Kookaburra Cottage by Maya Linnell
Subgenre: rural romance
Release date: 30 May 2023
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Format: ebook and print
Length: 384 pages
RRP: $12.99 (ebook); $29.99 (print)
April Lacey’s father and stepmother run the family winery, Lacewing Estate, located on South Australia’s Limestone Coast in the region of Penwarra. Her father entertains hopes that April will one day take over the business, but she’s more horticulturalist than winemaker.
She’s also working on her dream of a B&B on the Lacewing Estate, something to bring in extra revenue. She’s trying to freshen up the winery and surrounds as a venue, but her father is slightly resistant to her plans. Frustrated, April worries that if Lacewing Estate can’t move with the times it will fade into obscurity.
Enter Englishman wine-make Connor Jamison who is in Australia on a two-year visa to learn more about the trade. He quickly gets a job at Lacewing with April’s father, and he and April begin a tentative romance—going very slowly, even as he helps April pave the way for new things at the winery.
Connor rooms with his rather hilarious friend Fergus, a Scotsman also here on a work visa. They totally endear themselves to the local community and before you know it, they’ve both promised to make a ‘bachelor’s’ cake for the local show. Neither of them can cook, but that doesn’t seem to worry anyone. In fact, Fergus’ cooking is nearly burn-the-house-down bad!
I have to say, the locals in this book are loads of fun. I particularly fell in love with Archie, the ten-year old boy living next to April. He’s absolutely endearing, a gorgeous young kid with a huge heart. When he’s not chasing his lambs out of April’s garden, he plays piano under Connor’s expert tutelage, tends his own vegetables, grows giant pumpkins, and helps April build stone fences. The lad’s a complete champion.
I loved the details about the Penwarra Country Show, the baking and vegetables and such, the local colour, and the renovations for the lovely B&B. It all added depth to the book, including the discussions about which vanilla slice is best.
Connor and April’s romance is far from easy, especially when a needy someone from his past suddenly arrives in Australia. Connor’s gone through a recent tragedy and the wound is still raw. This person turning up forces him to confront the past, but it stifles Connor and April’s relationship.
Will Connor and April ever have a chance at forever romance? What will happen to them when a disaster at Lacewing threatens everything April holds dear? Read on, dear reader!
P.S. Maya Linnell, could you please write Fergus’ book? I fell in love with his cheery optimism, optimistic outlook on life, and his ability to make new friends at the drop of a hat. He’s huge fun.
reviewed by Malvina
A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher.
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