Author: Jenn J McLeod
ISBN: 9781786699930
RRP: $29.99
Publisher: Head of Zeus (Harper Collins)
Copy: Courtesy of the Publisher
We have long supported the work of nomadic Australian author Jenn J McLeod and the books I haven’t read are on my wishlist to catch up with one day.
A Place to Remember is a multi-generational family drama that packs an emotional punch and torments with a couple of well-timed twists, written across dual timelines.
McLeod is a master storyteller and the way she weaves the timelines of her story to produce a seamless tapestry with all of the burning questions answered and still enough twists to keep you guessing until the end is simply sublime.
Ava Marchette is a self made business woman with an enviable bakery franchise, which at it’s heart is still a family business. She built it from the ground up and headed up the company until a health scare meant she had to take a step back and hand the reins to her son. Early retirement for health reasons is the perfect breeding ground for a fertile imagination and a garden of what ifs, so she heads back to Candlebark Creek where she spent an eventful year as the cook in a country B&B when she was 27. She returns to see what the passage of 30 years has done to the quaint B&B, and the family who own it.
The narrative plays out in dual timelines, often this is an alternating chapters scenario but not with A Place to Remember. McLeod has written parts which flick between the present day and the mid-80s, but there is still some switching at play because otherwise the twists couldn’t possibly be drawn out so deliciously.
Not long after her family discover her health issues a parcel arrives for Ava, an intriguing portrait that raises even more questions and after learning more about her mothers life than she had ever known before Nina races off to Candlebark Creek for some answers of her own.
McLeod has painted an intricate portrait, almost as richly detailed as the work of renowned artist John Tate. She paints the relationships between an impressive cast of characters, both the victims and the villains. There isn’t a lot of time spent on Ava’s family before she moved out of home as a teen and worked her way up the kitchen ladder to become an accomplished chef, but when things got a little hot and she needed escape the small country B&B seemed perfect, until she discovered she’d jumped into a completely new fire and that passion didn’t look like burning out.
A tragic incident sees John Tate lose his short term memory, and any recollection of Ava; pushed aside by his overbearing mother and convinced that she wasn’t the best thing for him Ava leaves, but never forgets. She goes on to live a rich and full life but never replaces John in her heart. Her return to Candlebark Creek is simply to check in and see what life held for John, hoping he had found happiness.
We are treated to the time Ava spent in Candlebark Creek in the 80s, then her return where we have some of the blanks filled in as well as what’s happening with all of the characters in Candlebark Creek in 2015. Next we have some more of 2015 but that’s where Nina comes to the forefront as she determines to fill in the blanks because she is sure there are still things her mother isn’t telling her. It doesn’t help that Nina is feeling a little untethered in her life, nothing excites her the way it once did and she’s feeling a little overshadowed. Her position in the family business is not what she saw herself doing with her life and there is a part of her that wants to find that passion for something.
One of the things that I really loved about McLeod’s characters in this one is the parallels between generations that started to become apparent, and the butterfly effect a lie can have down through generations. There was intrigue right throughout the story with snippets of storyline that are slowly introduced so you don’t get the complete picture until the very end. An ending that was absolutely gorgeous, and kept the last twist for threatening tears to turn into a sigh of utter contentment.
McLeod’s characters are vibrantly detailed and quirkily unique; the bad guys are sometimes the victims and the quiet ones can be the most reprehensible but ultimately sometimes we are all the victim of the cruel hand of fate and we can be molded by the things that happen around us that we have no control over. Speaking of Fate, there was quite a lot of talk of Fate in this one and it all played out beautifully.
A beautiful read by Jenn J McLeod that I am thrilled to have been able to get a hold of for book club. I would recommend unreservedly and I look forward to hearing what our readers have to say.
A Place to Remember is book #11 for the Australian Women Writer’s Challenge 2018.
Jenn J McLeod can be followed on Twitter, Facebook and her Website.
A Place to Remember is published by Harper Collins in Australia and is available through Angus & Robertson Bookworld, Booktopia and where all good books are sold.
Thanks to Harper Collins 20 of our Beauty and Lace Club members will be reading A Place to Remember 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 big thank you to Beauty and Lace and Harper Collins Publishers for supplying the book for review ‘A Place to Remember’ by Jen McLeod.
Well this book would be up there as one of my favourites.
A book of love and loss, sadness and betrayal, lies, commitment and resilience.
The author presents such gutsy, solid characters and the story made me laugh, cry, feel anger and relief. From the main characters of Ava Marchette and John Tate and later Nina and Blair, and so many other characters in between made this book the marvel that it is. We were presented with believable scenarios that as a reader you couldn’t help but feel emotionally involved with the characters and the book. I felt a sense of helplessness and anger for the main character’s; fate and circumstance spoiling potential for a long, loving relationship. Their chance of real love taken from them. Thankfully, in the end peace reigns.
A strong story of country life that I so easily related to. It’s a story of courage, finding real love and perseverance.
Loved it.
There is no greater joy than reading how my stories make readers feel so many emotions. Thank you so much for sharing that, Rachel.
