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Scenic Rim Romance #1
Winter on the Mountain
When Sally Andrews meets historian Tom Mitchell in a cemetery on Tamborine Mountain, it's an absurd beginning to a friendship that will change everything. She's there with her elderly grandmother, Iris, while Tom is researching a family secret that's haunted three generations. It's hardly a typical first meeting but Nana Iris has never done anything the usual way.
As Tom's research deepens, Sally becomes increasingly involved. As a writer with a love of history, she understands the pull of unfinished lives and unanswered questions. At the same time, Nana Iris begins revealing a secret she's kept for most of her life, one shaped by wartime choices and a love that could not be denied.
Set against the backdrop of Tamborine Mountain, this dual timeline Australian romance weaves together past and present, forbidden love and connections that endure across time. But this is more than a love story. Woven throughout are real places waiting to be discovered: cafés where friendships form over good coffee, rainforest lookouts where hang-gliders catch morning thermals, historic cemeteries, and winding mountain roads that lead to your next favourite place.
Fall in love with the characters. Fall in love with the landscape. Fall in love with a story you won't forget.
As Tom's research deepens, Sally becomes increasingly involved. As a writer with a love of history, she understands the pull of unfinished lives and unanswered questions. At the same time, Nana Iris begins revealing a secret she's kept for most of her life, one shaped by wartime choices and a love that could not be denied.
Set against the backdrop of Tamborine Mountain, this dual timeline Australian romance weaves together past and present, forbidden love and connections that endure across time. But this is more than a love story. Woven throughout are real places waiting to be discovered: cafés where friendships form over good coffee, rainforest lookouts where hang-gliders catch morning thermals, historic cemeteries, and winding mountain roads that lead to your next favourite place.
Fall in love with the characters. Fall in love with the landscape. Fall in love with a story you won't forget.
302 pages, Paperback
First published May 17, 2026
About the author
Rhonda Forrest
49 books84 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 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 5, 2026
This is such a fabulous story a duel time line a romance that lasted forever and a new one that grows after a meeting in a cemetery, come along and meet Sally, Tom and Sally’s nana Iris.
Sally Andrews is a writer of historical fiction with added romance and has taken her ninety six year old Nana for a visit to the cemetery, not for the reason you would think and during their antics she meets Tom Schilling an historian and writer Tom is there researching a family member who went to New Guinea during World War 2 and never returned and there is no information on what happened to him this has been a worry for the family for three generations, Nana insists on a coffee and soon Sally and Tom are deep in research mode doing all they can to trace Tom’s long lost great uncle.
They are spending lots of time together as friends but there is more than friendship there and as they uncover facts along the way this brings them to trace the missing ship that had been bombed by the USA and never found, will they finally find the resting place of Tom’s uncle?
Sally is also writing Iris’s story along the way and what a love story that started in Papua during the war, oh the tears that I shed while Tom’s uncle’s story is uncovered and Iris’s story as well but there are laugh out loud moments with Iris, she is the best and Sally and Tom their love grows in one of the most beautiful settings, I fell in love with everything about this story and cannot recommend it enough, with true facts running throughout the story, really is beautiful, moving, emotional and witty with smiles as well, don’t miss this one, thank you Rhonda Forrest for another brilliant story.
The authors note at the end was moving, this story is linked with her family and the missing ship it was a heartbreaking time for many families back then, thank heavens for research.
My thanks to the author for my copy to read and review.
Sally Andrews is a writer of historical fiction with added romance and has taken her ninety six year old Nana for a visit to the cemetery, not for the reason you would think and during their antics she meets Tom Schilling an historian and writer Tom is there researching a family member who went to New Guinea during World War 2 and never returned and there is no information on what happened to him this has been a worry for the family for three generations, Nana insists on a coffee and soon Sally and Tom are deep in research mode doing all they can to trace Tom’s long lost great uncle.
They are spending lots of time together as friends but there is more than friendship there and as they uncover facts along the way this brings them to trace the missing ship that had been bombed by the USA and never found, will they finally find the resting place of Tom’s uncle?
Sally is also writing Iris’s story along the way and what a love story that started in Papua during the war, oh the tears that I shed while Tom’s uncle’s story is uncovered and Iris’s story as well but there are laugh out loud moments with Iris, she is the best and Sally and Tom their love grows in one of the most beautiful settings, I fell in love with everything about this story and cannot recommend it enough, with true facts running throughout the story, really is beautiful, moving, emotional and witty with smiles as well, don’t miss this one, thank you Rhonda Forrest for another brilliant story.
The authors note at the end was moving, this story is linked with her family and the missing ship it was a heartbreaking time for many families back then, thank heavens for research.
My thanks to the author for my copy to read and review.
June 7, 2026
Winter on the Mountain is a lovely story and such an interesting read.
The research and care that Rhonda Forrest has put into the historical aspects of this novel are exceptional. I especially enjoyed learning about a part of Australia’s WWII history that I hadn’t come across before, which added an extra layer of depth and fascination to the story.
The dual timeline is beautifully woven together, and the characters and setting drew me in from the beginning. Tamborine Mountain provides a wonderful backdrop, bringing the story to life and making me want to visit the places featured throughout the book.
The chemistry between Sally and Tom is evident early and the romance that blossoms from friendship is very special. The love elements throughout are so strong and so endearing and you cannot help but be moved by the emotion in the writing.
A beautifully crafted story filled with heart, history, and memorable characters. I thoroughly enjoyed it and am already looking forward to the next book in the Scenic Rim Romance series.
The research and care that Rhonda Forrest has put into the historical aspects of this novel are exceptional. I especially enjoyed learning about a part of Australia’s WWII history that I hadn’t come across before, which added an extra layer of depth and fascination to the story.
The dual timeline is beautifully woven together, and the characters and setting drew me in from the beginning. Tamborine Mountain provides a wonderful backdrop, bringing the story to life and making me want to visit the places featured throughout the book.
The chemistry between Sally and Tom is evident early and the romance that blossoms from friendship is very special. The love elements throughout are so strong and so endearing and you cannot help but be moved by the emotion in the writing.
A beautifully crafted story filled with heart, history, and memorable characters. I thoroughly enjoyed it and am already looking forward to the next book in the Scenic Rim Romance series.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews