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Blackpeak Station
Four generations of the Black family have farmed Blackpeak Station. Next in line, or so she believes, is Charlotte Black, stubborn as rock and unbiddable as the weather. But standing in her way are 150 years of tradition, an older brother, and a father who believes that daughters run families, not farms.
To make her childhood dream of owning the family property come true, she'll have to be as tough as the mountains themselves. There can be no room for romance in Charlotte's life. Or so she thinks, until it arrives at her door. Can she have both love and land, or must she choose? Can Charlotte learn to trust her heart?
To make her childhood dream of owning the family property come true, she'll have to be as tough as the mountains themselves. There can be no room for romance in Charlotte's life. Or so she thinks, until it arrives at her door. Can she have both love and land, or must she choose? Can Charlotte learn to trust her heart?
- GenresRomance
352 pages, Paperback
First published April 5, 2013
4 people are currently reading
58 people want to read
About the author
Holly Ford
9 books21 followersHolly Ford was raised in southern sheep country, spending her childhood and early adult years among hill properties of varying sizes. Like most New Zealanders, she has always loved the South Island's high country, and admired the women and men who work it.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
September 23, 2019
Another good fun high country romp
I really feel like I'm in the high country when I read one of these books. The characters, including the secondary ones feel authentic and real.
Nice use of the Christchurch earthquakes as a plot device, and made me shiver with the unexpectedness of it and the scary reality. (It's really a very minor part of the book so don't go reading it for that. It's just that coming from Christchurch any mention of these events makes my heart race a little.)
I'll definitely be reading the next book in the series.
I really feel like I'm in the high country when I read one of these books. The characters, including the secondary ones feel authentic and real.
Nice use of the Christchurch earthquakes as a plot device, and made me shiver with the unexpectedness of it and the scary reality. (It's really a very minor part of the book so don't go reading it for that. It's just that coming from Christchurch any mention of these events makes my heart race a little.)
I'll definitely be reading the next book in the series.
October 19, 2020
Enjoyable story set in the New Zealand high country.
April 29, 2021
Anothet ripper read! Thanks for the journey to the beauty of the long white cloud, it's rugged country and farming, and the havoc wreaked by the somewhat quirky characters and storylines of the Black Peak books! I am a huge fan!
July 16, 2017
Fab fun read, didn't want it to end. Beautiful setting, great characters, pages flew by. Straight onto the next one and loving that too.
September 15, 2017
This is an author i will be reading more of....easy to read little bit of love and a bit of drama
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October 11, 2023Kindle
August 29, 2024
Very easy read
December 30, 2016
I have to admit that I skimmed the hell out of this puppy. Before halfway I was ready to DNF, but had a look at the last page and kind of wanted to see how they got there... the answer... skim, skim hard. And it still wasn't really that interesting how it got there!
There was a fair bit of droning on about similar scenes to what we'd already read. The h just got on my nerves... I know there are people like that out there, but she's supposed to be capable of running a significant farm/business, and apart from the two in a row of the weather issues, where she really should have learnt a lesson off the first shock and not put off action on the second, she did seem to be. But then there was the irritation of her personal life! I just wanted to throttle her most of the time. Really don't like her much at all on any level. And of course the unfair sexisim of the dad grates on the nerves, but if it's written well in the story, then it works... this one didn't make the cut. And the brother... he knew it was unfair, thought it was unfair, and never really wanted the farm and knew his sister did and she was the one (now, and in the future) working her ass off for it, but when it came up to her getting a cut, he was straight to 'wow, can't afford to give you any'. But really, what did he have? She got a $500k trust fund she couldn't touch, and he go a $7m property he didn't want to work. That isn't $7m in cash, so it's not like he would have been cutting his lifestyle to cover it. She was running the place so he didn't have to bother and could live his dream that he'd never fessed up to his father about anyway. So yes, in his position, I would have immediately signed over at least half of it, no questions asked. She was offering to pay him for it, but he didn't even give her a discount. He was happy to keep paying her a basic workers wage for the rest of her life while she ran the property he didn't even want so that he could cut material while running around Italy. Now there's a prince... chip off the old block.
... and when I was looking to quit, I went in search of the blurb to make sure it was the book I was reading, and noticed that there are two more books... Bk2 $19, and Bk3 is $15!!!! OMG, nothing and no one could convince me to spend that much on them (I'd struggle justifying $3), even if I was interested in continuing. I got bk1 for free, and I still feel a little ripped off. That's time I am never going to get back... I could have been cleaning my nails or the fridge.
There was a fair bit of droning on about similar scenes to what we'd already read. The h just got on my nerves... I know there are people like that out there, but she's supposed to be capable of running a significant farm/business, and apart from the two in a row of the weather issues, where she really should have learnt a lesson off the first shock and not put off action on the second, she did seem to be. But then there was the irritation of her personal life! I just wanted to throttle her most of the time. Really don't like her much at all on any level. And of course the unfair sexisim of the dad grates on the nerves, but if it's written well in the story, then it works... this one didn't make the cut. And the brother... he knew it was unfair, thought it was unfair, and never really wanted the farm and knew his sister did and she was the one (now, and in the future) working her ass off for it, but when it came up to her getting a cut, he was straight to 'wow, can't afford to give you any'. But really, what did he have? She got a $500k trust fund she couldn't touch, and he go a $7m property he didn't want to work. That isn't $7m in cash, so it's not like he would have been cutting his lifestyle to cover it. She was running the place so he didn't have to bother and could live his dream that he'd never fessed up to his father about anyway. So yes, in his position, I would have immediately signed over at least half of it, no questions asked. She was offering to pay him for it, but he didn't even give her a discount. He was happy to keep paying her a basic workers wage for the rest of her life while she ran the property he didn't even want so that he could cut material while running around Italy. Now there's a prince... chip off the old block.
... and when I was looking to quit, I went in search of the blurb to make sure it was the book I was reading, and noticed that there are two more books... Bk2 $19, and Bk3 is $15!!!! OMG, nothing and no one could convince me to spend that much on them (I'd struggle justifying $3), even if I was interested in continuing. I got bk1 for free, and I still feel a little ripped off. That's time I am never going to get back... I could have been cleaning my nails or the fridge.
October 19, 2013
Ms Ford's book set in New Zealand's Mackenzie high country transported me to this amazing countryside. The setting was so important it was virtually another character which, if you love New Zealand's South Island and the history around these massive farms among the mountains as much as I do, you really enjoy.
I enjoyed Charlotte's story and overall liked the book. It was a quick and easy read.
But I did feel there was so much more than could have been done with this story. There was such potential to engage with the characters more, to really feel their emotions, to take virtually every high and every low further. It was all a bit light, soft and nice for my tastes and it definitely would have been good to see things from another point of view other than just the main character.
Overall, great to see a New Zealand publisher presenting a genuine New Zealand setting and characters, but I still think this could have been a better, more engaging story.
I enjoyed Charlotte's story and overall liked the book. It was a quick and easy read.
But I did feel there was so much more than could have been done with this story. There was such potential to engage with the characters more, to really feel their emotions, to take virtually every high and every low further. It was all a bit light, soft and nice for my tastes and it definitely would have been good to see things from another point of view other than just the main character.
Overall, great to see a New Zealand publisher presenting a genuine New Zealand setting and characters, but I still think this could have been a better, more engaging story.
December 3, 2013
(Louise) America has rural romance, Australia has Red Dust romance, and finally we have Gold Dust romance set in the rugged South Island high country of New Zealand. Holly Ford has created a wonderful tale of life on a high country station mingled with just the right amount of romance to set your heart aflutter. If you are looking for an escape from the daily grind, this book will transport you to the majestic grandeur of the high country, its harsh climate and the heart-warming people who work the land. I highly recommend it.
October 15, 2014
Great NZ setting and novel that flowed well with realistic characters. Neat to see something homegrown and was able to clearly visualise the setting with ease having visited many of the places. Being a Christchurch resident I was surprised to see the event in the novel (didn't expect that) and it did bring back a few memories. It was tastefully done.
Have Blackpeak Vines now to read and am interested to see the development from novel to novel. From reading the blurb I can almost predict who and what is going to feature. Great escapism from the reality of day to day.
Have Blackpeak Vines now to read and am interested to see the development from novel to novel. From reading the blurb I can almost predict who and what is going to feature. Great escapism from the reality of day to day.
March 18, 2018
Rural romance in New Zealand
- honestly, what else can you wish for?!
I've lived in NZ for a year, and this book made me feel so nostalgic and fall in love with this country all over again.
I've lived in NZ for a year, and this book made me feel so nostalgic and fall in love with this country all over again.
March 21, 2016
this book was ok, easy enough to read, a bit boring in places, I think there is a sequel which I may read eventually but I am not in any hurry.
July 16, 2013
a great easy book to read!
September 5, 2014
Loved the landscape and the farming references
March 28, 2015
Realistic characters and dialogue, great to see a New Zealand setting in a book
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews