Outback Love - Wo der Horizont beginnt

Daughters of the Outback #3

by Sasha Wasley

Als Ärztin führt Beth, die dritte der Paterson-Schwestern, ein perfekt organisiertes Leben – bis sie ihr Herz ausgerechnet an den in ganz Australien beliebten Countrysänger Brody Knight verliert. Denn mehr als eine stürmische Affäre scheint mit Brody nicht möglich zu sein, zu groß ist seine Ruhelosigkeit. Bei aller Leidenschaft, die er für Beth empfindet, kann er mit ihrem Drang zur Perfektion und ihren tiefen Wurzeln in Mount Clare wenig anfangen. Erst als Beth Brody mit einem kranken Familien-Mitglied hilft, geraten seine Überzeugungen ins Wanken. Können Beths Elan und ihr Verständnis Brodys Herz doch noch gefangen nehmen?

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Adult, Australia

400 pages, Paperback

First published June 4, 2019

Reviews

[Brooke - Brooke's Reading Life · Rating 5 out of 5]

*www.onewomansbbr.wordpress.com
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**4.5 stars**

Love Song by Sasha Wasley. (2019).
(Daughters of the Outback / Paterson Sisters ; #3)

At 17, Beth was determined to study medicine at uni despite the heartache of losing her mum. Tutoring Charlie worked well with this plan - until she fell in love with him and he broke her heart by leaving abruptly. Now Charlie is a big rock star and Beth is a respected GP. When Charlie comes back to fight for the tiny community where he was raised, neither one of them can ignore the wild attraction they once shared. Beth swore no man would hurt her again, especially Charlie. But some love songs can never be forgotten, especially when they were written for you...

I loved this super easy read! I later learnt it's technically the last of a trilogy, but as each book is about a different sister I really don't think you need to read the others before reading this one - I didn't and it was totally fine. What I most enjoyed about this story was Beth's trips to the small remote community of Madjinbarra and her connections with the people of this town; a town that is threatened by a large mining company. The struggle that this community is facing balances the romance in the novel quite well and no doubt readers will grow to love little Pearl and her big sister Jill. Beth is dealing with a lot on her plate when all of a sudden her first love, Charlie, is in town; just adding more complexity to her busy life! I thought the relationship narrative with its ups and downs, misunderstandings, physical attraction and history was quite entertaining.
Overall, I would happily highly recommend this Australian rural romance that also delves into contemporary real-life issues.

[Amanda - Mrs B's Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
4.5 stars
Love Song, the third issue in the Daughters of the Outback series, comes to a close with the oldest Paterson sister Beth’s story. It is a bittersweet moment, as I have genuinely enjoyed overseeing the lives of these three sisters. Love Song is a story of complications, misunderstandings, trust, loss, faith, support and love. It is a soulful tale that will attract the attention of fans old and new to this brilliant outback based series.

Beth, the eldest sister in the Paterson family has appeared off and on in the previous two books. I didn’t go into Beth’s character completely blind, which was nice. There was a sense of familiarity about Beth and I felt comfortable as I settled into her shoes for the duration of Love Song. I was able to identify with Beth, being the eldest child in my family too. As a local GP dedicated to improving the health of the people in her community, Beth seems to have the world on her shoulders. She is also deeply passionate about her job, she wants the very best health outcomes for her region and this does come at a cost. Wasley does an excellent job of highlighting how in helping others with their health issues, medical practitioners can often neglect their own health and wellbeing. In Beth’s case, her mother’s family history of cancer plays heavily on her mind. I think Sasha did a great job with this aspect of the story, highlighting the pressures on remote area medical staff to keep their own health in check due and the general strain on health resources in isolated areas.

Love Song tracks nicely between the past and present, especially in dealing with the romance side of things, which is a strong feature of this novel. I enjoyed the flashbacks to Beth’s past as a high school student and her unfolding big romance with Charlie, the male lead of this story. By taking a trip back to the past, the reader is able to understand the feelings, misgivings, anxieties, reservations and history that plagues both Charlie and Beth. This must have been one life defining romance, as it haunts these poor two souls for a good part of their adult lives. Circumstances in the present thrust Beth and Charlie back together with some interesting will they/won’t they moments. Fans of rural romance fiction will definitely enjoy this aspect of the story.

There are some pertinent issues that underpin Love Song and I applaud Sasha Wasley for her approach to these hard hitting themes. There is a great deal of strength to the writing in all these areas. The level of research, the dedication to the indigenous population to getting these issues to the floor and the solid characterisation that accompanies these issues is to be commended. Local mining operations, land rights, displacement, protected indigenous land reservations, indigenous culture, health care issues and respect towards the indigenous and much more is covered within the frame of Love Song. The ‘Acknowledgements’ section of the book does give the reader a good indication of the dedication Wasley has shown to her craft in these areas.

As always, the rural setting featured in Love Song, situated in WA’s sparking north, shines thanks to Wasley’s vivid prose. The warmth of this patch of Australia which emanates from the pages of the book was a welcome experience. The descriptions of the local area provides the reader with a good understanding of the positives, as well as the negatives, of living in this region of our country. Isolation can work in both good and bad ways, as we witness during a number of sequences in the novel. However, the breathtaking beauty and the freedom of living in such a remote part of our nation also draws plenty of appeal.

So back to Beth and her sisters. It was definitely a very welcome experience to follow Beth on her journey to reconciling the past with the present, in order to build a happier future. It was also a delight to catch up with the other two sisters in the series, during their brief appearances in Love Song, it gave me a nice sense of closure to a series that I will miss.

I’m looking forward to what the future holds for Sasha Wasley now we have said our goodbyes to the Paterson sisters. With a screen version of this popular series to oversee, as well as her paranormal fiction writing, there are exciting times ahead for this talented Aussie storyteller!

Love Song by Sasha Wasley was published on 4th June 2019 by Penguin Books Australia. Details on how to purchase the book can be found here.

To learn more about the author of Love Song, Sasha Wasley, visit here.

*I wish to thank Penguin Books Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.

Love Song is book #82 of the 2019 Australian Women Writers Challenge

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5★s

Charlie Campbell, famous and well-loved musician, Gwini man, uncle and carer of his sister’s two girls, Jill and Pearl, devoted member of the Madjinbarra community where he’d been brought up – and the man who’d broken Beth Paterson’s heart seventeen years prior. With Beth’s dream of becoming a doctor fulfilled, she now owned her own clinic in Mount Clair and was a popular GP who devoted her time to the community, including her once a month visits to Madjinbarra. But the shock she received when she realized Charlie was in town brought their time together back with a vengeance; she knew she still cared.

Beth knew she and Charlie would be thrown together as he was home to help negotiate with mine conglomerate Gargantua. They wanted to open a new mine beside the Madjinbarra community, and the elders and Charlie knew that was a recipe for disaster. Beth was deeply involved and doing all she could as well. With the pressures of her full-time job, plus helping at the hospital when required, the five hour drive to and from the community and keeping in touch with her sisters, Willow and Free plus her Dad, Beth was exhausted. But she wouldn’t have it any other way. But could she stay immune to Charlie?

Love Song is the 3rd and final in the Daughters of the Outback trilogy by Aussie author Sasha Wasley and it was a delightful read. Heartfelt and emotional, the connection with music was special. I found Jill and Pearl’s characters to be exceptional, while Beth’s empathy shone through. The author writes in a way that makes everything real; the setting in outback Western Australia is perfect. Highly recommended.

With thanks to Penguin Random House AU for my copy to read in exchange for an honest review.

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

A wonderful heartwarming read


My View:
A poignant work of rural fiction, I can feel the author’s passion for her craft, her characters and this series on the pages as I read.

This is a fast paced read with complex social issues, engaging characters, passion, romance and optimism.

It was fitting that I read this on the remote, dusty land of Hutt River Province, Western Australia, (we are on holidays).

A great read that nicely connects the other books and characters of the series and ends with an abundance of optimism and good will.

[Ela's Welt der Bücher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Auch der dritte Teil konnte mit seiner Geschichte von sich überzeugen. Er war nach einem holprigen Start gut zu lesen und ich mochte die Charaktere und das Setting wieder total gerne.
4 Sterne

[Beccabeccabooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Song is the third and final book in this charming series, featuring the Paterson sisters from the Kimberly. We've already heard from Willow and Free, so it's time for eldest Beth's story.

I'm already familiar with the serious GP from previous encounters. Beth comes across as brash and bossy but actually has a heart of gold, particularly when it comes to her family and patients. All she wants is the very best for those she cares about, even if it means that she often doesn't have time for herself.

Beth is also nursing a broken heart. Whilst in her final years of high school, she tutored a disadvantaged boy from a local Ingenious community. Charlie Campbell will always be her one true love, even if he upped and left one day without explaination.

Now, fifteen years without contact, the now household name whirls in, effectively putting Beth back in an overpowering emotional state. How can you possibly work together to achieve the best outcome for all when you're not only confused but also sense that the love of your life doesn't really understand you at all?

Whilst Dear Banjo will always remain my favourite, Love Song comes in a close second. Spending time out in Madjinbarra was a real eye opener. Those Indigenous communities do it tough- barriers to education, health, services and technology, all that many people take for granted. Throw in conflicts over land ownership and big corporations, they need all the help that they can get. Residents such as lovely Aunty Mary, Uncles Harvey and Billy plus young Jill and Pearl deserve so much better. It's lucky that they have both Beth and Charlie on their side, just trying to share the burden.

This was a fitting conclusion. Everyone ended up where they should be, all riding into the sunset content with a happy future.

4.75🌟

[Bree T · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recently I read and loved both Dear Banjo and True Blue, the first two books in this trilogy revolving around the Paterson sisters, who grew up on a farm in remote Western Australia. Which was perfect timing because not long after I’d finished the second, I was delighted to get a copy of the third, Love Song, which would be oldest sister Beth’s story. Beth is a local doctor who lives and works in town, rather than on the farm and she was a prominent character in both previous books so I was really looking forward to her story.

Beth’s high school boyfriend, a boy she was tutoring named Charlie Campbell has returned to the small town to fight on behalf of his local Indigenous community, who live on a remote piece of land a few hours drive away. A local mining company wants to operate nearby, including a wet mess for workers. The Indigenous community is a dry one, no alcohol allowed and the elders are concerned about what that will mean for some of the younger members of the community, including those that will no doubt be employed by the mine. Whilst the employment will be good, the temptation and availability of alcohol will not be, with the community having worked hard to eradicate its presence from their home. Charlie, now a very well known and popular country singer, has returned to lend his public voice to the fight. While he’s in town, he also can make medical decisions for a member of his family who desperately needs extra care and assistance. That family member is a patient of Beth’s and so the two of them come face to face not only to fight for the community but also to decide and provide the best in care. Which means they have to confront the troubles of their past, with both of them believing they were wronged by the other.

Beth and Charlie are both very passionate people, although I think Beth has kind of hidden that passion for a long time under her clinical physician role. But there’s no doubt she’s very dedicated to the community, including spending way more time than what she’s paid for, travelling out to Madjinbarra, the Indigenous community and seeing to all their medical issues each month. She does her very best for everyone and she is also concerned about the mine and the impact that might have, particularly the issue of the wet mess. I really enjoyed the section of the book devoted to the time that Beth spends out at Madjinbarra. She is well liked and respected, often taken into confidence by the people out there and is trusted to do the right thing by them all. Her relationships with Jill and Pearl in particular, are also really well done, the way in which she supports Jill to foster her own dreams and further her education but also recognises her want/need to take care of Pearl, which is important to her. Which I think, is just one of the reasons that Beth is so shocked by Charlie’s display of hostility towards her, when they come face to face after all those years. He makes no secret of the fact that he thinks she’s not a kind person and questions her decisions and suggestions regarding treatment for his young family member. But it soon becomes clear that Charlie is allowing something from when they were teens to cloud his judgement over everything regarding Beth and that it’s obvious the person she is, standing in front of him now, isn’t like that. And wasn’t ever like that, if he’d taken a few moments to calm down and think about what he was being told. Instead he’s allowed himself to believe it and build it up over years until when he is in proximity with Beth again, everything has festered so long that he can’t ignore it and just be polite or distant. The thing that complicates it, is that those feeling that were there when they were teenagers, are still simmering away under the surface of hurt and betrayal.

Lots of my friends know that cancer books are often triggers for me and I find them very difficult to read. This is a cancer book but it wasn’t a surprise cancer book, because I already know well from the first 2 that the Paterson sisters’ mother died of cancer and it’s something the three girls are always kind of peripherally concerned about but perhaps because Beth is a doctor, she’s much more aware of it and the potential issues with genetics, etc. She’s very concerned about the slightest thing being an early sign of cancer and always investigates things very thoroughly when they happen to her. The bits of this story that are about Beth and her mother are incredibly beautiful – each of the girls have had a section of the story that connected them to their mother and Beth’s letter had me practically sobbing. I was so glad I was reading this when I was home alone! They were all so young and vulnerable when they lost their mother. I think Beth was 13 and she went away to board at high school, then to university to do her medical degree and she also had younger sisters to kind of take care of and almost mother in a way. Since I had kids, kids losing their mothers is one of, if not the hardest subject to read about. I can’t help but put my own kids in that position and wonder how they’d cope. Wonder what it’s like to stare down the fact of not knowing what your kids will look like as adults. Not knowing if they’ll get married or have children, not knowing if there’ll be a time when they might not even remember you. I can barely even write this section of the review without wanting to cry about it and yet there’s a strength in Beth, Freya and Willow that makes me feel really happy for the women they’ve turned out to be, doing things they love and spending time with family and those that mean the most to them. I feel as though their mum would be super proud of all of them.

I’ve really loved these three books and I feel so……satisfied, for having finished Beth’s story. Satisfied for all of the sisters and the places they are in their lives. But if Sasha Wasley ever decides to return to this setting, I think I’d love to see a book about Jill in the future. This is just a really, really interesting and lovely world and I’ve very much enjoyed the time I’ve spent getting to know these people.

***A copy of this book was provided by the publisher for the purpose of an honest review***

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to follow.

[Jacqui Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

And I have completed the trilogy - all the feels, yet again, with this one. 10/10 would recommend 🤩

[Lauren Keegan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful story about grief, regret, and love. I've really enjoyed this series and I can't wait to see what the author brings out next!






*Very grateful for the ARC from the publisher

[Craig and Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bx_s58WgZ...

[Rachel (The Rest Is Still Unwritten) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Penguin Australia for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Find this review and more on my blog The Rest Is Still Unwritten!

Love Song is the third instalment in Sasha Wasley’s Daughters of the Outback series and is another deftly told rural fiction that smoulders with romance, friendship and the Australian heart.

As a teenager close to finishing school, Beth Paterson was determined to study medicine and tutoring Charlie Campell fit in beautifully with her plan. Talented in music and eager, Charlie was one of the few Indigenous kids in the region and had something special about him that made falling in love with him almost effortless….until the day he abruptly left town and broke Beth’s heart. Fast forward almost two decades and Charlie is a successful singer and Beth a highly respected doctor in town. Returning to Mount Claire for the first time since he left, Charlie is hoping to stand up for the local community where he was raised and with Beth’s seeing to their medical needs, crossing paths was almost inevitable. As is the renewed spark of attraction that surges between them. Beth swore no man would ever hurt her the way Charlie did but as old feelings resurface, will Beth give the one who broke her heart another chance? Or will she lose out on a true chance of love due to old hurts and wounded pride?

I’m not naturally drawn to rural fiction, but if they were all written the way Sasha Wasley writes her novels, I may just be converted! Beautifully written and emotionally rich, Love Song is a passionate and poignant story about first love and the ones that stay with you. Set in the stunning Kimberley valley and the Australian outback, Love Song offers a glimpse into natural Australian heritage and wilderness as protagonist and eldest Patterson daughter Beth finds herself coming into contact with her first love; a man whose rejection left her heartbroken.

As with sisters Willow and Free, I was excited to begin Beth’s story and looking forward to getting to know this practical and meticulous doctor. Beth has always come across as serious and organised in a way her sisters haven’t. Perhaps this is a side effect of being the oldest sibling and having to take on extra responsibility after their mothers passing, but it was refreshing to see a softer, vulnerable side to Beth. She was left shattered when Charlie left, effectively ending their relationship, and as Love Song progresses, there is a lot of emotions and feelings that need to be addressed by Beth before she is ready to trust and take a chance again.

I found I really appreciated the Indigenous aspect that was included within the story. Aboriginal heritage is so ingrained in our Australian history and I don’t think we as a society often offer it the respect they as a people and a culture deserve. I loved that Sasha Wasley wrote about an indigenous love interest who was successful and grounded as well as exploring their communities while paying homage to both their history and current situations. Charlie was sexy as hell and his nieces Jill and Pearl adorable. The moments with the Madjinbarra community felt authentic and well executed on Wasley’s part.

Throughout the series I have fallen in love with Willow, Free and Beth and have enjoyed seeing them find their own happily ever afters. Love Song marks the end of the series but Sasha Wasley ties everything up beautifully and leaves readers feeling satisfied that all three sisters will live a lifetime of love and happiness. Wonderfully written and littered with Australian heritage and mannerisms, Love Song concludes a fantastic rural fiction series that I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend!

[Sam Still Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve really enjoyed Sasha Wasley’s previous two books in the Daughters of the Outback series (Dear Banjo and True Blue) so I’ve been eagerly anticipating the story of the final Paterson daughter, Beth. While Dear Banjo focused on the family cattle station and True Blue looked at life in Mount Clair, Love Song primarily focuses on an Indigenous community outside the town. It’s a lovely contrast of setting and different stories about three very different sisters.

Up until now, local GP Beth has presented herself as the most serious and strict of the Paterson sisters. The oldest of the three, her role has previously been to talk sense into Free and correct the others in matters of the heart. Now that the reader gets to see into Beth’s head, it’s revealed that life is not all black and white for her. Beth is proud of the business she’s built up, as well as the strict routine of exercise and work. But there is something missing, even though she was reluctant to notice it until Charlie Campbell returned to town. Charlie was Beth’s first love and she realises that she’s had trust issues ever since. (And that nobody has ever really compared to him since). Now Charlie, a star singer, is back in town to fight against a new mine close to the community where he grew up. That makes for multiple awkward moments as Beth is the community’s doctor and equally as passionate to help. Can they get past their differences and work together? Will Charlie tell Beth what caused him to disappear?

Now you know that this story will have a happy ending, but the journey towards that is pure joy. Charlie and Beth are adults (even though they can be as stubborn as children) and their working relationship is great as they both strive to take care of toddler Pearl who has special needs. Pearl is such a cutie, with her ability to get food everywhere but her mouth and big sister Jill is the most loyal sister Pearl could hope for. Beth and Charlie support each other through their times of need, both big and small. It’s delightful to read the growing realisation of their rekindled feelings towards each other (and equally frustrating when they misread the other’s intentions!)

The inclusion of the Indigenous community Madjinbarra was sensitively done I felt, bringing to attention the needs of the community (such as regular health care) and the lack of funding / tolerance from city slickers for anything different to the bright lights. I haven’t read a romance story with an Aboriginal hero before – here’s hoping that we see a lot more after the wonderful Charlie. He’s sensitive, devoted to his family, talented and holds a candle for his first love – what more could you ask for in a hero? He is the balance Beth needs in her life, to help fill the whole in her family life after the death of her mother and to bring spontaneous joy.

So now that the Paterson girls have their happy ever afters (and the series has been optioned for television), I hope that Sasha Wasley has something great planned for readers. We need more of her inspiring fiction on our shelves!

Thank you to Penguin for the copy of this book. My review is honest.

http://samstillreading.wordpress.com

[Stacey Houllis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this story It is the final book to the series. It is about Beth Patterson the eldest sister of Patterson Girls. At the age of seventeen she was determined to become a doctor to help people in her community after her mother death to cancer she helps father raise her to younger siblings. Charlie Campbell is student at her boarding school she helps tutor in final year at high school. Bec at 17 years old for Charlie the young aboriginal teenager she tutor however she tries to keep relationship a secret when Charlie suddenly leaves school without an explanation to her breaking her heart. Charlie returns 17 years later to help fight for the community he was raised in and to also look out for his two nieces Jill a teenager and little three old Pearl who suffers with cerebral palsy.
Bec ends up caught in the middle trying help the community she loves a she runs a clinic for 3 days a month. Helping with medical supplies, seeing to medical needs, and respecting the aboriginal community. Charlie young niece develop epilepsy in which Bec help Charlie and his Aunt Mary with. Jill wants to go school so she can learn and go university to become someone in relation to helping people in a health care. There are lots of bumps in the road for Bec and Charlie due Bec fear of been hurt again by Charlie and there's also a heart warming letter left for Bec by her mother before death. I thought this was well written by Sasha Wasley and would read more of her books given the chance. I recommend this book so much very emotional storyline of acceptance and support of a small aboriginal community, showing two cultures can come together support each other, build relationships with.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely beautifully executed story of the challenges and complexities of outback Australia.
Congratulations to Sasha for Love Song, I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
I usually sleep in a little on Sundays, but I found myself waking early just so I could finish this yesterday morning; I needed to see how Beth and Charlie would resolve things!
Love Song tells the story of Beth, a FIFO doctor who spends time in a small outback community in rural Australia. This well-researched novel explores the difficulties remote communities face, while being considerate of the traditional living of the people within the story.
If I didn't know this was fiction, I would easily have taken it as being based on a true story, even though I've never heard of Charlie Campbell in the Australian music scene!
The way the historic love story blends into the present day lives of Beth and Charlie is flawless. I am a total sucker for a good romance and this did not disappoint!
I also really enjoyed reading about a lot of themes which are often under-represented. Sasha has constructed a sensitive and beautiful story which encompasses hardship, loss, love and strength into the pages. Highly recommend to lovers of Australian fiction; this one truly stands out for me.

[AusRomToday · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Song is a stunningly crafted story of enduring love: love for your land and community, love for home and family, and the love that comes from a person who simply challenges your very understand of what love really means.

But Love Song in its very essence is much much more than this. Wasley has tackled topics of Indigenous affairs and puts forth a very human story to the devastating effects of corporations over communities, the ever widening gap that affects our Indigenous Australians, all whilst broaching the subject of diversity in Australia with astounding clarity and deftness.

Wasley’s characters are competently nuanced bringing with them a strength yet vulnerability and delicateness that only an accomplished author such as Wasley could achieve.

Wasley’s inclusion of an Indigenous character as her leading man is not only refreshing, but offers a diversity that is vitally important inside the romance fiction genre. Love Song will tug at the heartstrings of her many readers.

[Jodie- Readthewriteact · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was sent to me by the publisher for my honest review.

This book has a pretty cover and I, like so many readers think a cover gives a good indication of how the story inside will be. Good cover = good book, right? Well this was more pretty cover amazing story. I am a sucker for Australian outback romance and boy was this one good! It has a smart beautiful protagonist who is passionate about her community. Enter the ex boyfriend rocker who is even more so passionate about the community, throw in some drama and we have the recipe for a great story. Did I mention he is rock star hot too? Oh yeah, well he is.

I hope that we keep on seeing more and more Australian romance novels because it is one of my favourite genres and this book showcased perfectly how the rural Australia is the perfect backdrop to a love story.

[Vicki Robe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beth Paterson studied medicine at university when she was seventeen years of age, just after losing her mother from cancer.

She did tutoring as it worked in well with her study and earned her extra credit. What didn't work well was she fell in love with her student Charlie Campbell. After he left town without any notice Beth was devastated.

Seventeen years later, Charlie Campbell, the rock star is back to fight for the small community he was brought up in. Dr Beth Paterson is the doctor who takes care of the community by going out monthly to provide medical assistance at the health care centre.

What will happen between these two all these years later?

An excellent read that makes me want to locate the other two books in this series to read.

[Cate Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love, love, love this book.

I loved Willow in "Dear Banjo". I adored Free in "True Blue".

But Beth's story in "Love Song"? I'm an emotional wreck. I cried. I smiled. I heard the voices. I felt the country. I absorbed the love.

If you're not Australian, "Love Song" gives you an understanding of our beautiful outback and it's harshness.

It is also a rawly unapologetic look at the impact of the treatment of Indigenous Australians and shows us in no uncertain terms how far we still have to go.

But none of this detracts from the fact "Love Song" is, not surprisingly, a love story: romantic love, family love, love of community, love of country, love of home.

[Lara · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hard-to-put-down read. I picked it up and didn't close it until I was finished.
Massive respect to the author for the use of Aboriginal Australian characters and narratives through the story with care and respect for the culture itself.
I didn't read the other Daughters of the Outback books before this one but this story has made me add them to my list.

[Lyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful Australian writing, set in Western Australia. This explores themes of race, medicine, disabilities,loss, grief, mining and respect. The depiction of the Madjinbarra community was respectful and positive. I didn’t realise it was part of a series, but the book stood on its own fine. I just need to go back and read the others.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took a while, but I finally got my hands on the third and final book in the Daughters of the Outback series by Sasha Wasley.

Beth's story is full of misunderstandings, broken hearts, and lack of trust. It is also about community and love.
It's a thoroughly enjoyable story with some tear inducing moments but also plenty of joy.

[Josie]

This was the same as the previous books for me. Great premise, but the pacing was so slow. I don't think the hero and heroine even had a conversation in the first fifty or so pages. I DNF'd this one, too.

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A strong rural romance with a dedicated health worker advocating for the aboriginal community. A hometown boy turned rock star returns to take a stand for what he believes in and attempts to win his old school tutors heart.

[Deyara · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

Good read, interesting rural story and people. Liked it a lot. Wasn’t aware it was part of a series so some of the scenes with her sisters probably had more meaning that I didn’t catch, will need to read their stories too and see.

[Emma Knights · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy outback romance novel that did contain some interesting plot around the main characters. It was easy to see what might happen but the characters and the slow build up of the story kept my interest. Read it in a day!

[Bookworm_Ivy · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved the story. Poor Beth, everything she went through in high school and everything she is going through now. Charlie, what an idiot, at least he's trying to make up for it now.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars for this lovely slow burn romance from Aussie author!!
Very easy read about young love, lost love and community spirit!!

[Caitlin Matthews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need more

[Erika · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a bad book but was hard to get into at times. Not what I expected..