It’s been a number of years since a rural romance by Rachael Johns hit the shelves and I’ve missed them, as we all know Rachael does ru-ro so well.
Something To Talk About is the second book in the Rose Hill series and as always it’s great to catch up with characters who were introduced in The Talk Of The Town.
Tabitha Cooper-Jones loves running her Ice creamery and tea shop and doesn’t need a man or love to feel fulfilled.
But when temporary teacher Fergus McWilliams arrives in the town of Walsh things begin to heat up.
Is a friendship enough for both of them or is love on the menu?
Rachael is a leader in the genre of rural romance and this story proves that.
It’s heartwarming, entertaining and wonderfully written and gives the readers all the right feels.
A small town country novel with memorable characters and a plot of trust, love, hope, forgiveness and chemistry.
Can we expect more books from the town of Walsh, I’m sure there’s more stories to tell.

Rachael Johns' "Something to Talk About" is the second book in the "Rose Hill" series and is an absolute winner. The story revolves around Tabitha Cooper-Jones, a fun-loving, strong-willed, and independent woman who doesn't wait around for love to get what she wants in life. Fergus McWilliams, a primary school teacher, needs a change and decides to move to Walsh, a rural community in Western Australia. Despite their initial mutual dislike for each other, sparks begin to fly as they get to know each other better. This emotional and heartwarming rural romance story is highly recommended to anyone who loves the small-town feeling. Whether you have read book one or not, you can still enjoy this standalone read.

Fergus has just arrived in the tiny outback town of Walsh as a temporary teacher at the Primary School. He has sworn off women for a while as his heart has been broken. Of course being a new single man in town the single ladies are queuing up to attract his attention, except one.

Tabitha lost her arm and career to cancer. Starting over in her hometown she runs a homemade ice-cream cafe. She has a busy life as she is also a volunteer ambulance officer and coaches the local children’s cricket team. What she wants is a child of her own so she decides not to wait for a man in her life but gets pregnant with an anonymous donor.

Of course the two get together butting heads initially but eventually overcoming hurdles you wouldn’t think could be overcome.

The support cast - the rest of Walsh, both human and animal, are wonderful. Demonstrating how rural communities gossip and gripe but all pull together when needed.

As with all of Rachel Johns’s the story was a real page turner - one that once you start you can’t put down.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher, Harlequin Australia & Mira, for my copy to review

Something to Talk About is the hotly aniticpated sequel to Talk Of The Town, set in the small Western Australian towns of Walsh and Rose Hill. It’s been a while since we got to know Lawson and his son Ned, and their colourful cast of characters around town, but it won’t be long before you are right back there with them.

Tabitha Cooper-Jones is Lawson’s sister and she was a firm favourite in Talk Of The Town with many readers wishing for her to one day become a leading lady, which is quite apt for the eternal bridesmaid; everyone wanted her to get her day in the sun and happily ever after. Lucky for us, Johns listened and wrote Something To Talk About, taking us back to Rose Hill and all of the characters we grew to love; and those we didn’t.

Living in a small town means you know everyone there is to know and for the single farmer Tab it means you are one of the boys. She grew up with all the boys in town and her first love went off to begin a country music career when she was in the fight for her life. It leaves Tab heartbroken and terminally single.

Tab knows what she wants and she gets to the point where she just wants to go out and get it, and if that means doing it unconventionally then that’s what she’ll do. Tab has spent years proving that she can do anything she puts her mind to and her ‘little arm’, or lack of a man, isn’t going to stop her from achieving this dream either.

Fergus McWilliams is in town for a temporary teaching contract, Walsh seemed like the perfect place to hide out hoping to heal from a messy situation of his own. He just wants somewhere quiet to lose himself in his job.

Unfortunately for Fergus a single male in town is quite the attraction and he finds himself with a fan club in a matter of minutes, though the last thing he is looking for is an attachment.

Tab and Ferg have a few eventful meetings which don’t paint them in the best light and if first impressions are lasting then these two may not even manage a friendship, foot in mouth is a serious concern.

Johns explores Tab’s challenges with sensitivity and insight, allowing us to get to know a courageous and capable young woman with the strength and determination to overcome anything, but she also has quite a yearning for family and shares a close bond with her brother and nephew; a bond which has changed a little since her sister-on-law came on the scene.

Fergus is a new character and so hard to get a good read on. The man takes complex to new heights with his backstory and the way it has shaped him, the man it has made him. He is utterly determined that he couldn’t do something because of his upbringing and yet it is something he does every single day of his working life, and it was a vocation that he searched out to do exactly what he’s doing. Johns explores his character with depth and I couldn’t help but feel for him, I could understand the struggles he faces and why he faces them; but I still wanted to slap some sense into him.

Something To Talk About also introduces us to a four legged character that’s new to town and she’s a treat. Mrs Norris is a cantankerous cat who is far from impressed with her new living arrangements, she is definitely not a fan of Fergus but as it turns out… it’s actually just Fergus she has issues with. The inclusion of Mrs Norris in the story adds an interesting layer because we are left to wonder why she ended up with Fergus when the two have such an antagonistic relationship.

Ferg and Tab both face many challenges and have a lot going on in this story and I don’t want to venture into spoiler territory so I’m a little stuck on how much I should say.

The local show is fast approaching and a set of inconvenient circumstances mean that the main event isn’t the band that they organised months ago, at short notice they manage to secure an ex-local Country heart-throb, who just happens to be Tabitha’s ex and he seems determined to try and win her back… but the question is why.

Johns writes small towns with heart and humour, exploring all kinds of people and never shying away from a tortured past.

Something To Talk About is small town, big heart, community spirit and never giving up. Johns has woven a story that is as much about the characters as it is the romance, not to mention the beauty of the small town communities of Walsh and Rose Hill.

Rachael Johns has long been a favourite Australian author of mine and I especially love her rural stories and the small towns she creates. Something To Talk About is definitely worth the read whether you are a fan of rural reads or not and though it’s the sequel to Talk Of The Town it most definitely stands alone also.

Something to Talk About was read as part of the Australian Women Writers Challenge 2020, coming in at book #6

Something to Talk About by author Rachael Johns is another good read in her Rose Hill series. Tab and Fergus have some entertaining moments that keep the pages turning. Ferg's character is one that grows on you in incriments, but overall, both Tab and Fergus were great to read.
Review copy received from Harlequin MIRA via Netgalley

Great Aussie author...ok I'm biased.
This was a wonderfully written story and I couldn't put it down. Tabitha is a great character and her tale had all the feels.
Being a city girl I love reading stories set in small towns, the people just make the place.
Fantastic job Rachael, I loved it.

Something to Talk About is my first foray into contemporary outback romance. A friend recommended Rachael Johns, and I was very excited to find her latest book available on Netgalley.

It did not disappoint! I love the characters that Johns has created, and the central romance was fun, with just the right amount of drama and miscommunication. Johns does a brilliant job of capturing small town life, and I’ll definitely be picking up the rest of her books.

I particularly appreciate that Johns used a sensitivity reader for this book, and that she also takes the time to acknowledge that Tabitha’s experience of being an amputee is not universal. I think it’s so important to include a diversity of people in central roles in romance stories - along with a great story, and wonderful characters, my favourite part of reading novels is being able to walk a few miles in shoes that might be quite different to mine.

Something to Talk About is the second book in the Rose Hill Series by Aussie author Rachael Johns. I read and enjoyed Talk of the Town so I was eager to return to familiar places and faces. That being said, while this book is listed as a sequel it can very easily be read as a standalone should you not have read the first book. Whilst my reading was enhanced through previous knowledge, Rachael does a good job of providing just the right amount of background details for new readers to feel comfortable with their knowledge of relationships.

This is the story of Tabitha and it was wonderful to see her claim her own space and time in the spotlight. Her entry is fun, emotional and heartwarming as she is quite the character - literally. She has much going on inclusive of her past, the present and exciting upcoming future events. Her love interest here of Fergus certainly sizzles (literally with lots of physical interactions) with the usual ups and downs, misunderstandings and confrontations. You know where the story is going and how it will end up, so it’s all about the journey and this is an emotionally charged one, much like Tabitha herself.

