Review: Loved it!!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 5, 2013
Olivia Murphy was heading over to a house in her suburb of Hahndorf in the Adelaide Hills, with the deposit she had saved to buy the classic Ducati motorbike which had once belonged to her brother, Luke. She was given first option on it when it went up for sale, and she was determined to have it. But as she was arriving at the house, a hot ute with an even hotter driver was also pulling up...in her haste to get there first, she fell, ending up on her backside with the contents of her handbag strewn around her, including the money in its plastic bag.Owen Carson helped Liv to her feet, and even though his touch sent shivers through her (it was winter after all!) she shrugged him off, and headed up the path to the front door, money in hand. But when Owen was more than happy to pay the asking price, more than Liv could manage, she found herself without the papers saying she was the new owner. She was devastated, and rushed off, not wanted the two men to see her tears.Liv's Mum and Dad had gone away for this four day long weekend in June, and she was going to enjoy the house, empty, quiet and peaceful, without her mum's pedantic presence and her dad's bitterness. The past had been hard on the family, and this weekend Liv and Ben had wanted to ride their motorbikes to Mannum, for their goodbye ride to Liv's beloved brother Luke.With Liv's dreams shattered, and her thoughts in turmoil over the deliciously handsome Owen, she was tentatively optimistic when he asked to see her that night. Would Liv be able to fulfil her promise to herself and go on the goodbye ride? And would Owen leave town in a matter of days?I really enjoyed this novella by WA writer Lily Malone. The characters were warm and endearing, and I loved Liv. She had such strength of character and was determined to turn her life around; get rid of the baggage once and for all. Some of the areas mentioned; Hahndorf, Adelaide, Mannum and Mount Gambier, are all places I know, so I travelled with the characters all the way through the story. Highly recommended.