Praise for Penelope Janu
‘A rural story that has it all … simmering romance, international intrigue, a complex heroine and a swoon-worthy hero. What’s not to love?’
— Karly Lane, bestselling Australian author
‘When reading a Janu novel, one expects several things: a feisty heroine, gorgeous rural settings, and a passionate, captivating romance. She delivers all that here, in spades.’
— Better Reading on Clouds on the Horizon
‘Encapsulates everything I love about the romance genre and so much more. A go-to author for rural romance for the head as well as the heart …’
— Joanna Nell, bestselling Australian author
‘Endearingly quirky and utterly charming. Funny and sweet and wonderful.’
— Amy Andrews, USA Today bestselling author
‘Penelope Janu’s fresh, bright, funny new twist on rural romance is an absolute delight. Her wit is as sharp as a knife. She is one of my absolute must-read authors.’
— Victoria Purman, bestselling author
‘Intriguing characters and a colourful setting: if you like romance and a little mystery, get ready to enjoy this novel.’
— Tricia Stringer, bestselling Australian author
‘Take a break from the news and spend time in Horseshoe Hill. Well written, interesting and filled with heart, Starting from Scratch is the perfect weekend read.’
—Better Reading
‘Oh, how I do love reading a novel by Penelope Janu, it’s always an absolute pleasure and I find them hard to put down. Up on Horseshoe Hill is no exception, I read until the early hours of the morning and picked it up again as soon as I was awake.’
—Claire’s Reads and Reviews
‘Up on Horseshoe Hill is a novel that I would recommend for animal lovers, for rural romance lovers and for those seeking an engaging read.’
—Great Reads and Tea Leaves
‘On the Right Track by author Penelope Janu is on my unputdownable fave reads category. There was humour, tension, chemistry amongst a backdrop of family drama that just keeps the pages turning.’
—Talking Books Blog
‘Penelope Janu succeeds in delivering fans old and new an engrossing tale. Up on Horseshoe Hill is a novel that awakens our sense of hope that love can prevail, even when life deals you with a series of devastating setbacks to overcome.’
— Mrs B’s Book Reviews
‘On the Right Track by author Penelope Janu is on my unputdownable fave reads category. There was humour, tension, chemistry amongst a backdrop of family drama that just keeps the pages turning.’
— Talking Books Blog
In At The Deep End is the perfect read to cool you down during these insane summer heat waves, making it a perfect beach read. While the hopeless romantics out there, and souls with massive hearts, will cry a number of tears, you will laugh so much more than you will cry. I truly believe this book is phenomenal and you really need to pick up a copy ASAP.
— Jess, The Never Ending Bookshelf blog
Just awesome. Great action start, believable tension, character goals were worked towards with interesting plot turns that could have been mundane but definitely weren't. Very likeable, flawed characters (could definitely relate) that you wanted the best for. And the physical tension between main characters was just excellent - well spaced out across the book but definitely fun to read ;) Can't wait to read more by this author.
— Jodie, Goodreads
VaVeros, Goodreads: I am in love with this book. It was wonderful. The slow burn was just so slow and just fab. This is the first every first point-of-view/only from the heroine's side romance that I have loved. Excellent! The author nails the Sydney's Northern Beaches setting.
— VaVeros, Goodreads:
After a few pages of In at the Deep End, I dug out one of my borrowed (ahem) Do Not Disturb signs and hung it on my door. I knew from page 6 I couldn't be interrupted; this book had to be devoured whole. And that's exactly what I did. There's no insta-love here, no instant weakening of the knees. Instead, what we have is witty conversation, simmering tension (yes, sexual as well), and a cast of characters that are just like grandma's hugs: warm, comforting and you can't get enough of them. And that's just the way I love my romances. If it isn't already clear, I absolutely loved this book!
— Booktopia
Eek, where to start?! This is one of my favourite reads so far this year. The sort of book I keep on hand for when I’m bored or need a bit of a pick me up. I can open it to anywhere and just start reading and sink back into the story ...
There are just books that tick all your boxes and come along at the right time and this is one of them. For me it was just a really well executed story with two main characters that sizzled and some good supporting characters as well.
— Bree, 1girl2manybooks blog
I was enthralled with this book! I adored the first novel featuring Per and Harriet's characters, and Tor and Golden are equally heart-melting. On The Right Track by author Penelope Janu is on my unputdownable, fave reads category. There was humour, tension, chemistry amongst a backdrop of family drama that just keeps the pages turning. A first-rate read that I could go back to again and again.
