Outback Flames

by Suzanne Brandyn

At thirteen, Zoe Montgomery's life changed overnight, the night her family and their property, Montagreen, went up in flames. The incident and her previous memories are wiped from her mind. Whisked away moments later by an unknown aunt, Zoe learns to grow up fast and learns the value of hard work.

Fifteen years later, after overhearing her aunt's whispers about Montagreen, and a girl called Zoe Montgomery, the name on her bracelet, Zoe's suspicions increase. She flees the only life she has ever known, and escapes her aunt's harsh lies and abuse, to return home to find answers and rebuild.

However, returning opens not only the devastation she'd left behind, it reveals the torment her childhood sweetheart suffered which almost destroyed his life.

As Jordan works on the restoration of Montagreen, can they battle their way through a mountain of obstacles and take over where they left off, or is it too late?

Genres: Suspense

279 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2015

About the author

Welcome to Suzanne's Goodreads page.

If there’s a job to be done in the country, Suzanne Brandyn has done it. From mustering stock in the heat of cattle-country, spotlighting for foxes, shooting a rifle, and navigating through the red dust of the outback, her love of our diverse land, feisty heroines, and the all-important meeting of Mr Right has been delighting readers for years.

You can find out more about Suzanne on her website Romancing The Outback. Romance and Suspense set in remote Australia.

https://suzanne-brandyn.blogspot.com/

Reviews

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zoe Montgomery has no memory of the last time she was in Munna. The childhood home of Montagreen which she grew up in had been left unoccupied for many years. Zoe has come back to the property looking for answers about what really happened to her all those years ago and what happened on the night she lost her family in a devastating fire. But discovering the answers may be more difficult due to the fact that she has no memory of when she was last here and she has been lied to over the years.

Jordan Townsend thought he was seeing things when he first saw Zoe in town. He, along with many of the other people in town did numerous searches for Zoe on the night she went missing fifteen years ago, but of course she was never to be found. Jordan is a little taken aback when he realizes that Zoe doesn't know him.

Zoe has not only returned to Montagreen looking for answers to what happened all those years ago, but she also wants to restore Montagreen back to its former self. Jordan is more than happy to assist in the restoration and do whatever he can to help Zoe out. Zoe turns to the local police and a solicitor in the hope they might have more information on what actually happened on the night of the devastating fire. But as the weeks pass will Zoe find the answers to what happened all those years ago? Or will she left be with more unanswered questions?

Another wonderful read by Aussie author Suzanne Brandyn. I thoroughly loved this book from the very first page. A truly enjoyable read of suspense, romance and mystery and one in which I have no hesitation in HIGHLY recommending.

With thanks to the author for my copy to read and review.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outback Flames is about Zoe Montgomery who for fifteen years did not know that the life she was living was not real, until, she heard a conversation between her Aunty and Uncle. Hearing the conversation started Zoe on an adventure to find out what is the truth and on the way fell in love with Jordan. The readers of Outback Flames will follow Zoe and Jordan quest to find the answers to what happened 15 years ago that affected both Zoe and Jordan. Also, readers of Outback Flames will be happy with the conclusion of this book.

Readers of Outback Flames will learn about the rural volunteer fire brigade and the amazing work they do to look after local communities. Also, readers of Outback Flames will learn the terror that rural people go through during fire season.

Reading Outback Flames started me to think about the consequences of leaving bbq's burning throw cigarette out of the car windows. I really enjoy Suzanne Brandyn books she entwines two of my favourite genres romance and suspense in a way that I am unable to put her books down until the conclusion.

I recommend this book.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5★s

Zoe Montgomery returned to Munna as a twenty eight year old woman; the property she had lived on as a child, Montagreen, had been deserted for a long time – ever since she lost her family in a dreadful fire. Zoe had been whisked away by an aunt on that night and had no memory of anything remotely connected to her life prior to when she was thirteen years of age. But Zoe had been lied to and mistreated – she hadn’t even known her own name. So, with still no memory of her past, she pieced together the little she could, and returned to town to try to find some answers.

Jordan Townsend was shocked when he saw Zoe in town for the first time – apart from the fact that she had been missing for fifteen years with many searches having been conducted over the years for her, the fact that Zoe quite obviously didn’t recognise him sent Jordan’s heart plummeting to his boots. They had been best friends all those years ago, had done everything together and Jordan had been devastated when she vanished.

As Zoe learned about the tragedy that had taken her family, the uncertainty of who was responsible for the fire which changed her life in such a terrible way ate at her. While Jordan worked on the restoration of Montagreen, Zoe talked to the local police sergeant and also her parents’ solicitor. What she learned from them shocked her even more. Could Zoe find the answers to what had happened all that time ago? Would she eventually find peace; leave the unexplained guilt behind and recover her memory? Or was the danger still out there?

What an excellent romantic suspense novel from Aussie author Suzanne Brandyn. The pace was fast, with a delicious mixture of mystery and tension to keep me turning the pages to find out more! The descriptions of the Australian countryside are such that I could see the dry grass, the devastation from the drought, the starkness of the land, the heat of the summer; the last few chapters had me spellbound. In my opinion this is the author’s best work, and I’ll be looking forward to more from her. Highly recommended.

With thanks to the author for my copy to read and review.

[Veronica ⭐️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Aussie outback stories! The people and the countryside make for great stories and Suzanne Brandyn’s Outback Flames is no exception. Her description of the harsh countryside, intense heat and raging bushfires is captivating.

It was pleasing to read a romance that wasn’t full of angst and to-ing and fro-ing. Jordan had always been in love with Zoe but knew she had lost her memory so he was determined to win her heart again. Zoe had an instant attraction to Jordan she had plenty of work to do and told herself she had no time for romance but she didn’t push him away.

I loved the typical Aussie speech, the problems and delights of country living with everyone willing to help one another. The terror of bush fires, so common in Australia, filled the story with tension and had me holding my breath.

Throw into this mix an evil aunt and a hunky prince charming and you have a modern day country style Cinderella.

[Jülie ☼♄  · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to the Author for this arc to read and review.

When 13 year old Zoe Montgomery goes missing on the night of the fire which claimed her parents' lives as well as destroying "Montagreen", their rural family home, the whole town is shocked.
Search parties are organized and the whole town is involved in trying to find the missing Zoe, including her teenage sweetheart and soul mate, Jordan, who will spend many years wondering what really happened, and all the while still searching for her.
Jordan was there on the night of the fire and witnessed some things he still can't understand. He will pay a big price for being there on that fateful night.
Zoe will also pay a big price, though she won't realize just how big until many years later..because her memory froze on that night and she can recall nothing of her life before then.
The life she has lived in the meantime however, is a very cruel and different one to the one she lived at Montagreen with her family, and when she overhears a conversation between her Aunt and her [Aunt's] de facto many years later, her suspicions are aroused. She then secretly embarks on a mission to discover her truth.

This is a great story with lots of intrigue and innuendo making it a real page turner, and I wanted more!

I enjoyed this book very much and found it had plenty of pace and enough intrigue to keep me turning pages.
It is a good story which is laid out in a natural unfolding pattern with well rounded characters, and I believe I could have liked it a lot more still, but for some 'minor' niggles which is what led to me giving it a four star rating instead of more.

There were times when I did feel the story seemed a little rushed, where I would have preferred a bit more information, or follow through to help complete a picture. So it felt at times that there were some loose ends here and there...for eg: I kept expecting to meet the Patterson's as they were integral to the evolution of Zoe's story, also Zoe getting a new car was a big thing because of her reasons, but it then went unnoticed, or when Zoe would go missing, where did she go? What was she doing? .... The 'sticky beak' in me wanted to know these details, even if the other characters weren't meant to be privy.
Although not major issues these things made the story feel a little clipped in places and left me wanting, and wondering. Was too much edited out?

I know from reading this book that Suzanne Brandon is a good writer, I just felt that for some reason she was a bit restrained here and as much as I loved the story, I felt there was room to really build it into something even better...but that's just my opinion...I wanted her to let go of the reins and kick that horse!
Having said that, I wouldn't hesitate to read more of her books, and already have the next one, "Outback Fever" lined up. I look forward to reading it soon.

4*s

[Olivia-Savannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review and more can be found on Olivia's Catastrophe: http://olivia-savannah.blogspot.nl/20...

This wasn’t necessarily a bad read. However, it wasn’t a memorable or unique read at all. I am generally not a huge fan of the romance genre because I believe a lot of romances simply blend into one another – there needs to be something different to add to the mix. But this book didn’t have that ‘something different’ which I feel always needs to be there.

The writing style was decent enough and pretty easy to read. I think the author did try to go for a bit too realistic a kind of dialogue seeing as Zoe ended up saying things like ‘um’ a lot, and it irritated me. I could understand the want for realism, but it got repetitive quickly, and bothered me.

Zoe herself was a nice character. She had been through a lot as a child and was basically grown up like Cinderella. I loved how strong she was and eager to start her life again, even though she wasn’t completely sure how she was going to do it. She was all prepared to be independent, but I am grateful that she didn’t have to be because she was still going through a traumatic time and needed someone to support her. That ended up being Jordan who has known Zoe since they were young but is harbouring his own secrets. I liked him well enough, but there didn’t seem to be anything very special about him from what I could see.

I did like the use of setting. As anyone can tell, I have a soft spot for stories that are set anywhere but the usual America or Britain combo. So having this set in sunny Australia? Bonus points from me.

I felt like they fell in love here a bit too fast. They’d only known each other for days, and they seem to be ready to go into a serious relationship. I couldn’t see that being very realistic. And by the end of the novel I believe they have known each other for approximately a month but they end up making a pretty big decision in their relationship. I found it all to be too soon and too much. Slow down! This is also a pretty clean romance (anything heading in the explicit direction has the scene cut and left open ended.)

I did find the ending to be a bit too easily resolved. It could’ve been a lot more suspenseful but I wasn’t getting that impression at all, and that left the book feeling a bit flat and bland. I couldn’t feel the sense of a climax.

All in all, a decent read but nothing special or unique about it excepting the setting.

[Carolyn Injoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free kindle edition of Outback Flames by Suzanne Brandyn in a goodreads promotion. I gave it four stars

Zoe had been missing for fifteen years. Jordan is shocked when she returns to her parent's home Montagreen in Munna without any memory. Jordan's son is Luke. Luke's mother died.

After Zoe went out to dine in a pub/restaurant & ended up joining Jordan, Luke, Samantha & Mike. She learned that in the past they were known as the 'awesome foursome' but still has no memory of that. They offer to take Luke home if Jordan loans them his vehicle. Luke gives Zoe a giant hug. As they prepare to leave Zoe describes her vehicle as 'a beast' but that it runs. In this case, it won't start even after Jordan looks under the hood to see what's wrong.

"'I've got a loan. I know the guy who owns the pub.'
'Thank heavens for that. I thought we'd be stranded.'
He shot her a quizzical look. 'Not in Munna. Everyone helps everyone out here. Come on. His vehicle is parked out back.'"

Zoe's aunt essentially kidnapped her & lied about everything. She even got a driver's license in the false name, Jennifer Bailey & kept her locked up. When Zoe got away & found out the extent of her aunt's lies she thought: 'And to think she'd worked for her aunt from sun up to sundown trying to please a woman that could never be pleased. Zoe had handed over almost all her weekly wage, asking Mr. Patterson never to tell her aunt what she actually earned. The Pattersons understood. They knew what her aunt was like."

Zoe found her birth certificate in a locked file cabinet. With that discovery, one little bit of her mother's memory came back too. "She was hoping the days spent with her aunt would gradually fade, be a distant memory, locked away for good."

Will Zoe's memory return completely? Will her ant get her just reward? Will Jordan & Zoe fall in love all over again?

Link to purchase: http://www.amazon.com/Outback-Flames-...

[Virginia Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outback Flames is a wonderful Australian book, with that Aussie flavour. From the beginning I fell in love with Jordan, and his efforts to have a good, normal life.

As for the heroine, Zoe, she too struggled to find her identity where she'd lost everything. Her struggle touched me very much as I identified with many of her problems.

Returning home stories grab my attention, and so do memory loss stories. Suzanne wrote this novel with heart, and such ability to describe the Outback. It was as though I was there in the book with the characters.

Can't wait for her next rural romance story. Outback Flames a great story that I read in two settings, although I wanted to read in one, but sometimes I need sleep.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story takes place in the Outback of Australia. Zoe returns after 15 years to her hometown of Munna, the only memory she has is of her Aunt taking her away during a fire. She returns to rebuild her childhood home and try to remember what happened and why her Aunt took her and made her a child slave. She meets Jade, who tells her that her Brother does construction work. As soon as Jordan sees Zoe, he realizes that his first love has returned but she doesn't remember him. The author does a good job on all of the details of the characters and surrounding countryside. A good, interesting read!

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love rural romances and I love a good suspense and this story combines both set in a small country town in NSW Zoe has returned to her hometown of Munna after being "missing" for 15 years but her best friend and the guy who has loved her always Jordon has never given up on her. This is a story that will have you turning the pages to find out what happened after the fateful night that changed Jordon and Zoe's lives but this is also a story of true love between childhood sweethearts that will have you tearing up and smiling a great read.

[Tam · Rating 5 out of 5]

There were more flames burning than the flames of the heart.

I felt for Zoe straight off, and everything she'd been through. I loved the property Montagreen. I pictured it in my mind. It reminded me of a property in western Queensland I visited last year where it was so dry. The drought in Australia is still ongoing.

Jordan was every girl's dream of a rugged male. He is to die for. Where do I find one of those? Jordan, first up still has feelings for Zoe, but circumstances mounted over the years, and both hero and heroine has to find their way through the rubble.

Suzanne's writing is excellent. The way she executes a story and having the reader absorbed right until the end, which it did me, is a rare talent. She portrays her stories with ease, and gives that edge of suspense I was looking for and having a bonus set on the edge of the Outback. There were also a few surprises along the way.

A thoroughly enjoyable read. If you love Rural Romance or Romantic Suspense, you'll love Outback Flames.

[Judith Byrne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outback Flames

Another pleasant read,enjoying the characters,good bit of mystery when Zoe is unable to remember things,but all turned out well, happy ending.

[Clare Sanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another lovely story, I really enjoyed it.