Title:
Moonlight
Plains
Author: Barbara Hannay
Publisher: August 27th 2014 Penguin Australia
ISBN: 9781921901928
Pages: 384
pages
How I Read It: ARC ebook
Genre: historical fiction, romance, women’s
fiction, cultural Australia
My Rating: 2 crowns
Synopsis:
In 1942, as the Japanese sweep towards northern
Australia and allied troops swarm into Townsville, Kitty Martin is sent inland
to the safety of Moonlight Plains. But when two American airmen crash on the
isolated property, she is forced to grow up fast, coming face to face with
tragedy, with love . . . and with heartbreak.
Years on, and Sally Piper, a young journalist, is sent to Moonlight Plains to cover the story of a cattleman turned builder who is restoring his grandmother's forgotten homestead. Sparks fly between them, but Sally is struggling to let go of the past, and Luke has his eyes fixed firmly on the future.
What they uncover together is a shocking secret that has been kept safe for more than seventy years. Now the entire family's happiness is at stake – or does the truth about the past hold a valuable lesson for the future?
From the internationally acclaimed and award-winning romance writer Barbara Hannay comes this breathtaking novel about finding love against all the odds. It will have you smiling – and crying – from beginning to end.
Years on, and Sally Piper, a young journalist, is sent to Moonlight Plains to cover the story of a cattleman turned builder who is restoring his grandmother's forgotten homestead. Sparks fly between them, but Sally is struggling to let go of the past, and Luke has his eyes fixed firmly on the future.
What they uncover together is a shocking secret that has been kept safe for more than seventy years. Now the entire family's happiness is at stake – or does the truth about the past hold a valuable lesson for the future?
From the internationally acclaimed and award-winning romance writer Barbara Hannay comes this breathtaking novel about finding love against all the odds. It will have you smiling – and crying – from beginning to end.
The present day story centres on Sally and Luke
and is a modern romance, as they face everyday life issues in an Australian
rural setting. The more pertinent and engaging story involved Kitty and
her encounter with an American airman in World War II. That, I felt, was the more
interesting aspect for readers.
For me though, the story seemed somewhat predictable. I was hoping – based on the
premise – for more intrigue and mystery and there is great potential in the
line up of characters and locations.
“Each generation had to be judged by the values of their day
and not by the values
of current ways of thinking.”
However,
there are no big twists in this story, it seemed a bit contrived and
predictable in places. There are quite a few characters to keep track of in
this dual timeline and two continent tale. The writing is easy going but the
story was not fully engaging; the author does not really delve below the
superficial with her plot or character development. I wish she had but it’s
just not that kind of read.
So, if you enjoy a light, romantic read, that you
don’t really have to think about too much, then you can sit back and enjoy the
tale of Moonlight Plains. It’s a good ol’ fashioned wartime romance as told in many
movies of bygone days, here for you to read and enjoy - only this time the
setting is far north Queensland, Australia and that makes a nice change.
“Fate, if you
believe in it, walks such a precarious tightrope. The wrong decisions are made
despite the best of intentions. Words that should have been spoken are held
back for fear of causing upset. I’ve been looking back, however, and thinking
about you”.
Does the truth about the past hold a valuable lesson for the future?
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