Buffalo Dust by Mel A Rowe
Series: Elsie Creek #9
Subgenre: rural romance
Release date: 23 Dec 2023
Publisher: self-published
Format: ebook and print
Length: 338 pages
RRP: $5.99 (ebook); $29.69 (print)
It’s official. I want to visit Elsie Creek, and I’m a city slicker with zero tolerance for heat, flies, mossies, crocodiles, etc. But I want to see the ‘big sky’ out there. I want to meet the locals, and I certainly want to give Cecil, the ageing water buffalo, a (very cautious) pat and offer him a bunch of daisies to eat. I want to have a spit roast at the hotel, and a cocktail at the Sandfly Bar—of course made in dashing style by Felix.
Anyway. This is Jordi and Luke’s story.
Jordi, her sister and brother-in-law run a florist shop up north. Jordi makes the delivery run down to Elsie Creek once a week, a long overnighter she loves doing. As the ‘flower-shop girl’ her flowers bring joy to the locals—with details of the happy recipients often broadcast over the local radio in a colourful segment called Dramas From the Dinghy.
When she’s a bit vague about accessing some addresses, she often does a quick run through the Bottle Shop drive-through. ‘Bottle Shop Luke’ is only too happy to help her out with his big smile and gentle manner. Plus, he knows where absolutely everyone lives.
Jordi seems vulnerable, shy, and fragile, and Luke’s got a protective streak a mile wide. We know something traumatic has happened in the past, something very awful. Jordi still hasn’t come to terms with it and Luke seems to know about it. And poor Jordi’s future’s in a state of flux, with the possibility of her sister and brother-in-law moving away. She’s caught between the past and the future and doesn’t know what to do.
There’s a special reason why Luke longs to get to know Jordi better. They have met before, but Jordi doesn’t really understand how until fairly late in the book, when the action totally heats up. It’s such a heartbreaker of a scene.
Meanwhile, there’s a million-dollar barramundi fishing competition happening in Elsie Creek. Every fisherman in the Territory wants to win the amazing prize money. Wait, isn’t this crocodile country? My word it is, and yes, there’s big scary crocodile strife on the river during the fishing comp. Terrifying, actually.
Between locals, water buffaloes, fires, crocs, and a grandmother with difficult health issues, this is quite a story. The romance is all the sweeter for the fabulous community side of things interrupting all the time.
Mel A Rowe has created a wonderful town with eccentric and lovable locals, some of whom have already had their own stories told. It might be a bit hard at first for a newbie to drop in at story #9, but just go with the flow. The locals have a way of endearing themselves to you whether you know them or not, and Mel’s love of the outback shines through. Enjoy!
reviewed by Malvina
A review copy of this book was provided by the author.
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