The Homestead Girls

Aussie Outback Medical #6

by Fiona McArthur

After her teenage daughter Mia falls in with the wrong crowd, Dr Billy Green decides it's time to leave the city and return home to far western NSW. So when an opportunity to pursue her childhood dream of joining the Flying Doctor Service comes along, she jumps at the chance. Flight nurse Daphne Prince – who is thrilled to have another woman join the otherwise male crew – and handsome new boss, Morgan Blake, instantly make her feel welcome.

Just out of town, drought-stricken grazier Soretta Byrnes has been struggling to make ends meet and in desperation has opened her station house to boarders. Tempted by its faded splendour and beautiful outback setting, Billy, Mia and Daphne decide to move in and the four of them are soon joined by eccentric 80-year-old Lorna Lamerton.

The unlikely housemates are cautious at first, but soon they are offering each other frank advice and staunch support as they tackle medical emergencies, romantic adventures and the challenges of growing up and getting older. But when one of their lives is threatened, the strong friendship they have forged will face the ultimate test . . .

Genres: Romance, Audiobook, Contemporary, Fiction, Australia, Medical

304 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 24, 2015

About the author

Fiona McArthur has worked as a midwife for thirty years. She is the clinical midwifery educator inner rural maternity unit and teaches emergency obstetric strategies while working with midwives and doctors from remote and isolated areas.

Fiona has written more than thirty romances, which have sold over two million copies in twelve languages. She has been a midwifery expert for Mother and Baby magazine and is the author of Aussie Midwives. She has also written the novels Red Sand Sunrise, The Homestead Girls and Heart of the Sky. She lives on a farm in northern New South Wales.

Reviews

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dr Billie Green had only ever dreamed of joining the Flying Doctors so when the opportunity came her way she couldn't let it pass her by. This was the chance to fulfil her lifelong dream. Being a single parent was a challenge of late for Billie as her teenage daughter Mia was becoming a handful, so Billy thought moving away from Sydney could be the best for the both of them. But of course, when Mia herd the news she was far from happy about it.

Billie found her work colleagues nurse Daphne, pilot Ross and her boss Morgan very friendly and instantly she felt she'd made the right decision in moving. She only hoped that in time Mia would feel the same, but Billy had her doubts on that.

Soretta Byrnes was distraught and very upset when her grandfather was hurt in a farming accident. Her worry wasn't only for her grandfather, but also for Blue Hills station. With the drought season upon them, Soretta was struggling to keep things going and she was in fear of losing everything. When the idea was suggested to her to open the station to boarders, Soretta thought she'd give it a go in the hope it would get her through the drought. Once Billie, Mia and Daphne moved into the station, Soretta started to feel as if things were starting to improve. Billie, Mia and Daphne enjoyed the their beautiful surroundings and once eighty year old Lorna moved in they all seemed very settled. But just when everything was going well for Billie and Mia it looked like things were about to change.

The Homestead Girls is a wonderful rural story of friendship, romance, hardships in the outback as well as a bit of suspense. A really enjoyable read which I have no hesitation in recommending highly.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Living in Sydney with her sixteen year old daughter Mia, Dr Billie Green found it hard as a single mother to know what Mia was up to while she was at work. Her workload was intense and very busy; Mia was at the age of rebellion and being led. So when once again Mia was in trouble Billie decided to leave Sydney and follow her long held dream of joining the Royal Flying Doctor service.

Mica Ridge, not far from Broken Hill on the New South Wales and South Australian border was the little town Billie had grown up in with her parents. She hadn’t been back for eighteen years; the devastating loss of her parents had sent her in search of something to assuage her heartbreaking loss – now she was returning with her daughter and a medical career she was proud of. But of course Mia wasn’t happy about the move…

Meeting flight nurse Daphne Prince, pilot Ross and her boss Morgan Blake, as well as others, Billie felt an immediate welcoming vibe coming from them all. She could feel she was going to be very happy in her new position, and she was hopeful Mia would settle in and like the place she so loved.

When homestead owner Soretta Byrnes’ grandfather was injured in a dreadful farming accident, she had no idea what she could do to keep Blue Hills station going. The drought had been relentless and many farmers were going under. But the suggestion to turn the homestead into a place for boarders turned out to be a good one. When Billie and Mia, plus Daphne all moved out to beautiful Blue Hills station, they found the peaceful tranquillity a bonus. And when they were joined by eighty year old Lorna the girls settled into a routine which benefitted them all.

