Foreward Reviews: Clarion 5 Stars
Review by: Jill Allen ★★★★★
A modern romance with shades of Pride and Prejudice set in the Australian Outback? This premise works in Australian author Victoria Capper’s steamy Opal Ridge, which tackles themes of love, family, and second chances.
When aloof, wealthy businessmen Charles Carmody (a Darcy Down Under) places an ad for hired help at his ranch in the Bush, he does not expect to hire feisty Jenna Mackenzie as a farmhand. Can Charles let his guard down enough for this woman “who gave as good as she got”? Or will both let misunderstandings and fear keep them apart?
As in the Austen classic, the pair spends much time jostling verbally, a little time touching, and even less time declaring their true feelings for each other. As a result, the small gestures typical in romances - kisses and caresses - take on larger import here, and one turns the pages with bated breath, wondering which such a momentous scene will occur again.
The couple’s prejudice against each other impedes their burgeoning love. Yet Charles and Jenna are refreshingly self-aware. When he finds himself fairly illogically enraged at Jenna because of his past experiences with women, “Charles knew he was unfair. She could hardly be blamed for what he felt.” Ultimately, though, the supporting characters help Jenna and Charles see that they love each other, although the protagonist's actions may prevent the admission of said affections. With boosters such as Charles’s kind levelheaded dad, Tom, and Jenna’s protective brother, Rick, along with the wise hermit, Bill- Bob, Charles and Jenna have mouthpieces who can say the words they lack the courage to say to each other. It is a rare delight to find so many verbally expressive characters in one story.
The Australian Outback, captured in vivid detail, also represents a character in this book. The characters deep love for the Bush emanates from the pages and helps draw the uninitiated into this unfamiliar, beautiful environment:
“As usual, the kookaburras were the first to be heard, laughing in the opalescent predawn light. The galahs had been chattering for some time in the trees further up the Hill where they had slept for the night, but now were raucous in their screeching ... a lone magpie in a tree in nearby greeted the day... In liquid, melodious notes.”
The sounds are so evocative and the verbs so descriptive that it does not take much work to imagine being in the land with Jenna and Charles. Along with him, bear witness to the delight and frustration kangaroos can bring, or the joy of seeing a wild koala . The use of Australian slang beyond the proverbial “G’day”, and the authors description of outback culture further ground the story in reality.
Non-Aussies may find a slang dictionary helpful at times, but that should not deter romance readers from this Down Under romance with tinges of Austen.
William Roberts President World Federation of Merino Breeders.
Victoria Capper genuinely gives an insight into the life on a typical Australia Outback station. Her books are a great introduction to the life of the people in these remote areas where a lot of our merino sheep are run. It is obvious that she knows her subject well and gives a genuine insight into the trials and tribulations, the joys and satisfactions. Circumstances are different around the world and even in different parts of Australia, but reading her books gives a great insight into the way of life in one of the world's great merino breeding areas and she presents it as light entertainment, The settings are remarkably realistic and give an insight into everyday life I would recommend her books to anyone who wants a thoroughly enjoyable read and at the same time will give a sense of the Australian outback
Joan Scott OAM JP
Well done Victoria Capper for writing so sensitively of outback life. Her books are easy to read and the characters so true to life. While the hurdles they encounter are undeniable, the beautiful setting and intriguing stories make her books well worth reading. They give a picture of how country people cope and somehow manage to survive with the help of their communities though there are people who just were unable to carry on. Her books tell it all.
Peter Hacker President Queensland Merino Stud Sheepbreeder’s Association
How refreshing to read any words committed to paper by Victoria. Her extensive background knowledge of life in western Queensland gleaned from living the life herself for over fifty years on the property established by her forebears in 1906. Droughts, floods, fires, good times and bad are all told from first hand experience as is Victoria’s great knowledge and love of merino sheep. Her family have bred this mighty breed of sheep for over a century with great passion and success. Such a deep understanding of the life led by all living in Western Queensland certainly makes for the development of engaging plots and yarns in Victoria’s novels.
Prue Galley Internationally recognized physiotherapist, author and academic
Victoria Capper’s books are a most enjoyable read. She writes many layered stories with much to enthral readers about outback life. In one sense potted history of life on the land over a number of generations and yet a tight and gripping story in which love is never far away. The day to day work involved in managing an outback property is well described as are the community events when people come together from their isolated stations to enjoy socialising and catching up with the latest 'gossip'. It is clear that the author knows her subject well. She also takes the reader into the bush with its ever changing moods that stimulate the senses.. The beauty of the dawn, the ferocity of the climate extremes and the delight of seeing native animals and birds in their natural habitat are all keenly observed and described with great sensitivity. She writes beautiful stories that uplift the spirit