Rain on a Hot Tin Roof

by Stella Quinn

One derelict farm. Two broken hearts. And a town that can't help meddling ... A funny and heartwarming new romance from bestselling author Stella Quinn.


Single dad Luke means well. But ever since his son, Jace, had an accident, Luke's been trying to keep him safe from everything, driving Jace crazy. When a move to a dilapidated farm brings a chance at healing, Luke will take it. Even though it means fly-in-fly-out work and living with his interfering sister, Sal.

Felicity was once a fearless travel writer. Now she's home in small-town Clarence to start over, yet somehow she's become a nervous schoolteacher who avoids everyone, even her parents. Due to short-staffing, Felicity finds herself teaching science (despite not knowing what an amoeba is) as well as unexpectedly coaching tennis. (Ugh.)

Enter the Clarence Tennis Ladies. They love a project almost as much as a cuppa and cake. And when Jace mentions to Aunty Sal his dad needs to 'get a life', the club springs into action. Isn't there a new single teacher in town who might be just the distraction Luke needs?

But love, like a river, rarely runs without a ripple, and Felicity's past is about to cause a deluge ...

Genres: Romance, Contemporary

400 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 1, 2026

About the author

Drama | Romance | Mystery

Stella Quinn is a multi-award winning author.

She writes outback drama for Harper Collins HQ Fiction, and she's currently scribbling away at a small town rom-com mystery mashup in her spare time.

She loves reading GoodReads reviews so don't be shy!

Reviews

[Helen]

Stella Quinn has taken me back to one of my favourite towns Clarence and this time we see another of the Miles family find her HEA. Felicity is back in town renting a small cottage she has returned from Edinburgh a shadow of who she used to be thanks to a relationship with her ex-partner she has taken up a job at the local high school the one she attended, her days of travelling and writing travel guides is behind her and post-it-notes are the bane of her life, but life goes on and Felicity finds herself not only teaching her subject English but also science this should be fun.

Luke Simpson is a single dad to sixteen year old Jace and has become a bit of a helicopter parent since and accident nearly took Jace away from him, he has sold up his house in Wollongong and moved to the Simpson farm with his half-sister Sally, the farm is dilapidated and it also brings back some not so good memories for him about his father, Jace is not happy with him, but how can he not worry all of the time. Luke has taken a FIFO position in a gold mine he is an engineer and finding love is not on the agenda, but it seems that Sal and Jace have other ideas and when they meet the new teacher in town things move.

Felicity has been given the task of coaching the school tennis students and soon meets Sal and the Tennis ladies, Jace has chosen tennis for his sport instead of basketball this will throw a spanner in the works for his father and the tennis ladies put everything into pushing Luke and Felicity together.

This is such a fabulous story, I loved Felicity and Luke they so deserve to be happy and find love after all they have been through, Sal and Jace what fabulous characters, this is a fun and witty story that had me turning the pages I couldn’t get enough of this story and was sad to see it end and catching up with characters from previous stories was awesome. I do highly recommend this one it left me feeling very happy.

My thanks to Harlequin AU and Netgalley for my copy to read and review.

[beccabeccabooks]

Single dad Luke Simpson has returned to Clarence to occupy the run down farm with his sister, Sal. Son Jace had an accident a year ago and despite being more or less healed, Luke cant stop his constant hovering.

Luke's been ordered to 'get a life' from his son. Beyond FIFO work and a fleeting interest in re-establishing the farm, Luke's at a loss.

Felicity Miles has also just returned to her hometown of Clarence. After fleeing a controlling ex boyfriend in Edinburgh, Flick is craving security and safety. That is proving to be hard, she's dealing with the traumatic fallout. Gone is the confident, outgoing girl who chased adventure. Instead, theres a broken shell of her former self.

Flick is overjoyed to begin teaching at the local high school though. However, shes been thrown in at the deep end, suddenly covering science and tennis coaching. Being under-prepared for both ventures is a recipe for disaster... right?

Enter tennis loving and ex nurse Sal. She enjoys a project and getting things done. With the help of her nephew and cohort of tennis ladies, she embarks on the biggest meddling matchmaking project ever.... and she expects results.

Rain on a Hot Tin Roof by Stella Quinn was so wholesome. Who doesnt enjoy a slow burn second chance tale, especially when matchmaking is at play?

Luke and Flick were so cute. At first, there's quite a bit of angsty fluff as they're trying to sort out their dynamic. The spark is there, they're both keen, but... issues. They've got to learn to be patient, trust another and wait for the right moment before acting on the urges. In the meantime, being best friends will suffice.

The tennis ladies are nothing but supportive. Led by Sal, they are a trove of wisdom and can ABSOLUTELY go full Mama Bear if the need arises! Speaking of Sal, she may never been a mother, but shes the epitome of aunties/temporary guardians. Sal rocks big time.

I wonder who the next Miles sibling will be to get their HAE? I hope its Will, there's a lot of potential for his story to evolve. Until then, my stay in Clarence was one spent catching up with old friends and new in the relaxing rural area.

4.75 ⭐️

[Craig and Phil]

Big thanks to Harlequin for sending us a copy to read and review.
The small town of Clarence is home to both Luke and Felicity, the place that they both spent part of their childhood and have intricate connections.
It’s a place that offered a haven during tumultuous times.
Luke is doing his best as a single dad to raise his teenage son.
Living on his Dad’s old dairy farm.
A place that is not sentimental but offers a solid grounding for him and son to live and build a life.
A new teacher at the school will test him and allow others to match make.
Felicity has escaped a relationship that was governed by narcissism, manipulation and fear.
The safety of her hometown and its remote location a perfect place to hide and not address the issues.
Relationships and foundations build as tensions arise and where the future can’t forge forward until the past is addressed.
The wholesome air and abundant rainfall brings hope and optimism.
Country life can be tranquil but this shows that everybody can have baggage and have to deal with real problems.
The smell and sounds of a cattle auction, the classroom vibe and the bouncing of tennis balls evoked sensory satisfaction.
Lovers of this genre must take a trip to Clarence.

[Susan Mackie]

Adorable page-turner filled with humour, romance and small-town chaos. Adore the tennis ladies!

[Sharon]

Review to follow.

[Emma Moon]

In true Stella Quinn style Rain on a Hot Tin Roof is an engaging read full of fun and quirky characters.
We return to Clarence where Felicity and single Dad Luke have returned after both there lives went a bit off track.
Both are hoping to heal from there pasts, neither are looking for love, but Luke's son Jace, his sister Sal and the Clarence tennis ladies think otherwise and set out to make it their mission to get them together.
With a lovely bunch of characters, Rain on a Hot Tin Roof is a great page turning read, whilst also having some heavier themes that get unpacked.
I was kept interested and turning the page to see exactly what had happened in each of Felicity and Lukes pasts and how it was going to pan out.
I thought maybe Luke's Dads issues might have been explored a bit more rather than just hinted at and left unanswered.
But overall a thoroughly enjoyable read.
Thanks Harlequin for the copy to read and review.

[Trudi Lawley]

While I really loved this the time line left me confused. I have just finished ready a town like Clarence before this so a lot of the timing In this new book didn’t match. Did anyone else pick this ? In town like Clarence Felicity was there and Joey was newly with Kirsty and Robbo had cancer . But in this book it was that Felicity had been gone since young and Joey was now married .

[Justine Hill]

This couple needed a psychologist more than they needed each other!

[Aryani Siti]

It is a story about family, healing, and finding love again.

I liked Luke as a father. He cares so much about his son, Jace, but sometimes he worries too much. Jace is also a fun character. He just wants to live his life and be free.

Felicity was very interesting to me. She used to be brave and travel the world, but now she feels scared and unsure. I liked seeing her slowly grow stronger and try new things, even when she felt nervous.

One of my favourite parts of the story is the small town of Clarence. The people, especially the tennis ladies, made the story feel warm and a bit funny. They brought joy to the book.

The story also shows that life is not always easy. Both Luke and Felicity have problems from the past, but they try to move forward. I liked how the story shows that healing takes time.

[Karren Sandercock]

Luke Simpson returns to Clarence to live with his sister Sal on the farm and she will take care of his teenage son Jace while he’s a way for his job as a fly in fly out worker. Jace had an accident over a year ago, Luke’s turned into a helicopter parent and it’s driving his son crazy. Sal is sensible, an ex-nurse, will help Jace for the two weeks that Luke is away and he's in safe hands.

Felicity Miles was a travel writer and she backpacked her way around the world, she’s returned home to Clarence for a fresh start. Due to what happened with her ex-partner in London she's a paranoid wreck, and the only person who has a slight idea is her brother Will and she still uses a lot of post it notes. Felicity is one of six kids, her parents are alternate and they lived at nearby Bangadooh and still do and she hasn’t visited and wants space.

Due to the high school being short staffed she finds herself teaching science and coaching the tennis and she thought it was going to be English and maybe history? Felicity has no idea the Clarence Tennis Ladies see her as a possible candidate and Sal want’s Luke to fall in love again (it will keep him busy and leave poor Jace alone) and they can live happily ever after.

I received a copy of Rain on a Hot Tin Roof from NetGalley and Harlequin Australia in exchange for an unbiased review. I have been naughty and not read the previous book A Town like Clarence (it’s on my kindle) however I had no trouble working out the members of the Miles family and pondering who will feature next?

I like small town Australian rural fiction and Stella Quinn always delivers a great read with a themes included in the narrative to make you think. Such as; coercive control, growing up thinking your dad didn’t love you, guilty feelings around a child being hurt, how teachers in small schools wear many hats, coming up with a science project and going on an excursion is hard work, and it's a waste not to use farm land.

Five stars from me, I highly recommend Rain on a Hot Tin Roof and I can't wait to return to Clarence!

[Joanne McKinnon]

What a fabulous story warm, heartfelt, and quietly powerful.

Luke and his son Jace move to Luke’s family farm, a long-neglected property where his half-sister Sal still lives, hoping the change will bring a sense of healing for them all. Luke, a devoted single dad, has become increasingly overprotective since Jace’s accident understandably so, but it’s starting to suffocate a boy who just wants some independence. When Luke takes on a fly-in fly-out job, it’s Sal steady, capable, and a former nurse who steps in to care for Jace, giving both father and son a little room to breathe.

Felicity, once a fearless travel writer who backpacked across the globe, has returned to Clarence to rebuild her life, after a traumatic past and a relationship that left its mark, she’s a shadow of the woman she once was, anxious, uncertain, and trying to find her footing again. Now living in a small rented cottage, she takes on a teaching role at the local high school covering Science and English (despite not being trained in Science!) and even coaching tennis. Her confidence is fragile, but her journey back to herself is beautifully handled.

Enter the Clarence Tennis Ladies because no small town story is complete without a group like this., with Sal among their ranks, they love a project almost as much as a good cuppa and a slice of cake. When Jace casually suggests his dad needs to “get a life,” they waste no time stepping in to help things along.

I always love small-town Australian rural fiction, and this one delivers exactly what I look for a strong sense of community, layered characters, and meaningful themes woven naturally through the story. It touches on control, guilt, healing, and the complexities of family, as well as the reality of teachers in small schools wearing many hats.

The setting itself feels alive, almost a character in its own right, grounding the story with a real sense of place, with just the right balance of romance and emotional depth, this is a deeply satisfying read. Highly recommended
.

[Brenda]

Felicity was a shadow of her former self after a past which included Carlos. Now back from Edinburgh and living in her home town of Clarence in Australia, in an old rented cottage, she tried to overcome her paranoia; her fear of basically everything. When she was hired as a school teacher at the local high school, teaching Science and English, her knowledge before school started, was from books and the internet. Felicity's confidence in herself was at an all time low, but she'd get there - wouldn't she?

Luke was being a helicopter parent. Ever since his son Jace had had the accident where they almost lost him, Luke was trying to make up for his mistake. Moving to Clarence to live on the farm, where his sister Sal now lived, would be the new start he and Jace needed. But would it work? His FIFO job of two weeks on, two weeks off, would mean Sal would be Jace's guardian when he wasn't there. What could go wrong? The Clarence Tennis Ladies, of whom Sal was a member, swung into action...

