Do you enjoy reading historical romances? The captivating novel “Wife to Order: An Australian Outback Romance” by Lucy Walker centres on the concepts of love, suspense, fear, hope, and jealousy. The plot is complex, the characters are well-developed, and the novel features some intriguing Australian outback customs and scenery from 1960 (Wybong).

Review

In Lucy Walker’s gripping historical romance novel “Wife to Order: An Australian Outback Romance,” readers get a peek of the people, their taboos, and general Australian country life in the middle of the 20th century.

Carey Fraser, then eighteen, was forced to live with her troublesome uncle Tam after her father passed away. Tam then dramatically reveals her father’s will, which names wealthy cattle station owner Oliver Reddin as the executor of Carey’s agricultural affairs. Oliver Reddin’s endearing demeanour causes Carey to fall in love. Will Oliver get married to her? How can Carey, a charming rural girl, adapt to city life in Melbourne and prepare for Oliver’s family’s cold treatment? What function does gorgeous Jane Newbold serve? Every page of this captivating romantic novel will keep you interested.

This 232-page novel is told from multiple perspectives. The backdrop setting and personalities of both rural and urban life are carefully elaborated upon by the author. The romantic life of an Australian outback girl who, by chance, ends herself in the care of a wealthy horse farmer is the subject of the story’s intense attention on the emotions of fears, hopes, jealousy, and most importantly, love. The choice she had to make amid confusing options was the one that genuinely caught my attention at first and held it to the very end.

The plot description was flawlessly smooth and colourful, skilfully tying together all the components and making for an engaging read. The tale never had a dull moment. You will see that each individual has their own problems as the story progresses. There are numerous psychological exchanges between Carey and Oliver that force them both into positions where they must consider each other’s perspectives. But aside from that, Lucy Walker does a wonderful job of capturing the polar opposite characters of Oliver and Carey. The reader instantly feels sympathy for Carey because of her innocent character and Oliver’s patronising demeanour since she must deal with Oliver’s family’s eccentric members. The plot is spiced up by Millicent and Jane Newbold, who enjoy controlling the couple’s affairs. Some viewers who prefer strong protagonists might find Carey’s character fascinating given each new challenge she and little Tony encountered.

I admire how carefully the author concentrates on the supporting characters and surroundings to hone a compelling plot. Additionally, Lucy does an excellent job of maintaining the element of suspense in this romantic novel by forcing the reader to guess every action the characters take.

Themes of suspense, love, fear, jealousy, hope, and an intriguing historical backdrop are all delightfully incorporated into this lighthearted, gentle romance narrative. The reader’s creative impulses are sparked as they experience life as an Australian racehorse breeder in 1960, as well as the taboos and environment of Wybond. I suggest this book to anyone who enjoy lighthearted, clean, romantic tales with a well-developed plot and characters who are somewhat of the past.

Book Details

  • Title: Wife to Order: An Australian Outback Romance
  • Author: Lucy Walker
  • Genre: Romance
  • Theme: Marriage of Convenience, Romance, Hope, Historical Fiction
  • Publication Date: December 16 2020
  • ISBN or ASIN: B08QW9DCC5
  • Number of Pages: 232
  • Minimum Audience Age: 18

Book Themes

(Note: 0=none, 1=a few, 2=considerable, 3=pronounced, 4=excessive)

  • Sexual themes: 1
  • Religious themes: 0
  • Violence, self-harm, etc.: 1
  • Crude language, expletives, swearing, etc.: 0
  • Other adult themes: 2

Children’s Book Features

  • Good role models for younger ones: Not specified by the author
  • Moral values: Not specified by the author
  • Good social manners: Not specified by the author
  • Age-appropriate language and topics: Yes
  • Age-appropriate illustrations: Yes
  • Gained the approval of a licensed educator or professionals in a relevant field: Not specified by the author
  • Based on scientifically-proven data or similar information: Not specified by the author
  • Produced through industry-standard research processes: Not specified by the author
  • Other relevant information:

Rating

  • Content: 5 stars
  • Writing Style: 5 stars
  • Appeal to Target Audience: 5 stars
  • Uniqueness: 5 stars
  • Editing: 4 stars
  • Other factors: 4 stars
  • Overall: 4.67 stars


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By Ashiyya

I am a book reviewer, digital content specialist, blogger, and self-publisher who loves to create children’s resources and personal organizers. I am passionate about books. I am fond of traveling to new places and writing about travel, personal growth, and my favorite books. In the future, I would like to write about travel, health, fitness, different products, and books.

One thought on “A Book Review by Ashiyya: “Wife to Order” by Lucy Walker”
  1. I love a good romance, especially one with memorable characters. And I always enjoy learning about cultures different from mine, so this book seems like a fascinating way to get to know life in Australia, both in the country and in the cities. Great review!