Time Will Tell in Aussie Readers

Dec 19, 2013 Brenda rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: own-read, aussie-authors, contemporary-fiction, 2014-release, first-reads-winner

4.5★s

Emily Oliphant had settled into the lovely old house in Wattle Creek after being offered it to rent by the elderly owners. She loved the house, even though it was very dilapidated – now that they had offered to sell it to her, she had plans to renovate, maybe turn it into a B&B, but just couldn’t work out how she would afford it. She had recently left her abusive husband John Stratten and though she felt totally relieved to have done so, she didn’t have a lot of confidence – confidence whic 4.5★s

Emily Oliphant had settled into the lovely old house in Wattle Creek after being offered it to rent by the elderly owners. She loved the house, even though it was very dilapidated – now that they had offered to sell it to her, she had plans to renovate, maybe turn it into a B&B, but just couldn’t work out how she would afford it. She had recently left her abusive husband John Stratten and though she felt totally relieved to have done so, she didn’t have a lot of confidence – confidence which he had succeeded in lowering during her marriage to him.

With Christmas in a few days, Emily had decided to do a quiet lunch at her place; her Mum Enid, Dad Des, best friend Barbara and her husband David, and friend Jake who was currently working in Whyalla and was joining them for the Christmas weekend. And of course her beloved Gracie, the beautiful dog she had brought with her when she’d left John. She didn’t want any fuss made over Christmas and was dreading her mother’s company if the truth was told. But the day passed peacefully and Emily felt things were beginning to fall into place – maybe everything would turn out alright for her after all.

Suddenly though, an unexpected death had her reeling. The shock of the following few days caused her to second-guess everything she did. Emily found she missed her beloved Gran so very much; the button jar which she had given to Emily before her death made her feel closer to her Gran – but that was silly wasn’t it? Then a second shock caused absolute chaos – would she work out what to do now that all her plans had been thrown out the window? Would she find her inner strength to keep going?

I really enjoyed this book which is the second in the Button Jar series – Saving Grace was the first. With the third being released in November 2014 it’s definitely one I’m looking forward to. Emily still needs a good shake now and then, but she’s definitely gaining more confidence in herself in this book. Time Will Tell is a book I have no hesitation in recommending highly.

With thanks to The Reading Room and the publisher for my copy to read and review.
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Mar 11, 2014 Bree T rated it liked it

Shelves: romance, arc, series, australian, rural-lit, aww2014

Emily Oliphant has made big changes in her life. She’s left her abusive husband after several years of an unhappy marriage and is forging a new life for herself in a gorgeous old property that she’s renting from two elderly brothers. Recently the brothers made Emily an offer – she could purchase her beloved house from them for an excellent price. There were a few conditions and Emily was taking the time to think it over. It’s a wonderful offer and she knows it – she just wants to make sure that Emily Oliphant has made big changes in her life. She’s left her abusive husband after several years of an unhappy marriage and is forging a new life for herself in a gorgeous old property that she’s renting from two elderly brothers. Recently the brothers made Emily an offer – she could purchase her beloved house from them for an excellent price. There were a few conditions and Emily was taking the time to think it over. It’s a wonderful offer and she knows it – she just wants to make sure that she is financially able to make her obligations in the future, especially as the house does need some things done to it.

Emily is also making other changes, cultivating friendship with Barbara and distancing herself from her judgmental mother and those who don’t understand her decision to leave her husband. She’s undertaking a fledgling new business that she has high hopes for and is accepting the help and friendship of Jake, a man from Melbourne who she’d like to be closer to. Emily’s life is changing in so many ways but to her disappointment, it’s not done changing yet.

Several incidents beyond her control leave Emily’s future up in the air. All of a sudden the beautiful house she longed to make her home in, might be snatched away out of her hands. And she’s also dealing with an unexpected death as well as a potentially ugly fall out from that. What Emily doesn’t know is that the answer to all of her dreams lies within her grasp…but she has to choose to use it.

Time Will Tell is the second novel in Australian author Fiona McCallum’s first series, following on from Saving Grace. In this novel in the beginning, Emily is much more settled, having found herself a new place to live with her dog Grace. She has the friendship of Barbara and Barbara’s husband and she has plans. She knows that some of them might be dreams, but there are some that are also very achievable if she works hard and Emily is very ready for the next phase of her life.

In Saving Grace Emily has a bit of a negative attitude, probably from her upbringing and her abusive marriage but it was nice to see in this novel, she has begun moving forward with more positivity. She has had a lot to overcome in her personal life and Time Will Tell begins to signify a real fresh start for her and gives her time and space to think about how she wants to move forward. However just as she is about to make some firm decisions, she is rocked by the news of two unexpected deaths, one of which has some interesting consequences for her and the other of which has a more devastating impact on her newly chosen life.

I’d have liked to see Emily get herself some legal advice in this book as she proved in Saving Grace that ignoring a request to get legal advice doesn’t end well and she ended up allowing herself to be royally screwed over. However she doesn’t and luckily in this book she benefits from something which helps soothe the sting of having something else taken away from her but it also suggests that Emily still has quite a way to go on her journey of independence and making strong and wise, informed decisions. I can’t fault her for getting out there and having a go, at various different things and making the most of the skills she has but sometimes she needs to be a bit smarter and a bit more ruthless. She needs to look after herself first, put herself first and not just go along with what people are telling her. The time for that was done when she left her husband and now she needs to protect herself first and foremost. However I do think that this novel does represent a good deal of personal growth for Emily, in several different ways. She has the possibility here to grow the seeds of a new romance, something that she has come to feel that she is ready for and the man she has chosen seems to complement her well and they are supportive of each other.

Emily still has a way to go on her journey and her decision about what to do with the legacy that has been left to her by her grandmother. I’m curious to see where she goes with the way her journey has changed in this book and I think there’s a lot left for her to do and experience. She has grown in confidence and accepted change with more grace and adapted more readily to new circumstances. However I’m very interested to see what happens with her legacy and how she continues to grow in strength and determination in her new life. ...more

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Mar 28, 2014 Ceri rated it really liked it

Time Will Tell is the perfect continuation of Fiona McCallum's 'The Button Jar' series. Emily is a strong willed character and despite being unsure of some of her choices she has the strength and courage to stand up for herself and fight to overcome the challenges that life throws her way.
Time Will Tell captured my heart with it's lovely country setting and heart warming relationships between the characters. It was hard to put down and I can't wait for the next book!

Thanks to Harlequin Australia ...more

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