Where Lies The Heart: A tale of the deep forests and blue seas

Dear Roly, Wow! (That’s a simple one-word reaction from a passionate reader.) Your book was thoroughly enjoyable for me, from start to finish. I have always devoured historical fiction, for example, Ken Follet’s Pillars of the Earth trilogy. But, frankly, all the elements of that trilogy that pulled me in, you have created in Where Lies the Heart to an even greater degree: 1. I absolutely believed your setting – time and place. You placed me right there in the middle of it. Much of your life experience in the Beautiful Lord Howe Island, and the far North coast of NSW was generously shared, and I felt it deeply. However, you obviously did extensive research, creating fascinating accounts of whaling, storms at sea, felling huge cedar trees, sea battles and more. I learned so much. But instead of “lecturing”, you incorporated it all in a very natural, interesting way. Armchair time travel at its best. 2. Your characters – my new friends! Many epic adventure novels (which I believe this is) create interesting, believable characters that stay with the reader. But you have managed to have so many, with such individual three-dimensionality. I really appreciate your strong, independent women. It exhibits your understanding of the human psyche. 3. The plot was always interesting and gripping, with some real surprises. I really enjoy following two groups of characters, and then seeing how they are connected. The way Ned & Tom connect up with Bull (and Winks), at Lennox Head no less, and then Bull and Sue get together – well, that was very satisfying. Even with the tragedy, such as the deaths of Jack Noble, Blake’s family, and then Leilani and their baby, there was enough of a “happy ending” for me. And when the “SS”-marked log ends up on Lord Howe Island, things really came full circle, especially considering that you stayed in that very house! Congratulations on a wonderful book – quite an achievement. Yours, Dale