Leonie Kelsall – The Farm at Peppertree Crossing (Literature Review)

 

[CW: This review, and the book it refers to, contains references to trauma]

Australian author Leonie Kelsall makes an impressive leap to rural romance with the recent release of her new novel, The Farm at Peppertree Crossing.

While this may be Kelsall’s first foray into the rural romance genre, she’s no stranger to the Australian literary scene. As Laney Kaye, she has published several novels focusing on everything from romantic suspense to outback noir. And when she’s not writing, Kelsall enjoys a successful career as a counsellor while running her own rural property.

After spending her childhood bouncing from one abusive foster home to the next, Roni has come to understand that the only person she can rely on is herself. And that’s OK, because she doesn’t need much.

She makes just enough money working at the bakery to cover her rent and food for both herself and her cat Scritches; any dreams she had of a better life have long been put on the backburner. Until she discovers she’s pregnant and is contacted by a lawyer about an inheritance from a family member she’s never heard of.

But there’s a catch: her aunt Marian has left her a to-do list she must complete in order to inherit, and Roni begins to doubt the validity of the bequest. Is this just another scam or should she trust her gut and complete Marian’s tasks in order to obtain the fresh start she’s always wanted?

Admittedly, my experience with the rural romance genre hasn’t been great. In my experience, they were books about fluffy romances and predictable plots with damsels in distresses finding their prince by the story’s end. It’s just not my thing. But I can’t ignore the popularity of the genre, so I took a chance on The Farm at Peppertree Crossing and was pleasantly surprised.

The Farm at Peppertree Crossing isn’t really like any other rural romance novel I’ve read in the past. Fuelled by Roni’s traumatic past, it’s a lot darker than other books in the genre. Everything isn’t sunshine and rainbows; as this book touches on a multitude of topics including trauma and mental health.

While these aren’t necessarily happy things to talk about, it is necessary to Kelsall’s story and the message she’s trying to portray. It’s gritty and imperfect. There’s a reality and truth to the characters in this novel – be it Roni herself, Matt, Tracey or Denise – that makes them so relatable to the reader. These are flawed individuals, just like us and their experiences, they way they relate to the world and with each other is relative to those experiences.

Roni isn’t really a damsel in distress in need of saving by a hot guy in R.M. Williams boots. She’s perfectly capable of taking care of herself. Sure, there’s love in this novel; it wouldn’t be a rural romance if there wasn’t. But it’s not central to the story.

To be honest, I think that’s what made me enjoy it so much. It makes for a much deeper storyline and characters that are just as three dimensional as their human counterparts. And the way Kelsall deals with these topics is gentle and assured, something she’s no doubt learnt from her counselling career. It’s a mark of Kelsall’s unique storytelling ability that she is able to combine both the dark and light elements of this story to create something so appealing.

The Farm at Peppertree Crossing is an engaging read from start to finish. If traditional rural romance just isn’t cutting it for you, give this one a go. You might just be surprised.

***

The Farm at Peppertree Crossing is published by Allen & Unwin. To find out more about this book, or others they publish, visit their website. Alternatively, you can connect with Leonie Kelsall via Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

 

This interview is part of my “Spotlight on Australian Authors” series. To read other interviews or reviews in this series (including my interview with Leonie Kelsall), click the below image.

***
If you liked this article and would like to engage my freelance writing, editing or marketing services for your next project, contact me to discuss my rates!