River Run in Aussie Readers

Oct 22, 2016 PattyMacDotComma rated it really liked it

Shelves: arc-netgalley-done, kindle, australian-author, historical-fiction, aa

4★
It’s great to hear an authentic voice in a story that takes place on an Australian property. This is January, 1951, and it’s hot. Eleanor has returned home from Sydney to mend a broken heart. Her uncle, (who is now her step-father), asks what brings her “back to the family farm”.

“Eleanor noted the line that briefly furrowed her mother’s brow. Georgia hated River Run being called a farm, as did she. It was far more than that.”

My rural experience was 30 years later than this story, but ...more

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Jun 07, 2016 Brenda rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

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

January 1951 and Eleanor Webber’s arrival at the railway station after the long journey from Sydney had her struck anew by the intense heat – but that was home after all. The vast sheep station in country New South Wales had been in her family for generations – River Run currently housed her mother and step-father, along with her step-brother Robbie. Her big sister Lesley was living in Sydney at a nunnery; her fragile state meant she hadn’t been back to River Run in some time.

The gardener who h January 1951 and Eleanor Webber’s arrival at the railway station after the long journey from Sydney had her struck anew by the intense heat – but that was home after all. The vast sheep station in country New South Wales had been in her family for generations – River Run currently housed her mother and step-father, along with her step-brother Robbie. Her big sister Lesley was living in Sydney at a nunnery; her fragile state meant she hadn’t been back to River Run in some time.

The gardener who had been at River Run for as long as Eleanor could remember chatted as he drove Eleanor back to the property – rickety, hot and dusty; nothing had changed – but when Rex informed Eleanor that her unexpected arrival would also coincide with guests arriving for the weekend, Margaret and Keith Winslow plus shearing would start the following Monday, Eleanor wondered if she’d done the wrong thing in her spur-of-the-moment decision.

But it was eleven year old Robbie who would create problems on a monumental scale. Bored and continually up to mischief, the arrival of the shearers played into his hands. His childish worry of imminent attack on the property had him stocking his treehouse with supplies; the rifle his father had given him was always by his side. With his faithful cattle dog Bluey a constant companion, Robbie was determined to save River Run from the communist invasion.

What would happen when Robbie spied a stranger on horseback heading toward the river? And what was causing the tensions and hostility both in the big house and the shearers’ quarters? Was Eleanor’s presence creating problems or was there more to the situation? Danger was looming…

River Run by Aussie author Nicole Alexander is another riveting and tension filled historical mystery which had me glued to the pages. I thoroughly enjoyed this author’s last book, Wild Lands and this one definitely hasn’t disappointed. The characters are well written – among others, I enjoyed Eleanor; and Robbie was a spoiled brat! River Run is extremely readable, and one I have no hesitation in highly recommending.

With thanks to NetGalley and Random House AU for this digital copy to read in exchange for my honest review.
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Nov 26, 2016 Tango rated it really liked it

I won this book as a Goodreads giveaway.

When Eleanor returns to the family sheep property, River Run, to recover from a failed love affair she doesn't expect the drama and action that ensue when her young half brother shoots a stranger. Set in post World War 2 the novel explores some serious themes such as the ongoing impact of war and the role of women in the pastoral industry. These themes give the novel more weight than the cover might suggest. The strength of Alexander's writing is the affe ...more

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Oct 01, 2017 Dzintra aka Ingrid rated it it was amazing

I absolutely loved this book although the start was a little slow whilst we slowly were introduced to the characters and River Run. Nicole tells it as it is.....I felt like I was on that Station amongst the heat, the shearers and right down to the kitchen and how the Cook always had a cup of tea at the ready when needed or a glass of water at the right time and even something medicinal when needed! Another brilliant read by Nicole Alexander!

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