What a beautiful book. My expectations were as high as it gets for Jenn’s new novel, “A Place To Remember” and I wasn’t disappointed. From the glorious, wonderfully Australian cover to the last word, it was sheer magic. A family saga spanning thirty five years, truly Australian, with wonderfully rounded and real characters, never once losing the thread, this will be one of my favourite books forever.
I was incredibly fortunate to have been introduced to Jenn J. McLeod through Beauty and Lace with her first novel, the wonderful “House For All Seasons” and I loved that, then read the other three “Seasons” books, two courtesy of Beauty and Lace, the other I purchased. I’ve been waiting for the next novel since I finished Jenn’s last one and the wait was worth it.
Few people weave a complex and reasonably lengthy novel as well as Jenn does. The story flows beautifully, dealing with many things and several characters, with the Australian Outback featuring strongly, flowing beautifully to a wonderfully satisfying conclusion.
I can’t thank Beauty and Lace enough for originally introducing me to Jenn’s books and now for providing this fabulous book. Thank you, Head of Zeus and Harper Collins for my copy, which I will treasure. Thank you, Jenn J. McLeod for continuing your magic through your writing. The wait was worth it.
I can’t encourage anyone who loves good writing, from wonderful Australian authors, enough, to read this – I can’t imagine you’ll be disappointed. If you haven’t already read the “Season’s” books you’re in for a treat with those too. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
You have been such a wonderful supporter. Thank you, Trish. It’s surreal to think this book baby will be in a London bookshop soon.
I am a huge fan of Jenn McLeod’s writing and I believe this latest book is her best work. The story spans 30 years and tells the story of Ava who leaves an abusive family home and retreats to a small town in Queensland’s far north region where she is offered the job of cook at a property that runs a B & B. She forms a friendship with her employer’s son who is younger than her and despite her resistance because of their age gap they fall in love. Tragedy strikes and Ava flees, broken hearted and with little more than what she brought with her.
Thirty years later, Ava has two children and a successful business behind her and her health is not great Her daughter Nina who is in the family business is curious about the man who her mother loved all those years ago and returns to the farm on a fact-finding mission. Little does she know that history is going to repeat itself and she falls for the son of the owner. Nina stays on and discovers that there are many secrets and lies in Candlebark Creek and she has to decide whether to tell her mother what she has found out or let love find its own way.
This book was fantastic and kept me turning the pages all week. I loved the characters therein and the back stories that they all had which came together so well,- even skipping ahead 10 years at the end, so you knew what had happened to them all gave the reader a sense of closure. This book will appeal to readers of Women’s Fiction or Rural Fiction and Australian stories.
Thank you so such to Beauty and Lace Books and Head of Zeus for the complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.
Thank you so much, Janine. That last chapter took some thinking about. I wondered what readers would think about jumping ahead in time, but I thought it was important, so I found a way and crossed my fingers. Thank you for letting me breathe a little. 🙂
I am a huge fan of Jenn McLeod’s writing and I believe this latest book is her best work. The story spans 30 years and tells the story of Ava who leaves an abusive family home and retreats to a small town in Queensland’s far north region where she is offered the job of cook at a property that runs a B & B. She forms a friendship with her employer’s son who is younger than her and despite her resistance because of their age gap they fall in love. Tragedy strikes and Ava flees, broken hearted and with little more than what she brought with her.
Thirty years later, Ava has two children and a successful business behind her and her health is not great Her daughter Nina who is in the family business is curious about the man who her mother loved all those years ago and returns to the farm on a fact-finding mission. Little does she know that history is going to repeat itself and she falls for the son of the owner. Nina stays on and discovers that there are many secrets and lies in Candlebark Creek and she has to decide whether to tell her mother what she has found out or let love find its own way.
This book was fantastic and kept me turning the pages all week. I loved the characters therein and the back stories that they all had which came together so well,- even skipping ahead 10 years at the end, so you knew what had happened to them all gave the reader a sense of closure. This book will appeal to readers of Women’s Fiction or Rural Fiction and Australian stories.
Thank you so such to Beauty and Lace Books and Head of Zeus for the complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.
Beautiful book by Jenn J McLeod, now a top favourite writer of mine and no wonder she’s a bestseller as she had me at the very first page.
Gorgeous cover, beautiful story that really captivated me and made me feel and visualise like I was right there at Candlebark Creek with Ava.
I liked that what I suspected to happen, didn’t and who I thought to blame wasn’t.
You have to definitely read this one as guaranteed you’ll fall in love with it like Ava did John.
‘Grate’ ‘mix’ of characters and loved the funny cooking words put into a sentence and the ‘yeast’ I can do is tell you to read this one 🙂
Brilliant as read this quicker than others because it was that good and sad to finish it.
Thanks for the wonderful opportunity to read A Place To Remember as will remember this book for sure.
One of my favourites this year. Loved it!
I LOVED that review. You made me LOL Cindy! I kinda had fun with the cooking bits too!!!! Lovely to meet you!
I loved McLeod’s previous book, “The Other Side of The Season” and similarly, “A Place To Remember” did not disappoint.
