Margot and her older sister Rosalyn have lived in the town of Jesserton in the Adelaide Hills most of their lives, their family was one of the first to settle in the area and the sisters are close and not just because they share a fence line.

When their neighbour Gunter dies, in his will he states that his house and vineyards will be sold and for Roslyn to donate the money to a charity and it’s to be a secret, between her, his sons and lawyer.

Margot and her husband Dennis had let Gunter know, if he ever wanted to sell they would be interested and his property borders theirs. Margot finds out a developer wants to buy the land and build a luxury hotel, she’s worried it will not only spoil her view and the peace and quiet and she’s concerned about the environmental impact. Margot decides to join the running to be the new Mayor, but she’s surprised when not everyone in Jesserton thinks building a new fancy hotel with accommodation is a bad idea and it divides the residents of the town.

Rosalyn has a different opinion to her sister, she can’t share with her what believes and her involvement with Gunter’s legacy. A young and pregnant women called Amber arrives in Jesserton, this gives Rosalyn an idea of what to do with Gunter’s money and it opens her eyes and mind to the plight of women less fortune, escaping abuse and what help is available to them locally.

In all small country towns, people take sides, it creates friction and tension, a petition against possible building of the hotel is created and distributed, things are said in the heat of the moment, and rumours spread like wildfire.

I received a copy of Head to the Hills from NetGalley and Harlequin Australia in exchange for an unbiased review. Tricia Stringer has given readers an idea of what’s it like to live in a small Australian country town in the Adelaide Hills, and believe me it’s extremely accurate. The well written and engrossing narrative highlights the division and differences between communities, people, families and those with wealth and others who are just barley scraping by and the preconceived judgement young and pregnant women still get and many are escaping domestic violence.

This is my tenth book I have read by Tricia Stringer and I understand why she's one of Australia's bestselling fiction authors, I certainly had warm and fuzzy feelings while reading it and made me think about people who are struggling and what I can do to help and I highly recommend.