Under Summer Skies is a 2 in 1 book by Tricia Stringer and Joanne Speirs I received from Harlequin Australia and NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

Tricia Stringer: Mackenna Birch thinks she's met the man of her dreams while on holiday in New Zealand, until disappears and she returns home to the family farm in South Australia's, South East. Mac discovers her dad has had a health scare, this causes her parents Louise and Lyle to think about how long they will be able to run the property for and who’s going to inherit it?

Mack has to juggle running the farm, her dad’s recovery, her brother returns to help when he can and Louise trying to marry her off to her friend Hugh and how does she feel about Adam. Tricia Stringer's novel emphasises how farming has changed in Right as Rain, there’s more to being a sheep grazier than getting them ready for market, and a narrative that will make you think and look at the situation from various angles and points of view and especially about women and agriculture.

Joanne Speirs: A spur of the moment decision and Erin Fitzgerald returns home to the Eyre Peninsula and the seaside country town of Point Perry, where she grew up, her life has been a mess and it’s spiralling out of control. Erin meets single father and teacher Tom Schultz, and he has a son Carter and his mum owns the holiday accommodation where she's staying.

His celebrity ex-wife is stirring up trouble and he’s worried she’s wants to change the custody agreement and neither Erin nor Tom are looking to start a relationship or fall for someone. There's certainly a lot of chemistry between them from the start, to have future both have to come to terms with the past and to be able to move forward.

The narrative is character driven in Second Chance Love in Point Perry and I really liked Erin and Tom, Carter and Marge and Curly and Woody. An emotional story about tragedy and loss, trauma and grief, overcoming hurdles and complications and healing and hope.

I felt the two stories complemented each other, I understood the themes and topics the authors were covering and convening and five stars from me.

Under Summer Skies contains two full length feel-good romances set in picturesque small towns. I will review each separately.

RIGHT AS RAIN by Tricia Stringer

EXCERPT: 'I was surprised to hear from you.' Hugh turned away and fiddled with something in the cab before he finally shut the door and turned back to her. 'The way Patrick spoke, I thought you were away from the place for a lot longer.'
'This has been a week of surprises. You're just one more person I didn't expect to see either but I'm glad you're here.'
'I'm between jobs so I said I'd fill in while Ted's away.'
'Oh.' Mackenna tried not to sound disappointed. Hugh had been gone from the district for several years, but he was a great mate and she missed him. She'd hoped he may have returned for good.
'You and my mother make a good pair. Each time I come back she wants me to stay.' He smiled but his lips barely turned up. 'Nothing's changed, Mack. There's nothing for me here.'
Mackenna slipped her arm through is and they started walking towards the sheep yards. 'Ag consultants are always in demand.'
Hugh stopped and MacKenna pulled up beside him.
'You know that's not what I mean.'
She did know and there was no point in dredging up the past, but she had hoped time would mend some broken bridges.

ABOUT 'RIGHT AS RAIN': Mack's determined to do what's right for her father...but will she choose what's right for herself?

Mackenna Birch thinks she's met the man of her dreams until he walks out on her. Nursing a broken heart, Mack returns to the family farm to find her beloved father unwell.

Mack longs to make big changes, but with her dad's poor health all plans have been put on hold. Mack finds herself drawing closer to Hugh, her old friend and neighbour...until her ex returns.

Soon Mack's juggling some tough decisions and trying to make those around her happy. But can she find the balance and have her own ever-after?

MY THOUGHTS: Right as Rain is the story of a farming family where family dynamics, succession planning and following your dreams take centre stage.

There's quite a bit of conflict within this family with Louise, Mack's mother at the centre of it. She seems to resent the close working relationship Mack and her father have and wants Patrick, the prodigal son, to settle on the farm and take control, when his heart is with his job in the city.

Mackenna has two potential love interests - Hugh whom she has known forever and of whom her mother approves; and Adam, a New Zealand chef Mack met on holiday. Louise definitely doesn't approve of him and does her best to keep the two apart.

Right as Rain is an interesting and tension-filled read.

⭐⭐⭐.8

MEET THE AUTHOR: Tricia lives in the beautiful Copper Coast region of South Australia, often exploring Australia's diverse communities and landscapes, and shares this passion for the country and its people through her authentic stories and their vivid characters.

SECOND CHANCE LOVE IN POINT PERRY - Joanne Speirs

EXCERPT: The needle on the speedo creeps towards eighty-five kilometres per hour, and warm salty tears blur my vision. They come at the most unexpected times, catching me unawares. Frustrated, I swipe at them with the back of my hand, reach over to the passenger side floor, and pull a tissue out of the squashed box. I catch a movement from the corner of my eye - a rabbit lingers on the verge, then scurries across the road. My foot slams on the brake; I brace the steering wheel. The Jeep swerves as I pull the wheel left to avoid hitting the rabbit; the tyres hit the gravel on the ungraded edge of the road, careening the urn into the door.
'Shit!' A group of spindly shrubs looms through the window. I yank the steering wheel back the other way, overcorrecting. The tail of the Jeep slides out. The frantic beep of a safety alarm and flashing red lights on the dash cause my heart to hammer and my head to throb. My knuckles are stark white. Stones and dirt flick up and engulf the Jeep as I end up sideways in the middle of the road.
Dust particles flutter through the moonroof. God, I hope no one is coming around the corner. I suck in a few deep breaths and close my eyes momentarily to gain my composure.
'Focus, Erin. You can do this.'
The woop woop of a siren startles me. Through the dusty haze outside the window, the blue and red lights twirl and swirl on top of the police wagon. Is this it? My stomach lurches. Have they finally worked out it was all my fault?

ABOUT 'SECOND CHANCE LOVE IN POINT PERRY': Two broken hearts learning how to live-and love-again.

After a devastating tragedy shakes Erin's world, she returns to her hometown of Point Perry seeking solace and a fresh start. Tom, a devoted single father and beloved local teacher, is no stranger to turmoil. He must protect his son from his famous and manipulative ex-wife.

Despite their emotional scars, Erin and Tom can't ignore their growing connection. Will their love be enough to overcome the challenges they face, or will their emotional baggage prove too heavy to bear?

MY THOUGHTS: Second Chance Love in Point Perry is another story with a lot of conflict featuring characters with heart wrenching backstories.

Love often grows when it's not being searched for as is the case with Tom and Erin.

Erin's husband and daughter have been killed in an automobile accident, and she has returned to her hometown of Point Perry with her deceased mother's ashes in an effort to escape the self-destructive spiral she has fallen into.

Tom's wife abandoned him and his baby son following the death of their twin daughter. Tom has worked hard to provide a stable home for son Carter and has no intention of allowing another woman into his life when he meets Erin.

There are a lot of secret brought out into the light - there is a connection between Erin's and Tom's families which neither of them is at first aware of; Erin learns the truth about her father's past; and Tom's comfortable existence is threatened by the return of his ex-wife.

Second Chance Love in Point Perry is a fast paced and exciting story which I found difficult to put down.

⭐⭐⭐⭐.2

MEET THE AUTHOR: Joanne Speirs grew up on a farm in a small rural community on the Eyre Peninsula of South Australia. Scouring the school library shelves for Sweet Valley High novels and sneaking a read of her mum's Mills & Boon books became a favourite pastime in her teens and fuelled her passion for reading and writing romance.

She lives in Adelaide with her two grown sons, husband and border collie named Zeb. When not writing, she works as an editor, specialising in editing manuscripts for other romance authors.

Both titles published in Under Summer Skies are also available for purchase separately.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Harlequin Australia, HQ & MIRA, via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of Under Summer Skies by Tricia Stringer and Joanne Speirs for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

This is a great book to take on holiday to read. It’s a two book set of Australian rural romances. I thought the books complimented each other and enjoyed them both.
I’ve read Tricia Stringer books before and loved them but this is the first one I’ve read by Joanne Speirs but will now be searching for her others.

