A Place to Stay

Rangelands Series #1

by Jennie Jones

A new outback home where she can become someone new—and maybe find a forever love?

Rachel Meade is a woman with a past she wants to escape from. Finding herself in Mt Maria, a remote outback town in Western Australia, she thinks she’s found a place to stay.

Before she knows it, Rachel is corralled into helping with the Tidy Town competition by the Dramatic Society widows who have a tendency to gossip and take charge. It’s not in her plan, but she finds herself allowing friendships to develop. She’s even more surprised by her growing attraction to the town’s engaging senior police officer.

Ex-detective Senior Sergeant Luke Weston knows anything and everything happens in the country, and he’s seen it all—stolen chickens, pub fights and alleged cheating for the Tidy Town competition are only some of the puzzles Mt Maria offers Luke. He’s been playing for Rachel, thinking maybe she’s the one. Then he gets news that the Crime Squad are looking for her, and he’s ordered to get close and stay close. Is Rachael in trouble, or is she the trouble?

Luke is fighting his attraction to a woman he might have to take into custody, and it looks like he’s going to be arresting more than one person before the end of the week. Luke needs to restore peace in his corner of the outback, but he knows he’s not going to get out of this without getting his heart busted.

With her past catching up with her, Rachael has to decide whether it’s time to cut and run again, or whether this time she’s found the person—and the place—to finally heal her heart.

Genres: Romance, Suspense, Romantic Suspense

250 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 21, 2016

Reviews

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can Rachel Meade stay in Mt Maria in Western Australia? Has she finally found somewhere she can call home? These were the questions Rachel was asking herself after finding the little town of Mt Maria had friendly, welcoming people; and though she was keeping to herself her job working alongside Mary in the Council office had her feeling a little more comfortable…

Senior Sergeant Luke Weston liked the look of the new woman in town – very much. But he also knew Rachel was withdrawn and jumpy. His past position in Sydney as a detective meant his intuition was well honed and he could feel something wasn’t quite right with her. There were other things on his mind though – running a small country police station meant there generally wasn’t much to do in the way of crime, but the workers from a nearby site were causing trouble especially when they came into town to the only pub. And he had a feeling there was something more to these men.

When Luke discovered Rachel’s past, he was put in a position he didn’t want to be in. But protection was his job and he was good at it. Rachel could feel her past catching up with her again – how many times was it now? She didn’t want to leave Mt Maria, but she needed to keep people safe. It was always her fault when those close to her were hurt…she had to run again…

Wow! A Place to Stay by Aussie author Jennie Jones was an intriguing, suspenseful and thoroughly enjoyable read. While the subject of domestic violence is always serious, the light-hearted and humerous moments lifted the grimness and caused me on quite a few occasions to laugh out loud! The characters were wonderfully written – I loved the Agatha Girls especially! I also love the fact that this is the first in a series! I can’t wait to read book #2. (Love the cover as well!) Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy to read in exchange for my honest review.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Place to Stay book one of Rangelands series a new series by Jennie Jones. Rachel Meade was running away from her past and was hoping Mt Maria will be the town for her to find safety and place to call home. However, Rachel Meade did not take into consideration Senior Sergeant Luke Weston the Office in Charge of the Mt Maria police station. After a couple of incidents involving Rachel Meade, Senior Sergeant Luke Weston started to look into her background and what he found started events that neither expected to happen. The readers of A Place to Stay will continue to follow Senior Sergeant Luke Weston to see what happens.

I enjoyed reading A Place to Stay. Jennie Jones knows how to keep me engaged with her books and characters, and A Place to Stay was no different, and I was unable to put this book down. At times I could not help laughing at the antics some of the characters got up to especially three elderly female troublemakers Mary, Amelia and Freda. I love Jennie Jones portrayal of her characters and the way she intertwines them with each other. The description and the plot of A Place to Stay were well written and researched by Jennie Jones.

The readers of A Place to Stay will learn about undercover work and the toll it takes on the law enforcement officer. Also, the readers of A Place to Stay will see what fear can do for a person running away from family violence.

I recommend this book.

[Dale Harcombe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Has Rachel Meade finally found a place she can stay? Surely Mt Maria is far enough away that her past will not find her, especially if she manages to keep to herself? But that is not as easy as it first seemed. Despite her best intentions, friendships develop as well as a growing attraction to the local senior police officer. Ex Detective, now Senior Sergeant Luke Weston, is certainly attracted to Rachel Meade. But then he finds out she is a person of interest for the Crime Squad. And her original name is not Rachel Meade. Is running from trouble or is she trouble with a capital T? Luke is determined to find out. Meanwhile, Rachel has to decide whether it take her chances here or to run again? After all, enough people have been hurt in the past because of her.
I liked this story set in the small outback town in Western Australia. The setting comes across brilliantly and the characters are well drawn. Some are not always what they seem. The Agatha girls with their fascination for lavender and purple in all its shades are a fun addition to the community of Mt Maria. There is a tension that mounts throughout, not just with the attraction between Luke and Rachel, but as the past draws ever closer. I did think the ending was a little too easily resolved and lacked something. Or maybe I was just waiting for a final twist that never eventuated. But there are also some very humorous incidents in the ending that had me chuckling. There are serious issues raised as well, like domestic violence. The humorous incidents in the novel manage to lighten the mood without ever underestimating the horror and seriousness of the issues raised. It provides a good reading balance.
Both Luke and Rachel are good strong characters. Another good Aussie rural story threaded with romance. I will look forward to reading the next book in this series.

[marlin1 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rachel Meade is on the run from her ex husband. She escaped a marriage of domestic violence and thought the past was behind her with him in jail but she has been threatened since his release. She's hoping that Mount Maria, a town sitting on the edge of the Great Victoria Desert in Western Australia will provide a safe haven. Rachel is starting to love the towns people of Mt Maria and she has caught the attention of local Senior Sergeant Luke Weston but can she open up to him, especially when there have been a few incidents that make her worried that ex husband and conman Peter Fletcher has found her there.

I do enjoy a good Australian Romantic Suspense novel and I love small town settings, this one started a little slowly but I was soon swept up with the the local characters. In fact, I loved the last 20% of the novel, it was quite humorous although a serious part of the story and I could just imagine the chaos that was going on in the local police station. There were a number of secondary characters with good story lines that made me smile and I look forward to see which way the author will take us, when we are able to revisit the town of Mt Maria in the second of the series.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a copy to read and review.

[Phillipa Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Strong characters, atmospheric landscape, riveting story. A beautifully written book rich with authentic situations and solutions, just enough suspense, and a cast of diverse, likeable characters. Funny moments in the midst of dark ones help navigate the very serious subject of domestic violence. It is the courage of Rachel and the honesty of Luke that make this shine. With glimpses of the stories belonging to several fabulous minor players, every page holds interest. I love how Rachel already wants to be in this outback town but once again must face the possibility of running. Her genuine care for others is contagious. As the stakes increase, the true depth of each character is revealed. I thoroughly enjoyed A Place to Stay and recommend it to anyone loving a romance, an outback story, or just a great read.

[Warren Gossett · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tensely humorous romance. Survival and escape from murderous Sydney to a well earned chance at rebirth in a small Western Australian red dirt town.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read all of the books by Jennie Jones and, as with the others, I loved this book. Jennie's stories take me back to growing up in a country town and though A Place to Stay is a little different to her previous books, it is still country with characters anyone who has lived in the country will know. The outback characters, the cops, the Agathas (and I'm sure all country kids will know characters like these). A delightful story with a very serious theme and unforgettable characters. This is Book #1 of Jennie's new Rangelands Series and I believe Book #2 is on the way. Thank you Jennie for taking me back to country again. Love it!

[Jill · Rating 2 out of 5]

'A Place to Stay' by Jennie Jones has domestic violence at its core which I find difficult to read. So, while the story of Rachel's journey to overcome her fears, her romance with the local policeman, and the new friends she makes is written well, it was not for me. Too many secrets and lack of communication between characters always bugs me.

[Josie]

Liked the premise but I wasn't engaged by the writing or the characters. I found the hero to be pushy and smarmy when viewed by the heroine, which made it difficult to connect with his POV. The pacing was also slow. This was a DNF for me.

[Joanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

A really good, quick read. I really enjoyed the plot and our main cast of characters, I especially liked Jax and Luke!

I did think it was a bit anti climatic as there was so much time spent telling us what a bad guy peter was but then there was no altercation between him and anyone.

Same goes with the guy who was after Luke, he just turns out to be an undercover cop then everyone pretty much goes home. We never really see any altercation with the bad guys so it felt a bit meh.

All in all still a decent read though.

[Paula · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. I'm a bit baffled this book gets so many good reviews, I found the writing style irritating and sometimes whole paragraphs didn't make sense. I also found some of the dialogue very unnatural and I stopped reading by Chapter 7. I found the hero quite unpleasant and thought he came on way too strong in the beginning. I respect the references to domestic violence and thought those moments were well described but found Rachel very one-dimensional.

[Renée Dahlia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book should come with a domestic violence trigger warning.

It includes several moments that some readers might find difficult. The hero is a solid country cop type, and the heroine just wants to start a new life. The book resolves the conflicts in a way that should satisfy readers.

[Toni-Lee Bellaart · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. I love country books and love the added crime mystery in this one. I feel as though the crime aspect was resolved too quickly. It could have been longer. Apart from that, it was great!

[Dianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book. I found it a little slow in parts, but it picked up for me towards the end. I thought the Agatha Girls were a great addition to the story. Mrs Frith had me giggling with her crazy statements and actions. I intend to read the next book when it is released.

[Dianne Sidebottom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked the characters (not the experiences of the women) and my scenarios of events went a different path but that's ok the writer has the free reign of making the story what it is. Since it is a series I wonder which way Jennie will go next? I really like the Australian flavour.

[Glenys · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is basically a romance but the outback town setting in Western Australia is charming and amusing which helps to lighten the darker moments of Rachel's story.
In any other setting it would be a dark story of domestic violence

[Jillean Ansley · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dull, boring, skipped through most of it. The only reason I didn't give up was to see if the ex husband got his comeuppance. Then I was skipping through the story so fast I had to back track. Was not worth my time. Wouldn't recommend it and have deleted it from my library. One star for trying.

[Vivienne Darden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book.

I loved the book. I felt the fear, the suspense, the cops and robbers, and the love and tears in the book.

[Lesley Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining story with a dark side. Feel good ending . Good Read

[Vicki Robe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read from Jennie Jones. If you like country romance with plenty of action this another book you must read!

[Mical · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the book and the Author. Good one. Takes place in Australia and some of the language I didn't understand but doesn't take away from the book. It's a series so on to the next one.

[Cindy Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved reading about Luke and Rachel.....plenty of mystery and intrigue and romance

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice little read.

[Jocelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good read:)

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Without a doubt A Place To Stay has to be my favourite Jennie Jones book to date. Full of mystery and intrigue, sizzling chemistry and some rather hilarious characters, it's a book that will appeal to a variety of different age groups and reading tastes.

What surprised me the most with A Place To Stay was the way in which Jones was able to perfectly balance the comedic elements of the story alongside the more serious and darker aspects without making light of domestic violence. The subsequent writing was flawless and I was completely and utterly immersed in the narrative Jones was telling. I laughed at the characters, cried with them and genuinely was worried for their well-being and safety.

