The Heartwood Hotel by Kerry McGinnis

In the outback town of Tewinga, Lyn runs the local shop with her husband, Adam. Her aging father, Tiger, owns the pub. Lyn grew up in Tewinga and came back with Adam when it became obvious that Tiger needed help running the place. Lyn also longs for a child to complete their family, but it hasn't happened yet. Tiger has a young man, Max, that works for him, and Lyn has taken Max under her wing as almost a surrogate son. Soon, however, family secrets and crime come into the lives of Lyn, Adam, and Tiger. The Heartwood Hotel explores what life in small town Australia is like--the friendships, the sense of community, and also the isolation.