The Grass is Greener in Aussie Readers

Jul 26, 2015 Brenda rated it it was amazing

Shelves: own-read, arc, net-galley, aussie-authors, contemporary-fiction, read-on-kindle, 2016-release

Best friends Bronwyn and Claudia were finally catching up in Perth after not seeing each other for over six months. Both had been exceptionally busy; Bronwyn as a lawyer and Claudia running her father Horace’s winery which was struggling after a mixture of family problems. Claudia wanted to be a lawyer and dreamed of having a job like Bronwyn’s – Bronwyn hated her job and wanted to go to the winery, the place she had loved for the last ten years. So the two friends jokingly decided to swap place Best friends Bronwyn and Claudia were finally catching up in Perth after not seeing each other for over six months. Both had been exceptionally busy; Bronwyn as a lawyer and Claudia running her father Horace’s winery which was struggling after a mixture of family problems. Claudia wanted to be a lawyer and dreamed of having a job like Bronwyn’s – Bronwyn hated her job and wanted to go to the winery, the place she had loved for the last ten years. So the two friends jokingly decided to swap places with each other…

When Claudia turned up for the interview at Hanks and Eddings in place of Bronwyn, she was thrilled to be successful. There was a slight hiccup which she didn’t correct – she was sure no one would find out anyway; would they? And Bronwyn’s arrival at Oak Hills Winery in Yallingup felt like coming home to her – Claudia’s parents and brother were happy about her visit, until they understood she was taking Claudia’s position and would be there much longer than just a few days…

Claudia’s new boss was the enigmatic Sebastian Rowlands – a harsh critic, he was cynical and a task master. But Claudia revelled in the work. Bronwyn’s teenage love for Jack Franklin, Claudia’s other brother had been quashed five years previously when disaster struck and Jack left Australia for France. Still estranged, the family was struggling; could Bronwyn bring the winery back to the way it was many years previously?

I loved The Grass is Greener by Aussie author Loretta Hill. A nice mixture of suspense (I loved Elsa!), intrigue and romance, the loyalty of best friends and of finding your own way. There was also mention of the Maxwell family, both Phoebe and father John (of The Maxwell Sisters) as their winery was next door. It felt like catching up with old friends…

This quote especially took my eye: ‘So, what you’re really saying is, the grass is greener on the other side, but only if you water it.’ Sums the saying up nicely I think. I have no hesitation in highly recommending The Grass is Greener – another classic by this author!

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

...more

18 likes · Like · see review

Jan 10, 2016 PattyMacDotComma rated it really liked it

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

4★ for a cheerful rural romance

Western Australia is a good place to spend some satisfying time with Bronwyn and Claudia, best pals for years, who decide they’d each like different lives.

These bright, young women have both trained in law and are well-qualified to pursue legal careers. Bronwyn is forced into it. She’s the product of highly successful, well-heeled, well-connected parents who treat her pretty much as a trophy child (if there is such a term). So off to a major legal firm she goes.

Cla ...more

8 likes · Like · see review

Dec 30, 2015 Shelleyrae at Book'd Out rated it really liked it

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

The Grass is Greener is Loretta Hill's fifth contemporary novel and like the last, The Maxwell Sisters, this novel is also set largely among the vineyards in the fertile southern region of Western Australia.

"The long and short of it is....Bronwyn needed a sabbatical from the law, so she left town to work on my family's vineyard. I wanted to get back into law so I marched in and took her job....It was a great plan from both of our perspectives and it would have been perfect-..."

Succumbing to fami
The Grass is Greener is Loretta Hill's fifth contemporary novel and like the last, The Maxwell Sisters, this novel is also set largely among the vineyards in the fertile southern region of Western Australia.

"The long and short of it is....Bronwyn needed a sabbatical from the law, so she left town to work on my family's vineyard. I wanted to get back into law so I marched in and took her job....It was a great plan from both of our perspectives and it would have been perfect-..."

Succumbing to family obligation has left best friends, Bronwyn Eddings and Claudia Franklin, miserable. Despite her pedigree, Bronwyn detests practicing law in Perth and dreams of another life, while Claudia resents having been compelled to abandon her own fledgling law career to work at her family's failing winery. The solution seems simple, they'll swap places and both get exactly what they want.

Of course it's not nearly that easy and Hill introduces plenty of conflict for both of her protagonists to work through, developing circumstances that engender mild tension and drama.
Bronwyn's high profile mother is furious when her daughter abandons her career without a backward glance and is insistent that Bronwyn return to the fold. The Franklin family, still struggling with the aftermath of family tragedy, are hurt by Claudia's leaving and resistant to the idea of Bronwyn taking her place.
Additionally Claudia and Bronwyn both find themselves caught up in a strange situation involving a pregnant Mastiff, a possible dog fighting ring and a local crime heavyweight.
Romance also features heavily in The Grass is Greener. The return of Jack Franklin, Claudia's eldest brother, to the vineyard after a five year absence reignites Bronwyn's long held desire for him.
Meanwhile Claudia finds the dark good looks and intelligence of her immediate boss, Sebastian Rowlands irresistible, despite his breathtaking arrogance.

"The truth is. it was never about swapping our lives exactly. It was always about making the most of our own.... So...what you’re really saying is, the grass is greener on the other side, but only if you water it."

The Grass Is Greener is a warm and engaging story about friendship, autonomy, family and love from Loretta Hill. Enjoy it on a summer's afternoon with a glass of Western Australian wine. ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Jun 10, 2016 Tanya rated it liked it

Loretta Hill has been one of my go-to authors since The Girl in the Steel Capped boots. I have to admit though, the blurb for the Grass is Greener didn't really appeal to me much, but knowing the author's other work I figured I'd give it a go.

It sat on the TBR pile for so long because of that fact.

And look, I enjoyed it, but it wasn't spectacular. I felt like Claudia and Bronwyn blurred together a bit and sometimes I would lose track of who was who. ...more

Like · see review