AustLit

'Can two wounded hearts find peace in a time of war?

'1944. Widow Poppy Guilford is fighting to save her farm, the one thing tethering her to her husband - and the legacy promised for their young son. But a devastating secret from her husband's past threatens to derail her struggle to save the property and keep her son by her side.

'Former soldier JB Beaton's wartime injuries and personal losses have left him with scars, both inside and out. Believing he's too damaged to be the father his son deserves, he leaves him with his sister and takes on a job as a farmhand, far away from the city and his failures.

'Poppy, battling the elements and the heartache of her husband's secret, finds the new farmhand is never far from her thoughts, and JB's world is thrown into disarray by one of the most beautiful and capable women he has ever met. Neither can battle the surge of attraction they both feel.

'In a small town where gossip reigns, will they surrender to duty or follow their hearts?' (Publication summary)

'Can a fling turn into a family?

'After a chance meeting in Brisbane, Shayne Smith and Cassie Long had a perfect fortnight together. But when Shayne returned to his historic sheep property, they both assumed there was no future in a relationship between a city girl and a grazier.

'Six months later, Cassie arrives at Maiden's Landing to let Shayne know they made more than memories in their brief idyll. She has no expectations, only a duty to let him know.

'Shayne's life is already complicated with a property to run and a sixteen-year-old daughter growing up fast. He never expected the woman he can't forget to turn up on his doorstep bringing news that is all too familiar.

'Fiercely independent Cassie isn't asking anything of him, but he persuades her to stay at his homestead until the babies are born. Cassie's difficult pregnancy means that any possibility of romance must be put on hold - despite the intense attraction they feel for each other. How long can they resist? And will each of them overcome their own baggage so they can build a future together?' (Publication summary)

'Can four wounded souls find love? Iraq war veteran Dan Mitchell once disobeyed an order - and it nearly destroyed him. Now a national park ranger in the Australian outback, he's faced with another order he is unwilling to obey Photographer Rachel Quinn seeks out beauty in unlikely places. Her work comforted Dan in his darkest days. But Quinn knows darkness too - and Dan soon realises she needs his help as much as he needs hers. Carrie Bryant was a talented jockey until a racing accident broke her nerve. Now Dan and Quinn need her expertise, but can she face her fear? And could horse breeder, Justin Fraser, a man fighting to save his own heritage, be the one to help put that fear to rest? Sometimes, the wounds you can't see are the hardest to heal.' (Publication summary)

'Two broken hearts learning how to live - and love - again.

'After a devastating tragedy shakes Erin's world, she returns to her hometown of Point Perry seeking solace and a fresh start. But just as she begins to find her footing, an unexpected visitor and an old enemy threaten to upend her life once again.

'Tom, a devoted single father and beloved teacher, is no stranger to turmoil. His ex-wife, now a Hollywood starlet, has descended upon Point Perry for her movie premiere, stirring up trouble and putting Tom's priorities to the test. As the town buzzes with excitement over the event, Tom must also navigate a strained relationship with his father and protect his son from his ex's manipulations.

'Despite their emotional scars and obstacles, Erin and Tom can't ignore their growing connection. As they begin to explore the chance for a future together, they must confront their past traumas and find a way to move forward. Will their love be enough to overcome the challenges they face, or will their emotional baggage prove too heavy to bear?' (Publication summary)

'King Xavier of Maynet doesn't believe in love: he's had enough experience to know it can't be trusted. But he does believe in duty and knows he'll choose a wife as tradition dictates. However, when his late brother's widow joins him on a month-long royal tour of Maynet he develops feelings for her deeper than anything he's ever known or believed possible, and he finds himself spending more time thinking about her than any prospective bride.

'Princess Katerina won't ever risk her heart again after the humiliation of her marriage. Instead, she's dedicating her life to the betterment of her beloved adopted country, Maynet. Yet she finds herself attracted to Xavier in a way that threatens all her careful plans, and the more time they spend together the stronger their connection gets.

