Book picks similar to
The Last Refuge by Dianne Bates


australian
abuse
autobiographies-and-memoirs
teen-read

Cissy Funk


Kim Taylor Blakemore - 2001
    It's an unforgiving background to the violence in Cissy Funk's life. She's alone on a scrap of a farm with her mother and brother, and her mother hasn't recovered from the death of Cissy's baby sister. She's turned cold, and mean, and she's turned against Cissy, singling her out, leaving bruises and a breaking heart. When Cissy's Aunt Vera turns up, with her warm hugs and pretty clothes, it looks like there just might be hope on the horizon after all. Vera is determined to make sure Cissy is safe and loved, despite her sister in law, despite the hard times, despite her own fears. But these hard times are more than failed crops and no work. There's a trouble in Cissy's family that no one is willing to tell her about, and it's threatening to bring her fragile happiness crashing down. When there's nothing but dirt, dust, and the faintest glimpse of delight, Cissy has to find the strength to grab onto what she can. Her family might not be what she thought it was, but maybe it can be exactly what she needs.

Dragonhammer: Volume II


Conner McCall - 2015
    The Steel. The Fire. The Pain.The Battlefield holds little else. Destruction. Malice. Death.Outwardly we watch the battle rage, but rarely do we see the unending conflict within ourselves.What fire are we kindling? What destruction are we sowing? What pain are we causing?Even the greatest of all men fight this war. None are free. All are captive.Dragonhammer is no exception.No matter how hard we fight or how fast we run, even the greatest among us will be brought to his knees.

This is Gail


Gail O'Brien - 2016
    In 2008, inspirational surgeon Chris O'Brien published his bestselling memoir of his battle with brain cancer, NEVER SAY DIE. But he wasn't the only person in the O'Brien household with a powerful story to tell. Since Chris passed away in 2009, his wife Gail has gone on a journey of her own: from a busy surgeon's wife and mother of a picture-perfect family to a widow in her mid-50s, grieving not only her husband but also her son Adam, who died as a result of epilepsy a short time after Chris's death. Yet in the midst of her grief, Gail discovered resolve and strength deep within herself. When Chris was alive, Gail was the woman behind the great man. But after his death, she stepped forward to make her own mark on the world. While coming to terms with both a public and private loss, Gail took on Chris's legacy as steward of the Chris O'Brien Lifehouse cancer centre, navigating the often bruising politics of boards and committees to ensure his vision was realised. She also went back to work as a physio after being out of the workforce for 20 years, while still holding her shattered family together. She reinvented herself and found that she could survive and even thrive in a world without her soul mate. A moving, inspiring, deeply poignant and often joyous story of family, love and loss - and ultimately, about finding your purpose in the world.

One Foot Wrong


Sofie Laguna - 2008
    Hester has never seen the outside world. The story told by Hester is often dark and terrible, but the sheer blazing brilliance of her language and the imagery that illuminates the pages make this novel an exhilarating, enlightening and joyous act of faith.

Love Doesn't Hurt


Kay Shanee - 2018
    Although their time together is beautiful, it doesn’t last long. Shayla and Darius part ways, returning to their lives of normality. For Shayla, that separation leads to meeting and falling for Kurt – a man whose hands hurt more than they heal and show love. Even though she knows their union must end, Shayla can’t quite pull herself to leave… until Darius returns. The bond between Shayla and Darius was almost instant and too good to be true, which is why it was so easy for the both of them to walk away. This second time around, Darius’ fairytale love is exactly what Shayla needs to get out of her hellish reality. There’s just one problem: Kurt isn’t willing to let her go easily. Will Shayla stay, or will she find the courage to leave and believe because of Darius that love doesn’t hurt?

Mahalia


Joanne Horniman - 2001
    He loved her freckled, luminous, magical body. He loved her free spirit. He loved the future he saw when he found out Emmy was pregnant. And he loved her answer when her parents protested their decision to keep the baby: " We'll just love it, okay?" Full of emotion and insight, "Mahalia" is the story of one teenage boy's struggle to be a better father than he knows how. " A poignant and memorable love story of a young father and his daughter." -- "School Library Journal" " A starkly candid and sensitive portrait of teenage parenthood." -- "The Horn Book Magazine" "A Children's Peace Literature Prize Recommended Book Children's Book Council of Australia Awards' Shortlist"

Ved Maya


Vineeta Malhotra Taneja - 2019
    A humble, helpful and gentle soul who is loved by all…except by the one woman he loves with all his heart. Maya, a young and vivacious girl, who has been challenged by fate time and again. From being left motherless at the tender age of three, to being shunned by her family at 22, Maya didn’t have it easy. While Ved opens his heart for Maya, she makes it clear to him that the only feeling she will ever have for him is hatred. Come and embark on this journey of emotions, misunderstandings, love...and be a part of their emotional rollercoaster ride.

Bleeding Hearts (DI Steven Marr #2)


S.P. Edwards - 2016
     Now he's been gutted and left to die alone in a local park. To find the killer, Marr must find his way through the web of corruption and lies surrounding Dalca's death, whilst fighting off deceit a little closer to home...

Destiny of choice: Based on a true story


Mary Jordan - 2014
     The award-winning author Mary Jordan writes literacy narratives and articles since the early 1980s. Literature is her great love and she easily and with joy writes. Her narratives have been published since the 1990s. In 1994 she won a literature competition and her narratives were published in ‘High Club Magazine’. The idea for the novel “Destiny of choice” was born suddenly, when in her home a young girl found a home, who had experienced the horror of child flesh trade. Her confession and need of protection woke up in the author the will to tell this pathetic story and thus to express her empathy in her own way to stand against the global problem of human trafficking with women and children. The book has been published and found wide response. With it the author gained popularity. Ionna is a young girl with a restless soul. As a result of the physical violence she experienced at home, she ran away from her parents. Life outside is freedom, but it is filled with dangers and surprises. Will this beautiful young girl survive unharmed after the countless underwater reefs of the criminal world? Will she find love? Will she grow up? Will be emerge victorious in the harsh struggle for survival? She probably will, as long as she unerringly follows the path of her lucky star. Mary Jordan goes further in her own fight with the flesh trade. She has decided to donate 50 per cent of the royalties to diverse organisations, whose aim is the liquidation of the human trafficking. As a further goal, in front of her remains the creation of a foundation for child protection-victims of abuse. For her, basic care for the society now and forever has to remain as the protection of the child, the small and vulnerable, but so important for the future of the human race.

In Love with A Southside Nigga


Hydiea - 2018
    She's craving it from the man that knows her inside and out, a man that think he knows her, and the best friend who doesn’t know her so well. Mica left a hectic lifestyle in hopes that the grass was greener on the other side, only to find out its just as dark. Mike is the first love of her life. Wes is the love of her life. What to do when you have two wrongs that both feel right? Both are south siders, but which one really has her heart? Will either of them change for her? Are they even worthy of her love? At the same time, she has a messed-up view of what love should really be. In this book of love, lies, and deceit, find out what Mica's next move will be! Maybe there’s no hope for love on the southside of Chicago. Or will she ruin her only chance at love?

An Unforeseen Love 2: For the Love of You: Malik & Toni


Meesha - 2021
    

Just Wanna Be Loved Too


Shay Davis - 2021
    

The Wolf Fey


Kailin Gow - 2011
    Will it be with Breena?This is a novelette introducing a new werewolf mythology based on the concept that werewolves have fairy blood in them in order to help them shift. This is their magic.

Trustworthy (On My Honor Series Book 1)


D.W. Boyce - 2014
    They go everywhere and do everything together including Scouts. Noah’s twin, who died at birth, is now telling him his best friend has been seriously injured. Wait… what? How can that be?Noah soon learns his twin’s story is true and he begins spending lots of time at the hospital with Titus. Over the next few months Noah will work hard to bolster Titus’s strength and resolve. Take the journey along with Noah as he struggles with loss, guilt, and all the questions about life. Watch and listen as he determines the true meaning of friendship and loyalty. Book 1, Trustworthy is a heartwarming story for all ages.

Foundlings (The Lost Dragons Book 1)


Finley Aaron - 2016
    Since then, the two have grown into normal teenagers. Well, not quite normal. They can do things that aren’t humanly possible. In an effort to learn who—or what—they are, the twins follow the trail of a cold case that investigators gave up on years before. In the process, they uncover secrets and dangers that could threaten not just their lives, but the very existence of their kind.