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Outback Queensland Romance #6
Echoes of the Outback
When Ella returns to the outback town of Matfield, she's content to slip back into the quiet rhythm of the family's produce store and leave the noise of the city behind. The red dust, the slow sunsets, and the familiar faces are all she needs, until a stranger arrives with plans that threaten everything she's rebuilt.
Dusty's from the city, all charm and muscle, turning heads as easily as he swings a hammer. Everyone loves him, except Ella. She's certain his interest in town goes deeper than his talk of renovations and good intentions. And when she learns he's been eyeing local properties, her suspicions ignite.
But the land remembers what people forget. Buried histories stir beneath the surface, and secrets long carried on desert winds begin to rise again. As the truth emerges, Ella and Dusty must decide whether to guard their hearts or follow the echoes of the past, trusting that some destinies are written in the dust long before we arrive.
Dusty's from the city, all charm and muscle, turning heads as easily as he swings a hammer. Everyone loves him, except Ella. She's certain his interest in town goes deeper than his talk of renovations and good intentions. And when she learns he's been eyeing local properties, her suspicions ignite.
But the land remembers what people forget. Buried histories stir beneath the surface, and secrets long carried on desert winds begin to rise again. As the truth emerges, Ella and Dusty must decide whether to guard their hearts or follow the echoes of the past, trusting that some destinies are written in the dust long before we arrive.
356 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 1, 2026
About the author
Rhonda Forrest
36 books80 followersAn Australian voice creating compelling contemporary fiction - from bush to beach, steamy romances, riveting history and eclectic characters.
Rhonda Forrest is an Australian teacher and author who writes captivating contemporary and historical fiction about relationships, family life and social issues, set amidst beautiful and uniquely Australian landscapes.
After bringing up three daughters and traversing several different careers, Rhonda went on to teach creative writing, English and History to high school students. Her passion for literacy, history and travelling around Australia fuels her novels.
Rhonda currently lives with her husband between two Queensland homes: one on Tamborine Mountain, the other a century-old cottage with a rambling garden, overlooking the waters of the Whitsundays.
Readers can connect with Rhonda via her website www.rhondaforrest.com, Instagram @rhondaforrestauthor or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/valeenapress.
Rhonda Forrest is an Australian teacher and author who writes captivating contemporary and historical fiction about relationships, family life and social issues, set amidst beautiful and uniquely Australian landscapes.
After bringing up three daughters and traversing several different careers, Rhonda went on to teach creative writing, English and History to high school students. Her passion for literacy, history and travelling around Australia fuels her novels.
Rhonda currently lives with her husband between two Queensland homes: one on Tamborine Mountain, the other a century-old cottage with a rambling garden, overlooking the waters of the Whitsundays.
Readers can connect with Rhonda via her website www.rhondaforrest.com, Instagram @rhondaforrestauthor or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/valeenapress.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 31, 2026
I’ve loved every book in the Outback Queensland Romance series, and Echoes of the Outback is another beautiful addition. One of the things Rhonda Forrest does so well is bring the Queensland outback to life — the red dust, the heat, the sense of history and community. While this is book six, it can absolutely be read as a standalone, but reading the series in order adds a deeper layer of familiarity with both the setting and the recurring characters, which I always enjoy.
Ella is an interesting heroine. I’ll be honest — she wasn’t immediately easy to like. She came across as guarded and a little harsh at first, but that’s what made her journey so compelling. As the story unfolded, her reactions and choices made complete sense, shaped by the past she carries and the land she’s deeply connected to. That slow, believable understanding of her character felt very intentional and skilfully written, rather than a sudden or forced change.
Dusty brings a great contrast to Ella, and I loved the tension between them as well as the underlying mystery woven through the story. There’s real emotional depth here, alongside a strong sense of place and a storyline that keeps you invested. Rhonda Forrest remains one of my favourite Australian authors, and this book is a wonderful example of why. A thoughtful, emotionally engaging outback romance that I thoroughly enjoyed. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ella is an interesting heroine. I’ll be honest — she wasn’t immediately easy to like. She came across as guarded and a little harsh at first, but that’s what made her journey so compelling. As the story unfolded, her reactions and choices made complete sense, shaped by the past she carries and the land she’s deeply connected to. That slow, believable understanding of her character felt very intentional and skilfully written, rather than a sudden or forced change.
