A historical m/m romantic story in the outback - it had me immediately! The writing is evocative, the story is compelling, and I was moved. It felt incredibly Australian, and it made me proud that it exists..

An excellent mm romance, set somewhere unusual (for the genre!). Well written, engaging and visually stunning.

Victoria, Australia, 1891

Anglican priest Matthew Ottenshaw has been given his first post in the small, rural town of Dinbratten. He is excited for a chance to settle in, meet the people, and begin joining the community. Among the locals Matthew meets is Jonah Parks, the town police sergeant and a local hero for taking a bullet in the line of duty. As leaders in Dinbratten, Matthew and Jonah end up spending a lot of time together and a close friendship grows. When a fire threatens the church and Jonah comes to Matthew’s aid, the bond of friendship between them moves those first fragile steps into more.

Two men being together is a crime in Australia, and the men know that more than their careers are at stake if anyone were to find out about them. But once they have had their first taste of being together, neither Matthew nor Jonah can imagine being apart. They spend their days as friends and colleagues, but during their nights the men explore both a physical and romantic connection. But it is not easy keeping such a secret in their tiny town, and exposure could ruin everything they have built in Dinbratten and destroy their lives. Now Matthew and Jonah have to figure out if their relationship is worth the risk, and if there is any chance they can find a way to truly be together.

Some of you may remember me posting my excitement when I first heard about this book a couple of months ago. It was pitched to me as “Thornbirds meets Brokeback Mountain” and that is pretty much all it took for me to snatch this one up immediately. Sigh. I still remember fondly watching the Thornbirds and swooning over the handsome priest, Father Ralph, caught in forbidden love. So I was curious to see if this story would evoke those same feelings of sweeping romanticism as that movie, and I have to tell you, I was completely blown away. I finished this story with the mother of all book hangovers, and I still get an emotional pang just looking at the cover and thinking about this book.

First off, I can not say enough about the writing. The story is listed as Welton B. Marsland’s debut novel, and I am just blown away by the beautiful, evocative writing. I felt transported in time to this tiny rural town. Marsland just brings Dinbratten and it’s people to life, and I could feel the rhythms of this small community, isolated in the Australian bush. There is a lushness to the writing, a sweeping, lyrical feeling to the story that just drew me in and kept me captivated. I wanted to just wrap myself up in this book and savor every moment.

Matthew and Jonah are fascinating characters and so well developed. They are progressive men in a conservative area, and their view of the world and of their role in it is part of what bonds them together. They tend to focus on what is right over what is the official rule of law, and are both such good, solid men. Jonah and Matthew are leaders in the town, responsible for the physical and spiritual health of the community, and they take their jobs seriously. Both are dedicated and caring, putting the needs of the people before themselves. It not only gives the men common ground, but also adds a poignancy as they face the possible fallout of their relationship. These are men who give their lives for their community, who put their own needs and their own safety aside to care for others. Yet were anyone to find out the truth about them, everything they have done would be forgotten in the scandal of their relationship.

Both Matthew and Jonah are endearing and lovely. As I said, they are progressive men who are able to look beyond the rule of law and to what is right. For example, a Chinese woman is found dead near town, and it never occurs to Matthew that they would do anything other than give her a proper burial, despite many in the town upset that a “heathen” would receive a church burial. Jonah takes his job seriously, but he also can overlook those paper crimes that hurt no one. So I couldn’t help but love these men who are so incredibly good and dedicated and endearing. But they are also not perfect, and that is what makes them amazing characters and not just cut outs. Matthew, of course, questions what he is doing, a man of god “sinning” by laying with another man. But at the the same time, he wants Jonah, and he is willing to put that doubt aside so that he can be with the man he loves and can’t live without. Jonah, for his part, is absurdly charming. He is a bit more roguish, experienced with women, not quite as rigidly disciplined as Matthew, and certainly not religious. His playful smirk, that ever present wink, and his general demeanor are so endearing. I found myself pretty much swooning all over him.

