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Willow Tree Bend
An interrupted phone call and a mysterious disappearance bring a family’s secret past crashing into the present…
1969: Small-town girl Faith Taylor leaves her family home in Willow Tree Bend and lands a job at the Angel—Melbourne’s most infamous nightclub. While Faith relishes her new-found freedom, she can’t help noticing that some things about the club don’t add up. So when a policeman reveals that a former waitress was murdered, Faith realises she must help to bring down the shadowy owner behind the club’s activities.
More than thirty years later, what happened at the Angel remains a closely held secret. When Faith disappears, her sister Hope—now a famous movie star—is left with an intriguing, though frustrating, piece
of the puzzle. But with a tell-all documentary film crew constantly by her side, how can she find where Faith is—and what she’s hiding—while making sure her own secrets stay hidden?
Faith’s daughter, Sam, is also concerned by her mother’s uncharacteristic behaviour. When she overhears a clue to Faith’s past, she’s determined to unearth the truth. What is the connection between the Angel and Willow Tree Bend? What does Faith’s disappearance mean? And what will happen when the final secret is revealed?
1969: Small-town girl Faith Taylor leaves her family home in Willow Tree Bend and lands a job at the Angel—Melbourne’s most infamous nightclub. While Faith relishes her new-found freedom, she can’t help noticing that some things about the club don’t add up. So when a policeman reveals that a former waitress was murdered, Faith realises she must help to bring down the shadowy owner behind the club’s activities.
More than thirty years later, what happened at the Angel remains a closely held secret. When Faith disappears, her sister Hope—now a famous movie star—is left with an intriguing, though frustrating, piece
of the puzzle. But with a tell-all documentary film crew constantly by her side, how can she find where Faith is—and what she’s hiding—while making sure her own secrets stay hidden?
Faith’s daughter, Sam, is also concerned by her mother’s uncharacteristic behaviour. When she overhears a clue to Faith’s past, she’s determined to unearth the truth. What is the connection between the Angel and Willow Tree Bend? What does Faith’s disappearance mean? And what will happen when the final secret is revealed?
368 pages, Paperback
Published September 18, 2017
4 people are currently reading
57 people want to read
About the author
Kaye Dobbie
29 books54 followersKaye Dobbie lives in an old house in the old gold rush town Bendigo, in the state of Victoria, Australia. She has been writing professionally ever since she won the Big River short story contest at the age of eighteen. Her career has undergone many changes, including writing Australian historical fiction under the name Lilly Sommers, to romance written as Sara Bennett/Sara Mackenzie and published by Avon in the USA. Her books have been translated into many languages. She is currently writing under her 'proper' name, Kaye Dobbie, and is published by Harlequin Mira in Australia and Weltbild in Germany. Kaye lives on the central Victorian goldfields, where she creates her stories and in her spare time researches her family tree.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
January 31, 2018
The first question I asked myself after reading this book was why have I never read anything by this author. I had no answer to that question, but what I do know is that I am looking forward to reading her other books.
Aussie author Kaye Dobbie has written a very enjoyable and delightful historical fiction novel with a little mystery added into the mixture. A book that leaves you wanting more is always a winner in my opinion. If you like reading historical fiction, then I suggest you add Willow Tree Bend to your reading list. Highly recommended.
Aussie author Kaye Dobbie has written a very enjoyable and delightful historical fiction novel with a little mystery added into the mixture. A book that leaves you wanting more is always a winner in my opinion. If you like reading historical fiction, then I suggest you add Willow Tree Bend to your reading list. Highly recommended.
September 11, 2017
It was 2002 and only a matter of days and Hope would be leaving New York for Australia – home to Willow Tree Bend where a film crew would be doing a documentary on her life. She’d signed up on a whim – a broke actress needing money after her last film had been a flop. But in the early hours of the morning she received a strange phone call from her sister, Faith – a rambling call in which she mentioned the Angel, and then hung up the phone. Hope was perplexed – her arrival in Melbourne couldn’t come quickly enough.
1969 and seventeen-year-old Faith was desperate to escape the confines of Willow Tree Bend and her mother Lily. Melbourne beckoned and Faith didn’t look back as she headed for the bright lights and excitement – the beginning of her new life she thought. When her cousin Kitty managed to procure her a waitressing job in a nightclub called The Angel, Faith had no idea how much it was destined to change her life.
With Hope’s arrival imminent and her mother missing, Sam was agitated and anxious. Her father didn’t seem to know where Faith was; her grandmother Lily was acting strangely and she wasn’t sure how to take the new neighbour. But Sam knew there were secrets in her family’s past – the little snippets of information she’d managed to glean proved it. But what could she do about it? How could she find her mother? And what was really behind Hope’s sudden home-coming?
Willow Tree Bend by Aussie author Kaye Dobbie is an excellent blend of historical fiction and intriguing mystery. Set in the past with Faith and the current day with both Hope and Sam, the novel flowed well and kept the tension ramped up. The slow-release of events was wonderful – it was hard to put the book down when I wanted to know what was coming next. I thoroughly enjoy this author’s work, and Willow Tree Bend was no exception. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital copy to read and review.
1969 and seventeen-year-old Faith was desperate to escape the confines of Willow Tree Bend and her mother Lily. Melbourne beckoned and Faith didn’t look back as she headed for the bright lights and excitement – the beginning of her new life she thought. When her cousin Kitty managed to procure her a waitressing job in a nightclub called The Angel, Faith had no idea how much it was destined to change her life.
With Hope’s arrival imminent and her mother missing, Sam was agitated and anxious. Her father didn’t seem to know where Faith was; her grandmother Lily was acting strangely and she wasn’t sure how to take the new neighbour. But Sam knew there were secrets in her family’s past – the little snippets of information she’d managed to glean proved it. But what could she do about it? How could she find her mother? And what was really behind Hope’s sudden home-coming?
Willow Tree Bend by Aussie author Kaye Dobbie is an excellent blend of historical fiction and intriguing mystery. Set in the past with Faith and the current day with both Hope and Sam, the novel flowed well and kept the tension ramped up. The slow-release of events was wonderful – it was hard to put the book down when I wanted to know what was coming next. I thoroughly enjoy this author’s work, and Willow Tree Bend was no exception. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital copy to read and review.
July 7, 2018
Four and a half stars
The story starts in New York, the year 2000. Hope is preparing to return to her home country of Australia to work on a program and face her past. Or at least those parts of it she is prepared to reveal about her life. The phone ringing at 2am jolts her awake. It’s her sister Faith, something about a photo taken years ago and Faith talks about The Angel and how she has to go and fix things. Before Hope can learn more, the call is disconnected. When she tries to ring back, Faith’s husband Joe tells Faith is not there. He doesn’t know how to reach her or when she will be back. But assures Hope it will be before she arrives in Australia for the TV show. The next chapter travels back to 1969 when seventeen year old Faith has her heart set on leaving Willow Tree Bend, her friends and all that is familiar, to move to Melbourne. Her cousin Kitty gets her a job as a waitress at The Angel nightclub. But something happens at the Angel that drastically affects more than one life.
Told in three separate voices, that of Hope, Faith and Faith’s daughter Samantha, it become in interesting read as the story is pieced together between the past and the present day of 2000. Along the way secrets emerge that will have a huge impact on all those involved. As well as the mystery surrounding this family and events of the past there is a romance happening. The settings of both Melbourne and rural Victoria are well conveyed. What occurs at The Angel is well handled mostly, although there were at least one or two images I would rather not have had in my head.
The characters were all interesting and came across as real. Joe, Faith’s husband is a sweetie, and Lincoln, although initially abrupt when Samantha first meets him is not quite as he first seems. I did think Hope was a little naïve, thinking she could keep her secrets hidden from the TV crew. But still it all added to the plot. There are some definitely unlikeable characters but they have a role to play in events. The threads of the story gradually twine together and make for an engrossing read.
I have read a couple of other books by this author and also enjoyed them, and will be interested to read more by her. Great to see another Aussie author writing such captivating stories about easily identifiable people, who are far from perfect yet who remain likeable. Another book I didn’t want to let out of my hands till I had finished it. Those who enjoy historical fiction, dual time line stories, Aussie rural stories and books with a mystery or two, and great characters should enjoy this one. I certainly recommend it.
The story starts in New York, the year 2000. Hope is preparing to return to her home country of Australia to work on a program and face her past. Or at least those parts of it she is prepared to reveal about her life. The phone ringing at 2am jolts her awake. It’s her sister Faith, something about a photo taken years ago and Faith talks about The Angel and how she has to go and fix things. Before Hope can learn more, the call is disconnected. When she tries to ring back, Faith’s husband Joe tells Faith is not there. He doesn’t know how to reach her or when she will be back. But assures Hope it will be before she arrives in Australia for the TV show. The next chapter travels back to 1969 when seventeen year old Faith has her heart set on leaving Willow Tree Bend, her friends and all that is familiar, to move to Melbourne. Her cousin Kitty gets her a job as a waitress at The Angel nightclub. But something happens at the Angel that drastically affects more than one life.
Told in three separate voices, that of Hope, Faith and Faith’s daughter Samantha, it become in interesting read as the story is pieced together between the past and the present day of 2000. Along the way secrets emerge that will have a huge impact on all those involved. As well as the mystery surrounding this family and events of the past there is a romance happening. The settings of both Melbourne and rural Victoria are well conveyed. What occurs at The Angel is well handled mostly, although there were at least one or two images I would rather not have had in my head.
The characters were all interesting and came across as real. Joe, Faith’s husband is a sweetie, and Lincoln, although initially abrupt when Samantha first meets him is not quite as he first seems. I did think Hope was a little naïve, thinking she could keep her secrets hidden from the TV crew. But still it all added to the plot. There are some definitely unlikeable characters but they have a role to play in events. The threads of the story gradually twine together and make for an engrossing read.
I have read a couple of other books by this author and also enjoyed them, and will be interested to read more by her. Great to see another Aussie author writing such captivating stories about easily identifiable people, who are far from perfect yet who remain likeable. Another book I didn’t want to let out of my hands till I had finished it. Those who enjoy historical fiction, dual time line stories, Aussie rural stories and books with a mystery or two, and great characters should enjoy this one. I certainly recommend it.
May 7, 2023
4.5 stars
A beautiful, well-crafted and vibrant tale from an exceptionally skilful author.
This story focuses on Faith Taylor, her sister Hope and Faith’s daughter Sam
Melbourne, 1969
An infamous nightclub
Murder
Willow Tree Bend, present day
TV documentary
A photograph
Secrets
A mystery that unfolded slowly and kept me guessing until the final chapter.
Listened to the audio verseon via the BorrowBox app
Published by Bolinda audio
Narrated by Kate Hosking
Duration: 11 hrs, 26 min. 1.50x Speed
A beautiful, well-crafted and vibrant tale from an exceptionally skilful author.
