Mountain Ash in Aussie Readers

Feb 27, 2014 Brenda rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2014-release, aussie-authors, net-galley, read-on-kindle, romance, rural, arc, own-read

Jodie Ashton was riding her beloved horse Parnie in the camp drafting event; she was determined to do well this time, and was gradually besting the steer ahead of her. But suddenly Parnie put a foot wrong – Jodie flew over his head and into the depth of darkness, hearing her daughter Milly’s screams as she went. When she regained consciousness in the hospital, strapped down to restrict movement and in intense pain, the tear-streaked face of seven-year-old Milly swam into view. But after tests an Jodie Ashton was riding her beloved horse Parnie in the camp drafting event; she was determined to do well this time, and was gradually besting the steer ahead of her. But suddenly Parnie put a foot wrong – Jodie flew over his head and into the depth of darkness, hearing her daughter Milly’s screams as she went. When she regained consciousness in the hospital, strapped down to restrict movement and in intense pain, the tear-streaked face of seven-year-old Milly swam into view. But after tests and more tests, the doctor was able to deliver the good news that she was not seriously injured – she could leave the hospital the following day, as long as she had someone to care for her and make sure she took things easy for a few days.

Jodie’s dear friend Muriel Bailey opened her house to them both, then continued with her help when Jodie needed to move everything into her and Milly’s new home. She was moving up to old Joe McCauley’s home above Montmorency Downs on Hope’s Road. Tammy and Travis were grateful to her, knowing she would bring life into the old place once again. Her father had recently passed away from cancer and Jodie and Milly had been living with him, caring for him this past little while – now he was gone, the house had been packed up and sold. Parnie was her dad’s horse and he gave him to Jodie; so with the horse and a few other belongings, Jodie and Milly moved into their new home.

Alex McGregor had been a close friend to her father, playing chess with him at least once a week. He had continued to be a friend to Jodie after her dad’s passing and seemed to care for her. He was an astute business man, owner of Glenevelyn station and member of the Narree council. He was also older than Jodie (her father’s age) and ran a tight ship – abrupt and controlling. But being a single mother was a struggle, and the security of a relationship and marriage to Alex was tempting…

When Jodie, her friend Stacey and a few other girlfriends decided to go to a rodeo for a girl’s weekend, little did Jodie know her life as she knew it was about to change forever. The enigmatic and handsome Nate drew her attention – the attraction was immediate, but Jodie fought it all the way. Leaving with Stacey early a couple of mornings later, she knew she would never see the cowboy who stirred her heart again….

Wow! I absolutely loved this novel! It started off with a bang and continued throughout the whole book. I will admit to it being a little predictable early in the piece, but the predictability disappeared to weave a tale of deception, lies, secrets, anguish and insecurity; a wonderful story which drew me in from the start, and left me sighing and smiling when it was over. I absolutely loved Milly; I laughed often at her comments and antics – she is a typical kid; “out of the mouths of babes” was so true with her. With characters from Hope’s Road making an appearance in Mountain Ash, it was like greeting old friends…Tamara (Tammy) and Travis along with young Billy and Old Joe’s house – I hope Aussie author Margareta Osborn continues in this vein. I have no hesitation in recommending this novel highly.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy to read and review.
...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Feb 13, 2014 Shelleyrae at Book'd Out rated it really liked it

Shelves: aussie-author, arc-are, netgalley-reviews

Mountain Ash is Margareta's Osborn's third appealing contemporary rural romance novel set in the Victorian Highlands, loosely linked to Bella's Run and Hope's Road.

Single mother Jodie Ashton craves security for herself and her precious daughter, Milly, too much to dismiss the attentions of the much older, wealthy landowner Alex McGregor. Despite his old-fashioned views, Jodie believes Alex is a good man but when he proposes a romantic relationship she needs some time to think it through. A weeke
Mountain Ash is Margareta's Osborn's third appealing contemporary rural romance novel set in the Victorian Highlands, loosely linked to Bella's Run and Hope's Road.

