What do you think?
Rate this book
Queen of the Road
Juggling two jobs, raising her four-year-old daughter alone and drowning in debt, Angela Ranger is struggling to survive. So when Angela's father offers her a job driving trucks in the tiny rural town of Munirilla, she accepts. After all, it's only temporary…
Despite taking to the road with ease, Angela finds moving to Munirilla may not be the godsend it seemed. Her accommodation is dingy, her fellow truckies are less than happy to see a woman on the road, and the locals are reluctant to use her services.
There is one local who's glad to see her, though — fill-in farm manager and loner, Coop, resists his natural tendency to avoid personal connections when he meets the efficient and gorgeous, Angela. But Coop has problems of his own — sheep are going missing, his neighbours are acting strangely and the demons of his past are urging him to move on again.
In Munirilla, both Angela and Coop will face the ultimate test of character. Will they follow reason and leave? Or follow their hearts and build a home in the small town...together
Despite taking to the road with ease, Angela finds moving to Munirilla may not be the godsend it seemed. Her accommodation is dingy, her fellow truckies are less than happy to see a woman on the road, and the locals are reluctant to use her services.
There is one local who's glad to see her, though — fill-in farm manager and loner, Coop, resists his natural tendency to avoid personal connections when he meets the efficient and gorgeous, Angela. But Coop has problems of his own — sheep are going missing, his neighbours are acting strangely and the demons of his past are urging him to move on again.
In Munirilla, both Angela and Coop will face the ultimate test of character. Will they follow reason and leave? Or follow their hearts and build a home in the small town...together
423 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2012
About the author
Tricia Stringer
23 books336 followersTricia Stringer is a bestselling and award-winning author. Among others, her books include commercial fiction titles Table For Eight, The Model Wife and The Family Inheritance, the rural romances A Chance of Stormy Weather and Come Rain or Shine and historical sagas Heart of the Country, Dust on the Horizon and Jewel in the North, set in the 19th Century Flinders Ranges. Tricia lives in the beautiful Copper Coast region of South Australia, often exploring Australia's diverse communities and landscapes, and shares this passion for the country and its people through her authentic stories and their vivid characters.
For behind the scenes info and special giveaways, sign up to Tricia's newsletter at http://www.triciastringer.com
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/triciastring...
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/triciastrin...
BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/profile/trici...
Tricia loves to hear from readers and you can contact her at her website
For behind the scenes info and special giveaways, sign up to Tricia's newsletter at http://www.triciastringer.com
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/triciastring...
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/triciastrin...
BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/profile/trici...
Tricia loves to hear from readers and you can contact her at her website
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
May 29, 2015
4.5★s
Angela Ranger was at her wit’s end – her credit card was maxed out and the second one she had taken out was almost at its limit as well. Raising her four year old daughter Claudia by herself, plus trying to work full time was taking it out of her. When her dad, who owned Ranger Transport, asked her to take over a month long contract moving freight between the little town of Munirilla and Adelaide as the regular driver was injured, she initially said she couldn’t. But on reflection she realized the money would help reduce her debts, plus she’d always loved the freedom of driving the big rigs. Little Claudia was excited about the ‘venture as well…
That first trip driving Big Red from Melbourne (her home city) to Munirilla went well, but both Angela and Claudia were happy to arrive at the depot. The shock on the faces of the men she immediately encountered made her realize that her father hadn’t told anyone she was female. And so began the old school prejudice of a female in a male role. With the dingy little flat she was told was her accommodation for the next month looking less than inviting, Angela began to wonder at the wisdom of her decision.
When Angela met Coop he was picking up some parts for his boss. Coop was farm manager on a property out of town and had taken over completely while his boss, Alice, went to Adelaide for hospital treatment. He knew she’d be unable to return for some time so had promised Alice he would care for the property, including the sheep that were almost ready to lamb.
As both Angela and Coop faced their own problems - Angela with the battle of keeping the business running against all odds as well as family problems; Coop with strange occurrences happening at the farm – they were drawn together. But their problems continued to escalate – what would be the outcome for them both?
I thoroughly enjoyed Queen of the Road which is Aussie author Tricia Stringer’s debut novel. Angela was a little annoying at times – I felt she needed a good talking to! Claudia was adorable and occasionally cantankerous (which is usual for a four year old!) and Coop was…well, Coop! An excellent rural romance which I have no hesitation in recommending highly.
Angela Ranger was at her wit’s end – her credit card was maxed out and the second one she had taken out was almost at its limit as well. Raising her four year old daughter Claudia by herself, plus trying to work full time was taking it out of her. When her dad, who owned Ranger Transport, asked her to take over a month long contract moving freight between the little town of Munirilla and Adelaide as the regular driver was injured, she initially said she couldn’t. But on reflection she realized the money would help reduce her debts, plus she’d always loved the freedom of driving the big rigs. Little Claudia was excited about the ‘venture as well…
That first trip driving Big Red from Melbourne (her home city) to Munirilla went well, but both Angela and Claudia were happy to arrive at the depot. The shock on the faces of the men she immediately encountered made her realize that her father hadn’t told anyone she was female. And so began the old school prejudice of a female in a male role. With the dingy little flat she was told was her accommodation for the next month looking less than inviting, Angela began to wonder at the wisdom of her decision.
When Angela met Coop he was picking up some parts for his boss. Coop was farm manager on a property out of town and had taken over completely while his boss, Alice, went to Adelaide for hospital treatment. He knew she’d be unable to return for some time so had promised Alice he would care for the property, including the sheep that were almost ready to lamb.
