Outback Bride by Louise Reynolds

Reviewed by Shirley

When every dream you ever had has been battered into the dust, what do you do? Pick up the pieces and build a new life like Lara did.

Disillusioned by the betrayals around her, Lara Burke shook off the dusty red dirt of Jinbaburra and Sturts Crossing, and fled to Melbourne to construct a new life. Now ten years later, matured, sexy, and successful, she has reluctantly returned. But her brother's death is not the only unexpected revelation she finds, and each new discovery brings its own complications. Can she shake off the dust for a second time or has fate given her a another chance at forgotten dreams?

Lured by the bright lights of Sydney and hungry for the anticipated approval of his father, Jake left Sturts Crossing and Lara behind ten years ago to make his fortune. But after six years he realized he had only replaced a neglected childhood with an empty shell of high powered meetings, glamorous girlfriends, and shady deals. Disgusted with the path he had taken, he returned to Sturts Crossing and his own acquired property,Tambero. Only one thing would make his dream complete...Lara. But could he repair the damage he had done so long ago or was he destined to lose her forever?

They had each taken different paths in life: hers-forced on her, his-dangled in front of him. Now they have a chance to regain dreams they thought long ago lost. Will they take it?

Which has the tighter pull for her- a city life with law partnership or country life with Jake and a family?

Can he recapture the dreams of a family with Lara or is it just another illusion?

I tremendously enjoyed this book. Well developed characters with an interesting plot provided several hours of reading enjoyment. I found myself laughing, smiling,sympathizing, and crying throughout the story. I would recommend to anyone who loves a good romantic read.

Highly recommended! Excellent read!

I was given a copy by the author for an honest review.

5/5 stars     Can you really go back and recapture the past?

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Reviewed by Desere


Everyone has dreams and most of us manage to find the courage and know how to push on till those dreams come true.  But it is of course not always everything you want, and when we get there it is sometimes too late to go back.  You have no choice but to live your dream and forget about what you've lost on the way to get to your dream.

In the new Louise Reynolds read this is the case for both Lara and Jake. They both set out to find their dreams leaving behind each other and also life as they knew it. Lara because deceit had taken it's toll and Jake because he wanted to make something of himself,  but tragedy strikes and brings their roads together again. Lara has her biggest dream within her grasp and Jake has his standing right in front of him, now all Jake needs to do is convince Lara to stay and forget about her dream but having left her behind before means that this time getting her to stay in his arms will be the ultimate test of faith.

The characters of Lara and Jake were both very nicely written by the author and I adored that the author let this read be a couple reuniting story!  I loved that Lara pushed so hard for her dreams , what really got me was her doing so with the "I need to get away from here " element it showed her as a real character to me, most of us prefer to run away from our problems instead of facing them head-on. I adored how the author slowly lets Lara find her way back home and to what is important in life.

The character of Jake was oh-so-very-yummy-kiss-me-now-and-don't-you stop material. I loved that the author let him try to be a worthy person and make something of himself. I have heard many stories of men that left behind the woman of their dreams because of this and of that but never have I ever heard of them going back or trying to get a second chance, they simply let it go and moved on, dealing with feelings of emptiness for the rest of their lives. Jake doing the right thing so to speak really got to my heart and I could not get enough of him!

The backdrop settings were vivid and very well incorporated by the author. I loved the dialogue, it was emotional, passionate and insightful. I am taking a way a message of we all need to work hard to achieve our dreams but when the dream is within your grasp take a minute to stop and think about what you might be leaving behind,  for another chance might not come around, be certain it is what you want and not just you running away or after something you can live without.

I recommend this read for any romance fan, it was a quick and easy read sweet and sensual and had a very nice emotional tear jerker ending!

5/5 star review
" He wants her back , but she is holding onto the past"





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Reviewed by Nas

Outback Bride: : Destiny Romance

OUTBACK ROMANCE by author Louise Renolds is a Destiny Romance release for August 2013.

Lara Burke had run away from her family homestead and made a name for herself in the big city. She was about to be made a partner in a prestigious law firm. But why gad she run in the first place?

Then Jake Forester came looking for her bringing her bad news. She had to go back to the outback, but would she remain there?

Would the lure of her big city life take precedence over the family life she craved? What about the secrets in her past?

OUTBACK BRIDE is a fact paced, well written romance. Louise Reynolds brought to live strong characters with snappy dialogue, and tender, sweet and exciting moments which will keep a reader riveted from the first page.

Highly recommended.


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Reviewed by Nancy Crocker

Lara Burke should be on top of the world right about now. She just had a verdict overturned and is on the fast track to becoming partner at the law firm she works for. She has accomplished her dream after leaving her home of Jindaburra. When she finishes her press conference she comes face to face with the one man she never could forget Jake Forester.