This was a rich, multi-generational family drama centred around a strong, independent woman named Ava Marchette and a gorgeous homestead called Ivy-May located in the beautiful and rugged surrounds of Candlebark Creek. This book reminded me of some of Natasha Lester’s work because of the differing stories and perspectives.
I was really gripped by the tragedy and the love story between Ava and the gorgeous, John Tate.
McLeod has done a fantastic job of weaving together one complex tapestry and lovely human story.
HI Natalie, I may have to quote you on that. The last sentence is just beautiful. And thank you so much for the lovely comparison to Natasha. I also enjoy her storytelling very much.
Wow!! This book was fantastic! I couldn’t put it down. It goes to show that age really doesn’t matter. This book is definitely one of my all time favorites and I’m looking forward to reading Jenn’s other books.
Hi Jessica, thank you I LOVE that we agree. Age certainly don’t matter. Thank you for sharing your enjoyment.
Thank you Beauty and Lace and Harper Collins Australia for the chance to read A Place to Remember by Jen McLeod.
I won’t go into a synopsis of the story as that has been well covered here but I will say the story of Ava and John engaged me from the beginning and the added strands of the modern day characters added to the beauty of the book. Believable, relatable and so very well drawn, they feel like your friends from the beginning.
For anyone who has ever lost a love and wondered what to would be like to go revisit 30+ years later…this is the book for you. It made me laugh and cry and engaged me to the very end!
I recommend A Place to Remember for anyone who loves a great and engaging story – and even better an Australian one!
Cheers to Jen Mcleod! I will be back!
I love that last sentence!!!! Thank you!
Oh, I just saw you posted to Amazon. HUGE thank you for that. It means so much and really helps. xx
Wow, this was a long awaited book to read and I was not disappointed in the love story, storyline. I’ve read and followed Jenn’s books since I was lucky enough to receive her first from Beauty and Lace a few years ago now. I love the way Jenn writes and you really feel like you are engaged in the characters and places. They become so real to you as you read. I can visually see the backgrounds and characters as I read.
467 pages of such a beautiful, engaging story and the cover of the book is truely gorgeous.
Ava Marchette has been bought up in life by an abusive mother but a lovely, unforgettable dad who sends her away so the abusing stops. She lands a job working as a cook at a property called Ivy May at Candlebark Creek when she is 27 years old. We follow her story and then we jump to 30 years later.
Here is where you become a part of the characters and actually feel such a huge connection with them all. I couldn’t put the book down but I also didn’t want to finish it either. It’s a storyline that you will fall in love with. There are parts that I felt such anger, adrenalin kicked in during the storm and so many parts I cried and of course there are many happy, emotional moments too.
It’s not hard for you, yourself the reader to fall in love with John Tate. He is the perfect man in every way. I loved how Jenn followed through the saga of all the characters right through the years. There was no confusion when reading either.
Ada’s daughter Nina and John’s son Blair are characters that you will also bond with.
There is a paragraph in the book that really bought me to tears and to Jenn I say, it is such a shame we have to grow up and stop believing stars are magic.
I also felt happy tears when reading about the little One-eye Dude dog and know that when writing that, Jenn would have shed some happy tears as well.
This story by Jenn is a memorable, compelling, captivating and powerful storyline and you won’t be disappointed. You will be captivated from start to finish.
I loved how the book completely finishes the story for you. We are not left wondering with any ifs. I finished the book feeling satisfied.
Thank you to Beauty and Lace and Head of Zeus for allowing me to read this wonderful book by Jenn.
Note for Jenn: After finishing this book, I was on my way out to feed my magpies that come to visit and I noticed something flickering on the window inside the house. It was a dragonfly which really touched my heart as it made me think of my own dad. On that note, I am off to grab a tissue.
Oh my gosh, Mandy, send some of those tissue my away now! Your dragonfly made me cry and, yes, I was tearing up knowing you thought about The little dude dog!!!! <3 Thank you for your kind words and your support and for sharing your love of reading.
I’ve read a couple of other Jenn J McLeod books that I’ve received through the Beauty and Lace book club and so I had high expectations for this book too. And it didn’t disappoint! The story was set in a lovely Australian outback setting and the descriptions made it so easy for me to picture the settings as I read along.
I enjoyed the characters and although the story was a bit predictable (I mean, it was obvious how it was going to end up), but the path taken to get there was not predictable. I found the book easy to read, but difficult to put down as I just had to know what was going to happen next.
I definitely recommend this book for anyone who loves a good Australian outback romance. Thanks again for another great book to review >:o)
Thank you, Simone, I can actually share something with you about the end. That ending was not my original one. At my editor’s suggestion, I changed it. Sometimes as writers we are guided through processes that will be ‘beneficial’ for the book’s success (and only a foolish writer goes against such advice!!!!) Maybe one day, after the book has been out a while, I will post the original last few chapters on my website. In the ned (pardon the pun) I was happy with both endings. I’m glad you enjoyed the read. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
Gee that would be interesting to read your other ending Jenn just to compare 🙂
I agree completely
I will wait a good while, but will keep it in mind. 🙂