Daintree

The Porter Sisters #2

by Annie Seaton

Doctor Emma Porter is one such survivor, living in an isolated cottage as past hurts heal, dedicated to her patients and to preserving this precious land where she has made a home. But her quiet life is disrupted when Doctor Jeremy Langford starts working at the hospital, bringing back painful Jeremy was her first love and embodies all that she left behind in Sydney. Jeremy has demons of his own, however, and the tight-knit community of Dalrymple seems to promise the peace he has been looking for. But while some come to the Daintree to find shelter, others are here to exploit the rainforest's riches. And they will stop at nothing to get their hands on its bounty.

Genres: Romance, Romantic Suspense, Contemporary, Crime, Mystery, Fiction, Suspense

352 pages, Paperback

First published November 29, 2016

About the author

Annie Seaton lives near the beach on the mid-north coast of New South Wales. She is fulfilling her lifelong dream of writing and has been delighted to discover that readers love reading her stories as much as she loves writing them. Her career and studies spanned the education sector for most of her working life until she took up a full-time writing career. Each winter, Annie and her husband leave the beach to roam the remote areas of Australia for story ideas and research.

Readers can contact Annie through her website annieseaton.net or find her on Facebook and Instagram.

Reviews

[Phrynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pleasant easy read about an outback community and its way of life. I enjoyed the descriptions of the scenery and the wild life very much. I liked the characters too. Emma and Jeremy were well suited and their romance was sweet and believable. George was a great character and his relationship with Doctor Emma played a vital role in the story. On top of all that the cover is just beautiful. I am giving a whole star just to that.
Highly recommended if rural romance is one of your favourite genres.

[Melissa (Mel’s Bookshelf) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

Another quality rural romance by Australian author Annie Seaton! Around this time last year the first of the Porter sisters novels was released "Kakadu Sunset" and I fell in love with the writing, the romance, and the setting. It wasn't until after my review was up, and I had a chat with the author - that I discovered she actually lived in the same town as me when I was growing up, and actually taught at my high school! Small world!

In this instalment, Emma Porter is living up in the Daintree rain forest. She is an emergency doctor who is happily living her life working and taking care of the community, when new doctor Jeremy enters the scene. He is an old flame and their relationship had ended abruptly and confusingly. As well as the old romance, Emma is trying to deal with some strange events that are occurring in the rain forest, ones which have put her life in danger.

Firstly, can we just take a moment to appreciate the cover of this book. Absolutely beautiful! Great choice! I think it was a perfect cover for the atmosphere of this book. I absolutely loved the setting! I thought Emma was a great character and I really enjoyed the mystery and adventure. And of course, the romance was lovely.

There are not may negatives! The only things were I felt that a few things in Daintree were a tiny bit rushed, and I was a bit disappointed about the way it went with Jeremy's family. It felt a bit unresolved to me. I also figured out the final twist and the identity of the bad guys very early on, but that didn't stop me from thoroughly enjoying the thoroughly wonderful story! So much more positive than negative! I thought it was just wonderful!

Would I recommend Daintree?

Absolutely! For any romance fan, and who doesn't love an Aussie rural romance to get away from life for a few hours! I can't wait to read the next one!

Many thanks to author Annie Seaton and Pan Macmillan Australia for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an enjoyable rural romance set amongst the stunning landscape of the Daintree rainforest in North Queensland. I've only been to the Daintree once, and that was a while ago, but Annie Seaton's lush descriptions brought it all back to me.

Dr Emma Porter has been living a quiet life in a little cottage nestled in the rainforest on the outskirts of Daintree Village for three years now. As well as working at the local hospital, she has established a local holistic medicine practice using natural remedies from the rainforest to successfully treat her patients and her reputation has grown. However, her quiet existence is thrown into turmoil when her ex boyfriend, Dr Jeremy Langford arrives in Daintree, hired to set up some outreach clinics in the area as well as fill in at the hospital during busy times. Emily last saw him just before she had to leave Sydney to return to the Northern Territory because of a family emergency. He never answered the letter of explanation she sent him or returned her calls so she's unsure if she wants to have anything to do with him now.

