The Mallee Girl

by Jennifer Scoullar

A heart-warming new rural romantic suspense set in the Victorian High Country by the bestselling author of Brumby's Run.

Armed with nothing but some loose change and her beloved dog Duke, Mallee girl Pippa Black has finally found the courage she needs to escape a dangerous relationship. Two cryptic words written on a paper napkin send her in search of the one person who might help her – a long-lost brother she has always dreamed of finding.

Pippa’s quest leads her to the remote town of Currajong, high in the beautiful Victorian alps. As a runaway seeking refuge among strangers, Pippa learns that she’s been mistakenly implicated in a shocking crime. She finds her way to Brumby’s Run, a wild-horse sanctuary, where she begins work assisting the enigmatic farm manager Levi, and becomes entranced by Thowra, a magnificent golden stallion who leads a herd of brumbies in the region. Both man and horse will teach Pippa more about herself than she ever thought possible – including when to run, when to hide, and when to stand up and fight.

Set among the majesty of the High Country snowgums, The Mallee Girl is a moving and heartfelt story about the power of love and the land to heal old wounds, and the freedom that comes in confronting your greatest fears.

Genres: Romance, Audiobook, Romantic Suspense

308 pages, Paperback

Published April 12, 2022

About the author

Jennifer Scoullar Bio

Jennifer has always harboured a deep appreciation and respect for the natural world. Her house is on a hill-top, overlooking valleys of messmate and mountain ash. A pair of old eagles live there too. Black-shouldered wallabies graze by the creek. Eastern Spinebills hover among the callistemon. Jennifer lives with her family on a beautiful property in the mountains, that was left to her by her father. Horses have always been her passion. She grew up on the books of Elyne Mitchell, and all her life she’s ridden and bred horses, in particular Australian Stock Horses. She has nine published novels. Brumby’s Run (Penguin 2012), Currawong Creek (Penguin 2013), Billabong Bend (Penguin 2014), Turtle Reef (Penguin 2015), Journey's End (Penguin 2016), Fortune's Son (Penguin 2017), The Lost Valley (Pilyara Press 2018), The Memory Tree (Pilyara Press 2019) and Wasp Season (Pilyara Press 2020)

Reviews

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pippa Black is one of those characters that draw you into the story and as you turn the pages you are taken on a journey unlike any other.

The Mallee Girl by Aussie author Jennifer Scoullar is a fabulous read. There is so much to love about this book with great characters, including Duke the faithful dog, brumbies and a descriptive rural setting that you can visualize as you are reading. I have read quite a few books by this author now and I’ve enjoyed all of them including this one. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pippa Black was preparing the dough for bread when she heard her husband, Cade arrive home. But he shouldn’t be home at this time, and she wondered what was wrong. It was when he grabbed her, yelling that they had to leave immediately, that Pippa started to feel fear once again. As Cade pushed the car to its limits, Pippa knew better than to ask with the mood he was in. Soon, with the help of others, they were far away, and Pippa had no idea how she could escape this latest terror…

Frightened, amazed she’d got away, she picked up her dog, Duke and headed off. The farm was the first place Cade would look. Leaving the Mallee country and driving towards the Victorian alps, to a small town called Currajong, she hoped she’d find the brother she’d never met. But she continued to look over her shoulder, convinced Cade would find her. When she arrived at Brumby’s Run, where the beautiful horses from the high country were rescued, she was hired by the manager, Levi Goldstein. Pippa was in her element, working with horses, helping with the foaling, remembering all she’d known from her own horse when she was a young girl. But she was still desperately afraid. Would Pippa be safe from Cade? Could she ever find peace while Cade was out there? Would she ever see her family again back at Utopia?

The Mallee Girl by Aussie author Jennifer Scoullar was a brilliant read, intense, gripping and filled with heart pounding moments. Romantic suspense – heavy on the suspense – at its best! I loved it. Pippa was a perfect character and her love for the horses shone out. The magnificent stallion, Thowra, leader of a herd of brumbies up in the high country, fascinated Pippa. His striking gold colour made him stand out from the rest. Duke was a loyal dog, always by Pippa’s side. I’ve enjoyed the author’s previous work, and this one is no exception – in my opinion, this one is her best yet! Highly recommended.

With thanks to the author for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mallee Girl is a lovely rural Australian Romantic Suspense book by Jennifer Scoullar. After a fighting night with her husband, Pippa Black finally found the courage to leave him. However, where could she go and hide from her husband when she remembered her lost brother who lives in the remote town of Currajong? On arrival, the brother was away on his honeymoon. The manager of the Brumby's Run Levi, through Pippa, was the new stock hand. The readers of Mallee Girl will continue to follow Levi and Pippa to find out what happens.

I should read more books by Jennifer Scoullar because I have no problem engaging with the plots and characters in every book I have read by her. Mallee Girl continued my tradition with her books, and I had trouble putting this book down. I love Jennifer Scoullar's portrayal of her characters and how they intertwine throughout this book. Mallee Girl is well written and researched by Jennifer Scoullar. I like Jennifer Scoullar's description of the settings of Mallee Girl, which allows me to imagine being part of the book's plot.

The readers of Mallee Girl will learn about the consequences of domestic violence for families in rural areas. Also, the readers will understand the importance of looking after the Australian Brumbies.

I recommend this book.

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

*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com

After producing a number of rural fiction, contemporary environmental fiction and historical fiction novels Jennifer Scoullar revisits the genre that made her a household name with her latest book, The Mallee Girl. With themes of courage, resilience, survival, fear, domestic issues, personal rights and racism, there is much more to this title than romance.

Closely following the complicated life of true-blue country girl Pippa Black, The Mallee Girl tracks this brave young woman’s story as she chooses safety over violence. In search of a long-lost family member, Pippa decides to take a chance on a new life away from her Mallee region home. Landing in an isolated town named Currajong, Pippa seeks solace in the healing power of this new countryside. But things take a turn for the worse for Pippa when she is linked to a crime in the area. After setting off to work at a local horse sanctuary, Pippa becomes distracted by a mystical horse named Thora and a charismatic farm manager. Pippa builds a relationship with this wild horse and the farm manager, which gives her the power to reclaim her life once again. Will Pippa find peace, solitude and acceptance in the high country?

Australian storyteller Jennifer Scoullar has been a regular fixture on my reading radar for almost ten years now. I read Currawong Creek when I first discovered the rural romance genre a decade ago. I have continued to seek out and support this author’s work as I greatly admire her approach. I can’t think of another author who successfully combines pressing environmental and animal rights issues within a highly engaging narrative.

It was a true pleasure to be acquainted with Pippa Black, the very appealing lead of The Mallee Girl. I immediately felt sorry for Pippa and I desperately wanted her to overcome her challenges. It was a joy to oversee Pippa’s growth and change cycle as the story progressed. Scoullar has included a number of memorable secondary characters, both human and animal, who provide a wealth of interest to this story arc. I really enjoyed the interactions, spoken and unspoken with these figure. It was lovely to be involved in the world depicted in The Mallee Girl .

It may appear as though this is a soft and gentle rural romance title, but The Mallee Girl consists of a number of hard issues. From racial tension, inequality, violence, domestic abuse, dangerous crimes and disputes, this novel has a great deal to offer conflict wise. The high country is rendered vividly by the author’s generous prose which transports the audience very easily to this wild locale. With the raw beauty of the local flora and fauna of this region which is expressed clearly in the pages of The Mallee Girl, this is an immersive rural tale. With a full circle close that incorporates plenty of drama, Jennifer Scoullar’s latest was an inspiring read.

With themes of self respect, contemplation, bravery, seizing the day, connection, love and the healing power of nature leading the way, The Mallee Girl is another success story from Jennifer Scoullar.

*Thanks extended to Penguin Books Australia for providing a free copy of this book for review purposes.

[Tien · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed Jennifer Scoullar’s novels as each one has some Australian environmental aspect which I can appreciate anew. This time, we are immersed in the world of wild horses. Not just any wild horses though, there were many references which reminded me of Elyne Mitchell’s Brumby series which I guess is the point as author is also a big fan. I wouldn’t call myself a horse person but the reverent and beautiful description of these horses make me feel that I could be.

The protagonist, Pippa Black, is easily likeable especially as she grew in leaps and bounds throughout the novel. Her romantic interest, Levi Goldstein, though is totally a keeper! While I found parts of the plot a little hard to believe and/or rather convenient for the overall plot, I thoroughly enjoyed the read. Such a feel good read that I’d highly recommend as we hide under our blankets these rainy days!

My thanks to Penguin Random House for this paperback copy of book in exchange of my honest thoughts

[Beccabeccabooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Often used as a punching bag, Pippa Black dreams of breaking free from her abusive husband, Cade. When she is kidnapped and unintentionally dragged into a horrendous hate crime along with Cade's gang, Pippa finally grabs her chance.

Armed with just a few possessions, spare change and her trusty dog, Duke, Pippa turns her back on the farm that's only held bad memories for the past four years, and hits the road in the hope of meeting her long lost brother, Drew. The intended destination is Brumby's Run, her brother's wild horse sanctuary. To her complete shock, it's not Drew who meets her at the gate. Instead, Pippa makes a somewhat awkward first impression with farm manager Levi when she accidentally sets the wild golden stallion Thowra free. This majestic creature plays a major part in Pippa's recovery and the bond between the two is glorious.

With her brother on his honeymoon and nowhere else to go, Pippa decides to go along with the theory that she's an experienced station hand. Despite now having somewhere safe to stay and an income, Pippa remains petrified and retreats into herself more. There's a silver lining in the form of Levi's kindness and the calming surrounds that boosts her confidence. Still, a mistake causes Pippa to go in the run once more, an action that worryingly gives Cade the upper hand...

The Mallee Girl deserves to earn a place as an Australian classic. It's impossible not to cheer for Pippa, who displays incredible acts of bravery throughout. Her journey towards reclaiming her life is inspirational, and the gentle encouraging Levi remains by her side with every step.

Jennifer really has a talent for drawing her readers in. The scenery is described magnificently, easily capturing the mind's eye, the instant romance between Levi and Pippa is believable, plus the tension leaves you hanging onto your seat. Not forgetting the animal friends we make- including the gorgeous Kelpie companion Duke, who is one part canine Houdini and the other fiercely protective of his mistress. His antics often left me smiling.

I'm really excited to delve into Jennifer's back catalogue, starting with how Brumby's Run came to exist.

A more than deserved 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

[Mandie (allbookedout_with_mj) · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fabulous read this was! A rural romantic suspense that weaved some really important topics through it giving it real depth!

I absolutely adored the main protagonist Pippa! She was so brave and I just loved watching her grow on a personal level throughout the story. This is a girl that doesn’t give up, she fights hard until the end!

Running from her abusive husband, Pippa heads to the remote town of Currajong in search of finding a long lost brother and in hope that he can help her. She is adamant her husband won’t find her here but soon Pippa finds she is also on the run from the law due to a violent crime her husband committed and implicated her in.

On arrival at Brumby’s run, a wild horse sanctuary owned by her brother she finds he is away on his honeymoon. Mistakenly taken as someone applying for a farm hand job by the attractive farm manager Levi, Pippa soon finds herself assisting Levi on the farm.

A situation will soon have Pippa needing to come clean to Levi about who she really is but will doing that put her in jeopardy of being found by either her husband or the law?

The Mallee Girl was the first I've read of Jennifer Scoullar, yet another Australian author that I'm excited to read more of in the future!

Thank you @penguinbooksaus for the #gifted review copy

[Craig and Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Penguin for sending us a copy to read and review.
I need to and regularly mix up my reading genre repertoire, inviting variety and I believe a greater appreciation of an authors work.
This rural suspense is a great example.
I was hankering to read a rural and my did this one hit the spot.
Pippa escapes a violent marriage and runs.
Knowing he would seek her out she flees to the place where she hopes her long lost brother may be.
She soon discovers she is not only on the run from her husband but also the law, a crime he implicated her in has her face all over the news.
Arriving at Currajong she gets a job, meets a sexy guy and hopes to meet her brother when he returns.
Healing from the emotional and physical hurt she knows she must come clean about who she is and what she knows.
Information that will jeopardise her new found stability.
A whirlwind of abuse, new found love and confronting past demons are all at the forefront as the mean spirited husband trails behind her.
A great example of a rural suspense and romance that had me totally drawn in. Adorable lead characters are offset by the evil menacing husband and a father who needs a dose of humility.
The beauty of landscape, the majestic qualities of horses and the need to protect our environment all enhance this gripping plot.

