Emerald Springs… GIVEAWAY!
It’s no secret I am a Fleur McDonald fan… both as an author and a friend. She’s a great mate and a very talented writer.
If you are new round here, here is a quick snapshot about Fleur…
Looking back to the very first time I reviewed a book for her (in 2011) I am amazed at how close we have become in such a short time, despite the fact that we have met just twice in real life!
(Me and Fleur during recent visit here!)
And before I get to the review proper, and to the exciting GIVEAWAY at the end of this post, I need to say thanks to Fleur for toasting our special, social-media inspired friendship in the acknowledgements of his book…
Love the plug for Outback Paparazzi too – what an amazing group it is. (If you haven’t joined us yet, would love you to come on over and travel through our days (and around Australia) with us!)
I love reading back through Fleur’s books (there are now SIX) to see how her writing has evolved. She brings to her novels not just the atmosphere of the Australian bush, and characters who leap from the pages, but she also weaves a little romance, nail-biting suspense, and intriguing crime between the covers too.
‘Emerald Springs’ showcases this evolution of Fleur’s brand of ‘bush lit’ beautifully…
The precis of this book reads:
After finishing university, Amelia Bennett returns to her home town. Determined to lose her old reputation for being scatty, she works hard to prove herself as the treasurer of the local rodeo committee.
Flushed with triumph on the evening of the best rodeo in the town’s history, Amelia is driving the bags of cash into town when she becomes the victim of a terrifying smash and grab. Injured and distraught after her ordeal, she’s even more devastated when she finds out that she and her boyfriend Paul are the objects of suspicion.
To prove her innocence and that of the man she loves, Amelia must convince a sceptical detective that her account of what happened does add up and that he must help her track down the real culprits . . .
If you have ever been part of a bush town, you will recognise some of the types of characters who live in Emerald Springs… and their ability to ‘know’ your secrets while keeping their own out of sight. Gossips, fiances, farmers, cops and criminals populate the pages – and it becomes quite hard to tell who is who.
Our heroine is one quite close to my heart – she has come home and feels she must prove herself (something I can identify with!) and learns that great intentions mean little when sinister goings-on begin to touch the lives of everyone she loves.
The storyline juggles a series of storylines and relationships, building to one almighty climax (with a twist) – I won’t give away too much here, but know you had better put aside a few nights to read late into!
Emerald Springs is available in hard copy in good bookstores, online via Allen & Unwin and Booktopia, in e-book format (Booktopia and Amazon).
To celebrate this great novel (and the fact I have finally got my act together, after reading it while quite sick during chemo treatments) Fleur is GIVING AWAY one signed copy of EMERALD SPRINGS!
Just leave your suggestion (in comments) for the outback place you’d most like to see a novel set…
🙂
Wattle the weather be?
29 Comments
Kelly
I’ve only read one of her books (so far), but would love to read more. So I hope this is an international giveaway. 🙂
I think it would be great if her next novel took place right there at Granite Glen! 😀
Kelly´s last blog post ..A Good and Useful Hurt by Aric Davis
Anne@GritandGiggles
Awwww, I’ve already bought and read it, so don’t put my name in the giveaway. Another great novel from Fleur, that is for sure. The best part of all is that I named her ‘Amelia’ 😉 I enjoyed reading it and as always can’t wait for the next one.
Anne@GritandGiggles´s last blog post ..Sheets and Sugar
katrina swyny
what about outback in Darwin.
have never been there myself but could be diffrrent
andraya
I love to read Fleurs books! I would love a book set around Alice Springs.
Sheree Wright
We have a lot of family history around Manilla NSW and have been there for holidays for pretty much all of my younger life. I couldn’t explain how awesome it would be to have one of my fav writers write about a place that’s close to my family and I.
Kacee Glynn
I absolutely LOVE Fleur’s books and have several of them but have yet to buy Emerald Springs.
I would love reading about Uluru and the Aboriginals from there in one of Fleur’s books 😀
Katrina Nixon
My daughter, Jasmine and I always look forward to reading Fleur’s newest novel. Instead of a novel about an area what about a novel about a country passion, like showing cattle/horses, campdrafting, team yarding/sorting, rodeo, horsemanship challenges where the heroine travels with her horses/dogs, meets someone special, issues arise – horse napping, drugs (animal & human), affairs, jealousy etc etc. There are some beautiful country showgrounds that would create a great backdrop.
Lisa Kitney
I’d LOVE to see a novel set in The Kimberley! 🙂
Andrea Johns
Ummmmmmmmm Wolfe Creek?!
Kez McKenzie
Would love to see a book set in the wilds of Kakadu or the Kimberly’s!
sabrina brookman
I would to see a novel set in my home town which is port germeine as it is a beautiful little beach town and I love living here
cate brand
luv the books great easy reads
Jane Dorrell
All of Fleur’s novels have been great reads, just need to get this one! Would love to read a novel set in the Kimberleys.
Laurie Biddle
Having spent time in what was labelled as a ghost town for 8 years “Mary Kathleen” Around 20 families permanently based there while the town was under care & maintenance, the mining town being on a cattle station with city head office wallahs and mining personal coming and going gave so many facets to life. I have often thought it would make a great scenario for a book.
Tracey Miller
Have enjoyed all the novels so far, looking forward to the opportunity to read this one. My suggestion would be one to set in the western queensland outback with a basis of surviving drought, and maybe some of the proceeds could be then given to the communities that are suffering the most.
Fleur
Great suggestions! Keep ’em coming, I’m planning a road trip!
Barb
Hi Fleur,
I think you should base a book in and around the Bunya Mountains in Qld.
It is one of my favorite places and very magical!
Maureen Clifford
I’d love to add this to my bookcase – our Australian writers are some of the worlds best and I love any yarns based on Australian farming from someone who knows what they are talking about. I would love to see a novel written around Wool producers in Queensland/NSW border country where I spend some happy times on our property before the drought saw us off. The people out there are doing it tough and have been for the past 15 – 20 years with the weather not playing the game and wool prices see sawing.
Maureen Clifford´s last blog post ..PORTRAIT
kathy
Would love to read this book looks to be my kinda read never read hers before .
Brooke
I would like to see a novel based around Broome – where the outback meets the ocean!!
There are many properties that neighbour around this area of WA, than you also have pearl farming too which is also very exciting to think that both aspects could be incorporated into the 1 story. (lol)!!!
I’m sure that Fleur could work her magic with this!!
I would be a huge fan… Who doesn’t like he beach, pearls and farmers?!
Sarah Birchmore
I love Fleur’s books! My mother, sister and I have our own little book club, devouring these books from our far flung corners of Australia!
carly
anywhere around the kimberley’s!
Aileen O'Neill
I’d like to see a novel set around Broken Hill NSW, with a bit of the mining history of the area incorporated into it.
This sounds like a great Aussie book to add to my collection of Australian authors, I haven’t read any of Fleur’s books yet, but would love to start!
Michele Krome
Not sure it’s exactly the outback but El Questrophas always fascinated me for some reason. I will happily go and do some research for her lol
Bek
I’d love to win this book!! I think maybe somehow incorporating the ” floating cattle yards” (I.e the boats out of Darwin providing the north with a livelihood thru live export.) We see the cattle trucks rolling thru town heading north on a regular basis and I think it’d be a seeing truely unique!
Tracy
I love Fleurs books and have read all expect Emerald Springs. Love the idea of a Broome setting, outback, ocean, pearls or the next book.
Ranch Girl
welli have no specific answe to the question as I don’t know the county- but the book sounds right up my alley!!
Leonie Quick
I think Coober Pedy would be an interesting location for a novel to be based in, all that underground living and all.
PS I love Fleur’s books, I’ve got three & share them to spread the gospel 🙂
BB of Oz
Time is UP!!!!