Dusty brings a great contrast to Ella, and I loved the tension between them as well as the underlying mystery woven through the story. There’s real emotional depth here, alongside a strong sense of place and a storyline that keeps you invested. Rhonda Forrest remains one of my favourite Australian authors, and this book is a wonderful example of why. A thoughtful, emotionally engaging outback romance that I thoroughly enjoyed. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
February 24, 2026
Big thanks to Rhonda for gifting us a copy to read and review.
Rhonda Forrest is one of the country’s popular and talented indie authors.
Echoes Of The Outback is the sixth book in the Outback Queensland Romance series and it’s a great addition to the series.
A story that’s affluent in emotion, relationships, community set against the landscape of the country.
Returning home to Matfield was the best decision Ella ever made.
A rural girl at heart and working back at the family business she dreams of her own home and property.
Then a handsome stranger arrives and messes with her plans.
Dusty is in town for work, renovating a local’s setup.
He charms and befriends everyone except Ella.
Ella believes he’s there for the wrong reasons.
But an attraction steps in and causes drama between the two.
Secrets awake and turmoil creates chaos in everyday life…..
Reading a book by Rhonda gives you all the feels, makes you smile and wanting more.
A continuation from the previous books, introducing new characters and there’s some familiar faces in the town.
It’s always a pleasure to see how life is treating the cast.
A heartfelt story with mystery, family, love and a welcoming storyline.
An enjoyable read.
Rhonda Forrest is one of the country’s popular and talented indie authors.
Echoes Of The Outback is the sixth book in the Outback Queensland Romance series and it’s a great addition to the series.
A story that’s affluent in emotion, relationships, community set against the landscape of the country.
Returning home to Matfield was the best decision Ella ever made.
A rural girl at heart and working back at the family business she dreams of her own home and property.
Then a handsome stranger arrives and messes with her plans.
Dusty is in town for work, renovating a local’s setup.
He charms and befriends everyone except Ella.
Ella believes he’s there for the wrong reasons.
But an attraction steps in and causes drama between the two.
Secrets awake and turmoil creates chaos in everyday life…..
Reading a book by Rhonda gives you all the feels, makes you smile and wanting more.
A continuation from the previous books, introducing new characters and there’s some familiar faces in the town.
It’s always a pleasure to see how life is treating the cast.
A heartfelt story with mystery, family, love and a welcoming storyline.
An enjoyable read.
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5★s
Ella Patterson had happily returned to her hometown of Matfield in outback Queensland after university, determined to help her parents in their produce store which had been operating for generations. She wanted to take over the store and work with her brother Tyson; she had plans for the large block of land next to the store, plus the property out of town, Pazhvak Station, which had been abandoned for decades. Ella would spend hours at Pazhvak Station, finding peace and comfort, with the magnificent views and wildlife surrounding her. When two young men arrived from Melbourne to do repairs and renovations to the old pub in town, she wasn't prepared for what was ahead...
Dusty and his mate Eli were both carpenters and good at what they did. Their arrival in Matfield caused a stir among the young women in town, and it wasn't long before they'd befriended half the town. But Ella was wary - she'd been hurt before. And when Dusty began stepping on her toes, upsetting the plans she'd had for years, anger, frustration and grief struck Ella. She had no patience for this man who'd finish his work and head back to the city.
Echoes of the Outback is the 6th in the Outback Queensland Romance series by Aussie author Rhonda Forrest and I really enjoyed it. Ella was a hard person to like, especially at the beginning of the book. Dusty was a genuine, caring young man, with a long held secret he couldn't speak of, which of course frustrated Ella. I'm loving this series, as I have all Ms Forrest's writing, and have no problem in recommending Echoes of the Outback to fans of the genre.
With thanks to the author for my ARC to read and review.