What I really loved here is that Marsland balances the realities these men face with the sweeping romance that imbues the story. Yes, we confront the threat of what these guys are risking. We know it is a life or death situation if they are found out, and there is a low undercurrent of tension throughout the book as we wait to see if they can make it unscathed. The men have bouts of conscience, Matthew in particular, about what they are doing. And there is the right amount of anxiety and tension and even sudden terror at times about what they risk. But at the same time, this is not a story about angst and fear. Matthew and Jonah make the decision that they want to be together, need to be together, and they are willing to accept the risks that come with that. So I loved that Marsland walks that line so well and gives us a story where we can be happy and rejoice in the love between these men. There is no tragedy here in this book. Instead, it is romantic and sweet and incredibly sexy, and the story is heartwarming and oh so rewarding.

So I pretty much loved everything about this one. Sometimes a book connects with me emotionally and I have a hard time letting the story go. By the Currawong’s Call is exactly that kind of book and I found myself totally captivated and swept away by the story. I absolutely loved this one and it is easily among my favorites of the year. I can’t recommend it more highly, and I know it will be a story I come back to time and again.

<b>Allowing no time for words or for his nerve to fail him, Matthew put his sootblackened hands to Parks’ face and hauled him close, crushing their dry mouths together in an impulsive kiss. It was sloppy and inelegant, but also bruisingly good. </b>

"Piece by piece, Jonah. You've devestated me. Broken me apart. But at the same time you've-" he put his hands together and interlaced his fingers tightly, "-you've put me back together."


Imagine, if you will, a naive, teenage girl (who went to Catholic school, kindergarten through 12th) whose first real experience with the gay community was when someone whispered to her that a boy in their class might be gay, pretty much because he was more flamboyant than the other guys, but of course, nothing was known for sure. A year or two later, her second real gay interaction occurred in the form of watching <i>Brokeback Mountain</i>. And of course, all that kept running through her head was "How the hell are they having sex like that? How is that even possible? The parts don’t fit down there." Fast forward several years to college, where one of her creative writing classes read the Brokeback Mountain story, and boom. Light went off. "So what’s how the sex worked," she realized. "Whoa. Good for them." Going to a big public university was also a revealing experience, as she saw all kinds of couples, and that slowly became the norm. They weren’t abominations like she had learned in Catholic school - they were just people in love.


<i>To be so surrounded by one's lover, so immersed in them, their embrace...He may have had no frame of reference, but a dim and distant thought occurred to him that, for the first time in his life, he might finally, fully understand why people called such acts making love. </i>

<i>We are a wonder together,</i> Matthew thought. <i>An absolute wonder.</i>


Which brings us to now. I have met more and more people in same sex relationships, who like both girls and boys, but for some reason I still somewhat shyed away from LGBT literature. Until this story. I read the description, was hella intrigued, and requested to read it. And I’m so glad I did. Quite frankly, everyone in the world deserves to be as happy as the two characters were when they were together, and that’s something we all need to realize. This is the kind of love everyone wants - the kind everyone in the world deserves.


"For most of my life, all I wanted was this job, wearin' this uniform."
"No longer?"
"I still want it. It's just..." Jonah leaned his hands on the back of the chair. "It's not all I want any more. Or more like, it's not what I want most."

<i>I think of being with you. More than I probably should...I don't just think of being with you tonight or tomorrow or next week or whatever either. I think about a year from now. Five years. Ten. More, if I've got them. (And if you'd have me.)</i>


I just loved the story's details: big and obvious when they needed to be, but also little gems that hint at the bigger story, some so sly that I didn’t even catch them the first time around, like this one, said by Jonah’s friend Albie, about Matthew: “Don’t often see ya making friends so quick, but inviting someone out to the pub when they’ve only been in Ratty two minutes.” Add in that Matthew is a religious man and Jonah is a highly respected law man, and it’s illegal for men to be physical with each other at that time in Australia, and there are so many issues against them. But honestly, that just made me want to read the story faster to see how those conflicts would be dealt with or overcome, how they would keep their relationship from going public and how Matthew would be able to reconcile how he felt towards another man while being a man of faith where he’s been constantly told that the feelings he has, any actions he may take, are wrong and go against God. That’s a hard thing to deal with for someone of the cloth. And being raised Catholic, going to Catholic school, all the things Matthew struggled with were the same teachings I was taught, am still taught, and reading this book makes you think about those bigger questions, about why people with the impulses to love people of the same sex are made, just to have the higher power’s teachings turn around and say that love is wrong? This awesome book makes you think, makes you choose a side between what you have been told your whole life is wrong and what you feel, deep down inside you, is incredibly right. Is giving up everything in your life worth it to be able to be with this other person, knowing that for the rest of your life, your relationship has to remain secret and you can’t so much as hold hands in public? Read this amazing book to find out.


