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Online Bookclub
Are you passionate about literature and eager to connect with fellow book enthusiasts?
Our virtual bookclub offers the perfect platform for you to indulge in your love for reading, no matter how busy your schedule may be.
February Theme:
“A Match Made in Books”
This month’s theme, ‘A Match Made in Books’, celebrates the beautiful and complex nature of love in all its forms—romantic, familial, and even the love we cultivate for ourselves. Books have a special way of bringing together characters and stories that resonate with our hearts, whether it’s the passionate chemistry between two unlikely lovers, the bond of family that endures through thick and thin, or the journey of self-discovery and acceptance.
For this month, we plan on indulging in swoon-worthy romances like The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion, where two mismatched individuals find love in the most unexpected of ways, to thought-provoking novels like The Midnight Library by Matt Haig, where one woman explores infinite lives to find her true path, love takes on many shades. For a gripping family saga, The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah explores the depths of sibling bonds during war, while A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman offers a heartwarming tale of an unlikely friendship that restores hope and love in a grumpy, solitary man.
Whether you’re looking for romance, mystery, or emotional depth, there’s a perfect match for every reader this month.
Here are February’s book recommendations that will make your reading experience this month even more special. These titles are available at our branches, or you can find them digitally on BorrowBox or Hoopla.
If you are part of our Goodreads Group, you can add your chosen book to you ‘reading list’.
The discussion board for February’s theme is open and ready for people to start chatting!
Author Spotlight
Welcome to Author Spotlight, where each month we will shine a light on the authors that have captivated our minds here in Western Downs Libraries. Join us as we explore the diverse worlds they create and celebrate the magic of storytelling in all its forms.
February Author:
Maya Linnell
This month, our spotlight is on Maya Linnell.
Maya Linnell is a bestselling rural fiction author whose writing is deeply inspired by her rural upbringing and the small communities she has always loved. With a knack for weaving heartwarming stories about life in the Australian countryside, Maya’s books have captured the hearts of readers everywhere. Wallaby Lane is her sixth novel, following Kookaburra Cottage, Paperbark Hill, Magpie’s Bend, Bottlebrush Creek, and Wildflower Ridge.
Before becoming a full-time author, Maya worked as a country journalist and radio host. She now resides in the Darling Downs region of Queensland with her family, where she writes to the sound of kookaburras and fuels her creativity with copious amounts of tea, chocolate, and homemade biscuits.
Maya’s lifelong dream of becoming an author came true in 2019, and she couldn’t be happier telling the stories of rural Australia. When she’s not writing, she enjoys baking (especially sweet treats), gardening (dahlias are her favorite), and sewing (from skirts to aprons to bags). A few fun facts about Maya: she always has a book (or three) on the go, her lucky number is 3, and her sense of direction is a little unreliable—multi-floor car parks are her kryptonite!
Maya’s stories offer a glimpse into the heart of rural life, filled with warmth, charm, and the kinds of characters you can’t help but root for.
Image credit: Tracy Botica
Book Review: Crows Nest
Author: Nikki Mottram
Stars: ⭐⭐⭐ 1/2
Crows Nest by Nikki Mottram is one of those books that immediately grabs your attention and doesn’t let go. Set in the small, seemingly quiet town of Crows Nest in Queensland, the novel delves deep into the dark underbelly of rural life and the complexities of a small town that’s hiding more than it seems.
Dana Gibson, a child protection officer, is running from her own grief after the tragic loss of her child. She takes a contract job in Toowoomba, hoping for a fresh start, but finds herself thrown into the chaos of small-town politics, an overburdened system, and an unsolved murder case that quickly escalates. The setting itself, which I’ve become familiar with as a frequent visitor to Toowoomba, felt like a character in its own right. The roads, the people, the heat of the day—it all added layers of tension that made the story feel so real.
Mottram does an incredible job of creating a gripping atmosphere, with Dana at the heart of it all. She’s not your typical protagonist—she’s impulsive, flawed, and often makes decisions that leave you cringing. But that’s what made me connect with her. Dana’s struggle to balance her personal grief with the demands of her job, while navigating the secrets of a small town, had me hooked. She’s a messy, real character—someone who’s not afraid to get her hands dirty in the search for truth, even if it means stepping on some toes along the way.
The murder investigation Dana gets wrapped up in is layered with mystery and suspense. The town’s secrets begin to unravel as Dana digs deeper, and it’s here that the novel shines. There’s an intensity that builds with each chapter, keeping you on the edge of your seat. I also couldn’t help but notice how the book felt even more immersive after listening to that true crime podcast. It lent a chilling edge to the story, making it all the more compelling.
While I loved the gritty, real feel of Crows Nest, there were moments that had me questioning Dana’s professional judgment. Her decisions, especially involving an eleven-year-old boy named Angus, felt at times dangerously irresponsible. Yet, it’s these flaws that make Dana so intriguing—she’s not a perfect, heroic figure, but a flawed woman trying to do the best she can in a situation that’s constantly changing.
Now, here’s a fun fact: I actually read Crows Nest just two weeks after my husband forced me to listen to a true crime podcast on the way to Toowoomba about a suspicious murder/suicide at Cherry Tree Creek in Queensland. The way my mind raced as I started reading Nikki Mottram’s book—knowing the true crime case loosely inspired the plot—was electric. It took the storytelling to a whole new level. The background knowledge I had of that case created a chilling context that made the book’s atmosphere feel even more immersive and real.
Overall, Crows Nest is a dark, atmospheric rural crime debut that’s well worth reading. It’s a page-turner that will keep you invested from start to finish. If you’re a fan of crime fiction with complex, layered characters and a small-town setting full of secrets, this is a must-read. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing where Nikki Mottram goes next with this series.
You can read your copy here.
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