Close to Home in Aussie Readers

Mar 25, 2015 Brenda rated it it was amazing

Shelves: net-galley, aussie-authors, sent-by-publisher, 2015-release, contemporary-fiction, arc, own-read, romance, rural

Working as a vet for the Department of Primary Industries was a job Charlie Anderson loved. She’d worked hard to get to the position she was in, and knew she was also good at her job. After losing her way for a little while when she was young – the death of her parents when she was thirteen was a major turning point in her life, and even now, in her late twenties, she still grieved for them at times. But her memories of the home she’d had after they died; with an aunt she hadn’t really known and Working as a vet for the Department of Primary Industries was a job Charlie Anderson loved. She’d worked hard to get to the position she was in, and knew she was also good at her job. After losing her way for a little while when she was young – the death of her parents when she was thirteen was a major turning point in her life, and even now, in her late twenties, she still grieved for them at times. But her memories of the home she’d had after they died; with an aunt she hadn’t really known and her cousin Emma, who’d been like a sister to her; they were confused and clouded in her mind. So when Charlie was told she was needed in a little town called Naringup, south of Sydney, as there was a possible outbreak of the Hendra virus, she was horrified. But her refusal to take the job wasn’t an option…

As Charlie settled into the routine of tests on the horses at the property concerned, she was shocked to encounter anger and bullying from some of the locals. She realized the frustration of the unknown was getting to them, but the sooner the tests were run, the sooner they could contain the problem; if it even was a problem. Running into her cousin and aunt was also something Charlie hadn’t wanted to do – but a town the size of Naringup meant it was bound to happen.

Meeting Joel Drummond who was the local park ranger, she found a kindred spirit – but danger was around them, and not only from the possibility of a dangerous virus. Charlie was determined to do her job, and do it properly. But would she succeed? With the local police as back up and Joel by her side, she had to continue…

Close to Home is another brilliant novel by Aussie author Pamela Cook. I love her work – Blackwattle Lake and Essie's Way are the author’s first two and I thoroughly enjoyed them both. Close to Home evolved from the author’s involvement with horses and the discussions about the pros and cons of the Hendra vaccine. It is a wonderful story full of great descriptions of the rural environment plus small town people, with everything from strong characters, romance and tragedy. Entertainment plus which I have no hesitation in recommending highly.

With thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Australia for my copy to read and review.
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May 25, 2015 Tien rated it really liked it

Shelves: arc, australian-author, romance, australia, womens-lit

I have really enjoyed reading outback romances as they usually involve animals and nature. In a way, this is like a sea-change or tree-change vicariously through these characters. The sounds and smell of the train fade away and I’ll be in the wide open spaces of the Australian outback. If you’ve not tried any outback romances yet, I’d recommend it. This is also my first Pamela Cook and I’m keen to check out her other 2 books.

I found Close to Home a little bit like one of those science thrillers ...more

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