Ella Patterson had happily returned to her hometown of Matfield in outback Queensland after university, determined to help her parents in their produce store which had been operating for generations. She wanted to take over the store and work with her brother Tyson; she had plans for the large block of land next to the store, plus the property out of town, Pazhvak Station, which had been abandoned for decades. Ella would spend hours at Pazhvak Station, finding peace and comfort, with the magnificent views and wildlife surrounding her. When two young men arrived from Melbourne to do repairs and renovations to the old pub in town, she wasn't prepared for what was ahead...
Dusty and his mate Eli were both carpenters and good at what they did. Their arrival in Matfield caused a stir among the young women in town, and it wasn't long before they'd befriended half the town. But Ella was wary - she'd been hurt before. And when Dusty began stepping on her toes, upsetting the plans she'd had for years, anger, frustration and grief struck Ella. She had no patience for this man who'd finish his work and head back to the city.
Echoes of the Outback is the 6th in the Outback Queensland Romance series by Aussie author Rhonda Forrest and I really enjoyed it. Ella was a hard person to like, especially at the beginning of the book. Dusty was a genuine, caring young man, with a long held secret he couldn't speak of, which of course frustrated Ella. I'm loving this series, as I have all Ms Forrest's writing, and have no problem in recommending Echoes of the Outback to fans of the genre.
With thanks to the author for my ARC to read and review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Book six in this series and although I have not read the first four I have loved book five and six and have the first ones on my list to read Rhonda Forrest writes stories that are hard to put down, she brings her characters and the setting to life on the pages and this one is no exception, I loved it.
Ella Patterson has moved back to her hometown Matfield in the Queensland Outback to work in the family produce store, things in Melbourne did not work out and with the breakdown of her last relationship Ella is now decided that a single life is what she wants and the beautiful sunsets, red dust and the people she has grown up with is what she needs, then a new person arrives in town, a builder and it appears that he is planning to re-build her home town.
Dusty Camilleri has left the city to take on a renovation job at the pub with his friend Eli he loves the job he does and is soon making friends with everyone in town that is except Ella, for some reason she seems to have a grudge against him, thinks he is here to re-develop the town she loves and he has no idea why.
Soon trivia nights and a fundraiser bring Ella and Dusty closer is there a chance that there could be more for them there is a spark but Ella finds it hard to trust and she can be really stubborn and as much as Dusty and some of her friends try to convince her that things are not what she thinks, she is standing firm, until she finally listens and helps him dig a bit into his families past, could this be the start of a future for them?
I did love this story but honestly I found Ella hard to connect with in the beginning she is so stubborn and assumes things too easily, Dusty though is just such a fabulous guy, caring and helpful and I think perfect for Ella if only she would listen and soon when Dusty opens up about the echoes of the past lives of his grandparents Ella becomes the true person she is.
This one is moving and emotional and one that I do highly recommend, and I am hoping that there will be more stories in this series, time for me to catch up on them all.
My thanks to the author for my copy to read and review.
Ella Patterson has moved back to her hometown Matfield in the Queensland Outback to work in the family produce store, things in Melbourne did not work out and with the breakdown of her last relationship Ella is now decided that a single life is what she wants and the beautiful sunsets, red dust and the people she has grown up with is what she needs, then a new person arrives in town, a builder and it appears that he is planning to re-build her home town.
Dusty Camilleri has left the city to take on a renovation job at the pub with his friend Eli he loves the job he does and is soon making friends with everyone in town that is except Ella, for some reason she seems to have a grudge against him, thinks he is here to re-develop the town she loves and he has no idea why.
Soon trivia nights and a fundraiser bring Ella and Dusty closer is there a chance that there could be more for them there is a spark but Ella finds it hard to trust and she can be really stubborn and as much as Dusty and some of her friends try to convince her that things are not what she thinks, she is standing firm, until she finally listens and helps him dig a bit into his families past, could this be the start of a future for them?
I did love this story but honestly I found Ella hard to connect with in the beginning she is so stubborn and assumes things too easily, Dusty though is just such a fabulous guy, caring and helpful and I think perfect for Ella if only she would listen and soon when Dusty opens up about the echoes of the past lives of his grandparents Ella becomes the true person she is.
This one is moving and emotional and one that I do highly recommend, and I am hoping that there will be more stories in this series, time for me to catch up on them all.
My thanks to the author for my copy to read and review.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews