Lost in a Good Book

The Christmas Tree Farm (#3) by Laurie Gilmore

21 Jul 2026 Leave a comment

by Amy in 2 Stars, Audiobook, Romance Tags: Audiobook, dream harbor, dream harbour, laurie gilmore, regina reagan, romance, two stars

Published: 10 October 2024 (print)/10 October 2024 (audio)
Publisher: HarperCollins/HarperCollins
Pages: 369/8 hrs and 7 mins
Narrator: Regina Reagan
Format: Audiobook
Genre: Romance
★ ★ – 2 Stars

Kira North hates Christmas. Which is unfortunate since she just bought a Christmas tree farm in a town that’s too cute for its own good.

Bennett Ellis is on vacation in Dream Harbor trying to take a break from both his life and his constant desire to fix things.

But somehow fate finds Ben trapped by a blanket of snow at Kira’s farm, and, despite her Grinchiest first impressions, with the glow of the fairy lights twinkling in the trees, and the promise of a warming hot chocolate, maybe, just maybe, these two lost souls will have a Christmas they’ll remember forever…

The Christmas Tree Farm is a spicy romantic mystery with a HEA guaranteed, perfect to curl up with this winter!

This was the book I initially wanted to pick up as a holiday read last year but then realised it was part of a series. Even though it was unnecessary, I dutifully read them in order, hence the sightly out of season review, but it was interesting to see the story and town develop before I got to this one.

This one can actually be read out of order. There isn’t anything you miss from the others that would impact you understanding or appreciating this book. Being out of town and a relative newcomer there isn’t a lot of town knowledge you miss that Kira isn’t learning herself.

I liked Kira’s rough edges and her misguided choices. The rich girl running away to live a farm life without any knowledge or experience comes back to bite her early on, but her grumbling acceptance of her failings is good to acknowledge.

The connection with Bennet isn’t as saccharine as the previous two romances, as the series goes on Gilmore seems to have reigned in the sickly sweet, but isn’t diverging from the insta connection. Which is fine, that’s what the romances are for.

The fact each of these has a mystery element in it is a stretch. I would not call this a mystery, it’s a barely there subplot that is not enough to be classified as a mystery in the genre sense. This is still predominately a romance. Even the other two didn’t have a strong enough mysterious element I’d call a mystery and it was more than this one.

When I picked these books up I was thinking it would be more mystery with a cosy romance element. Alas, we’re in the full on romance with minor possible afterthought of a mystery. The fact that after I finished this story I couldn’t even think what the mystery was days later without looking it up should be evident enough this is a pure romance.

There also isn’t a lot of Christmas in this book. I’ve seen enough small town Christmas movies I thought it would be this in book form but it’s mainly Kira on her isolated farm and then hooking up with Bennet. There isn’t a lot of anything else going on.

I am trying to widen my reading so I will keep going with the series. The characters are interesting enough that I can handle some intense, explicit romance. I just wish a little more plot would be included and maybe a bit more depth in the characters.

You can purchase The Christmas Tree Farm via the following

QBD | Dymocks | Booktopia

Wordery | Blackwell’s | Angus & Robertson

Fishpond | Amazon | Amazon Aust | Audible

Follow the Rabbit Proof Fence by Doris (Nugi Garimara) Pilkington

16 Jul 2026 Leave a comment

by Amy in 4 Stars, Australian Women Writers, Classic, Fiction Tags: australia, australian women writers challenge, aww, classic, doris (nugi garimara) pilkington, doris pilington, first nations classics, four stars, movie adaptation

Published: 30 May 2023
Publisher: University of Queensland Press
Pages: 192
Format: Paperback
Genre: Novella
★ ★ ★ ★ – 4 Stars

A Stolen Generations story of astounding courage: three Aboriginal girls, taken from their mothers, escape barefoot back to their beloved homeland in East Pilbara.

This is the true account of Nugi Garimara’s mother, Molly, made legendary by the film Rabbit-Proof Fence.

In 1931 Molly led her two sisters on an extraordinary 1600-kilometre walk across remote Western Australia. Aged eight, eleven, and fourteen, they escaped the confinement of a government institution for Aboriginal children removed from their families. Barefoot, without provisions or maps, tracked by Native Police and search planes, the girls followed the rabbit-proof fence, knowing it would lead them home.

Their journey – longer than many of the celebrated treks of recognised explorers – reveals a past more cruel than we could ever imagine.

Based on a true story this is a personal account of the journey Doris’ mother and relatives took to return home after escaping confinement as part of Australia’s Stolen Generations practices.

I was surprised to find this book was only published in the 90s. For some reason I thought it was a long classic from the 60s that had been turned into a film later on. But the movie on which it was based came out not long after this was published.

The Wikipedia page has interesting history on how Doris found out about the story and it documents the stages this story went through – from original draft in the 80s until a reworking to what we know today. It is also surprisingly different from the movie which was my first introduction.

It still contains the harsh realities of what the children and families in these Aboriginal communities endured, but there are also differences from the movie – less abduction more informed intent and little chance to fight back against government regulations.

The included letters and telegrams show that no one followed orders or the rules and had their own interests – surprise surprise. That hurt to read because of how avoidable it all could have been, at least for this family.

There is also the blatant reminder about how abhorrent this actually was and for how many decades this went on. This is a book everyone should read, it’s a short book but important because while it is a little fractured, a mixture of story elements and explanations from transcriptions, it flows well and tells the story.

You can purchase Follow the Rabbit Proof Fence via the following

QBD | Dymocks | Booktopia

Wordery | Blackwell’s | Angus & Robertson

Fishpond | Amazon | Amazon Aust | Audible

Don’t Fall for the Trick by Jessica Bain

10 Jul 2026 Leave a comment

by Amy in 4 Stars, The Picture Book Corner Tags: children's picture book, four stars, jessica bain, picture book, scott stuart

Published: 25 February 2025
Publisher: Affirm Press
Illustrator: Scott Stuart
Pages: 32
Format: Picture Book
★ ★ ★ ★ – 4 Stars

An empowering rejection of gender stereotypes, this book unpacks the unconscious biases that hold us back from true equality.

Have you ever heard something that doesn’t sound true? Something that you know for a fact is false? It feels like a trick, doesn’t it?

Every day, we come across many tricks that keep the world from being a truly equal place. This book helps kids and their grown-ups to learn the tricks that are holding us all back so that together we can smash gender stereotypes and create positive change.

Less a story and more an educational guide this is a book that talks directly to the reader about things they have observed, experienced, or may come across in their lives in relation to the patriarchy and societal “rules”.

Calling it The Trick is a great way to explain to kids that society used to, and sometimes unfortunately still does, have rules and ideas on what men and women, boys and girls can/should be. And while we have gotten better at understanding all rules are made up and colour has no gender, there are a few people who will keep perpetuating these ideas, even if they don’t mean to.

Bain explains the patriarchy in a simple way that shows how a long time ago there were ideas set in place that were enforced but weren’t true. This covers everything from women couldn’t vote, men had to go to war, to men being bosses and women only being assistants.

This is the “trick” being addressed. Bain tells reader in non-judgemental ways, with very brief sentences that there are no rules on what you can wear or enjoy and it’s up to us to gently point it out when people get it wrong.

Like the xkcd Today’s Lucky 10 000 comic, this book treats the reader as someone who now knows people out there don’t know about the Trick and they must rectify this to make a more equal world. It isn’t about judgement or criticism, Bain directs it as more of an educational moment. There are examples of boys being picked on for playing tea parties or men trying to enforce the idea that they aren’t good in the kitchen, and the all-knowing kids able to teach them that anybody can do anything.

Scott Stuart is back, from My Shadow is… fame but this time as illustrator only. The design on the kids is diverse and creative. I loved spotting all the tiny details in the background and the different scenarios people may come across The Trick.

The story Bain has written is great and is a great balance on teaching kids about the world without being too preachy or detailed. It is a gentle introduction to the patriarchy and a great stepping off point for kids and adults that there are no girl colours, boy sports, exclusion isn’t nice, and people can like, do, and play whatever they want.

You can purchase Don’t Fall for the Trick via the following

QBD | Dymocks | Booktopia

Angus & Robertson

Fishpond | Amazon | Amazon Aust

One of Us is Back (#3) by Karen M. McManus

09 Jul 2026 Leave a comment

by Amy in 4 Stars, Audiobook, Mystery, Young Adult Tags: Audiobook, four stars, Holly Linneman, Jeff Ebner, karen m. mcmanus, mystery, one of us is lying, robbie daymond, shannon mcmanus, thriller, young adult

Long Lost Reviews is a monthly meme created by Ally over at Ally’s Appraisals which is posted on the second Thursday of every month. The aim is to start tackling your review backlog. Whether it’s an in-depth analysis of how it affected your life, one sentence stating that you only remember the ending, or that you have no recollection of reading the book at all.

Published: 27 July 2023 (print)/27 July 2023 (audio)
Publisher: Penguin/Penguin
Pages: 368/10 hrs and 12 mins
Narrator: Shannon McManus, Holly Linneman, Robbie Daymond, Jeff Ebner
Format: Audiobook
Genre: Young Adult Mystery/Thriller
★ ★ ★ ★ – 4 Stars

At first the mysterious billboard seems like a bad joke: Time for a new game, Bayview. But when a member of the crew disappears, it’s clear this ‘game’ just got serious – and no-one understands the rules.

Ever since Simon died in detention, life hasn’t been easy for the Bayview Crew. First the Bayview Four had to prove they weren’t killers. Then a new generation had to outwit a vengeful copycat. Now, it’s beginning again.

The thing is, Simon was right about secrets-they all come out, eventually. And Bayview has a lot it’s still hiding.

Everyone’s a target. And now that someone unexpected has returned to Bayview, things are starting to get deadly.

Simon was right about secrets – they all come out in the end.

This I’m resigning into a Long Lost Review because my notes are few, my memory of it is non-existent, and even the blurb is giving me nothing. I have a few notes but don’t remember much from this book. Even reading plot summaries nothing is sticking. Given my notes are about it being a bit confusing probably has something to do with it.

As the story starts there is a pause to recap previous books as characters are introduced. It’s seamless enough, but it’s a lot to recap given the complexity of previous books which makes it a little wordy and awkward all the same.

The cast has grown which is acknowledged, there are a lot of people to keep track of, and to mix the old ones in with the new and bring new readers up to speed and refresh memories is a lot. With the return of previous characters you can see growth, how they haven’t changed, how they are beyond high school even though it hasn’t been that long.

I have given it four stars so I must have enjoyed it, but maybe also I enjoyed McManus’ writing style, enjoyed returning to these characters, and maybe the plot was good and interesting at the time but isn’t one that sticks.

You can purchase One of Us is Back via the following

QBD | Dymocks | Booktopia

Wordery | Blackwell’s | Angus & Robertson

Fishpond | Amazon | Amazon Aust | Audible

Santa and the Saddler (#3) by Cathryn Hein

07 Jul 2026 Leave a comment

by Amy in 4 Stars, Audiobook, Australian Women Writers, Romance Tags: Audiobook, aussie, aussie books, australian women writers challenge, cathryn hein, four stars, romance, rural romance, sophie loughran

Published: 18 October 2016 (print)/1st January 2025 (audio)
Publisher: Cathryn Hein/Bolinda Audio
Pages: 167/4 hrs and 3 mins
Narrator: Sophie Loughran
Format: Audiobook
Genre: Rural Romance
★ ★ ★ ★ – 4 Stars

Windmill fabricator Danny Burroughs doesn’t have time to wait in line at the local saddler. But his little sister has her heart set on a unique piece of saddlery for Christmas and he can’t let her down.
Expert saddler Beth Wells has no idea that when she comes to small town Levenham to look after her grandfather’s shop she’ll be swamped with customers. Overrun by day, Beth is forced to work late into the night on Christmas orders.

When super-cute Danny arrives at the saddlery after midnight wearing a Santa suit, a broad grin and pleading she make his sister’s present, Beth makes a deal – she will take the order in exchange for Danny’s help. Except this flirty Santa’s idea of helping involves more than stacking shelves, and in the confines of the saddlery their smouldering attraction soon becomes a blaze. But no matter how hopelessly drawn she is, Beth has a job interstate and a mum who needs her. Anything more than friendship is pointless. Will these two chance-met strangers find the courage to gamble on their love? Or will the girl Danny’s been looking for all his life leave nothing behind but a sweet Christmas memory?

This was a good story, I liked the characters and the continuation of the Levenham community was satisfactory. It expanded beyond the character we’d already been introduced to but still had a few connecting figures to remind us this was still the same town. A fun detail I noticed was the population of the town grew again by 2k people between books so congrats on their booming population!

I liked Beth’s connection to the shop, and how it was a good location to have a realistic connection and catch up with not only Danny but the community. Being an out of towner gave readers a chance to learn more about the town as Beth learns it, and seeing her strive to make things right for them by Christmas showcased her good spirit and personality as well.

Hein’s theme in this series so far of having the men have a small personality issue is an interesting choice. It may not be intentional, it may be connected to the dark, brooding, strong silent, grumpy trope or whatever, but I was surprised how Beth enjoyed how possessive Danny was of her.

He was a great character and guy – again, we need nice things and want him to get together with Beth – but he did get possessive which I would have thought Beth would fight against and call him out. But, this is her love story and what works for Beth works for Beth. The upside of Danny is he is doing something for his little sister. So that gives him a pass. Hein is very good at not making the characters too unpleasant that become unrealistic and connections unbelievable.

Loughran does a good job on the audiobook. The story comes to life and each character felt unique, their own personalities coming through. It’s a quick read but one that is full of story and character, Hein a skilled master at bringing the most punch to a short story.

I am enjoying going through this series and moving through the residents and seeing the events of one book play into another. Hein’s picked her characters and storylines well so they don’t become too overlapped and the characters in previous books don’t crowd the story of later characters and yet are still connected enough to feel like an interwoven series.

You can purchase Santa and the Saddler via the following

Booktopia

Blackwell’s | Angus & Robertson

Fishpond | Amazon | Amazon Aust | Audible | Author