Lily's Leap in Aussie Readers

Aug 24, 2016 Helen rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I really enjoyed this one it took me back to colonial Australia and a very adventurous journey to a HEA it was filled with ups and downs and a very sensual pull between the hero and heroine I was cheering them on while turning the pages.

Lilibeth Dungarven Lily as she is know to her family and friends has led a fairly privileged life in Colonial Australia with a very hard father a loving mother she is married very young to her best friend and neighbour but is also widowed young when her mother an ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Jul 22, 2014 Tien rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: australian-author, romance, net-galley, historical-fiction, australia, novella

Lily’s Leap is a sweet historical novella set in colonial Australia. The story opens with an ambush to steal horses which quickly turned into a kidnapping for ransom. It was attraction formed at first sight (you really can’t mess about when it’s only a novella!) - the heat quickly ratcheted and was undeniable on either sides. Neither party knew each other at all though so it was a battle of mysterious past.

It was a beautiful easy read with a daring heroine. The romance was sweet though fraught w ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Feb 14, 2013 Brenda rated it really liked it

Shelves: own-read, historical-fiction, 2013-release, reviewing-by-request, romance, aussie-authors, read-on-kindle, special-offer-from-author

Lilibeth Dungarven, astride her beautiful stallion Nero, and accompanied by friend Bonnie and worker George, were travelling to Sydney, moving a herd of top bred racing horses to be shipped to India. She had come up with the idea to rescue her family from destitution…her father was broke, bitter and a drunk, and at twenty, she found herself in charge of bringing their property out of the red…she was determined this would work. She had been married for four years to her best friend Dom, and sudde Lilibeth Dungarven, astride her beautiful stallion Nero, and accompanied by friend Bonnie and worker George, were travelling to Sydney, moving a herd of top bred racing horses to be shipped to India. She had come up with the idea to rescue her family from destitution…her father was broke, bitter and a drunk, and at twenty, she found herself in charge of bringing their property out of the red…she was determined this would work. She had been married for four years to her best friend Dom, and suddenly he and her beloved mother were killed in a tragic riding accident. With nowhere to go, Lily had found herself back with her father.

Suddenly she heard a noise which shouldn’t be there…and then they were surrounded by bushrangers, and even with her wiles and speed, she was no match for the strength of Captain Tom and his unruly men. Captain Thomas Roscomon couldn’t believe his luck when he recognised the quality of the horses, so much different from the nags they were riding, and when he realized where they were from, and who the woman accompanying them was, he knew he was about to make his fortune!

After sending the hapless George back to Lily’s father with a ransom note for 500 pounds for her return, and the instructions to meet him at The Settlers Arms in seven days, he informed everyone they had a hard ride ahead of them. Nero was joined to Tom’s horse by rope, with Jem, the tracker in front, and Pete and Will behind…Bonnie rode near Lily. The herded horses happily followed Nero. Lily was furious, she wouldn’t be thwarted by this bunch of filthy, scruffy bushrangers, even though Captain Tom was a devilishly handsome fellow, whose eyes when he looked at her, had her colour rising, much to her chagrin.

With Lily’s mind churning, trying to work out their options, and coming up with very little, she had no choice but to ride along with them all. But she certainly wasn’t doing it meekly, and was determined to find a way to continue her trip with the horses to Sydney, with Nero running in the races at Windsor on the way…

Would they escape from Captain Tom and his men? Would her drunken father come up with the ransom? What would happen to them, to her wonderfully spirited horses?

When I started this book, I was thrilled to find it was based in and around Wollombi, about an hour from where I live. I’ve been to Wollombi, it’s a lovely old place, still set back in time, with beautiful little shops, and the markets on the weekend are wonderful. We’ve sat in the pub looking out over the hills behind it, and been awed by the beauty of the countryside. The author lives in Wollombi, and I just may have passed her in the street!

The history aspect of this book was very enjoyable, and so much of it was familiar. I enjoyed Lily’s strong character, and her determination and fighting spirit, plus her love of Nero. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a romantic historical fiction novel.

With thanks to the author for my ARC copy of this book to read and review.
...more

5 likes · Like · see review

Jul 19, 2013 Alison Stuart marked it as to-read

Like

Nov 12, 2022 Kellie Schache marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Like

Sep 30, 2023 Linda marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Like

From the Bookshelf of Aussie Readers…

Find A Copy At

Group Discussions About This Book

What Members Thought

Aussie Readers