Author: Karly Lane
ISBN:9781760632663
RRP: $29.99
Publication Date: May 2019
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Copy: Courtesy of the Publisher
Karly Lane has long been a favourite of mine, even though there are a couple of her earlier works that I know I missed. They are definitely on the one day wishlist but for now I’m just trying to keep up with her new releases. She’s also a favourite with many of our members so it was with great anticipation we awaited the release of Mr Right now, and are now back to waiting for the next in the series.
I actually read this very early in the month but haven’t been managing to keep up with the reviews. So it looks like thorough reviews may be taking a little bit of a backseat.
Mr Right Now is the second book in the Callahans of Stringybark Creek series. The great thing about the books in a rural romance series is that they pretty much stand on their own two feet, so it doesn’t matter if you read the whole series or if you read it in order. There is enough info about the relevant events that you aren’t left floundering to understand what’s happening, though it is always nice to follow the group of characters through all of the storylines.
Griffin Callahan is the son of a farmer, the son that has farming in his blood. He is working the farm with his father and the two spend a lot of time at loggerheads.
Olivia Dawson is the farmgirl next door with big dreams who always saw a life outside of Stringybark Creek. She and Griff were inseparable as kids and high school sweethearts but when Griff went off to Ag College Liv broke it off then headed to the city to study law.
A farming accident has left Liv’s dad in the hospital and her twin brother taking over on the farm, during harvest. Liv comes home to help out and it seems that some sparks never die.
It has been a long time since Griff and Liv were inseparable teens in love and over the years they have run in to each other occasionally, if it wasn’t hard enough to avoid someone in a small town this situation was made trickier by the fact that the families were also connected by the bonds of strong friendships.
Things are changing for Griff and Liv, they are starting to reassess priorities and being back in close proximity reminds them how much they once meant to one another. They still lead very different lives, can they really find a second chance or do they need to keep setting each other free?
I loved Mr Right Now because Lane deals with some of the harsh realities of farming, she explores family dynamics with sensitivity and she writes with such a fabulous sense of humour. Life is never dull in Lane’s books and part of that is the tensions and the clashes that drive the story but for the most part it’s the ever-present sense of fun. There always seems to be light-hearted teasing or pranks.
I don’t want to say too much about the actual storyline but there is a lot of miscommunication, which is prevalent in many rural romances and it really does have me sitting back thinking just have a conversation for goodness sake. It’s easy to say but in practice life often doesn’t work that way either.
Mr Right Now explores farming, friendship and family with insight and humour and explores many of the challenges that come along with all of them.
Drought, illness, injury and accident can have such a profound effect on the financial viability of farming and one bad season could be the make or break of a family legacy. Lane explores some interesting diversifying options and I love the passion inherent in her characters.
Mr Right Now made me laugh, made me cry and made me ignore the world around me as I escaped to Stringybark Creek. I look forward to the next instalment, to see if my theories come to fruition and to check in on the characters I’ve grown to love.
Karly Lane loves to hear from her readers, you can find her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and her Website.
Mr Right Now is published by Allen & Unwin and available now from Angus & Robertson Bookworld, Booktopia and where all good books are sold.
Thanks to Allen & Unwin a selection of our Beauty and Lace Club members are reading Mr Right Now 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!
Mr Right Now – Karly Lane
This book is the second in the series following the Callahan family.
Rankin Springs is a small farming town, it is here that we continue the story of the kids from Stringybark Farm.
While The Wrong Callahan focussed on Lincoln Callahan Mr Right Now is the story of his younger brother, Griffin and his relationship with Olivia Dawson.
The Callahan’s and Dawson’s are neighbours and the kids have grown up as close friends.
Griffin and Olivia dated throughout high school but despite breaking up when Griffin went away to University they have always wondered if they made the right decision.
When Olivia’s Dad is in a nasty accident she decides to temporarily leave her life in Sydney to help out on the family farm. This means seeing Griffin on a regular basis and feelings start to emerge.
This was a nice story and it was good to continue on with familiar characters. I look forward to reading the third and final book of the series soon, this one about Hadley Callahan and her high profile relationship with a tv personality.
Mr Right Now by Karly Lane
This is Book 2 in The Callahans of Stringybark Creek Series and it was an enjoyable, easy read. This book focuses on Griffin Callahan and Olivia Dawson, neighbours who were High School sweethearts but broke up when Griffin went to University.They reconnect when Olivia comes home to help on the farm after her Father’s accident. As seems normal with this family, timing is always wrong and it takes a while for them to commit to each other. It was a bit of a rough ride as the Callahan Family relationships seem a bit like a soap opera, but it is all fun to read. It was good to catch up with Lincoln and Cash from the previous book and I am looking forward to reading Book 3.
Thanks to Beauty & Lace Book Club and Allen & Unwin Book Publishers for my copy for review. 4*
As alway another great book by the very talented Karly lane it only took me 2 days to read this books as I love all of her books
Ooh another great installment from Karly Lane and now I can’t wait for the third book to complete this trilogy!
Mr Right Now is a wonderfully easy read following Griffin Callahan & Olivia Dawson. I was already invested in this story having read the first book in the The Callahans of Stringybark Creek series and loving it however, it really would not have mattered if you picked this book up first as the story line is it’s own and does not rely on the first book to understand any of the characters.
I enjoyed both characters and liked having chapters written from different points of view. I also loved reading about the trials of living and working on a farm. There is so much hard work that our farmers put in it can be a bit of an eye-opener and this is probably only a tiny window of seeing what they have to go through. Reading about 2 families that have lived next door to eachother and grown together always has its ups and downs but once again it was heartening to see them come together when facing hard times. Having good neighbours is so important in rural communities.
Thanks so much Beauty & Lace and to Allen & Unwin on another top read that I thoroughly enjoyed. Bring on Book 3!
This is book 2 in the Callahans of Stringybark Creek series and it was an enjoyable, easy read. This book focuses on Griffin Callahan and Olivia Dawson, neighbours who were High School sweethearts who broke up when Griffin went to University. They reconnect when Olivia comes home to help on the farm after her father’s accident. With this couple the timing is always wrong so it takes a while for them to get together properly. This was a bit of a rough ride as the Callahan family relationships seem a bit like a soap opera, but it is all fun to read. It was also good to catch up with Lincoln and Cash from Book 1. I am looking forward to Book 3. Thanks to Beauty & Lace Book Club and Allen & Unwin Book Publishers for my copy for review.
Mr Right Now is the second book in the Callahan series by Karly Lane. In this book we get to read the story of Griff – Linc’s brother.
His love interest is his high school sweetheart Liv. They were inseparable as teenagers until university and hard choices got in their way. After a farming accident sees Liv return to the family farm next door they can only resist their attraction for so long. But they are tested when life gets in the way.
I loved reading this book. It was an enjoyable and easy read. Although this is book 2 in the series you could easily read this book as a stand alone – but it is nice being able to follow the characters through and get glimpses of all of the characters in the book as the series moves along. I’m looking forward to the next in the series.
Thanks to Beauty & Lace and Allen & Unwin for the opportunity to read and review the book.
I love Karly’s books. This book was absolutely fantastic just like the first one in the series. I can’t wait for the next one!!
Book 2 in the series!! This book was just as amazing as the first. Just loved getting to know griff and Olivia in more depth.
Another great book by karly lane I just couldn’t put it down!
Loved this sequel in the stringybark creek series and can’t wait for book 3.
The way this story follows on from book 1 it feels like you are going home and catching up with a country family well known.
The ‘’grass is not always greener’ and ‘if you love something set it free’ sayings really ring true in this book.
Sometimes the simple country life are enough to make people happy over big high rise city living and careers.
Loved this dreamy country romance and look forward to getting to know the Callaghan sister in book 3.
Many thanks Karly for another great read
Mr Right Now is another delightful, easy read from one of my favourite authors, Karly Lane. When I say easy I don’t mean superficial. Lane’s stories have depth and explore many themes that are relevant to relationships in all forms, siblings, parent/adult child, friends and lovers.
Olivia Dawson, city girl and high flying lawyer, returns home to her family’s property to help out after her father has a near fatal accident. She sees this as a temporary thing; the country life isn’t for her. But when she sees ex-boyfriend and neighbour Griffin Callahan the old spark is still there and they soon slip back into a relationship. A relationship fraught with anxiety, misunderstandings and heartbreak.
I love the Callahans! On the surface they are the perfect family. There is mum and dad, community stalwarts, plus two sons and two daughters, all seemingly supporting each other, but under the surface they have problems, some major drama, just like all ordinary families.
Lane explores father/son relationships and the old-ways versus the new-ways, farming accidents, diversity on the land, droughts, storms, community support, family and friendships.
The banter between the characters was fun and authentic, whether it was between friends or siblings it came across as realistic.
A shocking secret will be revealed and the Callahan family’s foundations will take a substantial knock.