ACRBA Tour - Faith in the Great Southland by Mary Hawkins

4 - 8 November

Australian Christian Readers Blog Alliance

Introducing

Faith in the Great Southland  

(Barbour Books October 1, 2012)

By 

Mary Hawkins

About the Book

Elizabeth Waverly never dreamed that taking a convict transport back to her home in Australia would change her life. But from the moment she lays eyes on John Martin, she cannot resist her growing attraction to him. She knows the man faces a life sentence for murder, but her heart refuses to believe he is guilty of the charges against him. How could someone who so valiantly protects others and accepts another prisoner's punishment be a brutal felon? Yet once the transport ship lands in Australia, their paths are bound to head in very different directions. Is their love destined to become a bittersweet memory of what might have been, or will faith show them another way?

About the Author

Mary is a multi-published Australian romance author with 19 titles. After being published by Harlequin Mills and Boon medicals, Heartsong Presents and Barbour, her most recent single title Bargagula series is published by Ark House Press in Sydney. I am a member of the Society Women Writers Tasmania, Romance Writers of Australia, Omega Writers, Australian Christian Writers Fellowship, American Christian Fiction Writers, Romance Writers America and their Faith Hope Love chapter. My Heartsong Presents back list titles are being released by Truly Yours Digital Editions. Faith in the Great Southland is now available with the other 3 in this series to be released June and July. She is available to speak and share what she has  learnt about writing novels, her writing journey and faith in our incredible God. For more about Mary, go to her website.

My Thoughts:
This is a good book. I first read it years ago, so it was nice to re-read it for this tour.
Australian history of this time is very interesting, and this is one of the best books I've read about it.
Make sure you get your hands on the other 3 books in the series, as there are a few things left hanging at the end of this book!

ACRBA Tour - Ellenvale Gold by Amanda Deed

6 - 10 May

Australian Christian Readers Blog Alliance

is introducing

Ellenvale Gold

(Even Before Publishing November 2012)

By

Amanda Deed

Available at Amazon
&
Light The Dark

About the Author

Amanda Deed grew up in the South Eastern suburbs of Melbourne in a Christian home, and found faith at an early age. She has followed her passion to serve the Lord through music and literature since her teen years. Now married, with three children, Amanda enjoys the variety of being a mother, finance administrator, musician and historical romance writer. Her debut novel, The Game, won the 2010 CALEB Prize for fiction, and Ellenvale Gold was a finalist for the same prize in 2012. For more information go towww.amandadeed.com.au.

Website is http://www.amandadeed.com.au/

About the Book:

It is the time of Australia’s harsh rogue-filled goldrush of the 1850’s when Miss Penelope Worthington suddenly finds herself orphaned, isolated and alone. With a large sheep station to run single-handedly, she has little option but to enlist the aid of a mysterious, but sinister stranger.
But who is the more treacherous? Gus—the scruffy, trespassing, ex-convict who co-incidentally shows up looking for work just when she desperately needs a farmhand or Rupert—the handsome, wealthy neighbour who would willingly marry her at the drop of a hat and solve her apparent dilemma?
Repeatedly, her faith is tested as she faces the unforgiving elements, deceit, lies and uncertainty. But where and how will it all end? But…is it the end? Will vengeance return or
will Penny’s faith prevail?

My Thoughts:
Great story! Real characters, good plot and a few twists and turns along the way. I could picture what the land was like because I live not too far from where this is set and have driven in the area. Plus the Gospel is preached!!
And then there's the epilogue - only one thing to say about that: there is no doubt that this is just the beginning of a series!
What will happen next?
I'll just have to read the next book to find out.

ACRBA Tour - Back to Resolution by Rose Dee

3 - 7 December

Australian Christian Readers Blog Alliance

is introducing

Back To Resolution

(Even Before Publishing November 2012)

by Rose Dee

Available from Light the dark this week for $12.95

About the Author:

Rose Dee

Rose Dee was born in Ingham, North Queensland, Australia. Her childhood experiences growing up in a small beach community would later provide inspiration for her first novel.

Rose, who holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree, decided to try her hand at writing two years ago. The result of that attempt is her first novel, 'Back to Resolution'.

Her novels are inspired by the love of her coastal home and desire to produce exciting and contemporary stories of faith for women.

Rose’s other releases include, 'Beyond Resolution' - the second book in the 'Resolution' series. And ‘A New Resolution’ – the final book in the series.

Rose has also co-written a novel in conjunction with three other outstanding Australian Authors; ‘The Greenfield Legacy’.

