A heartfelt and compelling story of family, secrets and second chances, set in the heart of the beautiful Hunter Valley of NSW, from an award-winning new voice in Australian fiction. Family, fortune and holding on to what counts…
For many years Elizabeth Lawson has battled single-handedly to run the family’s historic horse stud in memory of her beloved father. But a devastating loss puts her … beloved father. But a devastating loss puts her dreams at risk. With no options left, Liz is forced to turn to her estranged sister Kayla for help.
Kayla has built a new life in the city as a wedding planner, far removed from the stableyard sweat and dust of her rural upbringing. She never thought she’d go back. But when Liz calls out of the blue, Kayla forms a plan that could save their childhood home.
Kayla’s return forces Liz to confront her past … and her future, in the shape of Mitch, her first and only love, who still watches over her from the other side of the creek.
But Liz still hides a terrible secret. When Kayla learns the truth, will the Lawson sisters find common ground or will their conflict splinter the family once again?
‘With the scent of eucalyptus on the air, estranged sisters and a homestead echoing past regrets and missed chances, The Lawson Sisters has everything you want in an Aussie romance.’ – Fiona Lowe, bestselling Australian author
more
This is an excellent book about grief and the persistence of love. They story centres around Liz and Kayla, who were orphaned suddenly when they were in their teens. Liz took over running the family stud farm, while Kayla was sent away to get an expensive education, in accordance with their father’s wishes. The estranged sisters are brought back together when the farm is in financial dire straits and Liz needs Kayla to help.
Liz is stubborn and hard, but you can understand how having so much responsibility thrust on her at a young age would make her that way. You can’t help but feel sorry for her. Kayla is partly a city girl and an excellent wedding planner. She doesn’t understand her sister, but she loves her too.
The romantic thread in the book is very minor (it’s mainly the story of the two sisters), but Mitch is lovely. He has been in love with Liz for a long time. It’s adorable.
I really enjoyed this book. I don’t know anything about horses, but still managed to follow all the horse related stuff. To be fair, there was FAR more wedding related background than horses.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the review copy.
The usual disclaimer, the writer and I belong to the same writing organisations and we know each other from there. I only read her books because I enjoy them, so this is an honest review.
This is the first book I have read from this author and it won’t be the last, it is a beautiful story, compelling, moving and emotional and one that was very hard to put down once I picked it up. I loved the setting The Hunter Valley, is a beautiful place and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Elizabeth and Kayla Lawson and seeing them find their way again.
Lizzie and Kayla are living a fabulous life on a horse stud, Willowbrook at Scone in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales with their parents and many beautiful horses, and life is good, that is until tragedy takes their parents away and Liz must take over running Willowbrook and Kayla is sent to boarding school.
Liz never stops working she has made promises to her father that she must keep and guilt is a hard task master to cope with, the horses and the homestead are her life always, showing and training the horses is a lot of work but times are tough and Willowbrook is struggling financially and Liz is forced to contact her sister Kayla to ask for help.
Kayla makes a very good life for herself as a wedding planner in a the city far away from her sister and Willowbrook, visiting home or even chatting to Liz does not really happen, but when Liz calls and needs her help Liz goes home for a visit and puts a plan into place to help add some much need money to the homestead, being home makes her feel good, but working with Liz is not easy.
Kayla makes Liz remember the past even more and the secret is hurting more, especially seeing as how Mitch is now living next door, so many things have happened over the years, is it now time to tell Kayla the truth and will Kayla finally remember the day her parents were taken away?
I cannot highly recommend this book enough, beautifully written it is a must read, getting to know Liz and Kayla was fabulous there were tears and smiles as the girls finally find their way to happiness, Mitch was such a hero in my eyes, always there for Liz, I hope I have done this book justice it is so good, thank you Janet Gover for an awesome read, I look forward to many more stories from you.