I enjoyed the characters as much as the setting, especially Emma's friends, crusty old George who looks out for her and Wilma who teaches Emma local remedies and where to find the ingredients. Someone is up to no good in the rain forest so there is also a bit of a mystery to be solved and some bad guys to unveil. Recommended for those who enjoy their romance embedded in a good story.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr Emma Porter had made a success of her life after the devastating events of five years previously; she was proud of her efforts and the respect she now received. Dalrymple in the Daintree was her home now; her work was divided between the local hospital and her clinic – her long time goal fulfilled. Emma’s little cottage was across the river from old George’s place with access by punt; she loved the quiet solitude that living with only her small dog Bowser for company meant, and although isolated, returning to her home after a hard day was the relaxation she needed.

Emma’s shock at the identity of the new doctor to join them at the hospital brought back painful memories of the past – Dr Jeremy Langford’s disbelief at his first sight of Emma had him feeling the same. But as the two tiptoed around each other in those first days, there were things going on in Dalrymple and the Daintree which would cause ripple effects to cascade through the whole town. For the beauty and exotic creatures of the rainforest were drawing unwanted danger to the area, and Emma’s curiosity looked bound to have her facing uncertainty and terror as the peaceful community was shattered.

Daintree by Aussie author Annie Seaton is the second in The Porter Sisters trilogy and as utterly gripping and intense as the first, Kakadu Sunset (Ellie’s story)! With a fast paced, brilliantly crafted plot, the suspense and intrigue was well done. I loved the descriptions of the Daintree; the research which obviously went into Aboriginal healing using leaves and roots from the bush – the gorgeous birds and deadly creatures (which weren’t so gorgeous!) Daintree is one I highly recommend and I’m really looking forward to book 3 which I guess will be Dru’s story. Romantic suspense at its best!

With thanks to the publisher for this copy to read in exchange for my honest review.

[Dale Harcombe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four and a half stars.
Emma Porter is a doctor and holistic medicine practitioner living in the Daintree are where she has made her home. When Jeremy Langford, a new doctor from Sydney, arrives on the scene Emma is less than impressed. Jeremy and Emma had been in a relationship years before. It ended abruptly and in a way that left Emma unwilling to renew too close a relationship. But it may not be so easy to keep a distance when they are working in close proximity. What Emma does not know is Jeremy is trying to flee some tragic issues of his own that made him long to get out of Sydney and away from the family medical practice. The community of Dalrymple seems to offer the peace and relaxed lifestyle Jeremy is looking for. But there is more going on in the area than either he or Emma knows. George, an elderly resident and Wilma, an elderly indigenous woman have become Emma’s friends, along with Emma’s precious canine friend Bowser. Both George and Wilma at times try and urge Emma to leave things alone. But Emma is determined to find out what is going one. Except it could put her life and that of others in danger.
This is the second book in the series about The Porter sisters. Though I have not read the first, it didn’t matter. I was quickly caught up with the characters and what was going on. I liked Emma, even though I didn’t always like the choices she made. I also liked Jeremy, George and Wilma. The setting is well conveyed, and gives a great picture of what this area of Australia is like with its amazing bird life and dangerous snakes. I have never been to the Daintree or likely to go, but I feel like I have been as I could see it all from the pictures painted.
Some characters were not so likable and it was a bit predictable fairly early on, who the villains in the tale were. The ending seemed a bit rushed but other than that I was thoroughly interested in this story. Loved the cover which sets the scene well. Another great Australian rural romantic suspense book that also tackles serious issues affecting society as well as our wildlife.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second book in The Porter Sisters series, although it seems to work fine as a stand-alone novel. Set in the Daintree rainforest area of tropical Far North Queensland it is both rural romance and mystery.

Dr Emma Porter is a doctor and holistic health practitioner living in Crooked Cottage, by the river outside Daintree Village. and nearby the town of Dalrymple. I’m assuming Dalrymple is a fictional town, although there is another abandoned town in North Queensland with this name, called so after the explorer, infamous for massacres against local Indigenous groups. Emma has close relationships with both the feisty old codger George and Kuku Yalanji woman and traditional healer Wilma Randall. She has just developed an interest in conservationist Troy when her ex-boyfriend Jeremy unexpectedly arrives as the new doctor town. Things start to go awry after George is beaten up by a group of suspicious men in the rainforest, and Wilma’s pet snakes are stolen. There appears to be a smuggling ring stealing exotic birds and animals. How can Emma juggle the demands of her work, her concern for the people she loves, the danger she increasingly faces and the pull on her heart?

