Member Reviews

Penelope Janu always gives readers a great story to follow and The Summerfield Saddler certainly is that. It’s filled with complex characters facing challenging choices and the plot has plenty going on to keep you hooked. Of course romance is central to this story and Mary Mackenzie Henry, Mackenzie, Mac to her friends, has a tough time fighting her attraction for Norwegian mountain climber and enviromentalist Kit Thorsen. A talented artist, saddler and leather worker, Mac is also a loner, having had a challenging upbringing thanks to her parents’ antipathy towards each other and their battles for custody. She’s also passionate about regenerating an area near Summerfield which was turned into a barren wasteland thanks to a now-closed mine. Kit travels extensively and is well known thanks to the various documentaries he has made in and around Antarctica. He is clearly smitten with Mac, though he constantly tells her she’s impossible because she’s forever pushing his buttons. The focus on environmental management and regeneration of the land highlights current issues in our world as well as adding layers to the characters, all of whom were beautifully crafted. I loved the details that peppered the story, whether it was the way Mac looked at plants from the ground up or what a saddle was made if and how to fit it. This book is beautiful on many levels and I loved reading it.

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4.5★s

Summerfield had changed when the open-cut mine had shut down and now, after Mackenzie Henry's grandfather had put in a submission for a documentary - and funds - to rejuvenate and rehabilitate the land the mine was on, tensions within and throughout the town rose. And Mac's Grandpa was ill, unable to front the camera himself, so it was up to Mac. She was terrified at the thought, but for her Grandpa and the town, she would do it. But they had to be chosen first. Mac loved working with leather, at the saddlery that was her Grandpa's and his father's before him. It gave her a sense of peace.

The Norwegian documentary making team were soon interviewing Mac, along with scientist and filmmaker Kit Thorsen, and immediately emotions were crackling around Mac and Kit. But Mac was determined to do what had to be done, sketch the pictures of flora and fauna that was necessary, and even face the camera - but wanted nothing to do with a frustrating, handsome Viking! Would the documentary go ahead? And what about the secrets that were bound to be uncovered? There were those out there who wanted the stirring up of the mine, stopped...

The Summerfield Saddler by Aussie author Penelope Janu is another heart-rending tale, with a courageous and empathetic young woman at its centre. There were a lot of emotions rippling through this novel, with animals - Pheonix the stallion; Keith Urban (Mac's dog - love the name!!!) - and much more. An excellent rural story, set in NSW's Hunter Valley, in the fictional Summerfield, which I really enjoyed. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley & HarperCollins AU for my digital ARC to read and review.

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EXCERPT: The female paramedic is openly staring at the Viking. 'You're Kit Thorsen.' She pinkens, waves a hand in front of her face. 'Wait till my husband hears about this.'
'She needs pain relief.'
The other paramedic, eyes as wide as the woman's, opens his bag before looking up to grin at Kit. 'Having a break from Antarctic expeditions?'
Mountains. Antarctic expeditions. Norway. Kit Thorsen. Do the pieces slot together? The knot in my stomach pulls tight.
'I'm Wendy, by the way.' The female paramedic, neck and cheeks markedly flushed, sends me a smile as she gestures to her colleague. 'This is my offsider, Geoff.'
'Took a tumble, did you?' Geoff crouches in the same place the Viking did. 'If I've got my facts right, you're a local girl. The saddlery at Summerfield? Can we start with your full name?'
'Mary Mackenzie Henry.'
The Viking's boots stir up dust as he pivots. His look is incredulous. 'What did you say?'
I'm hot. Then cold. Another wave of nausea. Is Kit Thorsen the man my grandfather talked about late last year? Is he Grandpa's 'snow bloke'?
Bending my knees, I put my head between them.
I couldn't be that unlucky.

ABOUT 'THE SUMMERFIELD SADDLER': Mackenzie Henry is happy enough with her life in the small town of Summerfield. She loves her work as a saddler, the bushland surrounding her home, and the feeling of safety her beloved grandfather brings her. She doesn't want anything-or anybody-else.

So when her grandfather asks her to lead the fight to rehabilitate land destroyed by an open-cut mine, and work in front of the camera with a Norwegian documentary-making team, Mackenzie fears her life will be tipped on its axis. And she's right. The documentary not only reignites old resentments but unearths secrets that threaten her family's reputation and her own safety. To make matters worse, the enigmatic scientist, filmmaker and adventurer Kit Thorsen is a threat to the heart Mackenzie has kept safe.

Handsome, arrogant and infuriating (read: Viking), Kit is in equal parts as fascinated and frustrated by Mackenzie's mix of independence and vulnerability as she is by his. Given the demons in both of their pasts, they should run a mile. Will the compulsion that brings them together unite them or tear them apart?

MY THOUGHTS: The Summerfield Saddler was a very pleasant surprise. I was expecting a rural romance but got so much more - Antartic conservation, mine site rehabilitation, a movie set, and the filming of an award-winning documentary series - all as said romance simmers away.

But of course, it's not quite as straight forward as that. Our heroine Mackenzie Henry (Mac to her friends) is feisty, independent, and fiercely protective of both her ailing grandfather and her privacy. Our hero, Norwegian Kit Thorsen, is blunt and used to being in the limelight.

Bring on the fireworks as the two are thrown together to make a documentary about the rehabilitation of a local mine site, the pet project of Mac's grandfather, Gordon Henry. Kit is used to getting his way and Mac is used to her independence. If you watch wildlife documentaries, you will have seen the big cats circling prior to a fight for dominance. There's a lot of that.

There's also a lot of very sensual romance. The bedroom door is left open a tiny crack, but the focus is on the character's feelings, not the physical action. I enjoyed Janu's portrayal of both the physical and emotional relationship between these two very different characters. Be prepared for volatile and tempestuous!

Interwoven with this storyline, there is a little mystery about the death of Mac's father and a story of corruption and bribery on the mine site.

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The Summerfield Saddler is a cracker! Mackenzie (Mac) is a saddler in rural New South Wales. Years ago its mine closed down, the town is still suffering. Mac meets Norwegian Kit, after she’s injured on a movie set and that’s the beginning of the push me/pull you between them. He’s an environmentalist and adventurer invited by Mac’s grandad to make a documentary about the mine rehabilitation.

I loved Mac and Kit 💕 She’s stubborn and awkward and brave, a product of family trauma. Kit has his own issues and lives between work in Australia, the Antarctic and Europe. Their chemistry is combustible though, and even if Mac is inexperienced, she holds her own. Kit falls first, and with his competence there’s a vulnerability that is so appealing to Mac – and to me. One 🌶 for spice, but so much chemistry between them. Author Penelope loads up the plot with enough detail to make it hold together – there’s the town itself, grandad, Mac’s friends, her kelpie Keith Urban, engineers, movie and documentary people who both meddle and push Mac and Kit together, secrets and history and importantly, Mac’s toxic mother.

There’s comfort in PJ's writing which rewards a close read, as there always plenty unsaid in her characters' interactions. Her heroines are brave, independent and spiky, her heroes mostly Nordic. There’s usually a mystery, often a rural setting, and always plenty of secrets. Even with those recurring features, this is still fresh and appealing. Recommended!

Thank you very much Penelope Janu, Harlequin Australia and NetGalley. Opinions are my own.

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I am always thrilled when there is another Penelope Janu release, I do love her stories, they are filled with emotion, wonderful characters and her descriptions take to the setting and make me feel part of the story and this one is no different a fabulous story that takes in environmental issues, come along and meet Mac and Kit you are sure to enjoy.

Mary Mackenzie Henry, Mac to most people lives a quiet life in Summerfield with her beloved Grandpa, Gordon Henry working as a saddler she is surrounded by her horse and her dog sadly Grandpa is not well and is living in a nursing home at the moment, she is content with the life she has with a few friends but is mostly a loner.

When she finds out that her grandfather has put in a request to a Norwegian filming team to do a documentary on the rehabilitation of the open-cut mine that Gordon and Mac played a big part in getting closed, she is stunned this will mean working in front of a camera and with a lot of people this will take her out of her comfort zone but for her Grandfather she is willing to do it but meeting Kit Thorson, scientist, film maker and adventurer takes her breath away he is like a Viking.

Kit is arrogant, bossy and sets her on edge, but this documentary has opened up the resentment closing the mine caused and when some films that her father had taken are discovered this adds to the mystery and Mac is determined to uncover the truth but Kit is also determined to keep her safe but although vulnerable Mac is also strong and determined to ensure that this documentary goes ahead for Gordon Henry and the people of Summerfield.

Mac and Kit are so very different but the chemistry between them from their first meeting explodes on the pages of this beautiful romance a push and pull journey for them both fighting their feelings while doing their best to get this documentary done, hikes and a gorgeous setting add to the story as do the wonderful characters that make this story fabulous, I loved Henry, Keith Urban the dog, as of course Mac and Kit. Mac has been through so much in her life, will they find the love and happiness that they deserve and how will things work out on the documentary and the rehabilitation of the mine?

I do highly recommend this one it kept me turning the pages and feeling every emotion flowing through the characters, thank you MS Janu for another one for the keeper shelf. I loved it.

My thanks to Harlequin AU for my copy to read and review.

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**The Summerfield Saddler**
by Penelope Janu

This story explores the tension between enemies and romance. Mackenzie Henry lives in Summerfield, where she works as a saddler and visits her grandfather daily in a nursing home. When she is asked to lead the fight to rehabilitate land destroyed by a mine and work with a Norwegian documentary team, her quiet life is upended.

Old resentments surface, along with secrets that threaten her family’s reputation and safety. Complicating matters is Kit Thorsen, a handsome and arrogant celebrity scientist and filmmaker, who poses a risk to Mackenzie’s guarded heart. Their chemistry is undeniable, but will it unite them or drive them apart?

You will absolutely love this captivating Australian rural romance—it's a must-read!

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Australia for this advanced reader copy in exchange for a review.

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The summerfield saddler is a story of family and the love we receive from them, of saddlery, and of stepping outside your comfort zones so that you can embrace new challenges.

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“his mouth is … i shudder a breath. Forget his mouth”
with lines like this it is easy to see why Penelope Junu is such a well known romance writer. Plus … the main male character Kit is a dead gorgeous viking who performs daredevil like stunts and can fill in as a doctor at a pinch when required. Kit also champions conservation, making it very hard for the more reclusive Mac to stay away. Meanwhile Kit develops an insane protective feeling for Mac, and worries she might get hurt, which naturally sparks her irritation and fuels their connection. Which grows as they come to work together and navigate her family history across multiple difficulties.

As it turns out, Kit also needs protecting at times, especially at night and their on again off again romance,which swings between enemies and lovers, makes for an entertaining read. This book has an informative background, particularly with recovering the land after mining has been done and how mines impact so many environmental factors. This is a story of family love, of saddlery, of stepping outside comfort zones and embracing new challenges. Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin Australia for this advanced reader copy in exchange for review.

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Mackenzie Henry lives in the small town of Summerfield, she works as a saddler and her grandfather is in a nursing home and she visits him every day. Her pop asks her to take his place on the committee trying to restore the wetlands which were destroyed by open cut mine, they build a dam and it changed the river system. Mac would need to liaise with a Norwegian documentary team and she finds it intimidating talking to people.

Kit Thorsen is a celebrity, scientist, film maker and adventurer and he pushes Mac’s buttons and always seems to be around when things don’t to plan and she makes a fool of herself. The “Viking” as Mac calls him is good looking and confident and what they don’t understand about each other is they’ve both experienced tragic events and together they could overcome their fears and insecurities.

Those who were opposed to the mine are still not popular in Summerfield, and the resentment towards the Henry family resurfaces and so do secrets from the past and involving Mac’s father a cinematographer.

I received a copy of The Summerfield Saddler from Harlequin Australia and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. When I first started reading the book, I was slightly concerned how Penelope Janu could create a believable narrative using two very different and unique people and from different countries and make it work and pardon the pun but Mac and Kit are “polar opposites” and it all comes together perfectly. Ms. Janu is one of Australia’s leading rural romance authors, her latest story is full of likeable characters, including Mac, Kit, Gordon and Keith Urban the dog, Shelley and Rory.

I enjoyed how it focuses on the living in a small town and the environment, plants and animals, Mac’s talents for caring for horses, saddle making and drawing and Kit’s sense of adventure and strength, and how he uses his fame for the good. The romance took time to develop and a slow burn and the walls they built around their hearts slowly crumble and fall.

Five stars from me and I highly recommend The Summerfield Saddler and the author’s previous book Sunshine through the Rain.

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Reading The Summerfield Saddler by Penelope Janu was an absolute delight, and I’m thrilled to have received an ARC! Janu’s storytelling shines as she captures the essence of small-town charm mixed with the complexities of her characters’ lives. The narrative was both heartwarming and refreshingly unique, drawing me in from the first page and keeping me engrossed until the very end.
The protagonist’s journey, paired with Janu’s rich descriptions and keen insight into relationships, created a vivid world that felt as comforting as it was compelling. I particularly loved how Janu developed her characters with such depth, bringing their vulnerabilities and strengths to light in a way that felt real and relatable. It’s clear she has a deep understanding of the themes of love, resilience, and self-discovery.
The romantic elements were perfectly balanced, never overpowering the plot, but instead, enhancing the emotional stakes. By the end, I found myself rooting wholeheartedly for the characters, feeling their triumphs and struggles as if they were my own.
For anyone who loves heartfelt storytelling with authentic characters and a touch of romance, The Summerfield Saddler is an absolute must-read. This is another wonderful addition to Janu’s works, and I can’t recommend it highly enough!

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Mac and Kit were a great pairing in this book. I got completely swept up in this story. Ms Janu creates such affable characters that it’s easy to get consumed by the happenings in the book. Mac, Kit and Grandpa were truly heartwarming characters. The setting, happenings and characters were all draw cards in this story. Ms Janu never fails to create a wonderful story with entertaining characters full of depth, sincerity and heart and The Summerfield Saddler is true to form. Another great story not to be missed.
Review copy received from Harlequin Australia via Netgalley

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