Tallowood Bound

by Karly Lane

When Erin Macalister heads to her home town to help take care of her beloved grandmother she’s relieved to be leaving behind both the city and the remnants of a broken marriage.Arriving in the small rural town she finds nothing much has changed there – including Jamie McBride, who lives on the neighbouring farm to her and is as ridiculously good looking as he was when they were seventeen and madly in love.Desperate to bring back her grandmother’s smile, Erin goes through old photo albums with her. Though frail and confused her grandmother tells vivid stories about the past, including memories of a soldier she once loved. Erin’s curiosity about the man deepens when she finds an engagement ring he once gave her grandmother.Meanwhile, Jamie McBride seems intent on rekindling their relationship, even though Erin’s not at all sure she wants to risk heartache again…From the bestselling author of Poppy’s Dilemma and Gemma’s Bluff , this poignant, heartfelt story of old loves and new possibilities is inspirational and entertaining.

Genres: Romance, Historical, War, Contemporary, Australia

Mass Market Paperback

First published November 18, 2015

About the author

Karly Lane lives on the beautiful Mid North Coast of NSW in Australia. A certified small town girl, she is most happy in a little town where everyone knows who your grand parents were. She writes women’s fiction – everything from romantic suspense to family sagas and life in rural Australia. She has romantic suspense titles published under Karlene Blakemore-Mowle and her latest release, Third Time Lucky is available now.

Reviews

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emotions are running high as Erin Macalister returns to Tallowood. Leaving a broken marriage behind her, Erin must somehow find the strength to be there for her Gran whom she loves dearly. After suffering a bad fall, Erin's Gran is now in a nursing home and sadly has also been diagnosed with dementia. Seeing her Gran deteriorate is heartbreaking for, Erin.

Jamie McBride's property was near by to Tallowood. Jamie and his parents had always been there for Erin's Gran over the years. Seeing Jamie again brought back memories of when they were younger and how she was in love with him. But they had both grown up since those days, but could she still have feelings for him?

Erin could feel the tension between her mother and her Gran, but what was causing this tension was a question, Erin didn't have the answer to. Erin decided to do a little digging into her Gran's past and see if she could come up with the answer, but would she or would she just simply be wasting her time. And with her Gran's health getting worse by the day, time was something, Erin was running out of.

Once again Aussie author, Karly Lane has blown me away with another entertaining read. Tallowood Bound was a fabulous read which I couldn't put down.
Switching back and forth from 1943 to the present day was so well written, and that in itself I believe is a genuine talent. HIGHLY recommended.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leaving Sydney and the husband she had thought she’d be with forever, Erin Macalister was emotional about returning to Tallowood – her beloved Gran had had a bad fall and was now in a nursing home; she had also been diagnosed with dementia and Erin was devastated at the thought of losing the one person who had been a constant in her life. Visiting Gran every day, she was saddened to see her once vibrant grandmother reduced to a frail and confused old lady. In trying to bring a smile to her face, Erin brought in old photo albums in the hope the memories would help – and Erin’s discovery that her Gran had loved another back in the long ago war years when she had lived in Townsville, Queensland kindled a curiosity about her beloved grandmother Evelyn’s past – a past she had never heard about…

Jamie McBride lived on the neighbouring property to Tallowood and he and his parents had always been a big help to her Gran. Now when she saw him again, Erin realised she still had feelings for this man; Jamie was no longer a headstrong teenager and she was no longer seventeen and madly in love with him…but she knew there were still sparks. The friction between the two was no different than it had been all those years ago though…

As Erin fell in love with Tallowood all over again she knew the coolness between her mother and Gran; her mother and herself as well, meant she had very little family left. She decided to try to discover what she could about Gran’s past – she would probably come up against a brick wall, but maybe she wouldn’t. Erin was desperate to try – she wanted to know more about her Gran; she wanted to understand. Maybe it would give her some peace of mind over her confusion about Jamie as well…

I thoroughly enjoyed Tallowood Bound by Aussie author Karly Lane – the alternating time frames between the war years in Townsville 1943 and current day in the early part of the book were poignant and moving. Based on the facts of American soldiers being stationed in Townsville; many of them falling in love with young Australian women – the vibrant and energetic dance nights; the gifts of stockings and chocolates from the “Yanks”… it all happened. Moving to current day and the turbulence of confusion, love and heartbreak – it was all wonderfully written. This author writes a beautiful blend of old and new – her research is meticulous and the results are authentic and entertaining. I have no hesitation in highly recommending Tallowood Bound to all.

With thanks to Allen & Unwin for my copy to read and review.

[Veronica ⭐️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Erin arrives back in the small rural town she grew up in to care for her Grandmother, Evelyn, who is suffering from rapid progressive dementia. Erin realises her Grandmother may not have much time left and photo album in hand she ventures to find out as much of her Grandmothers life as she can.

And there’s Jamie McBride the boy she’d been madly in love with at seventeen, but things didn’t end well then. He is no longer a boy but is still ridiculously good looking. Is Erin ready to give Jamie a second chance? Both have their insecurities. Erin’s husband has left her for a younger woman. Will she give her heart to Jamie only to have him leave too? Jamie sees Erin as the high flying city girl and can’t see her being settled with a poor lowly farmer.

It’s 1943 Townsville, Queensland and a much younger Evelyn is engaged to Roy who is now in service in New Guinea. Evelyn is doing her bit for the war by working with the Red Cross. However, when American serviceman Jimmy Crenshaw comes knocking on her door little does she realise her life is about to change forever.

Lane has taken rural romance one step further and added in an historical romance that at times parallel each other. I have really come to relish these stories that blend contemporary and historical.

A fabulous story that weaves dual narratives of modern day and Australia during World War 11 seamlessly together to create a story that is richly emotional and both heart-breaking and heart-warming at the same time.

From Townsville to New Orleans the vibrant imagery comes alive on the pages.

Karly Lane has done it again, Tallowood Bound is a truly heartbreaking and touching read.
Be prepared to put all else aside for the day, you will not want to put this book down.

With my thanks to Allen & Unwin for my copy to read and review.

[Dale Harcombe · Rating 4 out of 5]

With a broken marriage behind her, Erin makes her way to the nursing home where her grandmother now lives since a recent fall and the onset of dementia. To try and spark interest Erin leafs through old photo albums with her grandmother, Evelyn. This brings back memories for her grandmother of Jimmy. Erin’s grandfather’s name was Roy, so who is Jimmy and what does he have to do with her grandmother? Erin resolves to find out. Along the way she uncovers more about her family than she ever expected.
Once again this is a duel time story, that of Erin in the present day, her mother Serenity and Jamie McBride, the boy Erin loved as a teenager and his family who are nearby neighbours. The other story takes the reader back to Evelyn and 1943 when American soldiers descended on Townsville to help fight against the Japanese. The more Erin learns about her grandmother, the less she understands the fractured relationship between her mother and grandmother.
I liked Erin, even though at times I could have told both Erin and Jamie to wake up to themselves and stop flying off the handle and behaving like spoiled children. The story of Evelyn from wartime was also well done. Lovely to see the special relationship between Erin and her grandmother. I struggled for a long time with Erin’s mother Serenity and her behaviour and attitudes but as I read on it began to make some sort of sense.
The ending for me felt a little contrived and too neatly packaged. But that could be just me. Still, this is an entertaining read that definitely clued me in about some aspects of World War 2 I knew nothing about. Well researched historically, largely likable characters and good setting made this is an enjoyable Aussie rural read interwoven with moments of joy and sadness.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tallowood Bound is about loss, heartache and second chance for love. After the breakdown of her marriage, Erin Macalister decided to go home and look after her grandmother. On arrival in her old town, Erin could see that her grandmother did not look well. Erin and her grandmother set down and talk about the past using old photo albums. Erin's curiosity got better of her when her grandmother keeps mentioning a young soldier, and she decided to found out more about this young man. Not only Erin is worried about her grandmother she also has to contend with Jamie McBride who she fell in love with at seventeen who is trying to woo her back. The readers of Tallowood Bound will continue to follow Erin Macalister and Jamie McBride to see if they rekindle their childhood love.

Tallowood Bound is another fantastic book from Karly Lane, and I enjoyed reading this book. More I read Karly Lane's books more I fall in love with her characters and her plots. Karly Lane knows how to ensure that I am engaged and feel part of all her books. How Karly Lane describes her settings and the way the characters are portrayed and interact with each are done well throughout Tallowood Bound. Tallowood Bound was well written and researched by Karly Lane.

The readers of Tallowood Bound will learn about the stress and the problems IVF can have on the women and their families. Also, the readers of Tallowood Bound will learn about American soldiers in Townville and the way the local people regard them.

I recommend this book.

[Beccabeccabooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who knew that a secret love affair in 1940's Townsville would turn into such an enjoyable story about loss, heartache and family reconnection?

𝑻𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝑩𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 focuses on three generations of women. Erin is in her thirties and is going through a divorce after her husband's infedilities. She has a tedious relationship with her mother, Irene (Serenity) who lives a bohemian lifestyle in Nimbin. Finally, there's Evelyn, Erin's grandmother. She's the one who fell in love with an American WW2 fighter pilot in 1943, and changed the course of all their lives.

The absolute standout for me was Evelyn's account. There's nothing like a secret romance during the war that will tug at your heartstrings. Especially when it involves a WW2 fighter pilot who dies just when he's about to marry the love of his life. (Minor spoiler here!) And goodness, there's a beautiful moment which will make you bawl.

Erin and Jamie's story is equally as romantic. Imagine having a second chance at love? Especially when you are grieving for your grandmother and your failed marriage. And ESPECIALLY when they are teenage sweethearts?

I'm a sucker for a story set in New Orleans, and I was treated to a brief visit!

There's also a few hilarious moments here as well. I could never forget the runaway cattle being moved to Jimmy Barnes 🤣

🌟🌟🌟🌟✨/5

[Margi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gosh our Aussie authors are definetely churning out some great novels. Tallowood bound by Karly Lane was the first book I've read by this talented author and won't be the last.
If you're after a feel good, easy and enjoyable read with some good old romance added to the mix then I recommend this one.
This story was really well written and I enjoyed the characters that were involved in it.

[Janine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had not read anything by Karly Lane before, this was a great book. Although it seems to be classed as Rural Romance, I felt it had a more contemporary feel about it.

Erin returns home to see her beloved Gran who is slowly fading away from her. Whilst visiting her she unearths a box of photos and other memorabilia with photos of a man she doesn’t know. She learns that Gran had a past that no one was aware of, and this sends Erin off on a journey of discovery.

Meanwhile she reconnects with a past love, but as she is already married, but separated she struggles with whether to pursue this relationship or not.

I loved the fact that her Gran’s (Evelyn) former life drew upon WWII and the American soldiers in Townsville, which is based on fact. I’m sure there are many stories like this one that were true of the time.

This will appeal to all readers of Womens Contemporary Fiction and was a very easy read. I will definitely be seeking out more of Karly’s titles in the future.

[Meagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored this book! In this story, Erin returns home to spend time with her gran,Evelyn, who is dying. After Evelyn's passing, a secret love affair is uncovered that will test not only Erin, but also her relationship with her mother.
This story touched me deeply as the romance between an American serviceman Jimmy, and an Australian girl Evelyn, could have been about my own paternal grandparents, who also met during WW2, while my Pop was on shore leave.
Five stars from me!

[Stacey Houllis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another perfect book by Karly Lane. It had lots of the past from world war 2 but it was also about the three generations of women and story to finding love, happiness and family connection to an American solider from the war here in Australia. A well written book would recommend it to friends. I won't give the story line away i think you must read it to know how lives were changed by the war.

[Anne Peachey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A young woman who idolises her Grandmother discovers her hidden past. Very well written and some wonderful twists. This book is not just for Rural Romance readers, it will appeal to more contemporary readers. A wonderful read with lots of light and heavy moments.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

not how I planned to spend my night, I was tired and wanted to sleep but Karly Lane and her characters had other ideas.

[Nicola Marsh]

Sweet rural romance, enjoyed immensely.

[Lauren Keegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great Karly Lane rural romance novel!

[Shreedevi Gurumurty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Erin Macalister is escaping the city, and her broken marriage, by going back to the rural town where she grew up, Tuendoc. Erin also takes this opportunity to look after her ailing grandmother, Evelyn, who is bedridden. Desperate to bring back a smile to her grandmother's face, Erin goes through old photo albums with her. Even though she's frail and confused, her grandmother recalls vivid stories of the past. We then travel back in time to 1943, where a young Evelyn Ward is living at her parent's farm, and she is engaged to her longtime childhood friend, Roy Macalister. However, their relationship is more of convenience than of romantic love. Their union was simply expected by their families. Evelyn volunteers for the war effort by rolling bandages for the Red Cross, along with her fun loving and wild friend, Dolly Rowland. Evelyn secretly longs for more than her limited life, but doesn't want to disappoint her strict family. She waits for Roy while he's fighting in the Pacific Theatre. One day, a young American servicemen named Jimmy Crenshaw visits the Ward family, as an acquaintance of Roy's. Upon meeting him, Evelyn finds her world changed irrevocably, but heartbreak is never far away. In present day, Erin's curiosity about Evelyn's lost love deepens when she finds an engagement ring from him amongst her Gran's possessions, and she also wonders why her hippie businesswoman of a mother, Irene, has always been distant from Evelyn. Meanwhile, Erin reunites with her high school sweetheart and first love, Jamie McBride. Despite separating years ago in their teens, Jamie and Erin still have unresolved feelings for each other. Jamie wants to rekindle their relationship, but Erin is unsure about risking another heartache. This was a poignant, heartfelt story of old loves and new possibilities. Evelyn's story was heartbreaking as the novel reveals how her actions drove her and her daughter Irene apart, and how intergenerational grief and traumas can affect future generations. However, there is always hope as Erin discovers how the lessons learnt from her family's past, can help her in her personal journey to find true happiness.

[Nikki Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love how I can just always rely on Karly for a feel good book, which helps pick up my mood and get me out of a slump.

