Another winner from one of my favourite Australian authors. Tricia Stringer never disappoints and Head for the Hills is yet another reason why I recommend her books to anyone who will listen.
Stringer is an expert in creating family drama but keeping it wholesome and balanced. With engaging characters and usually an annoying one just to keep things interesting. Head for the Hills is a lovely books for fans of women's fiction with a bit of drama and typical Aussie spirit.

The book centres around sisters Margot and Roslyn who seem to have more differences than likes and are constantly butting heads about almost anything. Set in the lovely Adelaide Hills you can feel the small town country feels and understand the angst at the thought of a big hotel moving in to this tranquil piece of paradise.

A perfect book to curl up with a cuppa and lose yourself for a few hours. Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Australia for the early reading copy, I loved it!

I have become a big fan of this author and this story confirmed it once again.
The story centres on two sisters, Margot and Roslyn. They live in the Adelaide Hills on neighbouring properties, the land having been left to them by their parents. Ros is a retired anaesthetist and Margot, the younger sister has a bustling life of running a small cafe with her best friend Kath, assisting with various charities and community projects and looking after her young grandchildren.
Life for the sisters is set on a new course when an elderly neighbour passes away. Margot has her heart set on purchasing the house and land for her daughter, while Ros is an executor of the estate having been a close friend of Gunther.
When things don't go to plan for Margot, she becomes hellbent on stopping the project planned for the land and sees her sister as an enemy for an assumed wrongdoing.
The story also covers issues of loyalty, single parenthood and rental markets for people in low socio-economic circumstances.
An enjoyable and heartwarming story about family and friends. Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin Australia for the opportunity to read this digital ARC.

I am a big fan of MS Stinger’s stories and this one was another fabulous one, book number seventeen and I do hope there are many more to come, this one is set in the Adelaide Hills a beautiful area of South Australia and we get to know Margot and her sister Roslyn and their families and their lives in the small town of Jesserton, a close knit community but when their neighbor and close friend Gunter dies the town is turned upside down.

Roslyn is stunned when Gunter names her in his will to help with planning a charity to help when his property is sold but she must keep it to herself to save problems, the big problem is that Margot wants to buy the property, expressions of interest are asked for and Margot’s husband Dennis puts in a bid, the winning bid is from a well know hotel developer and Margot and many of the town are outraged about this, Margot for one does not want a hotel on her fence line, for Roslyn the money that could be used to help with charity could be very important.

When Roslyn meets Amber a young single pregnant woman at the doctors Roslyn steps in to help and offers her a place to stay in her cottage on her property this is not looked favourably on by her sister Margot who has had a run in with Amber already in town a couple of days before but soon Roslyn has decided what charity she wants to spend the donated money from Gunter on but getting it all worked out while keeping it to herself just before Christmas is causing many upsets with the family.

The hotel causes a divide in the community and Margot decides to run for Mayor and do her best to stop the construction, but her relationship with the Roslyn is falling apart and also with her business partner in the small café they run in town, will the town ever get back to the closeness they had before all of this happened?

I very much enjoyed this story, fabulous characters and setting, I was not a fan of Margot’s although a loving mother and wife she was very outspoken but I did very much like Roslyn and Amber and I do highly recommend this one to any reader who wants a story that will keep you turning the pages, a fabulous read that I loved, thank you for another wonderful story.

My thanks to Harlequin HQ and Netgalley for my copy to read and review.

I adore Tricia Stringer’s books so was thrilled to receive an ARC of Head For The Hills. Set in the fictitious Adelaide Hills town of Jesserton, this book is all about family, community, friendship and healing. The characters are all fantastic, beautifully developed and completely realistic. Margot Pedrick is a people pleaser by nature, but tends to overdo things and ends up putting others’ noses out of joint. She is also over-burdened with her various community volunteering roles, her partnership in a quaint delicatessen-cum-gourmet eatery and her family and she’s eatern with jealousy as her older sister Roslyn seems to have it all. Roslyn, a retired anaesthetist, is a widow, a philanthropist and a bit of a loner. She was also very close friends with Gunter Brost, Margot’s neighbour, who has died as the story opens. With tension between the sisters and within the community over the sale of Gunter’s property there is plenty to keep you turning the pages. Add in Amber, pregnant, homeless and struggling and conflict between Margot and her business partner Kate over the future of their business and I couldn’t read fast enough. I love so much about this book it’s har to pick a favourite aspect. Suffice to say it was an excellent read that came together beautifully at the end and a book that will have a permanent place on my keeper shelf.