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

After a devastating tragedy shakes Erin's world, she returns to her hometown of Point Perry, seeking solace and a fresh start. As Erin begins to gain her confidence again, she finds her chance at romance threatened. Tom, a devoted single father, finds himself in a difficult situation when his ex-wife, a Hollywood starlet, returns to town and stirs up trouble. Despite their difficult past, Erin and Tom can't ignore their growing connection and are determined to do all they can to build their relationship.
This is a realistic romance with a couple prepared to talk through their problems rather than always being at cross purposes. A great backdrop in South Australia made all the better for this sweet romance.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Under Summer Skies is a wonderful two-book Australian rural romance anthology by Tricia Stringer and Joanne Spiers. Both stories are set in country South Australia.
Right As Rain is Tricia Stringer’s offering and this book is centred around farming family dynamics, with succession planning a strong theme. The central romance between daughter of the family Mackenna and Adam Walker, a New Zealander whom she met while on holiday in Queenstown, takes place against the backdrop of her father Lyle recovering from a heart attack and her mother Louise scheming to marry her off to Hugh, the son of a close family friend. Unbeknownst to Mackenna, Louise has also convinced Lyle to leave the family farm to Mackenna’s younger brother Patrick, even though he’s never shown an interest in farming and normally lives in Adelaide. Mackenna has loved farming throughout her life and has plans for improving the family sheep flock and setting up a farm gate tasting room. Adam, a chef, doesn’t care where he lives as long as Mackenna is there, but the path to true love is pretty rocky for these two with plenty of misunderstanding and interference along the way. The family dynamics throughout this story along with the setting and the excellent insight into sheep farming rounded out what was a fascinating story.
Second Chance Love At Point Perry is the debut novel for author Joanne Spiers, but it’s clear that she’s learned ehr craft well This is a moving, engaging, second chance romance story for two people who have each been through the wringer before meeting. I loved Erin and Tom, while Tom’s cheeky five year-old son Carter and their dog Woody very nearly stole the show. While Erin, Tom, Carter and Woody are definitely front and centre, they are supported by a stellar caste of family and friends. Second Chance Love At Point Perry is an outstanding debut novel for author Joanne Speirs. The small town country setting makes a perfect backdrop for the story. Packed with every feel from grief, loss, and guilt to love and support, it engaged me from the start and held me to the last page.

Two great reads from Australian Harlequin authors Tricia and Joanne.

'Right as Rain' is as much a family saga as it is a romance set in rural New Zealand. Our heroine Mack is battling with her mother as succession planning comes to a head on the family farm after Mack’s dad has a heart attack. In the meantime Mack’s love interest, nice guy Adam apparently disappears from a one-week-stand and then finds her back on the farm. He’s a honey, but only one part of the puzzle for Mack. This is closed door, and at times feels more women’s fiction-y than romance. Mack is hard working and tenacious, and luckily is able to stand up to her mother and back herself and Adam.

'Second Chance Love in Point Perry'

Erin is back in Point Perry after one too many tragedies and meets Tom when she books into his family's b-and-b. They hit it off but it’s complicated. Erin has layers of grief and trauma she is working through, while Tom is navigating a toxic -ex who wants to be back in the life of their son, Carter. I won’t lay out the plot details as it’s layered and the challenges for them keep on coming right up until the end. There's a l'il steam 🌶 and there’s plenty of emotion. It’s dual POV for Tom and Erin so we really feel their yearning and their pain, and especially we get to see how Erin’s history impacts her present relationships. It’s ambitious, in that there is a lot going on - almost too much, but I loved the layers and the way author Joanne writes their emotions was just wonderful. Recommended reading and I’m off to find her other books.

These stories are not similar, but they worked well together and I enjoyed reading them back to back.

Thank you Harlequin Australia, Tricia Stringer & Joanne Speirs, and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are my own.