So many things I loved about this one, but especially that of the relationship between Erin and her grandmother, it was just beautiful and bought me to tears a couple of times and reminded me very much of me and my Oma.

There is a found family secret, which lead to searching of family history and then to found family. It touches on infertility and the realistic strain that it can have on a couple and it also has the mending of a mother and daughter relationship which I loved too.

Of course there’s a love story amongst this too - will it be Jamie the cattle farmer, who Erin dated in her teens or will her cheating husband make his way back into her life?

We also see a dual timeline, where we get a look into the life of young Evelyn (Erin’s grandmother), which shares the story of the family secret and it really helped to get a sense and understanding of the decisions she made and the losses that she faced.

This we be one where I will be adding a copy to my library.

[Matilda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't remember how I came across this book. It was either free or I got it for like $2. Either way, it has been one of the unread books in my Kobo library.

I've been slowly making my way through all my unread books (I still have a fair way to go) and decided I needed a light read after the last few heavy books (esp My Dark Vanessa).

How has this book have so many 5 star ratings? I mean it's a cute second chance novel, but 5 stars. Yeah, I give it 2 at best.

***
Tallowood Bound is a generational story.

Evelyn (the Grandmother) and her love Jimmy.
Irene (aka Serenity) Evelyn's daughter
Erin (Irene's daughter and Evelyn's Granddaughter).

The main character focus is Erin, who leaves the big smoke and heads back home to look after her dying grandmother.

She needs the break to recover from her broken marriage. Her husband cheated on her because she couldn't fall pregnant, so he got someone else up the duff.

Back home the feelings for her high school sweetheart are still there.

A story of 2nd chances lost love and family.

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

And with that I have now read all of Karly Lane's books! Completely out of order, but hey, given they're all standalone's it doesn't really matter.

Tallowood Bound is two stories in one. Erin in the present day, returns to her grandmother's home after she is admitted to a nursing home. Going back also means encountering her teenage boyfriend, Jamie, whilst she tries to get her head around her marriage breakdown.
Back during the time of WWII, it is also the story of Evelyn (Erin's grandmother), who meets an American pilot whilst her fiancee is away at war.

Both tales are beautifully told and absolutely wonderful reading. I did have a sense of deja vu and thought for a moment I might have already read this before, but I think the feeling was due to another book I've recently read, not this one.

Yes, it's predictable but it's sweet and beautiful and absolutely worth the read.

[Vicki Basham]

When Erin Macalister heads to her home town to help take care of her beloved grandmother she’s relieved to be leaving behind both the city and the remnants of a broken marriage. Arriving in the small rural town she finds nothing much has changed there – including Jamie McBride, who lives on the neighbouring farm to her and is as ridiculously good looking as he was when they were seventeen and madly in love.

Desperate to bring back her grandmother’s smile, Erin goes through old photo albums with her. Though frail and confused her grandmother tells vivid stories about the past, including memories of a soldier she once loved. Erin’s curiosity about the man deepens when she finds an engagement ring he once gave her grandmother.

Meanwhile, Jamie McBride seems intent on rekindling their relationship, even though Erin’s not at all sure she wants to risk heartache again…

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a lovely story. I thoroughly enjoyed the switch between 1943 and the present and thought that Evelyn’s story (Gran) was brilliant and I enjoyed that more than the present day story.
A great read and I highly recommend

[Diana Innes · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read this a part of a bookclub - otherwise I wouldn't have chosen to read it. This may affect my opinion of the book. It was a glorified Mills and Boon romance novel. I can't understand why it would be chosen for a bookclub.

[Lynette Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Erin leaves the city to return to her small country town to look after her grandmother and also to recover from a marriage breakdown she meets up again with Jamie with who she had a romance when they were 17 .He now wants to rekindle the romance but she is now certain

[Necia Lynch · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy listen love story, relationships durIng the war, family history, sadness a day connections. Finishing with the ending, you always want.

I will.listen to more of Karly's books as this one was a great one to listen to whilst travelling.

[Isabeau Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the dual story lines
The writing was perfectly executed to showcase the amazing stories and I loved the little bit of mystery included.
Karly lane made me fall in love with outback Australian romance when I found one of her books in a little book nook and now I endeavour to read them all

[Becc McNally · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me years to find a copy of this book then I randomly found it at market!

10/10 in my eyes! Like every book of Karly's you are transported to the world it has been written in!

[Lauren Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this in a day! Nice easy reading - Aussie bush romance

[Alana Clough · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love historical fiction. A good light read with a bit of a twist at the end.

[Rae Hawkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I felt so much with the characters and felt somewhat sad when it ended. Thank You for yet another great book Karly Lane

[Robyn Coyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it, loved it, loved it. What a great storyline. So very interesting and learnt something about WW1 way up north.

[Kylie Simpson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book from page 1 I knew it was going to be hard to put it down. Karly Lane never disappoints with her books.