'As time runs out for Xavier to choose a wife, will he realise what he feels for Katerina is love and that she's more important than any tradition? Can Katerina trust herself and her feelings for Xavier and demand what she truly deserves, someone who loves her?' (Publication summary)

'Dr Lauren Stephens is volunteering in Karesh when she uncovers a crime and is forced to flee for her life. When a huge sandstorm leaves her stranded in the middle of the desert, a handsome stranger comes to her rescue, taking her to his luxurious camp. As they shelter there, the attraction between career-focused Lauren and the man she assumes is a simple Bedouin herder becomes undeniable.

'Crown Prince Sharif has come to this remote camp to escape from the pressure to find a suitable wife before his 30th birthday - a prerequisite for inheriting the throne. He rescues Lauren out of traditional Kareshian hospitality, but is soon captivated by her beauty and intelligence - and the fact that she is falling for him rather than his title.

'As they give in to their passion, they know that their affair will be brief. But when a threat against his father's rule reunites them, will they find a way to make a future together?' (Publication summary)

'A woman longing for freedom, a man longing for a home. Can the magic of Christmas bring them together?

'It's 1890. Lizzie Naylor's life is working in her grumpy father's store in Munyup, trying to bring up her six-year-old daughter, Alice who's hellbent on finding herself a father. Christmas is nearing, and tempers are fraught, especially when mysterious Mr Nicholas is back with his pesky sidekick, Alf. Or Elf, as Alice calls him. And Elf is just about to make another big mistake.

'Mack Miller has returned to the district to make peace with his brother, Shep. He's weary of the life he's led, the loss he's experienced. He's longed for home for a while, but the family farm had been a contentious issue between the brothers, and Shep and he have not spoken for years. When Alice is quite taken with Mack, she tells him he's a suitable contender for the role of being her father. But then someone from her mother, Lizzie's past appears, and terrible trouble erupts. Alice is snatched away.

'Lizzie will do anything to have her back, Mack will do anything to find her, and Elf must redeem himself.

'Can Christmas, new to the town and its folk, work its special magic?' (Publication summary)

'Dark secrets. A mysterious past. And an unforgettable passion.

'After months in a coma, music promoter Melissa Linklater wakes up to a world she doesn't remember. She's shocked to discover she's married - to Phil Paris, the intensely handsome drummer of world-famous band The Sidhe - and has a baby daughter. She has lost the memory of the last eight years of her life. Phil, their baby and his bandmates are all strangers.

'Phil is devastated that Mel can't remember her years with him. He needs her to remember - because he is nothing without his wife. Fame and wealth, even his music, no longer bring him joy. The only things that matter are Mel and their baby. He throws all he is into helping Mel remember, but instead of recovering memories of them, she starts to remember a secret past and a web of lies that threatens to destroy everything she knew about herself.

'Someone else is also after those secrets. As her mysterious stalker escalates from anonymous phone calls to break-ins and physical threats, the police and her doctors don't believe her - but Phil does. While she still can't remember anything about her life with him, she does feel things for him - passionate, needful things that make her want to trust him with her darkest secrets. Will sharing those secrets make them closer or bring more danger to their door?' (Publication summary)

'Not even fame will protect him from her violent past.

'Reclusive music producer, Lexi Deningham, has worked hard to escape a violent past, building her reputation so world famous rock stars come to her at her isolated recording studio in the Victorian High Country. That includes the wildly talented Daemon Flagherty who has just arrived to discuss his band's next album. After a messy divorce, all Daemon wants is to focus on his music, even if that means going to the end of the world to work with the best, albeit mysterious, music producer there is.

'When Lexi gets a call from her twin sister's secure mental health hospital telling her Cat has been attacked, Lexi has no choice but to bring her twin home. Lexi isn't ready to deal with both Cat and Daemon at the same time but if she wants to work with Daemon - and she does, desperately - she has no choice.

'Romance should be the last thing on their minds, but it seems that neither Lexi nor Daemon can ignore the passion between them. Until the threat from Lexi's past comes crashing into the present, determined to make her pay and with no care for who might get in the way. Lexi is used to going it alone, but will she realise she needs help before it's too late?'  (Publication summary)

'It's hard to hide love in the outback ...

