A delightfully charming rural story about love and healing from bestselling Australian author Alissa Callen.
Hettie Burbrook is the first to admit she’s happiest when flying solo through the outback skies. After her hobby of photographing farmers lands her a book deal, it provides the ideal cover story to visit small-town Bundilla. But every photograph brings her closer to uncovering the answers behind why she is really in the mountains…
Deer farmer Taite Lancaster is as strong as the tempered steel he welds into lifelike animal sculptures. Unlike his father, he will never allow feelings to break him. But when the old schoolfriend of his twin sister lands on the airstrip of their high-country station, he knows he’s in trouble. Hettie is the one woman he can’t forget.
While they’re both determined to keep to themselves, between dog races, a ute muster and a winter ball, Hettie and Taite are forced to face how much they need each other. And when a long-buried scandal erupts into the present, relationships and lives are threatened.
Can a man who locks away his emotions reveal his vulnerability before the mountain snow melts? And can a woman intent on righting a decades-old tragedy listen to her heart before history repeats itself?
Read some great 5-Star reviews from our Preview readers here:
Snowy Mountains Promise was a very enjoyable read. I loved all the characters, especially the town dog Bundy and what they believed he represented. The rural town lifestyle was perfectly portrayed, from the bush telegraph to the longtime locals, from the landscape to the community events, everything tied together to create an entertaining and intriguing story. The mystery had me guessing until the end as well. Tanya, QLD, 5 Stars
This is the first book I have read by Alissa Callen but will definitely not be my last. I enjoy books set in Australia whether or not I am familiar with the area. This story is set in the outback and a small town called Bundilla. I found it fascinating that Hettie, one of the main characters, flew herself wherever she needed to go in her light plane. Country folk have always been an enigma to me – they usually seem so friendly and welcoming but just like city people, when you dig a bit further, secrets come out. This book has a number of characters that are so well described that you can almost hear them in your head. I really enjoyed the descriptions of the quilting ladies who were known for their matchmaking exploits and Bundy the kelpie who seemed to have the run of the town. Cynthia, VIC, 5 Stars
I loved this, it was a really lovely read. Honestly, who doesn’t love a good book with a great story line, a bit of romance and a cute dog thrown in the mix. Would highly recommend. Emma, WA, 5 Stars
Snowy Mountains Promise by Alissa Callen is a wonderful work of art filled with charm, intrigue and creative fascination. At every turn I was left pondering what would happen next as suspense grew and the characters and portrayal of small-town life were amazing. Filled with emotionally moving moments and scenes so imaginative but pure and with a big focus on relationships, never giving up and determination, it held my attention and delighted. A beautifully unique signature of heart-warming literary depth and sincerity, to delve into, a pleasure to experience and treasure. Kylie, QLD, 5 Stars
A rural story with a long-ago mystery to solve and a romance that both the heroine and her best friend’s brother Taite are trying to avoid. Hettie has flown her Cessna to Bundilla to visit her friend Brenna and to find answers to a long-lost family secret. Her arrival has stirred up a mostly forgotten scandal with people in the small town very tight lipped. Strange happenings and underlying threats soon have Hettie worried she will not find the truth. The town characters are very well portrayed and eventually the mystery is solved, and the romance can happen. Meredith, TAS, 5 Stars
The book Snowy Mountains Promise is the first of Alissa Callen’s books that I have read – and it definitely won’t be the last! I thoroughly enjoyed this book with its Australian setting and its wholesome characters. I particularly loved the character of Hettie Burbrook, a strong woman intent on pursuing her hobby. I recommend this book to those who love reading books set in the Australian outback and I look forward to reading many more of Callen’s books. Renate, VIC, 5 Stars
Alissa Callen is masterful at writing rural life fiction books, the reader can really imagine the description of the towns landscape and people throughly enjoyed this book. Deborah, NSW, 5 Stars
If you love a book with plenty of romance, then look no further. This book really ticked all the boxes for me. Romance from beginning to end, rural life, small town gossip and matchmaking, and a cold case mystery (or town scandal) that has twists and turns all the way through. Congratulations Alissa Callen on a heart warming read that I thoroughly enjoyed. Margo, QLD, 5 Stars
Snowy Mountains Promise gives us a town scandal, a kelpie chaperone and a winter ball and Allissa Callen again delivers a book that absorbs the reader. Hettie Burbrook lands herself a book deal photographing farmers that stems from her hobby of photography. Visiting the small town of Bundilla her book offers her the ultimate cover for uncovering the answers she seeks and her reason for why she is visiting the mountains. Enter deer farmer Taite Lancaster – farmer and sculptor of steel that he welds into animal sculptures. His twin sister happens to be friends with Hettie who he finds himself faced with. Both of them are stubborn and strong but find themselves forced together despite their aim of wanting to keep themselves to themselves. Dog races, a Ute muster and winter ball throw them together and they soon discover how much they need each other once a long-buried scandal erupts that result in relationships and lives being threatened. Does Taits vulnerability become revealed, and will history repeat itself when Hettie tries to right the wrongs of the past. Catherine, NSW, 5 Stars
A trip to Bundilla is like going home. In this third book in the series we witness the slow burn romance of Hettie and Taite. They have loved each other for years but their past tragedies and sadness has prevented them from letting the other in. This delightful novel is filled with warm and wonderful characters, a great country setting, love, loss, and of course Bundy the kelpie. This one also has a large dose of mystery and intrigue. A great rural read by one of our finest Aussie writers. Leanne, QLD, 5 Stars
Snowy Mountains Promise gradually builds into a story that is hard to put down. The author has written in such a way that you can feel yourself within the story appreciating the surrounds and getting to know the many and varied characters and learn how past experiences may have shaped them. It is a heartwarming story blended with suspense and intrigue and the kelpie makes a charming addition. This book is an easy read but has a richness to it that is very rewarding as the characters have such depth that they stay with you even after finishing the book. Coral, VIC, 5 Stars
I loved this book! Alissa writes stories that warm the Heart and this one did just that. Snowy Mountains Promise was like a warm hug on a cold night, the characters are so likeable you can’t help but become invested in their stories and lives. Tate and Hettie’s story does not disappoint, and I cannot wait for the next story in this wonderful Series! Karina, NSW, 5 Stars
Set in an idyllic setting, Alissa Callen takes you on a journey through lush landscapes and a story interwoven with intrigue, cozy mystery/crime and most importantly one would argue, slow-burn romance. This heartwarming read truly keeps you on your toes and it’s not until the very end that your questions will be answered. If you’re up for a happily ever after with a healthy dose of whodunnit, then this is the book for you. Nicole, NSW, 5 Stars
A well written, entertaining story set in the Australian high country. Beautifully drawn, engaging characters who almost speak to you off each page. From page 1, it was difficult to put this book down, if I wasn’t reading it, I was often thinking about reading it. I found myself very invested in the characters and what would happen to them along the way. The story is also thought provoking in that it tells the story of issues facing farming communities and the hardships that these communities face during hard times. It must be almost a different world to live in a community where people’s lives are so intertwined. I thoroughly recommend this book and will be looking for others by the author. Margaret, VIC, 5 Stars
Beautiful characters that engage you from the start, plus incredible imagery that creates the feeling of stepping into the landscape – this is a love story with heart as well as a twisty crime thriller – loved it! Alanna, QLD, 5 Stars
Taite and Hettie are in love, they just have to realise this and put aside the obstacles that get in their way. This story contains a bit of everything, romance, mystery, intrigue, past wrongs and present surprises. Glenys, NSW, 5 Stars
Set in a small town, Hettie has come into Bundilla to find answers, Oh my gosh thus book captures you. The descriptions put you right there. It’s a beautiful story about how one small thing can have a ripple effect on so many, how people can hold grudges for decades. This story was multi layered and the writing flowed really effectively. Be prepared to fall for Bundy!! Rae, NSW, 5 Stars
I find her books easy to read and the book comes alive to me and I feel like I could be a character in the book. Both Brenna and Hettie made me want to move to Bundilla and be friends with them, they have an amazing friendship and I could see myself having a friendship with them. I also love the mateship of two small town men that have been friends all their lives, and have a strong bond. In small town rural stories I love getting to meet and know all the characters and decide who I like and don’t like, and of course their is always a scandal to keep you guessing and a love story. As I read the descriptions of the scenery and the landscapes I could picture it all so clearly in my mind and when a book takes me there I just don’t want to stop reading! If you are an Australian Rural Romance fan this is a must read! Kym, WA, 5 Stars
Alissa Callen’s new book Snowy Mountains Promise has something for every reader in it. There is mystery, romance, beautiful Australian settings, true rural townspeople and a kelpie. When we first meet Hettie Burbook, she is in the town Bundilla, partly for work but also for personal family reasons. She reconnects there with an old school friend Brenna and her twin brother, Taite. The reciprocal crush Taite and Hettie have simmers the whole way through the story Whilst they try to solve this old family mystery which exposes them all to danger, Taite also deals with his past by keeping Hettie at a distance. These two storylines take this above a wonderful rural romance to a book that you can’t put down until you know what the end will bring. Alissa Callen creates characters the reader cares about and can relate to easily. Hettie, Taite and Brenna stand out but the supporting characters also perfectly show what a rural town is like. Her descriptions of the bush and town events are so real that you can picture it easily. Anyone who reads this will definitely look for more books by this talented author. Theresa, NSW, 5 Stars
I really enjoyed this book. Even though it’s part of a series it was really a standalone story. The story captured me from the first page and i found i couldn’t put the book down. I’ll definitely be going back and reading the previous books in the series now. Nicky, NSW, 5 Stars
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