Leearna Shaw’s debut novel, A Farm in Golden Clouds, is a romance which also leans towards darker drama. It gives the novel an interesting flavour, with an angle and tone not often found in romances. I enjoyed it a lot.
Indi Carmichael is desperate to save the farm she and her husband bought shortly before his death. However, spiralling debt and the pressure of being a single mother, solo farmer, and best-selling writer are all taking their toll. She hasn’t room for one more thing in her life, including romance.
Actor Ben Whittam is juggling a remarkably similar set of worries, although money isn’t one of them. He, too, is a single parent following his wife’s death, and is struggling with the demands of returning to work. That and his son are all he has time for.
But when these two meet, they find themselves drawn to each other. Neither wants a romance, but perhaps it’s what they need.
When I read romances, I tend towards what might be called rom coms. This isn’t remotely comedic, but I found myself strongly drawn in and very engaged. The novel offers a thoughtful and sensitive exploration of grief and its changing aspects, and an acknowledgement that it can look very different for different people.
Despite this rather dark aspect to the novel, it’s not a difficult read. The style is easy and flowing, and Shaw ensures that there are lighter moments and joy in the novel as well as grief and loneliness. The characters are believable and sympathetic, and most readers will care a lot about what happens to them.
There is also a lot of hope and optimism in this, although not surprisingly, it takes a little while for that to emerge. That also balances some of the darker elements of the story and helps show us another aspect of the characters.
Although this has been categorised as a romance, I suspect it will also appeal to a lot of people who like contemporary drama. The novel is well balanced between those two genres, just as it walks the line between light and dark adeptly.
I enjoyed it, as will most romance readers and readers looking for a thoughtful, but not too heavy, exploration of a difficult topic.
A selection of our Beauty and Lace Club Members are reading A Farm in Golden Clouds by Leearna Shaw. You can read their comments below, or add your own review.
I’ve loved books for as long as I can remember, and I love sharing that joy.
I’ve been an avid reader for as long as I can remember, across all genres. There’s not much I won’t at least try. I’ve been an enthusiastic book reviewer for years. I particularly enjoy discovering writers new to me, and sharing good writing with others.
My career has included time spent writing and editing technical documents, but it’s fiction that really moves me. I’ve reviewed for a number of different outlets over the years, and have been a judge in literary competitions.
I’m now raising little bookworms of my own, which brings a whole new kind of joy to sharing books.
More of my reviews can be found on my review blog www.otherdreamsotherlives.home.blog .
Book Review – Just finished this heartfelt debut by Leearna Shaw and it was beautifully written. The blurb on the back of the book fully embodies what this book is about – “What if you found the love of your life…..and then lost them?
Indi Carmichael is a widower who is struggling to keep her family farm afloat. She misses her Husband Mike who died 2 years prior. She accidently becomes a self help author after her best friend prompts her to publish her diary on how she made it through her first year grieving her husband and trying to raise her two children Noah and Ollie.
Ben Whittam is an actor who lost his wife Lily 2 years ago but he has closed himself off to all – he finds himself worrying about everything and everyone including his son Will. He thinks he is ready to revisit his character Rogue Barkley as the filming for the sequel starts in the town of Kestrel Creek.
When Will goes missing in town – Ben is frantic and it is here that Indi and Ben meet.
I found this an easy story to read – the characters were so real with themes of grief, loss, guilt and heartbreak interwoven with family dynamics and them trying to find their new normal.
Considering this was her debut novel, Leearna wrote like a seasoned professional and I look forward to reading more of her work in the coming years. Thank you to @allenandunwin and @leearna.shaw.author for the opportunity to read and review this beautiful book.