Author: Kayte Nunn
ISBN: 98781863959230
RRP: $29.99
Angel’s Share is the second novel by Kayte Nunn, and it follows on from her debut Rose’s Vintage. Don’t be deterred by the fact that the two books are related because Angel’s Share is more than capable of standing on its own. I haven’t read Rose’s Vintage and I don’t feel like I missed anything because of it.
Matilda Cameron has a wonderful life in London, half a world away from the Australian country valley she once called home. She has an impressive career, the gorgeous boyfriend and the fabulous friends; and it just looks set to keep getting better.
A nasty skiing accident leaves Mattie seriously injured and looking at a lengthy recovery meaning she can’t do her fast-paced job that waits for no-one and a broken heart. Recuperating at her brother Mark’s Australian winery and helping out where she can doesn’t seem like such a bad idea.
Returning to Australia is a bittersweet option for Mattie. There was a falling out with her parents before she left and returning under these circumstances just seems like failure to her. As an observer you can see that she has done great things; she followed a dream, she travelled, she had the dream job and it’s just bad luck and a setback that has her returning home – and it may well only be temporary. I can understand her feelings of failure though, as someone who moved across the country and then weighed the options of returning home when things didn’t work out I can relate to her thought processes.
Everything is different for Mattie in Shingle Valley, she has gone from a fast paced job that never seemed to stop to having nothing but time on her hands. She’s feeling a little low and a little lost, a little untethered and unsure of where she belongs now everything has changed.
Mark’s vineyard is in the valley Mattie grew up in so she really is returning to her childhood home where she knows most of the people and has a connection to the places. It feels like maybe it could be home again but what does that mean for all the dreams she was chasing.
Rose helps Mattie pick up some freelance work to fill her time in the early days and Mattie finds herself branching out into new areas, and finding new interests, as well as rekindling old loves.
Angel’s Share sees Mattie feeling that she’s lost everything only to discover that perhaps the changes in her life have brought her to bigger and better things. Returning home has afforded opportunities that she may not have had in London.
Mattie is not the only main focus, alternating chapters follow the progress of Rose of Rose’s Vintage. The story is told in the third person so it is easy to follow and doesn’t leave you trying to work out whose story you’re reading chapter by chapter the way some books do.
Angel’s Share has elements of romance for a range of characters but it also addresses some of the issues faced by property owners. Shingle Valley is quite a tourist attraction with people travelling from great distances to visit the wineries and the region. The sale of one, and then another, vineyard in the valley to a Chinese energy company leaves the business owners concerned that they will try to bring mining to the valley; and all of the effects that will have on the land and their businesses.
Set against the beautiful NSW wine region this is a beautiful light read that is sure to delight. Fans of Rose’s Vintage will love returning to the characters they grew to love and readers new to Shingle Valley will fall in love. I will be interested to see if there are more stories in the series because I would love to head back for another visit.
Angel’s Share is book #20 for the Australian Women Writer’s Challenge 2017.
Kayte Nunn can be found on Facebook, Twitter and KayteNunn.com
Angel’s Share is published by Nero Books and is available now through Angus & Robertson Bookworld, Booktopia and where all good books are sold.
Thanks to Nero Books 15 of our Beauty and Lace club members will be reading Angel’s Share so please be aware there may be spoilers in the comments below.
I devour books, vampires and supernatural creatures are my genre of choice but over the past couple of years, I have broadened my horizons considerably. In a nutshell – I love to write! I love interacting with a diverse range of artists to bring you interviews. Perhaps we were perfect before – I LOVE WORDS!
A good book to sit and read with your favourite glass of wine, “Angel’s share” will whisk you away on a tale of tragedy, recovery and discovery.
Madeline is living what she thought was her perfect life in the stressful advertising industry in London. She has ‘the’ job, good friends and that special honey. Little did she anticipate the avalanche that takes almost everything away.
Forced to head home to rural, wine country Australia to piece herself back together, Madeline has to find a way to pick herself up and start over, right from learning to walk again.
Helping her is her family and new and old friends, digging up past emotions and passion. Mending bridges along the way.
I found this a good read, you get to know the characters well, even find yourself transported by the descriptive writing of Kayte Nunn for the location, people, troubles and fun. Sit yourself down in a cosy spot when you pick this read up.
Thanks for the opportunity!
Angel’s Share written by Kayte Nunn is an easy and enjoyable book to read.
Mattie is enjoying her successful career life in London when an accident that almost cost her life leads her back to her hometown in Australia. She is able to become re-acquainted with her family and old friends and make new friends along the way. But then decisions must be made. Should she remain in her hometown or return to her life in London?
This was a good, enjoyable book with worthy characters, good storyline and great descriptive scenery.
Thank you Beauty and Lace for the opportunity to read Angel’s Share.
Thanks for the opportunity to read Angel’s Share. A nice gentle easy read for a lazy afternoon, although again, slightly predictable. The characters were believable without too much unnecessary dialogue, (one of my pet hates in a book), and the author didn’t go onto any unnecessary tangents to fill the pages and each character had a genuine reason for being part of the story. I did however tire of the word ‘mate’.
Interesting read very easy going & pleasant to read it was one of those for a rainy day inside in a cosy nook so you can just amble along with the story
I enjoyed all the characters with their different personalities but Rose was the stand out & then I found that there is another book with her as principle so I must find this to read
I did enjoy this book but not a stand out but will still recommend for a good homely read
Having read ‘Rose’s Vintage’ by Kayte Nunn, I really wanted to read her new book Angel’s Share, the second in the series. I really wanted ot revisit Shingle Valley and its residents and find out what they were up to. Angel’s Share did not disappoint. It was just as enjoyable as the first book.
Matilda “Mattie” Cameron lives in London and ‘has it all’ until she is injured in a freak accident while on a skiing holiday with her boyfriend.
The accident leaves her with serious injuries and as a result loses her job and her boyfriend. Her only solution is to move back to Australia and in with her brother and his family in Shingle Valley. It is here where the healing begins.
This book was both and easy and enjoyable read. Definitely a book I will recommend.
Thank you Nero Books and Beauty & Lace for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.