Daintree

A pleasant easy read about an outback community and its way of life. I enjoyed the descriptions of the scenery and the wild life very much. I liked the characters too. Emma and Jeremy were well suited and their romance was sweet and believable. George was a great character and his relationship with Doctor Emma played a vital role in the story. On top of all that the cover is just beautiful. I am giving a whole star just to that.<br />Highly recommended if rural romance is one of your favourite genres.<br />

4.5 Stars<br /><br />Another quality rural romance by Australian author Annie Seaton! Around this time last year the first of the Porter sisters novels was released "Kakadu Sunset" and I fell in love with the writing, the romance, and the setting. It wasn't until after my review was up, and I had a chat with the author - that I discovered she actually lived in the same town as me when I was growing up, and actually taught at my high school! Small world! <br /><br />In this instalment, Emma Porter is living up in the Daintree rain forest. She is an emergency doctor who is happily living her life working and taking care of the community, when new doctor Jeremy enters the scene. He is an old flame and their relationship had ended abruptly and confusingly. As well as the old romance, Emma is trying to deal with some strange events that are occurring in the rain forest, ones which have put her life in danger. <br /><br />Firstly, can we just take a moment to appreciate the cover of this book. Absolutely beautiful! Great choice! I think it was a perfect cover for the atmosphere of this book. I absolutely loved the setting! I thought Emma was a great character and I really enjoyed the mystery and adventure. And of course, the romance was lovely.<br /><br />There are not may negatives! The only things were I felt that a few things in Daintree were a tiny bit rushed, and I was a bit disappointed about the way it went with Jeremy's family. It felt a bit unresolved to me. I also figured out the final twist and the identity of the bad guys very early on, but that didn't stop me from thoroughly enjoying the thoroughly wonderful story! So much more positive than negative! I thought it was just wonderful!<br /><br />Would I recommend Daintree?<br /><br />Absolutely! For any romance fan, and who doesn't love an Aussie rural romance to get away from life for a few hours! I can't wait to read the next one!<br /><br />Many thanks to author Annie Seaton and Pan Macmillan Australia for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. <br /><br />For more reviews check out my <br /> <a href="http://www.booksbabiesbeing.com" rel="nofollow noopener">BLOG</a><br />Twitter<br /><a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="http://www.twitter.com/BBB_Mel">www.twitter.com/BBB_Mel</a><br />Facebook<br /><a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="http://www.facebook.com/booksbabiesbeing">www.facebook.com/booksbabiesbeing</a>

This is an enjoyable rural romance set amongst the stunning landscape of the Daintree rainforest in North Queensland. I've only been to the Daintree once, and that was a while ago, but Annie Seaton's lush descriptions brought it all back to me. <br /><br />Dr Emma Porter has been living a quiet life in a little cottage nestled in the rainforest on the outskirts of Daintree Village for three years now. As well as working at the local hospital, she has established a local holistic medicine practice using natural remedies from the rainforest to successfully treat her patients and her reputation has grown. However, her quiet existence is thrown into turmoil when her ex boyfriend, Dr Jeremy Langford arrives in Daintree, hired to set up some outreach clinics in the area as well as fill in at the hospital during busy times. Emily last saw him just before she had to leave Sydney to return to the Northern Territory because of a family emergency. He never answered the letter of explanation she sent him or returned her calls so she's unsure if she wants to have anything to do with him now.<br /><br />I enjoyed the characters as much as the setting, especially Emma's friends, crusty old George who looks out for her and Wilma who teaches Emma local remedies and where to find the ingredients. Someone is up to no good in the rain forest so there is also a bit of a mystery to be solved and some bad guys to unveil. Recommended for those who enjoy their romance embedded in a good story.<br />

Dr Emma Porter had made a success of her life after the devastating events of five years previously; she was proud of her efforts and the respect she now received. Dalrymple in the Daintree was her home now; her work was divided between the local hospital and her clinic – her long time goal fulfilled. Emma’s little cottage was across the river from old George’s place with access by punt; she loved the quiet solitude that living with only her small dog Bowser for company meant, and although isolated, returning to her home after a hard day was the relaxation she needed. <br /><br />Emma’s shock at the identity of the new doctor to join them at the hospital brought back painful memories of the past – Dr Jeremy Langford’s disbelief at his first sight of Emma had him feeling the same. But as the two tiptoed around each other in those first days, there were things going on in Dalrymple and the Daintree which would cause ripple effects to cascade through the whole town. For the beauty and exotic creatures of the rainforest were drawing unwanted danger to the area, and Emma’s curiosity looked bound to have her facing uncertainty and terror as the peaceful community was shattered.<br /><br /><i>Daintree</i> by Aussie author Annie Seaton is the second in The Porter Sisters trilogy and as utterly gripping and intense as the first, <a href="https://goodreads.com/book/show/27311653.Kakadu_Sunset__The_Porter_Sisters__1_" title="Kakadu Sunset (The Porter Sisters #1) by Annie Seaton" rel="noopener">Kakadu Sunset</a> (Ellie’s story)! With a fast paced, brilliantly crafted plot, the suspense and intrigue was well done. I loved the descriptions of the Daintree; the research which obviously went into Aboriginal healing using leaves and roots from the bush – the gorgeous birds and deadly creatures (which weren’t so gorgeous!) <i>Daintree</i> is one I highly recommend and I’m really looking forward to book 3 which I guess will be Dru’s story. Romantic suspense at its best!<br /><br />With thanks to the publisher for this copy to read in exchange for my honest review.<br />

Four and a half stars.<br />Emma Porter is a doctor and holistic medicine practitioner living in the Daintree are where she has made her home. When Jeremy Langford, a new doctor from Sydney, arrives on the scene Emma is less than impressed. Jeremy and Emma had been in a relationship years before. It ended abruptly and in a way that left Emma unwilling to renew too close a relationship. But it may not be so easy to keep a distance when they are working in close proximity. What Emma does not know is Jeremy is trying to flee some tragic issues of his own that made him long to get out of Sydney and away from the family medical practice. The community of Dalrymple seems to offer the peace and relaxed lifestyle Jeremy is looking for. But there is more going on in the area than either he or Emma knows. George, an elderly resident and Wilma, an elderly indigenous woman have become Emma’s friends, along with Emma’s precious canine friend Bowser. Both George and Wilma at times try and urge Emma to leave things alone. But Emma is determined to find out what is going one. Except it could put her life and that of others in danger.<br />This is the second book in the series about The Porter sisters. Though I have not read the first, it didn’t matter. I was quickly caught up with the characters and what was going on. I liked Emma, even though I didn’t always like the choices she made. I also liked Jeremy, George and Wilma. The setting is well conveyed, and gives a great picture of what this area of Australia is like with its amazing bird life and dangerous snakes. I have never been to the Daintree or likely to go, but I feel like I have been as I could see it all from the pictures painted. <br />Some characters were not so likable and it was a bit predictable fairly early on, who the villains in the tale were. The ending seemed a bit rushed but other than that I was thoroughly interested in this story. Loved the cover which sets the scene well. Another great Australian rural romantic suspense book that also tackles serious issues affecting society as well as our wildlife.

The Daintree Village lies North of Cairns, on the way to the top of Australia. It is nestled in the tropical Daintree Rainforest, a region of stunning beauty, with an amazing biodiversity which is considered one of the most complex ecological systems on earth.<br /><br />It is quite a few years since I was last there, and this book brought it all to life so vividly, that I wanted to hop straight in my car and make a start on the 2000 kilometers and 23 hours it would take to get there. (Well, according to google maps, which lies, it would actually take about three days drive to get there, as I know, having done it).<br /><br />This book follows Dr Emma Porter, who has been part of the tiny community of Daintree for three years, working in the hospital, running a clinic which uses complementary medicine. She is busy, but hopeful of becoming busier if she gets the job she has applied for a (very loosely defined) regional medical coordinator. I am really hazy on exactly what this job was meant to entail, but in any case it does not much matter. Emma does not get the job, it is granted to a Sydney Dr, one Jeremy Langford who wants to move away from the glittering life of Sydney specialists and practice in the bush. For reasons of his own he also wants to move more toward administration work that will get him out of emergency departments.<br /><br />Now, of course, being a romance, Drs Emma and Jeremy are our leading couple. They used to date back in Sydney when they were undergrads, then Emma mysteriously left and they have not been in communication since. This leaving is one of the plot twist/obligatory misunderstandings that are the staples of romances and though I can be impatient with them, this author pulls off this one really well. I liked Emma, I liked Jeremy - I believed in their connection and without too much suspension of disbelief I believed in the shared history that brought them together originally and caused their separation. I very much enjoyed watching them get back together again.<br /><br />To be honest though, it was the setting that drew me to this novel rather than the romance and this book did not disappoint. I really like and respect the way this author brings regions of Australia to life, so the tropical North QLD setting where I lived for years - this was perfect! The details were delightful, and even the 'bad bits' like the terrible roads and the mold that consumes the everything were lightheartedly described.<br /><br />There were a few small things I did not much care for, but the only real thing I did not like is a spoiler; <input type="checkbox" class="spoiler__control" aria-label="The following text has been marked spoiler. Toggle checkbox to reveal or hide." onchange="this.labels[0].setAttribute('aria-hidden', !this.checked);" id="da3d3f0a-840e-4095-a162-c231dd511f15" /><label aria-hidden="true" class="spoiler" for="da3d3f0a-840e-4095-a162-c231dd511f15"> As the novel reaches it's crescendo of a conclusion, as the evil wildlife smugglers are hovering at their most threatening.... There was this thing that was annoying the hell out me that broke the flow of it all. Ok, so the town cops are the smugglers, our heros know that and can't call on them for help. Fine. Instead of getting on the phone to the police in Cairns (a mere few hours away) or even the federal police who could not POSSIBLY be involved in the smuggling ring, instead of these very safe, very sensible actions, Emma and Jeremy, allegedly smart people, fluff around in circles waiting of Emma's ranger friend Troy to get in touch with them and handle it all. <br /><br />Honestly, I kind of wanted to scream. It is not as though they didn't have phone reception or access to the internet. They were dealing with criminals who had attempted murder on Emma, succeeded in arson and were engaging in a FEDERAL OFFENCE. (Incidentally, I was not kidding when I called wildlife smugglers evil, I cannot think of a word that could be better applied to wildlife smugglers and I am happy to debate it). So, instead of calling the federal police, they waited to get a rural ranger to take care of it. This is so idiotic it is definitely worth a scream of frustration. Surely no one is that stupid? What was the point, except to set us up for the fact that Troy was head of the ring. Which fact I am pretty sure many readers, like myself, had already picked up on.</label><br /><br />Now, aside from that annoyance above, that you should definitely regard as a spoiler, I really enjoyed every aspect of this book. The characters rang true, the secondary characters and the community in general felt remarkably real. The descriptions of the rainforest, the housed and the vegetation brought be back to the region so easily. Honestly, I could have read more about the location. It was no problem to have not read the first in the series, unless you have a problem with spoilers. We learn enough about the events in <a href="https://goodreads.com/book/show/27311653.Kakadu_Sunset__The_Porter_Sisters__1_" title="Kakadu Sunset (The Porter Sisters #1) by Annie Seaton" rel="noopener">Kakadu Sunset</a> that the conclusion will be no surprise to anyone reading it.<br />

Daintree by Aussie author Annie Seaton is the second book in The Porter sisters series. I picked this book up as soon as I finished the first book in the series which is not something I’d normally do, but I enjoyed the first one so much I felt I wanted to continue and I’m so pleased that I did because it didn’t disappoint. So far this series has been outstanding and I have a feeling the rest of the books will be too. Looking forward to the next book. Highly recommended.

When I first saw the cover of Annie Seaton’s Daintree, I instantly fell in love. The combination of beautiful reflections, serenity and yet that cloudbank in the distance suggests that all may not be calm in this oasis for too long…The cover matches perfectly with this story that reunites two lonely people who stumble across something sinister in the forest, bringing them together as they fight their own demons in the background. It’s not all sweetness, but gutsy with a few shocking chapters! If you’re a fan of romantic suspense, you will definitely enjoy Daintree.<br /><br />Set in tropical Far North Queensland, Emma Porter has found her quiet life. She lives in an isolated cottage outside of the small town of Dalrymple and happily combines her work as a doctor with that of an alternative (holistic) practitioner. Sure, it can be a bit lonely but that’s what she wants after past hurts. But when she doesn’t get the job of Outreach clinic coordinator/doctor, she’s more than a little surprised to find that the successful applicant is none other than Jeremy, her first love. Their parting many years ago was traumatic and unresolved. Jeremy’s looking for a quiet place of his own to avoid his demons and the family plastic surgery practice. He’s more than happy to see Emma again and respects her ways even though he doesn’t always truly agree with them. But when Emma finds something in the rainforest that doesn’t make sense and her dear friend George is assaulted by strangers, it’s only the start of something big simmering in the town. Who can Emma and Jeremy trust – besides each other?<br /><br />I haven’t read the first book in the series (Kakadu Sunset, which tells the story of Emma’s sister Ellie) but that didn’t matter. I felt Emma’s life was explained very well and in a bonus, it didn’t spoil the surprises of Ellie’s story. I’m guessing the next story will be about third sister Dru – who knows in which exotic locale she will be? (Actually, if you really want to know, Annie gives a good hint!) I respected Emma as a character, although like Jeremy, I can’t say I was always a fan of some of her actions. I found it a bit difficult to believe that she could be in her late twenties, a senior doctor and have an additional Masters in complementary medicine too – she must be a super genius! Sometimes I felt she got a bit preachy about alternative medicines and some of her speeches (particularly to Jeremy) were a bit of an information dump! (I bet he can Google well after his medical training an MBA – again at a young age). Emma can be a bit impulsive and determined to do things her way, but I found that Jeremy’s character countered her nicely. As a reader, I felt more in sync with him and I could relate to his need to be himself, rather than who everyone else wanted to be.<br /><br />The supporting characters are also done well. I defy anyone not to love George, Emma’s elderly friend, who is a lovable scamp. Wilma, who lives at the edge of the forest, is a good influence on Emma and incredibly knowledgeable. Even the ‘baddies’ are crafted well – I didn’t even guess one of them! <br /><br />Daintree is a solid read – once I got used to Emma’s slightly preachy ways and got more of Jeremy, I enjoyed it.<br /><br />Thanks to Pan Macmillan for the copy of this book - my review is honest.<br /><br /><a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="http://samstillreading.wordpress.com">http://samstillreading.wordpress.com</a><br />

Having thoroughly enjoyed the first of Annie Seaton's Porter Sister's Trilogy - Kakdu Sunset. I was, of course, keen to get straight to seeing what Emma- sister #2, was up to. While perhaps not the dark twist I felt in the first book there was none the less, enough mystery and suspense going on coupled with just the right amount of romance so as not to come across as trite. <br /><br />Like the first book, Seaton has captured the essence of the location - this time the Daintree. The theme of conservation once again runs strongly through the book - clearly a passion that Seaton feels.<br /><br />The characters were believable with a wonderful relationship unfolding between the characters of Emma, Jeremy and George, the latter felt like an old irascible fellow you chided, but only half-heartedly.<br /><br />Annie Seaton once again delivers a solid offering and of course, I am looking forward to Book 3 regarding the youngest Porter sister.

<br />Annie Seaton's website says that she writes "Women's Fiction in Australian landscapes." The Australian Women's Weekly calls it an action and romance packed thriller, that "raises the bar in rural fiction." I agree with these thoughts.<br /><br />Certainly Annie Seaton's recognition of some of the current social and ecological issues in Australian life today comes through loud and clear. Her writing is tight and concise.<br /><br />Perhaps the direction this story will take is signalled too obviously right from the beginning, but I found it a satisfying enough read, with believable characters and scenarios. It is not a murder mystery but there are mysteries to be solved.