A definite plus of these books is how well Rachael captures life in a rural community - events and residents together - providing a snippet of the everyday. With everything from the weekly ‘Stitch and Bitch’ sessions to the committee for the upcoming Show, the reader gets a real feel for life in a small farming community. Rachael also touches upon some heartfelt themes - cancer, living with a disability and care for the elderly. The incident with Mrs Lord particularly resonated with me and I thought Rachael did a good job on all these sensitive issues.

All up, it was enjoyable to return to the local town and with a solid story about love and overcoming its many obstacles.





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

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

We follow two main characters, a school teacher Fergus McWilliams & Dairy Farmer/ice cream maker Tabitha Cooper-Jones through their dislike to love journey. I loved the banter between these two and the strength Tabitha shows. She’s determined and focused. Love blindsides her and it’s magical to see her guard come down.

I’m giving this book a 4 / 5 stars.

Thanks to Harlequin Australia and Netgalley for giving me access to an Arc copy which I read at my own discretion.

Following on from Talk of the Town, Something to Talk About brings readers back to the West Australian dairy farming town of Walsh and the tiny neighbouring ghost town of Rose Hill. This is Tabitha Cooper-Jones’ story and it’s a cracker!
Tab is one of those women who just amaze you with their ability to do just about anything whether it’s making amazing ice-cream, helping coach the junior cricket team, running a tea room and bed and breakfast with her sister in law Meg or knitting, all with only one arm. She’s also a warm and loving sister to her brother Lachlan and aunt to his son Ned. I admired her spunk for all of those things but also for her decision to have a baby by herself.
I was on the fence about Fergus for a while. One minute I thought he was the cat’s pyjamas and the next I thought he was an arrogant prat. He seemed to blow hot and cold and it took me just as long as it took Tabitha to work out why. I loved the way he and Tabitha were when they were together—clearly in love even if they didn’t know it. These were two very well crafted characters and it was easy to care about them.
The story itself has a relaxed country feel about it with the town preparing for its hundredth agricultural show, cows being put on and off the milking machine and families coming together for Sunday dinner. It flows beautifully, provides plenty of smiles and definitely kept me turning the pages. I was sad when I had to say goodbye to Ferg and Tab at the end of their story but I’m sure they’ll have many happy years together. This has been a lovely read.

Another wonderful addition to Rachael Johns repertoire and the second in the Rose Hill series.
Fergus McWilliams has taken a teaching contract for a few months in the small country community of Walsh to escape a broken engagement and betrayal but Tabitha Cooper Jones didn’t expect sparks to fly with her nephews new teacher.
Even though this is a 2nd in the series, there is no problem with reading this as a stand alone book.
What I loved most about this storyline is the fact there was the attraction and sparks that few between the two major characters and no major angst misunderstanding. Okay, you have to have some tension but it was resolved without being drawn out. I find I’m getting less tolerant of silly misunderstandings as I’m getting older, so it’s always refreshing to read one without it.
Well rounded characters and I’m hoping there will be a third in the series...I can even think of someone I’d like to know more about.....she needs a bit of love.
Thank you to Netgalley ley and the publisher for a copy to read.

I was a little concerned when I began reading Something to Talk about that not having read Rachael Johns’ previous book set in the rural town of Walsh, Talk of the Town, would impair my enjoyment of this book. I needn’t have worried, I absolutely loved the book and am very grateful to Harlequin Mira and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this wonderful story.

This tale focusses on two characters, the wonderfully named Fergus Titus McWilliams (and his aptly named cat Mrs Norris) who has accepted a post as a year 3/4 teacher at the Walsh primary school to escape the heartache of a recent relationship breakdown and Tabitha Cooper-Jones (Lawson’s sister for those who have read Talk of the Town), survivor of the cancer that took her arm and her boyfriend, country singer Ryder O’Connell. Convinced that no-one would want her, having not really had a relationship since Ryder, but desperate for a family Tabitha is newly pregnant via a sperm donor clinic and not in the market for a relationship.

The arrival of a new teacher in town, and a single male one at that, has all the single women (and in some cases their mothers) clamouring to gain his attention, but Fergus is not interested. His recent breakup is too new, too raw and he just wants to be left alone to teach and forget.

But life, and small towns, keep throwing him and Tabitha together, yet everytime he thinks they are doing okay something happens to throw a spoke in the wheel, she’s so prickly and defensive and he just keeps saying or doing the wrong thing.

And yet things like Mrs Lord, the owner of the cottage in which Fergus is living, suffering dementia and going missing from the aged care home in which she lives, the way the children (including her nephew Ned) respond to Mr McDuck (as Ned insists on calling him), Fergus’ response and actions when he hears Ryder O’Connell will be headlining the country fair, not to mention the piano accordion incident leave Tab wondering how she really feels about Fergus.

Fergus has his own ghosts from the past haunting him and unless he deals with them, he may just be throwing away the relationship he deserves.

Oh, and speaking of ghosts, the tea rooms where Tab lives have their own resident ghost, Eliza, and she’s not backwards about letting people know what she thinks of them!

In the character Tab, Johns’ shows a strong feisty woman who isn’t going to let her “disability” get in the way of anything, I love that Johns’ research included checking with a person she knows who is missing an arm as to exactly how that person was able to knit, and then bringing that into the story, and yet at the same time showing that some things (like putting flat pack furniture together) go much better with help, and there should be no shame in asking for assistance.

Something to Talk About is a love story that will keep you turning the pages to the very end.

Highly recommended.

#SomethingtoTalkAbout #NetGalley

Rachael Johns you have nailed Tabitha’s story, wow it is good, I loved seeing her and Fergus find the most beautiful HEA of course there are a few hurdles to cross before they get there and those hurdles add so much emotion to the story and the sensual pull between them is so very wonderful.

Tabitha Cooper-Jones is a woman filled with love, she is caring, strong and determined to do the things she has always wanted to even after life has dealt her a few challenges, she is a dairy farmer and now running an ice-creamery and tea shop and loving life even if she doesn’t have a man in her life and she is not looking for one, but when she meets the new temporary teacher things are about to get a little hotter as she is drawn to this man.

Fergus McWilliams is getting away from the city and a situation he wants to forget he is looking forward to the small town of Walsh, he loves teaching kids and helping them grow and learn, but he does not want to get involved with any woman and he is practically jumped on as soon as he arrives, there are a few single woman in this town, but he is drawn to Tabitha even after their very bad start and the fact that she seems to be the only one not after him.

I really liked Tabitha when we first met her in Talk of the Town and she really deserved her own story and she got a perfect story for her, this story is filled with emotion, love and it is heart- warming and beautiful, The sparks that fly between Tabitha and Fergus connect and bring them together even if it was not what either wanted, they talked, they opened up and they made love and became one in such a gorgeous story. Being back in Walsh was lots fun as well catching up with the characters we already love, thank you MS Johns another story that will stay with me for a while yet I smiled and cheered them on and felt so very good at the end. This is a story that I would highly recommend, a story not to be missed.

Something To Talk About is Rachael John’s second rural romance in the Rose Hill series, which began with Talk of the Town featuring the relationship between widowed dairy farmer Lawson Cooper-Jones and new storekeeper Meg, but reads well as a stand-alone.

In Something To Talk About, Tabitha Cooper-Jones, Lawson’s younger sister, has created a life she is proud of. She’s refused to let the loss of her arm to cancer hold her back, developing a thriving gourmet ice cream business, operating a successful cafe, and volunteering as a St John’s emergency assistant, but what she wants most is a family of her own, and despairing of ever finding a partner in the small town of Walsh, she’s chosen to become pregnant via donor insemination.

Fergus McWilliams is looking to escape the fallout from a broken engagement when he accepts a short term teaching position at Walsh Primary School, but he’s unprepared for the attention a single man in a small town attracts. Not looking for another relationship so soon, a ‘friends with benefits’ arrangement with Tabitha, despite her unusual circumstances, is a convenience for them both, but their plan to keep it casual goes awry when their hearts become involved.

I loved the chemistry between Tabitha and Fergus. Sparks fly at their very first meeting and as the story develops their growing affection for one another feels organic. Johns’s characters, both main and supporting, always feel genuine and elements of their situations relatable. The obstacles between Tab and Fergus are not insignificant, but I thought they were resolved convincingly.

The residents of Walsh add texture to the story from the members of Stitch & Bitch, to the children of Fergus’s class. The Western Australian setting is always a thrill for me, having been born there. I’ve holidayed in Bunbury and I’m familiar with the tiny farming towns in the southwest where community really matters.

Readers should be aware that several of the characters in Something To Talk About are affected by cancer, but the story really centers around the themes of independence, resilience, forgiveness, and trust.

Without fail, I finish each book by Rachael Johns with a sigh of satisfaction and contentment for a story well told, and it’s no different here. This is a book I am happy to talk about.

I’ve enjoyed reading Rachael John’s women’s fiction over the past few years but this is the first of her rural romances I have read . I enjoyed the story of Fergus and Tabitha and always like escaping into a rural romance after reading some heavier books . There was some heavier topics amongst the easy to read story. I enjoyed the small town feeling that Rachael created .

It's been a while since I read a Rachael Johns rural romance novel, so I was excited to hear she had a new one coming out. This is a sequel to Talk of the Town, a book I've had on my kindle for a while, when I looked it up I've actually had it waiting since July 2017 which is just ridiculous and after reading Something to Talk About, I plan on rectifying that ASAP.

While Something to Talk About is a sequel, it can easily be read as a standalone as enough background into the characters and the town was given for me to feel completely comfortable with the people and the setting.

It took me a couple of chapters to make a proper connection with the characters, but after that, I didn't want to put this novel down.

I really loved the two main characters, Tabitha and Fergus, they felt very real, like people I could meet myself at any point.

At first, Fergus is out of his comfort zone in the small town, he's certainly not used to single women wanting to throw themselves at him or everyone knowing everything that is happening, but he is fabulous with the kids he is there to teach.

Tabitha is a great character, she's a strong woman but has a vulnerable heart. She has been through a lot of loss in her life and has had a lot to contend with personally.

I really enjoyed the banter between these two, especially as they fought the chemistry between them. I loved it when they dived in, neither realising what they were getting themselves into. There was, of course, the usual miscommunication and misreading of situations, but it was all very realistic, we human beings do like jumping to conclusions before we have all the facts.

The secondary townspeople characters were all enjoyable, excepting of course Adeline, the town b***h, a very unlikeable character. I loved the knitting circle where it is as much about gossip as it is about knitting.

There were some serious issues raised, breast cancer being an important one and how important family is through the good and the bad. The relationship between Fergus and his sister played an important role in the story as Fergus struggles with the loss of trust in that relationship and the need to forgive.

I learned a bit about dairy farming and how hard the work is day in, day out, morning and night. Tabitha's brother, Lawson and her sister-in-law, Meg along with their son Ned were great characters to meet and I am really looking forward to reading their story in Talk of the Town.

If you enjoy a rural romance with all the feels, then this is the book for you.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Australia for a digital copy of this novel in return for an honest review.

Something to Talk About is going to get those chins wagging, and you will find yourself talking about it. Rachael Johns’ second installment in this series is an absolute winner. This rural romance is set in the fictional towns of Rose Hill and Walsh. Two small towns whose residents have some very big hearts. Tabitha Copper-Jones is one of them and despite her disability she does not let anything get in her way. Tabitha is a character that you are going to love, she warmed my heart in the first book and continued in this book.

Fergus McWilliams is the new relief primary school teacher, and being a new member of the town, he is now the talk of the town. All the single women of the town are interested in Ferg, and who wouldn’t be, he’s McDreamy!!!

This story will pull at your heart strings and you will feel every single emotion with the characters. You really will feel like you are right there in the town living with them. Rachael has done an amazing job of making her characters so relatable and writing the scenery to perfection.

So many times I tried to imagine what towns these fictional towns were written on. Living in the South West of WA where it is set in cattle country. Towns mentioned in the story of Bunbury, Harvey and Brunswick are all just down the road. Do you find yourself thinking where is written on, when a book is set in your local area?

As I have said this is the second book in this series but if you find yourself wanting to read it before Talk of The Town, then go ahead as it can be read as a stand-alone. But I will say this, you will spoil the first book by reading the second one first, your choice!!!

I want to thank @harlequinaus and @netgalley for gifting me digital ARC.

Fergus McWilliams had just arrived in the small outback town of Walsh where he would be the temporary teacher, replacing a person who was ill. After this position he thought he’d head north, maybe up to the Pilbara or inland Western Australia. He’d left Perth determined not to return any time soon, if at all. When Fergus met Tabitha Cooper-Jones, he couldn’t stop staring. And Tabitha thought he was a jerk. They really didn't get off to a good start.

Tabitha had lived in Walsh all her life – other than three years away at school. She’d had some tragedy in her past and it had only made her stronger. Her burgeoning ice cream business was a huge success, while she helped her brother, Lawson and his wife Meg on the farm. Tab was a dab hand at milking, while young Ned was in Fergus’ class in school, and he thought his new teacher was pretty cool. There had never been a male teacher at the school before, so he was a novelty to the kids. Then when Fergus agreed to coach their cricket team, he realized Aunty Tab was assistant coach. He’d have to try to be friendly with her; after all he wouldn’t be in town long…

Something to Talk About is the 2nd in the Rose Hill series by Aussie author Rachael Johns, after Talk Of The Town. It was nice to catch up with some of the characters once again, with Something to Talk About Tabitha and Fergus’ story. For a small community, there was a lot going on, with the cricket, the annual show, plus dear old Mrs Lord whose house Fergus was renting after she entered the nursing home. And there was also Mrs Norris, Fergus’ Maine Coon - with attitude… Recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

Rachael Johns’ new rural romance ”Something to talk about” will certainly be a book to talk about! The second book in the Rose Hill series centres around Tabitha Cooper-Jones a strong independent woman who is afraid to go after what she wants despite her disability.

The story is set in the fiction rural town of Walsh and like all small towns everyone knows everyone and their business, so when a new person comes to town they instantly become to focus of the towns attention, especially the women when the new comer is Fergus McWilliams the new relief primary school teacher!

The characters are real and relatable, I couldn’t help but get invested in their lives and feel all the feels that came along the way!

I want to thank @netgalley and harlequin Australia for gifting me digital ARC, and a superdooper big thank you to Rachael Johns for again writing such a captivating novel, I look forward to purchasing a physical copy when it hits the bookshop shelves next week!

I was fortunate to receive an ARC of “Something to Talk About” from Netgalley, and it certainly lived up to all my expectations, having read and loved several of Rachael’s previous rural romance novels, and found it to be a wonderful sequel to “Talk of the Town”.
From the moment I started reading, I was hooked by the lovable characters and captivating story-telling that I’ve come to love from Rachael. We are re-united with dairy farmer and ice-cream maker extraordinaire, Tabitha, her hard-working brother Lawson, his wife Meg and son Ned. Fergus is the new primary school teacher in town, and as an eligible bachelor generates a lot of interest from the single ladies in town – sadly for them, Fergus is escaping a bad relationship and is very happily a single carer to a grumpy cat called Mrs Norris.
Fergus and Tabitha’s relationship gets off to a more-than-rocky start – he’s not really sure of her current relationship status – and who the father of her unborn baby is – but despite the many challenges that come their way, including a visit from Fergus’ ex, Tabitha’s long lost love coming to perform at the annual show and the mystery of a resident ghost – love blossoms.
I loved everything about this book, it’s got all the ingredients of a wonderful, feel good story, and I couldn’t put it down – in fact found myself thinking of my new “friends” for days after I finished reading – so much so that I have read for the SECOND time!
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Australia for my copy of this book for review purposes.