What I've been reading: Osamah Sami, Vikki Wakefield, Vikki Petraitis, Wendy Orr, Lisa Ireland

It seems I blinked and three months passed without me updating my blog. I've squeezed a lot of things in that time including finishing my memoir draft (total wordcount 96,000), attending the Romance Writers of Australia conference, being an assessor on a literature funding panel, and of course lots of reading.

Good Muslim Boy by Osamah Sami
A memoir about a young boy who is born in Iraq, but living in Iran, and then migrates to Australia with his family. It has some laugh-out-funny moments as Osamah recounts his experiences as an adolescent in Iran and then navigates Australian culture and really shows the adjustments that all migrants make when in a new country.

Friday Brown and All I Ever Wanted by Vikki Wakefield
Vikki Wakefield is an amazing young adult author and I inhaled both novels in one week. She writes dark, gritty, novels and represents young adults with a light touch. Loved both novels and I'm lining up to read her third Inbetween Days which has just been released.

The Dog Squad by Vikki Petraitis
My friend Vikki is the author of this book profiling members of Victoria Police's dog squad and the real heroes, the dogs. It's fascinating to read about the amazing work these dogs and their handlers do.

Peeling the Onion by Wendy Orr
A novel about a girl who is in a car accident and has to rediscover who she is and what she wants in life. While it seems to be a story about a girl who is discovering what she can't do, it's actually a story about acceptance, hope and love.

Feels Like Home by Lisa Ireland
A rural romance novel Feels Like Home is about a Jo who is returning to her hometown and is reunited with Ryan, her first love. A beautiful love story with heart Lisa manages to deliver a satisfying romance with enough twists and turns to keep the reader guessing.