When Patience Cartwright is stranded in her home town, the last thing she expects is a second chance at love…
Fiercely independent naval officer, Patience Cartwright has never had a place to call home, but she knows where she doesn’t belong. After an unhappy childhood and a badly broken heart, she’ll never return to the country.
But to save her career, Patience is forced to accept a secondment – to an environmental team working near the town where she grew up. There she encounters once more the infuriatingly attractive biologist Hugo Halstead – the very man she’s sworn never to forgive.
Given their history, Hugo, as self-assured and honest as Patience is secretive and self-contained, has vowed never to trust her again, but that doesn’t stop him feeling just as helplessly drawn to her complicated mix of courage and fragility as he ever was.
As Patience recuperates from a life-threatening illness in the small country town of Horseshoe Hill, she realises the beauty of the landscape and close-knit community promise something very different to the future she’s mapped out.
But could the secrets she keeps and the shadows of her past, send her adrift all over again?
Read some great 5-Star reviews from our Preview readers here:
This book was full of surprises for me and I loved it from the very first chapter. I didn’t expect the early romantic scene or the plot to go the way it did, but it kept me wanting more. The pace was perfect and the story unfolds like the gently opening petals of a new bloom. Penelope Janu is a master of the character arc and the main character’s journey is a joy to follow. One of my favourite aspects was the inclusion of a neurodivergent character and I loved the representation, as well as the bond the main character develops. There is so much packed into this novel yet Janu expertly weaves the threads until its satisfying, neatly tied up end. I can’t recommend it enough. M.E., WA, 5 Stars
Love love love the characters, I can visualise them straight into a movie scene. Loved this story, couldn’t put it down. Kylie, NSW, 5 Stars
Patience is amusingly nicknamed “Imp”. So much about this feisty narrator is in direct contrast to her name. Her convincingly self-assured yet vulnerable voice is the product of a troubled childhood with an abusive father and a mother who had mental illness. Patience is a Lieutenant in the navy, with recent blots and question marks on her record, including a sexual harassment case she has chosen not to pursue. The tension in the story is between Patience and Hugo, whom she loved as a teenager. On secondment to an environmental research group in the area where she grew up, Patience encounters Hugo again. When they parted, Patience had sworn never to return to her hometown. Can they work together? Should they be together? I loved this book because of some beautifully crafted URST. There are also cameo appearances by horses, swimming, and Austrian baking. Heidi, VIC, 5 Stars
I really enjoyed this book. It was one of the best books I have read in a while. Definitely kept me occupied during the sleepless nights lately. Christine, QLD, 5 Stars
This book was really the first of this author I have read but i was pleasantly surprised. I thought it dealt with many current issues in society and I really like that the story was set in a naval base. It gave it a sense of uniqueness to then tie it in with the country setting. My impression of the lead male character Hugo would be reminiscent of Chris Hemsworth by the authors description. I also really liked the little horseshoes that were placed randomly throughout the book. Thoroughly enjoyed & recommend. Shannan, NSW, 5 Stars
Shelter from the Storm by Penelope Janu is an engaging story about a young woman who has been hurt previously and had her trust broken by those who should have cared. Patience loves water – either swimming in it or sailing on it is what she needs to soothe her soul. This is why she joins the Navy when it’s time to leave home. It also helps her to put distance between her and the heartbreak that happened in her hometown. But she doesn’t have an easy go of it and after a couple of incidents finds herself with no choice but to accept a position that has her working close to her hometown and the man who broke her heart – scientist Hugo. Maintaining her distance from Hugo and his family becomes impossible when she is struck with a life threatening illness and has to rely on them to help her recuperate. The descriptions throughout the story of the landscape really help paint a picture that is very easy to visualise. I like the way the relationships between the characters flow. The storyline had me hooked from the first chapter with drama and chemistry between Patience and Hugo a major theme. I like that the characters are so varied and such different personality types as it made the book all the more enjoyable. Sarah, VIC, 5 Stars
Shelter from the Storm was a lovely surprise! I have never read anything by Penelope Janu and usually choose to read crime novels over rural romances however, I liked the sound of this story as it contained an environmental element. The two main characters Patience Cartwright, a naval officer, and Hugo Halstead, a biologist have a complicated past and both find themselves back in their childhood town of Horseshoe Hill where drama ensues. I really liked Greta, Hugo’s mother of Austrian descent and Hugo’s nephew Ryan, because he hates maths as much as me! Thanks to Better Reading for my preview copy. Sharah, QLD, 5 Stars
