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.

“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.

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.

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!

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