This story focuses on Faith Taylor, her sister Hope and Faith’s daughter Sam
Melbourne, 1969
An infamous nightclub
Murder
Willow Tree Bend, present day
TV documentary
A photograph
Secrets
A mystery that unfolded slowly and kept me guessing until the final chapter.
Listened to the audio verseon via the BorrowBox app
Published by Bolinda audio
Narrated by Kate Hosking
Duration: 11 hrs, 26 min. 1.50x Speed
January 11, 2018
Willow Tree Bend is the latest historical fiction book by Aussie author, Kaye Dobbie. The beautiful cover got my attention initially as I was intrigued to know who this girl was and what was willow tree bend. Add to that it is by one of my many favourite authors and it was a must buy. From the opening chapter set in New York 2000, I was pulled into the lives of the three Taylor women; Faith, Hope and Sam. Told in alternating chapters in Victoria, Faith and Hope tell their side in the third person while Sam tells hers in the first person. While I usually feel a closer connection in the first person, I still got to know Faith and Hope surprisingly well.
Through Faith, Kaye explores the dark and seedy side of the swinging sixties. I enjoyed getting to walk in Faith’s shoes as she moves from the country to the city of Melbourne with big hopes and dreams. I felt myself become immersed in another decade as I read the detailed descriptions of the clothes and lifestyle. Kaye accurately portrays just how difficult and lonely it can be trying to make a living in a new place despite the perceived glamour. Faith is charmingly innocent and naive at the start of her new life in a night club that has its deadly secrets. So, it was a joy watching her grow into a strong woman who wanted to help others despite the danger it presented to herself. What she did to help her cousin, Kitty, was extremely brave and courageous. I’m not sure how many people could do just what Faith did, especially with the secrets and repercussions that will stretch for decades.
Faith’s sister Hope provides insight into the life of the rich and famous in the year 2000. A movie star on the downhill, she returns home to shoot a doco that will hopefully put her back in the spotlight. It was fascinating seeing the two personas of Hope as she turned from movie star, to country girl and back again in the blink of an eye. The doco provides its own sets of problems as it attempts to dig up the dirt on the Taylor family that Hope has kept hidden over the years. The years and distance has caused its own problems within the Taylor family too. For Hope, the big one is that she barely knows her niece, Sam, and needs to build a relationship from scratch.
The character of 29 year old Sam lets Kaye explores life in rural Victoria. I liked getting to feed the animals with Sam’s farm, create garden landscapes with her and get to know the gorgeous Lincoln. Country life is definitely not for me but I don’t mind living vicariously through a book character! I can only imagine what Sam goes through with Faith disappearance. With no explanation, just a note, for her father, Joe. I was proud of how she held herself together and got on with life the best she could under the circumstances. I also admired Sam’s detective skills as she tried put the pieces of the puzzles together of what happened to her mother with the little clues she gleamed. When they did come together, I was surprised but also a little disappointed at the lack of originality. It feels that this secret is starting to be done a little too often in books set in the 1950s and 1960s.
What are the family secrets?
Willow Tree Bend is book #2 of the Australian Women's Writers Challenge
Through Faith, Kaye explores the dark and seedy side of the swinging sixties. I enjoyed getting to walk in Faith’s shoes as she moves from the country to the city of Melbourne with big hopes and dreams. I felt myself become immersed in another decade as I read the detailed descriptions of the clothes and lifestyle. Kaye accurately portrays just how difficult and lonely it can be trying to make a living in a new place despite the perceived glamour. Faith is charmingly innocent and naive at the start of her new life in a night club that has its deadly secrets. So, it was a joy watching her grow into a strong woman who wanted to help others despite the danger it presented to herself. What she did to help her cousin, Kitty, was extremely brave and courageous. I’m not sure how many people could do just what Faith did, especially with the secrets and repercussions that will stretch for decades.
Faith’s sister Hope provides insight into the life of the rich and famous in the year 2000. A movie star on the downhill, she returns home to shoot a doco that will hopefully put her back in the spotlight. It was fascinating seeing the two personas of Hope as she turned from movie star, to country girl and back again in the blink of an eye. The doco provides its own sets of problems as it attempts to dig up the dirt on the Taylor family that Hope has kept hidden over the years. The years and distance has caused its own problems within the Taylor family too. For Hope, the big one is that she barely knows her niece, Sam, and needs to build a relationship from scratch.
The character of 29 year old Sam lets Kaye explores life in rural Victoria. I liked getting to feed the animals with Sam’s farm, create garden landscapes with her and get to know the gorgeous Lincoln. Country life is definitely not for me but I don’t mind living vicariously through a book character! I can only imagine what Sam goes through with Faith disappearance. With no explanation, just a note, for her father, Joe. I was proud of how she held herself together and got on with life the best she could under the circumstances. I also admired Sam’s detective skills as she tried put the pieces of the puzzles together of what happened to her mother with the little clues she gleamed. When they did come together, I was surprised but also a little disappointed at the lack of originality. It feels that this secret is starting to be done a little too often in books set in the 1950s and 1960s.
What are the family secrets?
Willow Tree Bend is book #2 of the Australian Women's Writers Challenge
October 1, 2017
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The previous work of Kaye’s, ‘Mackenzie Crossing’, was a superb five star read for me. So I was excited to read her latest tale. Whilst not as captivating, ‘Willow Tree Bend’ was still an engaging read.
“There were things going on here that I didn’t understand, like a dangerous undertow beneath a calm surface.”
Here is another dual timeline story, however on this occasion, it was only a thirty year gap - late 1960s and the year 2000. Dobbie does a great job at moulding and interweaving all the pieces of the puzzle to build suspense and present a good mystery - providing an even blend between both the contemporary and historical tale. This is a story about family secrets and how their revelation will have a major impact on the present.
This narrative is presented through three voices - Faith in the 1960s and Hope (her sister) and Sam (her daughter) in the present. We see Faith as a young girl from the country who finds work in the city and the troubles she encounters. Her sister, Hope (by the year 2000) is a famous Hollywood actress who has returned to her country home and learns herself, about what had unfolded back in the late 60s. Then there is Sam, and her story is all about reaching understandings in her relationships with family members and a prospective partner. Sam is struggling with all these well kept secrets and is trying to ascertain the truth.
“I was becoming more and more convinced that there was a dark underlying thread to this tale that I either wasn’t seeing or no one was telling me about.”
I have to admit to struggling a bit with the slowness of the tale; at times, not a great deal was happening and I found myself becoming disengaged from the story. Nothing really happened by a third way through and the pace only increased in the last twenty percent. I appreciate that Kaye was leaving little clues sprinkled throughout her narrative, but there was just not enough for it to be compelling.
Willow Tree Bend is a solid story with Kaye doing a good job of blending all three stories together very smoothly. Take some time to go back in time with the Taylor girls to unravel well kept family secrets.
‘The pain never goes away, does it? It fades, but when you dig a little, there it is, still hurting.’
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release
The previous work of Kaye’s, ‘Mackenzie Crossing’, was a superb five star read for me. So I was excited to read her latest tale. Whilst not as captivating, ‘Willow Tree Bend’ was still an engaging read.
“There were things going on here that I didn’t understand, like a dangerous undertow beneath a calm surface.”
Here is another dual timeline story, however on this occasion, it was only a thirty year gap - late 1960s and the year 2000. Dobbie does a great job at moulding and interweaving all the pieces of the puzzle to build suspense and present a good mystery - providing an even blend between both the contemporary and historical tale. This is a story about family secrets and how their revelation will have a major impact on the present.
This narrative is presented through three voices - Faith in the 1960s and Hope (her sister) and Sam (her daughter) in the present. We see Faith as a young girl from the country who finds work in the city and the troubles she encounters. Her sister, Hope (by the year 2000) is a famous Hollywood actress who has returned to her country home and learns herself, about what had unfolded back in the late 60s. Then there is Sam, and her story is all about reaching understandings in her relationships with family members and a prospective partner. Sam is struggling with all these well kept secrets and is trying to ascertain the truth.
“I was becoming more and more convinced that there was a dark underlying thread to this tale that I either wasn’t seeing or no one was telling me about.”
I have to admit to struggling a bit with the slowness of the tale; at times, not a great deal was happening and I found myself becoming disengaged from the story. Nothing really happened by a third way through and the pace only increased in the last twenty percent. I appreciate that Kaye was leaving little clues sprinkled throughout her narrative, but there was just not enough for it to be compelling.
Willow Tree Bend is a solid story with Kaye doing a good job of blending all three stories together very smoothly. Take some time to go back in time with the Taylor girls to unravel well kept family secrets.
‘The pain never goes away, does it? It fades, but when you dig a little, there it is, still hurting.’
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release
October 1, 2017
Had to stay with this book to the end today. Loved it as I have all Kaye Dobbie's comtemporary stories which I have read over the last couple of months. Written in two time periods, 1969 and 2000 and between the city of Melbourne and country Victoria, Willow Tree Bend is the story of four women, their pain, their joy but mostly their strength. I would recommend this story and any of Kaye Dobbie's other stories. I look forward to the time her earlier books are reissued and I can read them too. Thank you Kaye Dobbie, I really love your work!
October 23, 2017
Thank you Beauty and Lace and Harlequin Books for the novel to read.
Thanks also to Kaye Dobbie for her wonderful story telling.
This was my first time reading a novel by Kaye Dobbie and she has written others and I shall now be on the look out for them. Knowing me there’s probably one hiding in my TBR pile somewhere.
Willow Tree Bend is a story about two sisters Faith and Hope and their lives in 1969 and again in 2000.
Two country sisters getting together after many years apart but first let’s get to know them a little bit.
It has a touch of Studio 54 in a nightclub called Angel and I’m sure there were many things happening in this nightclub back in 1969. We get to see Faith’s side of the story of the club and what happened to her back in 1969.
Hope is the movie star come back home to do a tell-all documentary but some things are better left unsaid. Things should remain hidden but what are those things and why are they hidden.
This is a very indepth story that covers a lot of what happened in the lives of Hope and Faith. Two very different paths were taken back in 1969 and both had different outcomes.
There are some wonderful smaller stories happening while reading about the main story and these just added to the level of ‘things’ you end up knowing.
There is so much packed into this story that it was not a quick read but one that you took your time and enjoyed. It’s not a story to rush but more one to roll with and travel through time with.
Reading slower also meant that I though I had worked out the secret and just had to wait until I got to the end to find out if I was right or not. Yes I was.
Kaye Dobbie takes you on a journey with this book and it is informative and pleasant. The country life is in enough detail that you want to go find that town. The city life is full on and yet exciting and you almost want to know more secrets.
Thanks also to Kaye Dobbie for her wonderful story telling.
This was my first time reading a novel by Kaye Dobbie and she has written others and I shall now be on the look out for them. Knowing me there’s probably one hiding in my TBR pile somewhere.
Willow Tree Bend is a story about two sisters Faith and Hope and their lives in 1969 and again in 2000.
Two country sisters getting together after many years apart but first let’s get to know them a little bit.
It has a touch of Studio 54 in a nightclub called Angel and I’m sure there were many things happening in this nightclub back in 1969. We get to see Faith’s side of the story of the club and what happened to her back in 1969.
Hope is the movie star come back home to do a tell-all documentary but some things are better left unsaid. Things should remain hidden but what are those things and why are they hidden.
This is a very indepth story that covers a lot of what happened in the lives of Hope and Faith. Two very different paths were taken back in 1969 and both had different outcomes.
There are some wonderful smaller stories happening while reading about the main story and these just added to the level of ‘things’ you end up knowing.
There is so much packed into this story that it was not a quick read but one that you took your time and enjoyed. It’s not a story to rush but more one to roll with and travel through time with.
Reading slower also meant that I though I had worked out the secret and just had to wait until I got to the end to find out if I was right or not. Yes I was.
Kaye Dobbie takes you on a journey with this book and it is informative and pleasant. The country life is in enough detail that you want to go find that town. The city life is full on and yet exciting and you almost want to know more secrets.
October 18, 2017
Willow Tree Bend by Kaye Dobbie follows the story of Faith Taylor and her family. It is set in Faith’s past but 30 years on past and present collide. Faith leaves Willow Tree Bend at age 17 and moves to Melbourne to live and work with her cousin Kitty at the infamous nightclub, Angel.
Faith soon learns that not everything is as it seems and learns that a former waitress at Angel turned up murdered. After the Angel is raided Faith is asked by a detective to help bring down the shadowy owner behind the club’s activities and help solve the murder.
Thirty years later, Faith is back in Willow Tree Bend with a business, is happily married to her childhood sweetheart Joe and has a daughter, Samantha. Faith’s sister, Hope, a famous movie star is on her way home to film ‘Looking Back’, a take on where you have come from to where you are now. Several days before Hope is due to return Faith disappears with no explanation but it all has something to do with what happened at the Angel 30 years previously. What secret is Faith hiding? Hope also has secrets from her long ago past that she does not want revealed and tries to keep from being found out.
As Sam and Hope talk about the disappearance of Faith it becomes clear that many things are linked; Willow Tree Bend, the Angel, Faith, Hope and Sam…..as the secrets start to unfold the biggest secret of them all is at the end (certainly did not see that coming) and will have you not putting down this book until you have uncovered all the deepest, darkest secrets of them all.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book, and even though it is set in both the past and present it is an extremely easy read. Thank you to Beauty and Lace and Harlequin Books for allowing me to read this book.
Faith soon learns that not everything is as it seems and learns that a former waitress at Angel turned up murdered. After the Angel is raided Faith is asked by a detective to help bring down the shadowy owner behind the club’s activities and help solve the murder.
Thirty years later, Faith is back in Willow Tree Bend with a business, is happily married to her childhood sweetheart Joe and has a daughter, Samantha. Faith’s sister, Hope, a famous movie star is on her way home to film ‘Looking Back’, a take on where you have come from to where you are now. Several days before Hope is due to return Faith disappears with no explanation but it all has something to do with what happened at the Angel 30 years previously. What secret is Faith hiding? Hope also has secrets from her long ago past that she does not want revealed and tries to keep from being found out.
As Sam and Hope talk about the disappearance of Faith it becomes clear that many things are linked; Willow Tree Bend, the Angel, Faith, Hope and Sam…..as the secrets start to unfold the biggest secret of them all is at the end (certainly did not see that coming) and will have you not putting down this book until you have uncovered all the deepest, darkest secrets of them all.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book, and even though it is set in both the past and present it is an extremely easy read. Thank you to Beauty and Lace and Harlequin Books for allowing me to read this book.
November 2, 2017
Book blurb...
An interrupted phone call and a mysterious disappearance bring a family’s secret past crashing into the present…
1969: Small-town girl Faith Taylor leaves her family home in Willow Tree Bend and lands a job at the Angel—Melbourne’s most infamous nightclub. While Faith relishes her new-found freedom, she can’t help noticing that some things about the club don’t add up. So when a policeman reveals that a former waitress was murdered, Faith realises she must help to bring down the shadowy owner behind the club’s activities.
More than thirty years later, what happened at the Angel remains a closely held secret. When Faith disappears, her sister Hope—now a famous movie star—is left with an intriguing, though frustrating, piece
of the puzzle. But with a tell-all documentary film crew constantly by her side, how can she find where Faith is—and what she’s hiding—while making sure her own secrets stay hidden?
Faith’s daughter, Sam, is also concerned by her mother’s uncharacteristic behaviour. When she overhears a clue to Faith’s past, she’s determined to unearth the truth. What is the connection between the Angel and Willow Tree Bend? What does Faith’s disappearance mean? And what will happen when the final secret is revealed?
My thoughts…
Willow Tree Bend is an intriguing plot that took me from the city to the country to discover past secrets.
I do enjoy a sisters story and whilst an easy read I believe it would have benefited from a little more conflict between the characters, given the types of secrets being revealed.
This said, I would recommend it to readers.
This review is also published on http://www.readroundoz.wordpress.com
An interrupted phone call and a mysterious disappearance bring a family’s secret past crashing into the present…
1969: Small-town girl Faith Taylor leaves her family home in Willow Tree Bend and lands a job at the Angel—Melbourne’s most infamous nightclub. While Faith relishes her new-found freedom, she can’t help noticing that some things about the club don’t add up. So when a policeman reveals that a former waitress was murdered, Faith realises she must help to bring down the shadowy owner behind the club’s activities.
More than thirty years later, what happened at the Angel remains a closely held secret. When Faith disappears, her sister Hope—now a famous movie star—is left with an intriguing, though frustrating, piece
of the puzzle. But with a tell-all documentary film crew constantly by her side, how can she find where Faith is—and what she’s hiding—while making sure her own secrets stay hidden?
Faith’s daughter, Sam, is also concerned by her mother’s uncharacteristic behaviour. When she overhears a clue to Faith’s past, she’s determined to unearth the truth. What is the connection between the Angel and Willow Tree Bend? What does Faith’s disappearance mean? And what will happen when the final secret is revealed?
My thoughts…
Willow Tree Bend is an intriguing plot that took me from the city to the country to discover past secrets.
I do enjoy a sisters story and whilst an easy read I believe it would have benefited from a little more conflict between the characters, given the types of secrets being revealed.
This said, I would recommend it to readers.
This review is also published on http://www.readroundoz.wordpress.com
October 6, 2017
This is the first novel I have read by this author and I wasn't disappointed. The blend between timelines is flawless. Many authors struggle with this but Ms Dobbie has it mastered.
I did find the storyline to be a little slow in places but there were enough hints along the way to keep my interest piqued.
A few things are left unanswered and left me wanting more, a few more chapters to answer these would have been nice, but this novel isn't a cliffhanger so I guess I'll never know.
Overall this is a well written mystery with a little romance thrown in. I'll definitely read more from this author.
I did find the storyline to be a little slow in places but there were enough hints along the way to keep my interest piqued.
A few things are left unanswered and left me wanting more, a few more chapters to answer these would have been nice, but this novel isn't a cliffhanger so I guess I'll never know.
Overall this is a well written mystery with a little romance thrown in. I'll definitely read more from this author.
October 29, 2024
Thankyou for such a gripping read Kaye Dobbie,
This is a lengthy book but I just could not put it down, and when I did I was thinking about it. Such mystery and suspense, I had no idea what was coming.
I went looking for more books from Kaye Dobbie because The Dark Dream is one of my all time favorites, that I actually went back to read recently. It was great because I had completely forgotten what happens and was such a pleasure reading the dark dream again.
This book was less romantic but such a good story. I just finished and I am exhausted, thanks so much
This is a lengthy book but I just could not put it down, and when I did I was thinking about it. Such mystery and suspense, I had no idea what was coming.
I went looking for more books from Kaye Dobbie because The Dark Dream is one of my all time favorites, that I actually went back to read recently. It was great because I had completely forgotten what happens and was such a pleasure reading the dark dream again.
This book was less romantic but such a good story. I just finished and I am exhausted, thanks so much
April 23, 2019
I certainly can’t give this book 4 or 5 stars as others have done but I did enjoy it.
I do like this author and her style of writing.
Yes there is a little intrigue and mystery but nothing worth 5 stars that’s for sure. There is no wow factor or major twist that throws you.
I actually found the “mystery disappearance” a bit of a let down
Nevertheless a good read overall
I do like this author and her style of writing.
Yes there is a little intrigue and mystery but nothing worth 5 stars that’s for sure. There is no wow factor or major twist that throws you.
I actually found the “mystery disappearance” a bit of a let down
Nevertheless a good read overall
December 26, 2017
I found this story interesting as it started in an era in which I grew up( in Victoria Australia)It was a bit of a blast from the past. I thought it had a good story line and kept me engaged until the end.
March 17, 2018
3 1/2 stars really... Written in a similar style to Kate Morton’s novels, though lacking some of their polish, this book had a great “hook”. I simply had to find out what the secrets were and though I guessed what the “big reveal” was, I still enjoyed reading as it all unravelled.
August 31, 2020
An enjoyable story. Mystery, drama and of course a dose of faith and hope. The characters were real and relatable. The pace was good, and I loved the town. The mystery kept me guessing until very near the end.
November 2, 2017
Really enjoyed Willowtree Bend, another great book by Kaye Dobbie.
January 16, 2018
Great read - loved the storyline - love, mystery etc - had it all.
August 22, 2018
Thought this one was a little bit slow to start with but it soon got going and I enjoyed the story as much as all Kaye's other books. Great read. I'm looking forward to her next book.
Read
June 7, 2019Audio version. Great read. Enjoying this author a lot. Based around Australia and I like how the author goes into the past and the present and how everything interlinks. Recommend.
September 7, 2020
This one kept me interested all the way to the end. A real page turner. Loved the characters and the setting and the mystery that unfolded.
August 12, 2021
This was okay but a bit confusing at times.
February 12, 2023
Secrets never stayed burried
November 17, 2017
Kaye Dobbie is an Australian author with an extraordinary talent for weaving timelines and generations into a compelling and cohesive novel that is both contemporary and historical. This is the second novel I have read, with one more still on my TBR shelf awaiting a quiet time to get to it, and it seems that the dual timelines is a storytelling tool she uses often.
The dual timelines in Willow Tree Bend are not as far apart as some of her previous ones but that hasn’t changed the masterful mystery and sense of suspense built throughout the story.
Hope Taylor is a Hollywood actress suffering a stall to her career, she’s at a crossroad and decides to do a reality show back in Australia called Looking Back, a show that looks back into the pasts of those featured and brings forth the little known facts and secrets. Hope goes in expecting to be able to control what the investigators find and what goes into the show then cash in on the publicity with interviews, TV appearances and maybe even a book; all great ways to kickstart her lagging career. I can understand all of this, it makes the show seem like a good idea… but if you have secrets to hide it’s not the greatest way to get back in the limelight.
Faith Taylor is Hope’s older sister, still living in Willow Tree Bend, and working on her own line of desserts. She hasn’t always been in Willow Tree Bend though, there was a time in 1969 that she spread her wings and moved to Melbourne. The fresh-faced 17yr old Faith hit the city lights of Melbourne and worked in the infamous The Angel nightclub. She returned to Willow Tree Bend and it was never spoken of again.
Now it’s 2000 and the prodigal daughter is returning for a short time to film the reality show designed to unearth all of the family secrets, Faith gets a mysterious phone call at work and takes off to settle unfinished business; leaving everyone at home worried about her because it is extremely out of character.
The story is told from three perspectives, Hope, Faith and Samantha. Hope’s storyline is in the present, Faith tells of her time in Melbourne in 1969 and Samantha, who is Faith’s daughter, also has a present day story arc.
There is quite a lot of mystery in these pages and Dobbie weaves clues slowly through the narrative so we are left making theories, connecting dots (with half of them missing) and drawing conclusions from the paltry store of parceled out clues; only to jump to the wrong conclusions and discover that there are more secrets hidden in the Taylor closet than anyone realised.
The Taylor girls were very close growing up and they always dreamed of getting out of Willow Tree Bend together, so when Faith left for Melbourne in ’69 it put a strain on her relationship with Hope. A strain that they struggled to get back from, Hope then fled to make a career for herself and the close sisters drifted apart. Hope’s return in 2000 sees her first trip back in a decade, and it shows in her relationships with the rest of the cast.
This distance between the sisters seems reasonably normal for considering the physical distance between them, until you start to discover the true depth of their isolation from one another and the strain in the relationship between all of the family.
Willow Tree Bend is a story that I loved; the mystery of the slow unraveling secrets, the characters, the vibrant drawing of The Angel in ’69. The recurring themes in the lives of the leading ladies is interesting to note and again, Dobbie’s writing is captivating. The weaving of timelines is fluid rather than jarring and I just wanted to keep reading, I needed to uncover all of the secrets; some of which were a little predictable but some of which blew me away.
I would have liked a couple more chapters at the end to see how everything panned out and what was resolved, there were a few too many unanswered questions. I am also still not completely sold on the fact that Hope would choose to do Looking Back with the skeletons in her closet, she didn’t know about anyone else’s secrets but hers were enough that she didn’t want anyone knowing so why would you risk it… The arguments put forward as to why she did were realistic and convincing but I’m still a little sceptical.
There is an element of romance, actually there are a few elements of romance because there is romance in the life of each of our leading ladies. We see the sweet rush of first love, the enduring love of a long term relationship, the slow unfolding of attraction in people who have been burned before and the excitement of coming close to your first celebrity crush. All of the relationships were sympathetically explored and we were able to get to know the characters better because of them.
This isn’t a romance story though, the main story is one of family and mystery; a story of long held secrets coming out. It was well written, captivating, vibrant and one that I would recommend wholeheartedly.
Willow Tree Bend is book #39 for the Australian Women Writer’s Challenge 2017.
The dual timelines in Willow Tree Bend are not as far apart as some of her previous ones but that hasn’t changed the masterful mystery and sense of suspense built throughout the story.
Hope Taylor is a Hollywood actress suffering a stall to her career, she’s at a crossroad and decides to do a reality show back in Australia called Looking Back, a show that looks back into the pasts of those featured and brings forth the little known facts and secrets. Hope goes in expecting to be able to control what the investigators find and what goes into the show then cash in on the publicity with interviews, TV appearances and maybe even a book; all great ways to kickstart her lagging career. I can understand all of this, it makes the show seem like a good idea… but if you have secrets to hide it’s not the greatest way to get back in the limelight.
Faith Taylor is Hope’s older sister, still living in Willow Tree Bend, and working on her own line of desserts. She hasn’t always been in Willow Tree Bend though, there was a time in 1969 that she spread her wings and moved to Melbourne. The fresh-faced 17yr old Faith hit the city lights of Melbourne and worked in the infamous The Angel nightclub. She returned to Willow Tree Bend and it was never spoken of again.
Now it’s 2000 and the prodigal daughter is returning for a short time to film the reality show designed to unearth all of the family secrets, Faith gets a mysterious phone call at work and takes off to settle unfinished business; leaving everyone at home worried about her because it is extremely out of character.
The story is told from three perspectives, Hope, Faith and Samantha. Hope’s storyline is in the present, Faith tells of her time in Melbourne in 1969 and Samantha, who is Faith’s daughter, also has a present day story arc.
There is quite a lot of mystery in these pages and Dobbie weaves clues slowly through the narrative so we are left making theories, connecting dots (with half of them missing) and drawing conclusions from the paltry store of parceled out clues; only to jump to the wrong conclusions and discover that there are more secrets hidden in the Taylor closet than anyone realised.
The Taylor girls were very close growing up and they always dreamed of getting out of Willow Tree Bend together, so when Faith left for Melbourne in ’69 it put a strain on her relationship with Hope. A strain that they struggled to get back from, Hope then fled to make a career for herself and the close sisters drifted apart. Hope’s return in 2000 sees her first trip back in a decade, and it shows in her relationships with the rest of the cast.
