Lilian's Tree

 November was a very slow reading month for me and I only read five books and am still only halfway through the November author.  Talk to the Heart is book #3 in the Rose Hill series. Adeline Walsh decides to leave her home in Rose Hill and  join a convent in Smalltown, Victoria, (not real places). She discovers that the plans God has for her might not be the live of a Sister in a religious order. My November book was Kind of, Sort of, Maybe, but probably not by Imbi Neeme. I'm about halfway through the book and really don't know if I will finish it, (I've read the other five in between starting it and the end of the month.)  I'm curious to know how it ends but... My next two books are set in the fictional town of Wirralong. They are books #2 and #2 of the Outback Christmas series. Book 2 One Starry Christmas Night by Barbara Hanny. Old school friends, Jaxon and Bea, have returned to Wirralong, unbeknown to each other, to help out their grandmothers. They rekindle th...

 I have read seven books this month with a new author, Hira Arikawa being my featured author. I didn't have any books by an author, with the surname starting in A, so I asked a good friend, Wendy and she made the suggestion.  The book she suggested was The Travelling Cat Tails,  by Hira Arikawa. Set in Japan, it tells the story of Satoru and his cat Nana. Satoru takes Nana to visit several friends, with the hope that they will take Nana for him. The story is told from Nana's point of view and you learn about Satoru at different stages of his life, through this journey. Beautifully written but have your tissues ready. 84, Charing Cross Road, by Helene Hanff, was mentioned by a friend, Kerry Farmer and I found my copy and read it. It is a series of letters between Helene and a bookshop at 84, Charing Cross Road. A delightful read. Two more of Jane Bettany's were also read, Murder at Maple Grange and Murder on Bluebell Hill.  Featuring Violet Brewster as the amateur sle...

 It can't be the end of June already! This month I finished a vest I started in 2024, it is warm and will be going away with me on our next trip. My reading has been wonderful because I have just sat and read since we came home from our trip. Rachael Johns was my J author and her book The Bad Bridesmaid was my choice. Set in Fremantle and Norfolk Island it is the story of Winifred (k/a Fred) Darling is asked to be bridesmaid at her mother's sixth wedding, she will do anything to stop it. She enlists the help of the groom's son, Leo and what follows is hilarious. A really fun read. These two little books, above were also on my list, recommended at the Church House party they are about Lady Jane Grey and Hugh Latimer and their strong faith. Both were during the English Reformation. Interesting reading. Medivac Midwife (The Pregnant Midwife) by Fiona McArthur was a free read from Book Funnel. I enjoy reading Fiona's books and this one was no exception. Karly Lane was anoth...

 This month I've read seven books, with another nearly finished. My featured Author was Lyn Morris, with her book Liberty.  Set in 1962, an era when women left work when they marry, we find Ellie, married and wanting to work. The book draws you in, discusses domestic violence, women's friendships and is a wonderful read. Lyn is a self published author, based in Victoria. I discovered Amanda Hampson and her  Tea Ladies  series. Four tea ladies, Hazel, Betty, Irene and Meryl get involved with a kidnapping, bigamist marriage, and a murder. Set in Surry Hills, Sydney in 1965, it is a delightful read, with twists and turn you don't see coming. I'm  reading the second one, The Cryptic Clue and it is just as good. Here is a link to  Amanda's Website The movie Picnic at Hanging Rock,   was released 50 years ago, this year and I remember going to the movies and seeing it, so I thought I would re-read my original copy of the book. I also took myself to see ...

Having travelled up on Thursday, went spent the night at Wyong.  Friday dawned crisp and sunny and as we didn't have to be anywhere until 10.00am, a walk was in order. Wyong is very hilly, so we stuck to the block, on which the motel was located. Not a small block by any means. Deciding to leave early, to a) get a good parking spot and b) get Paul a coffee, we left about 9.00am.A Gloria Jeans was located and Paul enjoyed a cappuccino. Then it was off to Tuggerah library for an author talk, by Rachael Johns.  Paul settled himself into a comfy chair and turned his book reader on. Rachael Johns is an Australian author of Rural Romance and Women's Literature, with over 20 books published. Her first book Jilted was published in 2012 and her latest The Greatest Gift, published this year and released earlier this month. I have only discovered Rachael's books this year, silly me and I now have 11 of them on my Kindle as well as hard copies. Her Outback series; Outback Bla...

After a day spent, in the garden on Saturday, spreading top dressing on the lawn, we gave ourselves the day off and went into Sydney, for something to do. First stop was the bookstore Dymocks, where I did some shopping for a birthday and Christmas. I also picked up a copy of Rachael Johns' new book, The Greatest Gift. A beautiful story, (I read mine on Kindle), about what makes a family. Read it but have the tissues ready. We wandered around, just window shopping and then stopped for coffee in a little café,  the Chrysler Café Bar, 210 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia. Delicious Danishes, hot coffee and hot chocolate and quiet atmosphere. Lovely. www.chryslercafebar.com/    From there we walked up Martin Place and found a Tesla shop and I got to have a good look at one. While it might be good for city driving I would need one, maybe two charging stops and a trip to Melbourne. Loved the colour, didn't like the LARGE centre console ...

Summer Reading! Do you have a favourite spot to read? On the beach? In a hammock, under shady trees? Somewhere cool?  Or are you like me and will read anywhere? I have been known to read, standing up on a train, when in a past life I worked in the city. Reading is the icing on my day! Most of these ladies have Facebook pages and I will do * to indicate which ones do. These pages are worth looking at. First up is Nicki Edwards *. Nicki is a wife, mum of four and a critical care nurse, one busy lady. She writes medical rural romances, set in the fictional town of  Birrangulla. Each of the four books is centred around a main character and they all interconnect, throughout the books. I don't want to give to much away as they are fantastic reads. My favourite has to be The Peppercorn Project and Isabelle Cassidy, a young widow. Set in Stony Creek, a town with empty houses and wanting families to fill them, this is a story of new beginnings and friendships. Nick...