Where do I start? This book was outstanding. It was so much more than a rural romance. It was thought provoking - especially with such a serious , sensitive topic. Most of the characters were supportive, loving and loyal. I loved the chemistry of Jackson and Paige and felt every bit of it . This book had my emotions going - they ranged from anger to love. Highly recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Australia for the chance to read this book.

Trigger warning - this story features rape.

This story is about Paige and Jackson. They are both strong and independent characters but aren't good at accepting help, leaning on others, or, in Jackson's case, taking criticism.

Paige faces a lot of trauma and change within the story and shows her strength and resilience. Jackson manages to earn her trust and give her friendship to help her heal until she is ready for love. He has his own emotional baggage to work through as well, and after a couple of missteps, he eventually gets there.

The story is hard to read in some sections due to the rape and trauma content, but I think it is handled compassionately.

Red Dirt Home by Aussie author Renae Black is an emotional and moving story. It does cover topics such as sexual abuse and bullying in the workplace and if these topics are triggering to you this book might not be for you.

This is an addictive story and once you start you won’t want to put it down. I thoroughly enjoyed this book it is well written with a few twists that will catch you off guard. With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for my digital copy to read and review. Highly recommended.

Wow. This story really pulls on your heartstrings.

Paige is happy doing what she wanted to do in life, but until an incident occurs and makes her run away.

Lucky Paige has an amazing group of friends around her who is willing to put their own hearts and home on the line to back her.

This book was faced trauma, but allowed strength to shine through.

Red Dirt Home has been a thoroughly upifting story, though it starts off with some fairly shocking events. If rape or sexual assault is a trigger for you then I’d proceed with caution. That said, Paige’s story from that point on shows her inner strength and resiliance, characteristics that are brought out by the support she receives from Jackson and the family and community at Karilga Station, where she ends up working after leaving Whitetail Ridge. Jackson very quickly endeared himself to me, not just because of his looks, though they definitely helped. He came onto the page with a bad boy reputation, but it as clear from the moment he returned home that he had a strong sense of responsibility and cared deeply for his family. This is a story of healing, support and belief but it lso showcases Queensland’s outback superbly. I loved reading about the big family mealtimes, but the dirt, the Mitchell grass and the various animals that popped up all helped to paint the picture. I was quickly immersed in the book and ended up reading it through the night. I will definitely be looking for more from this author.

EXCERPT: Paige's voice kept playing in his mind, eating at him. Do the right thing, Jackson. The right thing. What even was the right thing? He rolled his eyes. This was the answer she wanted him to give - coming home. So, it must be the right thing.
Right?

ABOUT 'RED DIRT HOME': To move forward, she'll have to face the past.

Paige Bennett is fulfilling her childhood dream of working and living on the land as a station hand on Whitetail Ridge. Getting her hands dirty, riding horses, working with cattle and kicking up red dust. Life can't get much better. Or so she thinks, until a devastating act of violent betrayal leaves her unemployed, homeless and broken.

A fight with his father drove Jackson Brady off Karilga, his family's cattle station in the Queensland outback. Now he's made a life for himself away from the land, joining a band and settling into the city. When the girl he's always had his eye on shows up with news from back home, he's faced with a difficult go home where he's needed or stay where he's wanted.

Winding up on Karilga Station, Paige is a shadow of the person she once was. Desperate to forget what happened to her, she considers leaving her beloved channel country. But things aren't so easily forgotten in the outback. When fate gives her no option but to trust again, will she find love as well? Or at least a safe place to land?

Jackson knows he's never been more to Paige than a country larrikin who only takes the beer at the end of the day seriously - a sentiment closely echoed by his father. Can Jackson prove himself to his father and become the man Paige needs him to be? Or will it all crumble in the red dirt of the outback?

MY THOUGHTS: Wow! I wasn't expecting a novel as powerful as this! I thought I was getting an Australian outback romance - and I did, but it was so very much more. Renae Black exercised all my emotions from laughter to tears and everything in between.

The author has written a content warning at the very beginning of the book as the book is written in the spirit of the #metoo movement. Her inspiration for Paige's character came from the many women the author has worked with in her role as a social worker; women who have experienced 'horrific trauma in their lives' but have moved forward to a brighter future. 'Paige is a fictional character, not based on any one of them, but she captures a piece of all of them.' Red Dirt Home also contains a sexual assault which, while not depicted on the page, may be distressing to some readers because of the lead-up to the event and the emotional journey that follows. (ABRIDGED).

Renae Black has conveyed the shame and the fear that stops victims from reporting their assault to the police and how having someone who believes in them helps them move forward. All during this part of the book, I was choked up. I couldn't bear to put down my Kindle because I just had to know that there was going to be a positive outcome for Paige, despite the fact that she was keeping herself distanced from everyone, even pushing away her friends.

The impact of the assault on Paige's life was devastating. She started second-guessing herself, blaming herself and lost all confidence. She shut herself off from everyone; isolating herself, scared that people would judge her as, indeed, some did.

Red Dirt Home is a powerfully emotional read. It is beautifully written and kept me engrossed throughout. It is not a dark book, but one that has plenty to offer, describing life on an outback cattle station, the supportive relationships that are formed, so necessary when living in such isolated conditions. There is a wonderful romance and plenty of heartwarming moments.

If you are looking for a book with a little romance but a lot of heart, this is it. Kudos to the author for tackling a difficult subject head on in an empathetic and constructive way.

Although this is the second book in a series, it is easily read as a stand-alone. This was my first book by this author but I will definitely be reading more from her.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

#RedDirtHome #NetGalley

THE AUTHOR: My family stretches back to at least three generations of farmers on both my mum and my dad’s side. I spent my formative years, growing up on a property north of Wagga Wagga, NSW that bred cattle and hosted the odd ostrich sale. My childhood was littered with animals – working and house dogs, the odd run in with a brown snake or two, an injured cockatoo, a long neck turtle and later a cockatiel named Harry who called everyone “Gorgeous”. That’s only a handful!

I strongly believe that farm life, and small town living gets under your skin and never actually leaves you. (Source: renaeblack.com)

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Harlequin Australia, HQ & MIRA, via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of Red Dirt Home by Renae Black for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

"I just finished reading "Red Dirt Home," Renae Black and it was an incredible story with well-developed characters. The book tells a powerful, emotional tale about love, family, and overcoming challenges. As a rural romance, it kept me on the edge of my seat, eagerly turning pages to find out if the characters would get their happy ending. The story was full of depth and real-life drama which made it a satisfying read.

Paige Bennett, who works as a station hand at Whitetail Ridge in Queensland, originally had a happy life growing up in Mount Isa. However, due to a traumatic event, she lost not only her job and home but also her self-confidence and trust in others. Despite her struggles, when she learns about a situation at the Karilga station where her best friend Ryan Walker works, she offers to lend a hand. She is uncertain whether she can keep her personal secret from her best friend and still remain in the place she loves - the land.

Jackson Brady was born and raised at Karilga station until a fight with his father drove him to the big city of Brisbane. When his father is injured, Jackson must decide whether to return home to help run the station or stick with his band, which is gaining popularity in the Brisbane pub scene. As he struggles with this decision, Paige shows up to help, and he can't help but be drawn to her.

I received a copy of "Red Dirt Home" from NetGalley and Harlequin Australia in exchange for an honest review."

Red Dirt Home was a great portrayal of working on station, I really felt like I got a sense of what it would be like. There were some tough topics tackled, but they were done well and repectfully. I really enjoyed the relationships between the characters - of course the main characters Paige and Jackson, but also the other characters looking out for each other. There were plenty of emotions reading this one, often changing from sadness to happiness. I loved how Jackson was with his younger siblings and what he did for his Dad. Great read.

I didn't realise this was the second in the series until I read the author notes in this one but it definitely worked as a stand alone. Of course now I know there is another I want to go back and read it.

I read Renae Black’s debut book, On The Down Low and absolutely loved it and I was thrilled to read her second book set again in the Channel Country in outback Queensland, we met both Jackson Brady and Paige Bennet in that story, and I wasn’t sure about Jackson being a hero in his own story but I was so wrong, come along for this heartfelt and moving story that will make you cry and smile.

Paige is loving her life on the land working at Whitetail Ridge, the horses, cattle and land are in her blood and she is thrilled to be here but when she is violated in the most terrible of ways she is left a broken woman with no job and no home, she can’t go home to her family.

Jackson has worked hard to prove himself on the family cattle station Karilga but he and his father seem to see things differently and after a huge fight Jackson leaves and finds himself in the city in a band and he is thoroughly enjoying himself, that is until, the woman he has always had feelings for arrives with news that is not good and she advises him to go home.

Paige arrives at Karilga station looking to help them out when they need more workers and Jackson is more than happy to give her a job but he feels that there is something very different about Paige that she is struggling with something and he aims to find out without pushing too hard. Paige loves this country life and soon opens up to Jackson about what happened and Jackson steps up to be the best person for Paige, will they find the love they deserve and will Jackson finally prove to his father that life at Karilga is what he truly wants?

I loved this one from the start and found it very hard to put down it is beautifully written with empathy and such care and we see Paige work hard to put the past behind her with the help of Jackson and we also see Jackson become the best hero and son with Paige together they are sure to move to a fabulous future. This one made me cry but also had me cheering them on. It was great catching up with the wonderful characters from Karilga as well.

I do highly recommend this, it is an awesome romance, it has a bit of everything in it from a beautiful romance to drama, danger and suspense, a must read.

My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my copy to read and review.

While this may be the first book I’ve read by this author it certainly won’t be the last. I’m going to go back & read the earlier books in this series now.
I enjoyed this story even though the subject matter was confronting at times it was handled well. The outback scenes were written so well it felt like you were there.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The two main characters of this book are Paige and Jackson. Paige who grew up in Mount Isa and then works on a cattle station experiences an horrific event at the hands of a person she trusted at the time. Jackson is a ladies man who grew up on a different station but has escaped to the city to get away from his family, especially his father. But timing and events bring them together.
There are characters to love and characters to loathe in this story, Paige brings the reader through every emotion, while Jackson takes a bit longer to warm fully to.
Thermo book brings to light many issues that impact on rural life, as well as major worldwide issues such as the Me Too movement. Thermo way it is written brings the characters to life and it was a great book to read.

Paige Bennett is employed as a station hand on Whitetail Ridge in Western Queensland, Australia. Paige loves her job, riding horses and her best friend Ryan works next door and he’s a helicopter pilot. One night her life is turned upside down, she’s attacked by a person Paige thought she could trust and she loses her job.

After having a big fight with his father Marcus, Jackson Brady leaves Karilga, and is enjoying playing in a band in Brisbane. When he receives bad news about his Dad, Jackson's faced with a difficult choice to make and of course he goes home. Paige has always thought Jackson was irresponsible, didn’t take things seriously, lazy and more interested in chasing women and drinking beer than doing a hard day's work?


With Marcus out of action and his wife Ange staying with him, they need extra help at Karilga and Jackson employs Paige. No one else seems to notice, but she’s very quiet, and looks really tired and Jackson's worried about her. Paige is having nightmares about what happened and can't sleep, she's been looking at job ads and is considering leaving the channel country.

Jackson wants to prove to his father that he’s finally gown up and he's reliable and with the help from the staff at Karilga, he starts running the station and getting it ready for when his father returns and he’s not sure what sort of reception he’s going to get from his old man.

Paige has to learn to trust again, and she shocked when it’s Jackson who's the one to support her and makes her feel safe, and does she have courage to go one step further and report the incident?

I received a copy of Red Dirt Home by Renae Black from NetGalley and Harlequin Australia in exchange for an honest review. I read and enjoyed Ms. Black’s previous book in the series On the Down Low and it was great catching up with the interesting mix of Aussie characters again, Marcus, Ange, Ryan, Hallie, Alice, Charlie, Cookie, Jonno, Danni and all the kids and I must admit I didn’t really like Jackson before.

Some Australian blokes can take a while to grow up, they drink too much and only want to have a good time and move on. This sums up the old Jackson, but on the other hand when you’re family own a property for generations, it puts a lot of pressure and expectation on the person who’s going to inherit it and they don’t want to be the one to fail and stuff it up.

An emotional and well written narrative by Ms. Black, her story includes topics that have to be handled tactfully and with sensitivity, violence against women, sexual abuse, bullying in the work place and the victim thinking no one will believe them if they speak up and it feels like the perpetrator has all the power.

Five stars from me, and Renae Black is the newcomer in Australian rural fiction and she certainly has what it takes to be successful author and I look forward to reading her next novel.