Karly Lane is back with her newest rural fiction novel, The Wrong Callahan. This is the start of The Callahans of Stringybark Creek trilogy. I had enjoyed If Wishes Were Horses and after reading Mrs B recommendation for Someone Like You, The Wrong Callahan felt like my next read. While Lane's books are classified as rural, the only part that felt rural was the setting, suiting me perfectly. The Wrong Callahan is ultimately about family while delving into other issues along the way, such as marriage, brothers and PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder). Told in the third person, the story line alternates between two main characters, Linc Callahan and the girl next door, Cash Sullivan, as they settle in to country life.
I was immediately drawn into the story line of ex soldier, Linc Callahan, returning to his roots in Stringybark Creek for the first time in many years. I felt for Linc and could relate to him as I have an ex miltary member in the family. Lane sensitively dealt with a man in denial about PTSD, along with the short and long term effects that it had on him. She also shows the impact that it can have on family and friends if it goes undiagnosed. Linc's parents, Bob and Lavinia, as well as his siblings, Griffin, Hadley and Harmony appear happy to have him home but things are not as they appear. Linc and Griff have deep, unresolved issues and to complicate matters, both brothers have fallen for Cash. Hadley is a celebrity preparing for her big home town wedding while Harmony's marraige appears to be in jeopardy. Bob and Lavinia are the glue that hold together the family. When compared with the rest of the family members though, they were rather bland in comparison so a little drama here wouldn't have gone astray.
I enjoyed spending time getting to know each of the family members with all their quirks as they navigated family life with all it's ups and downs along the way. My issue here was that there was no central problem that the family had to navigate which is so common in many rural books. Problems such as fire or drought that threaten the farm or community bring everyone together. It instils a sense of community for the readers. Instead there is a variety of personal problems that need to be sorted out.
Cash Sullivan is the city girl running away from her family life, finding herself living in Stringybark Creek next door to the Callahan's. Here, Cash is operating the only beauty salon for kilometres while her good friend, Savannah, is on holidays. It's salvation for many women but a mystery to the local men! Cash has her own dark past she keeps close to her heart, shutting people out before they can delve into her life, particularity men. Life certainly got interesting with the two Callahan men wanting to get to know Cash better. It's evident from the start who Cash in love with but how she deals with the brother is what kept me hooked. I also couldn't guess what occurred in Cash's past, so I was as surprised as Linc. However, I believe it is her past that has made Cash the strong, resilient woman she is today. I admired Cash for being the care free spirit that she was with no ties who speaks her mind. Cash is someone to aspire to in many ways as she finds where she belongs for the first time.
The Wrong Callahan is an easy, fast paced read for fans of Karly Lane or those who are looking for something on the light side.