One heartbroken woman. One bitter cop. One community to save them.

After the tragic death of her husband, single mum Isabelle Cassidy is bereft and broke. When she hears about The Peppercorn Project – a scheme that offers affordable rent in the tiny but vibrant town of Stony Creek – Issie sees it as her family’s best chance at a fresh start.

Newly single police officer Matt Robertson moved to Stony Creek to lick his wounds after a bitter divorce. Wanting only peace and quiet, Matt is against the Project, seeing it as a threat to the peace he’s found in the country town – until he meets Issie. Despite himself, Matt is drawn to the widow and feels inexplicably protective of her fragile family.

Just when Issie begins to imagine a future with Matt, an accident proves how far she has to go before she can move beyond her grief. But the citizens of Stony Creek won’t rest until they see these two broken souls find a new beginning, together.

Can Issie move beyond the pain of her past and entrust Matt with her family, and her heart?

A gorgeous rural romance for fans of Fiona McArthur, Rachael Johns and Fiona McCallum.

4 “Peppercorn” Stars.

Unexpected but true I really enjoyed this book. After reading a series that has a faster pace and needing a break I decided to go for something slower and this really worked for me.

This takes place in Australia which I love, change of scenery when it comes to only reading books based in America. I liked the different use of the language and the areas that there are and how different it is.

Now I know this trope is unpopular with the dead spouse so it won’t be for everyone and at times I had some difficulty with it.

Isabelle Cassidy needs a fresh start after the death of her husband. She is broke, grieving and her parents aren’t really helpful. She became pregnant after school with her eldest son Fletcher and then with her six year old daughter Mietta.

The Peppercorn Project is to help families in need. There are four houses in Stony Creek but twenty applicants so the competition is stiff. I felt for Isabelle and I liked her. At times it was painful to see her work through her grief. But there were also times were I found it hard.

The Cassidy family gets one of the houses. They have their ups and downs but they get there in the end.

Matt Robertson is a cynic and after a messy divorce he just wants to lick his wounds that is until he sees a tired Isabelle with her two children and something comes to life in him.

I enjoyed how their relationship progressed and Matt is a real sweetheart, a cuddly bear. They only took their relationship to the intimate level really at the end of the book but I have to be honest I don’t care.

I also love it when there are kids in the book and old people.

If you’re looking for something sweet and warm then this is a read for you.