Rain on a Hot Tin Roof is Aussie author Stella Quinn's latest rural romance novel, and it was entertaining, page turning, and although filled with a certain amount of angst, fun! Great characters - Sal & Jace among them - with a group of people who were determined to make everything right. A learning curve for a certain few, with the rain on the tin roof (which I loved as a child! Still do in fact) making for a cosy atmosphere inside. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley & HQ Fiction for my digital ARC to read and review.

[Ann-Maree]

Rain On A Hot Tin Roof
by Stella Quinn

Luke is a devoted divorced single dad, but a bit of a helicopter parent. Ever since his son Jace suffered a near-fatal accident, Luke has been fiercely committed to making things right. They have relocated from Wollongong to Clarence, where they now live on the old family farm, which was once a thriving dairy operation run by Luke's father and is now home to his sister, Sal. With a FIFO (fly-in, fly-out) job in Queensland, Luke ensures that Sal can care for Jace while he is away. As Jace starts at the local high school, he encounters his new teacher, Felicity.

Felicity has returned from Edinburgh to her hometown of Clarence, Australia, where she resides in a charming, old rented cottage. She has become a nervous person who tends to avoid everyone, including her parents. Determined to confront her challenges, she is working on overcoming her fears and anxieties. As a teacher at the local high school, she teaches science and English and supervises the tennis classes. Although she is back home, she has changed significantly from the adventurous girl who set out to explore the world years ago.

Both Luke and Felicity are seeking fresh beginnings, each carrying their own poignant backstories and secrets. However, with the help of some meddling family members and the local tennis ladies, you just know something interesting could happen.

While the story addresses darker themes, it is beautifully balanced by warmth, growth, self-discovery, and forgiveness, love, support, and positivity.

[Kathleen]

Stella Quinn writes believable characters in iconic Australian settings: Rain on a Hot Tin Roof is set in the Clarence River area, a scene of particular nostalgia to me and, therefore, a particularly enjoyable read.

Felicity is attempting to restart her life after fleeing from a relationship in which she was a victim of coercive control, an all too present evil in our world in which someone’s confidence and feelings of self-worth can be destroyed in a surprisingly short time. Felicity has come back to Clarence, her home town, and is teaching at the local high school.

Luke has brought his son, Jace, to Clarence to live on the property Luke co-owns with his much older sister, Sal. He is a mining engineer working on a FIFO basis at a gold mine in Queensland, and Sal is looking forward to being a substitute parent to sixteen-year old Jace for two weeks of every fortnight while Luke is away. Luke has problems of his own, holding himself responsible for an accident in which Jace’s skull was fractured, leading Luke to give up his job and live on his savings for twelve months while he took care of Jace’s lengthy rehabilitation.

It’s a dramatic backdrop but there is light and laughter and the beautiful countryside of northern New South Wales as well as, of course, romantic tension, all written in Stella Quinn’s recognisably beautiful style. I loved it!

[Sally906]

Rain on a Hot Tin Roof by Stella Quinn is an excellent Aussie rural romance - I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and connected to all of the characters. I felt like I was included in the story as if I was spending time with long time friends.

Felicity and Luke both have issues that have caused them to return to a all rural township of Clarence in NSW. Felicity is escaping from a bad coercive relationship which has left her doubting her own abilities and afraid. She has accepted a job teaching Science and English at the local High School.

Divorced single dad, Luke, has become an uber helicopter parent after his son, Jace, had a serious accident a year previously. Luke is driving Jace mad so at Jace’s request they have left the city and moved in with Luke’s half sister, Sal, on the family farm to start over. Luke now has a FIFO job in Queensland so Sal can care for Jace while he’s away. Jace starts at the local High School and meets his new teacher - Felicity.

Adding to the plot are the local Clarence Tennis Ladies, lead by Sal, who decide that Luke and Felicity would be a perfect match - so the campaign to bring the two together begins.

For Felicity and Luke, the return to Clarence is about each of them healing from past traumas and rebuilding their lives. How they reach this goal is what made this book a real hard to put down page turner, especially when Felicity’s past has not finished with her.

