Thanks to NetGalley, Allen and Unwin, and the author for the chance to read this book.

Maya Linnell's book are satisfying to read - they have a nice happy ending, but it's not boring to get there. The characters and their relationships are enjoyable to watch, grow, and evolve. This was an easy story to fall into and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Just like the McIntyre Sisters and Kookaburra Cottage which I enjoyed reading, Wallaby Lane is another feel good rural romance treat! its a heartwarming story that would touch everyone on a different level; love, family, friendships, community spirit and of course let’s no forget food (it does make you feel hungry).

I highly recommend this book to readers who love rural romance.

Thank you NetGally and Allen & Unwin for ARC.

Wallaby Lane by Aussie author Maya Linnell was such a delightful read. When you read a book by this author you get a real feel for country towns and community spirit. I loved this book from start to finish and I can’t wait to see what she writes next. Highly recommended.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for my digital copy to read and review.

In Wallaby Lane, Maya takes us back to the Limestone Coast, the same setting as her 2023 release Kookaburra Cottage, and I loved being back there and having the opportunity to check back in on April and Connor too (I do love the way previous character pop up in romance series!). As always, Maya’s creation of the setting is impeccable – when I’m reading one of her novels I feel like I live in one of her fictional country towns, and by the time I finish reading I’m ready to pack up and find my own little pink cottage to move into.

Lauren and Jack made great protagonists in Wallaby Lane. Both lovable without being too perfect, and I really enjoyed the way that the nature of their jobs created extra tension between them – her being a radio presenter and journalist and him the new local policeman. Their growing relationship was really lovely and I liked the gentleness and patience they both showed towards each other at times throughout the book.

Of course as well as being keen for a country tree-change after finishing a Maya Linnell novel, I’m also ready to back up a storm and I loved the cookbook and local show storyline in this one. Maya we’d love to see the cookbook in real life please, ok?

Maya serves up sweet romance with a side of baked goods in her books, but I also really appreciate the way this is balanced with sensitive handling of more serious issues. In Wallaby Lane we get several threads throughout that touch on mental health, including Lauren working through managing anxiety and another character having previously dealt with post-natal psychosis.

I have zero hesitation in recommending this one wholeheartedly. If you’ve read Maya’s books before you won’t want to miss this, and if you’ve been enjoying the moment romance novels have been having but haven’t tried rural romance yet this would be a perfect place to start.

A fabulous return to Penwarra where we get Lauren’s story.

Maya has set the scene perfectly with Lauren being a strong independent woman who wants to achieve more than most, as she is always being reminded she could do better.

The community feeling in this book allows for the close relationships of the townspeople and how they all count on one another to feel welcome.

As a country girl living in the city, it was lovely to read the slower place of this rural romance, reminding me a lot of back home. Wallaby Lane doesn't shy away from some tough topics though, such as anxiety, disengaged youth, post-natal phychosis and even suicide, but they are covered gently and respectfully.

It has a very Australian quality about it, with the locals all being involved in each others lives, and getting behind events like the local show. Have to say, I've judged sections of my local show on occasion and it did bring back lots of memories. Some of the 'extra' characters became my favourites, including Gary the galah.

This is a slow burn of a novel, and less of the romance than I expected of a rural romance... maybe because the relationship was also a slow burn over a long period of time, rather than the insta love of many romances I have read of late. (Not saying either are wrong - they each have their place).

This is the first Ive read by this author, but I'll now go and check out her earlier novels.

EXCERPT: 'But we like you living with us,' Harriet said, bringing water glasses to the table. 'Can't you stay forever?'
'Not sure it's Uncle Jack's dream setup, but he does own half the house, so it's his as much as it is ours. Stay as long as you want, Jack.'
Clem was kinda right. If someone had told him eighteen months ago he'd be sharing a house with his sister, he would've frisked their pockets for drugs. But the gift of their grandparent's farmhouse combined with the Penwarra policing position and Clem's redundancy, had felt like three ducks had waddled into their lives and lined up in a millimetre-perfect row.

ABOUT 'WALLABY LANE': From interviewing local flower growers to receiving blue ribbons for her show baking, Lauren Bickford's genuine love for her hometown is almost as strong as her ambition to become a radio presenter. But is it enough to outweigh the series of on-air stuff-ups that have plagued her career?

No stranger to this small winegrowing region in South Australia's Limestone Coast, Jack Crossley is the new cop in town. He's traded his city beat for a slower pace, and as a former local, knows only too well that mischief can lurk around every quiet corner.

For Jack and Lauren, the course of true love is not running smoothly. Can he restore order in the town before the neighbourhood watch vigilantes take justice into their own hands? Or are Jack's biggest worries much closer to home? Can Lauren's reporting remain impartial as her attraction to Jack grows? Or will her family's advice lead her completely astray?

MY THOUGHTS: Set in the fictional rural town of Penwarra in South Australia’s Limestone Coast this is a family drama highlighting mental health issues, post-natal depression, the delinquent youth problem so common in small towns, family relationships and workplace bullying. There's a side dish of romance to lighten the load.

I liked the characters in this book. They are all very human, making mistakes in both their personal and work lives and having to bear the consequences of their actions. This is a multi-generational story with Arthur and sister Jean representing the older generation, Clem and Jack in the middle, and Harriet the younger. Art is a bit of a meddler, but a good-hearted one who only wants the best for his niece and nephew and little Harriet. Harriet is a great character, saying just what she thinks with all the confidence of a six-year-old wondering why adults complicate so many things.

Jack is a good-hearted and sensible cop, but he has his own demons to conquer. A past betrayal has hit him hard and he finds it difficult to trust others in his personal life. Professionally he is caring and astute, evidenced by the way he deals with Cohen's and Sebastian's misdemeanours.

Lauren is a young woman with dreams and ambitions who comes from a very career orientated family, but every time she has her goal in sight, she shoots herself in the foot. She is a lovely warmhearted young woman, but does she have what it takes to climb to the top of her chosen career?

Some of the animals in this book are just as entrancing as the characters - Gaz (Gary) the Galah and a one-eyed goat are but two.

I liked that a lot of the storyline was centered around the Penwarra show's centenary celebrations. All the preparations in the buildup to the show are chronicled as well as the big day itself with its resulting tensions, triumphs, missing money and the 'cake war'! These fixtures have disappeared from a lot of small towns, my home-town included, and I enjoyed the memories reading this brought back.

And please do read the author's acknowledgements at the end, where Maya Linnell talks about her own experience with post-natal psychosis which she used to form Clem's back story, calling it 'the scariest and most dangerous thing (she's) ever experienced.'

This is my first book by Maya Linnell, but it won't be my last. Despite the 'heavy' topics, this was a fun read with great characters and a wonderful setting.

⭐⭐⭐.8

#WallabyLane #NetGalley

THE AUTHOR: From country show baking to raising orphaned lambs, bestselling author Maya Linnell writes about the life she lives and loves. A keen bookworm, former rural journalist and radio host, Maya also blogs. She lives in rural Victoria with a menagerie of animals, rambling gardens, three bookworms and the odd tiger snake or two.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Allen & Unwin via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of Wallaby Lane by Maya Linnell for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

Maya Linnel has again brought us a heart-warming, relatable, unpredictable, rural romance set in a picturesque regios of South Australia.

Lauren's personal and professional demons are realistically treated. As too are Jack's issues and responsibilities. I also loved the extra characters, both human and animal, especially Gary, the galah. As well as the feel good results for the deliquent teens. Add in a typical country town fair to the mix, and the reader is given a wonderful insight into every day country life. This is a delightful read. Thank you for approving the ARC.
Victoria Brown

The cover of Wallaby Lane really encapsulates the sort of story you’re in for: a lovely, sunny heroine with a heart of gold, flowers and the rolling hills sets just the right tone. This is a warm, gently told story filled with heartache and hope, fabulous characters and a small South Australian country commuity that wormed its way into my heart.
Lauren and Jack are clearly made for each other, though they each have their own issues to deal with before they can have a happy ever after. For Lauren its a sense of inferiority, brought on by her mother’s regular and unsubtle efforts for her to do better for herself and the pointed barbs she receives from a work colleague. Despite this Lauren is a ray of sunshine, both when she’s on air doing her bit to promote the upcoming Penwarra Show and when she’s baking up a storm or nurturing her garden. It’s very clear that she’s a loved and cherished community member.
Jack's father’s suicide when he was a child and his mother’s subsequent abandonment of him and his sister in favour of a religious life weigh heavily on him. Trust doesn’t come easy but he still makes a fantastic country policeman, particularly the way he deals with a pair of bored teens and a lonely old man with hoarding issues. He’s also a tender uncle to his niece Harriet and protector of his sister and grandfather.
The story moves fairly slowly, but that is perfect for immersing yourself in the setting and getting to know the many fabulous characters. I certainly didn’t lose interest as I was reading. Instead I took the time to imagine just how delicious some of the recipes would be, just how vibrant the flowers would look and just how wonderful it would be to stroll through a country show admiring the exhibits. I loved it.

This is a feel good novel based in regional Australia.
Lauren and Jack are the dual perspective characters who are true country people. The highlight for me was the snippets from Gary, the galah.

If you grew up in rural Australia where the local show is the biggest date on the social calendar you will love this one. It is heart warming, nostalgic and a beautiful read.

I am always so excited when there is a new Maya Linnell book coming because I know I am going to love it and this one did not disappoint, we are back in Penwarra to catch up with old friends and get to know Lauren Bickford even more and meet the new cop Jack Crossley and it is the 100th Penwarra show, come along for some fun, romance and a fabulous story.

Lauren is loving her job as producer of the Rural AM radio show each morning, but her wish is to be the presenter, but there have been a few problems getting there for Lauren and now that the announcers job is up for grabs and the 100th Penwarra show is coming up Lauren is sure to have a chance with the fabulous ideas she has if only she can get her nerves under control.

Jack spent a lot of time in his youth living in the small wine growing community on The Limestone Coast and now he is back this time as the constable in town, he and his sister and niece have moved into his grandparent’s old sunflower farm and are looking towards the future he is happy to have left the city behind him.
Soon Lauren and Jack are becoming close friends, with Jack House sitting and minding her pet galah, Gary and Jack is under some pressure from the mayor to curb what looks to be teenager angst in the form of graffiti and small annoyances, this sort of behaviour reminds Jack of a past he would much prefer to forget and jumps him to do everything he can do.

Lauren has thrown herself into doing everything she can for the show, with guest interviews regarding the special cookbook that is to be launched and talking to the locals about the entries they have for the show, there is so much cooking going on and Lauren is getting closer to Jack and his family but the pressure is coming from Lauren’s family will she be able to stand strong?

I loved this one from start to finish, Maya opens an emotional journey with Jack and Lauren, both having issues from their past that really need to talked about, add to that the excitement in the small town and the fabulous characters that we have met before in Kookaburra Cottage and the new ones introduced in this awesome story and you have a heart-warming story that will have you turning the pages, shedding some tears, smiling and cheering them on.

Maya Linnell has such a fabulous voice for rural romance, she brings out the true small town settings and makes the reader feel like they have been transported into the heart of the town and characters, I do highly recommend this one it is a must read.

My thanks to Allen & Unwin for my copy to read and review.

Lauren Bickford loved her job working on radio, always aiming higher. But she battled Patrice who loved to put Lauren down, as well as her own demons. She was determined though, to always do her best and with the upcoming 100th anniversary of the Penwarra Show, the interviews Lauren was doing with the locals, the stories she was uncovering, and the cookbook which was being made - one hundred recipes from one hundred contributors for the 100th anniversary - was gaining momentum and was hugely popular; Lauren was on a high.

Jack Crossley was back in Penwarra as the local cop and loving his return to the home town he'd grown up in. He'd returned when his sister Clem, with daughter Harriet, had come home to their family house; Jack and Clem's pop having gone into a nursing home. Jack had first encountered Lauren in the laundromat and when she went to Victoria for a three month stint with a different radio station, Jack housesat for her as his police residence wasn't finished. Lauren's galah, Gary, was loud, potty-mouthed and loveable - and it wasn't long before Jack had him wrapped around his little finger. As Jack and Lauren's relationship slowly evolved, Jack wondered if the past he refused to talk about would get in their way...

Wallaby Lane is another exceptional read by Aussie author Maya Linnell. Set in fictional Penwarra, South Australia - a mix of the famous Coonawarra and nearby Penola - and not far from Mount Gambier (where I lived through my school years and into adulthood - and met my husband) so much was familiar. Excellent characters, both human and animal, an enticing plot line and the excitement of the rural show kept me reading into the night. I thoroughly enjoyed this latest from Maya Linnell and look forward to next year's book. Highly recommended.

With thanks to Allen & Unwin AU for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

I'm not much of a romance reader but sometimes I see something that sounds interesting and this is that sort of book. I love that it is set in Australia, love the title and love the rural setting. And I must say that 6 year old Harriet does at times steal the show. So cute. But what I enjoyed most is the fact that it doesn't just concentrate on romance but on so many other things that happen to all of us in real life. It is a sensitive, emotional and wonderful read.

Well written with great characters, I must say I do like the way this author writes and will continue to read her books.

Thank you NetGalley and Allen & Unwin for giving me the opportunity to read adn review this book.

Wallaby Lane is a fabulous small town rural romance. Based in a community full of colourful characters it is the perfect holiday read.

It’s a slow burn, closed door romance centered around Lauren, an aspiring radio presenter, and Jack, the new cop in the small town of Penwarra. Told from dual perspectives we are given a great insight into their thoughts and feelings as their relationship develops.

The community is working towards celebrating the towns 100th show with a community cookbook and baking challenge, but there are troublemakers afoot and lots of drama as it draws near, which impacts on their relationship and has them questioning what they truly want in life and if they deserve going after it.

There is also a little hero in this book in the form of the most adorable 6 year old Harriet. You can’t help but smile and laugh at her antics and how she wraps everyone around her fingers! There is also one very cheeky galah!

This book has a lot of mental health representation as we are introduced to more community members, but it’s not heavy or overbearing to the storyline.
Covering topics like anxiety, panic attacks, post natal depression, hoarding and trying to control surroundings, it’s weaved beautifully throughout as part of everyday life with respect and sensitivity.

This was my first @maya.linnell.writes book and I am now off to read her full back catalogue. She has a writing style that completely captures the essence of small towns and rural communities in Australia that really resonates.

I highly recommend Wallaby Lane as your next rural romance read.

This charming novel is all about small town Australian country life. There’s a budding romance between Lauren, a producer at the local radio station and Senior Constable Jack Crossley who is the new police officer in town. There’s lots of characters to get to know, family on both sides, plus Lauren’s workmates, their neighbours and local identities. You’ll recognise some of them if you’ve read Maya’s other books. It’s rich and textured with events in the town circling back to Jack and Lauren. They both have demons and personal stories that don’t always serve them well and part of the joy is watching them challenge the beliefs that they hold very tightly. The town of Penwarra is lovely, but it’s not all super sweet as some tricky things are touched on - post natal depression, anxiety, grief, guilt, loneliness, hoarding, and troubled teens all happen, but it’s not a trauma dump, more like real lives working themselves out. I loved Jack's niece Harriet, and the shenanigans around the annual country show.

It’s a slow burn, closed door romance, but as it’s dual point of view we have lots of insight into how Jack and Lauren begin to fall for each other. So good!

Thank you NetGalley, Allen & Unwin and Maya Linnell for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

Lauren Bickford likes her job at the radio station in Mount Gambier, and she wants to be a presenter and even though the thought of being live on air makes her feel nervous. Her mother and sister are both very ambitious and they can’t understand why Lauren lives in a small country town, content being the assistant to the morning shows producer and she could do better. Loz adores her little pink cottage on Petticoat Lane, in Penwarra and her pet galah Gary and his colourful language.

Constable Jack Crossley has just been transferred to Penwarra and he's a former local, his pop Arthur owns Sunny Cross Farm, Jack’s sister Clem and six year old niece Harriet are living there. Jack knows bored teenagers get up to all kinds of trouble and it’s his job to pull them into line. Jack and Lauren meet, they are attracted to each other, but both work shifts and have been unlucky in love in the past and are they willing to take the risk?

Set during the year leading up to the towns 100th show, a huge event and milestone, it will have side shows and pony rides, competitions for baked goods and condiments, flower displays and it’s very competitive and who wouldn't want to win a blue ribbon. The town is buzzing with anticipation, residents want the place to look tidy, well presented and junk and graffiti free.

I received a copy of Wallaby Lane by Maya Linnell from Allen & Unwin and NetGalley in exchange for a review. This is the first book I have read by Ms. Linnell, I’m kicking myself for not discovering her wonderful and down to earth Aussie novel’s sooner and she’s one of Australia’s best rural romance writers and I can understand why. The narrative has interesting and relatable characters like Lauren and Jack, Arthur and Jean, Clem and Harriet, Sebastian, Cohen and Victor, April and Connor, and Gary the naughty galah, and it's set in my home state of South Australia.

The author is known for including social topics in her books and we need to show compassion and empathy towards people suffering from issues such as, hoarding, mental health and anxiety, post-natal depression and post-natal psychosis and in complicated and diverse families. Rescuing and caring for injured and sick and native animals and what to do and who to call.

The story showcases the Aussie way of life, community spirit, summing up living in a small country town to a tee, I live in one and it made me laugh out loud, five stars from me and I have already bought a copy of Kookaburra Cottage to read and enjoy with a cuppa.

Maya Linnell quickly became one of my favourite rural fiction writers, having absolutely loved the McIntyre Sisters series.

I have just finished reading the NetGalley arc and it’s battling with Magpie’s Bend for my all time favourite Maya Linnell novel.

Set in Penwarra, we reconnect with the locals that we were introduced to in Kookaburra Cottage, Lauren is a local, and has strong ambitions to be a radio presenter. Jack is new to town as he takes up his position at the local police station. It’s inevitable that their paths will cross in both a professional and potentially romantic way…

I love how Maya weaves some of her real life passions into her stories, such as baking and rural shows. Her stories are always written with such heart and humour I couldn’t help but have a big smile on my face while reading this one and I may have preformed a little jig when I finished as I just know readers are going to love this one just as much as I have.

It is the pitch-perfect rural romance that everyone will be falling in love with this autumn.

I recently finished reading the book "Wallaby Lane" by Maya Linnel. The book is a rural romance set in Penwarra, South Australia. It revolves around the life of Lauren Bickford, who works at the local radio station, and Senior Sergeant Jack Crossley, who is new to the town's police station. The story focuses on a small country town community and family with the ups and downs of life in a small town. I particularly enjoyed the fact that the love story spans over 12 months, making it more realistic.

Jack has recently moved to Penwarra to offer support to his sister, Clem, who is a single mother to her daughter, Harriet, and to their grandfather, Art. Spending many summers with their grandparents in the countryside, Jack is delighted to be back in town and the farm he remembers.

Lauren Bickford leads a content life in Penwarra, living in her charming pink cottage on Petticoat Lane and working as the producer of the local radio station's morning show. However, her mother doesn't think of the town as a good place for her daughter to showcase her talent and feels that Lauren is wasting her time there.

This book is full of inspirational stories that will captivate you. It's set in a small country town, full of drama, good-doers, troublemakers, kindness, and most importantly, community spirit and the Aussie way of life. And let's not forget the delicious food that will make you want to bake your heart out!

Lauren Bickford has settled into her cottage in the South Australian Limestone Coast town of Penwarra. Sharing her home is Gary, a Galah with a salty and colourful repetoire. Lauren's position with the local radio station is both a dream come true and a nightmare as stuff-ups plague her and threaten her career and ambition.

Senior Sergeant Jack Crossley, new cop in town, is no stranger to Penwarra. Jack has opted for the quieter life of a country cop in a single cop station but finds his time is cut out with mischief from the local teens and the vigilantes who decide to take matters into their own hands. The town is building up to the 100th Penwarra Show and emotions run deep for the residents of the town. Jack has moved back to Penwarra to support his sister, single mum to Harriet and his grandfather Art who now lives in an aged care home. Jack, Clem and Harriet have taken over Art's country property which was previously a sunflower farm. While he is waiting for his Police house to be completed, Jack meets Lauren and for a time takes up residence in her cottage when she is seconded through her job to another town for a period of time.

This a story of family; it is a story of a country town where everyone knows everyone and whatever happens in the town impacts on all the residents. There is the local coffee supplier who is also the town matchmaker. Along with Gary the Galah, we have a one-eyed goat and numerous wildlife creatures who are supported by carers.

Maya Linnell's stories contain a warmth of love and caring and this one does not disappoint. This is also a story that contains mental health issues as some of the characters deal with their demons. Maya's treatment of these issues is caring and sensitive.

I was delighted to connect once again with April and Connor from Kookaburra Cottage and a small cameo from Maya's previous collection of stories. Always a treat to catch up with characters we have previously met.

Thank you Maya Linnell, your story made me laugh and cry and thoroughly enjoy the view of country life with all its elements. Something I am very familiar with as I grew up in a small country town.

Thank you Netgalley for the privilege of an early reading of a story that has delighted me and one I highly recommend to other readers who will love it as I do.