The Grazier's Wife in Aussie Readers

May 26, 2016 Brenda rated it it was amazing

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

After the death of her grandmother, Alice Miller decided to rent out the house in Brisbane and move away – far away from all the heartache and memories. Her arrival at the little town of Burralea on the Atherton Tablelands in Far North Queensland was filled with hope – the shop she had purchased had living quarters above and she was looking forward to making it her own. Renovating old furniture was a love Alice had inherited from her grandfather and she was looking forward to getting some pieces After the death of her grandmother, Alice Miller decided to rent out the house in Brisbane and move away – far away from all the heartache and memories. Her arrival at the little town of Burralea on the Atherton Tablelands in Far North Queensland was filled with hope – the shop she had purchased had living quarters above and she was looking forward to making it her own. Renovating old furniture was a love Alice had inherited from her grandfather and she was looking forward to getting some pieces ready for sale.

Hugh and Jackie Drummond were on their first overseas holiday when they heard some completely unexpected news from Seth, their son. Seth was caring for their cattle station of Ruthven Downs which had been in the Drummond family for generations. Their arrival home two weeks later was filled with delight – after the initial shock they found themselves completely captivated…

When Alice repaired an antique sideboard for Jackie, she stumbled across an old envelope hidden in the back of the mirror and addressed to the Drummond family. The producing of this envelope was the start of a traumatic few months for the family; a time of change and heartache – and the casting back to the second world war and a time that Stella, Hugh’s mother had spent in Singapore as a nurse. She had barely escaped with her life.

As family members descended on Ruthven Downs; Flora, Seth’s sister who was living in Melbourne, Deborah, Hugh’s sister, and her son Xavier – as well as friends from near and far, the celebration was for Hugh’s 65th birthday. But it was destined that the past and the present would collide that night –and long-ago secrets would be revealed. Would there be more heartbreak for the family? And what would be the outcome?

The Grazier’s Wife by Aussie author Barbara Hannay is another gripping historical saga which spans generations and highlights the strengths of women in peril. Stella, Jackie, Alice and Flora have major roles and play them well. The novel moves back to Singapore and after the war years with ease, switching between the present (2015) and the past through a diary of sorts. I thoroughly enjoyed the journey and have no hesitation in highly recommending The Grazier’s Wife by an author who is fast becoming one of my favourites.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this digital copy to read in exchange for my honest review.
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Jul 16, 2016 Helen rated it it was amazing

This one is fabulous it has everything in it that will tick the right boxes for a book that you will not want to put down once you start reading it. Bringing us the emotional and moving story set across three generations of Male Drummonds and three very different heroines and the journeys that they went through with their heroes.

Stella is a nurse working in Singapore in 1946 during the war with danger and excitement but her journey is an emotional roller coaster meeting the love of her life Tom This one is fabulous it has everything in it that will tick the right boxes for a book that you will not want to put down once you start reading it. Bringing us the emotional and moving story set across three generations of Male Drummonds and three very different heroines and the journeys that they went through with their heroes.

Stella is a nurse working in Singapore in 1946 during the war with danger and excitement but her journey is an emotional roller coaster meeting the love of her life Tom but war time is not so good to her and Tom but she is strong and has made compromises after her return home to Queensland and takes on the role of Graziers wife to Marcus Drummond at the big cattle property Ruthven Downs. Secrets are kept and then threaten to change the lives of many but Tom is never forgotten.

Jackie meets her hero Hugh Drummond in such a fairytale way and love blossoms and now it is Jackie's turn to take on the role of graziers wife after Stella. Jackie loves her life with her loving husband her beautiful children but when a significant birthday is coming up for Hugh, and Jackie organizes a party there is a discovery that could very well change a lot of the Drummond lives.

Alice moves to the small town of Burralea to start her own furniture restoring business she has issues from her past and is happy being single. But when she discovers important old paperwork in furniture that she is restoring for The Drummonds and returns to them she meets Seth Drummond and this really sets of a spark for her could this be the changing of her life and many others? Seth feels this spark as well could he have found his mate after his troubles?

Truly this is a story not to be missed MS Hannay knows how to write a magical story that will grab you from page one a take you on an emotional moving journey with beautiful settings and fabulous people to get to know. You will need tissues for tears and you will be smiling as well the characters are so strong and alive as we journey from Singapore 1946 to Queensland's far north and see what happens to three amazing woman and the loves of their lives, thank you for hours of reading pleasure and a journey that had me smiling. ...more

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Jun 09, 2017 Janine rated it it was amazing

Shelves: audiobooks

My first novel of Barbara's and it was a great family saga. I listened to this on audiobook - the narrator was fantastic, really good at differentiating between the characters with the changes in her voice. It tells the story of Stella who was a nurse in the war and met Tom an english soldier - she immediately falls in love with him. When he is injured and returns home to England his parents tell her that she is to no longer get in touch with him as it would bring back terrible memories of his w ...more

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