As both Angela and Coop faced their own problems - Angela with the battle of keeping the business running against all odds as well as family problems; Coop with strange occurrences happening at the farm – they were drawn together. But their problems continued to escalate – what would be the outcome for them both?
I thoroughly enjoyed Queen of the Road which is Aussie author Tricia Stringer’s debut novel. Angela was a little annoying at times – I felt she needed a good talking to! Claudia was adorable and occasionally cantankerous (which is usual for a four year old!) and Coop was…well, Coop! An excellent rural romance which I have no hesitation in recommending highly.
February 23, 2018
Angela Ranger has more than a few difficulties in her life. She has a four year old daughter, Claudia, she is trying to raise alone since Claudia’s father walked out. Angela does not get along with her stepmother Janice and so hates having to ever ask her for help. Janice had never shown any great interest in Claudia until suddenly she does. What’s that about? When Angela’s father needs help with his trucks and transport business Angela sees it was a way to help her father and get out of the city a while. Besides she likes driving trucks and the job driving and the rural town of Munirilla appeals to her. Plus it is only temporary and could help her financially. But not everyone is Munirilla is pleased to see a woman truck driver. She resolves to change their attitudes but some people are determined to make life hard for her.
The other main character is Coop who is working for Alice. But then Alice has to go to hospital in Adelaide for cancer treatment and Coop minds the property for her. But all is not going smoothly as some of Alice’s sheep have gone missing. Coop needs to find out what happened to those five sheep.
I liked the idea of a woman truck driver. But I had real difficulty with Angela. She makes some irresponsible decisions in her personal life and her finances. For someone supposed to be trying to get her credit cards down, she buys a large flat screen television, clothes portable DVD player and various other items which doesn’t sound like some struggling and trying to be responsible.
Alice, owner of one of the sheep properties, is a good character and a tough country woman but Coop was easily my favourite character. Claudia alternated between cute and a brat and Janice is manipulative and sly. The setting of South Australia and around Munirilla is good but the story could have been shortened considerably. Too many attempts to sabotage the business from the competition, became wearing after a while and Angela is annoying. Overall I liked the book but never became greatly involved. However if you enjoy a rural story with a woman in an unusual occupation you may enjoy it even more than I did.
The other main character is Coop who is working for Alice. But then Alice has to go to hospital in Adelaide for cancer treatment and Coop minds the property for her. But all is not going smoothly as some of Alice’s sheep have gone missing. Coop needs to find out what happened to those five sheep.
I liked the idea of a woman truck driver. But I had real difficulty with Angela. She makes some irresponsible decisions in her personal life and her finances. For someone supposed to be trying to get her credit cards down, she buys a large flat screen television, clothes portable DVD player and various other items which doesn’t sound like some struggling and trying to be responsible.
Alice, owner of one of the sheep properties, is a good character and a tough country woman but Coop was easily my favourite character. Claudia alternated between cute and a brat and Janice is manipulative and sly. The setting of South Australia and around Munirilla is good but the story could have been shortened considerably. Too many attempts to sabotage the business from the competition, became wearing after a while and Angela is annoying. Overall I liked the book but never became greatly involved. However if you enjoy a rural story with a woman in an unusual occupation you may enjoy it even more than I did.
December 19, 2013
This was really good! Shelved "romance" in my library, it's more of a family drama/rural fiction/mystery with romantic elements. What I didn't expect to find, and was rather overjoyed at, was a book examining in detail what it's like to be a single mother working in a nontraditional job (rural trucking), with what seems to be the world against you.
Good stuff. I'll be looking for Stringer's next book.
Good stuff. I'll be looking for Stringer's next book.
November 23, 2017
3.5 stars
I was totally absorbed in the female truckie storyline, however Big Red at times, was the centre of attention, trucks are really cool in books but in real life, eh, not so much, their bigness scares the crap out of me. A big thumbs up that the romance came secondary to the storyline, on occasions that’s just the way I like it.
I felt all characters were well developed and very realistic.
December 4, 2019
I came close to putting this book aside around half way, when I found the heroine so annoying I didn't want to read any further. In the end I did finish the book, but have to say I've enjoyed reading others from this author much more.
And like the others I found a surprising number of errors in this book, eg, 'they went to the farm and her (not 'she') and Coop enjoyed ...'
Do publishers not employ skilled editors these days?
And like the others I found a surprising number of errors in this book, eg, 'they went to the farm and her (not 'she') and Coop enjoyed ...'
Do publishers not employ skilled editors these days?
December 2, 2012
Single mother Angela Ranger is struggling. Abandoned by her former boyfriend, the father of her 4yo daughter Claudia, she’s been slowly drowning in debt ever since. So when her father, who runs a freight business offers her a job driving B-double freight loads between Adelaide and the town of Munirilla, a small rural spot on the map between Adelaide and Perth, she hesitantly accepts. The job will enable her to have Claudia with her and hopefully, she will be able to save some money and get back on her feet.
However it seems that things aren’t going exactly to plan – some of the locals are surprised and a bit wary upon finding out that she’s a woman and a small, blonde, delicate-looking woman at that. Soon she finds some trouble with orders being cancelled, being stuffed around and a rival trucking firm that seems to want to run her right out of town. Angela is doing her best but the odds are already against her being a woman and some of the delays and issues that seem to her like sabotage are just making her seem even less reliable to the locals who need a freight service that they can count on. The town has been crying out for it and now that she’s here, it seems like they’re not happy with what they’re being offered. Angela wants to make a go of it so she’s determined to get to the bottom of what’s happening but she’s also got Claudia’s father turning up in her life and wanting access to her after months of no contact and a family member who seems to be making an underhanded bid for Claudia, behind Angela’s back.