This is a pleasant enough story. The audio narration was good. I found the identity of the criminal fairly easy to work out early on in the piece. Emma is an OK character, although a fairly bossy sort of do-gooder. I find it disconcerting when doctors are so forceful with their patients, even when it is well-intentioned, assuming that they always know best. I enjoyed the sense of place and appreciated the fact that the story gives credit to local Indigenous groups for their knowledge of bush medicine, but found myself a little uncomfortable with the way this was handled. Sure Emma pays for the herbs she receives from Wilma, but essentially enhances her own career using Wilma’s traditional knowledge. I did actually like the way Jeremy was appointed as the new director responsible for setting up new remote outreach clinics. So typical to appoint a city bloke who has never set foot in the region, and has no understanding of the culture and logistics over a competent woman already living there with all the local contacts! Lots of eye-rolls here, but not at Annie Seaton, she is totally right, this would exactly be what happened. Overall, a nice romantic suspense that highlights a beautiful part of Australia and the evils of wildlife-smuggling. 3.5 stars for me

[Deb Omnivorous Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Daintree Village lies North of Cairns, on the way to the top of Australia. It is nestled in the tropical Daintree Rainforest, a region of stunning beauty, with an amazing biodiversity which is considered one of the most complex ecological systems on earth.

It is quite a few years since I was last there, and this book brought it all to life so vividly, that I wanted to hop straight in my car and make a start on the 2000 kilometers and 23 hours it would take to get there. (Well, according to google maps, which lies, it would actually take about three days drive to get there, as I know, having done it).

This book follows Dr Emma Porter, who has been part of the tiny community of Daintree for three years, working in the hospital, running a clinic which uses complementary medicine. She is busy, but hopeful of becoming busier if she gets the job she has applied for a (very loosely defined) regional medical coordinator. I am really hazy on exactly what this job was meant to entail, but in any case it does not much matter. Emma does not get the job, it is granted to a Sydney Dr, one Jeremy Langford who wants to move away from the glittering life of Sydney specialists and practice in the bush. For reasons of his own he also wants to move more toward administration work that will get him out of emergency departments.

Now, of course, being a romance, Drs Emma and Jeremy are our leading couple. They used to date back in Sydney when they were undergrads, then Emma mysteriously left and they have not been in communication since. This leaving is one of the plot twist/obligatory misunderstandings that are the staples of romances and though I can be impatient with them, this author pulls off this one really well. I liked Emma, I liked Jeremy - I believed in their connection and without too much suspension of disbelief I believed in the shared history that brought them together originally and caused their separation. I very much enjoyed watching them get back together again.

To be honest though, it was the setting that drew me to this novel rather than the romance and this book did not disappoint. I really like and respect the way this author brings regions of Australia to life, so the tropical North QLD setting where I lived for years - this was perfect! The details were delightful, and even the 'bad bits' like the terrible roads and the mold that consumes the everything were lightheartedly described.

There were a few small things I did not much care for, but the only real thing I did not like is a spoiler; As the novel reaches it's crescendo of a conclusion, as the evil wildlife smugglers are hovering at their most threatening.... There was this thing that was annoying the hell out me that broke the flow of it all. Ok, so the town cops are the smugglers, our heros know that and can't call on them for help. Fine. Instead of getting on the phone to the police in Cairns (a mere few hours away) or even the federal police who could not POSSIBLY be involved in the smuggling ring, instead of these very safe, very sensible actions, Emma and Jeremy, allegedly smart people, fluff around in circles waiting of Emma's ranger friend Troy to get in touch with them and handle it all.

Honestly, I kind of wanted to scream. It is not as though they didn't have phone reception or access to the internet. They were dealing with criminals who had attempted murder on Emma, succeeded in arson and were engaging in a FEDERAL OFFENCE. (Incidentally, I was not kidding when I called wildlife smugglers evil, I cannot think of a word that could be better applied to wildlife smugglers and I am happy to debate it). So, instead of calling the federal police, they waited to get a rural ranger to take care of it. This is so idiotic it is definitely worth a scream of frustration. Surely no one is that stupid? What was the point, except to set us up for the fact that Troy was head of the ring. Which fact I am pretty sure many readers, like myself, had already picked up on.

Now, aside from that annoyance above, that you should definitely regard as a spoiler, I really enjoyed every aspect of this book. The characters rang true, the secondary characters and the community in general felt remarkably real. The descriptions of the rainforest, the housed and the vegetation brought be back to the region so easily. Honestly, I could have read more about the location. It was no problem to have not read the first in the series, unless you have a problem with spoilers. We learn enough about the events in Kakadu Sunset that the conclusion will be no surprise to anyone reading it.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daintree by Aussie author Annie Seaton is the second book in The Porter sisters series. I picked this book up as soon as I finished the first book in the series which is not something I’d normally do, but I enjoyed the first one so much I felt I wanted to continue and I’m so pleased that I did because it didn’t disappoint. So far this series has been outstanding and I have a feeling the rest of the books will be too. Looking forward to the next book. Highly recommended.

[Sam Still Reading · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I first saw the cover of Annie Seaton’s Daintree, I instantly fell in love. The combination of beautiful reflections, serenity and yet that cloudbank in the distance suggests that all may not be calm in this oasis for too long…The cover matches perfectly with this story that reunites two lonely people who stumble across something sinister in the forest, bringing them together as they fight their own demons in the background. It’s not all sweetness, but gutsy with a few shocking chapters! If you’re a fan of romantic suspense, you will definitely enjoy Daintree.

Set in tropical Far North Queensland, Emma Porter has found her quiet life. She lives in an isolated cottage outside of the small town of Dalrymple and happily combines her work as a doctor with that of an alternative (holistic) practitioner. Sure, it can be a bit lonely but that’s what she wants after past hurts. But when she doesn’t get the job of Outreach clinic coordinator/doctor, she’s more than a little surprised to find that the successful applicant is none other than Jeremy, her first love. Their parting many years ago was traumatic and unresolved. Jeremy’s looking for a quiet place of his own to avoid his demons and the family plastic surgery practice. He’s more than happy to see Emma again and respects her ways even though he doesn’t always truly agree with them. But when Emma finds something in the rainforest that doesn’t make sense and her dear friend George is assaulted by strangers, it’s only the start of something big simmering in the town. Who can Emma and Jeremy trust – besides each other?

I haven’t read the first book in the series (Kakadu Sunset, which tells the story of Emma’s sister Ellie) but that didn’t matter. I felt Emma’s life was explained very well and in a bonus, it didn’t spoil the surprises of Ellie’s story. I’m guessing the next story will be about third sister Dru – who knows in which exotic locale she will be? (Actually, if you really want to know, Annie gives a good hint!) I respected Emma as a character, although like Jeremy, I can’t say I was always a fan of some of her actions. I found it a bit difficult to believe that she could be in her late twenties, a senior doctor and have an additional Masters in complementary medicine too – she must be a super genius! Sometimes I felt she got a bit preachy about alternative medicines and some of her speeches (particularly to Jeremy) were a bit of an information dump! (I bet he can Google well after his medical training an MBA – again at a young age). Emma can be a bit impulsive and determined to do things her way, but I found that Jeremy’s character countered her nicely. As a reader, I felt more in sync with him and I could relate to his need to be himself, rather than who everyone else wanted to be.

The supporting characters are also done well. I defy anyone not to love George, Emma’s elderly friend, who is a lovable scamp. Wilma, who lives at the edge of the forest, is a good influence on Emma and incredibly knowledgeable. Even the ‘baddies’ are crafted well – I didn’t even guess one of them!

Daintree is a solid read – once I got used to Emma’s slightly preachy ways and got more of Jeremy, I enjoyed it.

Thanks to Pan Macmillan for the copy of this book - my review is honest.

http://samstillreading.wordpress.com

[Shelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having thoroughly enjoyed the first of Annie Seaton's Porter Sister's Trilogy - Kakdu Sunset. I was, of course, keen to get straight to seeing what Emma- sister #2, was up to. While perhaps not the dark twist I felt in the first book there was none the less, enough mystery and suspense going on coupled with just the right amount of romance so as not to come across as trite.

Like the first book, Seaton has captured the essence of the location - this time the Daintree. The theme of conservation once again runs strongly through the book - clearly a passion that Seaton feels.

The characters were believable with a wonderful relationship unfolding between the characters of Emma, Jeremy and George, the latter felt like an old irascible fellow you chided, but only half-heartedly.

Annie Seaton once again delivers a solid offering and of course, I am looking forward to Book 3 regarding the youngest Porter sister.

[Kerrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Annie Seaton's website says that she writes "Women's Fiction in Australian landscapes." The Australian Women's Weekly calls it an action and romance packed thriller, that "raises the bar in rural fiction." I agree with these thoughts.

Certainly Annie Seaton's recognition of some of the current social and ecological issues in Australian life today comes through loud and clear. Her writing is tight and concise.

Perhaps the direction this story will take is signalled too obviously right from the beginning, but I found it a satisfying enough read, with believable characters and scenarios. It is not a murder mystery but there are mysteries to be solved.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daintree is book two of the Porter Sisters by Annie Seaton. After a busy week with working at the Dalrymple Hospital and her medical clinic, Emma wanted a quiet night with her friends at the local Dalrymple pub. However, this did not happen Dr Emma Porter first love Dr Jeremy Langford came to town has the new Doctor. The readers of Daintree will continue to follow Dr Emma Porter and Dr Jeremy Langford to see if they rekindle there love affair.

Reading Daintree, I became more in love with Annie Seaton books. Daintree is well writing and researched by Annie Seaton. I enjoy Annie Seaton portrayal of her characters. Annie Seaton does a great job intertwining her characters especially George, Emma, and Jeremy. As soon as I open up the first page of Daintree, it hooked me with the twist and turns of the plot. The plot of Daintree is fast moving, and I was surprised with the ending.

The readers of Daintree will start to understand the importance of protecting Australian Wildlife. Also, the readers of Daintree will learn the problems and role that Outreach Medical Programs have for rural communities.

I recommend this book.

[Kirstin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really loved the setting and a bit of romance is always lovely. The descriptions of the forestation were lush and same with the animals. Highly recommend

[Janine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely romance with a bit of suspense based in a great part of the country. Well written.

[Sally906 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story - review to follow

[Dísir · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think the draw of this series is the very unique Australian bush-scape that Annie Seaton writes with such painstaking detail about, as well as the community life that's hard but rewarding in so many ways. In fact, I'd say this book is more rural fiction with slight romantic elements than a straight out romance itself; the star of the book is the Australian environment in the north and the incredibly tough way of life that few people can relate to.

There's a side dose of suspense and a case of wildlife trafficking as those who should be protecting the people and the national parks are found guilty of compromising them instead, but by and large, 'Daintree' feels very much like a loving tribute to those who live far from the cities and survive on grit, strong neighbourly bonds and the core services that support them.

The pace of the story unfortunately mirrors the setting in the bush and the pace of rural life : it's slow at times and the second chance romance is merely brushed on when it comes to Em and Jeremy, whose connection seemed to be tainted by Em's very judgemental attitude towards the latter after they ended badly 6 years ago. Characters sometimes veered towards the stereotypical and I actually thought the pairing needed more work - Em/Jem spent most of the book in a push-pull state that hurtled towards a rather rushed conclusion -, but mostly, this was an eye-opening read simply because of how different it was from most other books that have graced my desk.

[Rosemary K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Doctor Emma Porter loves her life. She spends her days caring for her patients as well as preserving the natural habitat of the Daintree Rainforest that surrounds her. When her one and only love, Jeremy Langford, suddenly arrives, her life is turned upside down. He is consumed by guilt over the death of his niece and has come here to fight his demons. Will they rekindle their romance? As they struggle with their feelings an unknown enemy is stealing the living treasurers from the land and hurting anyone that gets in their way. Emma is in danger. Annie Seaton pulled me in with the beautiful setting and her larger than life characters. Emma and Jeremy are likeable characters with a powerful chemistry. I was drawn to them and wanted them to get a second chance to get their HEA. I worried about Emma. Her bravery was amazing and at times reckless. I wanted the criminals brought to justice and the Daintree to be safe. I couldn't put this book down. The Porter Sisters series is addictive. I'm looking forward to the next book.

[Jenn J McLeod]

They're calling Annie Seaton 'the next Di Morrissey' and that does not surprise me. Both authors take a real town and create a fictional story. Readers love that. I certainly loved Annie's first romantic suspense, Kakadu Sunset, because I'd been there myself. I have not been to Daintree (yet) but with this book, I got to experience the tropical heat and some fictional and not so fictional tropical dangers. The not so fictional was snakes. (Brrrrr!) On a serious note, this novel (as with the first Porter Sister's novel) deals with some very real and upsetting environmental issues (in Daintree it's the illegal transportation of wildlife). So for contemporary rural suspense in some of Australia's most exotic destinations, let Annie Seaton take you there.

[Regina · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 stars.
Shallow. Cliche. Cringeworthy.

[Anne Forrest · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy holiday read. The Daintree was the standout character in this book. What an amazing place.

[Craig and Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

While we get a storyline of delight and heart the real standout is the Daintree itself.
Dr Emma Porter lives and works in the Daintree.
Happy in her job, loving the community and looking out for the environment.
When the new doctor arrives, Emma is shocked to discover that it’s her first love, Dr Jeremy Langford.
The tensions are high but it’s soon apparent that there’s unresolved issues for them both.
But amongst the beauty of the forest lurks mystery, lies and danger and quickly everyone’s peaceful existence is shattered as Emma seeks the truth.
Daintree is book two in the Porter sisters series and it’s another enjoyable read.
The combination of intrigue, romance and suspense all make this story so exciting and satisfying with believable scenarios and complex characters.
Annie makes the reader dream of going to these magical destinations and feeling the weather and enjoying the landscape.
Scenes of majestic beauty, a cast that’s a mixed bag and a plot that is unique and descriptive, how can you go wrong.
Another solid story that transports the reader to an exotic location and has the ideal blend of ingredients for a entertaining read.
So if you can’t get to the Daintree you may as well read about how glorious it is.

[Nicole West · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Daintree, another place I hope to visit one day.

Dr Emma Porter is a dedicated doctor to her patients and not scared to learn the alternative therapies from a local indigenous lady.

After the tragic death of her father, finding her old life fall apart. And the silence from not hearing from an old boyfriend she thought was the love of her life, she picks herself up and finishes her studies to join the tight-knit community of Dalrymple.

Dr Jeremy comes home from a football weekend to find his girlfriend has left, no word, flat let out. His family does there best ti keep them apart.

Jeremy has a terrible experience in emergency that he finds hard to come to terms with. He applies for a job in Dalrymple and finds peace and the girl he once loved.

In the background there are illegal things happening which Emma keeps getting drawn into. A wildlife smuggling practice which involves the law and other influential people of the town. Will they stop this issue and find each other again.

I'm loving reading about The Porter Sisters, loving the story of the beautiful places they live in, the closeness of the sister's and the rural romance of their falling in love.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. I'm little sad that I can't find it my heart to give this five stars, but I admit I was expecting a paint by numbers romance, and got anything but. The characters were introduced quickly, and rather soon I was hooked. The action picked up, along with some twists and turns, leading to a delicious climax that made me grin. The resolution was over way too quickly, and I think I had the same complaint about the previous book, but I can't wait to complete this series.

[Denise MF · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable series. Very descriptive for the setting, AS paints a lovely picture of the area.

D - Daintree completed for my Location challenge

[Cathy Hine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book to get lost in. There was enough tension and mystery around the crimes to keep me reading, snakes I hate, and there was delightful romance as well. An enjoyable escape read.

[Bree T · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the middle book in this trilogy, we move away from the Northern Territory to north Queensland and the tropical rainforest setting of the Daintree. Emma works as an emergency doctor and also has a practice in town where she focuses on her passion of a holistic approach. The local area has been understaffed for some time but it appears that finally they are getting someone to help share the load. It’s hard to say who is more surprised at seeing the other – Emma or Dr Jeremy Langford.

Years ago at university in Sydney the two were in an intense relationship which ended abruptly with the death of Emma’s father when she had to go back to the Northern Territory. A series of {deliberate} misunderstandings lead them both to think that the other has ended things suddenly. The two were very different – Jeremy comes from a very prominent and wealthy Sydney family of private practitioners with a private school upbringing and Emma’s family always struggled to make the mango farm profitable. She had plenty of insecurity about whether or not she would fit in in Jeremy’s world. After a long period of no contact, the two will be working closely together and living in close proximity.

As well as dealing with the reappearance of Jeremy in her life and what that might mean for her both professionally and personally, Emma has noticed that there’s something weird going on in the forest. There are definitely people up to something in there and when she stumbles across something that gives her a clue, it could threaten her life.