[Leah Bower · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book a lot

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A contemporary Australian rural romantic suspense novel set in the Mallee country and the Victorian high country. Pippa Black manages to escape the terrifying ordeal of a violent abusive marriage and flees to the Victorian Alps with her loyal Red Kelpie, Duke. In search of a half-brother she has never met, she finds her way to Brumby Run, a horse sanctuary where she encounters horseman Levi Goldstein and the beautiful wild stallion Thowra (a nod to the Australian children’s classic The Silver Brumby). I enjoyed the point-of-view chapters of her husband Cade-a jealous, small-minded thug-as it is unusual to read books written from inside the head of such a character. This book was dramatic, at times implausible, but highlighted issues such as domestic violence, racism and religious fundamentalism, Pippa having been brought up in a very closed-minded bigoted religious community. It was good to see her begin to spread her wings and rethink her life’s boundaries and assumptions.

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

Thrilling! A great read.

[Marcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have loved every book by Jennifer Scoullar that I have read, and The Mallee Girl was no exception. In The Mallee Girl, Scoullar skillfully combines her passion for nature and love of horses with the underlying dark themes of bigotry and domestic violence.
Pippa Black is the mallee girl, raised by a Christian Pastor father who selectively chooses those parts of the Bible to quote and rule his family by, home schooled to protect her from secular influence and with a mother who is the model submissive wife.
The way those who proclaim to follow God’s teachings cherry pick the parts of the Bible (whether Old or New Testament) to believe and quote as God’s word has always fascinated me. In Pippa’s case her father prefers the often misogynistic and xenophobic aspects of the Old Testament to the more loving and all-encompassing view of the New Testament, while at the same time despising those of the Jewish faith for whom the Old Testament is the Bible!
Having been raised in a very secluded manner, home schooled so she has minimal access to friends, Pippa has no experience when Cade Black shows an interest in her, but her father approves of him and soon she becomes his wife. Having been raised that it is a wife’s duty to submit to her husband, Pippa endures the increasing violence that Cade perpetrates, knowing that she will get no support from her parents if she leaves him.
A combination of drought, and Cade’s total ineptitude, lead to him needing to leave the mallee farm and seek work in the mines, where he is an easy target for those sowing hatred against Jews, Muslims, immigrants etc.
The events that follow lead Pippa to summon up the courage to escape and undertake a search for a half brother that her mother has alluded to. Assuming a new identity Pippa endeavours to leave her past behind her and create a new future. However, she doesn’t get off to a good start when she arrives at Brumby’s Run, the property she believes her half=brother may own when she accidently allows the magnificent golden, silver maned stallion, named Thowra, to escape.
Levi Goldstein has been left in charge at Brumby’s run while the owners Drew and Samantha are on their honeymoon. Although frustrated that she has allowed Thowra, a horse he has been trying to catch for years, to escape, Levi assumes that Pippa has arrived for a station hand trial and points her to her accommodation.
As the mutual attraction between Pippa and Levi grows, can Levi break through Pippa’s barriers to discover who she really is? Can Pippa put aside her distrust and fear of men to accept that not every man is like Cade, and that Levi’s gentle and caring nature is who he really is? Can she reconcile that the Jewish man in front of her is nothing like how her father and Cade have portrayed Jews to be?
And what will happen if Cade finds her?
While this book addresses some dark, but very real, aspects of society it is underpinned by Scoullar’s magnificent story telling and interactions between people and animals. Dog people will relate strongly to the character Duke, Pippa’s magnificent Red Kelpie, and the bond between the two of them. Even those who are not horse people cannot fail to experience the magical relationship between Pippa and Thowra. A fantastic read, with wonderful characters and a strong story line. A five-star read from me.

[Rhoda · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Thank you to Penguin Australia for sending me a copy of this book to review!

Escaping domestic violence and taking not much more than the clothes on her back and her beloved dog Duke, Pippa takes off to the Victorian High Country hoping that the name she has written on a piece of paper is indeed her half brother that she has never met.

However on her way there, it comes to light that her husband is wanted for a crime and that she has also mistakenly been implicated in it. When Pippa arrives at her half brother’s horse property, he is away but farm manager Levi takes her in. However Pippa remains on edge knowing that her husband will be doing his utmost to find her and make her pay for leaving….

Despite not being a fan of romance stories, I don’t mind a rural romance as I often enjoy the side stories and the country town settings. This one was no exception, with an adrenaline racing domestic violence story and also that of horses.

I wasn’t at all taken by the romance aspect of this story though, as I find it rather inconceivable that someone escaping domestic violence would be embarking on a romance a week later 😳 Yes, it’s fiction and maybe that’s just me, but that part most definitely was not my favourite part of the story.

That aside, I enjoyed the rest of the story and it was easy holiday reading! ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5.

[Vicki Basham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Armed with nothing but some loose change and her beloved dog Duke, Mallee girl Pippa Black has finally found the courage she needs to escape a dangerous relationship. Two cryptic words written on a paper napkin send her in search of the one person who might help her – a long-lost brother she has always dreamed of finding.

Pippa’s quest leads her to the remote town of Currajong, high in the beautiful Victorian alps. As a runaway seeking refuge among strangers, Pippa learns that she’s been mistakenly implicated in a shocking crime. She finds her way to Brumby’s Run, a wild-horse sanctuary, where she begins work assisting the enigmatic farm manager Levi, and becomes entranced by Thowra, a magnificent golden stallion who leads a herd of brumbies in the region. Both man and horse will teach Pippa more about herself than she ever thought possible – including when to run, when to hide, and when to stand up and fight.

Set among the majesty of the High Country snowgums, The Mallee Girl is a moving and heartfelt story about the power of love and the land to heal old wounds, and the freedom that comes in confronting your greatest fears.

[Wfix · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was exactly what I hoped - easy to read and engaging.
It was nice to follow a story of empowerment and adventure, where the violent villain gets they’re comeuppance in the end.
The characters were a bit generic and I didn’t find the romance that captivating - two attractive single people of a similar age and shared interests fall in love isolated on a farm *gasp*
I found it ironic in the conversation at the end when Pippa scorns the unrealistic beauty expectations of the day and downplays the importance of beauty when how attractive she is is mentioned many times during the story and is a key contributor in her first connection with Levi.
I also found the quick time frame of Pippa falling in love becoming brave and dropping all bigatory, followed by converting all her family unrealistic (unfortunately)

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another excellent book set in the Currajong. I haven't come to this series in order but I will get to all of them eventually. Pippa and Levi were wonderful characters, as always the setting was very evocative and the plot moved along and a very good pace. I would have liked to see more of Thowra the horse with Pippa in the later stages of the book but we didn't get that. Will just have to imagine it!

[Sharon Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is great story about Pippa Black who is in an abusive marriage , but lots of other things happen when her husband gets involved with some other people , and Pippa tries to run .........and thats all I can say although there are some lovely horses one special one Thowra and a gorgeous dog Duke .

[Wendy Kendall · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice easy read ret in the Australian landscape. Good descriptions of landscape making you feel you are actually in it. A love for horses, & dogs. A tangled web involving religion, bike gangs & drug influence, an Aboriginal stockman and trying to recapture a stallion which has become wild.

I give this 4 ⭐️

[Vicki Robe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really good read with action from the first page to the last. I really enjoyed the story line and makes you think of some of the marital situations that women find themselves in.

The story was really well written and you just couldn't help keeping those pages turning to see how it ends. If you love country romance with plenty of action this is the book for you!

[Jade · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good read. One that I have been able to read word for word, start to finish. Lately, some of the books I've been reading, I haven't been able to read word for word, and would just skim over a fair bit.
Pippa finds a different side to her she never knew she would get ever in her life. Family and husband troubles have held her back from living the life she wanted.

[Joanne Barton · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a brilliant read - I read it in about less than one day! I thoroughly enjoyed Brumby’s Run and The Mallee Girl. Evoked memories of my childhood reading The Silver Brumby series by Elyne Mitchell - hiding under the covers with a torch reading! Highly recommended - you will not be disappointed 😃

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trigger warning- Domestic Violence

The first two chapters are really good and take you right into the story.

I thought this was a good novel although the ending was a bit rushed to tie everything up.

[Ann D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read from Jenifer Scoullar. I always pick up Jennifer's books without reading the back.
This book moved from the mallee to NSW and then to the Victorian Alps. Filled with romance, violence and crime. A thoroughly satisfying read.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story that captured my heart and soul, and broke my heart. Will take a while to digest this one and come up with some coherent and complete thoughts.
Loved it.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

good

[Mary Ladrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent listen on audio. Really enjoyed it!

[Tea the library lady]

Deals with domestic violence. I read it in one day.

[Trudi Lawley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book. First time reading this author. Will def seek out all her other books. What a great read.

[Francophile25 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this in 2 days flat. It was so absorbing. The characters came to life immediately. A jolly good read.

[Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made for uncomfortable reading at times. But it was necessary to the storyline. Loved the characters, except Cade obviously. Loved the ending. A great read.