Season of Shadow and Light

by Jenn J. McLeod

Season of Shadow and Light is a stand alone novel

Sometime this season...

The secret keeper must tell.

The betrayed must trust.

The hurt must heal.

When it seems everything Paige trusts is beginning to betray her, she leaves her husband at home and sets off on a road trip with six year old Matilda, and Nana Alice in tow.

But stranded amid rising floodwaters, on a detour to the tiny town of Coolabah Tree Gully, Paige discovers the greatest betrayal of all happened there twenty years earlier.

Someone knows that truth can wash away the darkest shadows, but…

Are some secrets best kept for the sake of others?

Genres: Contemporary, Australia

478 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2015

About the author

Jenn J McLeod loves ticking things off her bucket list. So far she’s made that sea change, run that country B&B, and written that bestseller. In 2014, Jenn downsized her life and home is now a 3-tonne, 25-foot caravan named Myrtle the Turtle.

With her Seasons Collection of four novels already adored by readers, Australia’s nomadic novelist is finding inspiration for more heart-warming small town tales of friendship, family, and contemporary country life.

Book #6 - House of Wishes is going back to Calingarry Crossing. Join me.

Other titles: House for all Seasons (#5 Top Selling Debut Novel), Simmering Season, Season of Shadow and Light, and The Other Side of the Season. Her fifth novel is A Place to Remember.

Small town stories from the country to the coast: www.jennjmcleod.com
Twitter: @jennjmcleod
Facebook author page: Jenn J McLeod.Books (or 'friend' me)

Reviews

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paige feels like her life is collapsing down round her. Two years ago Paige and her husband, Robert lost a baby that they had yearned for. Since then things for Paige and Robert hadn't been working well in fact they were growing apart.

Paige decided it was time to go away, so she told Robert that she was going away for a few weeks with her daughter Mati and Nana Alice. She told Robert they would be heading to a town called Saddleton. Only they never planned on getting lost on the way. With terrible flood waters, many of the roads were closed. Finally they ended up in the town of Coolabah Tree Gully. With nowhere else to go they had no option but to get accommodation at the local pub.

As the days passed Paige and Mati began to enjoy Coolabah Tree Gully unlike Nana Alice, who was starting to feel very uncomfortable and just wanted to move on as quickly as possible. Paige could see the change in Nana Alice but was confused as to what had gotten into her. What Paige didn't know was that Nana Alice was keeping secrets which she had been carrying round with her for life and being in Coolabah Tree Gully she knew that her secrets may no longer stay secret especially now that Paige and Mati were getting quite friendly with people in town. Would Nana Alice's secrets stay hidden or were they about to be discovered?

Once again Aussie author Jenn J McLeod has written another very entertaining read. A compelling tale of love, trust, betrayal, and family secrets. I really enjoyed Season of Shadow and Light and I have no hesitation in highly recommending it to anyone who loves a great read.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paige and Robert’s marriage was a little rocky – two years prior Paige had lost a longed for baby son and suffered a postpartum stroke which still affected her. Nana Alice and six year old daughter Matilda kept her sane but Paige couldn’t say the same about Robert – their lives had drifted apart and Paige was unhappy. When the opportunity arose, she informed Robert that she, along with Nana Alice and Mati would have a two week holiday in a quaint little boatshed in a bush town called Saddleton – leaving Robert to his privileged and boring life in Sydney.

But along the way the long, hot and dreary drive had turned into a challenge – they became lost due to floodwaters closing various roads and ended up in an even smaller bush community called Coolabah Tree Gully – and that was where Paige found they were stuck. Flooded roads forced them to seek accommodation in the local pub – they couldn’t return to Sydney; they couldn’t move on to Saddleton – but was it fate they had ended up in Coolabah Tree Gully?

Nana Alice was tense and stressed. She loved her daughter Paige and granddaughter Mati deeply; but the secrets she was hiding, and had been hiding for decades were wearing her down. And now, here in this unexpected place she felt trapped. She had to get her little family away from there; away before the trust between Paige and Nana Alice turned to dust…

As Mati and Paige fell in love with the local area; the horses, the friendly neighbours, the animals and birds – and seven year old Liam bonded immediately with Mati – Alice could feel the pressure mounting. Paige could see Alice was troubled but couldn’t prize it from her – she was moody; first bubbly and happy, then angry and depressed. Paige was confused – her beloved Nana Alice was never like this. What would be the outcome? Would Alice keep her secrets?

Season of Shadow and Light is another enjoyable contemporary novel by Aussie author Jenn J McLeod. It is a story of family; of betrayal and trust; of secrets and lies. But ultimately it is a story of forgiveness and love. I have no hesitation in recommending this novel to all lovers of contemporary fiction, along with the author’s previous two “Season” novels.

With thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for my copy to read and review.

[Jenn J McLeod · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hi all, it's me--Jenn. The author. I just wanted to let you know, even though you might see my books listed as "The Seasons Quartet", the title refers more to the books being a collection of 'SEASON-based stories". Season of Shadow and Light is my third novel and it is definitely a STANDALONE story. You don't need to have read my previous books to enjoy this one.

[Shelleyrae at Book'd Out · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Light can illuminate truth, let us see things we might otherwise unknowingly pass by in the dark. It can also illuminate the signs that will allow each of us to find the road to forgiveness, to trust, to hope, to belief and to the future."

An engaging story of secrets and lies, of trust and betrayal, of family, friendship and forgiveness, Season of Shadow and Light is Jenn J McLeod's third novel of contemporary fiction set in rural New South Wales.

Unhappy and frustrated after a difficult few years, Paige Turner decides to take her six year old daughter, Matilda, and mother, Alice, and spend two weeks in country New South Wales. Their destination, Saddleton, is determined by signage visible in an old photograph of Paige's mother in her youth, but rising floodwater results in the trio becoming stranded in the tiny town of Coolabah Tree Gully. Though Paige is content to enjoy the hospitality of the generous locals who offer the family a place to stay, Alice is increasingly anxious. Coolabah Tree Gully is home to a secret Alice has kept for decades and, should it come to light, has the potential to destroy everything she holds dear.

The story of Season of Shadow and Light unfolds primarily from the perspectives of Paige and Alice, two richly drawn, complex characters confronted with a legacy of secrets.

Paige has had an extraordinarily difficult time recently. A late term miscarriage was followed by a postpartum stroke, leaving her with physical deficits and destroying her career as a food critic. Learning of her husband's infidelity pushes Paige to the breaking point, motivating her to escape to the country with her daughter and Alice. Paige choose Saddleton as a destination with the vague notion of tracing the origins of a photo of her mother, Nancy, unwittingly ending up in the town her mother fled in the dead of night almost forty years earlier. Paige of course has no idea about her mother's past, but nevertheless feels incomplete.

"I lost the things that made me who I am, the things that made me feel complete as a person. You know that jigsaw puzzle Mati has - the one with the missing pieces we searched high and low for that day? That puzzle is me. There are pieces missing, and I don't mean my sense of smell and taste. The fact I can't explain what I feel frustrates the hell out of me.'"

Alice has been Paige's sole parent since the death of Nancy, her partner and lover, when Paige was ten. Aware of Nancy's hidden past, Alice had promised never to reveal the truth of it to Paige, but stranded in Coolabah Tree Gully it becomes harder for her to determine exactly who she is protecting, especially when she is confronted with the consequences of keeping it to herself. Alice really struggles with the thought of not only betraying Nancy, but being held accountable by Paige.

"An improbable set of circumstances.
An impossible situation.
How long could she hold on to the truth? Should she hold on?....Was she obligated to protect the deceptions of the dead when the truth might somehow help the living?"

A low key element of romance is introduced by Aiden, a local man recently returned from Sydney, 'cheffing' in the local pub, his own future in tatters after being betrayed by his ex-girlfriend. He is attracted to Paige, who appreciates the attention given the state of her shaky marriage, and eventually proves to be a link between Paige and her mother's secret but to be honest I thought Aiden's point of view, shared in brief chapters throughout the novel, wasn't really necessary.

Through her characters McLeod explores issues such as miscarriage, stroke recovery, infidelity, identity, same sex partnerships, and organ transplantation. The larger themes of the novel examine the nature of loyalty, trust, deception and betrayal. Suspense stems from the nature of the secret that Alice is keeping and the anticipation of Paige learning it. McLeod skillfully teases out the details of Nancy's hidden past but I did feel there were times when the narrative stalled briefly, repeating Alice's angst and Aiden's upset a little too often.

“Love is about connection.” says Alice, and Season of Shadow and Light is a story about connections - between partners and lovers, between parents and their children, and between siblings - tested, sometimes frayed and weakened, but strengthened by forgiveness, trust and love.

[Veronica ⭐️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paige’s life was heading in a downhill spiral. She was stuck in a rut, not fulfilled with the role of wife and mother. Her health had suffered a massive blow and her marriage was crumbling around her. After finding a photo of her long deceased mother at a horse ranch she decides that two weeks in the country with her daughter, Matilda, and Nana Alice would help her relax and sort herself out. And who knows she may come across someone that knew her mother.
But when a hot, stressful trip finds them lost and stranded in the tiny outback town of Coolabah Tree Gully, with Nana Alice becoming more stressed by the minute, Paige begins to wonder if this trip was such a good idea. Paige soon befriends Sharni and Aiden who have both come home to the small country town to get their lives back on track. She soon finds that even though the residents of Coolabah Tree Gully are a bit rough around the edges they are all genuine people with hearts of gold and she is soon feeling right at home.

Season of Shadow and Light is a story about fate, family, love, secrets, acceptance and forgiveness. As Alice would say “two wrongs don’t make a right” but it’s never too late to right a wrong.
I enjoyed this story with a real Australian flavour. I loved the descriptions and mentions of towns I have visited and how the residents of Coolabah Tree Gully were so welcoming and accepting of strangers.
With Thanks to Simon & Schuster via Netgalley for my copy to read and review.

[Marianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Season of Shadow and Light is the third book in the Seasons Collection by Australian author, Jenn J McLeod. Paige Turner is determined to go on a road trip: she needs a break from her cheating husband, needs to sort out her life, and heading to Saddleton on the strength of a tiny clue about her deceased mum seems a good idea. She will take along six-year-old Matilda, and sixty-year-old Nana Alice has reluctantly decided to go along too. But weather conspires against them, and they are detoured to, and stranded in the town of Coolabah Tree Gully.

After a night at the Billabong Hotel, they become the guests of Sharni and young son Liam at Nevaeh, a hillside property. Mati is happy to explore with Liam, and the country pace and fresh air suit Paige (and dishy pub chef Aiden is an added attraction), but Alice is cranky and eager to return home. She realises that Coolabah Tree Gully may well be the place from which Nancy, Paige’s mother (and Alice’s one true love), escaped years earlier. Could the secret Alice has promised to keep for thirty years be revealed? Yet, when her lies are threatened with exposure, it is curiosity that keeps her from fleeing.

Most of the story is told from three different points of view: Paige, Alice and Aiden each relate present day events as well as recalling the past. None of them knows all the facts, so McLeod adds a sense of mystery, planting clues for readers, throwing in the odd red herring and finally revealing the who and the what and the why. McLeod captures country NSW with consummate ease: her descriptions are evocative and her characters, familiar to anyone who has travelled over the divide. The plot has a few twists, there is humour and heartache, and the ending is realistic: “There were lessons learned about secrets and lies, trust and betrayal, family, friendship and forgiveness”. A very enjoyable read.

[Sandysbookaday (taking a step back for a while) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story of secrets and lies, trust and betrayal, family, friendship and forgiveness.

Paige has had a terrible time - she had a stillborn son, she had a stroke and now her husband has betrayed her.

So she sets off on a restorative roadtrip with her daughter Mati and Nana Alice, her dead mothers partner.

Flooding strands her in a small town in the woop-woops where the local publican may resemble Mr Magoo (according to Mati), the hotel chef has a temper, and the barmaid/waitress a heart of gold.

This is a lovely story, well-written, sad and uplifting, that had me chuckling in places and crying in others.

A definite recommendation.

Thank you to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster, & author Jenn McLeod for the copy for review

[Helene Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've finally had some time to myself to finish Jenn J McLeod's latest release. With Season of Shadow and Light she's crafted another heartfelt story with memorable characters, an evocative setting and plenty of twists and turns in the plot to keep me guessing. She tackles difficult themes with a deft touch. You won't be disappointed.

[Sally906 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been seeing author Jenn J McLeod’s name being bandied around various book forums and blogs for a wee while now – always with great positive statements. So when I got the chance to review SEASON OF SHADOW AND LIGHT there was not one hesitation before jumping at the opportunity. And what a great story it is too, I became totally immersed.

Paige’s perfect life is disintegrating – she had a late in pregnancy miscarriage, which triggered a stroke, and her sense of taste and smell have gone which leads to her loosing her job as a food critic. Now she has discovered her husband was unfaithful. She may be well off and living in an upper middle class suburb with a wealthy husband. But she is not happy. When she finds an old photo of her now deceased mother, Nancy, she tracks down the small country town that the snapshot may have been taken at. Paige then decides to take a break and books a cabin next to the river in the town. Her aim is to find out more about her mother – as her early life is a complete mystery. Paige is puzzled by Alice’s totally negative reaction to this plan, but goes ahead anyway. A change in the weather and rising floods leave them marooned in Coolabah Tree Gully instead and the scene is set for past secrets to start unravelling. The reader does learn a few of the truths; however some of the details are not connected until much later in the book leaving the mystery ticking along nicely.

Even though Paige is the main character and the story is about her search for the truth about her mother’s past, which also creates the suspense for the story, I found my focus to be on Alice. She was a wonderfully complex character torn between her love of her adopted daughter, and her allegiance to her now dead partner Nancy. Alice knows the secrets but made a solemn vow on her soul mates death bed not to reveal them. Alice has been the sole carer of Paige since Nancy died when Paige was ten. She is terrified that the past will be revealed – and no good will come of it. Jenn McLeod does a terrific job with Alice – a woman with her back to the wall – her allegiances called into question and the terrible strain she is under while she battles with her conscience terrified that all she holds dear will be destroyed.

There are many themes in SEASON OF SHADOW AND LIGHT infidelity, same sex relationships, abuse, and organ transplants. Which made it such an interesting story to read. The relationships between the different characters are very believable and the country town that was the setting just came alive on the pages. I can see I am going to have to go back and pick up some of Jenn McLeod’s earlier works.


With thanks to Simon & Schuster Australia and the author via Netgalley for my copy to read and review

[AusRomToday · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the title suggests, Season of Shadow and Light is an intensely powerful read, exploring the topics of love and trust whilst simultaneously exposing the effects and depths of deception and betrayal within families and communities. Not one to mince her words, McLeod tells this story in a no-holds-barred manner that leaves the reader with absolutely no doubt as to the importance of the story, it’s characters, and the lessons we can all learn from having read it. 5 stars and marking this one as a Must Read! – J’aimee Brooker (AusRom Today and The Romance of Cooking).

[Rowena Holloway · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5
With her third stand-alone novel Jenn J McLeod delivers another sweeping tale of family secrets and the healing power of the country.

When her young daughter, Matilda, wants to know more about the grandmother who died thirty years ago, Paige seizes the opportunity to escape her disintegrating ‘perfect’ life and discover more about her dead mother’s past. Nana Alice, Paige’s adoptive mother, reluctantly joins the road trip, terrified the secret she promised to protect will be exposed. Her fears deepen when bad luck and bad weather see the trio trapped in the tiny town of Coolabah Tree Gully—because this town holds a secret that could destroy Paige and everything Alice holds dear.

With Season of Shadow and Light, McLeod takes us away from Callingary Crossing, the setting of her first two novels, and creates another small country town with inquisitive locals more than willing to look after the strangers trapped in their small community due to rising flood waters. Primarily narrated by Paige and Alice, there are also point of view chapters from delectable chef Aiden, a kindred spirit with his own ghosts to bury, and the mysterious Rory. There is a lot packed into this novel and I occasionally lost sight of the main story line: the mystery of Paige’s mother. Still, as with any McLeod novel, it’s a pleasure to get lost in the words thanks to her descriptive powers and wonderful ear for dialogue. Paige is a sympathetic character and her daughter is adorable, yet it is Alice with her secrets and complexity I found most compelling. This is a novel in which to immerse yourself. There is plenty to keep you guessing and lots of lively characters to entertain.

Redolent with an Aussie culture and language fast disappearing beneath the flattening of cosmopolitan life, Season of Shadow and Light confirms McLeod is fast becoming an important chronicler of Australian life.

Thanks to Simon & Schuster Australia for an advance review copy.

[Carol - Reading Writing and Riesling · Rating 4 out of 5]

My View:
A beautiful Australian narrative full of larger than life characters, wild and glorious countryside, horses, romance, secrets, love, connections , family and a fantastic message about acceptance - there is a little something in this book for all to enjoy.

There is a beautiful passage in this book that sums up love and acceptance remarkably well, Alice is talking to Paige about Alice’s relationship with her mother Nancy, ‘No labels Paige, remember. It was your mother who hated them. She never referred to herself as anything other than a woman who feel in love. It so happened to be with another woman. It might have easily been with a man, she told me once, insisting, “Love is about connection.” ‘
What an important understanding.

[MarciaB - Book Muster Down Under · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been a fan of Jenn J. McLeodnow since her very first book in the Seasons series, House for all Seasons which preceded Simmering Season and I always get so excited when I hear that she’s got another novel coming out, hoping that I’m going to catch a glimpse of some of the characters I’ve met along the way.

Season of Shadow and Light certainly doesn’t disappoint and, whilst I didn’t quite get the glimpse that I was hoping for, the little town of Coolabah Tree Gully (as with Calingarry Crossing) shows that Jenn has a talent for creating vivid fictional worlds, with her characters being ones we can relate to as she ever so skilfully depicts the highs, lows and mostly complicated relationships between them as they juggle and deal with the lives that she has created for them.

For those of you who haven't yet read any of Jenn's novels, please be assured that there is no need to read these in order and they can quite easily be read as stand-alones!

Paige Turner’s life is a little bit weird at the moment. Suffering with the effects of a stroke which has left her with sensory deficiencies and partial numbness down her left side, depression after the loss of her second child, a marriage she’s fast losing her grip on, the effects of a brief encounter with a stranger at a shopping mall and the discovery of an old photograph, she decides to take Nana Alice and her six year old daughter, Matilda, on a road trip.

Only, the old photograph harvested from Nana Alice’s belongings, along with fate, seem to have other plans for them when their lack of directional focus finds them stopping in Coolabah Tree Gully. With inclement weather setting in and the creeks rising, there’s no way they’re getting out of there any time soon.

The townsfolk, although in Paige’s eyes, a little strange, welcome them with open arms and warm hospitality and, as she continues to contemplate her marriage and other deeply held desires, she begins to find a sense of peace, belonging and the hint of a better life for her and little Mati. She just can’t understand why Nana Alice, who has always only wanted the best for her, is so persistent about getting out of there so that she can mend her relationship with Robert.

Over the two weeks of their temporary tree change, Jenn slowly begins to unravel the biggest secret of all by offering us timely tidbits of information shared by her characters, thereby enabling us to begin putting the pieces of the puzzle together. But, when trouble comes to town, Paige and Alice will find themselves facing-off against the biggest lie of all and we, as the reader, can only hope that things will work out in their favour!

Two things that draw me into a novel are character and emotions and Jenn never disappoints me with hers. Weaving a tapestry of complex relationships, lies and deceit in her palette of summery colours, Jenn has lovingly imagined an array of characters whose narrations are vitally important in telling this story. Their emotions and secrets will pull at your heart-strings whilst their own hearts take a pummelling when that elephant in the room rises up to threaten everything they hold dear.

Paige, richly drawn with many facets, has to dig deep on this journey of self-discovery and I could so relate to her as she searched for that sense of belonging. Aiden injects a fantastic dose of quick-witted humour into the narrative and I found myself giggling at some of the things he said, such as “I’m thinking you might find your feet doing a Fred Flintstone if you don’t ease up on those imaginary brakes” and “That woman can round up a mob of beer-swilling boys faster than any kelpie I’ve seen working the yards at shearing time and make them move on command” whilst Alice annoyed me intensely with her self-centeredness in terms of her loyalties.

Whilst on the subject of characters, I’m not usually one for a plot with a young child in it because throughout my years of reading, I have come across authors who just don’t get the balance right, tending to "lose" their young characters when other more important plot strands gain momentum in their narratives. Jenn, however, should give lessons on how to incorporate child characters as Mati comes to life with her deft hand!

Touching on themes of depression, loss, identity, infidelity, alternative lifestyles, family dynamics, deceit, betrayal, family discord, secrets and lies and ultimately love, Jenn writes scenes that deliver an unforgettable emotional impact.

As always with Jenn’s novels, Season of Shadow and Light is tightly plotted and perfectly paced, abounding with twists that will lead you first in one direction but will soon have you changing focus as she skilfully ratchets up the intrigue and keeps you guessing right up until its cracker of an ending.

Beautifully written, poignant and seasoned with both shadow and light, this is a story, not only about dealing with the choices we’ve made along the way, the repercussions of lies kept and the manner in which they can affect the next generation but one of hope and second chances.

Do yourself a favour and "come home to the country"!

[Lily Malone · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely, thought-provoking story this was. Starting slow, then building to a complex web of family intrigue, friendships and relationships and how they bend and bulge and almost-break under times of extreme stress.
Paige lies to protect the people she loves. Her entire life is built around protecting people she loves. Does this mitigate the lie? For me, in this book, it did.
Congratulations on another small-town story masterpiece, Jenn J. I'm so glad I got to read this book before the new one, Other Side Of The Season.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book No #22 for #aww2015

I have only heard good things about the Seasons Collection and Jenn's debut House of all Seasons was one of our book club reads, one I unfortunately didn't read but have got on my towering TBR to get to. After having read Season of Shadow and Light I am even more determined to go back and read the first two in the collection.

Season of Shadow and Light is a complex story filled with secrets which make for some intense mystery that kept me guessing, some of those guesses made room for some hairy situations had they come to pass. It is a story of family, of trust, of betrayal and most of all of healing. I loved it from the very first page to the very last.

We have multiple story tellers, three for the most part but then an extra joins the ranks late in the piece, for a broad perspective and a much more insightful story. This method allowed us to see deep inside the story, and understand motivations that we may not have otherwise while driving the mystery and sustaining suspense. Yes, there were some predictable outcomes but there were some that took quite a bit of working out and many is it or isn't it moments all the while ensuring that not all the questions were answered.

Paige Turner has given herself a time out from her life and packed up her 6 year old daughter Matilda for a road trip. Perhaps a little rash, not completely thought out, but something she felt she had to do and when Alice couldn't talk her out of it she decided to tag along. The plan was to head to small town Saddleton with some half baked idea to find out a little more about her history because she knows very little about her mothers roots.

The dynamics in Season of Shadow and Light are not so much new but not often explored, it is becoming much more common now but this was a family dynamic that I was new to in literature. Paige grew up with two mothers in a time that it was far from common, and even further from socially acceptable so the fact that her history goes back no further than her birth is not that hard to understand. Nancy was Paige's birth mother, who passed away when she was a child, and Alice was her partner. After Nancy's death Alice took on the role as Paige's mother and that made life a little simpler.

The timeline jumps around a little which I did have trouble following at times because the characters seemed to wander off into their memories without notice, totally sidetracking a scene and there were times I wasn't quite sure if we ended up getting to the end of the scene in the present because we got so caught up in the past. Except for the fact that it confused me at times this helped to drive the story because so much was rooted in the history of these characters.

The rest of my review will be available to read at Beauty and Lace

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Reviewed as part of the release tour, gifted by the publisher and this is my honest review*

I really like reading Australian Authors where I can visit the authors view of an area, whether it be somewhere I know like the Sunshine Coast or like this book - based in Rural Queensland.

Queensland is huge! and I doubt I will get to see every part of the state I live in, but I can still get to imagine the small country towns via the authors who write about them.

Jenn J McLeod brought the rural heart of the country to life for me in this book, and the story line is so deep and full of intrigue, and tells the story of what happens when you keep secrets.

As I read in this book, this quote stuck in my heart

"I will love the light for it shows me the way, yet I will endure the darkness because it shows me the stars." By Og Mandino"

This being the first book I have read by Ms McLeod I am hooked on her writing, the book is rammed packed with intrigue, and the subject matter diverse, Miscarriage, same sex relationships, and the lies that split families apart, but all of it is wrapped up in the beauty of a gifted writer. I am blown away with how this story develops, and I was engrossed as I followed Paige as she journeyed to find herself and ultimately finds the truth and so much more!

The book is told in multiple POVs the main contributors being Alice and Paige, the author touches on some subject that could make or break a book but in this instance Ms McLeod has created a tale that will stay with you long after you get to the end. The Secret and the clues kept me guessing for a long time, and I was so glad that there was a happy ending in the end.


This book is ultimately about the actions of the parents and how it affects the children who end up being the most betrayed by those actions, but as the story unearths the secrets long buried, we learn that forgiveness, trust and love are the most important factors.

To To err is human; to forgive, divine.

Alexander Pope

as the quote goes, and that in essence is the moral of this story. I have no doubt that I will re read this book again, as I loved the story that much.

I will be looking for the remainder of these paperbacks in the series. If you love a story that will keep you turning the pages with characters that are delightful set in Rural Australia then keep an eye out for this book.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

Season of Shadow and Light, the third novel by Australian author Jenn J McLeod is almost certain to delight fans and new readers alike. Featuring a cast strong female characters this novel examines the concept of nature versus nurture and questions under what circumstances is it acceptable to break a deathbed promise.

The novel opens with Paige, a wife and mother who has lived a seemingly privileged life in a wealthy, upper-middle class suburb of Sydney. She has a wealthy husband, a wonderful daughter and her much-loved stepmother, Alice, lives in the house next door. However, there has been some dark moments in Paige's life of late--her son was stillborn and she has suffered a stroke, which has robbed her of her sense of taste and smell. Added to that is the discovery of a betrayal by her husband and it is completely understandable while Paige may not be feeling the best. She decided that a break is needed and with Alice and Paige's daughter, Matilda, in tow, she takes a road trip that leads to Coolabah Tree Gully, which in turn leads them to some surprising people, one of whom seems quite different on the surface, but who may be closer to Paige than she first realises ...

Season of Shadow and Light was an enjoyable read, one that kept me up well into the evening as I wondered how the terrible secret that Alice had been trusted with would be resolved. Although Paige was a strong and likeable character and it was wonderful to read about her blossoming relationship with Aiden, for me it Alice who I truly admired throughout the story. An exceptionally strong woman, Alice has suffered and sacrificed much, yet she has a lot of love for the people around her. Alice's reasons for her actions are something best left to be discovered by the reader, so I will not describe them in detail, but I will say that I was impressed by the character and how she handles a difficult set of circumstances. Another aspect of the book that I enjoyed is the way each character and relationship is treated with respect and sensitivity. There is also a bit of fun with wordplay, as readers will discover in the first few pages.

Highly recommended.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster Australia for my ARC.

This review also appears on my blog, Kathryn's Inbox.

[Amanda - Mrs B's Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

* 4.5 stars

I was introduced to Jenn J McLeod’s beautiful writing when I read the first book of her season’s themed quartet House for all Seasons, in 2013. Now I have the pleasure of having read her third and most recent novel Season of Shadow and Light. This book definitely showcases McLeod’s talent as a quintessential voice of Australian fiction.
Season of Shadow and Light is a richly drawn novel, told from multiple perspectives. From the opening page, the reader is immediately drawn into the complex and layered stories of main protagonists Paige and Alice. Family secrets and lies bubble to the surface when Paige decides to take a road trip with her daughter Matilda and Nana Alice. Paige is suffering loss of her job, collapse of her marriage and is also recovering from a stroke she suffered when she had a miscarriage. Seeking answers to an old photograph, Paige’s road trip takes a diversion when she becomes stranded in the small of town of Coolabah Tree Gully due to rising floodwaters. This small town holds more significance for Paige than she can ever begin to realise. It soon becomes clear that Alice is determined to get out of the small town as soon as possible, before a betrayal that took place in the small town over 20 years ago rises to the surface.
It really is a treat to read a book written by Jenn J McLeod. This book has it all, wonderfully complex characters and an intriguing storyline that keeps you guessing and feverishly reading until the end, where all is revealed in a spectacular fashion. The setting is depicted perfectly, what I most enjoyed about this book was being swept away from my city life to the small town setting of Coolabah Tree Gully aided by McLeod’s vivid descriptions of the area. This is a book which I would thoroughly recommend and I can’t wait for the next one.

[Deborah (debbishdotcom) · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Paige Turner's 6yr old daughter Matilda comes across an old photograph of her (late) grandmother Paige makes the rash decision to travel to the photograph's location—a place called Saddleton. Her mother Nancy died when Paige was young but she was raised by Alice, Nancy's partner and is grateful for the ongoing role Nana Alice plays in her life and that of Matilda's. Workaholic husband Robert is rarely home and their marriage struggling under the discovery of Robert's recent infidelity.

Things don’t go quite to plan however when the trio get stuck in (nearby) Coolabah Tree Gully, stranded by floodwaters. Paige and Matilda are delighted with the hand fate's dealt when a local family offer them accommodation.

Alice—on the other hand—cannot wait to leave. She is the keeper of secrets and knows why Paige's mother Nancy left the area decades before. She promised her partner on her deathbed (like... literally) she would never reveal those secrets to anyone... particularly Paige who might never forgive her mothers if she found out.

Season of Shadow and Light started a little slowly for me. In fact, I almost put the book down several times. I was over 100 pages in before I really felt at all engaged in the plot. But, once there I was intrigued.

Read the full review on my blog: http://www.debbish.com/books-literatu...

3-3.5 stars

[Regina · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can think of a number of people who will enjoy Season of Shadow and Light by Jenn J. Mcleod, unfortunately I am not one of them.

To put it simply and without waffling, I thought I would give this style of novel a go, but my suspicions were confirmed, I’m just not into this type of novel.

Like I said above I can think of people who will really enjoy Season of Shadow and Light though.

Thankyou to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review.

[Kat at Book Thingo]

Not a romance. (Apparently there's a bit of controversy about my vomit list. It's a list of books that include at least one vomit scene. It does NOT mean this book made me sick. Longer explanation here: Embracing the porcelain goddess - vomit in romance fiction. It kills my joy that I even have to explain this.)

[Krisz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!
It had a bit of everything - the Australian outback, romance, family and a mystery.
The characters were well developed and likable and the description of an Aussie summer was delicious.
I particularly loved Alice's story as it was close to my heart.
Congrats Jenn on another outstanding novel!

[A Reader's Heaven · Rating 4 out of 5]

(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)

When it seems everything Paige trusts is beginning to betray her, she leaves her husband at home and sets off on a road trip with six year old Matilda, and Nana Alice in tow.
But stranded amid rising floodwaters, on a detour to the tiny town of Coolabah Tree Gully, Paige discovers the greatest betrayal of all happened there twenty years earlier.
Someone knows that truth can wash away the darkest shadows, but…
Are some secrets best kept for the sake of others?

An entertaining novel set in rural New South Wales. It is a story of betrayal and secrets, lies and trust - but also about the meaning of family and friendship.

Rural romance novels sometimes get a bad rap - it's "chicks in hats, falling in love with handsome men (who sometimes also wear hats) and everything is happy and everyone just gets along perfectly. I don't know if you would even categorise this novel as "rural romance", as it does more than tell a love story.

The cast of characters brought together some very interesting people. Anyone who has lived in small rural towns will recognise a lot of these characters as they are everywhere. These aren't just made-up people for a story - you can tell they are based on real people, with real passions and dreams, with real emotional and personal issues.

Overall, I thought the story was tight and really made me want to discover more about the characters and the town they were in. The only thing that really was a letdown for me were the chapters from Aiden's POV. I would rather just "hear" one voice and discover the story with them, rather than chopping and changing - but that is a personal thing!

I do recommend this to people who are not just interested in rural stories - but books about people with real issues and how they deal with them.


Paul
ARH

[Claire Louisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story, once again Jenn J McLeod has written a fabulous story full of really people with real relationships going through real struggles. I didn't warm to Alice until the end of the story, keeping a secret that affected other people I found made me frustrated and I found it selfish, but I guess until we are in a situation like that we don't know what we would do. I thoroughly recommend you read this great book.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great read from Jenn!

[Bridget · Rating 3 out of 5]

Paige Turner is at a crossroads in her life. She packs up her daughter Mati and her step-mother Alice and takes a trip to the country, leaving her husband behind. She's hoping to find something about her past, about the mother she lost as a young girl. But has she bitten off more than she can chew?

The story:
Paige Turner had everything going for her; the job of her dreams, a handsome, hardworking husband, and a little daughter. When she got pregnant again it was like a dream come true, except she kept pushing herself, ignored the warning signs, and ended up experiencing a debilitating stroke.

Her confidence shattered, job lost, Paige needed to re-learn how to do even the most basic things, and her nightmares started again – two am and a baby was being ripped away from her. She would wake, screaming and sweating and worried about her daughter. Her husband had gone from supportive to emotionally absent, and Paige was on the abyss.

Paige's daughter Matilda was commissioned to do a school project about a woman Mati admired, and she chose Paige's mother Nancy, who had died when Paige was little. Knowing hardly anything about Nancy's past, they stumbled across a photo of Nancy on a horse with a sign in the background signalling a particular location in northern NSW. Paige has always wanted to know more about her mother, and needs a break from Stephen. She convinces her adopted mother, Alice, to accompany them to the town, in search of answers.

They miss the turn-off to the town of Saddleton and end up in a one-horse town with all the roads blocked by floods, and Paige wonders whether or not the whole trip was a ridiculous idea. But sometimes, it turns out, you end up where you need to be, not where you intended.

Nancy had tried to bury her old life. Will the truth set her family free, or will it spontaneously combust three generations?

The style:
As readers of this blog will know, I love Aussie flavoured books, but am not really into epic romance. As Season of Shadow and Light contains both of those aspects, I will declare myself torn.

Season of Shadow and Light is written in the third person limited and mainly focusses on Paige, but occasionally switches to one of the other main characters (approximately four in total) to check their internal monologue and give a bit more dimensionality to the story. This device works well, in what is an epic tale about secrets and lies and families and whatnot. Speaking of epic tales, the plotting is excellent. The storyline has been well constructed and the meandering path it takes to get from a whole collection of secrets a couple of generations old to the revelation is masterful. It seems McLeod is the master of the red herring, and even though you can see what she's doing you don't know how she'll have things turn out. It really keeps the Paiges Turning (hilarious). Towards the end of the story I felt as though everything got wrapped up just a little too neatly, but that's one of the reasons the epic romance style genre isn't for me, so that's a personal preference. I did quite a bit of eye-rolling during the denouement though.

The characters are all pretty good also, and the setting is gorgeous. Give me an authentic Aussie setting I don't like and I'll be surprised, because I'm a real sucker for it. The characters and the small town are well portrayed, three dimensional, and while occasionally erring on the side of stereotypical, well, sometimes small towns are like that. The main characters are not without their flaws, which is important, although sometimes I wanted to punch Paige in the face. It's not like you have to be best friends with the main character though.

My one complaint would be that there was an awful lot of telling in with the showing, as though McLeod was worried her readers weren't really getting what she was saying about her characters, so she had to keep giving internal monologue examples and rehashing character development and other devices. It felt like a tiny lacking of confidence in her own writing and also in the reader, and it's my personal preference to have to work for what's happening in a novel, so I started to find the telling vs showing a bit draining. The novel could have been a quarter shorter and much punchier, but by the same token I am not McLeod's target audience and maybe that device works for them.

Who is this book for?
Not me. I'm going to imagine it's for lay-dees around Paige's age and situation who want to engage in their own fantasies away from inattentive husbands, which is totally fine. Go nuts, ladies.

If you like this book, you would also like...
Have I got a treat for you guys released on the first of June. I'll keep you posted.

[Kate Gissell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book by Jenn J McLeod, love her books!

[Sam Still Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though I have Jenn J McLeod’s debut novel on my shelves, I still haven’t read it! (So many good books, so little time). I’m ashamed to say this is my first taste of Jenn’s writing, her third novel to date. Season of Shadow and Light is right up my alley, combining my loves of Australian rural fiction with a family mystery. It does have romantic elements too, but they are quite minor. The book celebrates the community spirit that is felt in small towns and the power and love of family.

As the book opens, Paige Turner (yes, that’s her name) and her life in heading a downward spiral. Some time ago, she lost a son and had a post-partum stroke, robbing her of her sense of smell and taste. To top it off, she’s a food reviewer, which meant her career was effectively ended. She’s having problems in her marriage after she found out her husband had an affair and when daughter Mati wants to do a Pinterest page on Paige’s deceased mother, it’s the last straw. There’s so much Paige doesn’t know about her mum, particularly about her youth. So Paige, Mati and Alice (Paige’s mother’s partner) decide to get out of the city and head to the country with a nice stay at an old boatshed in the town that happens to be a link to Paige’s mother. But fate intervenes in the form of a summer flood and the trio find themselves marooned in Coolabah Tree Gully. The locals take them in with open arms and Paige is beginning to feel alive again as she makes friends with locals Aiden and Sharni. But Alice is worried – there are far too many coincidences here about Nancy (Paige’s mother) and her life as a young woman. Will Alice break her promise to Nancy and tell Paige the truth, or should some secrets stay buried?

I must admit that when I read the blurb I thought this book was more about Paige’s life immediately post-stroke. But it’s something that’s more in the background and pops up every now and again. Paige’s main concern is trying to work out where she is in the world – should she leave her marriage? What job can she do now? In Coolabah Creek, she finds herself relaxing and becoming more accepting. The family ties were a bit of a puzzle at first – I thought there might be something more between Paige and Aiden, but once another character appears, you’ll understand what the hints meant from earlier in the book.

I found the story a bit slow to start, as I didn’t really understand which direction the book was heading in but once Alice appeared, describing more of her and Nancy’s history, I was engrossed. (Each chapter is told from a different point of view – mainly Paige and Alice, but with inputs from Aiden and a couple of others). I loved the way Jenn entwined the past and present into the mystery of Nancy’s youth. Once the secret was revealed, the story didn’t lose momentum – if anything it cranked it up a few notches! The hurt and anguish turns into a race against time as Paige must work out where and with whom her loyalty lies. There are a few co-incidences that are very timely, but hey, that’s the magic of fiction.

I raced through the last 150 pages of this book – the story is that compelling. Persevere with the first 50 pages and you’ll find you are reading a winner that is not only well-written but captures the heart of family and friendship.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Australia for the ARC. My review is honest.

http://samstillreading.wordpress.com

[Tien · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first Jenn J. McLeod and I was a little intimidated with the size (almost 500 pages!) after finishing 2 books which were slow to pick up. However, I was hooked by Season of Shadow and Light by page 3 and I, seriously, said out loud, “thank God!” I don’t know if anyone else found this but I was intrigue by the randomly-kinda-creepy incident; it probably had something to do with the reference to ‘long lost love’. Yep, I’m another sappy reader ;)

Season of Shadow and Light is more than just romantic love. It is also a tale of familial love; of loving someone so much that you would do everything to protect them. But what does protecting them mean? Is it best to keep a secret as such? Is it best to manoeuver for a ‘normal’ family life to ensure the least disruption all around?

Paige has had a pretty tough time in the last 2 years; recovering from a stroke and a miscarriage which basically terminated her career, she’s no longer sure of her identity. There seems to be a conspiracy that drove Paige to go on a holiday in a small-in-the-middle-of-nowhere town but which found her in woop woop town instead. The most unlikely circumstance found Paige with her daughter, Matilda, and Nana Alice living at a place where the long-kept secret is threatened to unravel. You really can’t keep much of a secret in a small town.

Aiden was firstly introduced as a grump but surely, everybody’s entitled to a bad mood now and again. After receiving the biggest blow of betrayal, Aiden had no other choice but to return home. As Paige and Aiden are thrown in together more and more, it was patently clear that they found in each other a best friend. I’ve really enjoyed the easy interaction between Paige and Aiden.

Nana Alice was not enjoying this trip at all. She didn’t want to go but neither could she let Paige go without her. She was tense pretty much the whole time and her attitude with Paige was hot and cold. Alice always thought honesty is the best policy so this secret is weighing her down but yet she’s promised to keep it. I found Alice to be the most interesting character in this book; a very tightly-held together lady but this lady’s got some pluck!

There were a number of perspectives in Season of Shadow and Light, Paige’s primarily but there were snippets of Aiden, Alice, and another’s in the last part of the story. It was pretty easy to distinguish the perspectives by the feelings they exude –each of their voices were unique and their feelings real. I was quickly drawn into the story (page 3, remember) and it was told a good even pace until nearly the end. I found the ending a bit rushed but I guess after 450 pages, you need to wrap it up.

Season of Shadow and Light is a cleverly woven tale with each thread being laced tightly together, some with fancy knots, with no loose thread left behind (even the ‘random incident’ had a resolution!). If enjoy a story of self-discovery, of betrayal and healing, of lies and trust, I’d recommend Season of Shadow and Light.

Thanks to Simon & Schuster Australia for copy of book in exchange of honest review

[Simone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jenn J Mcleod takes us back to country New South Wales in her third novel Season Of Shadow and Light. Although not actually set in the town of Callingary Crossing where her previous books were set, it is very much in the same vicinity, which gave it a nice link to the other stories of Jenn's which I enjoyed so much.

Paige Turner has enjoyed more than her fair share of heartbreak in her life, losing her mother at a young age, then suffering the devastation of a late term miscarriage. To compound matters complications after the birth have left her physically incapacitated and unable to continue her much loved career as a food critic. Finding out about her husband's infidelity is the tipping point leading to Paige to pack up her daughter Matilda and stepmother Alice and heading to outback NSW.

Their destination, the small town of Saddleton, has not been chosen at random. Having found an old photo of her mother taken in the town, Paige is curious to discover the unknown link. Although outwardly supportive of Paige's quest, Alice is clearly uncomfortable about Paige probing into the past and becomes increasingly agitated when floodwaters see them stranded in the tiny village of Coolabah Tree Gully. While Paige is content to stay and enjoy the local hospitality, Alice can speak of nothing but getting out and heading to their original destination or better still back home.

As with her other books Jenn illustrates the beauty of small town country life as the characters (with the exception of Alice) leave behind their city stresses and embrace the abundant natural beauty surrounding Coolabah Tree Gully. Paige's mother's secret past is gradually revealed and it is easy to understand Alice's angst and why she has kept the tragic secret for so many years.

Many themes are explored in Season of Shadow and Light - prejudice, love in all its forms, the power of forgiveness and learning to embrace and accept the past. It also explores such things as depression, organ donation and miscarriage. The characters are all well drawn and the kind of warm, three dimensional people readers have come to know in all Jenn J. McLeod's books.

For fans of Jenn J McLeod Season Of Shadow and Light will not disappoint and for those new to the series, you will no doubt be inspired to read the other titles.