Rose resides in Mackay, North Queensland with her husband, young son, and mischievous pup, Noodle.

Book Description:

Back to Resolution

Bay Anders is lost. She enjoys every privilege a wealthy upbringing affords, but the void in her soul refuses to be filled.
Her mother's dying revelation drives Bay to the brink of self destruction, before a move to Australia changes everything. She embarks upon a search for her father that leads her to his island home, into a hazardous melting pot of hostile locals and a mystery – her father's disappearance.
The only person who can help her is a strong, selfassured and intensely magnetic man. Bay must fight an overwhelming attraction to stay focused on her goal.

Flynn McKenna is hiding from the world. A past filled with mistakes drove him to withdraw from society and live in seclusion. But the arrival of a woman he cannot avoid
shatters his solitary existence. As the search for Bay's father unites them, can he resist his desire for her?
It becomes a race against time as developers try to take over the island.

From the glittering streets of LA, to the beautiful
Daintree forest in North Queensland, to the idyllic island `Resolution', Back to Resolution is a romantic mystery that shows how far a little faith can go.

Website - http://rosedee.com/

My Thoughts:

This book is a wonderful combination of mystery, romance, faith and figuring out who you are.

I love reading books set in Australia, and this one made me want to head to Queensland for a holiday and find my own private island - just without the drama.

I can't wait to read the next 2 books in this series.

 

Teaser Tuesdays - April 13

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Most of the time I read books by authors from the USA, but that's just because most Christian fiction is coming from there. So today I decided you give you a teaser from an Australian author that I am currently reading.

Golden Fiddles by Mary Grant Bruce

'They had left Tupurra in a state of wild excitement, and the journey, while the daylight lasted, had been all wonder and delight. Then had come some hours of darkness, which had taken some of the edge off their spirits, since even the marvel of being in a train for the first time may pall when it is impossible to look out tof the window. But Melbourne's first glimpse had revived the children. They thrilled at the gleaming electric signs as the train neared Prince's Bridge; the roar of the station renewed the thrill.'

This is historical fiction, but for me, it is set in an area that is very familiar to me, and that makes it really interesting. It's not the first time I've read this book, but since the last time I read it I've learned more about the history of Melbourne and some of the things in it.

Aussie Photo of the Year

It's amazing what you can see in a puddle!

An Interesting Approach to Saving Water

Sydney harnesses CBD's underground 'lake' - Yahoo!7 News

Tuesday January 15, 01:15 PM

Sydney harnesses CBD's underground 'lake'

Recycled water will be stored under one of Sydney's main streets in a scheme aimed at saving New South Wales Parliament almost 18 million litres a year, or about half its water consumption.
The water recycling project, which begins today, will use large rainwater tanks built on top of Parliament House, the State Library and Sydney Hospital that can each hold 60,000 litres.
Water Utilities Minister Nathan Rees says the water collected will flow into an "artificial lake" being created under Macquarie Street.
"What we're calling the St James Lake is an old disused railway tunnel that we will now be filling with water from the roofs of these buildings, keeping it in storage and then using it for gardens and toilets and so on," he said.
The tunnel, just north of the State Library, already holds 5 million litres of stormwater after collecting run-off for decades.
The Government wants to pump a lot more stormwater into it. The reservoir would then be used as the main supply of recycled water for all of the public buildings along Macquarie Street.
Mr Rees says the water in the disused tunnels is surprisingly clean.
"Despite the debris, the water is crystal clear after it's come through the sandstone," he said. "You just don't expect to find this under the centre of Sydney."
He says all the Government buildings along Macquarie Street will eventually funnel rooftop stormwater into St James Lake.
Other unused train tunnels will also be checked to see if they can be used as reservoirs.

I came across this rather interesting news piece today. Due to the drought that is affecting the majority of Australia at present, everyone is trying to work out new ways to save water (or revamp the old ways). This one struck me as a really good way of recycling existing resources to meet the current needs of the population.

The Aussie Drink Driver (True Story)

From the state where drink driving is considered a sport,
comes a true story from the Sunshine Coast, Queensland.
Recently a routine police patrol parked outside a local
neighborhood tavern. Late in the evening the officer
noticed a man leaving the bar so intoxicated that he could barely
walk.
The man stumbled around the car park for a few minutes,
with the officer quietly observing. After what seemed an
eternity and trying his keys on five vehicles, the man managed to
find his car, which he fell into. He was there for a few minutes as a
number of other patrons left the bar and drove off. Finally he started the
car, switched the wipers on and off (it was a fine dry night),
flicked the indicators on, then off, tooted the horn and then switched
on the lights.
He moved the vehicle forward a few cm, reversed a little and
then remained stationary for a few more minutes as some more
vehicles left.
At last he pulled out of the car park and started to drive
slowly down the road. The police officer, having patiently
waited all this time, now started up the patrol car, put on the
flashing lights, promptly pulled the man over and carried out a
breathalyzer test.
To his amazement the breathalyser indicated no evidence of
the man's intoxication.
The police officer said 'I'll have to ask you to accompany
me to the Police station - this breathalyser equipment must be
broken.'
'I doubt it,' said the man, 'tonight I'm the designated
decoy'.

Aussie backyard becoming a dying icon - Yahoo!7 News

Aussie backyard becoming a dying icon - Yahoo!7 News

Wednesday September 5, 10:36 AM

Aussie backyard becoming a dying icon

Australia's outdoor lifestyle is being threatened by the disappearance of an Aussie icon, according to new research.
Queensland's Griffith University professor Professor Tony Hall said the backyard was fast becoming a thing of the past with new estates brimming with sprawling low-set homes taking over from the traditional suburb.
The former UK town planner began his research two years ago after he moved to Australia and noticed homes and their backyards seemed to contradict the open-air lifestyle for which Australia was internationally renowned.
Using aerial photographs and home and lot measurements, Prof Hall said a "dramatic" change had taken place in the 1990s in all areas except Adelaide where homes now stretched out to lot boundaries, leaving little room for outdoor entertainment and play.
But while urban sprawl was happening in other countries, they were not losing their back yards the way Australian families were, he said.
"What people in the suburbs are doing is spending their money on what they perceive as floor area rather than lifestyle," he said.
He said people were building "cheap", square, single-story homes rather than more expensive two-story homes which would allow for maximum floor area and a back yard.
"Walls and the windows cost money, the second story costs money, but this gives you the cheapest way," he said.
"But it's not very nice living in terms of you don't get no view out and it's not a very nice environment compared to the older suburbs."
Prof Hall said his research had concluded the trend was being spurred by people building to increase resale value and longer working hours which meant people were rarely at home.
"The real problem I think though is what is happening to the Australian lifestyle - what's happening to this idea of the outdoor lifestyle, the barbie, the swimming pool?" he said.
The trend also would have damaging effects on the environment with the homes costing more to heat, cool and light.
The lack of trees also meant a lack of biodiversity, a poor microclimate with loss of shade in hot weather and increased runoff in wet weather, he said.
He said a return to the traditional backyard could only be achieved through planning regulations.
"Because if we don't then people won't be able to change in the future," he said.
"If they suddenly decide they really wanted barbies and swimming pools and things like this, and outdoor clothing drying, they wouldn't be able to because there isn't any room anymore."



I found this article very interesting, and basically I agree with it.

One thing I could add to Professor Hall's research is the growing number of people who live in areas with larger house blocks choosing to subdivide their property and build a unit or second house at the back. This is also reducing the size and number of backyards.

My Country

My Country
byDorothea Mackellar
(1885 - 1968)

The love of field and coppice,
Of green and shaded lanes.
Of ordered woods and gardens
Is running in your veins,
Strong love of grey-blue distance
Brown streams and soft dim skies
I know but cannot share it,
My love is otherwise.

I love a sunburnt country,
A land of sweeping plains,
Of ragged mountain ranges,
Of droughts and flooding rains.
I love her far horizons,
I love her jewel-sea,
Her beauty and her terror -
The wide brown land for me!

A stark white ring-barked forest
All tragic to the moon,
The sapphire-misted mountains,
The hot gold hush of noon.
Green tangle of the brushes,
Where lithe lianas coil,
And orchids deck the tree-tops
And ferns the warm dark soil.

Core of my heart, my country!
Her pitiless blue sky,
When sick at heart, around us,
We see the cattle die-
But then the grey clouds gather,
And we can bless again
The drumming of an army,
The steady, soaking rain.

Core of my heart, my country!
Land of the Rainbow Gold,
For flood and fire and famine,
She pays us back threefold-
Over the thirsty paddocks,
Watch, after many days,
The filmy veil of greenness
That thickens as we gaze.

An opal-hearted country,
A wilful, lavish land-
All you who have not loved her,
You will not understand-
Though earth holds many splendours,
Wherever I may die,
I know to what brown country
My homing thoughts will fly.
Dorothea Mackellar