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The Windmill in the Silver Gums
Not yet published
Expected 30 Jun 26A page-turning new rural romance from the bestselling author of The Path Through the Coojong Trees.
In the wake of a tragic accident, Indi Jaensch shoulders the weight of generations, determined to keep the family property near Settlers Bridge viable. But drought, debt and ruthless competition from an agribusiness tycoon are taking their toll.
Local farm worker Blake Robertson is a welcome ally in her battle to save not just her property but the district itself. Yet will Blake prove to be her Atlas or her Achilles heel?
Over a century earlier, as war sweeps the world, impulsive nineteen-year-old Rose Lehmann dreams of serving as a nurse in Egypt. Instead, she falls for the charms of a farmer of German heritage, Kurt Jaensch, who longs to enlist but is branded - with all his kind - as the enemy on home soil. Instead of the adventure she yearns for, Rose finds herself pregnant and alone, holding together a farm and a family in a hostile nation.
When Indi discovers Rose's journals, her great-great-grandmother's voice echoes across the years, bolstering Indi's resolve to fight for the land both women have learned to love. But with betrayal close to home and the bank circling, Indi needs more than courage and loyalty to save her farm. She needs a plan.
In the wake of a tragic accident, Indi Jaensch shoulders the weight of generations, determined to keep the family property near Settlers Bridge viable. But drought, debt and ruthless competition from an agribusiness tycoon are taking their toll.
Local farm worker Blake Robertson is a welcome ally in her battle to save not just her property but the district itself. Yet will Blake prove to be her Atlas or her Achilles heel?
Over a century earlier, as war sweeps the world, impulsive nineteen-year-old Rose Lehmann dreams of serving as a nurse in Egypt. Instead, she falls for the charms of a farmer of German heritage, Kurt Jaensch, who longs to enlist but is branded - with all his kind - as the enemy on home soil. Instead of the adventure she yearns for, Rose finds herself pregnant and alone, holding together a farm and a family in a hostile nation.
When Indi discovers Rose's journals, her great-great-grandmother's voice echoes across the years, bolstering Indi's resolve to fight for the land both women have learned to love. But with betrayal close to home and the bank circling, Indi needs more than courage and loyalty to save her farm. She needs a plan.
368 pages, Paperback
Expected publication June 30, 2026
About the author
Leonie Kelsall
10 books158 followersThough fortunate to grow up in the South Australian country – initially on the beautiful Fleurieu Peninsula in a tiny town where the school had a total enrolment of only eleven students, and later on a sheep and wheat farm in the Murraylands - in typical teen fashion, Léonie couldn't wait to hit the bright lights of the big city when she graduated.
However, a couple of years working in various government departments, including the State History Trust and the Education Department, saw her longing to make her way back to the country.
Through a circuitous route (isn't that life?) she now finds herself splitting her time between her home and professional counselling practice in the beautiful Adelaide Hills and her childhood farm. She definitely has the best of both worlds!
And, speaking of doubling up, check out
LANEY KAYE
Léonie writes outback noir/romantic suspense, super hot contemporaries and fun erotic fantasy under this pen name.
However, a couple of years working in various government departments, including the State History Trust and the Education Department, saw her longing to make her way back to the country.
Through a circuitous route (isn't that life?) she now finds herself splitting her time between her home and professional counselling practice in the beautiful Adelaide Hills and her childhood farm. She definitely has the best of both worlds!
And, speaking of doubling up, check out
LANEY KAYE
Léonie writes outback noir/romantic suspense, super hot contemporaries and fun erotic fantasy under this pen name.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
2025. Indi Jaensch’s family has owned their farm near Settlers Bridge for over a century, and she’s feeling the pressure of keeping it going and doesn’t want to be the one to lose it. But it’s hard, the machinery is old and often breaks down, she’s in debt and works long hours. A rich and ruthless agribusiness nicknamed “Harry the haymaker” is ready to pounce, taking over land and he dislikes livestock.
Blake Robertson is a good looking farmhand, he helps Indi on his day off and is keen to keep the district free from developers.
The story has a dual timeline, and it's very easy to follow and told from Indi and Rose’s perspectives.
1915. Rose Lehmann dreams of escaping Blumberg, maybe becoming a nurse in Egypt and she’s trying convince her friend Dora Bretag to join her. She and Dora attend a dance, they’re chaperoned by her brother Mattias and here she meets a farmer of German heritage, Kurt Jaensch. Soon Rose is dragging her brother and Dora to every dance within riding distance and so she can see Kurt.
What Rose didn’t count on was the anti-German sentiment, the men are treated as the enemy and despite being born in Australia and are willing to join the army. Rose travels to Edwards Crossing with Dora, Mattias and stay with her aunt Elizabeth, and near Settlers Bridge where Kurt’s farm is and things don’t go as she’s planned.
Over a hundred years later Indi finds Rose’s journals, she’s her great-great-grandmother, this inspires her to keep going and fight to keep the land both women love and are bound to by blood. Indi doesn’t know how long she can hold on and Blake comes up with a way to save it and is she too proud to listen to him?
I received a copy of The Windmill in the Silver Gums by Léonie Kelsall from NetGalley and Allen & Unwin in exchange for an unbiased review. In her tenth book Ms Kelsall explores something I have always thought about, and that’s how people of German origin were treated in the Adelaide Hills during the First World War?
South Australia depended on these farmers and workers for food, vegetables, fruit, meat, material and blankets. Most of the towns in the area were settled by Germans, including where I live and so I felt very invested and connected to the narrative and characters.
Léonie Kelsall grew up on a farm and in the country and it shows in her descriptive writing, her knowledge about animals and crops and I highly recommend The Windmill in the Silver Gums, a history lesson and five stars from me.
Blake Robertson is a good looking farmhand, he helps Indi on his day off and is keen to keep the district free from developers.
The story has a dual timeline, and it's very easy to follow and told from Indi and Rose’s perspectives.
1915. Rose Lehmann dreams of escaping Blumberg, maybe becoming a nurse in Egypt and she’s trying convince her friend Dora Bretag to join her. She and Dora attend a dance, they’re chaperoned by her brother Mattias and here she meets a farmer of German heritage, Kurt Jaensch. Soon Rose is dragging her brother and Dora to every dance within riding distance and so she can see Kurt.
What Rose didn’t count on was the anti-German sentiment, the men are treated as the enemy and despite being born in Australia and are willing to join the army. Rose travels to Edwards Crossing with Dora, Mattias and stay with her aunt Elizabeth, and near Settlers Bridge where Kurt’s farm is and things don’t go as she’s planned.
Over a hundred years later Indi finds Rose’s journals, she’s her great-great-grandmother, this inspires her to keep going and fight to keep the land both women love and are bound to by blood. Indi doesn’t know how long she can hold on and Blake comes up with a way to save it and is she too proud to listen to him?
I received a copy of The Windmill in the Silver Gums by Léonie Kelsall from NetGalley and Allen & Unwin in exchange for an unbiased review. In her tenth book Ms Kelsall explores something I have always thought about, and that’s how people of German origin were treated in the Adelaide Hills during the First World War?
South Australia depended on these farmers and workers for food, vegetables, fruit, meat, material and blankets. Most of the towns in the area were settled by Germans, including where I live and so I felt very invested and connected to the narrative and characters.
Léonie Kelsall grew up on a farm and in the country and it shows in her descriptive writing, her knowledge about animals and crops and I highly recommend The Windmill in the Silver Gums, a history lesson and five stars from me.
Displaying 1 of 1 review