This was an enjoyable read that captivated me with it’s multi-layered story. So much more than a straightforward “forced proximity” romance, this book tackled a range of issues with sincerity and a deft touch (check content warnings below, which may include spoilers). I particularly appreciated the way that neurodiversity was represented as a fact of life for multiple characters, without being used as a major weakness or plot driver. The author demonstrated both sensitivity and a matter of fact approach which was refreshing given the way such characters are often “othered” for plot purposes in fiction. Critiques? I got a bit lost in the first 10 pages, trying to understand the situation. But once into chapter 2 I had a clearer idea of who was where and why and from there I hardly put the book down. Overall this book was a pleasant surprise. I was expecting a rural romance, but what I got was a literary gem with suspense, complex characters and a lovely romance thrown in as a bonus! CW: sexual harassment, childhood abuse, PTSD, violence, physical injuries, horse riding accident, medical procedures. Lisa, QLD, 5 Stars
This book had a nice country romance vibe happening, was a joy to read and very enjoyable to read. Rene, WA, 5 Stars
Ooh the way this is written was really jarring to read at first but I quickly settled into the stanza & fell in love, a page turner. Lieutenant Cartwright, Patience or Imp as she is also affectionately nicknamed is a character of strength & vulnerability all rolled into one. A steamy romance, a history & an absolutely gorgeous almost Mother In Law. 5 Stars. Brilliant. Mel, VIC, 5 Stars
Well written and enjoyable book by Penelope Janu. It’s a story with a bit of a difference with a character I would describe as on the spectrum. I loved the reality of the characters in this story. Intrigue and mystery play their part as well. A great book, with romance and the Australian countryside at its heart. Pippa, WA, 5 Stars
Patience Cartwright’s life is the Navy, all she wants is to be at sea. A clash with her superiors sees her with the choice of either leaving the Navy forever or accepting a secondment to work with a group of environmentalists on a national project. There is only one problem, Hugo Halstead, the man who broke her heart years ago is head biologist on the team. I love how Penelope Janu has delivered a story about the environment and biodiversity that is wonderfully informative and blended it with a heartfelt romance. Patience is a delightful character, smart and stubborn but also vulnerable. She is a character you will warm to right from the beginning. I totally enjoyed Shelter from the Storm brimming with secrets, twists and a heartwarming romance. It is a captivating story about breaking down walls, overcoming past hurts and moving on with your life. Veronica, NSW, 5 Stars
Patience Cartwright is a extremely qualified Naval Officer who finds herself victimized by a senior officer which leads to her being sent off the ship. She then has to accept a secondment, doing environmental studies close to where she grew up, alongside the man who she loved and who hurt her many years prior, Hugo Halstead. The story follows Patience as being strongly independent has to rely on others after a serious injury. She falls in love with the land while trying to work out Hugo. I really enjoyed this book as it is my first of Penelope Janu’s. I am sure to read more. Thanks to Better Reading and Harlequin Australia for my copy to read and review. Renee, QLD, 5 Stars
Shelter From the Storm was a really enjoyable read! I particularly liked the was Penelope created believable characters and set them amongst very iconic Australian landscapes. The bush, rivers, farms…and the ecological issues that are very much prevalent today. Denise, NSW, 5 Stars
Thanks to the Better Reading team for my uncorrected advance reading copy. I enjoyed reading this intriguing story about career, love, and family affairs. The story is set in the country town of Horseshoe Hill. Patience Cartwright has been assigned to a secondment for environmental biology research that brings her closer to her first love, Hugo Halstead. Their relationship is tested through time. When Patience is injured, Greta and Derek (Hugo’s parents) look after her and shelter her. Patience builds up the trust to overcome her fear as she is getting close to solving her work assignment and decides what is matter to her. Margaret, NSW, 5 Stars
This book ticks all the right boxes. Set in an Australian Country Town, the characters are brought to life so well you feel you know them by the end of the book. The Heroine, Patience Cartwright is a woman of the age. Fiercely independent, she faces losing her position in the Navy unless she agrees to take on a role which takes her away from the ocean life she loves, back to the country try town where she grew up and fell in love for the first time. Unbeknownst to her, the man she fell in love with and lost many years ago is a part of the group she has been sent to observe on her secondment. As she becomes enmeshed in the small town life again after a serious illness, she has a choice to make. Stay or go back to the sea she loves. Lyn, SA, 5 Stars
Shelter from the Storm by Penelope Janu was a beautifully written novel about romance, friendship, family and so much more. It’s a story about Patience Cartwright, a navy lieutenant who has been placed on secondment in a team which includes her first love, Hugo. In a team where the work requires courage, strength and patience. Set amongst the Australian landscape Patience struggles to find where she belongs. It’s the history between Hugo and his family and the care they envelope her with, which anchors Patience to a place she can call home. I loved the connection between Patience and Hugo. Despite their history, of feeling fearful about their love for each other, I found such a genuine warmth between the two main characters. I just wanted everything to turn out right. I absolutely loved Penelope Janu’s depictions of Hugo’s eyes; from ‘sea-green like ocean’, ‘green and hard like emeralds’ to ‘Forest green. Moss green’. So descriptive! The cosy farmstead was enticing and the added mystery of an environmental malice was intriguing. Looking forward to reading more wonderful novels by this author. Julie, VIC, 5 Stars
I recently received an ARC copy of #Shelter from the storm by @Penelope Janu and thanks #BRpreview. This book is a great easy read from the rural romance genre. It’s a gritty tail of lost love, second chances and redemption. Although a small country town is where Patience Cartwright is sent for a work placement it’s a place of her childhood full of unpleasant memories and unfinished business. Not everything or everyone are what they seem Imp has to identify who to trust and who are dangerous and the lines are blurred. I really enjoyed this tale and will be seeking more from this author. Thanks for the opportunity to review this great book. Janet, NSW, 5 Stars
Penelope Janu has a gift, a fantastic writer who draws you into the characters from the beginning. She leaves you hanging wondering what will happen next and entwines the characters into the story with surprises along the way. She takes you on a roller coaster ride of emotions and keeps you on your toes. Even nearing the end you don’t know how the romance will play out, will she, won’t she, will he, won’t he keeps you in suspense. This is not just a romance story it is filled with drama, suspense and a bit of thriller too. A great read. Linda, VIC, 5 Stars
Contemporary romance – Shelter from the Storm introduces us to fiercely independent Naval Officer Patience Cartwright. She had a deeply unhappy childhood and has never had a place to call home. Now having to face and accept a secondment that of an environmental team that happens to be working near the town she grew up in. Enter biologist Hugo Halstead who just happens to be both handsome and extremely infuriating – someone she always swore she’d never forgive no matter what. Both polar opposites Hugo still finds himself drawn to Patience – just as he had been in the past. While recuperating from serious illness in the small town of Horseshoe Hill Patience realises that the beauty of the surrounding landscape and the attraction of a close-knit community was always there, she just needed to be open to seeing it. This place – the community and current stage of life is so very different to how she had always seen her future and has so much to offer. Could the shadows of the past and her own secrets unravel the promise of what her life could truly be. Catherin, NSW, 5 Stars
Thanks @betterreading and @harlequinaustralia for my chance to read and review Penelope Janu’s new book Shelter from the Storm! Loved following Patience’s story from beginning to end as her character unfolds in each chapter. Lieutenant Patience Cartwright and her 2 sisters Prim and Phoebe are the three Musketeers. Their childhood was not easy so they only had each other to help and encourage and rely on. Unfolding in the story you will find Patience relying on numbers and water, her only base lines that keep her focused along the Navy, sisters and good friend and mother figure Gretal. Will she stay at sea or return to country after her secondment to the environmental team working near her hometown? ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Star rating. Debbie, WA, 5 Stars
I thoroughly enjoyed this read and found myself very engrossed and switched off to my surroundings while reading this book. I loved the characters, especially the Halstead family, Rick, Mandy and Gus. The story centres around Patience, affectionately known as “Imp” and reflects on her childhood and upbringing and how life events have shaped who she is now, including her decision to join the Navy, her fierce independence and the emotional walls she puts up to protect herself from being hurt. I loved each of the character’s individual quirks which were largely accepted by others around them. Bree, NSW, 5 Stars
Just finished this very intriguing book, it was a fascinating story and I couldn’t put the book down, it certainly held my interest and I would highly recommend it. Kathleen, NSW, 5 Stars
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