Something to Talk About (Rose Hill, #2) in Aussie Readers

Apr 17, 2020 Brenda rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2020-release, aussie-authors, net-galley, contemporary-fiction, read-on-kindle, arc, own-read, romance, rural

Fergus McWilliams had just arrived in the small outback town of Walsh where he would be the temporary teacher, replacing a person who was ill. After this position he thought he’d head north, maybe up to the Pilbara or inland Western Australia. He’d left Perth determined not to return any time soon, if at all. When Fergus met Tabitha Cooper-Jones, he couldn’t stop staring. And Tabitha thought he was a jerk. They really didn't get off to a good start.

Tabitha had lived in Walsh all her life – other ...more

25 likes · Like · see review

Apr 21, 2020 Shelleyrae at Book'd Out rated it really liked it · review of another edition

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

Something To Talk About is Rachael John’s second rural romance in the Rose Hill series, which began with Talk of the Town featuring the relationship between widowed dairy farmer Lawson Cooper-Jones and new storekeeper Meg, but reads well as a stand-alone.

In Something To Talk About, Tabitha Cooper-Jones, Lawson’s younger sister, has created a life she is proud of. She’s refused to let the loss of her arm to cancer hold her back, developing a thriving gourmet ice cream business, operating a succes Something To Talk About is Rachael John’s second rural romance in the Rose Hill series, which began with Talk of the Town featuring the relationship between widowed dairy farmer Lawson Cooper-Jones and new storekeeper Meg, but reads well as a stand-alone.

In Something To Talk About, Tabitha Cooper-Jones, Lawson’s younger sister, has created a life she is proud of. She’s refused to let the loss of her arm to cancer hold her back, developing a thriving gourmet ice cream business, operating a successful cafe, and volunteering as a St John’s emergency assistant, but what she wants most is a family of her own, and despairing of ever finding a partner in the small town of Walsh, she’s chosen to become pregnant via donor insemination.

Fergus McWilliams is looking to escape the fallout from a broken engagement when he accepts a short term teaching position at Walsh Primary School, but he’s unprepared for the attention a single man in a small town attracts. Not looking for another relationship so soon, a ‘friends with benefits’ arrangement with Tabitha, despite her unusual circumstances, is a convenience for them both, but their plan to keep it casual goes awry when their hearts become involved.

I loved the chemistry between Tabitha and Fergus. Sparks fly at their very first meeting and as the story develops their growing affection for one another feels organic. Johns’s characters, both main and supporting, always feel genuine and elements of their situations relatable. The obstacles between Tab and Fergus are not insignificant, but I thought they were resolved convincingly.

The residents of Walsh add texture to the story from the members of Stitch & Bitch, to the children of Fergus’s class. The Western Australian setting is always a thrill for me, having been born there. I’ve holidayed in Bunbury and I’m familiar with the tiny farming towns in the southwest where community really matters.

Readers should be aware that several of the characters in Something To Talk About are affected by cancer, but the story really centers around the themes of independence, resilience, forgiveness, and trust.

Without fail, I finish each book by Rachael Johns with a sigh of satisfaction and contentment for a story well told, and it’s no different here. This is a book I am happy to talk about.
...more

13 likes · Like · see review

May 19, 2020 Bree T rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, series, australian, rural-lit, romance, aww2020

This is the second of Rachael Johns’ books set in the rural town of Walsh in south-west Western Australia. The first novel, Talk Of The Town focused on dairy farmer and single dad Lawson Cooper-Jones and his romance with new-to-town Meg. This book focuses on Lawson’s sister Tabitha, who was a large part of Talk Of The Town. Tabitha helps out on the family dairy farm and also runs an ice cream business, which she has built up from just making flavours for her family to use up milk, to serving in This is the second of Rachael Johns’ books set in the rural town of Walsh in south-west Western Australia. The first novel, Talk Of The Town focused on dairy farmer and single dad Lawson Cooper-Jones and his romance with new-to-town Meg. This book focuses on Lawson’s sister Tabitha, who was a large part of Talk Of The Town. Tabitha helps out on the family dairy farm and also runs an ice cream business, which she has built up from just making flavours for her family to use up milk, to serving in an ice creamery with her sister-in-law Meg and also serving on the go, delighting the local kids with her ice cream truck. She leads a busy life, volunteering as a St. Johns ambulance officer and also helping out with a children’s sport team.

Fergus McWilliams has applied for a temporary teaching position at Walsh’s tiny primary school. He’s looking to get away from Perth – and leave some people behind as well. Armed with a cranky cat, his idea is to lay low until he realises that it isn’t the way things work in a small town. He finds himself invited to barbecues, roped into coaching the kid’s cricket team and the most popular new man in town! But a relationship is the last thing on Ferg’s mind….not after what just happened to him. Which is why Tab, who is perfectly happy being perfectly single, seems like a good option as a friend. But sometimes, life has other plans.

Lately I’ve read quite a lot of heavier types of books and I hadn’t realised just how much I had been craving a rural romance until this one arrived. I’d been looking forward to it, of course, because it’s Rachael Johns and it’s also featuring the same characters as a previous novel I read (a whopping three years ago now!) and I always love a chance to revisit a familiar setting. Also Tabitha was a really interesting character in Talk Of The Town and I wanted to see her get her story. I also love a bit of a grumpy hero and Fergus definitely fits the bill early in this book in that he’s not looking for a romance and a bit resentful of any attempts to draw him into one but he’s also a soft cinnamon roll who is super dedicated to the kids he teaches.

This is a warm and engaging story from start to finish. I love the character of Tabitha, her strength and determination. She lost an arm to cancer when she was a teenager but she’s adjusted and can do most things more successfully than others including things like driving an ambulance, knitting and milking cows. Tabitha is inspired by a real life person in the same situation and it’s clear that Rachael Johns has researched thoroughly and portrayed the character with sensitivity and authenticity. Tab has recently made a big decision to undertake something alone and it’s not something that she has rushed into or made on a whim. But it’s something that she really wants and even though it won’t be easy, she’s prepared for it as much as she can be.

Fergus has a few things to work out, he’s quite bitter about the reason that he had to leave Perth behind but he’s also hurting over it too, although I think he feels that he’s just angry. He does not want to face the hurt as such, until he is forced to. I really loved his interactions with the locals, his gentleness to the lady who used to live in the house he’s now residing in and his way with the local kids. He has an amazing cat that hates him but he’s done people who wronged him a kindness by taking the cat on and continuing to have patience, despite the cat’s obvious disdain for him. I thought Mrs Norris was such a fun pet – I love cats but they are so very much their own little personalities and Mrs Norris was 100% not here for any of Fergus’ attempts to woo her.

I loved being back in the area of Walsh, checking in with what Lawson, Meg and Ned are up to these days and seeing Fergus settling in to the small-town country life. He and Tab have such an interesting first meet and it sparks an appealing chemistry after Fergus mistakes Tab’s intentions. Both of them are attracted to the other but both are also quick to assure each other that it’s all very casual, nothing serious. Tab has some hang ups from a previous relationship and she also has the journey she’s embarking on alone and Fergus is definitely still smarting from what drove him out of Perth. What is supposed to be casual however, has a bit of seriousness seeping into it quite quickly and they fit together so well but stubbornly, Fergus doesn’t want to see it. It takes a really serious situation for Fergus to see what his determination not to back down is leading to him missing out on.

A good rural makes you wish you were a part of the community and this one definitely makes me feel that way. I have this dream of living rurally (but in reality I don’t think I’m actually cut out for it, I just like the idea of a property and growing my own food etc) and books like this always bring it to the forefront of my mind. This was definitely everything I was looking for when I realised how much I wanted to read a good rural: characters and setting I connected with, good chemistry and a strong sense of community.

***A copy of this book was provided by the publisher for the purpose of an honest review***
...more

Like · see review

Aug 02, 2020 Annie rated it it was amazing

You’ll adore Tab and Ferg’s sweet, sexy story in this quintessential Australian setting. It’s so refreshing to see a disabled person as a heroine of a novel and wonderful to read the research and sensitivity reading the author engaged in to write her. A wonderful novel about a stellar couple. I cried more than once!

Like · see review

Apr 21, 2020 Helen rated it it was amazing

Rachael Johns you have nailed Tabitha’s story, wow it is good, I loved seeing her and Fergus find the most beautiful HEA of course there are a few hurdles to cross before they get there and those hurdles add so much emotion to the story and the sensual pull between them is so very wonderful.

Tabitha Cooper-Jones is a woman filled with love, she is caring, strong and determined to do the things she has always wanted to even after life has dealt her a few challenges, she is a dairy farmer and now r ...more

12 likes · Like · see review

Jul 14, 2020 Marg rated it it was amazing

Shelves: aww-2020

4.5/5

Like · see review

Aug 28, 2020 Kellie Schache marked it as to-read

Like

Dec 20, 2020 Rosie rated it really liked it

Like

May 08, 2020 Tanya rated it really liked it

I really enjoyed reading Talk of the Town many years ago, and Tab was one of my standout characters, so it was great to get back to Walsh/Rose Hill and for Tab to get her story.

Tabitha has lived in Walsh her whole life. She's been through a lot - losing her arm as a teen, helping her brother raise his son after his wife died - but she doesn't let it get her down, she tries everything and refuses to be told she can't do it.
Fergus is running away from his life in the city when he takes up a tempo ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Jul 05, 2020 Tonile Reads 📚 rated it really liked it

Like

Aug 08, 2020 Nikki Sims-Chilton rated it really liked it

Like

Mar 08, 2024 Chris marked it as to-read

Like

Apr 12, 2020 Janine rated it it was amazing

Shelves: net-galley, for-review

Its been a while since I have read a Rural Romance novel so was keen to read Rachael John's latest offering Something to Talk About. This book is the sequel to Talk of the Town which was released a couple of years ago. It tells the story of Tabitha who is the younger sister of Lawson who appeared in the previous novel. Tabitha has not had much luck in love during their life and has pretty much given up finding that someone special. She has even decided to have a baby on her courtesy of a donor, ...more

5 likes · Like · see review

From the Bookshelf of Aussie Readers…

Find A Copy At

Group Discussions About This Book

What Members Thought

Aussie Readers