern has been broken and a long held dream of living in Australia beckons.
Suddenly migration becomes possible and a new clutch of issues emerges; practical issues, complicated decisions, assumptions that don’t hold up, searing guilt and sorrow when Grandmother Helen refuses to go with them, leaving life-long friends.
Although the family throw themselves into living the dream, not everything is rosy in the land Down-Under and relationships and understandings are challenged again.
The writing seamlessly moves between the practical, the emotional and the lyrical. Two quotations show how the author has woven poetic or dramatic passages depicting the contrasts in the natural worlds in Wales and tropical Australia into the narrative:
“A biting wind cut straight through Isobel’s blue fleece, as she tramped along the beach with a beanie-topped and buffeted Leo at her elbow.
. . . . . the seemingly ownerless dogs hurtled along the edge of the seething water in a pack, tails tucked and haunches bunched as they tore after flying splats of dirty white beach foam.”
and
“A tiny Willie Wagtail was shimmying on a rough patch of vegetation at her side. The bird caught her attention with its joyful dance and as she watched it, her senses melted, her jaw relaxed and for the first time in a long while, she started to feel in control. Cautiously, she took Helen’s words and spread them out in front of her mind’s eye.”
This is a novel for anyone with an interest in family relationships, and particularly the stresses and strains of migration. If you’ve been there and survived, it will resonate. If you’re thinking of it, there are insights galore.
Although the story ends with a satisfying sense of rightness and completion so far, readers are left with a sense that the family will have more adventures to relate. Looking forward to the sequel.
Davies, Nene (2013-06-13). Distance (Kindle Locations 3919-3920). Really Blue Books. Kindle Edition.
April 24, 2015
Well I came about this book and its author due to them following me on Twitter. I had never heard of the author before, so when I looked up their books and saw that this (their debut novel) was available on iTunes for next to nothing, I bought it to read on a flight. I also counted it for Dewy’s Read-a-Thon and 2015 Australian Women Writers Challenge .
Now I will start by saying that overall I enjoyed this book, however it did present some little things that narked me, and this is simply because I am English (have spent considerable time in Wales) and I moved to Australia (and have lived in Queensland) so you could argue that the things that irritated me where really of no relevance to the story, and were only a result of my own experiences.
Ok…..so early on in the book (around p160) the family have not left Wales yet, but they are saying on more than one occasion “No Worries” which is a 100% an Aussie term of phrase, and something that my friends in the UK mock me for saying.
Then when they have moved, we have Aussies calling people “Love” as a term of endearment. This is a very northern England and Welsh term, whereas ‘Hun’ or ‘Darl’ is commonly heard in Queensland. I don’t think the word “mate” was used once in the book, and this is a word used in almost every single exchange of conversation with an Aussie.
Ok so those aside...Helen, what a bitch! I couldn't deal with her. Do people actually have Mothers like this? And actually put up with it? Christ!
Now normally I don’t read too much about a book (for example I will only every read a quarter of the back of a book) as I like to be surprised by where the story takes me. In this case, I read about the author, and as a result the ‘will they or won’t they go’ didn’t hold all that many surprise for me. But I do wonder how much of the book was fiction and how much of it was the exact tale of what she went through.
Nene, do you actually have a Mother like that?
As I say, I did enjoy the book, but some of the little things irked me too much to enjoy it fully.
It won’t stop me from seeking out the other book by this author though.
Oh and most importantly........the goodbyes brought tears to my eyes!
Now I will start by saying that overall I enjoyed this book, however it did present some little things that narked me, and this is simply because I am English (have spent considerable time in Wales) and I moved to Australia (and have lived in Queensland) so you could argue that the things that irritated me where really of no relevance to the story, and were only a result of my own experiences.
Ok…..so early on in the book (around p160) the family have not left Wales yet, but they are saying on more than one occasion “No Worries” which is a 100% an Aussie term of phrase, and something that my friends in the UK mock me for saying.
Then when they have moved, we have Aussies calling people “Love” as a term of endearment. This is a very northern England and Welsh term, whereas ‘Hun’ or ‘Darl’ is commonly heard in Queensland. I don’t think the word “mate” was used once in the book, and this is a word used in almost every single exchange of conversation with an Aussie.
Ok so those aside...Helen, what a bitch! I couldn't deal with her. Do people actually have Mothers like this? And actually put up with it? Christ!
Now normally I don’t read too much about a book (for example I will only every read a quarter of the back of a book) as I like to be surprised by where the story takes me. In this case, I read about the author, and as a result the ‘will they or won’t they go’ didn’t hold all that many surprise for me. But I do wonder how much of the book was fiction and how much of it was the exact tale of what she went through.
Nene, do you actually have a Mother like that?
As I say, I did enjoy the book, but some of the little things irked me too much to enjoy it fully.
It won’t stop me from seeking out the other book by this author though.
Oh and most importantly........the goodbyes brought tears to my eyes!
June 16, 2016
Although it took me a while to get into this book, I found the pace picked up about quarter of the way through, providing an enjoyable story. Ms Davies is a good storyteller and it was interesting to read about her character, Isobel, and her quest to emigrate to Australia with her family from cold, soggy Wales. Their journey was an entertaining one, and definitely had its ups and downs.
July 16, 2014
Isobel Richardson and her son Leo have worked hard to build a great life for themselves in Wales. Raising three healthy kids and having lovingly renovated their family home things are humming along nicely when out of the blue Leo's twenty year career at the local power plant ends in redundancy. Suddenly everything about their secure world is on shaky foundations as Leo struggles to find work and Isobel is left to deal with the fallout. Amidst all this stress, however, she finally voices a long held secret desire - to pack up the family and move to Australia.
Once committed the Richardsons set about making their big plan happen. Isobel assumes her beloved mother will come with them and is devastated when she not only refuses to consider the idea but withdraws from their life altogether. As her only child Isobel cannot fathom her mother's attitude but doesn't let it dissuade her from taking the leap she knows will provide their family with the future she has dreamt of for so long.
Distance is a story of dreams tempered with the reality of everyday life. It is told in an engaging way and you cannot help but be drawn into the dramas the Richardson family face as they relocate so far from everything they know. The characters are well drawn and very relatable, especially Isobel as she struggles to keep all the balls in the air while still being the anchor her family have come to know and expect.
I found Distance an easy book to read and enjoyed going along for the journey with Isobel and her family.
Once committed the Richardsons set about making their big plan happen. Isobel assumes her beloved mother will come with them and is devastated when she not only refuses to consider the idea but withdraws from their life altogether. As her only child Isobel cannot fathom her mother's attitude but doesn't let it dissuade her from taking the leap she knows will provide their family with the future she has dreamt of for so long.
Distance is a story of dreams tempered with the reality of everyday life. It is told in an engaging way and you cannot help but be drawn into the dramas the Richardson family face as they relocate so far from everything they know. The characters are well drawn and very relatable, especially Isobel as she struggles to keep all the balls in the air while still being the anchor her family have come to know and expect.
I found Distance an easy book to read and enjoyed going along for the journey with Isobel and her family.
June 25, 2014
"Distance" is a wonderfully warm family story, full of wit, great dialogue and events readers can relate to. It opens IN wales, during a cold wet winter, when Isobel Richardson is dreaming of migrating with her family to sunny Australia. Leo, her husband, loses his job and makes the decision to go back to University and study for a new career. Arrangements to migrate take a long time, but eventually Leo is granted a place atr the Central Queensland University and they travel to "Oz", finally settling at Yeppoon. It hasn't been easy, of course. The oldest son, Ben, has to stay behind to finish his schooling, and Isobel has to find work to help support the family while Leo studies. To add to the difficulties, Isobel's ageing mother, Helen, is devastated and angry that the family have left, and she makes like difficult for Isobel who is not coping well. Nene writes some funny, some sad, but very real family situations. The writing is good, very readable carrying the reader along with this lovable family, to a satisfying ending.
April 25, 2017
Well, this book hit a real emotional nerve for me. Based on a family changing their life and moving from one country to another. Considering this is a debut novel the writing is outstanding. The emotion and feeling that the author gets into her characters is amazing. I did not know what to expect, but I absolutely loved the storytelling.
I shed a tear or two when reading about the separation of Isobel from her mother and her eldest child, it reminded me of how much I miss spending time talking to my mum and daughter now we live in Spain and they are in the UK.
Very highly recommended if you like simple (or not so simple family stories)
Loved it.
I shed a tear or two when reading about the separation of Isobel from her mother and her eldest child, it reminded me of how much I miss spending time talking to my mum and daughter now we live in Spain and they are in the UK.
Very highly recommended if you like simple (or not so simple family stories)
Loved it.
June 28, 2015
This story, of a family emigrating from Pembrokeshire to Australia, rang so many bells as I hail from the same town as Nene Davies and emigrated to South Africa in 1982.
It's all here - the turning of a vague idea into reality, the emotional blackmail by elderly members of the family and the combination of excitement and culture shock at being in a completely new environment.
The characters in this tale, Isobel Richardson, her husband Leo, the three children, Ben, Jacob and Becky and Isobel's mother, Helen are all entirely believable and flawed human beings and the story moves along at a cracking pace.
The best recommendation that I can give Distance is that, before I had reached the 20% complete mark, I had already downloaded the sequel, Further. Readers will just have to know what happens next as the Richardsons settle in to Aussie life because I definitely cannot wait!
It's all here - the turning of a vague idea into reality, the emotional blackmail by elderly members of the family and the combination of excitement and culture shock at being in a completely new environment.
The characters in this tale, Isobel Richardson, her husband Leo, the three children, Ben, Jacob and Becky and Isobel's mother, Helen are all entirely believable and flawed human beings and the story moves along at a cracking pace.
The best recommendation that I can give Distance is that, before I had reached the 20% complete mark, I had already downloaded the sequel, Further. Readers will just have to know what happens next as the Richardsons settle in to Aussie life because I definitely cannot wait!
January 15, 2016
Ever had a dream to move to a tropical paradise on the other side of the world? For Isobel Richardson, self-confessed Aussiephile, that dream becomes reality when a sudden change of circumstances opens a window of opportunity. Her husband is keen, the kids are set. The bleakness of a Welsh winter spurs them on. What could possibly go wrong?
'Distance' is an easy-to-read novel about families and change. Of particular interest is the unravelling relationship between daughter and mother, characterised by emotional blackmail and punitive silence. As the first novel of a trilogy, the ending is rather abrupt but the author sets up some compelling questions, which I'm guessing she'll explore in the next book.
Can't wait to read 'Further'.
'Distance' is an easy-to-read novel about families and change. Of particular interest is the unravelling relationship between daughter and mother, characterised by emotional blackmail and punitive silence. As the first novel of a trilogy, the ending is rather abrupt but the author sets up some compelling questions, which I'm guessing she'll explore in the next book.
Can't wait to read 'Further'.
June 25, 2013
Hard to write a review with tears still in my eyes! What a great book. It conjures up feelings I think most of us have at one point or another about taking risks and moving on for another life in a different place. A beautifully written novel, atmospheric and breathtaking descriptions of people and place. At times I wondered what the mother was thinking with her attitude to certain events, but if I'm honest I can see myself reacting the same way. Sometimes love hurts, and she had so many things pulling at her. The beginning tied in beautifully with the ending. I'm looking forward to the next book by this author.
Read
November 6, 2013A frank and intimate tale of new beginnings, Distance is the story a Welsh family, in particular wife and mother Isobel Richardson. After her husband’s reluctancy, relocation to Australia becomes possible which in turns goes someways to satisfying her inexplicably itchy feet. This story unpacks the adventures, challenges and wonders of relocating a family, moving from one side of the world to another. Read the full review here: http://blog.thatbookyoulike.com.au/th...
January 11, 2014
A warm family story. I enjoyed following Isobel and her family on their journey to Australia. It reminded me of my own journey here many years ago. Nene brings the reader into Isabel's life as she tussles with the challenges the move brings and the divided loyalties she experiences. I loved the well drawn characters and the emotions the tale evokes. I'm looking forward to the sequal.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews