Tuesday, June 02, 2015

Review: Only We Know by Victoria Purman

Title: Only We Know
Author: Victoria Purman
Genre: Romance
Publication Date: 1st May 2015
Pages: 320
Book Source: Harlequin AU & NetGalley


Synopsis: A rugged island. Two people. Family secrets.

When Calla Maloney steps on the boat to Kangaroo Island, she’s filled with dread. Part of it is simple seasickness but the other part is pure trepidation. She’s not on a holiday but a mission: to track down her estranged brother, who she hasn’t seen since her family splintered two years before.

Firefighter Sam Hunter left the island twenty years ago and has made a habit out of staying as far away as he can get. But when his father’s illness forces him home, he finds himself playing bad cop to his dad and reluctant tour guide to a redhead with no sense of direction.

As Sam and Calla dig deeper into their long-buried family secrets, they discover that no one is an island and that opening up their hearts to love again might be the most dangerous thing they will ever do.

My Thoughts: 
Victoria Purman's descriptions of the wildly beautiful Kangaroo Island off the coast of South Australia, paint a wonderful sense of place, I'd love to visit, experience it for myself. All of Victoria Purman's books have been like that. 

Calla Maloney an art teacher in Adelaide is using the school holidays to look for her brother on Kangaroo Island, finding him and hopefully repairing the damage to her broken family will help her move forward with her life. Sam is a firefighter in Adelaide, returning to Kangaroo Island to convince his father whose health is deteriorating rapidly, that it's time to sell the family farm and move to a retirement home. He's got an uphill battle on his hands. 

Calla and Sam's relationship has an auspicious beginning on the choppy ferry ride to Kangaroo Island with Calla vomiting over the side. I loved the sparks that flew between them, initially sparks of antagonism and attraction. I loved watching them let down their closely guarded walls, become friends and be vulnerable and open to trust and love again. Sometimes you need to see something through someone else's eyes to really know its worth.

Sam's father Charlie was adorable, challenging but adorable and I might have teared up a little in some of his scenes with Sam and Calla. There's something about these characters, they're just so ... accessible. They could just as easily be your dad, a friend, neighbour or the owner of the local pub. 

Despite the wild surrounds and the dramas in Sam and Calla's lives Only We Know was a surprisingly calming read and Kangaroo Island, a healing beauty, you could almost feel it through the pages. Family, friends, love and a glass of wine ... what more could you ask for. 


Connect with Victoria Purman


Need more convincing? Check out my reviews of Victoria's Boys of Summer series
#1 Nobody But Him
#2 Someone Like You
#3 Our Kind of Love


12 comments:

  1. I think Victoria Purman should be getting an award for putting Southern Australia to the forefront. I too would love to visit this area. Later in the year I am getting as far as Melbourne for a week, I first suggested Adelaide to my travelling partner all because of her books! We decided on Melbourne because of flights, but I'll fly over a little of it no doubt. Yeah I loved Charlie too, its characters like him that make a good story.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're absolutely right Kathryn, both the Fleurieu Peninsula and KI are on my visit wishlist thanks to Victoria's beautiful descriptions. Aww good try for Adelaide, maybe next time ... and when are you coming to Brisbane?? lol

      Delete
  2. I really enjoyed this novel and I NEVER read romances. I loved her writing and the sense of place.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. YAY Deb, sometimes stepping outside your usual reading genre is totally worth it. I think you'd like Victoria's Boys of Summer trilogy. Now get reading Helene Young ;)

      Delete
  3. Replies
    1. you'll love it Julie, have you read the Boys of Summer series?

      Delete
  4. Thanks for a great review--- sounds so wonderful! And Deb's comment above solidifies this-- not a typical romance it seems.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hope you get a chance to sample this wonderful Australian author Rita.

      Delete
  5. Replies
    1. you did say you wanted to read more Australian authors B, you won't go wrong with Victoria Purman :)

      Delete
  6. This sounds like something I would enjoy. I love the setting and it sounds like they had great chemistry

    ReplyDelete
  7. This sounds like something I would enjoy. I love the setting and it sounds like they had great chemistry

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for taking the time to leave some comment love, I'm a 'comment back' kinda girl. Don't forget to check the 'Notify me' box