Author: Tricia Stringer
ISBN: 9781489241160
RRP: $32.99
Publisher: Harlequin Mira
Copy: Courtesy of the Publisher
Come Rain or Shine is the latest offering by talented South Australian Tricia Stringer, this is the sequel to last year’s A Chance of Stormy Weather. Stormy Weather was reworked from an early self published book and as such Come Rain or Shine started life as Due Date, self-published in 2008.
This is a sequel, it follows the events and the characters from A Chance of Stormy Weather BUT I’m quite sure it would stand on it’s own merits if it was read on it’s own or first.
Paula and Dan have moved forward with their lives and are into the next stage of their marriage, impending parenthood. They have worked through the issues they were having and have promised no more secrets.
It wouldn’t be a full length novel without some tension and stress, and there’s no shortage. Life in the bush is lived at the mercy of the weather, and it’s still been pretty dry so there are a few farmers struggling. Dan and Paula are doing okay but they aren’t completely out of the woods.
An overheard conversation in the doctors office was enough to make Paula wonder about their position as Dan became more tired and distant. It seems their promise of no more lies may not be being upheld. Paula knows that there is something going on but no-one wants to let her in on the secret.
Stringer deals with many issues facing farmers in Come Rain or Shine and one of the biggest is the matter of succession when it comes to the family farm, and as such the family business. Wills are important for everyone, and whenever I read about one it reminds me how important it is that I get one in place, but when it comes to a family business it becomes even more important.
Succession planning is not always limited to just immediate family so it can become quite a minefield, especially if it wasn’t transparent from the outset.
Partnerships, insurance, wills, succession planning are all major considerations in a business, and issues facing not just Paula and Dan but also their neighbours.
Paula is settling in to life on the farm and taking all of the new challenges in her stride. She has taken on accountancy customers from home, she’s working on her cooking skills to feed the shearers, she’s helping out around the farm and has even worked out how to improvise when the plumbing comes back up the gurgler.
There are moments of humour and all of the characters we have grown to love are back. We see a different side to Aunt Rowena, she still has her moments where she and Paula clash but you can see that she really does have all of their best interests at heart and she has faith in Paula; her love for Dan and her ability to step up to the plate on the farm.
All in all another engaging read by Stringer that I quite enjoyed. It irks me that again the bulk of the tension is caused by a lack of communication and could easily be solved by a conversation. Okay, it wouldn’t have been an easy conversation but it certainly would have then created a united front and a family that can work together to find the best solution. Dan had valid reasons for behaving the way he did but it still irks me, the stress of not understanding what’s going on far outweighs any stress caused by situations that arise, in my opinion anyway.
It seems that Stringer may have given us all there is to tell about Dan and Paula Woodcroft, for now, but I would be interested to check in on them a couple of years from now and see how they are all going. I’m sure there are some secondary characters who could feasibly flesh out a story of their own.
Come Rain or Shine is book #44 for the Australian Women Writer’s Challenge 2016.
Available now from Harlequin, Angus & Robertson Bookworld, Booktopia and where all good books are sold.
Tricia can be found at Tricia Stringer.com and Facebook.
Thanks to Harlequin 20 of our Beauty and Lace Club members will be reading Come Rain or Shine 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!
I have so been looking forward to “Come Rain or Shine” by Trish Stringer and I am really happy to report it didn’t disappoint.
It followed on well from the previous book and I found myself once again invested in Paula and her new life in the country. Like many of the other reviewers mentioned.. Dan is incredibly frustrating and I found myself cranky at him on Paulas behalf. Seriously men – communication is so important~!
Issues of Trust are super important to me and as such I felt a little sad as I read this book. Having said that overall an enjoyable read (done in 3 nights!) & I thank you so much for the opportunity to review.
Having read ‘A Chance of Stormy Weather ‘ I was really looking forward to reading its sequel ‘ Come Rain Or Shine’. It did not disappoint! Tricia Stringer continues the story of Paula, the city girl who has married Dan, the country boy and moved to the country. In this book we find Paula pregnant and still trying to get used to her new life. All the old characters are back and some not so very nice new ones. As well as secrets that cause stress and problems for both Dan and Paula.
A very enjoyable easy read. Thank you Beauty and Lace and Harlequin Australia for giving me the opportunity to read ad review this book.
I do love the way that Tricia Stringer brings together a story with so much basis in the realities of farming in outback Australia. The sequel to “A chance of stormy weather” keeps with this talent, bringing “come rain or shine” to us to continue the story of Paula and Dan.
Farming is a hard thing to do, taking a chance on the weather, bringing skills into the workplace and these are highlighted in this book. Even more so is the need for farmers to have tradition and family involved, passing on their own heritage. Follow the story of these two as the past and this family heritage threatens to change everything, and not for the best.
Paula is learning to live the country life, after settling in in book 1. Rowena, Dan’s aunt, still has her doubts and meddles where she can, all for the greater good of course. But then its Dan’s father that has thrown them into turmoil.
Fires, farm sales, secrets and babies… this book has it all and is such a pleasure to read. Thanks for the opportunity!
I really enjoyed reading Come Rain Or Shine by Tricia Stringer. Having not read the prequel I thought it might have been a little hard to follow , but this was definitely not the case.
I love a book set in outback farming Australia as do a lot of people I know.This one certainly does not disappoint .
Coming from a farming family myself I understand the uncertainties that the weather really does bring to life on the land but believe most people could relate to this story .This is the story of Paula and Dan ( characters from the previous book) .Paula is a city girl who has married Dan and moved to the country and we know find Paula pregnant and trying to assimilate into her new life and family.
Family plays a huge part in their lives , sometimes good sometimes badly .
Secrets , stress and meddling family members lend themselves to a hugely enjoyable read that I would certainly recommend to anyone , especially for a lovely read over the upcoming holiday season.
Thankyou Beauty and Lace and Harlequin for the opportunity to read and review “Come Rain Or Shine” by Tricia Stringer.
I am a huge fan of Tricia Stringers work, and this book, Come Rain or Shine, just puts he icing on the cake for a Chance of Stormy Weather.
It is very well written like all of Stringers books are.
This is a beautiful Australian rural romance, one that many will enjoy.
Thank you Beauty and lace, Harlequin for giving me the chance to read another fantastic novel.
Come Rain and Shine was a romantic story set in Outback Australia. The main characters Dan and Paula are expecting their first child but with the arrival comes secrets and dramas that Dan’s lack of communication and selfishness, makes me feel very frustated towards him.The story was read but I did take awhile to get into it. Unfortunately this was not anywhere near one of my favourite books by Tricia Stringer.
TRICIA Stringer is back with Come Rain or Shine. Although this is a sequel to A Chance of Stormy Weather, I had not read the first book before reviewing the sequel, and there are no issues in reading it as a standalone novel.
Paula and Dan are expecting their first baby, a year into their marriage, but a secret threatens to tear their family apart.
Dan’s aunt, Rowena, who also lives on the property and was always a mother to Dan, breaks some life-changing news to Dan, which he must keep secret from Paula. Paula begins to question their marriage when Dan becomes increasingly distant and Rowena is obsessed with finding out the sex of their upcoming baby.
With the struggles that life on the land brings, Paula worries that Dan could let the concerns of money and running the property affect his mental health.
As Paula continues to struggle with coming to terms with being a farmer’s wife and running her accountancy business from home, she is also involved in organising Rowena’s pending nuptials. As bushfires rage, though, Paula discovers the secret that Dan and Rowena have been keeping. Could this be the end of their marriage? Will they lose their family property?
Stringer’s novels grab you and don’t let you go until the last word, and Come Rain or Shine is another stellar release.
I have not read any Of Tricia Stringer’s previously published books. I certainly thought Come Rain or Shine was an enjoyable read on it’s own. I felt that the author touched on many of the difficulties facing rural life, drought, fire, mental health issues and the fact that many families need to travel great distances for medical reasons. I felt frustrated for most of the book by both of the characters, Dan and Rowena and felt empathy though with Paula throughout. Thank you Beauty and Lace Bookclub for the opportunity to read this book.