Single mother Jodie Ashton craves security for herself and her precious daughter, Milly, too much to dismiss the attentions of the much older, wealthy landowner Alex McGregor. Despite his old-fashioned views, Jodie believes Alex is a good man but when he proposes a romantic relationship she needs some time to think it through. A weekend away with girl friends at the Riverton Rodeo offers her the time and distance she needs to make a decision and it's there that she meets the friendly and handsome Nate with sky blue eyes, a stockman passing through town. Though she initially rebuffs his advances, passion flares and they spend a single night together before Jodie flees, chastising herself for having let her heart overrule her head. Determined to put the lapse behind her, she returns home but is no closer to making a decision about what she wants until her hand is forced by an unexpected discovery and Jodie believes that accepting Alex's marriage proposal is the only sensible option. And then, on the eve of their hastily arranged wedding, Alex opens the door to his estranged son, Nathaniel, a man with sky blue eyes...

Vivid and realistic characterisation is again the highlight of Osborn's writing. I always find myself intrigued by the mix of the protagonists flaws and strengths, no one is either all good or all bad and this is especially true in Mountain Ash.
To be honest I didn't always like Jodie much. I could understand why she would have been tempted by all that Alex offers, including stability, security and legitimacy, and could even sympathise somewhat, some of her actions in this story are not very honourable.
Osborn skillfully reveals the two sides of Alex, who is both a gentleman and a tyrant. While his affection for Jodie is genuine, it becomes obvious he would not consider her a partner in their relationship and his past shows him as an uncompromising man.
Nate has a love 'em and leave 'em history but we warm to him as he proves his loyalty to Wal and then later, when Jodie steals his heart. He is the most likeable character and perhaps the least to blame for all that follows.

There are some surprising twists and turns in the story, though mostly reserved for last third or so of the book when shattering family secrets are revealed, along with Jodie's deception. The final scenes are action packed and tense as tragedy strikes, not everyone gets a happy ending but Mountain Ash is essentially a romance so Jodie and Nate do find theirs.

Though perhaps not my favourite story from Margareta Osborn I did enjoy Mountain Ash. It is well written with complex characters and provides an interesting story of betrayal, family and love. ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Feb 19, 2014 Lauredhel rated it really liked it

Shelves: netgalley, australian-women-writers-challenge, rural-setting, romance, australian

4.5 stars

"There was a fleeting touch of possession in that look, which made Jodie’s insides momentarily quiver with uncertainty. But it was shuttered away as quickly as it had come, and an engaging smile was back on his face. A grin she had come to rely on for its ability to brighten her day.
‘Think about it, Jodie,’ he’d said. ‘I can make your and Milly’s life very comfortable.’"

Jodie Ashton is a single mother struggling to find security for her and her rather awesome daughter, Milly. She is war 4.5 stars

"There was a fleeting touch of possession in that look, which made Jodie’s insides momentarily quiver with uncertainty. But it was shuttered away as quickly as it had come, and an engaging smile was back on his face. A grin she had come to rely on for its ability to brighten her day.
‘Think about it, Jodie,’ he’d said. ‘I can make your and Milly’s life very comfortable.’"

Jodie Ashton is a single mother struggling to find security for her and her rather awesome daughter, Milly. She is wary of passion, having been abandoned by her cowboy lover, and craves stability and predictability. There is a safe offer in the table: older cocky Alex McGregor. Can she overlook the red flags of him not liking her daughter, and his outbursts of dominating behaviour? She takes off on a rodeo weekend with her friends, telling Alex she's going to a quilting workshop. There her eye is drawn again by gorgeous cowboy Nate, which sets off a whole other set of red flags, but Ash finds it hard to resist him.

A huge and coincidence brings all three of them together, and fireworks ensue (in more ways than one).

This is a novel for those who love flawed characters. Ash can be a bit annoyingly passive, and makes some decisions with very questionable ethics. But her fierce love for her daughter is a delight - this sort of passionate motherhood is a rare thing in books in this genre - and her less acceptable actions can, mostly, be explained by her abandonment trauma and her search for a way to forge a safe future for her family.

Alex is certainly very flawed - I rather despised him at times - but this book finds some redemption for him also. And Nate. What can I say about Nate? He makes a pretty dodgy decision also, one with profound consequences, but we end up liking him too.

The best things about this book for me were the examination of single motherhood and financial insecurity, and the ethical dilemmas this can bring to a woman's life. Minor characters Mue and Clem are great, too.

Recommended to people who like flawed characters. Not recommended to [content warning] (view spoiler)
...more

Like · see review