AustLit

'Crippled by writer’s block, New York Times best-selling author Kristen Winters fears her career is slipping away. Her publisher’s on her back, and her motivation is at an all-time low. When an opportunity to relocate brings Kristen to Hope’s Ridge, she hopes the gorgeous views and welcoming townsfolk will inspire her writing. What she hasn’t anticipated is making an enemy in the form of Hope’s Ridge’s resident artist, Ryan Williamson.

'For the past four months, Ryan has been floating on cloud nine. His artwork is being featured as part of an exhibition at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and he’s been offered an opportunity of a lifetime on the international stage. However, his charmed existence comes crashing down when a medical emergency sees all he has worked for come under threat.

'Will Kristen and Ryan recognize how alike their circumstances are and unite to support each other, or will their rivalry become so intense that one of them will need to leave town?' (Publication summary)

Who is behind the Christmas Secret?

Excitement builds in Hope’s Ridge in the lead-up to Christmas as whispered conversations, incorrect assumptions, and plenty of scheming keep the town buzzing. Who is the organizer, what is the connection to the uninhabited Lake House, and why does the instigator insist on remaining anonymous?

'Becca Hamilton can’t answer any of these questions. New to Hope’s Ridge and hoping to keep her demons locked in the past, she’s yearning for the fresh start the new town and job offer her.

'Local bar owner Isaak Trader also craves a fresh start. To have any chance at a relationship, he believes he needs to leave Hope’s Ridge and start again—until he meets Becca.

'With the Christmas Secret whirling around them, the flame igniting Becca and Isaak’s instant attraction is quickly extinguished as her past comes back to haunt her. Becca will need to put her demons to bed and move forward for the pair to have any chance at love. But how can she do that when Isaak’s lifestyle represents her biggest fear?

'It will take more than a Christmas miracle for these two to have any chance of a future together, but as the Christmas Secret builds momentum, anything is possible.' (Publication summary)

'When Jenna Larsen dreamed of her wedding day, she never visualized it being the most humiliating day of her life. But it was. Devastated and mortified by the turn of events, Jenna returns to Hope’s Ridge single and seeking solace in the comfort of her parents’ home.

'Matt Law has spent the last six months proving to the residents of Hope’s Ridge that he’s changed. He wants to be part of the town and part of the community, but one act undoes all of his hard work and makes him an enemy—Roy Larsen: the influential owner of the town’s mill; a major supplier to Matt’s businesses; and furious father of the bride. While Matt does his best to tame Jenna and her father’s fury, there are bigger issues brewing. His father, the majority owner of his businesses, is persuaded by an outsider to move his investments from Hope’s Ridge. But who exactly is venture capitalist Susan Lewis, and why does she have so much influence and power over his father?

'As Jenna does her best to move on from the wreckage of her wedding day, an opportunity arises for her to work with Susan. Their business collaboration could ultimately destroy Matt’s businesses. Matt ruined Jenna’s life—she’s single, unemployed, and without a home because of him—and now she has the opportunity to ruin his. But will she?' (Publication summary)

'One lucky day will change two women's lives - but for better or worse?

'When an unexpected windfall brings together strangers Shauna and Frankie, one woman is popping champagne corks-but the other just wants to cry. For her part, Shauna is pouring celebratory drinks. Since her heart was broken and her dreams shattered, she's been ready for a fresh start. Surely she deserves some good luck at last? But Frankie knows what can happen to families when money moves in and is allowed to take over. Fearing she'll lose the contented-if cash-strapped-life she has built with her husband and their two daughters, she wants to be in control this time. But as money rewrites their life stories and truths emerge among the treasure, both are forced to wonder if their good fortune is just bad luck in disguise...'

Source : publisher's blurb

'Will new friends almost ruined by their husbands find the strength to fight for each other?

'Abi’s life has been turned upside down by her husband’s death—in more ways than she could ever have imagined. With his dodgy business dealings now exposed, gone is her glamorous lifestyle and the trust of her family and friends. How could the man who said he loved her have betrayed her so spectacularly?

'Are some white lies simply too big to forgive?

'Eve and Leah are identical twins—but beyond that, they’re polar opposites. Struggling journalist Leah envies Eve’s seemingly perfect life—the loyal husband, the beautiful twin daughters, the stellar career—little knowing that what Eve longs for most is Leah’s independence.

'When a shocking event upends their world, one woman seizes a split-second chance to change everything and follow her sister down a different life path. It’s a spontaneous choice, but there’s no going back. How will she deal with the fallout when covering up one untruth means lying to everyone—about everything?

'One thing is clear: both twins have secrets, and both just want to be happy. But what price will they pay to live the life they’ve always wanted?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Can shattered hearts be healed?

'Dealing with the trauma of recurring nightmares and nursing a broken heart, Zane Larsen arrives in Hope’s Ridge resolved to recover his self-confidence and find a new direction for his life. However, he’s stunned to discover he still has feelings he can’t ignore for his sister’s best friend, the one woman in Hope’s Ridge who’s hated him since high school.

'When her business plans crumble overnight, Asha Jones is wrong to assume life can’t get any worse. She’s made an enemy of an influential local property developer, and the man who crushed her heart ten years earlier has returned to town. Sure, she can do her best to ignore Zane’s existence, but what will she do when her feelings resurface for him? She can’t go there again…can she?

'Zane needs to redeem himself and fight for a second chance. But is working with the man who wants to destroy Asha’s business a guaranteed way to reignite her hate - or could it be an opportunity to change her opinion of him?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'When dark memories haunt you, is it possible to move forward with an open heart?

'Twelve months ago, an accident destroyed Steph Jones’s easy-going outlook. Plagued with the horror and memories of that day, Steph is unable to forget and unable to forgive herself.

'In the nearby town of Drayson’s Landing, one man has the ability to help Steph move on. Only, he’s hurting more than she is.

'Can Steph muster the courage to leave the comfort of Hope’s Ridge, face the nightmare of her past, and confront the man she’s been avoiding for the last year?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Tragedy pushed them apart. Can troubled times bring them back together?

'Hannah and Nat were teenagers when their mum died in a terrible accident. The pain of it tore them apart, creating a rift that they've never been able to bridge. Neither is able to understand or appreciate her sister's perspective, each quick to be riled by the other.

'Both women have been indelibly shaped by the tragedy. Hannah is controlling, desperate to protect her loved ones in a way she failed to do with her mum. Meanwhile, Nat is forever running from the 'selfish daughter' label that she was marked with after the accident.

'Now secrets in both women's lives threaten to bring them down. Help may be close at hand, but neither can see it. But with life falling apart and the truth in short supply, can they finally see past their differences to the bond that could bring them together?' (Publication summary)

'Imagine you had the power to change the world…

'Sixth-graders Jasper and Izzy are shocked to discover they possess a unique power: they can freeze time. The only catch? They can't use it for personal gain.

'Led by an unexpected ally, they enter the in-between dimension, a waiting room positioned between their world and eternity; a place where mortality travellers (people who have died) are stuck, unable to move on unless changes to their pasts are made.

'Can Jasper and Izzy travel to the past, use their power to freeze time, and change the histories of Will, Hannah and Oliver, three individuals whose deaths have impacted the lives of thousands of others?

'And will they ignore the possible consequences of using this power to change their own lives for the better?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Responding to an unfamiliar cry for help, not only puts the Crafters’ Club members in danger but confirms they are not alone in the Minecraft world.  Mob encounters, glitches, foreign visitors, and unknown maps ensure this Crafters’ Club adventure is the most unpredictable yet.'

Source : publisher's blurb

'Three women in their thirties. Different backgrounds, different beliefs, different aspirations; same good fortune.

'For Shauna, celebrations surrounding an unexpected windfall are short-lived. Facing a lawsuit, her mother's unpredictable behaviour, and the sudden appearance of a long-lost relative, the shine of good fortune is quick to fade.

'Frankie loves her life. Even living with difficult circumstances her glass is always half-full -- she wouldn't change a thing. When good fortune falls at Frankie's feet, she is loath to embrace it, terrified of the potential disaster it could bring.

'Bec's good fortune pales into insignificance when compared to her husband's indiscretion. The lawyer in her is quick to see the situation in black and white. He's at fault; the marriage needs to end. Bec's haste to move on, coupled with her decision to hide her recent luck, has devastating consequences.

'Good fortune helps form unlikely friendships when the lives of these three women are brought together. Will their combined strength be enough to help solve the problems of their already complicated lives? Or will it further fuel them?'  (Publication summary)

'When Curly and Belle return to the Secret World their excitement is short-lived. A danger no one could ever have predicted is present and Curly's magic is needed if there is to be any chance of survival. Can Curly muster the courage and determination to travel to a dangerous and unknown land and ultimately save the Secret World?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'For Emma and Lucie, the art of lying appears all too easy . .

Emma Wilson has it all. Beauty, wealth, a loving and successful husband. But appearance can be deceptive. Bored and restless, her need for more fuels a dangerous craving; one she intends to keep hidden. Against her husband's wishes and trapped in a deep web of lies, Emma returns to the family and hometown she left seventeen years earlier. Here, her lies magnify, threatening to destroy her marriage and all she holds dear. Widowed and struggling financially and emotionally, Lucie Andrews is pushed to her limits. Delayed grief combined with an obstinate five-year-old drive her to rash decisions and reckless behaviours, the consequences of which she is determined to keep secret. For Lucie, the most dangerous lies are not the one she tells others, but those she tells herself. Thrown together by circumstance, will friendship be strong enough for Emma and Lucie to survive the fallout from their lies, or will the fragile threads of their lives continue to unravel?'

'Eleven-year-old Curly Jones’ life has become unbearable. A target of constant bullying, change seems impossible… that is, until new girl, Belle, arrives. Not only does Belle bring friendship, she provides an introduction to the Secret World; a world of magic, adventure and unexpected friends. But it’s not all fun and excitement. When an unwelcome visitor threatens the Secret World, Curly will need every ounce of courage to discover his own magic and fight for its future.' (Publication Summary)

'An exciting birthday adventure turns disastrous when a real-world player infiltrates the Minecraft map. Mobs are the last thing on the club members minds as they scheme to outwit this uninvited yet dangerous guest. Can the Crafters' Club protect the Minecraft world, avoid a fatal attack, and preserve their most precious secret?' (Publication summary)

'Turmoil erupts when the Crafters' Club members transport a potion from the real world into the Minecraft map. Their plan is sabotaged, leaving Archer and Spirit in extreme danger. JJ, Jamie, Annie, and Charli have no time to waste as a hair-raising adventure unfolds. Explosions, mobs, and potions, create further complications as the members try to outwit their enemy and survive.' (Publication summary)

'When the Crafters Club members re-enter the Minecraft world, unforeseen problems destroy the thrill of locating the masked hero. Frightening cave explorations, battles with mobs, and an intense rescue mission are just some of the challenges they face. Can the Crafters Club piece together the clues required to help the hero, free a prisoner, and survive another exhilarating adventure? Spirit is the fifth book in The Crafters Club series. The series is aimed at 6 to 10 year olds and will also appeal to a broader age range of Minecraft fans. ' (Publication summary)