Thank you to HQ Fiction for providing an advanced copy of this book, at my request, for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Shelagh]

I just adore Stella Quinn’s books and this one sang to my heart. Rain On A Hot Tin Roof is most definitely the sort of rural romance we’ve come to expect from this author, however I think her characters and their back stories are more complex than I foumd in earlier books. Felicity has returned to her previous home town of Clarence after years of roaming the world as a travel writer, yet she is not the sunny-natured soul who left. It transpires that she’s escaped an abusive and controlling relationship and is still suffering the after effects. Luke, divorced father of sixteen year-old Jace, has returned to his family farm in Clarence with his own baggage. Jace had a serious accident when he was fourteen and Luke has become a helicopter parent, never having forgiven himself for the accident he perceives to have been his fault. For both Felicity and Luke, coming back is about healing and rebuilding their lives. I loved the townspeople, Luke’s bossy older sister Sal and the Tennis Ladies, and Felicity’s students, especially the smart Alec she aptly nicknames Pain In The Arse. This story has its dark moments but they are balanced by so much warmth that it is overwhelmingly about love, support and positivity. It’s definitely getting a spot on my keeper shelf.

[Lee at ReadWriteWish]

This Aussie rural romance features Luke, a FIFO worker, trying to bring up his teenage son without any help from his ex-wife, and Felicity, who's returned to her hometown and found a job as a teacher. Both are looking for a fresh start, both having their own sad backstories and secrets.

The setting was quite good, with Quinn able to describe a lot of Aussie life very authentically. Quinn also included a couple of important themes into the plot, such as domestic violence.

Yet, the book was still only just okay for me.

I think my biggest beef with these types of books is their word count. I just don't think any of them have enough plot to substantiate the 400 odd pages I assume publishers are demanding. Subsequently, I find myself distracted and skimming. 250-270 pages really would have kept things more streamlined and maybe kept me more invested.

3 out of 5

*Thank you to HQ and Harper Collins Australia for my advanced copy

[Nicole West]

5 plus stars 🌟

A quiet town along the Clarence River is what Luke and his son Jace need after a terrible accident.

Luke has gone back to FIFO to earn money and start a new life. Jace, his son, embraces a new school, new friends, and living with Auntie Sal.

Sal is Luke's older sister, who has a heart of gold but meddling, and a big community organiser who volunteers at an animal shelter.

Felicity ex feraless travel writer has just started as a contract teacher to teach classes out of her scope and coaching tennis to the students. She has a past that will follow her and challenge her very being of sanity.

A story full of life's experiences and happenings that will have you enthralled from the sidelines.

I truly loved the interfering Clarence Tennis Ladies, their love and support, cuppa and cake discussions, and town spy's.

Read, loved, didn't want it to end. There is nothing like Rain on a Hot Tin Roof!

[Maree Gray]

I've read a couple of Stella's books now, but A Town Like Clarence is still on my tbr pile.
Not having read that book though in no way detracted from my enjoyment of this book.
It reads perfectly fine as a stand alone story, but I now can't wait to read more about this gorgeous town called Clarence!

Felicity and Luke are such very real, everyday characters, with very serious problems that they are trying to deal with by themselves.
I adore Felicity and Luke's families and friends, who do whatever they can to help them deal with their issues.

Clarence sounds like the kind of place I would love to live in, where there is always someone around to give you a hand when needed, or just have a friendly chat.

Thank you to NetGalley and HQ Books Australia for the digital ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Melissa]

Set in a remote Australian town, this soft, comforting romance follows two people rebuilding their lives. Luke, a single FIFO dad, returns home hoping to give his sixteen year old son some normality after a tough year. Felicity, returns home escaping a bad relationship, is looking for a fresh start of her own. With the help of Luke’s half sister Sal and his son Jace are determined to make sure Luke “gets a life” their paths begin to intertwine. Rain on a Hot Tin Roof is a fun, witty story about healing, community and finding love when you least expect it. The small town charm shines and the side characters add more depth especially the tennis ladies, who were an absolute delight. A warm, engaging read with heart and humour and a beautiful ending. 4 stars

[✰ BJ's Book Blog ✰Janeane ✰]

3.5 STARS

Luke and Felicity are both chasing a new beginning, are not looking for love, and just want to move forward from dramas and issues in their past.

Now, I moved from the city to a small town, soI know exactly how they are feeling when it comes to the rumour mill - you can't even sneeze in a town like theirs (and mine) without you dying of the flu!

I enjoyed how both of them, with the help of each other (and the occasional push from those around them) overcame what they were running from. They come out from the shadows they have been hiding behind, and life blooms before them.

I don't read much ruro - I live that rural life and yeah, nope! - however I did like the escapism of Rain On A Hot Tin Roof. I enjoyed the small town vibe, I enjoyed the characters surrounding Luke and Felicity and how they all came together.

[Michelle Verplak]

I loved revisiting the town of Clarence. Felicity returns to her hometown to start a fresh, changing careers from a travel writer to a school teacher. Luke has moved with his son to Clarence with the view to protect his son and reconnect with his son. But Jace wants his dad to get a life and stop helicopter parenting him. Then we have the loveable matchmaking tennis ladies, jump into action, teach Felicity to play tennis, not say Sorry and some important life lessons. I also enjoyed the man hating cat, and the mischief he got up to. Brought back memories of my own cat when he was younger, though he attacked everyone except my son.

[Prue B]

I found this book boring and lacking depth to keep a reader's anticipation. In Felcity we have a female lead who is suffering from anxiety and escaping a bad relationship. In the main character Luke, we have a single dad trying to raise his son and start over. Both the characters had the potential to be excellent, but weren't developed at all. Apart from 1 small incident on a hike, there is no excitement or drama in the story at all. It sells itself as a romance story, but this section of the book was so minimal it was barely existing.
Only read it as something to pass the time.

[MRS ANNE]

Loved this book, as there were instances that the heroine faced, that cleared some very old grievances for me. It was strange that I had no idea that this book was a return to the town of Clarence and a revisit of the characters in the previous books! In fact I was on the point of emailing Stella Quinn to suggest a revisit, so when I started reading it was like visiting old friends. A very enjoyable book, and yes I did finish it at 1:45 am and feel like garbage today!

[Cel Jel]

What an amazing story of a small country community and the support they give to two damaged people who arrive back there. One had grown up there amd the other had visitors his father one holiday a year from the city where he lived with his mother. It was not because the story did not grip me that it took me so long, but because I listened to it on audio book and just did not have good listening times.

[Caroline]

I found this a bit slow to start and really didnt like felicity but once her back story started to come out i warmed up to her. I liked that it was not a straight rural romance but more about what leads to how people cope with their past and how letting people in can help. It also shows Family and friends are there for you even if u dont ask for help!

It also makes me want to read picnic at hanging rock again!

[Heather Reyburn]

What a fabulous story! Felicity and Luke get off to a rough start, both nursing a broken heart and with more in common than either imagined. When Luke's son, Jace, reveals his wish for his father to have more in life than worrying about him, Luke's sister "Aunty Sal" decides what Luke needs is romance. Together with her tennis pals, Aunty Sal launches into action!
Stella Quinn's stories are full of humour, love and country life and this one is her best yet! I loved it.

[Pat Smith]

Stella has done it again! Another delightful story set in the town of Clarence. The main cast of Felicity, Luke, Jace and Sal, with the Tennis ladies, Felicity’s family and the class at the school she now works in being the rest of the assemble means there is always something going on!
A heartwarming story.

[Tanya Curran]

My first Stella Quinn read - I loved it! Small town Clarence, has brought Felicity, a new teacher with hidden baggage and Luke, FIFO and his son Jace, into their fold. And into the lives of the small town tennis community. Full of chance encounters, quirky characters, romance and life’s moments that make good storytelling. A great read!

[Trish Drinkwater]

A beautiful book with deep seated issues - the stalking issue is handled brilliantly and the way another person can ruin a person's self esteem and self worth without proper reason is horrifying.
The way the issues are resolved is excellent, nothing is trivialised.
A truly readable book from one of my favourite authors. Australian fiction at its very best.