This distance between the sisters seems reasonably normal for considering the physical distance between them, until you start to discover the true depth of their isolation from one another and the strain in the relationship between all of the family.
Willow Tree Bend is a story that I loved; the mystery of the slow unraveling secrets, the characters, the vibrant drawing of The Angel in ’69. The recurring themes in the lives of the leading ladies is interesting to note and again, Dobbie’s writing is captivating. The weaving of timelines is fluid rather than jarring and I just wanted to keep reading, I needed to uncover all of the secrets; some of which were a little predictable but some of which blew me away.
I would have liked a couple more chapters at the end to see how everything panned out and what was resolved, there were a few too many unanswered questions. I am also still not completely sold on the fact that Hope would choose to do Looking Back with the skeletons in her closet, she didn’t know about anyone else’s secrets but hers were enough that she didn’t want anyone knowing so why would you risk it… The arguments put forward as to why she did were realistic and convincing but I’m still a little sceptical.
There is an element of romance, actually there are a few elements of romance because there is romance in the life of each of our leading ladies. We see the sweet rush of first love, the enduring love of a long term relationship, the slow unfolding of attraction in people who have been burned before and the excitement of coming close to your first celebrity crush. All of the relationships were sympathetically explored and we were able to get to know the characters better because of them.
This isn’t a romance story though, the main story is one of family and mystery; a story of long held secrets coming out. It was well written, captivating, vibrant and one that I would recommend wholeheartedly.
Willow Tree Bend is book #39 for the Australian Women Writer’s Challenge 2017.
March 8, 2018
Fantastic, could have easily started all over and read again
Read
September 27, 2017‘Willow Tree Bend’ is the first Kaye Dobbie book I’ve read and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Thanks to Beauty and Lace and Harlequin for the chance to read and review Willow Tree Bend, the original review can be found here http://bookgirl.beautyandlace.net/boo...
The story follows Faith Taylor, her sister Hope and Faith’s daughter Sam.
When Faith mysteriously leaves her family with only a critic phone call to Hope they are all worried and left wondering what is going on.
Faith’s story follows her time in Melbourne during 1969 when she left Willow Tree Bend for a new adventure in Melbourne where she worked at an infamous club the Angel. The Angel had some shady going ons and when Faith is told by a policeman that a former waitress at the Angel was murdered, her sense of justice makes her realise she must do what she can to help the police bring the killer to justice.
Faith’s younger sister Hope is a famous actress who has lived in New York for many years, Hope’s part in the story is in the present day of 2000.
Hope is returning to Australia to star in a TV documentary Looking Back, before her return Hope receives a phone call from Faith saying she had to go, mentioning The Angel and a photograph of Hope, Faith, their mother and Samantha that had been reprinted ahead of Hope’s return home, leaving Hope with more questions than answers and very worried.
Upon returning home Hope starts looking for answers to where Faith is and what she is hiding, realising that it stems from her time working at The Angel, all whilst she has a documentary crew following her around, ready to pounce on anything that the world may not know about the famous Hope Taylor. Can Hope find out Faiths secrets all whilst trying to keep her own secrets hidden.
Sam’s story is also written at the present time, focusing on her relationship with her aunt who she doesn’t know that well and her concerns for her Mum, with a bit of romance thrown in. Piecing together snippets of conversation she has overheard Sam is determined to get to the truth. She is certain there is a connection between The Angel and Willow Tree Bend.
Dobbie has done a superb job of blending the three stories together they all flow smoothly into one another with no gaps. Right from the first page I was intrigued and kept guessing about the sisters secrets.
I thought I had the secrets and events worked out but wasn’t 100% sure I was on the right track until towards the end.
Thanks to Beauty and Lace and Harlequin for the chance to read and review Willow Tree Bend, the original review can be found here http://bookgirl.beautyandlace.net/boo...
The story follows Faith Taylor, her sister Hope and Faith’s daughter Sam.
When Faith mysteriously leaves her family with only a critic phone call to Hope they are all worried and left wondering what is going on.
Faith’s story follows her time in Melbourne during 1969 when she left Willow Tree Bend for a new adventure in Melbourne where she worked at an infamous club the Angel. The Angel had some shady going ons and when Faith is told by a policeman that a former waitress at the Angel was murdered, her sense of justice makes her realise she must do what she can to help the police bring the killer to justice.
Faith’s younger sister Hope is a famous actress who has lived in New York for many years, Hope’s part in the story is in the present day of 2000.
Hope is returning to Australia to star in a TV documentary Looking Back, before her return Hope receives a phone call from Faith saying she had to go, mentioning The Angel and a photograph of Hope, Faith, their mother and Samantha that had been reprinted ahead of Hope’s return home, leaving Hope with more questions than answers and very worried.
Upon returning home Hope starts looking for answers to where Faith is and what she is hiding, realising that it stems from her time working at The Angel, all whilst she has a documentary crew following her around, ready to pounce on anything that the world may not know about the famous Hope Taylor. Can Hope find out Faiths secrets all whilst trying to keep her own secrets hidden.
Sam’s story is also written at the present time, focusing on her relationship with her aunt who she doesn’t know that well and her concerns for her Mum, with a bit of romance thrown in. Piecing together snippets of conversation she has overheard Sam is determined to get to the truth. She is certain there is a connection between The Angel and Willow Tree Bend.
Dobbie has done a superb job of blending the three stories together they all flow smoothly into one another with no gaps. Right from the first page I was intrigued and kept guessing about the sisters secrets.
I thought I had the secrets and events worked out but wasn’t 100% sure I was on the right track until towards the end.
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