"There's been, I dunno, maybe two or three blokes over the years? That made me think about it, I mean. A few more than that had me just noticing 'em, maybe. It was one of those things that I thought I'd maybe get around to trying one day, see what it was like. But I never met anyone I'd wanna take the risk on."

<b>Matthew was taken aback with what he was hearing. “Are you truly saying that, that I'm what you want for yourself? That I could be your ... happiness?”</b>


This book has way too many awesome quotes to list them all, some giving away the story, but I'm giving a list of my favorites a try.


"Tuesday night work for you?"
"Are we turning this into a habit?"
"Don't see why not."
"Do you really feel so little impediment?"
Jonah frowned. "So little impediment? Everything, Matthew, we're both risking absolutely bloody everything for this. I'd hardly call that 'little impediment'!"
"And you think my company is worth such risk?"
"Fuckin' oath, I do. And you'd better decide quick-smart whether ya reckon I'm worth it, as well. Or else we should stop it all, right here."
Matthew's throat constricted at the mere suggestion. "Tuesday, then."
Jonah's frown disappeared. "No hesitation?"
"No hesitation."

"What we think or feel doesn't matter because they, them out there, THEY DON'T CARE. We'll be ruined. Lose our jobs, our liberty, maybe even our lives like that poor sod you knew in Ballarat AND THEY WON'T CARE. Nothing else we do will matter, not you saving a woman's life or me helping bring her new son into the world, it doesn't matter, because all we will be to them is a couple of buggers. Anything and everything else we are will be overshadowed by that one fact. And they won't fucking care."

"Makes me angry," Jonah finally said, voice low.
"What does?"
"That others are allowed this and we aren't. We've gotta lie and deceive for this, for the privilege of waking up together, seeing in the day together, in each other's arms. And we risk everything for it. We can sneak about and fuck around together, and that's risky enough on its own, but taking the risk of staying together 'til the start of the new day..." He sighed heavily. "I dunno. It's just so fucking stupid. I can't fathom any sense to be found in it. That us doing this is against the bloody law! How does that make sense, Matthew? How is this a crime? How?"


<i>That's something else I've never been able to truly reconcile - the fact that, You having created us all, Lord, You made me like this. I am how I am by Your hand, by Your design.
You wanted me to be as I am.
And then You put me here. In the place where You had already put Jonah Parks.</i>

"Should you really be giving your boss' blessings away to nasty sinners?"
"I am quite sure," Matthew replied, "that nasty sinners don't save the lives of children and defenceless women."
"Well. Apparently, this sinner does."


"What've you done with ya cassock?"
"On that hook with your greatcoat." Matthew tipped his chin in the requisite direction.
"Ah." Jonah returned his gaze to Matthew's face, eyes shining in the firelight. "Seems sorta right that."
Matthew smiled. "Strangely, yes. It does."

Jonah hung his helmet on the door knob, as he'd done on now-countless occasions. So at home. So comfortable.


Of course Jonah "held sway" over him. He'd held such from the moment Matthew ordered him into the sacristy after the fire. Though, in truth, he held sway over Jonah, too. Either one of them could bring the other down if he wished. They had the power to ruin one another, completely and utterly.
Instead, they were deciding on the exact opposite of ruination. They were going to build something together. A life, if nothing else.

This is a quick read, a slim novel, but it actually didn’t feel lacking – it was quick and interesting the entire way. I don’t know what it was about this book but it was just… really satisfying to read. I finished it with Nice Warm feelings, it was a Nice Warm book to read at the end of a rubbish work week.

