AustLit

'Can a dream hold the answer to a violent crime ... and bring two people together?

'Since the deaths of her father and stepmother nine months before, Mia Petros has suffered a terrifying recurring dream which implies that their deaths were not a murder-suicide at the hands of her father--as the police decided--but a double murder.

'When Taylor's Bend vet Oliver Johnson attends a car accident involving a horse float from a nearby stud farm he's not prepared for an encounter with Krista Laatonen, the billionaire owner's stepdaughter. Beautiful, prickly, and entitled, she is everything he despises about the world he left behind all those years ago. But he can't neglect an injured animal, and there is something about Krista he can't ignore.

'Oliver soon discovers that first impressions can be misleading-the accident was not as it seemed, and there might just be more to Krista than he expected.

'When two thugs arrive on Oliver's doorstep claiming the horse from the accident belongs to their boss, Oliver and Krista are thrown into the middle of a dangerous game of deception and greed. As the threats around them escalate into blood spilled, choking fire, and a violent abduction, Oliver must decide if Krista's ice-queen mask hides a woman worth risking his life -- and his heart -- for.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'After her husband is controversially acquitted of multiple crimes, now-divorced Abbie Forrest escapes to the peaceful rural town of Taylor's Bend intent on focussing on her career as a landscape artist. Estranged from her sister and daughter, Abbie tries hard to forge new relationships in the small community without revealing her own secrets.

'Town policeman Rupert Perry is attracted to the quiet woman who lives alone on a large block fifteen minutes from town. But Rupe is happy with what he has - part time hours, a friendly inclusive community, and freedom to grieve for his late wife away from the well-meaning but overwhelming concern of his old friends.

'When a series of peculiar and increasingly frightening events threaten Abbie, she is forced to turn to Rupe for help. But will he be able to prevent the escalation of terror as past wrongs demand revenge?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'She's been through hell, so risking her heart should be easy...

'Anxious to rid herself and her twins of the dark memories from their past, twenty–three–year old Antonia moves to the small rural town of Flynn's Crossing. Antonia is frightened but determined to be independent for the first time in her life, so she rents Mango House and settles in to the community to begin the process of healing.

'Town councilor and local real estate agent Flynn has secrets. Guilt–ridden over a tragic childhood event, he fled the city and devotes his life to assisting others. He has big plans for Flynn's Crossing. Without change, the town will shrivel and die. But the townspeople are resistant to his ideas, and his discussions with a luxury resort developer.

'When Flynn first meets Antonia, he doesn't know her sensationalised past, and Antonia feels normal for the first time. Slowly, as they get to know each other, to trust each other, Antonia begins to consider the possibility of something more. But when tensions over the resort development reach breaking point, she discovers that Flynn hasn't been entirely honest, and her new beginning is at risk of ending. When Flynn has to choose between the town he's devoted his life to and the woman he barely knows, can she trust that the man who healed her heart will treat it with care?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'A chance sighting leads to second chances – for hope, for family, and for love.

'Five years ago, teenager Antonia disappeared. With no compelling evidence, the police eventually called her a run-away, and dropped the case. Her teacher, Jax, has always regretted not speaking up about the rumours she heard circling the school that day, but a random sighting at a train station raises the possibility that Antonia is still alive – and not too far away.

'Antonia’s father, Connor has never given up hope that his daughter will be found and returned to her family. When her old teacher, Jax, calls him with a small spark of a lead, he seizes it with both hands, determined to chase it down.

'But there’s more at play than simple teenage rebellion and the path Jax and Connor travel rapidly becomes more dangerous than either could have imagined, and opens up new possibilities that neither could have expected.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'One honeymoon, one vanished husband, one desperate wife—and the cop who is tasked to help her, but can’t seem to keep his thoughts on the job.

'Honeymooner Nikki Spenser emerges from the surf at Surfers Paradise and can’t find her husband, her towel, or her clothes on the beach. Carlos has disappeared from her life as suddenly as he entered it.

'In despair, Nikki returns to Sydney where she is contacted by Detective Luke Emerson, a reminder from her past she thought never to see again. Luke informs her that the man she married so recklessly in Las Vegas three weeks prior doesn’t exist. Everything she knew about Carlos is a lie, and Nikki realises she knows nothing about her husband—not where he is, not even who he is.

'As Nikki and Luke chase down tenuous leads, they soon find themselves plunged into an ever-widening sea of international crime and violence, and Nikki is faced with the hard questions—how much of her love is based on lies, and how much is true?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'She survived years as a gangland wife, sacrificing everything to the family. But now they’re threatening the one thing that she will never, ever give up — her child.

'When Maja's abusive gang boss husband Tony is murdered, she takes the opportunity to flee, change her name, and leave her criminal family and her past behind. As Lara Moore, she and her toddler son Petey live quietly in suburban Sydney. Then, one act of kindness threatens to reveal her secrets and unravel the threads of her new life. But Detective Nick is dedicated and determined, the antithesis of everything she was brought up to believe about the police. Slowly, Maja finds herself drawn out of her shell and into his protective embrace.

'Investigating Detective Nick Lawson doesn’t know what it is about the prickly, reclusive young mother that attracts and intrigues him, but as the facts about her crime-steeped family emerge, Nick doubts whether his career would survive this relationship, even if she were interested.

'Then, to Lara’s horror, her past meets her present, and thoughts of love and a future are lost as the fight for her child begins.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Betrayed by her fiance, freelance musician Primrose Pretty escapes to Nirvana, her brother Danny's rural Australian commune. Although determined to live the simple life, Primrose finds the primitive conditions and slack attitude of the "residents" stressful. Her awkward relationship with her brother creates even more problems and reopens family wounds she'd sought to heal. Danny, with secrets of his own, wishes interfering Primrose would leave. Tom Fairbrother, owner of the flourishing property next door, offers an attractive alternative to the commune. After a passionate night with him, Primrose is confused. Is he merely a distraction, or is what she feels real and everlasting? Primrose seems to reciprocate Tom's attraction but flirting is one thing and he knows a high maintenance, single minded, inflexible city woman is not a long term prospect as a hardworking farmer's wife. With no future to offer her, how can he ask her to stay?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Sent to assess a deceased estate in a small coastal town, ambitious city girl Tiffany Holland is initially annoyed by the out-of-the-way assignment. But she soon discovers sleepy Birrigai hides a wealth of surprises: a cross-dressing motel manager, a Kissing College and her client Miles Frobisher, the laid back, surf-shop owning, real life sex fantasy.

'Tiffany's ambition is to become a junior partner in her financial firm, but small town life and the proximity of Miles gradually seduce her. But a shocking discovery in the estate papers leads to a dramatic change in Miles's circumstances. Emotionally inept, Tiffany is unable to help Miles through the transition, and drives him away. With misunderstandings and secrets creating frost between them, it seems that their summer romance is destined to go cold. Can they overcome their differences and learn to accept their feelings?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

When Shay Brookes and Joelle Paice meet again, they experience an instant, but immediately suppressed attraction. Together, seeking their birth parents, they traverse the emotional minefield of ruptured families — both old and new — discovering lies, mistakes, truths, guilt, and ultimately, love, all rippling out from one tragic moment in the past.

Annie never thought to use underwear to meet a man, but the trick works on her downstairs neighbour, Hugh. Though he’s a handsome English doctor, Annie wants nothing more than friendship. Luckily, neither does Hugh.

'Sell beloved Eden to a developer? Watch the apple trees bulldozed for hobby farms?

'"You'll have to sell, it's inevitable," states charming and persuasive Adam Henderson. "I'll give you a good price."

'"Over my dead body," cries owner Eve McGregor.

'Eden was her father's dream and now, all she has in the world. Since his death Eve has struggled to keep the orchard going but the bank is threatening foreclosure and Adam, wealthy, determined and far too attractive, won't take no for an answer. Besieged on all sides how can Eve save Eden? Will Adam convince her the future is more important than the past?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'It's just one of those days for concert bassoonist Dimity Farr-she's informed she needs to find a new home to make room for her landlady's distraught daughter; she receives an invitation for inevitable belittling at her cousin's wedding; and to top it all off, she loses her favorite pink scarf. When Marcus steps into her life through a classified ad for the missing scarf, the two begin a journey of near-misses and odd coincidences. They encounter mishap after mishap, with a ruined dress, a car accident, and what seems like fate all conspiring to keep the two apart. Is Marcus only interested in Dimity because of her family's business connection? Is Dimity too focused on Marcus's profession to see the man underneath?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.