Author: Fiona McCallum
ISBN: 9781743692400
RRP: $29.99
Fiona McCallum has penned six Australian bestsellers, Leap of Faith is her seventh novel and set in the picturesque Adelaide Hills.
All of the books I have read by McCallum have been set in South Australia but this is the first in my neck of the woods. I’m not sure exactly where the farm is but I’m familiar with the surrounding towns and the roads mentioned so it had a very familiar feel to me right from the start.
I am not sure where my headspace is at just of late but it is affecting my reading and my empathy with heroines. I enjoyed the premise of Leap of Faith which has McCallum’s signature writing style and well drawn characters. Her animals are characters in their own right and you can’t help but be drawn to them. My issue was I couldn’t connect to lead character Jessica, I couldn’t get past some of her attitudes and decisions.
In the early pages Jessica has a traumatic accident in the middle of a horse riding event; leaving her hospitalised but thankfully her horse Prince suffers only a few scratches. Jessica’s broken ankle means she is out of action for six weeks with little to occupy her. The extremely capable, physical and independent Jessica is unable to ride, unable to teach and perhaps the most frustrating she is unable to care for her horses or help husband Steve on the farm.
All of this time off her feet gives Jessica way too much time to think, and to question EVERYTHING. A lot of her self evaluation is to be expected and completely natural but it seemed to me that she got a little melodramatic about it all for a while there. Jessica is concerned about the loss of condition in her horses and all of the extra responsibility on her husband looking after them so she rushes into a decision that those around her think she will come to regret. And, to top it all off she tries to isolate herself at home away from the entire horse community, and her town, because she’s not ready to face anyone.
Jessica is given time to look at her career so far and analyse what she has achieved, and why. Her pit of self-pity is quite deep but I think it needed to be for her to grow and tackle things from a different angle. The time and distance from her competition offer a very different perspective and allow her to recognise things she had never noticed throughout her career, and her rash decision allowed a second chance at happiness.
Faith is the rundown and forlorn horse Steve brings home from a clearing sale, after Jessica has sold hers. There’s a lot at play here and it seems quite obvious that Steve picked up the horse to try and rekindle Jessica’s passion but she is determined to keep her distance. It turns out that Faith affected Steve in a way he wasn’t expecting and he just couldn’t bear to leave the horse behind.
Every character has a story and Faith is no different, her story is heartbreaking and she too needs a second chance. The slow unfolding of Faith’s story broke my heart. It was beautiful to watch the blossoming relationship and growth of trust between Faith and Jessica as they both had a lot to learn.
Leap of Faith is an aptly named and beautifully told story of love, loss and second chances. It tells a tale of self discovery and demonstrates the need for honesty and the importance of in sickness and in health, and sharing with your partner because trying to hide it and struggle through alone hurts both of you.
A beautiful weekend read for a journey to the lush greenery of the picturesque Adelaide Hills.
Leap of Faith is book #14 for Australian Women Writers Challenge 2015.
For more about Fiona and to get a look at all of her titles you can find her on Facebook, her website and the Harlequin website.
We have copies of Leap of Faith to giveaway to 5 of our lucky readers. If you want to be one of them tell us in the comments below about an injury that had you out of action and appreciating all the things you take for granted.
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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!
9 months ago, I slipped off a deck and fractured my tail bone. The pain I suffered was terrible. I still suffer the pain, but being able to walk now and being able to enjoy my family is just beautiful. I love that I can now be able to do the little things with my family.
I would love to win a book as I love reading,
Mine wasn’t an accident, I’ve been lucking in that regard. However, when I was 27 weeks pregnant with my second child I had a major bleed and we both nearly lost our lives. I was hospitalised for a week then was on strict bed rest. I wasn’t able to work and looking after my first child from a bed was challenging to say the least. I spent many a day wondering and contemplating my decisions and choices. Thankfully we both came through the other side fit and healthy.
I recently done a stupid thing and got on one of my horses bareback that had not been ridden in 2 years… Anyways he didn’t like it and as soon as I got on he rared up and launched in to a bucking bronk horse, I lasted 5 bucks before I came off landing on my back across a log on the ground. I went up to the ED a few days later which showed I had a fractured rib and Undisplaced fracture of the transverse process of the L3 vertebrae.. Having a 3 month old baby and not being able to do all the things I needed to like picking him up and bending over to put him in his cot was very difficult.. You really learn to appreciate having a healthy body just to do those simple things… Lesson learnt… Don’t get on a horse bareback after him having 2 years off even though you think they are quiet!!
In September 2013, I had a bad fall on a eaten away road due to a bush fire and broke my foot in 7 places, tore my tendon and was on crutches and in a moon boot for 7 months. I also had to have an exemption from school during that time. Because of how long I was using the crutches and moon boot, the muscles in my leg deteriorated and I had to push through the pain and start walking by myself again before my leg couldn’t support my body anymore. Because of this I couldn’t get my own food, I couldn’t go anywhere, do anything around the house, get ready for the shower by myself among other everyday necessities.
This accident made me realise that I cant be lazy and get other people to do stuff for me when im capable to and also to make the most of every moment while I can because any little thing can take it from you. Now I walk every where and do everything for myself even though I still suffer from constant pain.
Not quite an injury …. But certainly put of action…. I have had breast lumps which has seen me not being able to participate in many of life’s fun activities. It would seem the cure (the medication) is probably worse than the limps. Been a long haul, much prodding and probing, and small ops…. But hopefully coming out to the other side!…. Big lesson. Don’t take anything for granted and don’t work yourself into the ground, hug your children and guise you love, and make time for the things and people you love…. You never know how long you are here for!
Not quite an injury …. But certainly out of action…. I have had breast lumps which has seen me not being able to participate in many of life’s fun activities. It would seem the cure (the medication) is probably worse than the lumps. Been a long haul, much prodding and probing, and small ops…. But hopefully coming out to the other side!…. Big lesson – don’t take anything for granted and don’t work yourself into the ground, hug your children and those you love, and make time for the things and people you love…. You never know what tomorrow will bring!
Falling down half a flight of stairs with a tiled wall in front of you will do it! Yes, aside from the pain, the trauma of an accident definitely makes you appreciate the things you used to do without thinking… getting out of bed, dressing, eating, cooking, driving, working, feeding the dog and the kids, even making a cup of coffee!! ….I remember when I could finally open the lid to a jar of coffee again!!
More than just an injury. Slowly got sicker and sicker to the point where walking left me breathless. Weeks of tests. The diagnosis stage 4 Breast cancer with secondaries in the liver.
A big shock however a blessing too. One that it was found, so it can be treated. Ironically they cannot find the breast cancer as all
Mammograms, Scans, physical examinations come up with nothing.
As hard as the news was, I feel blessed. I now realise how previous life is. How grateful I am to have beautiful, supportive people around me. Taking one day at a time and not swearing the small stuff
Oh wow…which injury shall I choose. Working around horses there always seems to be more hurties than usual. Do I mention the time I fell of a galloping horse and landed on my biggest centre of gravity. I couldn’t walk for a week and the pain was agonising. Or the time I was trampled by a horse at pony club when it careered out of a horse float. Ambulance ride and a stay in hospital…on my birthday! Broken ribs and a broken nose…I was not a pretty sight. Unfortunately a week later my dad was admitted into hospital with a suspected heart attack…when I went to visit him…oh my…..the looks my husband received from other ladies thinking that he had beaten me up 🙁
anywhooo I look on the bright side, I can now tell the weather with my butt….from the aches from my broken tail bone 🙂