I was positively anticipating my first Penelope Janu book as she is so highly regarded. I was not disappointed. There is much to engage the reader with this well written, multi dimensional tale of love and loss, mystery and suspense and two strong leading characters.

With much on offer, this really is more than your standard rural romance. Of course, there is a great romance with a wonderful leading man. Yet the twist of having one with dyslexia and the other with anaphylaxis makes for a unique union. There is also a mystery running throughout which is engaging. I also appreciated Penelope’s understanding of dealing with long term grief. It was refreshing to have an author present true to life challenges for a character that has undergone such tragic loses. It does not simply go away. There is small town rural living and the whole community that comes with that which is always fun to read. A special aspect of this particular story is one for animal lovers. With the two leading characters having particular roles - a farrier (loved learning about that) and a geneticist/vet who specialises in wild animals - it makes for wonderful reading for animal lovers. Add into the mix a few trips with engagements at the Dubbo Western Plains Zoo (giraffes and rhinos) and there is much to entice the reader.

Horseshoe Hill is a novel that I would recommend for animal lovers, for rural romance lovers and for those seeking an engaging read.

‘Is refusing to tell the truth as bad as telling lies? It can’t be, can it?’



This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

This is simply a delightful book. It is rural romance but with a large dose of mystery thrown in, matched with a complicated, strong heroine and an equally feisty hero and it makes for a wonderful story. There is a fabulous country setting and we are able to learn about the job of being a farrier which I wasn't at all familiar with. Penelope Janu's books are a guaranteed great read.

A kiss can change your life ...

Jemima Kincaid loves her home, her horses and her job as a farrier. Life has not been kind to her, but Jemima is happy in the close-knit rural community of Horseshoe Hill, which rallied around in her hour of need. Even so, she is fiercely independent and will never rely on anyone again.

Particularly a man like Finn Blackwood.

An infuriatingly attractive geneticist and wild animal vet, Finn threatens not only the serenity of Jemima's present, but that of the future she has so carefully mapped out. But as their paths continue to cross, she finds her attraction to Finn impossible to counter, even as the trauma of her past threatens to undo her. Finn is fascinated by Jemima's solitary nature and unique vulnerabilities but Jemima knows all about loss and how to avoid it. Don't let anyone get close in the first place ...

As the past begins to cast long shadows, Jemima and Finn discover that a kiss can bring worlds together-or tear them apart. Will they finally face their fears and find love on Horseshoe Hill?

Jemima(jet) Kincaid is a farrier she hasn't had a smooth life she has lost all her family in various tragic ways and suffers from dyslexia but with a few close friends she has made herself a good life. Then she meets Finn he is a veterinarian who specialises in genetics and they form a close relationship but all isn't as it seems in the rural area around Dubbo there is international crimes been committed As these two form a relationship and Jet finally learns to face the losses in her life Can they move forward together

Penelope Janu has a wonderfully relaxed Australian voice, which is perfect for her brand of rural romance. Up on Horseshoe Hill is her latest and it’s bursting with the scent of the Australian bush. This book is a fabulous mix of dry Australian humour and endearing country values.
Heroine Jemima Kincaid, Jet to her friends, has had her share of heartache, having lost her younger brother to still birth, her mother to a riding accident and her father to cystic fibrosis. She’s highly regarded as a farrier and beloved within her community but she actively pushes people away if they get too close; she just can’t cope with the notion of losing anybody else she cares for.
Finn Blackwood is about as swoonworthy a hero as you could find. This guy has it all—charm, good looks, intelligence, empathy—and his patience and perseverance with Jet is just amazing, particularly when you consider how much she frustrates him at times.
As I read this story I got a clear understanding of Penelope Janu’s fondness—or maybe passion is a better word—for horses. There’s clearly a lot of love there and it shines through in the care her characters give to their animals.
With horses, country town warmth, real living breathing characters that own their place on the page, there was everything to like about this book. Add in that the plot works has enough twists in it to keep readers guessing and that the pacing is perfect to keep the pages turning and you’ve got yourself a perfect book to relax with.

A rural romance with a hint of suspense, Up On Horseshoe Hill is Penelope Janu’s third novel.

Set in the general area of Dubbo, NSW, Up On Horseshoe Hill features farrier Jemima Kincaid, known as Jet. I love that Jet is a farrier, my late father in law was a farrier/blacksmith and it’s a profession rarely credited even though it is a quintessential rural occupation.

There is often something very childlike about Jet, which is not unexpected given her background. One of the main themes Janu explores in Up On Horseshoe Hill is the tyranny of grief, and the struggle to move on from loss. Having lost her entire family in a series of tragedies by her late teens, and then being further traumatised by another incident, Jet is emotionally fragile. In conjunction with her severe dyslexia, and the well meaning support from a few key friends in the close knit community, Jet has been able to avoid confronting her issues and never really moved on with her life.

I’m in two minds about the relationship that develops between Jet and Finn. I liked Finn mostly, his unusual occupation as a jet setting veterinary geneticist adds interest to the story, and though he is almost the complete opposite of Jet I could understand why she would find him so attractive. Finn is generally patient and thoughtful with Jet’s vulnerabilities, and the couple share some nice moments together, but Jet’s emotional immaturity in some of their interactions occasionally made me uncomfortable.

The specifics of the element of suspense in Up On Horseshoe Hill is somewhat unusual for this genre, linking as it does from a local crime to an international issue. I was quite intrigued by what I learnt about the matter.

I enjoyed Up On Horseshoe Hill, it’s a well written and engaging story.

I absolutely loved this book! It was totally engrossing. I loved the strong characters and sense of community, the setting, the wonderful way the author managed to convey powerful emotions and story in a way that came across as practical and definitely not soppy. I particularly appreciated the realistic and beautiful way the author described the horses throughout the book - it was obvious she was experienced with horses. I loved everything about this book, and will definitely be looking up other titles by this author.
I received a digital review copy via NetGalley but the opinions expressed are my own.