As medical emergencies occurred and Billie joined her team to fly to different areas for ferrying patients to Broken Hill or Adelaide, there were also the variations of the weekly clinics in the outback and the constant on-call situations. Billie loved it all. Lives were changing, friendships were being forged – but in the background there was a danger which Billie was unaware of. Would Billie and Mia’s new life be disrupted once again by the past?

Aussie author Fiona McArthur has followed up her excellent debut Red Sand Sunrise with another great Australian outback romantic suspense novel, The Homestead Girls. This one includes the added interest of The Royal Flying Doctor service, plus the devastation of drought on farmers and their families. I thoroughly enjoyed The Homestead Girls and have no hesitation in recommending it highly. I will definitely be reading more from this author.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy to read and review.

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

Fiona McArthur’s, The Homestead Girls, is a heartwarming story of friendship, courage and compassion set in the outback of NSW.

In The Homestead Girls, Soretta Byrnes is struggling to keep her grandparent's farm solvent in the drought, especially after her grandfather is badly injured in an accident, so when it's suggested that she accept some boarders as a way to earn extra income, she agrees, determined to save Blue Hills Station.
Soretta is quickly joined by Daphne Prince, a flight nurse with the Royal Flying Doctor Service, eager to help the battling farmer; Dr Billie Green, with her rebellious teenage daughter in tow, who has returned to her hometown of Mica Ridge to fulfill a childhood dream by taking up a position with the RFDS; and eighty year old widow Lorna Lamerton, looking for company.
Despite their differences, the unlikely housemates soon become close friends, finding strength, support and happiness in their relationships with one another as they face a myriad of challenges.

I liked all the women in The Homestead Girls and delighted in their growing friendship. They all benefit from their living arrangements in both practical and emotional ways.

With such a large primary cast I did find some elements of the story a little underdeveloped. I'm not sure, for example, that the subplot involving Billie and her ex husband added anything to the story overall, the confrontation between the pair was anti-climatic and quickly overshadowed by following events.
Though there is romance in The Homestead Girls, for both Billie and Daphne, it doesn't overwhelm the story. With both Billie and Daphne having been deeply hurt in past relationships they are wary of involvement and their romances with their respective partners, Morgan and Rex, develop slowly, though Daphne's has been a long time coming.

The Royal Flying Doctor Service is an invaluable resource in regional Australia and McArthur highlights their stellar work in The Homestead Girls. The RFDS provides numerous services to outback communities from running immunisation and antenatal clinics in remote areas, to dealing with emergencies such as snakebites, heart attacks and vehicular accidents. I really enjoyed learning more about what it's like to work for the service and reading about the team's varied medical experiences.

An uplifting story of friendship and romance, The Homestead Girls is a lovely read I'd be happy to recommend.

[Dale Harcombe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four and a half stars
Dr Billie Green has always had a dream to work for The Flying Doctor Service. When her sixteen year old daughter gets into trouble with the wrong crowd, Billie decides the time is right to take her away from the city. Needless to say, Mia is not thrilled about living in Mica Ridge which is a short distance from Broken Hill. But Billie is happy to be back in the place where she grew up. Nurse Daphne Prince is delighted to have another woman on the crew and they soon become friends. Billie also gets along with Rex the pilot and her boss Morgan Blake. Due to the extended drought, Soretta Byrnes and her grandfather are struggling to keep their property Blue Hills afloat. When he is injured and Soretta meets Billie she decides that getting a couple of boarders into the property might help ease the financial pressures. Soon Soretta has Billie, Mia, Daphne and the eighty year old Lorna living there. But unknown to them danger is one its way.
The characters are all well portrayed. I liked the setting and could almost see the colours of the outback, I also liked the intergenerational friendship between the women. Add to those things a budding romance or two, plus a lot of information that comes out naturally in the course of the story about the Flying Doctor Service and you have an extremely readable novel. The romances are well done. They have enough sizzle to feel the passion without the need to go into every intimate detail. My only real quibble was the danger when it eventually came was resolved rather quickly. My first book by this author, I would be happy to read others. Anyone who likes Australian stories, romance, and stories about family, and friendship with an outback setting should love this novel.

[Sue Gerhardt Griffiths · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice light read set in far western NSW. Hubby and I loved Broken Hill when we visited last year, that place rocks!

Kudos to the Royal Flying Doctor Service.


Listened to the audio version via the BorrowBox app
Published by Bolinda audio
Narrated by Caroline Lee
Duration: 9 hours, 33 minutes 1.50x Speed

[Nicki Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sensational. One of my favourite Aussie authors and genres.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't sure about this book heading into it, but it grabbed me and didn't let go. I would have liked more descriptions about the flying part of RFDS, but the focus was on the medical side, which was fine. The plot twists were nice and unpredictable, which was excellent, and I really enjoyed the climax. I would have liked to have seen more of a resolution.

[MarciaB - Book Muster Down Under · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fiona McArthur first appeared on my radar with the publication in 2014 of her first contemporary fiction novel, Red Sand Sunrise. Now, whenever I feel like journeying to the ochre and brown glory of the outback with its special brand of people, I know she’ll take me there.

Told mainly through the eyes of her characters, Billie, a doctor, looking for somewhere that she can raise Mia (her teenaged daughter) without the dangers of city living and one that she can at last call home; Daphne, a nurse who has had her own fair share of life’s hard knocks; and Soretta who is battling to keep her grandfather’s station afloat in the wake of a farm accident, Fiona gives us five strong women who bring to life the remote areas of Australia and its people, showing us how they go out of their way to help one another even when they themselves are facing hardship.

Drawing on her extensive medical experience, Fiona also highlights the importance of the RFDS (Royal Flying Doctor Service) and the significant part they play in servicing those areas where our remote counterparts’ very lives depend on them.

Whilst balancing the story with the private lives of her characters who seek so much more than merely existing and the drought which has stricken so many of our farmers, The Homestead Girls provides a rare look into the everyday lives of our RFDS doctors, nurses and pilots and I particularly enjoyed the insight she gives into the tasks that these Angels of the sky carry out on a daily basis.

Ultimately two sweet love stories with a hint of suspense set against the backdrop of Broken Hill and its surrounds, Fiona weaves the colours of the outback into an inspirational and tender-hearted story about life-affirming friendship, outback community life and love in the open skies of Australia.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fabulous story so beautifully written emotional and so very joyful as well, it is one that will keep you turning the pages as we follow the lives of five women who become The Homestead Girls.

Dr Billie Green decides that it is time to move back to her home town of Mica Ridge after her sixteen year old daughter Mia gets in with the wrong crowd in The City Billie has always wanted to join The Flying Doctor Service and now the chance has come up she jumps at the opportunity.

Daphne Prince is a nurse at the RFDS in Mica Ridge she is one of the most caring and beautiful people you would ever meet but she has things in her past that she does not open up about.

Soretta Byrnes lives on a sheep station Blue Hills just outside of Mica Ridge with her grandfather and with a drought things are tough but Soretta needs to find a way to keep the station she loves as being on the land means so much to her and her grandfather.

Lorna Lamerton is eighty years old was the outback nurse and wife to the Doctor she is widowed now but is so strong and feisty and loveable.

I loved this story as these five Ladies become housemates on Blue Hills and become so close to each other they are such a support team they are there for romantic adventures illness advice challenges threats and to love and care for each other. Their journey will have you shedding tears and smiling as you bond with them as they open up to each other through worrying and fun times in such a beautiful setting. This is a story that I highly recommend this is one that will be on the keeper shelf and reread many times. Thank you MS McArthur for another awesome story that will stay with me for a long time to come.

[Roz ~ My Written Romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will write something more coherent when the hour is more reasonable, but it would be fairly safe to say that I loved this book.

[Bree T · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Dr Billie Green’s teenage daughter Mia falls in with a bad crowd, Billie uses that as an opportunity to return to the small town in far western New South Wales where she grew up. It’s been a goal of Billie’s to work for the Flying Doctor Service and she’s spent time in her career doing rotations and earning qualifications that will serve her well in the remote locations. She’s happy to meet her colleagues, including the lovely but insecure flight nurse Daphne Price and their authoritarian boss Dr Morgan Blake.

Soretta Byrnes has benefited from the Flying Doctor Service after her grandfather was severely injured on their farm. But with him in hospital, Soretta is struggling more than ever to make ends meet when the drought just won’t quit. Although Daphne has supported Soretta as a friend, she decides that she’d like to do more. The homestead on Soretta’s property is huge – old and beautiful and with plenty of room. Daphne, Billie and Mia soon move out to the property as paying boarders, an arrangement which suits everyone. Billie and Daphne want a home and Soretta is grateful for the financial contribution. Teenage Mia is resentful at first…until she realises how much she can help by looking after the animals on the farm. They are soon joined by Lorna Lamerton, an eighty year old former bush nurse looking for a holiday from her son and his wife.

It isn’t long before the women overcome their awkwardness and begin to form strong friendships and attachments. The situation is working out better than any of them could have planned and there’s always someone on hand for advice on medical issues and even the odd romantic challenge. However it’s not until one of the women faces a threat to their life that they show just well they can band together.

Australian rural romance author Fiona McArthur’s latest book invites readers to far west New South Wales and introduces them to a small town which hosts a branch of the Flying Doctor Service. Dr Billie Green has just moved back to the town, which is also where she grew up and is fulfilling a dream working for the FDS. Billie has lived a life moving around, gaining qualifications but not possessions. She and teenage daughter Mia live out of a couple of suitcases and a box full of kitchen necessities.

In no time at all, Billie’s colleague Daphne has organised for herself, Billie and Billie’s daughter Mia to move from their duplex accommodation out to a beautiful old homestead some ten minutes out of town. There the women begin to become friends, settling into roles and working together. Even Mia, resentful at first being made to move out west and then away from town and to the farm, begins to prove her worth. She’s given the job of feeding the lambs and Soretta is no nonsense when it comes to any teenage attitude. Mia is told in no uncertain terms she must be responsible or else – the lambs could die if she ‘can’t be bothered’. Through being given this responsibility and trust, Mia begins to mature and grow, coming to appreciate her surroundings and the role she is developing. I really liked Mia and I think McArthur was quite understated in portraying her character as the disgruntled teen. Mia had moved around a lot and even though she resented having to move out to the homestead, yet another move, it seemed almost immediately that it would be different. This was a place where roots could be put down, where Mia could be given a role, even get a pet in the future. All she needed was a little bit of security and some faith, both in herself and from others in her and she began to really blossom which was good to read.

There’s a huge amount in this story about the role of the FDS and it’s fantastic to read. I’ve lived all my life on the coast, never been further west than Dubbo (and that was only to visit the zoo) so it’s super interesting to read about how the FDS works and the sort of incidents they deal with. There’s a wide range of medical emergencies they might encounter as well as geographic difficulties like finding the landing strip that’s the closest to the person that needs attention. I didn’t know about the oxygen issues with so much time spent in the plane in the beginning either so all of those little tidbits were great info. Although most of the population in Australia does live along the coastlines there are still plenty of remote communities and properties that benefit from this service and the amazing people who campaign to fund it.

Whilst there is a little romance in The Homestead Girls it is really quite subtle. Both Daphne and Billie are struggling with workplace attractions and I really enjoyed reading about Daphne getting some of her self-confidence back and hopefully beginning to put her past behind her and those that had made her feel so bad about herself. I’d have liked a little more romantic interaction for Billie but the focus is really on the women building those friendships and strengthening them at the homestead, as well as the role of the FDS. The women are all well constructed, with insecurities and flaws and made stronger by the growing friendship. I would love it if we saw Soretta and Mia again in the future, I’d love to know what the years to come hold for them.

A really enjoyable and heartwarming story from a must-read author.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

always Excellent reading!

This series is Always Excellent reading! Fantastic characters, good storylines, romance, medicine, and No Nasty sex! Nice, sweet cut always that leave you satisfied and not grossed out!

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

My View: The Homestead Girls

I really enjoyed this book – its outstanding quality – it made me smile. This is a great example of contemporary Australian fiction – wonderful rich warm characters, so many strong and feisty women, a great showcase for the service provided to the community by Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS), an opportunity to remind people of how the drought effects farmers, rural life in general and regional towns. The protagonists work for the RFDS and as such a few health issues are exposed and explored and there is the most wonderfully satisfying relationship that develops between The Homestead Girls. What more can you ask for in a contemporary Australian rural setting? Nothing!

[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.)