Rachel's story pulled at my heartstrings and I couldn't help but feel desperately sorry for the trouble she'd endured in the past and in awe at the way she was still functioning and living life given everything she was still going through. Wracked with guilt and constantly looking over her shoulder, it's true Rachel's life is dictated by fear and guilt. But through her interactions with the various town folk, we see glimpses of a strong and formidable woman who is slowly but surely growing her armour and pulling herself back together. Armed with a heart of gold and sense of right and wrong she will do absolutely everything in her power to protect those around her, no matter the personal cost to herself.

Which brings us to Luke Weston. I loved his alpha male, top cop attitude and how fiercely protective he was of Rachel and the town at large. Here was a man who knew what he wanted – Rachel - and how to go about getting her, despite the conflicting agendas that stood in his way. I loved that his relationship with Rachel, and the slow burn romance unfolded before the reader's eyes.

While our heart's are firmly attached to the story's hero (Luke) and heroine (Rachel), I was subsequently amused and entertained with the secondary personalities who really took this book to a whole other level. Firstly there is the Agatha Girls. These girls almost managed to steal the show in a sense. Forget the stereotype of the old being feeble and unprepared, these three women are armed and ready for just about anything and that scene in the police station was an absolute hoot! Then there's Donna, Jax and the two interloper cops were equally as fantastic and a great glimpse at what we are in for with subsequent books.

A Place To Stay is pretty much perfect. Jones writing is secondary to none, and the narrative is not only engaging, but highly entertaining as well. What's more, Jones has out done herself with this vibrant array of memorable characters that will keep readers coming back for more time and time again. I for one am really looking forward to seeing more of them as the series continues.

A Place To Stay looks set to be the first of a number of books in the Rangeland series, and I for one am cheering with this news. Keep your eyes pealed, because I think Jones is about to take off in a big way with this new series.

This review was first published at The Never Ending Bookshelf and can be found here: http://wp.me/p3yY1u-17C

[Stacey Houllis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Racheal Meade is young woman on the run hiding from her Ex-husband who abused her and threatened her, she moves to the town of Mt Maria and she is hoping that this town will be a place she can stay forever. She gets a job at town planning and rents out a property outside of town.
Senior Sargent Luke Weston is the local police officer who is in charge of the police station and ex-detective when he meets Rachael she is jumpy and withdrawn he declares an interest of going out with her on a date. However, Rachael is reluctant to go out with him on a date until Mary the lady at work encourages her to get involved in the community as Mary knows about her name change.
Luke looks into Rachael car number plate and discovers about her past and her real name that her ex-husband was abuse to her and that there was a warrant for her arrest. So he rings his friend Jack Maxell also a police officer and he confirms his findings and tells Jack to get close to her and he will let him know.
I won't give more of the story away but Jennie Jones has written this novel so well about women in a domestic violence, fear of the women and the community support. The relationship between Rachael and Luke of learning to gain trust with each other most of all for Rachael not only to trust Luke but to for her to find a place to stay and make friends. Can't wait for next book in the series.

[Talking Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story that had all the elements of another great series by author Jennie Jones, from the characters, to the setting to the animated townsfolk having many shining moments. A story that had its share of dramatic scenes and sizzling elements between characters and a series opener that held its own. This read depicted some dramatic moments with likeable, attention grabbing characters, including the secondary roles/personas. The story started well enough with only a couple of flat moments throughout the read, but the the finale more than satisfied. Many of the characters were scene stealers for all the right reasons and left this reader waiting with anticipation for the next instalment in the series. A Place To Stay was a good starting story in the Rangelands Series from author Jennie Jones.
Review copy received from Escape Publishing via Netgalley

[Jean Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book by Jennie Jones. Loved every minute of this story. Always hard to put down her books until you get to the end.

[Megan =^..^= · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written love story. Luke and Rachel have an amazing dynamic amongst them. Highly recommend!!

[Tanya Boulter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bit slow... but readable. Another Aussie romance, I keep coming back