The idea for my first two published books, Taylor’s Law and Grace Under Fire—The Anderson Sisters came from the question of inheritance and succession for farming families. Wills are often messy, but they can be even messier when farms are involved. Worse, if no will exists. Rifts open in families that never heal.
At the time I was writing the books, there was a lot of media coverage involving bitter disputes over the distribution of assets after the death of a farm patriarch. The major problem is often different expectations of what will happen, in particular, who will inherit the family farm.
One child may have worked the family farm for years, if not decades, for minimal pay with the informal promise they’ll inherit the farm. Other children, on the death of their parent, expect a share of the spoils. In worst cases, a farm might need to be sold to pay out siblings.
While writing Grace Under Fire, I was coincidentally summoned for jury duty. The crime was insurance fraud, but it seemed the trigger was the death of a farm patriarch. The person in the dock expected to inherit a farm and didn’t, so there were disputes in the family and an urgent need for cash, hence the alleged fraud. The judge asked me to present my search history to ensure I hadn’t been secretly researching the case!
The key take-away is that farm families need explicit conversations about inheritance and succession, so everyone knows what to expect. With the Anderson sisters, there was no dispute. Ella (book 1) is passionate about justice, while Grace (book 2) is passionate about the land. But, the family talked about what would happen.
I’ve been thinking about these books recently, well Grace Under Fire, in particular, and its two lead characters, Grace Anderson and Ryan Wilson. July 2026 sees the release of a novella The Wrong Time for Love, which follows the journey of two secondary characters in Grace Under Fire; Grace’s farm labourer, Bluey (Lachlan Murdoch) and Ryan’s mother, Helen Wilson.
But looking at these books made me realise I’ve returned to wills and inheritance a few times. In Quinn, by design—Choosing Family Book 2, the main female character’s grandfather sought to throw his granddaughter and the main male character together by stipulating they be co-managers of his Foundation. Not strictly coercion, because they both loved the old man. But it begs the question, can you rule from beyond the grave?
This is exercising the minds of more and more people with the huge amount of intergenerational wealth expected to be transferred in Australia over the next two decades. Some people are opting to leave their money specifically to their children and not the spouses of their children. They may set up trusts where only their children are beneficiaries.
It’s common for wills to include “a right of residence” for a living spouse, with title to the property held by an executor. These wills may also include the quaintly termed floozy clause, which means that if the spouse recouples or remarries they lose their residency rights. In a dispute, courts may well find that adequate provision for a spouse requires giving a spouse absolute ownership of a property and a nest egg. This is because “courts generally look at whether the will adequately provides for those the deceased is obligated to provide for”. (There are ways to dictate how your inheritance is spent, Dominic Powell, 29 April 2026, SMH).
Pre-nups usually relate to divorce, not death.
Apparently one of the most effective ways is to set up a testamentary trust which starts upon death. This appoints a trustee to hold and distribute the will’s assets for beneficiaries. However, the trustee has an obligation to act in the best interest of beneficiaries, which might send the testator’s plans awry.
I’m revisiting the notion of inheritance in my current work in progress—working title, Sophie’s Mistake. This book has an added degree of difficulty because I need the inheritance laws of Malta to apply. I’ve done some research, or as the children of friends who are being taught not to use brand names say, I’ve searched it up, but I still have some questions which may require professional advice.
Essentially Malta follows the French Civil Code and there are strict rules around providing for a spouse and children. There is, however, the option of a testamentary trust, and that’s what’s fascinating me in this particular manuscript.
By the way, Grace Under Fire will be on special @$0.99 from 1-14 June across all major booksellers to remind you who Helen and Bluey are and why readers asked me to write their story—The Wrong Time for Love.
The Wrong Time for Love
Love takes a loner and a grieving mother by surprise
Farm labourer, Bluey (Lachlan Murdoch), has been travelling for twenty years, constantly on the move to forget the death of his baby girl.
Dairy farmer, Helen Wilson, is barely keeping her head above water. Her fifteen-year-old son suicided and her older son flees the area looking for paid work to help keep the farm. When a neighbour gifts her three months of Bluey’s time, it’s a lifeline.
Bluey admires Helen’s fierce defence of her boys. Helen appreciates Bluey’s quiet presence and his daily acts of kindness. When desire enters the mix, Bluey worries he’s taking advantage. Helen feels guilty about forgetting her boys, even for a moment.
Commitment isn’t in Bluey’s playbook. Helen’s struggling to navigate grief. Baring one’s soul, even sharing one’s body, is easier with a deadline.
But with the clock ticking down, what risks are they prepared to take with their hearts?
Award winning author Jennifer Raines excels at the emotional slow burn love story. The Wrong Time for Love offers second chance, over forties male and female leads, forbidden love, forced proximity, and definitely no strings attached entertainment.
Find me on:
- Instagram https://www.instagram.com/romanceauthorjen/
- Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/jenniferrainesauthor
- Goodreads—https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22577889.Jennifer_Raines
- Bookbub – https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jennifer-raines
- Diana Kathryn Penn’s Indie Reads Aloud podcast has recordings of me reading the opening 20 mins of my books:
- Betrayal—Choosing Family Book 3 (episode 212)
- Quinn, by design—Choosing Family Book 2 (episode 208)
- Masquerade—Choosing Family Book 1 (episode 188)
- Lela’s Choice (episode 143)
- Planting Hope (episode 101)
- The Anderson Sisters (episode 54 Taylor’s Law and 80 Grace Under Fire) http://www.dkpwriter.com/indie-reads-aloud-podcast.html
You can also contact me directly via the contact page on my website if you have any other questions.
Jennifer Raines 