Outback Dreams (A Bunyip Bay Novel, #1)

Written by Rachael Johns

Narrated by Casey Withoos

Faith and Monty are both looking for love...in the wrong direction.

Faith Forrester is at a crossroads. Single, thirty and living on a farm in a small Western Australian town, she's sick of being treated like a servant by her brother and father. Ten years ago, her mother died of breast cancer, and Faith has been treading water ever since. She wants to get her hands dirty on the family farm. She wants to prove to herself that she's done something worthwhile with her life. And she wants to find a man...

For as long as he can remember, Daniel 'Monty' Montgomery has been Faith's best friend. When he was ten, his parents sold the family property in Merindah and moved to Perth to be closer to support services for his autistic brother, and ever since, Monty's dreamed of having his own place. So for the last ten years, he's been back on the land, working odd jobs and saving every dollar to put toward his dream. And now he finally has it. But there's still something missing...

So when Faith embarks on a mission to raise money for a charity close to her heart – Dogs for Autism – and Monty's dream property comes on the market, things seem like they are falling into place for them both. Until a drunken night out ends with them sleeping together. Suddenly, the best friends are both facing a new set of challenges...

Monty and Faith are both ready to find a life partner and settle down, but have they both been looking in all the wrong places?

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperAudio
• Release date: Dec 2, 2020
• ISBN: 9781460785607

Rachael Johns

Rachael Johns is an English teacher by trade, a mum 24/7, a Diet Coke addict, a cat lover and chronic arachnophobe. She is also 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 and How to Mend a Broken Heart. Rachael rarely sleeps, never irons and loves nothing more than sitting in bed with her laptop and imagining her own stories. She is currently Australia's leading writer of contemporary relationship stories around women's issues, a genre she has coined 'life-lit'. Rachael lives in the Swan Valley with her hyperactive husband, three mostly gorgeous heroes-in-training, two ravenous cats, a cantankerous bird and a very badly behaved dog. Rachael loves to hear from readers and can be contacted via her website rachaeljohns.com. She is also on Facebook and Instagram.

Reviews for Outback Dreams (A Bunyip Bay Novel, #1)

[shelleyraec · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Australian rural romance author Rachael Johns begins a new trilogy with her latest release, Outback Dreams. This novel, and the two to follow, will be linked by location, set in the small Western Australian town of Bunyip Bay, and will each feature two people finding love.In Outback Dreams, Johns introduces Faith Forester and Daniel 'Monty' Montgomery. Best friends since childhood, neither is prepared when their feelings for each other begin to change. Faith is suddenly achingly aware of Daniel's rippling six pack and Monty, despite being distracted by a new face in town, finds himself admiring the lean length of Faith's tanned legs. Unwilling to risk their friendship both Faith and Monty ignore the growing heat between them, until they are faced with losing one another.Faith's and Monty's journey from friends to lovers is the focal point of this novel offering a good balance of conflict, passion and sweet romance. John's easily convinced me that I wanted to see this couple give in to their simmering mutual attraction and to realise that what they each wanted had been right in front of them all along.Outback Dreams is about more than a simple romance though. In terms of character, Johns' protagonists face personal challenges that they must work through, and have dreams they are working towards. This ensures they are well rounded, believable and easy to relate to.In terms of the plot, Johns brings attention to issues such as grief, depression and most notably, Autism. I really liked that the author chose to explore the effect of the diagnosis of Monty's younger brother, acknowledging the strain Will's needs placed on Monty in particular. I have to mention though, that I thought Faith's judgement of Monty's resentments a little harsh.An engaging and charming story of romance, family and community, Outback Dreams is a lovely read and sure to be another winner with her fans.

[cookiemo_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved this book. It is set in a small country town, Bunyip Bay, which could be any Australian small town set on the coast. The problems that the characters face could once again be found anywhere in these towns. A light read with a few deviations from the romance norm. This is the first of a trilogy.