After her teenage daughter Mia falls in with the wrong crowd, Dr Billie Green decides it's time to leave the city and return home to far western NSW. When an opportunity to pursue her childhood dream of joining the Flying Doctor Service comes along, she jumps at the chance. Flight nurse Daphne Prince – who is thrilled to have another woman join the otherwise male crew – and their handsome new boss, Morgan Blake, instantly make her feel welcome.
Just out of town, drought-stricken grazier Soretta Byrnes has been struggling to make ends meet and in desperation has opened her station house to boarders. Tempted by its faded splendour and beautiful outback setting, Billie, Mia and Daphne decide to move in and the four of them are soon joined by eccentric eighty-year-old Lorna Lamerton.
The unlikely housemates are cautious at first, but soon they are offering each other frank advice and staunch support as they tackle medical emergencies, romantic adventures and the challenges of growing up and getting older. But when one of their lives is threatened, the strong friendship they have forged will face the ultimate test...

*3.5 stars*

Hardship in the Australian Outback, the Royal Flying Doctor Service, friendships forged, romances chased, secrets from the past, and life in a small country town are the main ingredients in the very good Australian Rural Romance novel.

First, I need to congratulate Fiona McArthur on highlighting the tremendous work of the RFDS - an invaluable service in rural and remote Australia. She did a wonderful job bringing that service to the fore and giving them the recognition they so dearly deserve.

Moving on from there, the best thing about this story was the tale of friendship. Billie, Daphne, and Lorna come together perfectly in this story and, throwing Mia in to the mix, the women in this novel are splendid. Each have their own personalities and quirks, they have their own stories to tell, and aren't just there as a sidekick to a handsome man.

Which brings me to the "romance" in this story - Billie and Daphne do have this in their stories, it doesn't overtake the story at all, and it doesn't feel like it was shoe-horned in to fit the "rural romance" genre...

However, the "suspense" side of this story DID feel like that. Shoe-horned into the story to try and add another string to this story's bow...but it just wasn't necessary, in my opinion. The story involving Billie's ex-husband seemed like it just didn't fit and then, after taking time to try and build some form of suspense, the end of that plot fizzed and was overtaken by something far more important in the story...just don't know why it was needed. Really lost some zing...

Overall, however, this is another great addition to the Australian rural romance collection. If you enjoy small town romances and novels of friendships between women, this is definitely one to look at.


Paul
ARH

[Denise MF · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely heartfelt story in the outback.
Loved the 'Family' of women staying together at Blue Hills Station, such support for each other despite the age range & different backgrounds. It highlights the importance that everyone has something to give, don't disregard the over 80s, they have a wealth of wisdom & knowledge.
Family can be any group.

[Susanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poignant and life-affirming.
The relationships between three generations of women, brought together under the roof of the homestead.
From a writer who knows both her setting and the medical side of her stories and puts them both within reach of the reader.

[Wendy Kendall · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable read . I enjoy both the country/remote and the medical story lines in the book. The work of the Flying Doctor’s work & the need for fund raising for the service is documented into the story. Relationships, romance and a little intrigue fill out the story.

4.25 stars for me.

[Maya Walkington-Stauber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I very much enjoy this series of books! The author does a great job “painting “ the the Australian landscape. I find my self drawn into it.
With my nurse practitioner background I am pulled into the medical aspects of the story line.
I am planning to read the whole series!

[Trine · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you miss the old TV-series Flying Doctors try reading this book. This will give you a lot of the same atmosphere and an interesting insight in how the Flying Doctors work. It gets more personal as the story progresses and the ending is a bit rushed. But all in all an enjoyable read.

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was entertaining enough.

[Mel Davis-Gates · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love these outback midwifery stories, great character depth and the medical side of things is very accurate. Great reading

[Mary Ladrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. I really like this author. A great light read. Very enjoyable.

[Kirsty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book! Well read, wonderful story. Very enjoyable

[Reannon Bowen]

DNF Hot just over halfway before giving up. Total snoozefest.

[Kim Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how the title makes itself known in the book. Another lovely story.

[Claire Louisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great read by Fiona McArthur

[Melissa Burling · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the story as it was based on RFDS, but I found the characters of Billie and Morgan were annoying.

[Arlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable fluff

[Rosemary Turner · Rating 3 out of 5]

A feel good story revolving around the RFDS in Australian outback, sheep station work, romance and drama. Pleasant read

[Davina Veenstra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the Homestead girls
Thank you dear Fi xx