I spent my earliest years in Victoria (Geelong, an hour hop across the bay from Melbourne) and my Aussie family come from small-town country Victorian town, so, like, fuuuuuuuuuck yeah I could relate to a bunch of this lol. The accents, the slang (oo-roo!), the footy, the cricket (BOOOO CARLTON WON A MATCH IN THIS BOOK BOOOOOO). It like, nailed That particular experience of Victoria. I had to kind of [scream internally] at any mention of Ned Kelly because like, what Australian child didn’t have him as the bane of their life at some point in high school history classes?

The romance was really nice – again, it just made me feel good?? It was a healthy relationship of equals where they listened and grew in their worldviews and just… make each other happier? Where they were both smitten and decided to create space in their lives for each other, despite how difficult it’d be?? IDK IT WAS JUST NICE.

I liked that we got a happy endgame without ever straying away from the realities of that era, being a queer man in a town in the arse-end of Victoria – it wouldn’t be much different now, thinking of my family’s hometown. Sometimes it got a bit too preachy, like, becoming the author’s mouthpiece to voice frustrations against Christianity’s view of homosexuality. Could have been handled more deftly but also - they're not wrong.

It touched upon plenty of great things I’d love to see more of in Australian media in general – the Asian-Australian (Chinese-Australian specifically) community and their long history within Australian society, the treatment of Indigenous Australians in Australian society historically. It was never explored in great depth – the focus was very much on the romance – but I appreciate the effort at inclusion! Especially since, yeah, country Victoria post-Gold Rush. Definitely not “White Australia”

A great romance with a unique setting and likable characters, that had me turning the pages and held me captive from beginning to end. Very enjoyable and highly recommendable.

*** 3.5 Stars ***

This was a very enjoyable read.

4.5 Stars ~

I knew this book was going to be special when I first saw the cover and read the blurb a few months ago. Welton B. Marsland was a new-to-me author, and I believe By the Currawong’s Call is their debut novel, but I just had a really good feeling about it. And I was right. By the Currawong’s Call, set in 1891 rural Australia, is a gorgeous story of forbidden love, and the goodness of these two men, Sergeant Jonah Parks and Father Matthew Ottenshaw. It’s a lovely, smart historical, with a total Thorn Birds vibe, and it was fantastic.

I absolutely adored both main characters. Jonah is truly the salt of the earth. A true, small-town hero, he is loved and respected by almost all who know him, and it’s obvious that he cares for the people of Dinbratten. Originally from Astoria, Oregon, Jonah ended up in Australia after his father went there in the gold rush. He didn’t have success as a prospector, but, fortunately, was good at cards and was able to send for nine-year-old Jonah and his mom. I chuckled when Jonah told Matthew that his family established itself in Australia on the proceeds of gambling. Jonah is an excellent policeman, extremely bright and astute, and a people person; all good qualities to have in his vocation. And, he is also very forward thinking, which was rare for the time, and someone in his position, but, of course, helped open him up for his relationship with the town’s new minister.

Matthew came from nearby Melbourne, obviously much larger than Dinbratten, but loved his new posting and his small church in the little town. As an Anglican priest, he was more open-minded than his Catholic peers, but aside from the occasional drink—perhaps a bit more than occasional once he became friends with Jonah—he was a fairly pious man. He cherished his relationship with God, and loved performing his duties and helping the people of Dinbratten. So, it came as a shock to him when his relationship with Jonah became more than simply friendship, but he felt no guilt at what the two of them were doing together. He never felt any shame, or felt that it was wrong. He, of course, felt fear—they both did—as the things they were doing were illegal, after all. But, they both decided early on that they were willing to risk everything to be together.

“Fuckin’ hell,” Jonah murmured, giving a slow shake of his head. “What we’ve got ourselves into, eh? Pillars of the bloody community and look at us! A right pair.”

Matthew did have a moment, after a particularly heated night with Jonah, where he freaked out and thought he felt a hole in himself where God had been; but, after some heavy reflection, realized that’s not what he had experienced at all. I loved this:

"The absence within him that scared him so the night before was no longer devastating. He had merely experienced change. He was a good man, and the God he knew and loved would recognize that. He hadn’t lost anything but his fear."

The pacing of the story is perfect. Marsland expertly takes us through the stages of the relationship, and I love where they end up. The setting is also so wonderful. I keenly felt both the place and the era. And, there were two key subplots in the story that were very well-executed and intriguing. My only point of criticism would be regarding the epilogue. It was a cool idea, and I appreciate what the author was trying to do with it, but for whatever reason it didn’t entirely work for me. And, I thought it ended rather abruptly. But, honestly, that’s a minor complaint compared to what was overall an amazing and wonderful story.

Definitely check this one out, guys. I wholeheartedly recommend it. I’m such a huge fan of this book, and can’t wait to see what this author brings us next.

I’m a little thrown by this book. The writing in the synopsis is not the writing in this book. This book is full on Australian English. I had a hard time following a lot of the dialogue.

Being America their were definitely some huh moments for me! Some of the phrases used in this book were a little foreign to me. Like

“I’d say the Rats got up.’ ‘Rats?’

‘Locals call it Ratty. Footy team’s the Rats. Everyone here’s a Ratty.’

I’m guessing they are talking about Soccer or rugby?! I don’t know! lol

That’s just in the beginning for me.

I also had no idea chickens over there are called chook’s! Never heard that word before.

It’s kinda hard to follow too. It definitely had me re-reading certain parts/things. And doing a little googling!
And I’m only 12% in!!

I tried hanging in there with this book. I wanted to see what all those other 5 star reviews saw in this book. But... I just couldn’t. As I read on... I felt this book just drag on.

I skipped/ Skimmed a lot of this book. Unfortunately I just don’t think this book was for me.

Every now and again I stumble across a book that takes me completely by surprise in the best possible way. By the Currawong’s Call, was such a book for me. It was so very well written, and brought me a touching, and beautiful story with such apparent ease, and through such clear images that I’m still in awe now, days after finishing the book.

Matthew and Jonah are both wonderful characters. Neither of them are perfect, but both of them are the sort of men you’d like to count among your friends. And together they work, despite their different backgrounds and outlooks on life, death, and religion — or maybe because of those differences?

This is the story of these two men, but mostly Matthew, through whose eyes we’re experiencing events, coming to terms with something they never expected to have to deal with. And of course, with Matthew being a priest, his problem is even bigger than ‘just’ indulging in an illegal relationship. He somehow has to reconcile his faith, his view of God and religion, his visions for his life, with this love he feels for Jonah.

“We are a wonder together, Matthew thought. An absolute wonder.”

And yet, By the Currawong’s Call is anything but an angst-driven and drama-filled story. Of course, if ever there was a time and subject matter which would make a (very) angsty story-line acceptable, even in my eyes, this is probably it. And yet, the author managed to avoid that trap and provided me with a story in which issues are by no means swept under the carpet or ignored, but aren’t drawn out either. Problems are dealt with, solutions, as elusive as they may appear, are found. In fact, While both the reader and Matthew and Jonah are constantly aware of the risks they are taking as a result of giving into the attraction and feelings between them, for most of the story, that’s not where the tension comes from. Until very late in the story, third parties are only a potential, but never a direct, threat. If ever a story proved that love will find a way, this is it.

In short, By the Currawong’s Call is a beautiful, understated yet evocative, and very memorable story. Welton B. Marsland will be added to my list of authors to keep an eye out for.

Really appreciated the unique and interesting setting and character backgrounds. Less conflict than I would expect for a romance plot, but overall an enjoyable and quick read.

This book sounded really intriguing to me—an Anglican priest and a police sergeant fall in love in a small Australian town in the early 1890s—so I decided to give it a try even though I was unfamiliar with the author. I’m glad I did, because it’s a rather lovely romance.

The story is relatively simple: two men meet and become friends, and then that friendship deepens into something more. What adds drama is the fact that Matthew (the priest) and Jonah (the policeman) are pillars of their community who have a lot to lose if they are discovered. That includes not just the townsfolk’s respect and their livelihoods but potentially their freedom, since homosexuality is illegal. The threat of discovery is very real, and the author does a good job of describing the lengths they go to in order to avoid being found out.

There's a lot to like about this book. The pace of the story is rather slow at first, but that gives the author time to really explore the setting of the story in a small bush town. I thought that the relationship between Matthew and Jonah unfolded very naturally over the course of the book, progressing from friendship to attraction to love. It's easy to root for them to find a way to be together, in spite of all the obstacles they face. The story has a good balance between serious moments and humor, too.

The only thing about the storyline that didn’t ring quite true to me was the ease with which Matthew overcomes his religious scruples. Yes, he hesitates at first, and he does have a bit of a crisis of faith at one point. But overall, he throws aside the teachings of his church relatively quickly. And while the author obviously didn’t want to tell the story of a man wrestling deeply with his faith, choosing to focus on the romance instead, it seems unlikely to me that a priest wouldn’t agonize quite a bit about the choice that Matthew makes.

That aside, I really enjoyed this short novel. Readers who like historical gay romances should definitely give it try.

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley for review; all opinions expressed are my own.

5 Stars

Matthew Ottenshaw, an Anglican priest, receives his first job in a small town in Victoria, Australia in 1891, not knowing that this will change his life forever. There he strikes an easy friendship with the local police officer, marred by Matthew's growing feelings for Jonah, which comes to a head when after a bushfire threatens the church's buildings, Matthew kisses Jonah.

The kiss shocks them both and the secret relationship that follows puts them in danger of losing their jobs, their friends, and even their lives. Will they find a way to make it work or is their love doomed?

Okay, so you all know I love historical books, although I tend to gravitate towards Regency and Victorian books set in England, however, I just couldn't resist when I read the blurb and I'm very glad I didn't.

Welton B. Marsland is a new author for me, but I really enjoyed her writing style. The book is interesting and I adored seeing it all happening through Matthew's eyes. The author managed to let me know Jonah through Matthew, enough that I could see what a good man he was. And Matthew, well, I couldn't do anything but sympathize with his feelings. It wasn't easy for him to find a balance between falling for Jonah and his faith and that's one of the things that made this book go from really good to stellar. It was a slow-burn, which needed an extreme situation as a catalyst, it was realistic and I could understand why Matthew wavered between giving in and pulling away.

The friendship between Matthew and Jonah, however unconventional due to one being a priest and Jonah not being religious, worked well from the start. There was a spark between them that just grew into more. Jonah was more like a free spirit, content with giving in to his desires, no matter where they took him. Even so, it was nice to see how invested he became in their liaison the more time they spent together. The progression from friends to lovers was natural and organic and I adored that they didn't rush into anything.

I loved the secondary characters, even if I wanted to throat-punch a character I thought was Jonah's friend and ended up being a bigoted fool.

Overall, this was an enthralling read, giving a believable account of how life in Australia in that time period would be, with awesome main characters I couldn't help but root for. Highly recommendable!

*** Copy provided to the reviewer via NetGalley, a review wasn't a requirement. ***

Beautifully written storyline that lured me right in from the very first page and the characters were so well developed that as I turned each page I was drawn in deeper and deeper as the story unfolded between the characters! This is the first book that I have read by this author and it definitely will not be the last!

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.

5+++
Imagine : 1891 a small Australian town, a police officer and a priest, a love.... forbidden.
Extraordinary read. Written in such a way while reading I could easily imagine the whole picture, the noise, smell...included all the feelings...
It was more than beautiful it was exquisite..the way of writing was deep emotional, sometimes desperate because of those circumstances.
Both kind and free spirits, understanding each other's opinions.

In a thoughtless moment, after some exhausting work against fire, in the back of the church father Matthew kisses his friend Sergeant Jonah and Jonah deepens it with his own mouth.
After that Matthew withdraws and it takes some time to reconnect...
Jonah is just so delicious shocking blunt and open toward Matthew....and Matthew....opened up instead of closing down and that was delicious too.

There is no hurry in this read. The steps they made...the realization of little endearing gestures were just so intimate, I felt sometimes like a voyeur and held my breath...

There were endearing funny parts I laughed and chuckled again and again.
I will not start about a sore face and a certain beard...and a falling helmet ....

‘That’s a lot of bloody buttons.’ ‘Thirty-nine,’ Matthew confirmed. ‘One for each of the Holy Articles.’

Always easy going, kind and humorous together they fit perfectly... equal in everything.
They explored each other bodies thoroughly and were blissfully at every discovery.
The love between them getting stronger and stronger, was so so right and beautiful....

I cried my eyes out at the end, thank you for giving them a HEA. I would not survived my broken heart.

It was an outstanding, overwhelming good written story. A diamond between all the books I read. All the stories entwined through this journey were just so well done.
This whole journey just took my breath away.
Their love, forbidden by law but, so right for human kind.

I can't say it enough......Highly yes HIGHLY recommended.

Kindly received an ARC from the publisher through Netgalley.

Matthew has come to the small town of Dinbratten as he’s been given his first post as an Anglican priest. There he meets the police sergeant, Jonah, and friendship grows between the men. Because of their positions within the town, they often find themselves called to the same place and when tensions arise as they men battle a fire, their pressed lips on each other takes their relationship to forbidden territory. In 1891, it is against the law to be with a man and the men struggle to define what they can have.

The writing here transports us to small town Australia where both Matthew and Jonah are progressive in their thinking especially Jonah as he looks to what is right while walking the balance of upholding the law. The men fall into a secret relationship that defines them. Matthew has more of crisis of conscience as the story progresses, but ultimately the men continue to reach for each other.

The largest conflict the men have to face comes about late in the book and was then rushed for me. There was also almost too much hesitation on the part of both men expressing their feelings as we are told they fall in love, but it didn’t come across on page for me as much to become the epic, sweeping saga I was anticipating.

The writing here is strong overall as the author evokes the feel of a small town and transports us to a time of forbidden love.

4 stars
By the Currawong's Call was a very enjoyable read. Set in Australia in the 1890s it was a time-period I am familiar with, but in a setting I've personally rarely explored. I was drawn into the time and setting almost immediately. This book had a pleasant, leisurely sort of beginning, a kind of slowness that was comfortable rather than dull.
With the main character, Anglican Priest, Matthew Ottenshaw the reader comes to the small town of Dinbratten. I got to know the town along with Matthew, meeting the many interesting people, most especially the local police sergeant, Jonah Parks.
The town was almost a character in its own right, portrayed with the sort of loving detail one expects in the settings of cozy mysteries. I felt I knew it a little by the time I was done.
There was so much I really loved about the two main characters and the way they were portrayed. Matthew's growing interest in Jonah is readily apparent without being pushed onto the reader or blatantly stated, and Jonah's reactions come as a pleasant but not unbelievable surprise. The religious angle was handled with a rare beauty and sensitivity I really didn't expect, but absolutely loved.
The plot was not a breakneck thriller, but it was interesting, and not without its moments of tension and worry. I was drawn into the both the love story and the experience of watching the two men figure themselves and each other out.
It was well-written and a pleasant read. It was very much like paying a visit to another time and place. I devoured it over a few rough days and found a sort of comfort in its leisurely pace and introspective moments. I was left both satisfied by the ending and a little sad for it to be over. I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for more from the same author.

I received a free eARC of this book from http://escapepublishing.com.au/ through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

"He was lighting his smoke, the dancing flame of his match giving away the fact his hand shook minutely.Jonah was a handsome man, at the height of his strength and power, but at that moment, that minuscule tremble of his fingers elevated him beyond his regular beauty"

Lines like the above floored me in this novel. It was beautiful, moving and so acutely observed I have swept away. This look's like Welton B. Marsland first debut novel ( apologies if not) but the author is new to me.

The blurb does a wonderful story of setting the scene but misses the fact that this novel, it had a sheer magnitude of weight. The weight of loving someone who was the same sex as you, its consequences on you( your soul.your beliefs) and the consequences of your actions on society and the community. Some heavy questions are asked- some hefty answers are hinted at.

It feels heavy, the threat is looming over the novel.The fear of being observed. I felt with Matthew that we where being observed by God or by your own voyeurism.

I was frightened that this would be a tragedy/end on a tragic note. There are so many queer narrative stories that have this weight to them that shatters you. The wonderful K.J Charles work "The Secret Casebook of Simon Feximal" has a weight that never shifts, even the epilogue is a gut punch. So I was frightened that this wonderful little novel would shatter me. Shatter my hopes. WE DO NOT NEED A HEA in any novel. I cannot stress that enough but for these characters, I really hoped and prayed and it was lovely. Perfect and above all else deserved. It did not feel shoehorned in. It felt natural and flowing.

Read this if you like Historical romances as it is one of those quiet novels that floor you. 5 stars and Marsland should be proud.

First of all, this cover is gorgeous....one of my favorites of the year.

Welton B. Marsland has written such a beautiful historical romance, and I loved the slow pace of the story and truly feeling a part of Dinbratton. The atmosphere of this story is A+, in my opinion, and it was a nice little escape from reality.

Now, I'll be honest...it took me a while to get into the book. I kept putting it down and picking up something else, but I had a feeling if I'd just commit to it, then I'd love it...and I did. It took me a good 25% to really become invested, but after that, I didn't put it down. And this isn't really an action packed story with an intricate and gripping plot...it was just a simply story about two men falling in love, and I couldn't get enough of them together. I couldn't wait to see how they made this work, or for them to go to the pub for drinks, or for Jonah to sneak into the rectory...not to mention the little bits of humor sprinkled throughout their conversations. It was the little moments of intimacy that added up to make a beautiful and original love story.

This may not be for everyone, but it certainly worked for me. If you enjoy historical romance, I highly recommend that you take a chance on this.

When I first downloaded By the Currawong’s Call from Netgalley I was a little hesitant to dive right in because I wasn’t sure how much angst there would be. After all this is set in country Victoria in 1891, an era that certainty isn’t known for its tolerance. However whilst there is some tension and conflict, this is ultimately a romance between two men finding each other against all odds and I loved it.

Set in the tiny town of Dinbratten, By the Currawong’s Call follows Matthew as he settles into life as the new resident priest. It doesn’t take long before he meets Jonah Parks, the town sergeant and hero. Jonah makes it his job to get Matthew settled in (and well versed in Friday night pub visits).

I like books that take the time to set up the relationships and the one between Matthew and Jonah was very well done. It wasn’t rushed or a ‘you’re the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen, let’s get naked’. That said, thrown together in a stressful situation sees the relationship ignite and Jonah coming round after dark become regular thing. They are faced with juggling their growing feelings for each other whilst maintaining a professional relationship in the eyes of town residents, given that at this period in time Jonah and Matthew’s relationship would, at the very least, see them in prison.

“Matthew didn’t want to look anywhere else. It occurred to him that he might never want to really look at any other man again.”

One of the best bits of the book were how Matthew and Jonah were together, it’s sweet and funny and very organic. It pulls you in and you can see how each of these men would fall in love with each other. Seriously they had me drowning in feels.

As I mentioned before although I was worried about the angst level it was rather low, sure there were realistic struggles and experiences but it was wonderful to read a love story as opposed to a tragedy.

“He was a God of myth, inhaling fire and sighing out incense.”

And that ending!

The time they spent in Melbourne towards the end of the book were the strongest part I think, they were so in love. And Jonah and Matthew got matching tattoos of each other’s initials over their hearts. And they run away together *sobs* I’m not crying you are.

It was somewhat of a bittersweet ending in that the epilogue is set in present time which means that Jonah and Matthew have been dead for quite some time and that often makes me tear up when I get attached to the characters, like I did with Matthew and Jonah. I would have liked to see some snapshots or a little more of what Jonah and Matthew’s life looked like after boarding the boat but it was a very satisfying ending and they get their happily ever after.

I’m looking forward to reading more of Marsland’s writing. By the Currawong’s Call was a brilliant debut novel.

★ 4.5 stars ★