Man Drought
Written by Rachael Johns
Narrated by Casey Withoos
4.5/5
()
Unavailable in your country
Unavailable in your country
About this audiobook
She'll make over this town...one man at a time!
Imogen Bates moved to the small rural town of Gibson's Find to start a new life for herself after the death of her husband. Tired of being haunted by the painful memories of her old life, Imogen set her last remaining hopes on the little town and poured her heart and savings into restoring The Majestic Hotel to its former glory. But while the female–starved town might be glad to see a young woman move in, not everyone is happy about Imogen's arrival.
Farmer Gibson Black once dreamed of having the kind of family his grandfather reminisces about, but he's learnt not to dream anymore. Living in the mostly male town suits Gibson down to the ground... And he won't have anyone – least of all a hot redhead from the city – change a thing.
Imogen has never been one to back down from a challenge – especially when it concerns her last chance at happiness. She's determined to rebuild the pub and create a future for the little town. But can she create a future for Gibson and herself, too?
Rachael Johns
Once upon a time (briefly) Rachael Johns was an English teacher, then her dreams of becoming a novelist came true. Now she spends her days writing romance and women's fiction in the Swan Valley, Western Australia. She is the bestselling, ABIA-winning author of The Patterson Girls and a number of other romance and women's fiction books including The Art of Keeping Secrets, The Greatest Gift, Lost Without You, Just One Wish, Something to Talk About, Flying the Nest, How to Mend a Broken Heart, The Work Wives and The Other Bridget. When she's not writing, you'll find Rachael reading, hanging with her adorable sheepadoodle, listening to audiobooks while cleaning up after her three teenage boys, or running the Rachael Johns' Online Book Club on Facebook. Rachael loves to hear from readers and can be contacted via her website rachaeljohns.com. Rachael loves to hear from readers and can be contacted via her website rachaeljohns.com
Related to Man Drought
Related audiobooks
Outback Blaze (A Bunyip Bay Novel, #2) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Outback Secrets (A Bunyip Bay Novel, #5) Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Outback Sisters (A Bunyip Bay Novel, #4) Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Wildflower Ridge Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Poppy's Dilemma Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Second Chance Town Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Sapphire Falls Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Round Yard Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Shearer's Wife Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Once Burnt, Twice Shy Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Down Outback Roads Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Third Time Lucky Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Wrong Callahan Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Bottlebrush Creek Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Wattle Seed Inn Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Deception Creek Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Mr Right Now Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Fool Me Once Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The River Gum Cottage Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Missing Pieces of Us Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Wild One Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSutherland Downs: A gripping Australian Outback Romance Suspense Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWithout a Doubt Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Indigo Storm Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Magpie's Bend Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Someone Like You Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Suddenly One Summer Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Rising Dust Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Family Inheritance Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Something to Hide Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Romance For You
A Court of Silver Flames Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5It Starts with Us: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Ugly Love Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Twisted Love Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Winter Garden Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Red, White & Royal Blue: A Novel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Duke and I Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Idea of You Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Outlander Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Slammed: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5November 9: A Novel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Maybe Someday Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Witches of New Orleans Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Princess Bride: S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure (The "Good Parts" Version) Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Confess Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5When He Was Wicked Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5One Last Stop Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5When We Believed in Mermaids: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Ministry of Time: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5One True Loves: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5All Your Perfects: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Touch of Darkness Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Radiant Sin Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Pride and Prejudice: Classic Tales Edition Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Twisted Games Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5An American Marriage: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5On the Way to the Wedding Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Water for Elephants Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Never King Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Point of Retreat: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Reviews for Man Drought
8 ratings2 reviews
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I went to a talk by Rachael Johns. She was very interesting to listen to. She lives in the wheat belt of Western Australia. It took her 15 years to be published. This is the story of Imogen who is widowed and buys a country hotel. As she changes things for the better she becomes involved with her barman's supposed dementia and of course his grandson, Gibson.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5As I enjoyed Jilted, Rachael John’s debut contemporary rural romance novel published in 2012, I have been eagerly awaiting her next release and I am pleased to report that I found Man Drought a charming and delightful read.After her husband’s death, Imogen Bates decides to escape the city and begin a new life in the small Western Australian country town of Gibson’s Find, becoming the sole owner of The Majestic Hotel. The town is happy to welcome Imogen who is content to pour her heart and soul into revitalising the pub, and with it the community, but Gibson Black isn’t so sure change is a good thing, especially when Imogen threatens to turn his whole world upside down.It didn’t take me long to fall in love with the main protagonists of Man Drought. Imogen proves to be determined and feisty, but vulnerable in her grief over the death of her husband. I really liked the way in which the author allowed Imogen to slowly work out her growing feelings for Gibson, without ignoring the very real emotions and contradictions inherent in such a situation.Gibson had to work a little harder to earn my affection given the giant chip on his shoulder, a result of his own failed marriage, but I was immediately attracted to his physical portrait,“He was tall with liquorice dark hair and a two day growth along his jawline. He wore faded jeans and a flannelette shirt rolled up to his elbows.” This being a romance Gibson is, of course, hiding a heart of gold behind his gruff exterior and with the care he takes of his grandfather and his respect for Imogen’s confused emotional state he quickly redeems himself.The chemistry between Imogen and Gibson is terrific with Johns building the tension between the pair so that when they finally succumb to their mutual attraction it’s an explosive scene, only to repeat the process as their relationship stumbles.One of John’s strengths is her ability to create a community among the pages of her book with appealing and authentic supporting characters. Imogen’s employees and patrons evoke both the peculiarities and spirit of the residents in small rural towns. It is Charlie that nearly steals the show though as Imogen’s surprising confidante. A grizzly man of the land, yet a romantic at heart, Gibson’s grandfather gives the story an unexpected depth as he battles with a failing memory and the enduring pain of his own long ago loss.Imogen’s city friends round out her past nicely and I liked the way in which they interacted with Imogen’s new life. Jenna and Guy provide an enjoyable secondary romantic subplot with their culture clash proving to be no obstacle to true love (and lust). I also have to applaud Johns for the subtle development of the relationship between Pauli and Cal, I was both surprised and pleased by it’s inclusion in the novel, given the traditional genre constraints of romance fiction.Like Imogen I have always admired old fashioned country Australian pubs with their wide verandah’s and graceful facades so I found the setting particularly appealing and thought Johns captured the details beautifully. The novel is well grounded in rural Australia but Johns also brought country and city together with the modernisation of the pub, the intermingling of Imogen’s friends with the locals and the idea of the Man Drought weekend.I thought the writing very accomplished, in many ways each of the main elements of the story – plot, character and setting, are much stronger in Man Drought than in Jilted. I enjoyed John’s humour and the way in which she captures the natural rhythm of Australian speech in her dialogue. The pacing is just right and all the threads lead to a happy and satisfying conclusion.Man Drought is a heartwarming, well crafted contemporary romance with appealing characters and engaging story and Rachael Johns is proving herself to be one of my favourite rural romance novelists.