Title: Osprey Reef
Author: Annie Seaton
Published: October 27th 2021
Publisher: Mira – AU
Pages: 480
Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Saga
RRP: $29.99
Rating: 4.5 stars
Love. Greed. Revenge. And a desperate search for answers ... Against the stunning backdrop of the Great Barrier Reef, two women in different eras discover how their hearts and fortunes are swayed by the secrets of the sea.
2019: Bethany Kristensen faces her toughest challenge to date, skippering the family charter business. With rivals doing their utmost to undercut her prices and reputation, the Kristensens' operation hangs by a thread. Winning the tender for a new scientific research program headed out to the farthest edge of the reef is her last chance to keep the business going. But when rumour and vandalism turn to outright sabotage, things take a drastic turn...
1934: Stella Booth flees a future of domestic drudgery in small-town outback Queensland, heading for employment and an independent life in Mackay. But fate has other plans and an accident en route sends her life spinning in a most unexpected direction...
Linked by a family mystery, decades apart, Bethany and Stella will both need to dig deeper than ever before to forge their place among the turbulent seas of the reef.
Australian author Annie Seaton applies her passion for conservation of our iconic landscape to a compelling mystery and family saga of belonging.
Review:
'I'm looking forward to Osprey,' Shane said. 'I've taken a few trips out there and it's the most awesome diving. The coral is still untouched by the issues that impact it closer to the coast.'
A tale of adventure, retaliation, family values, passion and an intense pursuit for a puzzle that lies at the core of Australia's majestic Great Barrier Reef, Osprey Reef is the latest release from Annie Seaton. An atmospheric, intriguing and situational family saga, Annie Seaton's new novel was a great story to complete my summer school holiday reading sojourn.
Fusing together two engrossing storylines in one cohesive and engaging narrative fold, Osprey Reef takes the reader to 2019 in the company of Bethany Kristensen. Bethany is in the fight of her life when the story begins. This young woman must summon all the courage she can to take over the all-important skipper duties of her family's boat charter business. Bethany faces problems and setbacks all the way. From relentless business rivals to cost cutting measures, the Kristensen family business is only just managing to stay afloat. When the business secures a vital and lifesaving tender to conduct a research trip on the outer banks of the Great Barrier Reef, Bethany knows this is her only chance to save the business. But plenty of threats to this expedition surface, from deliberate treachery and destruction, Bethany walks a dangerous line. Turning the clock back to 1934, Osprey Reef closely follows the life of Stella Booth, a woman who challenges the expectations of her time to seek an autonomous life away from her small town. But Stella is unprepared for what adventures await her in her new home and it will ultimately send her life in a surprising direction, with far reaching implications. How are Stella and Bethany's lives inexplicably linked and how will they each make their mark on Australia's renowned Great Barrier Reef?
Osprey Reef by Annie Seaton was the perfect way to cap off the summer school holiday period. In fact, I think this latest release from Annie Seaton was an essential poolside accessory. Romantic, intriguing and mysterious, it was great to surrender myself completely to this book over a weekend.
Setting wise, Osprey Reef dazzles and blinds you quite literally with the sheer beauty of the north east coast region of Queensland. In a wonderful tribute to the place author Annie Seaton now resides, the breathtaking landscape of the Great Barrier Reef and the surrounding lands come alive thanks to Seaton's vivid prose. For those who have not had the chance yet to visit this must-see destination, Osprey Reef allows the reader to experience this awe-inspiring locale in page form. What an amazing literary escape Osprey Reef offered. Annie Seaton certainly puts on a memorable and impressive show landscape wise.
In terms of the narrative, Osprey Reef is divided into two clear time frames. Situated in 1934 and 2019, Seaton crosses each time frame well so that they flatter one another with ease. I never felt a sense of division or separation between these two different storylines, they always worked in unison, offering the reader a generous page-based experience. With plenty of thrills, unexpected eventualities, romance, emotion, connection, memories, regrets, leaps of faith and matters of the heart presented along this fulfilling journey, the reader is completely entertained from page one. I lapped up the family saga component of this tale and I loved the addition of the family tree in the book, along with an accompanying map. These were great extra flourishes gifted to the reader to enhance the overall reading experience of the book.
Seaton's characters are a fine bunch. I really warmed to the leading hands in both the past and present storylines. Both were brave, determined and independent women. However, Bethany and Stella were afraid of their own strength at times, which made both leads incredibly interesting to follow. Seaton allows her prime protagonists time to grow, change and set sail as the story gradually unfurls. It was great to be a part of their evolution process so to speak! Tying in love interests and supporting cast to their respective pathways made Osprey Reef an absorbing tale.
With an insightful glimpse into the environmental issues at the heart of one of our nation's most treasured locations, combined with some fascinating history, compelling family relations and an equivocal adventure mystery, Osprey Reef has it all. Hurrah Annie Seaton!
Osprey Reef by Annie Seaton was published on 27th October 2021 by Mira – AU. Details on how to purchase the book can be found here.
To learn more about the author of Osprey Reef, Annie Seaton, visit here.
*I wish to thank Harlequin Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
WordPress.com
No comments:
Post a Comment