In Jacqui's CD Player ...

Just started listening to ... Tuscan Rose by Belinda Alexander

Synopsis: A mysterious stranger known as The Wolf leaves an infant with the sisters of Santo Spirito. A tiny silver key hidden in her wrappings is the one clue to the childs identity.  Rosa's only family is the nuns who have raised her. When she turns fifteen, she must leave them and become governess to the daughter of an aristocrat and his strange, frightening wife. Their house is elegant but cursed, and Rosa - blessed with gifts beyond her considerable musical talents - is torn between her desire to know the truth and her fear of its repercussions. And all the while, the hand of Fascism curls around beautiful Italy, and none of her citizens is safe. Rosa faces unimaginable hardship: her only weapons her intelligence, intuition and determination ...and her extraordinary capacity for love. A tale of sacrifice and reward, of beauty and horror, and of redemption as only Belinda Alexandra can deliver. A wonderful saga

Just finished listening to ... The Cattleman's Daughter by Rachel Treasure

Synopsis: Born on the rugged Dargo High Plains and raised by her cattleman father, Emily Flanaghan has lost her way in life. Locked in an unhappy marriage in the suburbs, Emily misses the high country with a fierce ache. To make matters worse, her heritage is under threat. A government bill to evict the mountain cattlemen is about to be passed, and the Flanaghans could be banned from the mountains their family has looked after for generations.

When a terrible accident brings Emily to the brink of death, she realises she must return to the high country to seek a way forward in life; healing herself, her daughters and her land. Along the way, she finds herself falling in love with a man who works for the government - the traditional opposition of the cattlemen - new Parks ranger Luke Bradshaw. But just as she sees that the land and Luke are the keys to regaining her life, Emily faces losing them both in the greatest challenge of all.

Set in the beautiful snow gum country of the Victorian Alps, the Cattleman's Daughter is a haunting and unforgettable tale of love, self-discovery and forgiveness from one of Australia's best-loved authors.

Jacqui's Review: As most of you know by now, an Australian saga is amongst my most favourite genres.  It was nice to read a story based around modern day cattle men & women.  The story also focuses on some very topical environmental issues particularly the management of the Australian bush. 3 out of 5.