Janet Gover
Author of Flight to Coorah Creek
Series
Works by Janet Gover
Associated Works
Kisses & Cupcakes — Contributor — 2 copies
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Gender
- female
- Occupations
- novelist
short story writer - Organizations
- Romantic Novelists' Association
- Short biography
- Janet Gover was born in Melbourne, Australia. When she was very small, her family moved to a small country town in Queensland. She studied Journalism and Politics at Queensland University. She went on to forge a path in television journalism, she worked as a reporter and producer of news and other factual TV programmes in Australia, Hong Kong and the UK. Today matched with a Englishman, she lives in West London and works as a consultant, implementing high end digital systems in TV stations and production facilities in Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
Janet Gover published her first short story, called The Last Dragon, in 2002, and since then she published some short stories. In 2007 she won the Romantic Novelists' Association's Elizabeth Goudge Trophy, and now she is part of the RNA's Committee.. She published her first romance novel in 2009. - Nationality
- Australia (birth)
- Birthplace
- Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Places of residence
- Queensland, Australia
Hong Kong
London, England, UK - Associated Place (for map)
- Australia
Members
Reviews
The viral video of a woman running into a bushfire to rescue an injured koala introduces veterinarian Anna Prentiss to firefighter Justin Turner in Safe Haven at Wagtail Ridge by Janet Gover, the third book in her loosely linked rural romance series set in the Hunter Valley.
The woman, a local volunteer wildlife carer, is Justin’s estranged mother whom he, and his twin brother Ben, haven’t seen in 15 years. While Ben is vehemently against reuniting with his mum, Justin wants to reach out show more and he is directed to Anna’s vet practice. Anna is stunned by her reaction to Justin, and equally surprised by his lack of reaction to her. Anna bears obvious facial scars, the result of being gored by a bull several years earlier, and usually strangers look at her with pity or horror.
The relationship that develops between Anna and Justin is really lovely. Since the accident Anna has essentially isolated herself, moving away from family and rarely venturing out socially. Justin is genuinely attracted to Anna and his acceptance of her scars, both physical and emotional, helps her to rebuild her self esteem. Meanwhile Anna is supportive of Justin’s desire to heal the rift with his mother.
Justin and Ben’s history with their mother, and their conflicting feelings, adds drama to the storyline, while a bushfire that threatens the safety of Wagtail Ridge, and Justin, brings tension. These elements provide depth and interest to the story allowing Gover to explore themes such as sibling rivalry, forgiveness, self acceptance and community. She also highlights the threat of bushfires and the bravery of firefighters who defend against them.
A heartwarming romance with well realised characters, I found Safe Haven at Wagtail Ridge to be an engaging read. show less
The woman, a local volunteer wildlife carer, is Justin’s estranged mother whom he, and his twin brother Ben, haven’t seen in 15 years. While Ben is vehemently against reuniting with his mum, Justin wants to reach out show more and he is directed to Anna’s vet practice. Anna is stunned by her reaction to Justin, and equally surprised by his lack of reaction to her. Anna bears obvious facial scars, the result of being gored by a bull several years earlier, and usually strangers look at her with pity or horror.
The relationship that develops between Anna and Justin is really lovely. Since the accident Anna has essentially isolated herself, moving away from family and rarely venturing out socially. Justin is genuinely attracted to Anna and his acceptance of her scars, both physical and emotional, helps her to rebuild her self esteem. Meanwhile Anna is supportive of Justin’s desire to heal the rift with his mother.
Justin and Ben’s history with their mother, and their conflicting feelings, adds drama to the storyline, while a bushfire that threatens the safety of Wagtail Ridge, and Justin, brings tension. These elements provide depth and interest to the story allowing Gover to explore themes such as sibling rivalry, forgiveness, self acceptance and community. She also highlights the threat of bushfires and the bravery of firefighters who defend against them.
A heartwarming romance with well realised characters, I found Safe Haven at Wagtail Ridge to be an engaging read. show less
Set in the western region of the NSW Hunter Valley, The Lawson Sisters by Janet Gover could be considered both a family drama and a rural romance.
Fifteen years after the tragic death of her parents, Liz is struggling to keep the family horse stud, Willowbrook, from foreclosure, and with nowhere left to turn, swallows her pride and turns to her estranged younger sister Kayla for advice.
Kayla, who has made a life for herself in the city as a wedding planner for wealthy clients, isn’t sure show more she cares if they lose Willowbrook, and is certain her sister won’t like the only suggestion she has to offer - to use the homestead and grounds as a wedding destination.
Liz’s reluctance to concede stems not only from her shame in failing to make the property profitable, but also because Kayla’s return to Willowbrook will force her to face some shocking secrets about her parents deaths, her relationship with her sister, and her feelings for the boy next door.
Exploring the themes of love, guilt, estrangement, and reconciliation, The Lawson Sisters unfolds primarily from the perspectives of Liz and Kayla as both come to terms with the secrets that have kept them apart.
Not only is Liz under enormous financial pressure to keep the stud viable, she has the sole physical and emotional responsibility for the maintenance and operation of the farm, all intensified by the crushing burden of guilt she carries. As a result, Liz is single-minded, closed-off, and bitter, and Gover’s characterisation is so convincing that unfortunately I had more pity than empathy for her. I want to at least in part identify with the heroine in this type of story, and I found that difficult here as Liz wasn’t particularly likeable.
However, I was rooting for the sisters reconciliation, for Willowbrook’s fortunes to be reversed, and for Liz to be able to let go of her guilt and move on with the ever patient Mitch. show less
Fifteen years after the tragic death of her parents, Liz is struggling to keep the family horse stud, Willowbrook, from foreclosure, and with nowhere left to turn, swallows her pride and turns to her estranged younger sister Kayla for advice.
Kayla, who has made a life for herself in the city as a wedding planner for wealthy clients, isn’t sure show more she cares if they lose Willowbrook, and is certain her sister won’t like the only suggestion she has to offer - to use the homestead and grounds as a wedding destination.
Liz’s reluctance to concede stems not only from her shame in failing to make the property profitable, but also because Kayla’s return to Willowbrook will force her to face some shocking secrets about her parents deaths, her relationship with her sister, and her feelings for the boy next door.
Exploring the themes of love, guilt, estrangement, and reconciliation, The Lawson Sisters unfolds primarily from the perspectives of Liz and Kayla as both come to terms with the secrets that have kept them apart.
Not only is Liz under enormous financial pressure to keep the stud viable, she has the sole physical and emotional responsibility for the maintenance and operation of the farm, all intensified by the crushing burden of guilt she carries. As a result, Liz is single-minded, closed-off, and bitter, and Gover’s characterisation is so convincing that unfortunately I had more pity than empathy for her. I want to at least in part identify with the heroine in this type of story, and I found that difficult here as Liz wasn’t particularly likeable.
However, I was rooting for the sisters reconciliation, for Willowbrook’s fortunes to be reversed, and for Liz to be able to let go of her guilt and move on with the ever patient Mitch. show less
A great setting, and the novel launches straight into the potential romance - what's not to like.
The story engaged me, helped along by the romance of the setting in a tiny outback town.
The love story was no more - or less - than the attraction of 2 sets of characters, all of whom needed saving in their own way. It was very Hallmark - I don't think there was a kiss till the very end and then it was not part of the storyline or reader's experience.
It was a little too obviously tied up in show more the last few minutes of the novel and I always find that a cheat - it's what comes after, that creates a more intimate kind of challenge for the characters. The HEA seems so manipulated and formulaic at the end that if I were a cynic I would say it was only there to qualify the novel for a romance classification, to capitalise on the biggest selling book category.
This is the story of Adam and Jess, and Jack and Ellen. They are all well drawn, likeable and deserving of a lucky break in the happiness stakes.
I enjoyed the trip to the Birdsville Races, which I've never been to and am quite happy to attend only as an armchair traveller. show less
The story engaged me, helped along by the romance of the setting in a tiny outback town.
The love story was no more - or less - than the attraction of 2 sets of characters, all of whom needed saving in their own way. It was very Hallmark - I don't think there was a kiss till the very end and then it was not part of the storyline or reader's experience.
It was a little too obviously tied up in show more the last few minutes of the novel and I always find that a cheat - it's what comes after, that creates a more intimate kind of challenge for the characters. The HEA seems so manipulated and formulaic at the end that if I were a cynic I would say it was only there to qualify the novel for a romance classification, to capitalise on the biggest selling book category.
This is the story of Adam and Jess, and Jack and Ellen. They are all well drawn, likeable and deserving of a lucky break in the happiness stakes.
I enjoyed the trip to the Birdsville Races, which I've never been to and am quite happy to attend only as an armchair traveller. show less
Janet Gover has done it again!!!
I loved The Wild One and reading Little Girl Lost and going back to Coorah Creek is like visiting old friends. Characters I know and love pop into the story but the main focus is on Tia Walsh, Max Delaney, Sarah Travers and Peter Rankin.
Tia is working on the Goongalla Mines and trying to escape a dark past. She is broken but strong. Max was a big city cop transferred to outback Coorah Creek as punishment for sticking by his morals. He has high morals and a show more kind heart. Sarah is back in Coorah Creek as her father is ill. Will she stay or will the big city call her back? Peter is a truck driver who believes in doing the right thing only sometimes the right thing can be wrong for everyone.
What I love about Janet Gover’s stories is that the characters are such real people with problems and dreams that I can relate to.
Gover’s stories have a wonderful recurring theme of communities coming together in times of tragedy and for a common cause. In this story the town comes together when a little girl is lost in the national park.
Little Girl Lost has multiple storylines that interweave to produce a feel good novel that evokes many emotions and is very hard to put down.
Recommended for readers that enjoy their romance with a little mystery and suspense.
I received my copy from Choc Lit via Netgalley and chose to write a review. show less
I loved The Wild One and reading Little Girl Lost and going back to Coorah Creek is like visiting old friends. Characters I know and love pop into the story but the main focus is on Tia Walsh, Max Delaney, Sarah Travers and Peter Rankin.
Tia is working on the Goongalla Mines and trying to escape a dark past. She is broken but strong. Max was a big city cop transferred to outback Coorah Creek as punishment for sticking by his morals. He has high morals and a show more kind heart. Sarah is back in Coorah Creek as her father is ill. Will she stay or will the big city call her back? Peter is a truck driver who believes in doing the right thing only sometimes the right thing can be wrong for everyone.
What I love about Janet Gover’s stories is that the characters are such real people with problems and dreams that I can relate to.
Gover’s stories have a wonderful recurring theme of communities coming together in times of tragedy and for a common cause. In this story the town comes together when a little girl is lost in the national park.
Little Girl Lost has multiple storylines that interweave to produce a feel good novel that evokes many emotions and is very hard to put down.
Recommended for readers that enjoy their romance with a little mystery and suspense.
I received my copy from Choc Lit via Netgalley and chose to write a review. show less
Awards
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Statistics
- Works
- 16
- Also by
- 3
- Members
- 109
- Popularity
- #178,010
- Rating
- 3.6
- Reviews
- 8
- ISBNs
- 90
- Favorited
- 1