This was another really solid story with a combination of romance and suspense that blended together really well in an exotic location. Emma is a very solitary person at the book’s opening – she lives in an isolated cottage accessed by a punt across a river with temperamental amenities. Although she works with people and occasionally socialises with a group, she seems to shun close relationships and seems to enjoy keeping her distance. I enjoyed her approach to medicine and the way in which she looks to traditional methods to supplement her modern knowledge.

Jeremy was an okay character, I didn’t really love him. I felt his assumption that Emma had dropped out because she couldn’t cope in Sydney quite arrogant and also unfounded. She got excellent marks – in fact Emma remembers to herself how Jeremy used to sulk if she got a better mark than he did. Jeremy’s background was a bit of a cliche – rich doctor dad, socialite mother, over-achieving brothers. Jeremy wants something different for himself and after a really traumatic event that he witnessed that touched him personally, he wants to approach his career in medicine quite differently. That was interesting although I do feel that he overcame his obstacles about practicing in an emergency department sort of magically, merely by telling Emma about it. That felt a bit of an easy way out for me and I’ve liked to see him do a bit more work to overcome this almost a form of PTSD. There was also little resolution with the actions of one of his family members that I felt could’ve been addressed for the sake of closure.

The mystery of what was going on in the forest was a really strong part of the story. At first I definitely thought the culprits were up to something else and I didn’t even consider the possibility of what they were actually doing. It’s plausible and I have to admit that although I was right in my suspicions about a couple of people that were involved, I was definitely surprised by the identity of the final person. It felt like the suspense built really nicely and there were a couple of really dangerous events that raised the tension level a few notches.

Although this is the second book in the series, for me it’s the final one as I read the third one first. All together they are a really nice trilogy. I thought all the sisters were great, they were all strong, independent women with interesting careers (chopper pilot, doctor, engineer) and the romances weren’t super strong parts of the plots, more like a complimentary piece of the overall picture. I’d love to read more romantic suspense novels set in rural Australia – we have such a broad array of settings that are ripe for this sort of genre and Annie Seaton has utilised some of them really cleverly in this trilogy.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m stuck between 4 and 5 stars.
Five stars for being part of a good series.
Three stars for several writing mistakes (duplicated words, improper pronouns, etc.)—nothing big, but enough that the editing looked careless in places.
Zero stars for a map that’s missing from the Kindle edition.
Four stars for the story itself with a good sense of place. It’s not as well constructed as book four, which was written later in the author’s career.
Four stars for developing the characters well, especially the main ones—though it’s kind of a hint that you’re a bad guy if your character doesn’t get fleshed out as well as the others.
Three stars—maybe two—for the incomplete resolution for everyone except Emma and Jeremy. There ought to have been an epilogue for Wilma, George, the police department, the conservation center, the taipan, et al.
I did like the story, but it just fell short in several specific ways that I dock it a star and end up with four.

[Tiana · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like Daintree because of it being set in Australia, written by an Australian, and it provided a few interesting facts. However, the characters were boring and the plot was predictable and uninteresting. I don't like when I can easily guess what's going to happen very early on, and when the characters are dull as well, there's not a lot left to be desired. I quite enjoy Annie Seaton's writing style and she clearly has a deep love for our country, but in terms of characters and story line, perhaps not quite up my street.

[Suzanne Mack · Rating 2 out of 5]

Somewhat dissapointing

This lacked the intensity of the other Porter sisters novels. I’m glad I did not read them in order, or I might not have gotten to Dru or Ryan’s story. I really loved Ryan and Dee’s story.

[Michelle Dalton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my giddy aunt! I loved this book and now i need to get my arse in gear and buy number one! Annie Seaton's descriptions and story telling gripped me from the get go! I want to go to this beautiful place that she brought to life in side my head. The best of all is, it exists. I love Emma Porter and as a nurse who has a degree in alternitive medicine, I loved that this doctor practiced it. Annie did well to bring together both holistic and scientific medicines in this story. Then there's Jeremy. OoooEEE! yum! It's good to have a hunk who is willing to grow emotionally and who is not afraid to have a strong, independant, brilliant woman at his side. Beside these two charcters stood many more colorful personalities which Annie sculpted in to people i would love to meet. This is a must read Romantic Suspense which doesn't slow down until you've finished the last sentence.
A definite Must Read!