Wow! Head for the Hills was a real page turner and hard to put down. I loved it. This was one of those books that got carted everywhere - read at the table while eating, in the car while hubby was refuelling and, finally, kept reading until 2am as I couldn’t go to sleep not knowing the outcome.

Set in the Adelaide Hills in South Australia the two sister MCs live side by side. Margot lives for her coffee shop and family and bends over backwards to see that they all get what she perceives they all need. Trouble is her perception and reality don’t always line up. Roslyn is the older sister and she is a widow whose son lives in Japan with his family. Roslyn has always been a hands off mother, because she was a busy anaesthetist she relied on her late husband to do most of the parenting. Not that she didn’t love her son, she just didn’t believe in smothering him.

The book opens as the sister’s mutual neighbour, Gunter, dies and Margot is determined to buy the property so she can move her daughter and family in there so she has them close to her.

However, in Gunter’s will he instructs that his house and vinyard be sold and that Roslyn oversee this and in return will get a percentage of the sale to donate some of the money to a charity of her choice. When a developer buys the land to build a hotel Margot is outraged. It is from this point that the two sisters diverge in there reactions to the new development. Margot’s world starts to fall apart as she realises that not everyone is going to fall into line to see off the developers. Her relationships with husband, business partner friends, children and sister change drastically and Margot is slowly backed into a corner. So she decides to run for Mayor to fight the development.

Meanwhile Roslyn becomes aware of family violence and homelessness when she meets a young pregnant woman who is escaping from abuse and living in her car. She has found her cause. The two sisters, and the rest of the community, are now on opposite sides of the fence when it comes to the development. There is anger, vandalism and long time friends start hurling hateful words at each other. Margot also spirals out of control losing her grip as her control over husband, sister, family and business partner slips. Can life ever be the same again?

Despite the dramatic story there is a lot of humour in the story and perfectly portrays a divided community. While Margot is not a likeable character, and gets worse as the story progresses, she grew as a person and the Margot at the end of the story is a much nicer person.

I have read all of Tricia Stringer’s books and she never let me down - run, don’t walk, to grab this book - then read all her other books.

EXCERPT: 'Margot?'
'In the office,' she called. 'You're late.'
'Few problems at work.' He waved a hand dismissively, looked at the stacks of paper all over the desk then back to Margot. 'What are you doing?'
'Working on the plan.'
'What plan?'
'The stop Meyer and Brightman building a hotel on our doorstep plan.'
Dennis scratched his head. 'I heard a rumor today about the price they paid. Even if it's half true, it was way out of our league. They wouldn't be paying that much money if they were going to change their minds.'
Margot sagged into her chair. 'Oh.' She'd been so carried away with her research she'd imagined it would be easy to stop them.
'What's this?' He crossed the room and picked up one of the stapled piles of paper.
'Part of my plan,' she sighed.
Dennis lifted the paper closer. "We, the undersigned, petition the council to stop the building of a multistorey hotel in Jesserton." He frowned and peered at her over the page. 'You've drawn up a petition?'
'It was the logical next step, but . . .' Perhaps she'd been wasting her time.
'I thought Cameron said it's out of the council's hands.'
'They can fight it though.' Margot sat up. 'On things like noise and waste water and probably more - I just haven't found it yet.'
Dennis scratched his ear. 'You could be right. It might not be as easy as Meyer and Brightman seem to think. We can have a say on what happens on that land.' He waved the petition at her. 'I'll put some of these at work.'
Margot brightened. 'And I can put some at the Prov. Greg will put one in the plant shop. I'm sure all the local businesses will take them.'
'Of course they will. None of them will want a lumbering great hotel towering over the town, ruining our peaceful lifestyle.'

ABOUT 'HEAD FOR THE HILLS': Margot and her sister Roslyn have lived side by side in a little town in the Adelaide Hills most of their lives, supporting each other through thick and thin.

Then their neighbour Gunter dies. Surprisingly, his will asks that his house and vineyard be sold and that Roslyn donate the money to a charity of her choice. When a developer wants to buy the land and create a hotel just over Margot's fence, Margot is outraged and decides to stand for Mayor and fight the development. But Roslyn feels differently. Her awareness of family violence and homelessness is sparked by the arrival in town of a young pregnant woman, who is escaping abuse and sleeping in her car. Determined to do some good, Roslyn supports the sale - she has found her charitable cause and the money will go to the homeless.

Suddenly the sisters are on opposite sides of the fence, literally and figuratively. As the row heats up, their local community is divided between those pro-development and those against, and battle lines are drawn, neighbours eyeing each other angrily either side. As vandalism erupts, bitter words are hurled, and pots are stirred. Will the town - and the sisters - ever recover their community spirit? Will anything ever be the same again?