'Hallie Harris has gone as far away as possible to escape the city and the humiliating revelations of her last relationship. Love is the last thing on her mind when she arrives at Karilga, a remote cattle station in outback Queensland, to take on the post of teacher to eight lively children. That is, until she locks eyes on aerial mustering pilot Ryan Walker. But how could a highly skilled pilot who lives and breathes the land ever fall for this hot-mess city girl?

'Quiet and reserved, Ryan's used to chasing down wayward cattle and flying his helicopter in the dangerous dead man's zone. But when it comes to the beautiful girl from the city, he's out of his element. When country larrikin and Ryan's best mate, Jackson, pursues the new teacher first, Ryan buries his head ... and his feelings ... in the red dirt. What's the point when Jackson always gets the girl?

'But the spark between Hallie and Ryan can't be ignored. In the small tightknit community of Karilga Station, can they keep their feelings on the down low? Or will everything the outback has to throw at them destroy any chance of building a home together?'  (Publication summary)

'When a little girl goes missing, an entire town comes together to find her ...
'When Tia Walsh rides into the small town of Coorah Creek on a Harley-Davidson, Sergeant Max Delaney senses that everything about her spells trouble. But Tia's trouble is not all of her own making, and the dangerous past she tried to leave behind is hot on her heels.

'Sarah Travers has returned home after three years of college to find that her parents have been keeping a devastating secret. Her childhood crush, Pete Rankin, is facing his own struggle with a harsh reality that will take him away from the girl and the life that he loves.

'Tia, Max, Sarah and Pete are all trying to find their future, but when a little girl goes missing in the harsh outback, nothing else matters except finding her safe ...'

Source : publisher's blurb

'Have you ever had a secret?

'In a small suburb of Gawler, South Australia, the tang of cut grass and eucalyptus seem to mingle perpetually on the warm air.

'The neat houses perched under the big gum on Church Street have seen many things over the long years. Years of sprinklers stuttering over clipped lawns, children playing behind low brick walls. The milkie, coming and going, leaving out bottles, or blocks of butter and cheese. A seemingly endless stream of youthful paperboys. Couples tending their veggies and chasing chooks. Family barbecues. Gossipy neighbours hanging out washing or drinking sundowners on their verandahs. Arguments. Accidents. Births, deaths, marriages. The street has seen it all.

'Until the arrival of Thomas, Elsie and Aida.

'In this, Kim Lock's third novel of what really goes on behind closed doors, she weaves the tale of three ordinary people with big secrets; a story of forty years of betrayal, marriage, loss and laughter. It is a joyous story, a rich tapestry of Australian life as well as a heartwarming depiction of love against the odds.' (Publication summary)

'Only Jessica Pearson knows the truth when the press portray her as the woman who betrayed her lover to escape prosecution. But will her new job flying an outback air ambulance help her sleep at night or atone for a lost life?

'Doctor Adam Gilmore touches the lives of his patients, but his own scars mean he can never let a woman touch his heart.

'Runaway Ellen Parkes wants to build a safe future for her two children. Without a man – not even one as gentle as Jack North.

'In Coorah Creek, a town on the edge of nowhere, you’re judged by what you do, not what people say about you. But when the harshest judge is the one you see in the mirror, there’s nowhere left to hide.'

Source: Publisher's blurb (Choc Lit ed.).

'Will dislike at first sight turn into the trip of a lifetime? A sparkling enemies-to-lovers rom com from a talented new voice.

'From Peru with love, (wander)lust & loathing…

'Blake Goldfield is ‘the guy who broke Tinder’ while raising funds for his overseas charity. High-flying banker, Louise Lane, isn’t buying his hot, eligible philanthropist act. In fact, it’s dislike at first sight when she encounters Blake working the bar at her office Christmas party.

'Both are at a life crossroads: Blake has begrudgingly left his not-for-profit to deal with Goldies, his family’s embattled restaurant; Louise has just split from her perfect-on-paper fiancé.

'Blake may be in control of the drinks, but Louise has the power to reject the loan necessary to keep Goldies open…' (Publication summary)

'A teacher. A goat farmer. A rebellious daughter.

'School teacher Sophie Bamford is ready for a sea change, and the small town of Ash Gully seems the perfect place to be left alone. She needs time to heal and rediscover herself, but she never anticipated what she would find as she did. Certainly not the handsome farmer the town loves so much.

'Goat farmer William Copely is struggling to make ends meet while trying to be the best dad he can be to his teenage daughter. He doesn't have time for a relationship, but he just can't get his daughter's new school teacher out of his head.

'There's an attraction there that neither of them can deny. But when William's daughter starts acting out and seems determined to hate her teacher, Sophie feels compelled to get to the bottom of it.

'But will the town's secrets be revealed a little too late?

'And is their relationship strong enough to withstand it?' (Publication summary)

'Salty air. Flowing margaritas. Beach sunsets ... and one annoying holiday crasher.

'Luisa Edmonds doesn’t have time for bad dates and guys who don’t take life seriously. And she certainly has no time for men like Ed Garcia, a womanising divorcé who parties too hard.

'When Luisa is sent to a lavish, all-inclusive resort in Mexico on a marketing project, she’s ecstatic — until she finds out that Ed is the award-winning photographer who has been hand-picked to go with her.

'But when she leaves the icy Melbourne winter behind, it’s not just her extremities that begin to thaw. Here, among the golden sands, tropical waters and salty air of Playa del Carmen, Luisa starts to get to know the real Ed — a sweet, animal-loving environmentalist who’s kept his crush on her a secret for years.

'And in all honesty, he is damn sexy without a shirt on.

'Unfortunately, their relationship would be bad news back in Australia, and Ed is a no-go for Luisa. But as his secrets are slowly uncovered, Luisa finds it harder and harder to ignore her feelings, and she is faced with an ultimatum. Will she jeopardise her future for a steamy, beach holiday fling?' (Publication summary)

Is falling for this rake a mistake?

'Owen Tattershall might not have a title or immeasurable wealth like other gentlemen of his ilk, but he does have rather excellent taste in the waistcoat department-and taste counts for a lot amongst the ton. It also doesn't hurt that his adopted mother is the dowager Marchioness of Faye and his kind-of-cousin is the Duke of Woodhal. Unfortunately, prestige didn't save his family from the ravages of war, and now what's left is held together by nothing more than heartbreak, hope and bravado. To keep his memories of the war at bay, Owen immerses himself in his work ... until the day Sophy Calder comes colliding into his life.

'Sophy has been fending for herself ever since her twin brother was press ganged to fight against Napoleon's forces. But the war ended almost two years ago, and still he hasn't returned. Knowing something dreadful has happened, Sophy is determined to find her missing brother, even if it means infiltrating the world that snatched him from her. But when she encounters Owen, she quickly finds her growing attraction for the only man who's taken her seriously threatening her long-mastered control.

'An addictive romp from start to finish, this delightful Regency romance is set in the world of The Unworthy Duke, but is a standalone read.'  (Publication summary)

'For readers of Karly Lane and Rachael Johns comes a compelling romance that proves forgiveness is possible and fighting for love is worth the heartache.

'Country vet Ross Harrington would rather throw himself into his work than face the memories of a tragic childhood accident. But the protective animal-lover cannot forgive himself, tied by the belief he is unworthy of love. So, when the adorable Flick Parker bounds into his clinic with her unruly dog and a smile that threatens to dissolve his protective walls, he's torn between his fascination with her zest for life and the overwhelming desire to turn-tail for the hills.

'Meanwhile, Flick is falling for the handsome vet but doesn't know if her heartfelt desire to care for terminally ill children can be in her future or if it's the very thing that will keep her and Ross apart. Finding the balance between offering too much heart or guarding it like an open wound feels like an impossible task, but can Flick show Ross it's worth taking the risk of opening up to find love?'  (Publication summary)