Welcome again to the Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge, a year-long challenge set by the good folk at Long and Short Reviews that anyone can participate in. Check out the site to see who else is playing along.

This week’s topic:

Books set in my city or state

Not quite the zombie apocalypse fun of last week’s topic but still one that had me rubbing my hands together with glee. Why? Because I get to wax lyrical about an author buddy.

I’m fortunate to live in sunny Newcastle, New South Wales and though much of my heart remains in my home state and town (Mount Gambier in South Australia), I’ve come to adore this place. Why? Well, it has gorgeous beaches for one thing, as this view of Nobbys Beach demonstrates.

But back to the topic.

Newcastle and the Hunter Valley are home to lots of authors. One of them is thriller author Jaye Ford. Jaye’s debut novel Beyond Fear, which is set in the Hunter Valley, is an absolute cracker. It’s the sort of book that makes you anxious for the characters and leaves you with a galloping heart and a bit of a sweat.

I can’t recommend Beyond Fear enough. It’s un-put-downable amazing. I read the book before I met Jaye so I’m not saying that because we happen to be friends. I’m saying that because it’s a brilliant book.

Jaye has set other books in Newcastle and surrounds too. Much of the action in Darkest Place happens in a building not far from my house, as do some of the scenes in Scared Yet? Then there’s Blood Secret and Already Dead…

You can check out all of Jaye’s books on her website.

Although mostly set in the Snowy Mountains, local crime writer Lee Christine has a few Newcastle scenes in her excellent novel Charlotte Pass. Domestic noir author Wendy James has set some of her books around the region too (The Lost Girls), as has renowned author Barry Maitland with his Harry Belltree trilogy.

On the romance front, there’s my very own Heart of the Valley, an enemies to lovers rural romance set in the Hunter Valley. Heart of the Valley features hero Lachie Cambridge, a character who holds the record for giving me the deepest and most enduring hero-crush of all my novels.

Mills and Boon romance author Michelle Douglas has two books set in Newcastle. Bella’s Impossible Boss is set in a fictional motel overlooking the glorious Newcastle beach, while An Unlikely Bride for the Billionaire takes inspiration from Newcastle’s Blackbutt Reserve. There are others too. Check out her website for the full range. There are plenty to choose from!

That’s just a tiny selection of locally set books but enough to keep you occupied for a while and give you a taste of this great region.

What books set in your city or state can you recommend?

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