MY THOUGHTS: People fall out over politics, over religion, over a myriad of different things. In this case it's a new tourist hotel being built in the Adelaide Hills. Passions run high as the townspeople divide themselves into two camps - those who support the hotel development and those who are against it. Families are divided, friendships torn apart. And in the middle of all this is Amber, a young pregnant woman living out of her car, who just wants a home for herself and her baby.

This is a multi-layered book set in a small rural town where businesses and young families struggle to make ends meet. The characters are well depicted and realistic. Margot, while her intentions are good, doesn't like to be challenged. She sees things her way and, in her opinion, her way is the only way. Her sister Roslyn, while quieter and more retiring, is more thoughtful and kinder, which is how she ends up providing a temporary home for Amber, much to Margot's disgust and her assertions that it will all end badly for Roslyn.

Roslyn's kindness is the quiet kind. She's very much a behind-the-scenes person, while Margot likes to be front and centre of the picture. Margot even tries to organise her adult children's lives, telling them where and how they should live. I loved that although the sisters are polar opposites in many ways and are frequently at loggerheads, when it comes to the crunch, they do their best to put their differences aside and support one another.

I enjoyed this well-rounded story which brings home the point that while we might have differences of opinion, those differences are not as important as our friendships and family.

⭐⭐⭐.7

#HeadfortheHills #NetGalley

MEET THE AUTHOR: Tricia Stringer grew up on a farm in country South Australia and has spent most of her life in rural communities. She is the mother of three talented children and their partners and is lucky enough to be a nanna.

Tricia has spent many years in education as a teacher, a librarian and an IT coordinator, owned a post office and bookshop and worked part-time in another bookshop – stories have been a part of her life for as long as she can remember.

It was a yearning to write stories to bring local history alive for children that started Tricia on the journey to develop her writing skills and begin to write for younger readers, a path that led to writing adult stories. Delving into life experiences, our relationships with family and friends, and what makes us the people we are, is a topic she finds delicious.

Tricia and her husband, Daryl, live on the traditional lands of the Narungga people in the beautiful Copper Coast region. She loves to walk on the beach and travel to and across Australia’s vast array of communities and landscapes as well as to overseas destinations. A sense of place in her stories is very important. There’s always another tale to be written…she’s working on her next manuscript as you read this.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Harlequin Australia, HQ ad MIRA via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of Head for the Hills by Tricia Stringer for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

Head for the Hills was my first book by South Australian author Tricia Stringer, and it definitely left me wanting to read more. Living in South Australia myself, I enjoyed the references to the real towns in the Adelaide Hills, along with the fictional town of Jesserton, and felt like I really got a sense of what it would be like to live there.

The story kicks off with Gunter's funeral and the ensuing dispute over his land. A big developer proposes to build a hotel, sparking a heated debate in the community about whether it would be a benefit or a burden. Central to the narrative are sisters Margot, who opposes the hotel, and Roslyn, who supports it and has a significant connection to Gunter's estate. Meanwhile, Amber, a young, single, pregnant newcomer to town, highlights the struggles some residents face.

With its strong focus on family and community, I really enjoyed the depth of relationships among the characters.

Head For The Hills is about two sisters Margot and Roslyn who can't agree on a new development that is happening in their small community town. I honestly feel like this book is a drama soap on TV and I really enjoyed it because the characters seem so real. Like all of us they have silly disputes arising but when it really matters they are able to put it aside and be there for one another. I personally really like Roslyn and I felt Margot was harsh but I really like her too. It was a pleasurable escape novel that had me losing track of time and before I knew it I had read the whole book. It made me laugh, cry and scream with frustration at the characters and I also felt nostalgic because my family were once that close but like what happened in the story things just aren't the same. It's a beautifully written book.

Thoroughly entertaining and thought provoking story of a small town in the Adelaide Hills where a new boutique hotel is being proposed and a bequeath from a local well loved resident sets the wheels in motion for division within a usually tight knit community.
Centred on Margot and older sister Roslyn and the family, secrets are kept as Roslyn is chosen to help distribute Gunter’s money within the community (a silent role) and Margot gets heated up about the proposed hotel and decides to rally the community and then run for Mayor.
Then add a young pregnant woman on the run from her violent partner and the discrimination that she and others face.
I can see all facets of this story dividing a small community, some people are excited for the opportunity that this new venture will provide for their business and the town, while others are afraid of the changes that may occur.
I’m not sure I really liked the character of Margot, or even her husband Dennis but the others really grew on me.
A great book for a holiday read.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy to read.

It took me a while to get into this book, and I’m glad I persevered, as I enjoyed reading about the characters in the small Adelaide Hills town.

The story centers around Roslyn and Margot, two sisters who live next door to each other and are extremely close. Until another neighbour dies and Roslyn is asked to oversee the distribution of monies following the sale of his property. Key themes in the story include fighting over a legacy, the division of a community when a proposed new development appears to threaten local business, and a young and pregnant girl arriving after fleeing her abusive partner.

If you’re after a good summer holiday read, add this to your list.

Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin Australia for sending me an ARC of this book. It’s due out in Australia on 2 October 2024.

3.5 stars

Head for the Hills is the latest book from Australian author Tricia Stringer. Set in the Adelaide Hills the author paints a realistic picture of a small town divided over the proposed development of a boutique hotel on a recently sold parcel of land. The story follows two sisters who are total opposites and on opposing sides of the hotel argument. Roslyn, the older sister, is more controlled in her approach and can see the potential benefits from the hotel for their small town. Younger sister Margot is outspoken with little regard for how her harsh words affect those around her, she is strongly against the development and resists change even in her cafe from her business partner and friend Kath. Roslyn opens her home to a young pregnant woman in need, while Margot is suspicious of and rude to Amber repeatedly, making Margot an unlikeable character throughout the story. Roslyn is a highly likeable character and I wanted to shout at Margot for her treatment of her sister and her rude comments throughout the story. This was an enjoyable read with family at its heart.

The little town of Jesserton in the Adelaide Hills had been the home of sisters Roslyn and Margot, their whole lives. They lived close, and while Roslyn's husband Richard had passed away, Margot and Dennis lived contentedly, with Dennis' car yard - and golf - his passion. But when good friend and neighbour Gunter died, he left a legacy which would divide the sisters as well as many in Jesserton. When a developer bought Gunter's land, with plans to erect a boutique hotel on it, right next door to Margot's home, she was incensed. How dare they! Jesserton was a small village - a hotel would disrupt the town and its residents. But not everyone thought as Margot did.

Margot decided to stand for Mayor in their small town when the elections came up after Christmas. She was sure she would have a say on the hotel plans if she was elected. The cafe she and her friend Kath ran was changing, with Kath's new ideas for the future something Margot didn't want to know about. And Roslyn had taken a young, pregnant, homeless woman in. Amber was living in Roslyn's granny flat, for as long as it took her to find somewhere else. As Margot and Roslyn exchange bitter words, they both wondered what things had come to...

Head for the Hills is another well written novel by Aussie author Tricia Stringer which I really enjoyed. Set in a fictional town surrounded by the real towns of Hahndorf, Mt Barker and Stirling in the Adelaide Hills, and not far from Adelaide, South Australia's capital, I felt like I was there as I know the area well. Margot was an unlikeable character who was outspoken and didn't much care about hurting others' feelings. Which she did on many occasions. While Roslyn was the opposite - I liked her character. Margot had a big family and was often surrounded by them, especially at Christmas. Once again Ms Stringer has nailed it with this novel, and I have no hesitation in recommending it.

With thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for my digital ARC to read and review.

Set in the beautiful Adelaide Hills, Tricia Stringer has portrayed a realistic picture of a small town divided over the proposed development of a boutique hotel. While some are in favour of the jobs and increased tourism it will bring, some are worried that it will have a negative impact on their quiet lifestyle. The main character, Margot is dead set against the development an organises petitions and town meetings to oppose the development. She and her husband Dennis live next door to the proposed site and had hoped to buy the land when their neighbour Gunter died. Margot’s sister Roslyn and her adult children have mixed feelings about the hotel but mostly keep their opinions to themselves since she is so fervent in wanting the development stopped.

This is an entertaining read and I enjoyed the way it played out as the developers did their best to work with the businesses in town. The main characters, Margot, Roslyn and a young pregnant, homeless woman called Amber are all well developed although I found Margot a very difficult character to like, as she is very self centred and not very considerate of other people’s feelings. Her family and her partner in their café, Kath always seem to be placating her when she becomes agitated or obsessive about something. She also develops a dislike on sight of poor Amber, even after her sister Roslyn takes her in and befriends her. I loved Roslyn’s approach to dealing with her and her wish to uphold Gunter’s wishes for his legacy to benefit the community. Overall, it’s a good depiction of a close knit small town at odds over whether development and change is good or bad for them and an engaging read.

A very interesting story, written around two very different sisters. Both of whom have conflicting thoughts for their small town. One takes in an unwed mum, the other sister, decides to run for mayor, to assist in preventing a boutique hotel being built. The other has a legacy from a neighbour and friend to both sisters. A lot of misunderstandings on both sides, one not collecting all the facts, before being very nasty with words. The other forgiving and getting on. Amongst it all family is the most important, and all come together in the end, when conversation is had, and both sides understand each other. Great story, can happen to the best of families.

The weather ‘… hadn’t stopped the good people of Jesserton from gathering in the Lutheran church for the funeral of Gunter Brost.’

Set in the fictional town of Jesserton in the picturesque Adelaide Hills of South Australia, Ms Stringer’s latest novel opens with a funeral. And, at the gathering after the funeral, Margot Pedrick learns that a ’For Sale’ sign has already been erected on Gunter’s property. Margot and her husband Dennis lived next door to Gunter, as does Margot’s older sister Roslyn.
Margot wants to buy Gunter’s property and is outraged when it is sold to a developer who proposes to build an hotel. Margot wants to fight the development and falls out with those who oppose it. Roslyn is in a difficult situation: Gunter’s will asks that the proceeds from the sale be donated by Roslyn to a charity of her choice.

The community is polarised: some see opportunity where others see wanton destruction. Amber, a young pregnant woman, has newly arrived in town. Fleeing violence, she is sleeping in her car. A chance encounter at the doctor’s office sees Roslyn offering Amber a temporary home. Margot, who has already had a run in with Amber, is further outraged and the sisters’ relationship is strained.

Anyone who has lived in a small (or smallish) community will be aware of how quickly opinions can polarise over the prospect of new developments. Ms Stringer realistically portrays a community divided as they try to assess the benefit and impacts of what is proposed.
I enjoyed this novel. A couple of twists added elements of tension and Ms Stringer’s characters covered a range of concerns reflecting different life situations. All three of the major characters: Margot, Roslyn, and Amber develop as the story progresses and, yes, I liked the ending.

Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Australia for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

This story centers around Margot and her sister Roslyn their family and friends that become family and the ups and downs that this can bring.

A small town in the Adelaide Hills and after the death of a friend, Roslyn is left to oversee a bequeath which has caused secrets between sisters. The arrival of a young pregnant girl running from her abusive ex and the news a new hotel to be built, makes this book a truly exceptional read and one not to miss!

“Head for the hills” with this delightful story by Tricia Stringer based in the fictional town of Jesserton, set deep in the Adelaide Hills. This story is rich with family, friends and feuds which arise after the death of a neighbour who leaves behind an unknown legacy
that begins to cause divisions between the town and its residents. The story focuses on three main characters: Margot, her older sister Roslyn, and Amber, a single pregnant woman who is new to the hills.

With an emphasis on local produce, food, wine and family gatherings and the hint of a push to help others it is the possibility of a new hotel being established that starts to cause mixed reactions and tensions between the local residents including setting the two sisters on opposite sides at times.

The strength of the disagreements are spearheaded by Margot who often comes across as self centered and jealous with a tendency to attack first and think later. In contrast the seemingly cold Roslyn slowly melts and emerges into a warmer character who starts to think about and care about others including Amber. While Amber slowly starts to find a place for herself and to experience what it is to find a place where she is cared about.

This is a story abundantly filled with detail and with characters that are quickly established as being well described and relatable. Tricia’s writing is so seamlessly and well written that I felt more like I had read a series rather than one book, such was the strength and awareness of the different characters. I would love to see a sequel to this because there is still so much that could be said and shared; and yet, this is also a wonderful snapshot of a brief period in time and was a joy to read.

Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin Australia for letting me read an advanced copy in exchange for a review. Due out in Australia on 2nd October 2024.

loved the setting of this book, the Adelaide Hills. It sounds like a lovely place to visit.
I’m sad to say this wasn’t one of my favourite books by Tricia Stringer.
I didn’t find Margot to be a very likable character and her husband was even worse. Her sister Roslyn was ok.
I can definitely imagine a proposed major development causing big problems in small towns like in this story.

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

I really enjoyed this book. It's a bit like a soap opera, but really is just a snippet of what daily life can look like, especially in a small town where everyone knows everyone else’s business. The story is about Roslyn and Margot, two sisters, and their lives in their small Adelaide Hills town where things may be changing. It would be a lovely book to read on a holiday, relaxing by the beach. Thank you to NetGalley for letting me read this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Australia for giving me this book for an honest review. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and fell deep into while reading it. Focusing on two sisters as the main characters, Margot and Roslyn, and the small town they live in the author, Tricia Stringer, makes you feel like you’re part of their lives and part of their extended family. It brings their small town in the Adelaide Hills along for the ride and is so relatable to living in a small country town. It was a delight to read!