Jake Forester left Lara Burke behind at Jindaburra, when she needed him the most. He sought a life with his billionaire father. But after reaching for the things he thought he wanted he realized he left the best part of his life behind. He returned to New South Wales three years ago and purchased a cattle station next to Jindaburra. 

Lara expected stares and whispering from the small town of Sturts Crossing, after leaving so fast ten years ago, what she didn’t expect was to find little Jessie, a niece she knew nothing about. I loved that the author threw a twist to the story line of Jessie. One would expect Lara to be left to raise her niece but Mike and Fiona left guardianship to Jake. And he took the role on brilliantly.

If ever there were two people who deserved that second chance at love with each other it is the characters of Jake and Lara. Both were in my humble opinion to young, and needed those life experiences to realize what matters most in life. I also enjoyed the way the author gave Lara the time to figure out what she really wanted and needed. I just melted at the breakfast that Jake made for Lara. It is those little aaahhh moments that just warm the heart!

I recommend this to all fans of romance.  Especially those with a western theme.

Favorite lines:

‘Let me tell you how I see it-‘

He gave a mirthless laugh. ’Can’t see that I can stop you. You’re on a roll.’

5/5 stars

I received a copy from the Author in exchange for an honest review.

Second Chance by Carla Caruso

Reviewed by Desere


This was a very quick, cute and fun read. It was also the very first time ever that I have read a book where I was expecting just contemporary romance but ended up with time travelling involved.

The read focused on Flora, when she was 21 she not only lost the man of her dreams, but she lost out on the job of her dreams, crashed her car, lost her best friend and made an enemy she never again wants to face.

Aged 36 she has nothing but a plain old job, no boyfriend and instead of celebrating her birthday in style she ends up bumping into her old enemy and sees how the man of her dreams she once lost proposes to another woman.

But with a twist of fate and some cellular magic she is given the opportunity to travel back in time to the week before she lost it all. She reckons she can change her fate by making sure she does not let down her best friend, does not make a lifelong enemy, lands the job of her dreams and still walk away with the love of her life.

Sounds easy enough however, the author very clearly shows that changing the past even with magic time travel falling into your lap is never as easy as it sounds. The character of Flora was very interesting to read about, she is a rather strong and independent woman however, she does not really have the guts to fight for what she wants and because of this she holds back to fight for the life she craves and just goes with the flow, it was interesting to see how the author takes her and bends her into the woman that will have it all.

The author did also offer up interesting secondary characters however she does not really get to their POV and mostly I only got the POV of Flora, so I was left with a bit of a " I want to know what he is thinking" feeling, as I really would have liked to know what Flora's enemy Lance was thinking during moments of him seeing her with her boyfriend Ruben, I think that would have given me as reader a better understanding then just being able to pick up on the element of he wants her.

The setting of the 90's was however stunning, the author incorporated names, songs, movies and other features of those years and I as reader was reminded of so many fun and crazy things for the period. The dialogue was kind of teenager-ish as slang words from the 90's were incorporated but not to the extent that a reader not familiar with it would be lost or not understanding it at all, so yes that was done very nicely.

The sexual heat in this one was of the non x-rated kind after all the characters were only 21 years of age when this all happened, so if you like the hot and passionate kind this read is not for you, it would however be suitable for the younger generation of our time and for those looking for a low in sensual heat level.

A very easy and fun read, very well written and a reminder that if you could change your past there are some things that are better left as is for you never know what awaits you on the other side of romance, life and destiny.

4/5 star review
"Second chances hold the key to unlocking your enemies heart" 

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Reviewed by Nas

SECOND CHANCE by author Carla Caruso is a February 2013 release from Destiny Romance.

Flora is getting tired of her life in early thirties. Then she zaps back to her teens. Hilarious events follow after that.

A very fun, entertaining story. It is time-travel in romance!

SECOND CHANCE brings us to the question, if we could change the past what would we change?

Author Carla Caruso has created characters which leap off the page and speak to you.

Highly entertaining and well recommended!

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Reviewed by Maria

A very reader friendly novel which pulls you right in.  This author's style is immensely pleasing.

Flora Brunelli is a thirtysomething single woman who has an enjoyable life, a career, a home and loving parents and a sister, but something is definitely missing.  Love has eluded her and she regrets a couple of mistakes she made in her early twenties.  It's a textbook 'if I could turn back time' situation.  After her thirty sixth  birthday celebrations fall flat and she's wallowing in the mire, so to speak, the unbelievable happens.  She's a young, carefree student again with a boyfriend who she loves and wants to be with forever.  And of course, she'll do it all right this time,won't she?

She's living with her parents again, chafing at the restrictions of home life, but her beloved gran is still alive.  And gran wisely tells her to never regret anything she's done..... When will Flora learn to let the past go and move on?

Written in a breezy style with a huge dollop of humour, this romantic comedy of a novel will leave you smiling.  Well, that's what it did to me.
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Reviewed by TashNz


Carla Caruso, you had me at Hello!

I loved the light, fun and humorous read that Second Chance offers.  It could in fact totally be a movie, I know I'd watch it!

Flora is literally given a second chance at the week that she considers ruined her life 15 years ago.  The second chance happens pretty quickly and before I knew it i was giggling away to the many references of the 90's and Flora's reactions to things that happened so many years ago.  Even tho she was transported back to the past she still has her memory of the future which makes her observations hilarious.  Flora's trip back in time has surprises for all!

I loved the trip down memory lane Second Chances personally took me, for instance TLC's Waterfalls was released during the time I had my first full time job and I can remember the days without cellphones and if only we knew what excitement Ereaders would bring us in the future. I recently read an interview by Carla Caruso where she shares how she researched this book, I think she's done an ace job!

The two main men in Flora's life are portrayed so well that you know who you want her to be with but you're left with enough mystery to wonder how it will all turn out like. Flora is quite Bridget Jones-esque in the way that you know she's just normal and could be any one of us and she has her ups and downs and she's just so lovable you want her to have her happy ever after.

Second Chance is such an enjoyable laugh a minute read which I read in one sitting because it's fast paced, quirky and easy to read. The ending pages were just perfect.  I would totally recommend for anyone who loves the 90's, Seinfeld, comedies or wants to sit down with a cuppa and have a really good giggle.

Her Italian Aristocrat by Louise Reynolds

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Reviewed by Desere


This book was one of the most gorgeous written love stories I have read in a long time! The setting of Italy was perfect for a romance born out of true passion and a force for winning at all costs.

The story about Gemma setting out to Italy to with a will to succeed, made her a strong and independent character. Of course what would a good romance be without a good looking  melt all my defences hero, and this time around that was the character of Luca.

Now Luca is much like Gemma determined to win and very strong willed. But he also has a somewhat soft side that comes into play when Gemma falls ill and he rushes her off to his home to help in nursing her back to health.

But because both main characters are so similar in their mission to succeed is the reason what made the book incredible. They go head to head against each other in a battle of wills unlike any other I have read before.

The read was filled with loads and loads of conflict and sexual tension that for me as reader is so very temptingly delicious as it gives the book that wow factor, and yes I am spoiled now for good as I will be expecting this very same wow in all this authors future books!

What I also truly loved was the descriptions used by the author to create a little Italian village that prides itself on it's history and culture, it was like almost seeing the buildings and history unfold in front of me, and I truly felt as it I were standing in Italy.

A fun and witty dialogue made for moments where I was laughing out load, cheering the character on and also going "Seriously did you just really say that", so yes ladies if you saw me reading this one you would have seen me rolling my eyes at the arrogance of the characters, but again that is what kept me entertained.

I highly recommend this read
5/5 star review

"You will fall in love with Italy and with the authors amazing characters"

The Convenient Bride by Jennifer St George

Reviewed by Nas

The Convenient Bride

THE CONVENIENT BRIDE by author Jennifer St George is released by Destiny Romance.

Antonio Moretti came to repossess a hotel for defaulting on his mortgage payment. But when he met the owner's daughter, sparks flew.

For his personal reasons he makes a proposition to Sienna De Luca for a marriage of convenience. She strikes a deal to get back her hotel after one year. It was a marriage of convenience only. But can they deny their growing awareness of each other? And what would happen when Siena discovers Antonio's secrets?

THE CONVENIENT BRIDE is a lively contemporary romance with a sexy, gorgeous hero you will swoon over and a strong heroine whom you'd love. Author Jennifer St George brought this sparkling tale of unexpected and chance encounters turning into red-hot passion. It is humour with steamy sensuality and heart tugging pathos. Highly recommended.

Return to Romance Book Haven

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Reviewed by Desere :

This is a new author to me but as always I love to give all a fair change and so when the opportunity came to read I grab at it.

The book was a real page turner, the characters just screamed at me ,they were so real. And the author packed vivid emotion combined with loads of hot passion into one excellent read.

The author's stunning story of love,secrets and a large dose of blazing hot passion was simply put ......FABULOUS !

I loved how the author used superb characterization to bring her characters to live for me as reader. 

The dialogue was fresh,fun and new,unlike some of the other more established author I have read this author offered a new take on the marriage of convenience and just made the entire read a whole lot of fun and I found myself laughing out loud more than once.

Well done Jennifer ,I very much look forward to more.

5/5 star review