Coop has never been one to stay in the one place. He likes moving around, drifting from job to job, not putting down any roots and not having people depend on him. For the past 18 months he’s been working for local farmer Alice Tansell who needs to go to Adelaide for some medical treatment. She’s depending on Coop to keep her farm going in her absence and so far there’s been a few strange happenings that he’s trying to get a handle on. Angela is a breath of fresh air for Coop and he finds himself spending more and more time with her and her daughter Claudia, helping her out occasionally in ways that are mutually beneficial to both of them.
Angela wants to stay in Munirilla but she also needs the people to trust her and give her their business. If they can’t do that, then her father will pull the contract. Coop is feeling restless, like it’s time to move on but his newfound friendship with Angela might just be a sign that Munirilla is the place he’s meant to be.
Queen Of The Road introduces us to Angela, down on her luck, living in Melbourne and struggling with debt and credit cards. She’s been abandoned by her former partner and is raising their daughter alone. She’s always been able to drive the big rigs, her dad used to take her on the road with him a lot and its been the one thing she’s been able to keep between the two of them after he married her stepmother Janice. When he offers her a job doing freight between Adelaide and Munirilla, she has to think about it but ultimately decides to accept even though she has some reservations. A woman who drives a B-double? Fabulous! I love characters that break ground and having Angela firmly ensconced in what is pretty predominantly still a man’s world, was such an interesting idea. I have to admit – I’ve watched Ice Road Truckers and I’m a fan of Lisa, the one girl that does long-haul freight in Alaska. She’s seriously five foot nothing and watching her maneuver these huge trucks is amazing. And given my eldest son is the same age as Claudia, I had a huge amount of respect for Angela taking her daughter along with her. I know how difficult it would be, even with plenty of snacks and activities for kids, to have them on a lot of long trips. I admired her, for making a decision to hopefully better the future, for both herself and Claudia. Angela was determined and strong, but not without her faults as well – hotheadedness, a tendency not to stop at one drink even though she was often in a situation where she should, not exactly good with money. But she was a good mother, a good daughter and she worked hard at her job, worked hard to get in with the local people and provide a good service. She didn’t want to let her father down and she came to really care about the job she was doing and the fact that it was making her and Claudia happy.
I also enjoyed the story of Coop, a bit of a drifter who found himself unexpectedly landed with more responsibility than he bargained for when his boss had to go to the city for medical treatment. I really enjoyed the friendship that blossomed between him and Angela as they got to know each other. As I said to someone I talked about this book to, I feel as though this was a novel first and foremost about Angela’s journey, learning to stand on her own two feet and get her life back. She negotiated with people, she won contracts, she foiled attempts at sabotage. The romance that was just beginning to bloom with Coop towards the end of the book was secondary to that and it really worked. Angela wasn’t trying to fix her problems by finding herself a man, he was just a bonus that came along basically after everything else was sorted.
Queen Of The Road was such an enjoyable story, I burned through it in about 3 hours! I found myself really invested in Angela’s situation and wanting her to fight the sabotage and be accepted by the community. I was also really incensed on her behalf with the accusations that she wasn’t a good mother – pretty much everything she did was because she was a mother and she was trying to do her best. It’s not easy to be any sort of parent, even harder to be a single one. She was making a go of it and her daughter was fed, clothed, well looked after and happy. The situation wasn’t perfect but it’s probably more preferable to have Claudia with her and sleeping in the rig and spending time with her mother than being in a city daycare while her mother worked in the city. I’ll be definitely looking forward to more from this author in the future.
However it seems that things aren’t going exactly to plan – some of the locals are surprised and a bit wary upon finding out that she’s a woman and a small, blonde, delicate-looking woman at that. Soon she finds some trouble with orders being cancelled, being stuffed around and a rival trucking firm that seems to want to run her right out of town. Angela is doing her best but the odds are already against her being a woman and some of the delays and issues that seem to her like sabotage are just making her seem even less reliable to the locals who need a freight service that they can count on. The town has been crying out for it and now that she’s here, it seems like they’re not happy with what they’re being offered. Angela wants to make a go of it so she’s determined to get to the bottom of what’s happening but she’s also got Claudia’s father turning up in her life and wanting access to her after months of no contact and a family member who seems to be making an underhanded bid for Claudia, behind Angela’s back.
Coop has never been one to stay in the one place. He likes moving around, drifting from job to job, not putting down any roots and not having people depend on him. For the past 18 months he’s been working for local farmer Alice Tansell who needs to go to Adelaide for some medical treatment. She’s depending on Coop to keep her farm going in her absence and so far there’s been a few strange happenings that he’s trying to get a handle on. Angela is a breath of fresh air for Coop and he finds himself spending more and more time with her and her daughter Claudia, helping her out occasionally in ways that are mutually beneficial to both of them.
Angela wants to stay in Munirilla but she also needs the people to trust her and give her their business. If they can’t do that, then her father will pull the contract. Coop is feeling restless, like it’s time to move on but his newfound friendship with Angela might just be a sign that Munirilla is the place he’s meant to be.
Queen Of The Road introduces us to Angela, down on her luck, living in Melbourne and struggling with debt and credit cards. She’s been abandoned by her former partner and is raising their daughter alone. She’s always been able to drive the big rigs, her dad used to take her on the road with him a lot and its been the one thing she’s been able to keep between the two of them after he married her stepmother Janice. When he offers her a job doing freight between Adelaide and Munirilla, she has to think about it but ultimately decides to accept even though she has some reservations. A woman who drives a B-double? Fabulous! I love characters that break ground and having Angela firmly ensconced in what is pretty predominantly still a man’s world, was such an interesting idea. I have to admit – I’ve watched Ice Road Truckers and I’m a fan of Lisa, the one girl that does long-haul freight in Alaska. She’s seriously five foot nothing and watching her maneuver these huge trucks is amazing. And given my eldest son is the same age as Claudia, I had a huge amount of respect for Angela taking her daughter along with her. I know how difficult it would be, even with plenty of snacks and activities for kids, to have them on a lot of long trips. I admired her, for making a decision to hopefully better the future, for both herself and Claudia. Angela was determined and strong, but not without her faults as well – hotheadedness, a tendency not to stop at one drink even though she was often in a situation where she should, not exactly good with money. But she was a good mother, a good daughter and she worked hard at her job, worked hard to get in with the local people and provide a good service. She didn’t want to let her father down and she came to really care about the job she was doing and the fact that it was making her and Claudia happy.
I also enjoyed the story of Coop, a bit of a drifter who found himself unexpectedly landed with more responsibility than he bargained for when his boss had to go to the city for medical treatment. I really enjoyed the friendship that blossomed between him and Angela as they got to know each other. As I said to someone I talked about this book to, I feel as though this was a novel first and foremost about Angela’s journey, learning to stand on her own two feet and get her life back. She negotiated with people, she won contracts, she foiled attempts at sabotage. The romance that was just beginning to bloom with Coop towards the end of the book was secondary to that and it really worked. Angela wasn’t trying to fix her problems by finding herself a man, he was just a bonus that came along basically after everything else was sorted.
Queen Of The Road was such an enjoyable story, I burned through it in about 3 hours! I found myself really invested in Angela’s situation and wanting her to fight the sabotage and be accepted by the community. I was also really incensed on her behalf with the accusations that she wasn’t a good mother – pretty much everything she did was because she was a mother and she was trying to do her best. It’s not easy to be any sort of parent, even harder to be a single one. She was making a go of it and her daughter was fed, clothed, well looked after and happy. The situation wasn’t perfect but it’s probably more preferable to have Claudia with her and sleeping in the rig and spending time with her mother than being in a city daycare while her mother worked in the city. I’ll be definitely looking forward to more from this author in the future.
May 12, 2019
I really enjoyed this story! I wanted something light after a few stressful weeks and this was just what I needed.
I loved Angela and her daughter Claudia. I enjoyed that the story was based in South Australia and it was interesting to learn more about life as a truck driver. The slow burn romance with Coop was just enough without taking away from the other storylines. I enjoyed the suspense of wondering what the Berls would do next and that awful Janice, wow I couldn't stand her!
I loved Angela and her daughter Claudia. I enjoyed that the story was based in South Australia and it was interesting to learn more about life as a truck driver. The slow burn romance with Coop was just enough without taking away from the other storylines. I enjoyed the suspense of wondering what the Berls would do next and that awful Janice, wow I couldn't stand her!
January 26, 2021
Pleasant, easy read. Perfect for a day at the beach like today. Happy Australia Day!
If you like the Australian outback, trucks and sheep then you will enjoy the story. There is even a bit of suspens to spice things up.
If you like the Australian outback, trucks and sheep then you will enjoy the story. There is even a bit of suspens to spice things up.
December 29, 2012
Queen of the Road is Australian author Tricia Stringer’s first novel with Harlequin Australia. Angela Ranger is struggling to make ends meet in Melbourne; swimming in debt and working two jobs while trying to maintain stability for her young daughter Claudia. As a last resort she accepts a temporary job driving the Big Red- for her father’s trucking business- between Adelaide and the small rural town, Munirilla.
Angela has a big job on her hands, not only does she have to prove to the town that she can do the work just as well as any man, but both her and her daughter have to adjust to life on the road. Angela is determined to keep her father’s business in Munirilla afloat but the odds are stacking up against her when she discovers stock is going missing, jobs are getting mixed up and her work is being poached by another trucking business in town. Angela also strives to bring stability to Claudia’s life and feels her parenting capacity is being judged by her step-mother Janice and Claudia’s biological father. Angela works hard and begins to put down roots in this small town quite easily, leading her to question whether there was anything left in Melbourne to return to.
Angela finds friendship with the quiet, yet dependable Coop- a local farmer and occasional trucker- who is looking after his employer’s farm while she is recovering from illness in Hospital. Coop’s not very open about his past, there’s plenty he’s ashamed of and tends to live life on the move, not settling down anywhere for too long. But two years on the same property and the entrance of the enticing duo Angela and Claudia and Coop begins to wonder whether he’s finally found a place to call home. Could it be Munirilla?
Queen of the Road is a rural fiction story with romantic elements. I was intrigued by the premise and really loved the author’s exploration of life on the road in the trucking business for a woman, let alone a single mother. Angela is a hard worker and I enjoyed seeing her challenge the views of women truckers in Munirilla.
To be honest, it took some time before I warmed to Angela. At the outset, she seemed much younger than her years and her unreliability and impulsiveness didn’t quite fit with the perception of a struggling single mother. I felt she was selfish in her decision-making at times and quite dismissive of Claudia’s inquisitiveness which was appropriate to her age. Angela seemed to externalise the blame for her problems in life and it wasn’t really until the second half of the book that she really started to take some responsibility for changing her lifestyle. She certainly grew as a character and I was glad she began to see the situation from Claudia’s perspective and how her choices may have affected her.
Coop is a likeable guy, he’s quiet and doesn’t reveal much of himself but he is clearly dependable and smitten by not only Angela but Claudia too. They brought energy into his life, and something to look forward to- something he hadn’t experienced before.
The romance between Angela and Coop is slow-building and realistic and I liked how the author explored their conflicts0 both internal and external- throughout the course of the story even though there was so much other stuff happening in their working lives. The suspense is amplified in the final quarter of the book and the pressure was on for both Angela and Coop to re-assess their priorities and to confront their feelings for one another.
Queen of the Road is a fairly lengthy book (420+ pages) for this genre, but I think it worked well for not only the plot development but also the growth of the characters and the relationship that develops between Angela and Coop. I especially love the unique premise of life on the road for a female truck driver. When I went on a road trip twelve months ago with my partner and our dog from Sydney to Perth via the Nullarbor, I was certainly intimidated by those big road trains and a little nervous at those sometimes seedy truck stops. So I really admire Angela’s strength and the ease in which she did this job. I’ll definitely be seeking out future books by Tricia Stringer and recommend this one to fans of contemporary and rural fiction.
Angela has a big job on her hands, not only does she have to prove to the town that she can do the work just as well as any man, but both her and her daughter have to adjust to life on the road. Angela is determined to keep her father’s business in Munirilla afloat but the odds are stacking up against her when she discovers stock is going missing, jobs are getting mixed up and her work is being poached by another trucking business in town. Angela also strives to bring stability to Claudia’s life and feels her parenting capacity is being judged by her step-mother Janice and Claudia’s biological father. Angela works hard and begins to put down roots in this small town quite easily, leading her to question whether there was anything left in Melbourne to return to.
Angela finds friendship with the quiet, yet dependable Coop- a local farmer and occasional trucker- who is looking after his employer’s farm while she is recovering from illness in Hospital. Coop’s not very open about his past, there’s plenty he’s ashamed of and tends to live life on the move, not settling down anywhere for too long. But two years on the same property and the entrance of the enticing duo Angela and Claudia and Coop begins to wonder whether he’s finally found a place to call home. Could it be Munirilla?
Queen of the Road is a rural fiction story with romantic elements. I was intrigued by the premise and really loved the author’s exploration of life on the road in the trucking business for a woman, let alone a single mother. Angela is a hard worker and I enjoyed seeing her challenge the views of women truckers in Munirilla.
To be honest, it took some time before I warmed to Angela. At the outset, she seemed much younger than her years and her unreliability and impulsiveness didn’t quite fit with the perception of a struggling single mother. I felt she was selfish in her decision-making at times and quite dismissive of Claudia’s inquisitiveness which was appropriate to her age. Angela seemed to externalise the blame for her problems in life and it wasn’t really until the second half of the book that she really started to take some responsibility for changing her lifestyle. She certainly grew as a character and I was glad she began to see the situation from Claudia’s perspective and how her choices may have affected her.
Coop is a likeable guy, he’s quiet and doesn’t reveal much of himself but he is clearly dependable and smitten by not only Angela but Claudia too. They brought energy into his life, and something to look forward to- something he hadn’t experienced before.
The romance between Angela and Coop is slow-building and realistic and I liked how the author explored their conflicts0 both internal and external- throughout the course of the story even though there was so much other stuff happening in their working lives. The suspense is amplified in the final quarter of the book and the pressure was on for both Angela and Coop to re-assess their priorities and to confront their feelings for one another.
Queen of the Road is a fairly lengthy book (420+ pages) for this genre, but I think it worked well for not only the plot development but also the growth of the characters and the relationship that develops between Angela and Coop. I especially love the unique premise of life on the road for a female truck driver. When I went on a road trip twelve months ago with my partner and our dog from Sydney to Perth via the Nullarbor, I was certainly intimidated by those big road trains and a little nervous at those sometimes seedy truck stops. So I really admire Angela’s strength and the ease in which she did this job. I’ll definitely be seeking out future books by Tricia Stringer and recommend this one to fans of contemporary and rural fiction.
November 27, 2012
A wonderfully written story set in the Australian outback, with characters that you will enjoy much so and a storyline that will keep you engrossed till the last page has been turned.
Tricia has vividly put forth a compelling story of love, life, and the struggles to survive as a single mother and a woman who chooses to do what needs to be done to take care of her daughter and live life.
Driving trucks has always been in Angela’s life and blood – and after a turn of events she has decided to help out her father and fill in for him and drive the loads back and forth from Munirilla.
Even though the men may think it’s not a woman’s job and people will stand in her way to stop her from achieving it, Angela grinds down and never gives up.
I really enjoyed her character, she was strong willed and determined and let no one stand in her way. She was a true survivor !! The love for her child was evident and every mother can certainly relate to Angela and her turmoil at times.
We see the turmoil within life in Munirilla for Angela to fit it in, to survive, and be happy and just do a good job for the town and also working to survive . Here she meets and makes some wonderful friendships, and realizes that this small town has so much to offer her little family.
Queen of the Road is an enjoyable heartfelt story, with the Aussie settings down pact to a tee, wonderfully written characters, and a little romance for those who love romance entwined.
Being an Australian I really appreciated Tricia's detail for the country outback. I found this was well described and easily envisaged for all who read this story, whether or not you are an aussie or not.
It was certainly almost like looking through a looking glass.
All emotions are well put forth throughout the story, moments that will grab at your heart strings and others where you will be sheepishly grinning. The storyline was fluent flowing, with a little suspense, action, romance and heartache thrown in. Coop and Angela’s romance was sweet and gradual – and will leave you feeling content at the ending that Tricia has put forth.
A must read for all those who like a romance set in the country , with a wonderful close nit community woven throughout – friendships, drama and all the goodies within the story that any reader will certainly enjoy .
Thank you to Harlequin Australia for suppyling this book to me for my honest opinion and review.
June 9, 2017
I found it really hard to empathise with Angela. While I have a huge amount of respect for single Mums, I found myself increasingly frustrated with Angela, and the constant string of irresponsible and silly choices she kept on making. Because of this, I was unable to really enjoy the story.
There were also some other threads throughout the story that were either left unresolved, or were hurriedly explained (info dumped) in the last couple of pages of the book.
I did, however, appreciate the research and background knowledge into the truck driving industry. This added a degree of realism which was well presented. Unfortunately it was not enough, in my opinion, to overcome the other negatives.
There were also some other threads throughout the story that were either left unresolved, or were hurriedly explained (info dumped) in the last couple of pages of the book.
I did, however, appreciate the research and background knowledge into the truck driving industry. This added a degree of realism which was well presented. Unfortunately it was not enough, in my opinion, to overcome the other negatives.
December 17, 2014
I won the full set of 50 books you can't put down earlier this year (2014) and have been slowly makings my way through them. This book was named in that collection too, and I have been staying up late to read it! After a while, I looked at the publisher; Harlequin and which confirmed it as a romance which is why it reads quite differently really to books I normally read! It kept me up late, right up to the end though and I enjoyed it. I don't think I'm ready to embrace romance novels full time yet though. I'll lend this one to my mum though!
May 18, 2017
I loved Queen of the Road, my first Tricia Stringer novel. This sweet story is set mostly in outback South Australia.
Angela Ranger, heroine of this story is pretty darned determined to prove her worth to her father and get her runaway credit cards under control. She's keen to show that she is reliable and worth doing business with despite facing one problem after another, and the last thing she needs is a new relationship, particularly after her husband walked out on her and her daughter. Farm manager Coop also has trust issues. His mother was an alcoholic and he's not too keen on putting down roots. Despite their misgivings Angela and Coop are drawn to each other and it's not long before an easy friendship develops.
The characters in this story felt very real to me - there's Claudia with all the needs and wants and at times unreasonable demands of a four year-old, coop and Angela with their various imperfections, and a host of support characters that I could easily relate to. The story too is real and while I'd describe this as a gentle read it also kept my interest throughout.
Angela Ranger, heroine of this story is pretty darned determined to prove her worth to her father and get her runaway credit cards under control. She's keen to show that she is reliable and worth doing business with despite facing one problem after another, and the last thing she needs is a new relationship, particularly after her husband walked out on her and her daughter. Farm manager Coop also has trust issues. His mother was an alcoholic and he's not too keen on putting down roots. Despite their misgivings Angela and Coop are drawn to each other and it's not long before an easy friendship develops.
The characters in this story felt very real to me - there's Claudia with all the needs and wants and at times unreasonable demands of a four year-old, coop and Angela with their various imperfections, and a host of support characters that I could easily relate to. The story too is real and while I'd describe this as a gentle read it also kept my interest throughout.
December 24, 2023
Angela is a single mum with a chip on her shoulder who drinks too much, maxes out her credit cards and picks up married men accidentally. She also forgets to pay her bills and cuts corners at work. Oh and she has anger management issues and likes to blame others for all her troubles. But hey she’s blonde and beautiful and drives trucks.
Look it’s really hard to like such a sloppy immature character. However the descriptions of life as a truckie as well as the isolated town she finds herself in, with its handful of residents and love interest Coop, saved this novel from DNF status. Would have been far more interested in a book from Coop’s perspective.
If this is your first Tricia Stringer book I can understand if you wouldn’t want to read any more but honestly try her recent ones! Her writing style has fully developed and she’s let go of these tired soap opera plots and created her own niche in small town Australian life.
Look it’s really hard to like such a sloppy immature character. However the descriptions of life as a truckie as well as the isolated town she finds herself in, with its handful of residents and love interest Coop, saved this novel from DNF status. Would have been far more interested in a book from Coop’s perspective.
If this is your first Tricia Stringer book I can understand if you wouldn’t want to read any more but honestly try her recent ones! Her writing style has fully developed and she’s let go of these tired soap opera plots and created her own niche in small town Australian life.
December 29, 2012
Angela needed a miracle … She didn’t expect it to come in the form of a red 18-wheeler.
The Blurb
"Juggling two jobs, raising her four-year-old daughter alone and drowning in debt, Angela Ranger is struggling to survive. So when Angela’s father offers her a job driving trucks in the tiny rural town of Munirilla, she accepts. After all, it’s only temporary …
Despite taking to the road with ease, Angela finds moving to Munirilla may not be the godsend it seemed. Her accommodation is dingy, her fellow truckies are less than happy to see a woman on the road, and the locals are reluctant to use her services.
There is one local who’s glad to see her, though. Fill-in farm manager and loner, Coop, resists his natural tendency to avoid personal connections when he meets the efficient and gorgeous, Angela. But Coop has problems of his own – sheep are going missing, his neighbours are acting strangely and the demons of his past are urging him to move on again.
In Munirilla, both Angela and Coop will face the ultimate test of character. Will they follow reason and leave? Or follow their hearts and build a home in the small town … together?"
Book Summary
Life hasn’t been smooth sailing for Angela Ranger. We pick up on the story a few years after her boyfriend (and the father of her four-year-old daughter), has abandoned her to follow his own dreams, whilst she has been left devastated and “holding the baby” so to speak. Trying to work two jobs to make ends meet for her and her daughter, as well as pay off the huge debts she has created just to survive, she’s almost at the end of her tether when her father offers her a job as fill-in driver for the Munirilla-Melbourne run for his company, Ranger Transport - having been on trips with her dad as a young girl and learning to drive as soon as she was old enough, she’s perfectly capable but is she willing!
Egged on by her step-mother and after a bit of a wild night at a friend’s wedding, she bravely accepts her father’s offer, albeit with some trepidation. And if she thought life on the road with a four-year-old was tough, then being a woman in a domain which is clearly male dominated, takes a lot more grit. There are times when Angela begins to second-guess her decision, but she soldiers on nonetheless, and whilst there are some in Port Augusta and Munirilla who approve of her bringing some gender balance to the trucking game, there are others who do not. From pranks to plain malice, she manages to handle the situations with true Aussie grit.
The first time Coop meets Angela, she takes him by surprise and he realises that it’s been a long time since a woman stirred any kind of interest in him. Coop’s a drifter, never spending too long in any one place, but he’s been in Munirilla for more than two years now, helping out on Alice Tansell’s farm. During their first real conversation, Angela learns that he himself has a truck licence and has previously driven for a mining company in Queensland, but prefers to work with animals and in open spaces. As their friendship develops and we see them advance from mere friends to something a bit more, we discover that whilst Angela has her own problems, Coop, too, wrestles with demons from his past which continue to haunt him.
Of course, fate has something else in store for both these troubled people, but will they be able to recognise it for what it is, and do something about it?
My Thoughts
I really liked this book and our Aussie authors continually amaze me – we have such talent in this beautiful wide land – and I think I just met another writer who deserves a place on my bookshelves.
Tricia Stringer managed to grab me from the first page and the whole way through I kept checking to see how far away I was from completion - needless to say I didn’t want the story to end.
What I really loved about this book is that it’s not the normal run-of-the-mill romance where “boy meets girl, girl falls in love with boy almost instantly, boy and girl fall into bed, girl and boy have an argument, boy and girl make up and live happily ever after”.
Ms Stringer’s characters are well-developed and human. The storyline is extremely believable with the author touching on real-life social issues such as alcoholism which, as always, resonates strongly with me and always stirs a lot of emotion from personal experience, and single motherhood, another ever-increasing issue in today’s day and age. And, of course, what would an Aussie rural romance be without a certain element of suspense and danger!
All in all, I found this to be a thoroughly enjoyable read with lots of little strands coming together to form a great plot and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this book to all lovers of rural Australian romance.
I wish to thank the publisher, Harlequin Australia, for providing me with an advance copy of this great read.
A Little About the Author (taken from “The Reading Room”)
Tricia Stringer grew up in South Australia on her family's Eyre Peninsula farm before moving to Adelaide for secondary and tertiary education. Since then she has married, raised three children and continued to live in rural South Australia. She has worked as a teacher/librarian/information technology coordinator for many years and has also run a Post Office and bookshop with her husband. She enjoys travelling to diverse areas of Australia, bush camping and sipping the odd glass of wine when she's not tangling with computers, reading a good book or walking on the beach hatching her next story. “Due Date” is her third novel for adults and the sequel to “Changing Channels”.
The Blurb
"Juggling two jobs, raising her four-year-old daughter alone and drowning in debt, Angela Ranger is struggling to survive. So when Angela’s father offers her a job driving trucks in the tiny rural town of Munirilla, she accepts. After all, it’s only temporary …
Despite taking to the road with ease, Angela finds moving to Munirilla may not be the godsend it seemed. Her accommodation is dingy, her fellow truckies are less than happy to see a woman on the road, and the locals are reluctant to use her services.
There is one local who’s glad to see her, though. Fill-in farm manager and loner, Coop, resists his natural tendency to avoid personal connections when he meets the efficient and gorgeous, Angela. But Coop has problems of his own – sheep are going missing, his neighbours are acting strangely and the demons of his past are urging him to move on again.
In Munirilla, both Angela and Coop will face the ultimate test of character. Will they follow reason and leave? Or follow their hearts and build a home in the small town … together?"
Book Summary
Life hasn’t been smooth sailing for Angela Ranger. We pick up on the story a few years after her boyfriend (and the father of her four-year-old daughter), has abandoned her to follow his own dreams, whilst she has been left devastated and “holding the baby” so to speak. Trying to work two jobs to make ends meet for her and her daughter, as well as pay off the huge debts she has created just to survive, she’s almost at the end of her tether when her father offers her a job as fill-in driver for the Munirilla-Melbourne run for his company, Ranger Transport - having been on trips with her dad as a young girl and learning to drive as soon as she was old enough, she’s perfectly capable but is she willing!
Egged on by her step-mother and after a bit of a wild night at a friend’s wedding, she bravely accepts her father’s offer, albeit with some trepidation. And if she thought life on the road with a four-year-old was tough, then being a woman in a domain which is clearly male dominated, takes a lot more grit. There are times when Angela begins to second-guess her decision, but she soldiers on nonetheless, and whilst there are some in Port Augusta and Munirilla who approve of her bringing some gender balance to the trucking game, there are others who do not. From pranks to plain malice, she manages to handle the situations with true Aussie grit.
The first time Coop meets Angela, she takes him by surprise and he realises that it’s been a long time since a woman stirred any kind of interest in him. Coop’s a drifter, never spending too long in any one place, but he’s been in Munirilla for more than two years now, helping out on Alice Tansell’s farm. During their first real conversation, Angela learns that he himself has a truck licence and has previously driven for a mining company in Queensland, but prefers to work with animals and in open spaces. As their friendship develops and we see them advance from mere friends to something a bit more, we discover that whilst Angela has her own problems, Coop, too, wrestles with demons from his past which continue to haunt him.
Of course, fate has something else in store for both these troubled people, but will they be able to recognise it for what it is, and do something about it?
My Thoughts
I really liked this book and our Aussie authors continually amaze me – we have such talent in this beautiful wide land – and I think I just met another writer who deserves a place on my bookshelves.
Tricia Stringer managed to grab me from the first page and the whole way through I kept checking to see how far away I was from completion - needless to say I didn’t want the story to end.
What I really loved about this book is that it’s not the normal run-of-the-mill romance where “boy meets girl, girl falls in love with boy almost instantly, boy and girl fall into bed, girl and boy have an argument, boy and girl make up and live happily ever after”.
Ms Stringer’s characters are well-developed and human. The storyline is extremely believable with the author touching on real-life social issues such as alcoholism which, as always, resonates strongly with me and always stirs a lot of emotion from personal experience, and single motherhood, another ever-increasing issue in today’s day and age. And, of course, what would an Aussie rural romance be without a certain element of suspense and danger!
All in all, I found this to be a thoroughly enjoyable read with lots of little strands coming together to form a great plot and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this book to all lovers of rural Australian romance.
I wish to thank the publisher, Harlequin Australia, for providing me with an advance copy of this great read.
A Little About the Author (taken from “The Reading Room”)
Tricia Stringer grew up in South Australia on her family's Eyre Peninsula farm before moving to Adelaide for secondary and tertiary education. Since then she has married, raised three children and continued to live in rural South Australia. She has worked as a teacher/librarian/information technology coordinator for many years and has also run a Post Office and bookshop with her husband. She enjoys travelling to diverse areas of Australia, bush camping and sipping the odd glass of wine when she's not tangling with computers, reading a good book or walking on the beach hatching her next story. “Due Date” is her third novel for adults and the sequel to “Changing Channels”.
May 12, 2018
Great read.
Really enjoyed this book. The storyline was intriguing and the romance took a back seat which made for a much more interesting read. I loved the characters and could relate to Angela a little as she struggled to work in what is primarily a male industry. The author did a great job making her tough and confident but slightly flawed and not at all manly.
This is a great read and I will gladly be recommending to others. I’ll be sure to keep my eye out for other books by this author.
Really enjoyed this book. The storyline was intriguing and the romance took a back seat which made for a much more interesting read. I loved the characters and could relate to Angela a little as she struggled to work in what is primarily a male industry. The author did a great job making her tough and confident but slightly flawed and not at all manly.
This is a great read and I will gladly be recommending to others. I’ll be sure to keep my eye out for other books by this author.
May 26, 2019
I have had this book on my tbr pile for ages, in fact since I went to an author event where Tricia Stringer was promoting Table for Eight. Not sure why it has taken so long for me to read it! I loved it! The story had intrigue, it had suspense, mystery, along with a bit of romance and rural life!
My only thought...can we have a sequel? Please!
My only thought...can we have a sequel? Please!
October 19, 2022
Tricia is a great author, adept at entertaining and educating her readers in a subtle and interesting way. Her heroines are strong and stubborn and the love story not too over the top. A very satisfying read.
April 10, 2024
I enjoyed this story, it was well thought out, the plot was entertaining and romantic, I enjoyed the setting being about a woman truck driver, especially long haul. Both characters had pasts but were willing to take the chance, I enjoyed disappearing into the rural romance genre again.
November 30, 2017
Great read! Fantastic! I am really enjoying Tricia's books!
January 10, 2018
Took this one to the Bach on Summer Holiday, was a perfect 'lay in the sun relax' type of read, The storyline kept me interested, I would recommend it.
July 23, 2018
Great story. Found it hard to put down
January 19, 2020
It was just so slow paced. I got half way through and still no ‘big thing’ had happened. I didn’t finish the book unfortunately.
March 25, 2020
I love this author so much. You pick up the book and your in and you don’t want to put it down until your finished.
July 28, 2021
It's hard to truly enjoy a book when you just don't like the protagonist
October 11, 2021
3.5★
October 25, 2021
Another easy read by this author
March 16, 2022
Ordinary light reading. Not particularly special.
December 16, 2022
Another interesting story by Tricia. I find she is about my favorite Author writing today.
March 31, 2024
Great easy light read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews