A small town, a new arrival, and a love that is as undeniable as it is unlawful…
Victoria, Australia, 1891
Anglican priest Matthew Ottenshaw receives his first posting in tiny Dinbratten, two days’ ride from his Melbourne home. Determined to honour his calling as best he can, he throws himself into the footy mad, two–pub town, navigating the dusty streets, learning the gossip, and striking up … streets, learning the gossip, and striking up a friendship with Jonah Parks, the resident police sergeant and local bona fide hero.
A police officer and a priest often find themselves needed at the same place, and Jonah and Matthew’s friendship deepens quickly, as they set about their business of protecting the bodies and souls of Dinbratten’s residents. When a bushfire threatens the town, and Matthew’s inexperience with fire endangers the church buildings, Jonah comes to the rescue, and a reckless kiss in the midst of the chaos takes their friendship to forbidden.
Neither Matthew nor Jonah can go back to the way things were before, but continuing their relationship puts everything at risk: their jobs, their friends, even their lives. In the outback town of Dinbratten where everyone knows everything about everyone else, how can they ever expect to keep a secret this explosive?
MORE PRAISE
‘Told with an old-fashioned, authentically Australian wink and a smile…By the Currawong’s Call is also a tale with a very timely message: people in love will marry whether it’s legal or not.’ – Australian author Kim Kelly
‘By the Currawong’s Call, set in 1891 rural Australia, is a gorgeous story of forbidden love.’ – The Novel Approach Reviews
‘There is a lushness to the writing, a sweeping, lyrical feeling to the story that just drew me in and kept me captivated.’ – Joyfully Jay LGBTQ romance reviews
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Our heroes are an Anglican priest and the police sergeant in the small town of the priest’s new assignment. The romance builds at a slow, delicious pace, and the backdrop of 1890s Australia is gorgeous. Highly recommend.
This is one of the best LGBT novels I have read in a long time.I felt like I was there,in the time and minds of the characters.Truly a wonderful love story.
I was just coming off reading Holding the Man and missing the Australian setting when Marsland’s debut novel, By the Currawong’s Call came across my desk. Anglican priest, Matthew, finds himself posted to the small town of Dinbratten, where he forms a deep friendship with Jonah Parks, the police sergeant in residence. This novel does something I love – it gives a chance for the relationship between the MC’s to grow slowly before they give in to their romantic feelings, made doubly complicated by Matthew’s vocation and the historic period. It’s excellently written, just skirting the lyrical as the relationship between Matthew and Jonah escalates into something irrevocable.
In addition, each character, even the minor characters, are distinctly drawn. The author takes advantage of the differences in dialect and vocabulary to mark each character. This is particularly effective between Matthew and Jonah, because Matthew is more formally educated than Jonah. Even without dialogue tags, there is no question who is speaking.
This novel commits only one forgivable misstep – it sometimes uses Jonah as a vehicle for promoting the modern attitudes towards what were then illegal, same-sex relationships. There is nothing wrong with this, but if I, as a reader, am consuming this genre, it had better be because I’ve sorted my feelings about queerness. On the strength of this assumption, it’s a bit like preaching to the choir. Oh, and that epilogue can go for the same reason.
Everything else in this novel is divine.
Favorite quotes:
“You’d better decide quick-smart whether ya reckon I’m worth it, as well. Or else we should stop it all, right here.”
“The match flame illuminated the angles of his face. He was a god of myth, inhaling fire and sighing out incense.”
‘We are a wonder together,’ Matthew thought. ‘An absolute wonder.’
4.5/5 Stars. Great debut!
I have to say By The Currawong’s Call is one of the best books that I’ve EVER read. This story is set in rural Victoria, Australia, in the late 1800s. A young, handsome Anglican priest, Matthew Ottenshaw, takes up residence in the tiny town of Dinbratten and is pleasantly accepted by everyone in town, especially the ladies (much to his disinterest). Father Matthew makes it his mission to get to know all the townsfolk, including Sergeant Jonah Parks, one of the two coppers in town.
Jonah Parks is a legend and a hero to everyone around him. He is personable, brave, well-respected and, on top of it all, quite handsome and sought after by the local lasses as well. These two strike up a friendship that is, just that—a friendship. Jonah and Matthew become the dynamic duo it seems, leaving the town of Dinbratten in the best of hands. Fighting crime and saving souls, one would be surprised as to how closely their jobs become entwined.
And then one night, they become entwined. It’s frightening and confusing, especially for Father Matthew. There is so much at stake—no, let me make it clear: there is EVERYTHING at stake for these two pillars of this small town to continue their clandestine affair because homosexual relationships in the late 1800s in Australia are against the law. They’re gravely at risk carrying on in such a small town.
The author does an outstanding job giving the reader a full picture of life in this time period. Instantly, I was transported into the pages, my mind’s eye so clearly watching the footy games, the brushfire behind the church, the trotting of horses, the dust and grime of the dry season, the sounds and cheers in the pubs, and most importantly, I could feel the love and angst between Matthew and Jonah so deep within my soul.
Once the first page of this treasure is turned, I’d feel certain that anyone would have trouble putting it down. I couldn’t. By The Currawong’s Call is perfectly written and the editing is flawless. The chapters flow like a warm breeze. Jonah and Matthew become part of your soul. It’s about history. It’s about cherishing everything that is right in this world and the grieving and the sadness of what isn’t. How could loving someone, no matter their gender, be so wrong? Jonah and Matthew are my heroes.
I would implore everyone who loves M/M romance and finding and fighting for true love to read this work of art. Five stars just aren’t enough.
Beautiful characters and development, a great plot, and wonderful writing make this historical M/M romance a perfect read.
This story was beautifully developed with admirable and interesting characters. Hope that we’ll see much more from this very talented author.
Historical fiction can often gloss over the treacherous realities of times and places far removed from our current experience. The Currawong’s Call places us acutely and accurately amidst the travails of 1800’s Australia for people of a different sexual persuasion. The characters are lovable and well developed. The story intriguing and building always toward an uncertain but brighter future.
I found this book to be very well written. An interesting story of two men falling in love and having an affair in Australia in the 1800’s. It was really different than any LGBT book I have read. I wish this author had more books like this one.
Not usually a historical M/M fan but this is different. Loved every second of it, mourned when it ended and there aren’t any more to read by this author. It’s on my reread list. Just right, and Australian!
Enjoyed it!
Thoroughly entertaining story of opposite attractions – a police officer and a priest who fall in love in wildest Australia at the turn of the century and the lengths they go to to keep their relationship alive. It gets a bit twisted toward the end but like all good romance stories it comes out all right. Funny and strangely inspiring I heartily recommend this book.
I wasn’t sure I would enjoy the because of the time it was site in . I was so wrong ,great read ..
I couldn’t put this one down!
I enjoyed it, but it could have used a LOT more “heat”
I liked the fact that the story was set in Australia.
At first I wasn’t sure about this one!
But after starting to get into it, I got into it. I mean like not being able to put it down.
So many things that were in this book were the same here in the U.S.A. but true love conquers
I hope he continues the story in when they cross the ocean and go on to life in the U.S.A.
I must start this by saying that this book is a book to cherish, to hug close to your chest and to re-read on a day your soul needs a pick up. I adored every minute of it. The author has a marvelous ability to plunk you right in the middle of 1800s Australia, with vibrant, playful imagery, such as the opening line “Two crows sat on the front gable of the little weatherboard church, telling each other terrible jokes.” What a beautiful start!
Every word eases you into the world of Dinbratten, the little, dusty town where Reverend Matthew Ottenshaw has been assigned to as the new vicar. There he meets a variety of good, honest folk, living their lives as well as they can, and one of those good folks is Sergeant Jonah Parks. Parks is the town’s copper, a bona fide hero, who captured a vicious killer and almost died in the process, a man of the law through and through. They develop an easy friendship, bonding over their vocation to serve their town folk.
I fell in love with both Matthew and Jonah. They are both likable, admirable, well rounded characters with yearnings and flaws, but at the same time so shining in their honesty and love for their fellow man. I particularly enjoyed Jonah’s mischievous spirit, and how he never plays down his boisterousness around Matthew, who in turn, takes in Jonah’s playfulness for what it is. Matthew is a unique vicar, he refrains from judgment but is always willing to be of service, even when he goes against common opinion or prejudice.
I loved how their relationship evolves naturally, there is a cadence to it that flows easily, nothing seemed forced or angsty. Even at the most emotional, both Matthew and Jonah react with maturity and self awareness, lending each other the support they need through their self discoveries and struggles. There were quite a few moments when I teared up reading this book, feeling the intensity of their feelings and their fears, the author made it easy to relate to their emotions.
I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a historical romance, with a realistic relationship full of ups and downs; it is moving and heartwarming, with relatable, absolutely lovable realistic men. It is full of drama, but not hysterics, and full of love and self discovery. My fondest wish is that there will be a future print edition because I would love to hold a hardback in my hands, and hug Matthew and Jonah to me when I need a cheering up.