The Saddler Boys in Aussie Readers

Apr 27, 2015 Brenda rated it it was amazing

Shelves: read-on-kindle, net-galley, contemporary-fiction, 2015-release, aussie-authors, own-read, arc, rural

When twenty two year old Natalie Wright arrived in the little town of Lake Biddy, population not quite three hundred, for her posting as teacher, she had no idea how remote the area was. Travelling from her home city of Perth, she was escaping the constant demands of her parents who expected her to marry, settle down and have children. But Natalie wanted to spread her wings; do her own thing for a while; and indulge in her love of teaching when everyone was against it. Even her boyfriend Gary di When twenty two year old Natalie Wright arrived in the little town of Lake Biddy, population not quite three hundred, for her posting as teacher, she had no idea how remote the area was. Travelling from her home city of Perth, she was escaping the constant demands of her parents who expected her to marry, settle down and have children. But Natalie wanted to spread her wings; do her own thing for a while; and indulge in her love of teaching when everyone was against it. Even her boyfriend Gary didn’t approve of her plan.

Settling in to her little house just up the road from the tiny school, she knew she was going to love the experience. And getting to know the children; the excited little faces that beamed at her on the first day of term – she felt happy, content; this was what she wanted. From the small staff to the locals – everyone was friendly. Within days Nat felt welcomed; the love of community was strong; she could sense it.

Amongst her students was Billy – quiet, curious yet withdrawn; he had Nat intrigued. He was an adorable child and when she met his father Drew, she knew there were some secrets hidden under his strong and handsome farmer’s exterior. Her gradual knowledge of Billy's estranged mother formed some of the answers. But when the community was notified of the government’s decision to close Lake Biddy’s only school, they were incensed. How could they do that? The next school was over an hour away by bus – the children would suffer; the town would suffer. The fight was on…

Suddenly though danger loomed. Would Billy be safe? What would happen with Drew? And would the community be able to save their small school – the life hub of Lake Biddy? Nat felt anguish – her love of the small town and its locals had eaten into her heart…

Aussie author Fiona Palmer has another winner with The Saddler Boys in my opinion. A great tale of a struggling rural community and the way the lives of locals and farmers in the surrounding areas are affected. This one is a thoroughly enjoyable rural novel, with a smattering of romance, great family ties and a huge amount of loyalty. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my copy to read and review.
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Sep 29, 2015 PattyMacDotComma rated it really liked it

Shelves: arc-netgalley-done, australian-author, kindle, romance

4.5★for a satisfying rural romance

First – the prologue introduces us to a mysterious woman, spying on a school bus, looking for “her” boy.

Next – we meet the beautiful, silk-clad Miss Natalie Wright arriving at a dusty country petrol station. She has her Gucci tote and is driving her twenty-first birthday present, a “Monte Carlo blue BMW” in the middle of nowhere - well, as good as nowhere – Lake Biddy, WA.

Exactly what she’s looking for – an escape from her Perth parents and her handsome, but p ...more

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Aug 12, 2015 Shelleyrae at Book'd Out rated it really liked it

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

The Saddler Boys is another delightfully engaging rural romance from Australian author Fiona Palmer.

Natalie Wright is excited about taking up her first teaching position in the remote farming community of Lake Biddy, and is determined to make the most of a years freedom from her parent's expectations. Welcomed by the locals despite her city ways Nat quickly falls in love with Lake Biddy and her adorable young charges, particularly shy and sweet Billy Saddler.

The development of the relationship ...more

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Sep 14, 2015 Bree T rated it really liked it

Shelves: arc, romance, rural-lit, aww2015

Natalie is definitely not what the locals would be expecting when she rolls into town in her cute little sports car with her designer clothes and high heels. She’s clearly from a very different world but Natalie has come to Lake Biddy, population less than 300 in Western Australia, to take up a position at the small local school. She’s very passionate about her job and she cannot wait to meet her young students and get started. Nat’s enthusiasm and energy for her job and the way that she builds Natalie is definitely not what the locals would be expecting when she rolls into town in her cute little sports car with her designer clothes and high heels. She’s clearly from a very different world but Natalie has come to Lake Biddy, population less than 300 in Western Australia, to take up a position at the small local school. She’s very passionate about her job and she cannot wait to meet her young students and get started. Nat’s enthusiasm and energy for her job and the way that she builds a rapport with her young charges as well as her friendliness and willingness to be involved in the local community quickly wins over the residents.

The Saddler Boys packs a lot in between its covers – it’s not just a rural romance. Palmer tackles some issues close to a rural community’s heart as the school Natalie has come to work at faces closure by the government due to lack of numbers, which will mean longer bus rides for the children to nearby, bigger towns with schools. The community bands together to protest the closure and Natalie becomes heavily involved as they campaign to save it. Despite the connection Natalie has made with local single father Drew, and the time they are spending together, she has a boyfriend in the city. She finds herself torn between the life she always envisaged with her boyfriend, who comes from a family very close to her own, but it’s a life that since she moved to Lake Biddy, has become somewhat suffocating. Natalie finds herself patronised by her boyfriend and wondering if he really is all that she had thought him to be. In contrast, time spent with Drew is easy as she learns more and more about country life, helping with shearing and minding Billy, Drew’s son while Drew seeds new crops on the farm. She fits in and she’s one of the first people Drew turns to when he feels that Billy may be in danger. I got a good idea of what it might be like to be a single parent and a farmer as well as how closures of things like schools can really affect tiny communities.

I loved the ease of Natalie and Drew’s friendship and the way Palmer took time to nurture it. Drew is well aware Natalie has a boyfriend and the two of them are mindful of boundaries but at the same time, really enjoy spending time with each other and want it to continue. I really enjoyed the glimpses into Drew’s head that writing in the third person allowed Palmer to give the reader and he’s always much more honest about his feelings for Natalie to himself than she is to herself about him, still confused by the complication of her boyfriend. Drew and Natalie fit together very well, despite their very different backgrounds and lifestyles and all of their scenes together are so well done that you become very invested in them getting it together already. Natalie is perfect with Billy, Drew’s young son who is perhaps a little different, and who requires a little more than most students would. He’s an interesting child and I enjoyed the part of the story concerning him and how it all played out. Children are often hard to place within a book that has romance and it’s difficult to get that authenticity but I feel as though this was definitely one of the book’s strong points.

I love a good rural story – even though I don’t live in the country myself, they’re just so familiar and comforting, they’re the perfect things for me to read when I’m distracted and stressed because I can slip into the story so easily. This was exactly what I needed and I’d recommend it not only to fans of the genre but also those who haven’t yet tried it yet. It’s got enough going on to satisfy any reader. ...more

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Sep 20, 2015 Sheree rated it really liked it

Shelves: reviews, own, contemporary-fiction, romance, aussie-author, read-in-2015

My first time reading Fiona Palmer, surprising, since I'm actually familiar with a few of her titles. Anyway, not only was this a delightful rural romance with wonderfully endearing characters, The Saddler Boys has substance, highlighting topical issues of domestic violence, single parenting, rural school closures and small town viability.

Set in the actual town of Lake Biddy in Western Australia, 22 year old Nat leaves her family and boyfriend Greg in Perth to take up her first teacher's postin ...more

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Jul 05, 2016 Janine rated it it was amazing

Shelves: audiobooks, for-review, net-galley

Absolutely loved this book from beginning to end. Such a sweet story about schoolteacher Natalie who takes a position in a rural community. There she meets a single dad and his son and sparks fly but she is already engaged. She starts to question her feelings about her engagement. Fans of Womens Fiction and rural stories will love this book!

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