— Talking Books blog
Wow wonderful and just the loveliest of reads!!!!! I simply could NOT put this read down! Beautiful settings, gorgeous story, truly lovely characters!!! I really adored this book.
Susan, Goodreads
I loved everything about this book. The interactions between Tor and Golden were fabulous, they ran the entire range of emotions and you saw the inner turmoil they faced as the characteristics that frustrated them should have been enough to turn them off but weren’t. You saw the scars they carried that meant they didn’t form attachments and you wondered how it would all turn out. I would unreservedly recommend this one.
— Michelle, Beauty and Lace Magazine:
Devoured this story, stayed at way past my bed time because I just wanted to keep reading. Loved so much about this book: set in Australia, horses, the protagonist is a speech pathologist, love interest, mystery. Read it.
— Steph, Goodreads
In Penelope Janu's charming contemporary romance, On The Same Page, our heroine, Miles Franklin, is a lawyer with a secret she'll keep at any cost -- even love. Which is funny, since the secret is that she's the wildly successful historical romance novelist Emma Browning and the man keen to learn her real identity has striking similarities to her latest hero.
— Maya Rodale, USA Today bestselling author, and US National Public Radio reviewer:
I absolutely, positively loved this book! The love / hate relationship between Miles and her publisher Lars, the debate about historical romance novels and " real " literature and the bits and pieces of literary royalty referred to throughout the book hooked me from the first page. I did nothing but read this wonderful book from start to end today!
— PbkReader, Goodreads:
On The Same Page is witty and funny and at times irreverent. I adored Miles and Emma—two complex halves of the one whole—and Lars with his clipped and perfect diction, blue eyes and floppy hair. The story had me laughing out loud at some of the antics Emma’s characters got up to, and wincing as one unfortunate incident after another beset poor Miles.
There is more than humour and empathy to this story though. Author Penelope Janu has demonstrated an extraordinary breadth and depth to her reading and understanding of literary classics through the ages, using them to good purpose at appropriate points in the novel. Add to this the clever link between the life Miles is leading and the story she is writing. I was utterly captivated and thoroughly engrossed throughout. This is a truly wonderful story from an exceptionally talented author.
— Shelagh, Amazon:
Janu ties the classics cleverly through the narrative with references to many of the greatest literary romances of all time. I loved the snippets of Miles' Historical Romance stories which gave the reader stories within a story.
— Victoria, the Burgeoning Bookshelf blog
Brilliant! There was nothing I didn't like about this book. The characters, the chemistry, the plot line, it grabbed me from page 1 and had me to the end. I've read a lot of Penelope Janu, and I think she is getting better and better, and Horseshoe Hill is my favourite book of hers yet. There are two must-buy authors for me: Ainslie Paton and Penelope Janu. They write characters I admire, and characters who do different things and they write emotional scenes that really have a way of tugging at my heartstrings. I'm reading along, then I'm all messed up by the most simple of lines in a beautiful scene...
The research Janu has done into farriers (the job of Jemima in this book) is really fabulous - such great insight to caring for the feet of not only horses but zoo animals too.
Do yourself a favour. Read this book
— Lily Malone
I absolutely loved this book! It was totally engrossing. I loved the strong characters and sense of community, the setting, the wonderful way the author managed to convey powerful emotions and story in a way that came across as practical and definitely not soppy. I particularly appreciated the realistic and beautiful way the author described the horses throughout the book - it was obvious she was experienced with horses. I loved everything about this book, and will definitely be looking up other titles by this author.
— Cherry, Goodreads
I enjoyed Janu's portrayal of both the physical and emotional relationship between these two very different characters. Be prepared for volatile and tempestuous!
— Sandysbookaday, Goodreads
I may have squealed a bit when I received an early copy of The Summerfield Saddler. Penelope is one of my auto buy authors. Her blend of environmental issues, kinship, romance, and rural life always manages to bring a smile to my face. I always know I'm in for a treat. Mac and Kit were an unlikely pairing- even though they are clearly equally infurated and intrigued with each other for most of the book, that underlying sense of 'will they or won't they' just kept niggling away. The build-up is just ahggghhhh. Hold on to the reins as it's a rocky ride!
— Beccabeccabooks, Goodreads