Reunion in the Outback

I really enjoyed Yolanda and Michael’s story in Reunion in the Outback by Nicole Flockton, book four in her Welcome to Bunya Junction series. This is story is a fascinating picture of a marriage in deep crisis, demonstrating how one can be so deeply involved and connected, yet feel so far apart; alone. We are back in Bunya Junction with another of the Carruthers siblings; this time it’s Yolanda Watson. Yolanda married her high school sweetheart right after graduation, leaving for the bright lights of Sydney. Six years later, Michael is a very busy chef, Yolanda has built up a successful career as a makeup influencer on the web and after a health scare she feels he is never home; not spending enough time with her and their little girl. The distancing gets worse when he reacts negatively to the possibility of a second child and tired of his attitude, Yolanda packs up herself and her young daughter, running back to Bunya Junction. Michael realizes after a few weeks that he is miserable without his family with him. And when the restaurant is sold and he is let go, he knows he has to go after his family and return to the small town he had said he would never return to. Despite both being in the same town, each of them have a secret they fear to share, making reconciliation difficult, if not almost impossible. Michael and Yolanda need to regain the trust and communication they once had before all is lost; with both of them losing their soul-mate. Ms. Flockton wrote a passionate, sweet and emotional story that is definitely not to be missed. She provided a tale rich with chemistry, intense conversations, and endearing characters giving Yolanda and Michael a second chance for their forever future together. I highly recommend Reunion in the Outback to other readers. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

DNF at 48%. Yolanda and her husband Michael left Bunya Junction years ago for the big city. Childhood sweethearts, she was tired of being mollycoddled by her family and he was trying to escape being the son of the town drunk. They made a good life for themselves in the city, Michael rose to become head chef at a famous restaurant. Yolanda worked until they had a baby then was a stay-at-home mum with a burgeoning YouTube channel giving make-up advice and tutorials. Everything changed when Yolanda miscarried their second child and nearly died. The shock terrified Michael and as a consequence he started treating her like a fragile piece of porcelain, less of a partner and more of a responsibility. Michael's attitude reminds Yolanda of her family's over-protectiveness, especially when he refuses to countenance her having another baby, or getting a job, or putting the baby in childcare once a week. Suspecting she is in fact pregnant again, Yolanda broaches the possibility to Michael who overreacts and it culminates in Yolanda taking their daughter back to Bunya Junction for "a break". Meanwhile, Michael is devastated at the loss of his wife and child who he loves more than anything in the world, then he is let go when the restaurant is sold to a new owner who wants to bring in their own chef. All his worst nightmares are coming true, Michael feels just as much a loser as his father. Determined to win back his wife, Michael comes back to Bunya Junction and lands a temporary job as chef at Yolanda's brother's bar and grill. I really struggled with this book, it has that old-school Mills & Boon vibe to it which was off-putting to start with. Then I just realised that all this drama was caused because the two of them couldn't/wouldn't speak to each other, Yolanda especially does everything to avoid seeing or speaking to Michael - despite the fact that she loves him. Michael also has some pretty overbearing tendencies, I think if I was on a break and my partner sat in the bar every night while I worked, waited until everyone else left and then tried to put the moves on me I'd call the cops! Also they were both keeping secrets, Michael doesn't know Yolanda is pregnant, she doesn't know he's lost his job. At nearly halfway through I was starting to get a rinse-and-repeat vibe, she melts every time he gets close then she runs away and doesn't want to speak to him. He gets all caveman but doesn't tell her the truth. Rinse and repeat. Sorry, just not for me. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher Tule in return for an honest review.

This is the first time I have read this book or this author. I love a good marriage in trouble romance and this book was definitely that. This book stars a young couple Yolanda, Michael and their young daughter, Jayne. They have moved to the big city and things for them as a family are going VERY badly. Yolanda is unhappy so she goes home to Bunya and her and Jayne are welcomed. Meanwhile one of the prime issues is that Michael works around the clock and Yolanda feels he loves it more than her. But Michael ends up losing his job and so he decides to go after what he can fix, namely his family. I enjoyed this story and I enjoyed watching Michael realize what is important in life. I liked that Yolanda while running away was also trying to find herself and came to realise that home is where the heart is and that love and family are truly what's important. It was a heart warming story with characters I grew to love. I received a complimentary early release copy of this e-book from the author prior to release and am voluntarily leaving a review.