What do you think?
Rate this book
Winter at Medora Downs
From the multi-award-winning author Anne Rouen, comes her first Modern Romantic Suspense novel set in the Australian Outback of the 1980s.
Sarah, a young Sydney schoolteacher, plans to escape her violent and controlling fiancé, David, by disappearing into the Outback in search of a new life as governess to two orphaned children who live on a remote cattle station in Western Queensland, known as Medora Downs. Everyone she meets there seems friendly and welcoming, even the somewhat enigmatic, yet devastatingly handsome station owner-Devin Mainwaring.
All too soon, Sarah discovers that all is not as it seems in this remote paradise. As she becomes entangled in a triangle of love and jealousy, life quickly unravels. Sarah finds herself the victim of a series of deadly accidents, seemingly designed to eradicate her from the picture. Despite the best efforts of her watchful protectors, one thing is Sarah must discover who is determined to kill her or die in the process.
A crack team of Outback detectives is put on the case. Although the evidence seems to be pointing in an obvious direction, there's one surprisingly brilliant mind who is onto the would-be murderer.
Can they save Sarah before she becomes just another statistic, and will she finally find the love she so deserves?
Sarah, a young Sydney schoolteacher, plans to escape her violent and controlling fiancé, David, by disappearing into the Outback in search of a new life as governess to two orphaned children who live on a remote cattle station in Western Queensland, known as Medora Downs. Everyone she meets there seems friendly and welcoming, even the somewhat enigmatic, yet devastatingly handsome station owner-Devin Mainwaring.
All too soon, Sarah discovers that all is not as it seems in this remote paradise. As she becomes entangled in a triangle of love and jealousy, life quickly unravels. Sarah finds herself the victim of a series of deadly accidents, seemingly designed to eradicate her from the picture. Despite the best efforts of her watchful protectors, one thing is Sarah must discover who is determined to kill her or die in the process.
A crack team of Outback detectives is put on the case. Although the evidence seems to be pointing in an obvious direction, there's one surprisingly brilliant mind who is onto the would-be murderer.
Can they save Sarah before she becomes just another statistic, and will she finally find the love she so deserves?
- GenresRomanceRomantic Suspense
398 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 15, 2021
2 people are currently reading
1065 people want to read
About the author
Anne Rouen
9 books60 followersAnne Rouen—the nom de plume of Lynn Newberry—is the award-winning author behind the successful historical fiction series, Master of Illusion and, more recently, a set of standalone contemporary historical fiction romance and suspense novels set in the Australian Outback.
Lynn is a retired Australian country woman, currently living in the north-west region of New South Wales. A graduate of the University of New England, she is a former teacher, dressage rider and cattle breeder. A life on the land, including eleven years in Outback Queensland, has mixed nicely with her penchant for writing romantic suspense in historical settings.
More recently, Lynn exchanged her farm for a delightful small acreage on the edge of a village, where she writes full time. As horses and writing are her greatest passions, Lynn now embraces an idyllic lifestyle, since she has time to delve into the historical research she so loves.
Writing as Anne Rouen, Lynn self-published her historical romance/mystery series Master of Illusion with great success, winning four literary awards across the entire set. Book I (Master of Illusion Bk I) and Book III (Angel of Song) achieved Silver (2014) and Bronze (2016) respectively in the Global Ebook Awards for Modern Historical Literature Fiction. Book IV (Guardian Angel), the final in the series, was awarded Silver (2018) in the same category and Bronze (2018) for the Global Ebook Awards Best Ebook Cover.
Lynn has seen continued success in the Global Ebook Awards with her Australian Outback romantic suspense novels. In 2022 Winter at Medora Downs achieved a Gold Medal for the Best Ebook Cover, Silver for Best Suspense Fiction and Bronze for Best Modern Historical Literature Fiction in a contemporary setting. Wild Kingdom scooped the pool in the 2023 Global Ebook Awards with four gold medals (Best Ebook Cover, Best Historical Literature Fiction—Contemporary, Best Romance Fiction Historical, Best Western Fiction) and the prestigious Dan Poynter Legacy Award for Best of Fiction. Again, in 2024, Secrets of the Rock followed in the footsteps of its predecessor Wild Kingdom and achieved the same four gold medals across the same categories.
Lynn also achieved a Highly Commended in the 2011 Rolf Boldrewood Literary Awards for her short story The Scent of a Criminal and a Commended in the 2018 Thunderbolt Prize for Crime Fiction for The Min Min Light.
You can find more information about Anne Rouen and read her blog at www.annerouen.com.
Lynn is a retired Australian country woman, currently living in the north-west region of New South Wales. A graduate of the University of New England, she is a former teacher, dressage rider and cattle breeder. A life on the land, including eleven years in Outback Queensland, has mixed nicely with her penchant for writing romantic suspense in historical settings.
More recently, Lynn exchanged her farm for a delightful small acreage on the edge of a village, where she writes full time. As horses and writing are her greatest passions, Lynn now embraces an idyllic lifestyle, since she has time to delve into the historical research she so loves.
Writing as Anne Rouen, Lynn self-published her historical romance/mystery series Master of Illusion with great success, winning four literary awards across the entire set. Book I (Master of Illusion Bk I) and Book III (Angel of Song) achieved Silver (2014) and Bronze (2016) respectively in the Global Ebook Awards for Modern Historical Literature Fiction. Book IV (Guardian Angel), the final in the series, was awarded Silver (2018) in the same category and Bronze (2018) for the Global Ebook Awards Best Ebook Cover.
Lynn has seen continued success in the Global Ebook Awards with her Australian Outback romantic suspense novels. In 2022 Winter at Medora Downs achieved a Gold Medal for the Best Ebook Cover, Silver for Best Suspense Fiction and Bronze for Best Modern Historical Literature Fiction in a contemporary setting. Wild Kingdom scooped the pool in the 2023 Global Ebook Awards with four gold medals (Best Ebook Cover, Best Historical Literature Fiction—Contemporary, Best Romance Fiction Historical, Best Western Fiction) and the prestigious Dan Poynter Legacy Award for Best of Fiction. Again, in 2024, Secrets of the Rock followed in the footsteps of its predecessor Wild Kingdom and achieved the same four gold medals across the same categories.
Lynn also achieved a Highly Commended in the 2011 Rolf Boldrewood Literary Awards for her short story The Scent of a Criminal and a Commended in the 2018 Thunderbolt Prize for Crime Fiction for The Min Min Light.
You can find more information about Anne Rouen and read her blog at www.annerouen.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 8, 2021
Winter at Medora Downs was the first novel I ever tried to write back in the days when I didn't even know if I could write a novel. Romantic Suspense was my first love before the Phantom of the Opera stole my heart and set me on the path of the Master of Illusion series. Recently, I found my old manuscript, dusted it off and rewrote it to my standards of today. I loved every minute of it and hope my readers enjoy it, too. And, dear readers, lest you think it is a one-off, I have two more completed manuscripts and one in the pipeline along similar lines if you happen to like this one.
December 17, 2021
I have been fortunate enough to read a pre-release copy of this novel, which is due for publication on 15th Dec, 2021 on ebook and paperback.
This is a great little cozy mystery/ suspense with a lovely touch of clean and wholesome romance. Set in the 1980s (my favourite decade), the story quickly moves you from suburban Sydney to a vastly different Outback Queensland. The outback characters and the descriptions of the scenery and environment are entirely apt for the time and immerse you in that reality very quickly. It provides a very accurate idea of what life was like in the Outback of Australia in the late 80s, with the little quirks of the language and social behaviours of the time.
The suspense is great! It truly keeps you second-guessing yourself right up til the end, with every mysterious twist being as plausible as the next. And the romantic elements are clean, yet still deliciously enticing.
You can't help but adore the protagonist, Sarah. She is sweet and innocent and altogether too trusting of some pretty wicked people around her.
If you're looking for an enjoyable read, this cozy is a great one to snuggle up with and devour.
Loved it.
This is a great little cozy mystery/ suspense with a lovely touch of clean and wholesome romance. Set in the 1980s (my favourite decade), the story quickly moves you from suburban Sydney to a vastly different Outback Queensland. The outback characters and the descriptions of the scenery and environment are entirely apt for the time and immerse you in that reality very quickly. It provides a very accurate idea of what life was like in the Outback of Australia in the late 80s, with the little quirks of the language and social behaviours of the time.
The suspense is great! It truly keeps you second-guessing yourself right up til the end, with every mysterious twist being as plausible as the next. And the romantic elements are clean, yet still deliciously enticing.
You can't help but adore the protagonist, Sarah. She is sweet and innocent and altogether too trusting of some pretty wicked people around her.
If you're looking for an enjoyable read, this cozy is a great one to snuggle up with and devour.
Loved it.
July 26, 2022
Anne Rouen is such a great writer. Her ability to transport the reader into the time and place of her creation is a real talent.I always find myself completely wrapped up in the lives of her characters. Her ability to create suspense is second to none, for me.
I really enjoyed reading Winter at Medora Downs and look forward to reading a lot more of her work.
Congrats, Anne Rouen. I love, love, loved this novel.
I really enjoyed reading Winter at Medora Downs and look forward to reading a lot more of her work.
Congrats, Anne Rouen. I love, love, loved this novel.
January 18, 2022
I won a copy in a giveaway and I can't wait to get started! Seems like this story will keep my on my toes.
February 5, 2022
This is one of the best books I have read in a long time! So well written, great character development, excellent detail-it made me feel like I was there. Romance with some suspense, my favorite!
February 23, 2022
A very satisfying read with romance, suspense and mystery all in one story. I loved the setting in the Outback and how she described the ever changing weather.
March 30, 2022
I won this in a goodreads giveaway.
It was ... eh. The writing wasn't super great, nor was the story, but it was an easy read and I didn't hate it.
It was ... eh. The writing wasn't super great, nor was the story, but it was an easy read and I didn't hate it.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews