What do you think?
Rate this book
Desert Flame
A sweeping Australian love story from the author of Southern Star. When her beloved father dies, Eliza Mayberry's privileged world comes crashing down around her. On the verge of losing the business that has been in her family for generations, she has no option but to take over the last remaining tracking down the elusive Fingal McLeod in outback New South Wales and bringing him back to Sydney. Fin, however, has other ideas. Determined to find the legendary Dark Flame, a rare opal that has eluded opal-hunters for decades, he has no intention of leaving his mine to reunite with the family who abandoned him – even for the beguiling Miss Mayberry. Drawn to the people and starkly beautiful landscape of the desert, Eliza discovers the new start that she's been seeking in this unlikely place. But as passion blooms under the scorching outback sun, secrets from the past and present are bubbling below the surface – secrets that could destroy both the fragile trust between Eliza and Fin, and the bright promise of the future.
- GenresRomance
320 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 20, 2015
2 people are currently reading
14 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
February 1, 2016
3.5 Stars
I enjoyed this book set in Outback New South Wales, Australia. Opal country!
Eliza's father passes away and she is forced to take over his failing business. The last client requires her to track down his estranged family member, Fin McLeod, and bring him to Sydney. Fin is an opal miner in outback New South Wales, and is searching for a rare opal. He has no intention of going to Sydney with Eliza, even though they are instantly attracted to each other... But Fin is being watched. Someone wants his mine, and will stop at nothing to get it.
Will firstly lets just say this book is for ADULTS only. I had already downloaded this book when I read a few reviews saying that it has way too many unnecessary sex scenes, and I tend to agree. It wasn't the amount of them, because there weren't that many really, but it often felt like they were just put in the story needlessly - sometimes totally out of place. All of a sudden the story goes from a well written interesting read, to suddenly being totally raunchy. It felt inconsistent and almost felt like they were different characters!
The love story itself was lacking something for me. Tension or excitement perhaps. I didn't really connect with either Fin or Eliza's characters, so it was hard to buy into the romance. I found it to move quite slowly at the beginning.
What I did enjoy about the story was the last quarter. It became very exciting and I really enjoyed the twists and turns in the final chapters. Really salvaged the story and the characters for me.
I also really like the cover - As well as the handsome man, the colours and the landscape are really pretty!
Overall it was written really well. I enjoyed the outback setting and minor characters in the book.
Would I recommend Desert Flame?
Yes, despite the things I have mentioned above, it was a solid 3.5 Stars. Extremely well written and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to someone who likes the outback settings... However I will warn them about the raunchy content!
Many thanks to author Janine Grey and Penguin books via NetGalley for a copy of Desert Flame in exchange for my honest review.
For more reviews visit my blog
www.booksbabiesbeing.com
Twitter:
www.twitter.com/BBB_Mel
Facebook
www.facebook.com/booksbabiesbeing
I enjoyed this book set in Outback New South Wales, Australia. Opal country!
Eliza's father passes away and she is forced to take over his failing business. The last client requires her to track down his estranged family member, Fin McLeod, and bring him to Sydney. Fin is an opal miner in outback New South Wales, and is searching for a rare opal. He has no intention of going to Sydney with Eliza, even though they are instantly attracted to each other... But Fin is being watched. Someone wants his mine, and will stop at nothing to get it.
Will firstly lets just say this book is for ADULTS only. I had already downloaded this book when I read a few reviews saying that it has way too many unnecessary sex scenes, and I tend to agree. It wasn't the amount of them, because there weren't that many really, but it often felt like they were just put in the story needlessly - sometimes totally out of place. All of a sudden the story goes from a well written interesting read, to suddenly being totally raunchy. It felt inconsistent and almost felt like they were different characters!
The love story itself was lacking something for me. Tension or excitement perhaps. I didn't really connect with either Fin or Eliza's characters, so it was hard to buy into the romance. I found it to move quite slowly at the beginning.
What I did enjoy about the story was the last quarter. It became very exciting and I really enjoyed the twists and turns in the final chapters. Really salvaged the story and the characters for me.
I also really like the cover - As well as the handsome man, the colours and the landscape are really pretty!
Overall it was written really well. I enjoyed the outback setting and minor characters in the book.
Would I recommend Desert Flame?
Yes, despite the things I have mentioned above, it was a solid 3.5 Stars. Extremely well written and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to someone who likes the outback settings... However I will warn them about the raunchy content!
Many thanks to author Janine Grey and Penguin books via NetGalley for a copy of Desert Flame in exchange for my honest review.
For more reviews visit my blog
www.booksbabiesbeing.com
Twitter:
www.twitter.com/BBB_Mel
www.facebook.com/booksbabiesbeing
February 8, 2017
3.5★
This was a well-written, entertaining rural romance / mystery set in the interesting opal fields of the NSW outback area near Lightning Ridge. The Back of Beyond. Beyond the Black Stump. And there is some hot sex in the hot outback, too.
Eliza Mayberry and Fingal McLeod are destined to get together, of course, but their story is well told, and there are plenty of obstacles, real and imagined, that kept me reading. Both have lost a parent or parents, and both have unresolved issues that plague them. Just a little something in common.
Fingal McLeod has inherited his father’s mining lease and is determined to find the highly sought-after Dark Flame, the black opal his father said he’d discovered before he disappeared. It’s lonely out there.
“Fin stared around the desolate camp site. The earth was dry as dust, the rough grassy patches and line of wild orange trees the only splash of green. Rusting metal buckets, dried-out timber and ancient machinery were scattered haphazardly.” *
Eliza grew up wealthy but is now nearly broke in a tiny Sydney flat, deciding to pick up the remains of her father’s business, seeking out “kin” for probate cases. That leads her eventually to the McLeod mine at Ruin Flat, outside the tiny township of Helton, outside Lightning Ridge, a long way from Sydney. The Outback.
She is kind of adopted by a social little bunch of characters based around the pub in Helton, a town that seems to have some pretty fancy foods available these days, too. The people are fairly stereo-typed, but believably appealing. Eliza ventures out to the camp, meets Fin, does a bit of research (internet connectivity in Helton seems to be good), and before long, finds herself reassessing her life.
“Red landscape and blue sky, starkly empty yet teeming with life, dangerously unpredictable and enduringly consistent—this was a place of dramatic contrasts. The sense of being on the edge of the world was terrifying and yet exhilarating to Eliza . . . For twenty-six years, she’d had a clear idea of who she was, what her life would be, how the world worked. Within weeks, all her old certainties had turned to dust.”*
There is a running story about the disappearance of Fin’s father, his mother’s dementia in a nursing home, his mother’s brother who is trying to locate Fin, and details about ownership of the mine, the last one working in the area. All plot lines are neatly attended to and tied up.
But of course, our main interest is Fin and Eliza. There are a few steamy sex scenes, a bit explicit but nothing too outrageous, and most of the attraction is suggested throughout. Had there been more, or had it been more detailed, I wouldn’t have enjoyed the book.
I did enjoy it—my thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Books Australia for providing a copy for review. Readers who enjoy Aussie outback romance will enjoy this – just be prepared for the characters sharing more than a fond embrace.
* Quotes from my review copy may be different in published book.
This was a well-written, entertaining rural romance / mystery set in the interesting opal fields of the NSW outback area near Lightning Ridge. The Back of Beyond. Beyond the Black Stump. And there is some hot sex in the hot outback, too.
Eliza Mayberry and Fingal McLeod are destined to get together, of course, but their story is well told, and there are plenty of obstacles, real and imagined, that kept me reading. Both have lost a parent or parents, and both have unresolved issues that plague them. Just a little something in common.
Fingal McLeod has inherited his father’s mining lease and is determined to find the highly sought-after Dark Flame, the black opal his father said he’d discovered before he disappeared. It’s lonely out there.
“Fin stared around the desolate camp site. The earth was dry as dust, the rough grassy patches and line of wild orange trees the only splash of green. Rusting metal buckets, dried-out timber and ancient machinery were scattered haphazardly.” *
Eliza grew up wealthy but is now nearly broke in a tiny Sydney flat, deciding to pick up the remains of her father’s business, seeking out “kin” for probate cases. That leads her eventually to the McLeod mine at Ruin Flat, outside the tiny township of Helton, outside Lightning Ridge, a long way from Sydney. The Outback.
She is kind of adopted by a social little bunch of characters based around the pub in Helton, a town that seems to have some pretty fancy foods available these days, too. The people are fairly stereo-typed, but believably appealing. Eliza ventures out to the camp, meets Fin, does a bit of research (internet connectivity in Helton seems to be good), and before long, finds herself reassessing her life.
“Red landscape and blue sky, starkly empty yet teeming with life, dangerously unpredictable and enduringly consistent—this was a place of dramatic contrasts. The sense of being on the edge of the world was terrifying and yet exhilarating to Eliza . . . For twenty-six years, she’d had a clear idea of who she was, what her life would be, how the world worked. Within weeks, all her old certainties had turned to dust.”*
There is a running story about the disappearance of Fin’s father, his mother’s dementia in a nursing home, his mother’s brother who is trying to locate Fin, and details about ownership of the mine, the last one working in the area. All plot lines are neatly attended to and tied up.
But of course, our main interest is Fin and Eliza. There are a few steamy sex scenes, a bit explicit but nothing too outrageous, and most of the attraction is suggested throughout. Had there been more, or had it been more detailed, I wouldn’t have enjoyed the book.
I did enjoy it—my thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Books Australia for providing a copy for review. Readers who enjoy Aussie outback romance will enjoy this – just be prepared for the characters sharing more than a fond embrace.
* Quotes from my review copy may be different in published book.
December 28, 2015
In shock from her father’s recent death, Eliza Mayberry couldn’t believe what the lawyer was telling her. The family business was bankrupt, the home which had been in the family for generations was gone – she was alone with no income; no home; virtually nothing to call her own. The one remaining case on the business’ books looked to be Eliza’s only option to move forward with her life. The fact that she would have to leave Sydney and head out near Lightening Ridge, deep in outback New South Wales was a little daunting; but she was determined. Her first destination was Coffs Harbour on the New South Wales coast…
Fin McLeod had been working the old opal mine “Ruin Flat” which was located near the little town of Helton, during the winter months as it was impossible to remain at the site during the height of the Australian summer; the urge to continue working while there were daylight hours weighed heavily on him. The mine had been originally owned by his father Logan – his mother Mairi was in a nursing home in Coffs Harbour and Fin didn’t get to see her as often as he would like; but like his father before him, he was determined to discover the black opal, the Dark Flame. Fin was sure it was there, tantalisingly out of reach, but he was sure it would be his one day. When he was surprised by the arrival of an attractive young woman at the mine one morning, both he and Eliza had no idea their lives would change and danger would surround them in the near future.
Fin and Eliza’s attraction was immediate – but these two people were polar opposites. Dark secrets surrounded them both amid the harsh beauty of the Australian outback; would Eliza be able to convince Fin to return to Sydney? Could she trust him? Could they trust each other?
I thoroughly enjoyed Desert Flame by Aussie author Janine Grey. Intrigue, mystery, romance – it had everything needed for a great romantic suspense novel. The country town characters from Helton were classic! Some great laugh out loud moments with Mick and the feisty local women; Pauly and his mannerisms; even crusty old Edward from Sydney was well crafted. Plus the descriptions of the outback were such that it was easy to imagine the landscape, and feel the searing heat. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy to read and review.
Fin McLeod had been working the old opal mine “Ruin Flat” which was located near the little town of Helton, during the winter months as it was impossible to remain at the site during the height of the Australian summer; the urge to continue working while there were daylight hours weighed heavily on him. The mine had been originally owned by his father Logan – his mother Mairi was in a nursing home in Coffs Harbour and Fin didn’t get to see her as often as he would like; but like his father before him, he was determined to discover the black opal, the Dark Flame. Fin was sure it was there, tantalisingly out of reach, but he was sure it would be his one day. When he was surprised by the arrival of an attractive young woman at the mine one morning, both he and Eliza had no idea their lives would change and danger would surround them in the near future.
Fin and Eliza’s attraction was immediate – but these two people were polar opposites. Dark secrets surrounded them both amid the harsh beauty of the Australian outback; would Eliza be able to convince Fin to return to Sydney? Could she trust him? Could they trust each other?
I thoroughly enjoyed Desert Flame by Aussie author Janine Grey. Intrigue, mystery, romance – it had everything needed for a great romantic suspense novel. The country town characters from Helton were classic! Some great laugh out loud moments with Mick and the feisty local women; Pauly and his mannerisms; even crusty old Edward from Sydney was well crafted. Plus the descriptions of the outback were such that it was easy to imagine the landscape, and feel the searing heat. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy to read and review.
February 27, 2016
Eliza Mayberry’s privileged world comes crashing down around her when her father commits suicide and she finds out the extent of the debts he has left behind. Determined to try and salvage what she can, Eliza takes on the case for Ernest Weaver of tracking down his great nephew who he lost track of years before. Eliza locates Fingal McLeod in outback New South Wales. In an opal mine in Ruin Flat near the little town of Helton and in the general direction of Lightning Ridge, he is searching for the elusive black opal. Fin has no intention of stopping the work to return with her to Sydney. Of course Eliza is determined he will.
I really liked the outback setting and the descriptions of the mines left me feeling decidedly claustrophobic, particularly towards the end. I liked the mystery surrounding Fingal’s father Logan disappearance, even though I had my suspicions about what may have happened. The plot worked well. Some of the minor characters like Mick and the women in the town added colour and amusing interludes. Where the story lost me was with the sex scenes. What is it about some writers that makes them feel we need to be given every little detail of the sexual encounters? For me these sex and shower scenes were unnecessary titbits that took away from rather than added to the story. I don’t want to read the details of other people’s sex lives. They didn’t convince me of the love between Eliza and Fin, but rather made me question it. That plus the lack of connection I felt for either of the main characters brought my rating down and spoiled what could have been an even better story. But I can see that others may well have a different view. Although I notice reading some other reviews that some others found it similarly annoying.
I really liked the outback setting and the descriptions of the mines left me feeling decidedly claustrophobic, particularly towards the end. I liked the mystery surrounding Fingal’s father Logan disappearance, even though I had my suspicions about what may have happened. The plot worked well. Some of the minor characters like Mick and the women in the town added colour and amusing interludes. Where the story lost me was with the sex scenes. What is it about some writers that makes them feel we need to be given every little detail of the sexual encounters? For me these sex and shower scenes were unnecessary titbits that took away from rather than added to the story. I don’t want to read the details of other people’s sex lives. They didn’t convince me of the love between Eliza and Fin, but rather made me question it. That plus the lack of connection I felt for either of the main characters brought my rating down and spoiled what could have been an even better story. But I can see that others may well have a different view. Although I notice reading some other reviews that some others found it similarly annoying.
March 23, 2016
When her beloved father dies, Eliza Mayberry’s privileged world comes crashing down around her ears. On the verge of losing the business that has been in her family for generations, she has no option but to take over the last remaining case: tracking down the elusive Fingal McLeod in outback New South Wales and bringing him back to Sydney.
The rest of this review can be found HERE!
He’d been a much better father than provider: always the one to brush her hair, take her to school, shop for ballet gear – in short, the perfect parent. Her mother, Angela, had always been far too busy. And five years ago when Angela had told them both, matter-of-factly as was her style, that she had an inoperable brain tumour, and had confirmed it by dying six weeks later, he had fallen apart.Fin, however, has other ideas. Determined to find the legendary Dark Flame, a rare opal that has eluded opal-hunters for decades, he has no intention of leaving his mine to reunite with the family of the man who abandoned him – even for the beguiling Miss Mayberry.
His head pounding with the vibrations of the jackhammer, Fin shut it off with a vicious curse and sagged against the wall. His skin was drenched with sweat and his muscles burnt with fatigue.Drawn to the people and starkly beautiful landscape of the desert, Eliza discovers the new start that she’s been seeking in this unlikely place and with a man who is as infuriating as he is intriguing. But as passion blooms under the scorching outback sun, secrets from the past and present are bubbling below the surface – secrets that could destroy both the fragile trust between Eliza and Fin, and the bright promise of the future.
‘You need a break, mate,’ he said. ‘When you start talking to yourself, you need a break.’ He laughed and it echoed around the tunnel like a madman’s mocking taunt.
She stood on the small balcony of her room that night, staring out into infinity. The dusky hues of evening softened the harsh vista, and the clear sky was lit with an unknown number of stars. She felt enveloped and at the same time strangely liberated by the outback, as if anything was possible. There were worse places to hide.
Maybe she was coming down with a case of outback fever.
The rest of this review can be found HERE!
May 20, 2018
Desert Flame is about greed, passion and families. Eliza Mayberry was trying to handle the death of her father when the family lawyer told her that she had lost her home and the family business is in trouble. The family business had one client left, and Eliza Mayberry realises that she needs to fulfil the client's request in finding Fingal McLeod. However, Eliza Mayberry did not recognise that finding Fingal McLeod would change both their lives forever. The readers of Desert Flame will continue to follow the twists and turns in Eliza Mayberry investigation.
I was recommended to read Desert Flame, and I loved it. Desert Flame was the first book I have read of Janine Gray, and it was well written and researched. I will read another book by Janine Grey. I like Janine Grey portrayal of her characters and the way they interact with each other. The way Janine Grey described her plot and settings I felt that I was one of her characters.
The readers of Desert Flame will start to understand the problems and the hardship that opal minders go through to find opals in outback New South Wales. Also, readers of Desert Flame will learn about running a genealogy research business.
I recommend this book.
I was recommended to read Desert Flame, and I loved it. Desert Flame was the first book I have read of Janine Gray, and it was well written and researched. I will read another book by Janine Grey. I like Janine Grey portrayal of her characters and the way they interact with each other. The way Janine Grey described her plot and settings I felt that I was one of her characters.
The readers of Desert Flame will start to understand the problems and the hardship that opal minders go through to find opals in outback New South Wales. Also, readers of Desert Flame will learn about running a genealogy research business.
I recommend this book.
November 24, 2016
Eliza Mayberry had her privileged life ripped out from under her when her father died, seems he never got over the death of her mother. She never knew that he sold the house she grew up and lived in to prop up the family business. Desperate for some finances, she takes on the last remaining case the family business 'KinSearches' has on the books, to reunite someone with his extended family...tracking Fingal 'Fin' McLeod is easy, staying away from him is not.
Eliza tracks Fin to his opal mine 'Rebel's Ruin' in the Australian desert outback and there is some instant attraction. Feisty and knowing her mind, she gets the job done but there is the pull of Fin and the town 'Helton' that sees her renting a house there. As Fin and Eliza try and work out some sort of relationship, it seems someone is not happy that Fin hasn't taken up their offer to buy him out of the mine.
I loved this book, there were real sparks between Eliza and Fin and I enjoyed that she wasn't the spoilt 'b****' you may have expected her to be. Fin isn't portrayed as the perfect man, he certainly has his flaws of stubbornness and temper but I felt there was a healthy dose of respect between the two of them.
As with most small towns they have their real characters and we get to meet a few of them, I must admit some of the bar scenes had me chuckling along....and some 'hand fanning' with those steamy romance scenes.
There were a few story lines running through this book but they all were easy to follow and tied in at the end.
This was a good, fun read for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy to read and review.
Eliza tracks Fin to his opal mine 'Rebel's Ruin' in the Australian desert outback and there is some instant attraction. Feisty and knowing her mind, she gets the job done but there is the pull of Fin and the town 'Helton' that sees her renting a house there. As Fin and Eliza try and work out some sort of relationship, it seems someone is not happy that Fin hasn't taken up their offer to buy him out of the mine.
I loved this book, there were real sparks between Eliza and Fin and I enjoyed that she wasn't the spoilt 'b****' you may have expected her to be. Fin isn't portrayed as the perfect man, he certainly has his flaws of stubbornness and temper but I felt there was a healthy dose of respect between the two of them.
As with most small towns they have their real characters and we get to meet a few of them, I must admit some of the bar scenes had me chuckling along....and some 'hand fanning' with those steamy romance scenes.
There were a few story lines running through this book but they all were easy to follow and tied in at the end.
This was a good, fun read for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy to read and review.
January 21, 2016
Desert Flame is a contemporary novel of romantic suspense set in rural Australia from author Janine Grey.
Eliza Mayberry is stunned when she learns her late father's company is near bankrupt. With little left of her former life of privilege except the company name, 'KinSearchers' Eliza agrees to assist the firms single remaining client who wants Eliza to meet his long lost great nephew. Eliza's search leads her to an opal claim near Lightning Ridge in outback New South Wales where she meets the disturbingly attractive Fingal McLeod, who couldn't be less interested in reuniting with the family who abandoned he and his mother.
Fin's focus is on his search for the rare Dark Flame opal to provide security for his ailing mother but Eliza proves to be a distraction he can't ignore. The relationship between Eliza and Fin is initially based on mutual attraction and lust, which soon develops into admiration and respect as they get to know one another. The development is perhaps a little rushed but I did enjoy the romance. There are several intimate encounters in the novel and I thought they were well written, offering something more interesting (especially that outdoor shower spectacle) than the standard soft focus bedroom scenes.
Several threads of mild suspense run through Desert Flame. The first involves the suspicious behaviour of Fin's mother's long term companion, the second a series of mishaps at the mine, and the third involves the fate of Logan McLeod, Fin's deadbeat dad. Grey balances the multiple story arcs well with the burgeoning relationship, creating a novel with an engaging mix of drama, tension and romance.
Humour springs from the quirky townspeople of Helton, such as cheeky Mick and the brassy barmaid. I thought Grey's vivid descriptions of the mine and its surrounds evoked the heat, dust and isolation of the region. The only real flaw perhaps was the pacing which I felt was a little slow at times.
A quick and pleasant read, I enjoyed Desert Flame and I'd recommend it to fans of the genre.
January 18, 2016
3.5 - 4 stars
My View:
This Australian rural narrative/romantic mystery is full of spectacular scenery, vibrant characters and with an interesting plot that has the requisite dramas (standover men, vengeful sister of ex-boyfriend , corrupt mining companies etc) and the necessary happy ending…do you feel a BUT coming?
But it is also peppered with what I consider unnecessary vivid sex scenes. I make no excuses, I just don’t enjoy knowing every single close encounter of the sexual kind, I prefer sex scenes to leave a little something to the imagination – and believe me there were a few places in this novel where nothing was left to the imagination (eg outdoor shower scene). To me this sparkling narrative just didn’t need this level of salacious detail.
Aside from this one issue and this is a personal issue, the writing was admirable. This book maybe for you, sadly it wasn’t for me.
My View:
This Australian rural narrative/romantic mystery is full of spectacular scenery, vibrant characters and with an interesting plot that has the requisite dramas (standover men, vengeful sister of ex-boyfriend , corrupt mining companies etc) and the necessary happy ending…do you feel a BUT coming?
But it is also peppered with what I consider unnecessary vivid sex scenes. I make no excuses, I just don’t enjoy knowing every single close encounter of the sexual kind, I prefer sex scenes to leave a little something to the imagination – and believe me there were a few places in this novel where nothing was left to the imagination (eg outdoor shower scene). To me this sparkling narrative just didn’t need this level of salacious detail.
Aside from this one issue and this is a personal issue, the writing was admirable. This book maybe for you, sadly it wasn’t for me.
February 24, 2016
Grey mixes mystery, drama and romance into Desert Flame, serving up a read that's light, engaging and entertaining. There's a good combination of conflict and chemistry that takes the romance into steamy territory relatively quickly; the desert flames certainly are strong with Eliza and Fin. The story did lag a little in the second half, and I didn't really feel the menace of the suspense story line, but the overall the story finished strongly.
The standout aspect of this story for me was the depiction of the mining areas around Lightning Ridge. Eliza approaches the outback area with a sense of excitement, which was refreshing, taking the area's isolation in her stride. She's quick to see the beauty of the area: "In that instant every impression she'd ever had of the outback as an endless barren nothing was transformed into a landscape of stark, wild beauty of earth, sky and rock." Grey creates an open and friendly atmosphere in the tiny "town" of Helton that adds emotional warmth to the, at times, unforgiving landscape, and the opals, buried underground, are a lovely metaphor of heart. While that landscape might not be for me (I've stayed in Coober Pedy, an opal mining town in South Australia so I have more than words to go on), it's always good to read about other parts of Australia, away from the cities and coast.
The standout aspect of this story for me was the depiction of the mining areas around Lightning Ridge. Eliza approaches the outback area with a sense of excitement, which was refreshing, taking the area's isolation in her stride. She's quick to see the beauty of the area: "In that instant every impression she'd ever had of the outback as an endless barren nothing was transformed into a landscape of stark, wild beauty of earth, sky and rock." Grey creates an open and friendly atmosphere in the tiny "town" of Helton that adds emotional warmth to the, at times, unforgiving landscape, and the opals, buried underground, are a lovely metaphor of heart. While that landscape might not be for me (I've stayed in Coober Pedy, an opal mining town in South Australia so I have more than words to go on), it's always good to read about other parts of Australia, away from the cities and coast.
March 31, 2018
(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)
When her beloved father dies, Eliza Mayberry's privileged world comes crashing down around her ears. On the verge of losing the business that has been in her family for generations, she has no option but to take over the last remaining case: tracking down the elusive Fingal McLeod in outback New South Wales and bringing him back to Sydney.
Fin, however, has other ideas. Determined to find the legendary Dark Flame, a rare opal that has eluded opal-hunters for decades, he has no intention of leaving his mine, Rebel's Ruin, to reunite with the family of the man who abandoned him – even for the beguiling Miss Mayberry.
Drawn to the people and starkly beautiful landscape of the desert, Eliza discovers the new start that she's been seeking in this unlikely place and with a man who is as infuriating as he is intriguing. But as passion blooms under the scorching outback sun, secrets from the past and present are bubbling below the surface – secrets that could destroy both the fragile trust between Eliza and Fin, and the bright promise of the future.
*3.5 stars*
An interesting take on the rural romance genre. Not only do we get the romance aspect, we also get a number of mystery sub-plots to go with it. And that is a good thing.
The highlight of any good Australian rural story is the setting - and this book has that in spades. There is something about the Australian Outback that sucks me into a story every time. As long as it is well written, of course. And the author has done a sensational job of creating, in my mind, exactly the type of place she wants. I can taste the dust, could feel the coat between my fingers (the sense of claustrophobia was real at times - that was amazing...) and the sense of isolation was there all the time.
The characters, especially Eliza and Fin, were a little cliché - a little bit "cardboard-cutout" (not that they were bad, just a little bit predictable in the actions and motivations) but it was the rest of the characters in small town NSW that really made this book come alive. Simply because these people are the same as real people in real small towns - quirky, funny, snarky, eclectic...you name it, they are all there.
The one thing that really brought this crashing back to a 3-star novel was the sex scenes. I understand that people like sex scenes in their novels, that sex happens in real life. I am certainly not a prude or anything of that sort. However, some of the sex in this was just so over-the-top with vivid descriptions. Totally out of character with the feel of the rest of the book, like it was added solely as a selling point, not because it served the story. In fact, it detracted from the story as it Eliza and Fin seem only interested in the sex, not their relationship.
However, having said that, the story itself is excellent. The threads of mystery that permeate the novel are excellent: suspicious goings-on in the mines, the whereabouts and fate of Fin's dad, and the behaviour of other characters bring tension and excitement to this story.
An excellent rural story with romance and mystery to boot.
Paul
ARH
When her beloved father dies, Eliza Mayberry's privileged world comes crashing down around her ears. On the verge of losing the business that has been in her family for generations, she has no option but to take over the last remaining case: tracking down the elusive Fingal McLeod in outback New South Wales and bringing him back to Sydney.
Fin, however, has other ideas. Determined to find the legendary Dark Flame, a rare opal that has eluded opal-hunters for decades, he has no intention of leaving his mine, Rebel's Ruin, to reunite with the family of the man who abandoned him – even for the beguiling Miss Mayberry.
Drawn to the people and starkly beautiful landscape of the desert, Eliza discovers the new start that she's been seeking in this unlikely place and with a man who is as infuriating as he is intriguing. But as passion blooms under the scorching outback sun, secrets from the past and present are bubbling below the surface – secrets that could destroy both the fragile trust between Eliza and Fin, and the bright promise of the future.
*3.5 stars*
An interesting take on the rural romance genre. Not only do we get the romance aspect, we also get a number of mystery sub-plots to go with it. And that is a good thing.
The highlight of any good Australian rural story is the setting - and this book has that in spades. There is something about the Australian Outback that sucks me into a story every time. As long as it is well written, of course. And the author has done a sensational job of creating, in my mind, exactly the type of place she wants. I can taste the dust, could feel the coat between my fingers (the sense of claustrophobia was real at times - that was amazing...) and the sense of isolation was there all the time.
The characters, especially Eliza and Fin, were a little cliché - a little bit "cardboard-cutout" (not that they were bad, just a little bit predictable in the actions and motivations) but it was the rest of the characters in small town NSW that really made this book come alive. Simply because these people are the same as real people in real small towns - quirky, funny, snarky, eclectic...you name it, they are all there.
The one thing that really brought this crashing back to a 3-star novel was the sex scenes. I understand that people like sex scenes in their novels, that sex happens in real life. I am certainly not a prude or anything of that sort. However, some of the sex in this was just so over-the-top with vivid descriptions. Totally out of character with the feel of the rest of the book, like it was added solely as a selling point, not because it served the story. In fact, it detracted from the story as it Eliza and Fin seem only interested in the sex, not their relationship.
However, having said that, the story itself is excellent. The threads of mystery that permeate the novel are excellent: suspicious goings-on in the mines, the whereabouts and fate of Fin's dad, and the behaviour of other characters bring tension and excitement to this story.
An excellent rural story with romance and mystery to boot.
Paul
ARH
January 13, 2026
This is a fantastic country/romance read and I just loved the story line with what lead Eliza Mayberry into the outback country to track down Fin McLeod. Whilst there Eliza is drawn to the people and landscape and finds that the new start she requires should happen in this unlikeliest of places.
The characters had true grit and rose above everything that was thrown at them. Well worth the read!
The characters had true grit and rose above everything that was thrown at them. Well worth the read!
January 7, 2021
A very interesting and captivating romantic suspense.
February 11, 2016
Fans of the Australian outback romance genre will love Desert Flame by Janine Grey. Desert Flame is a breezy read, perfect for those balmy summer nights. It provides the reader with the ideal mix of a streamy romance, stunning outback scenery, intriguing characters and a mystery to solve. What drew me into Desert Flame initially was the setting and subject focus. I am quite fascinated by opals and opal mining. Desert Flame offered me a fantastic setting in country NSW, Grey’s setting descriptions of the outback locale and opal mining locations jumped right off the pages. Main characters Fin and Eliza, are both compelling, each is shrouded with an air of mystery, with secrets to unlock. Grey has paired her two main characters well, their romance was intense rather than slow building, with plenty of hot romance scenes. Fun minor characters also round up this novel nicely, adding a great injection of humorous moments. Desert Flame is a novel which drew me in from the beginning, making it hard for me to pull myself away from reading it breakneck speed. A must read for all Australian romance enthusiasts.
January 23, 2016
A copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher, Penguin.
This story is hot and steamy. The burgeoning relationship between orphan, Eliza Mayberry and opal miner, Fingal McLeod simmers in the sweltering Australian outback. It has a bit of everything- picturesque setting, passion and romance and mystery and suspense.
This story is hot and steamy. The burgeoning relationship between orphan, Eliza Mayberry and opal miner, Fingal McLeod simmers in the sweltering Australian outback. It has a bit of everything- picturesque setting, passion and romance and mystery and suspense.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews