In “Twist of Fate”, Karly Lane offers a delightful tale that continues to stretch her writing without venturing too far from the rural romance genre she’s best known for.
Bel Buckley is happy enough with her life, despite occasionally being a little lonely – small rural towns aren’t exactly overflowing with single men. But she’s got a good enough job, good friends, a cosy home, and her beloved romance novels.
And then one day the best man at her cousin’s wedding arrives in town – and he’s a dead ringer for Bel’s favorite romantic hero from her favourite romantic series. Bel tries to keep her eye on the line between reality and fiction, but it’s oh so hard when Tate seems to embody everything she’s dreamed of for years.
This is a romance, but it’s also the story of a woman finding her feet – perhaps a little later in life than some, but at an age when a lot of people are still working out their lives. She finds a way to move herself from a “good enough” life to one she’s actively happy with, and it’s an interesting journey to follow her on.
Romance readers will be satisfied, as this works with familiar tropes and gives them plenty to enjoy. Readers who don’t identify with the genre so strongly may find this a touch predictable, but will also find a lot to appreciate in the strong characters and generally interesting plot.
There was one scene early on that I was uncomfortable with, and it felt like Lane had hit a wrong note. But, it turned out that this was laying the foundation for something later in the novel (and not, perhaps, what you might expect when you first read it).
This is a delightful read which offers strong, empathetic central characters and a believable, involving story. Lane’s writing style is light and easy, and most readers will close the book with a smile on their face.
A selection of our Beauty and Lace Club Members are reading Twist of Fate by Karly Lane. 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 .
Twist of Fate by Karly Lane is the story of Bel Buckley who is single, in herlate twenties and living in a small country town. She has a basic job and a love of romance novels and feels that is enough for her. She’s waiting for a hero to save her like they do in her books. Her friend emma is a bit concerned about Bel’s obsession compared to real life. Then one day a man comes to town and she finally feels she has her book hero. He’s come straight out of one of her novels and is in town for her cousin’s wedding. How can real life compare to this excitement and what happens when the wedding is over?
This book delves into these questions and more detail then I was expecting. There are also heavier themes involved which I appreciated. Real life definitely crept in and was dealt with really well. Karly mixed country, city, improbable, hopeful and real in just the right amounts and made me believe in the good in life.
Karly Lane’s Teist of Fate follows the story of Bel, a woman who has settled in life and seems happy with going through the motions. Her cousin’s wedding brings some excitement to the small town, along with what Bel hopes to be her true life hero, like her favourite book series.
Through taking chances in life, Bel is able to step out of the life she thought she was happy with and find herself, realising dreams she didn’t know she had.
A beautiful story set in rural Australia, it brings adventure and humour to the story. Karly is able to share these characters in a believable and heartwarming way.
Thankyou Beauty and Lace and Allen&Unwin for the opportunity to review ‘Twist of Fate’ by Karly Lane.
Bel Buckley is 29 years old living in a farming, rural town in New South Wales.
Having been a companion to her grandmother she now has her own home.
Bel works in the petrol station and as an avid reader finds she can fantasize about her ideal man. Especially, as she is reading a series where the hero Jax Lexington is just that! Her list of qualities reinforce this.
The wedding of the year is to be held and Bel is to be a bridesmaid to Larkin her cousin. Larkin is the daughter of the wealthy side of the family.
There she meets Tate her ideal man.
But is he?
For those who are after a delightfully romantic read, you will not be disappointed when you read ‘Twist of Fate’, Karly Lane has captured that.
I have loved all of Karly Lanes books, and this one did not disappoint.
Bel Bckley looks and dresses ike a bit of a plain Jane, lives in a small Australian farming country town and most of the time has her head in a romance novel. She even has a list of all that she wants in a man, and they all resemble her favourite sexy character in her romance novels.
The sleepytown she lives in is desperately trying to get it’s name out their, and bring in holiday makers to boost the towns economy, but nothing seems to go right.
Bel is to be the bridesmaid in her cousins very expensive and elite wedding, and as the guests start to arrive, she sees him. THE man of her dreams.
The bridal party take her for a makeover, and she absolutely turns heads with her new look, especially that of her dream man.
A whirlwind romance sees her leave her life long home town and travel to the other side of Australia to live with him.
All does not go to plan, and Bel soon realises, you definitely cannot judge a book by it’s cover, and her dream man is just that, a dream. She soon sees him for who he really is and walks away.
Over the following year we see Bel grow into a confident and successful business woman, something that never would have hapened if she had stayed in her sleepy home town.
A devastating event turns her best friend world upside down, and Bel packs up and heads home to be with her best friend and her children, and do all she can to help.
It is during this time that Bel connects with a man from her past, way back from her school years. As first it is very one sided, but as the weeks go by, Bel realises that maybe her dream man had been right in front of her the whole time.
I loved the rural setting, and the small township mystery which makes headlines. This certainly added a bit of mystery to the story, and it was heartwarming to see the way the town people came together to solve the mystery. Bel has some ideas about not only solving the town mystery, but bringing in tourism as well. Bel finds herself exhausted as she is torn when it comes to her dream man, looking after her best friends kids, and trying to solve the town mystery.
I enjoyed all of the characters and their varied personalities, but especially seeing Bel grow from a wall flower, and blossom into so much more than she ever could have imagined just 12 months prior.
Thank you Beauty & Lace, and Allen and Unwin for the opportunity to read this story. Special thanks to Karley Lane for another great read. I look forwrad to future writing from you.
Twist of Fate by Karly Lane is another great book by Karly, I love how all her books are so different and brooch a range of different subjects and situations.
Small town country girl Bel Buckley is happy enough with her life despite her best friend’s efforts in trying to set her up with every single man in town, none of them can match her fictional hero Jax Lexington of her favourite book series.
That is until her her cousin gets married and she falls head over heels for the best man, a real life Jax Lexington, suddenly small town life doesn’t hold the appeal it once did.
A quick paced read that has you intrigued thinking it’s to good to be true and hoping it turns out a particular way!
I loved the bookstagrammer tik tok part of the story too!
Thank you Beauty and Lace and Allen and Unwin for the copy to read.
I have a bookshelf full of Karly Lane books, so I am always keen to read her latest and Twist of Fate was exceptional.
As a reader I think we can all relate to Bel who finds solace in her books and the escapism it gives her. Bel lives a quiet life in a small country town and in her spare time she is head down reading about the man of her dreams – Jax Lexington the perfect man and main character of her favourite book series. She has written a list (I also did this when I was 18) of what she wants in a partner and low and behold the perfect man walks into her workplace Tate – her chin drops to the floor and she can’t believe this guy is a real-life version of Jax. He is in town for her cousin’s Wedding with them both part of the bridal party. Can Bel win him over before he leaves town?
I loved this story; I found it easy to read and was finished within a day as I could not put it down. The characters were lovely; I loved Bel and her best friend Emma’s relationship – friends that had grown up together with Emma concerned about Bel’s obsession with her books and love of a fictional character Jax. I also love how the town and the people are also a key component in Karly’s novels – I am always ready to pack my bags and move after reading one of her books.
I don’t want to give away much more so just pick it up and read it -I recommend it.
Thank you to Karly Lane, Beauty and Lace and Allen & Unwin for the opportunity to read and review Twist of Fate.
Thank you for this book trial.
The story was an easy to read and happy romance in a rural country town. Some pages were sad, but there were also happy and endearing moments.
There’s a wedding taking place, so there’s romance and family and relationships.
The book is also about manifesting your future to how you want it, but how do you really want it.
The characters are likeable and its a wonderful book for relaxing with a cuppa and losing yourself in an Australian rural romance.