Cirrus@Austlit

'When her friend Frankie asks her to officiate at her wedding in the Whitsundays, Kathleen agrees to fly in and fly out. A quick visit and then back to the comfort of the Gold Coast. Maybe then she'll be able to work out what direction her life is headed.

'The heat of summer and the plagues of insects reinforce her idea of life in the north and she’s excited about returning home. She just needs to get the wedding out of the way. However, fate intervenes, a business opportunity arises and decisions need to be made.

'Amidst the heat of the tropics, there is also a romance brewing and the business venture is not the only challenging question she needs to ask herself. Will she take a chance, or do what she’s always done and take the comfortable path in life?' (Publication summary) 

'Having a baby is not on Frankie’s list of things to do. A new job and a romantic existence with Simon on his farm in the Whitsundays is enough happiness to last her a lifetime.

'However, even the best thought-out plans can go askew and when fate is taken out of her hands, her relaxed, peaceful days disappear. Some additions are easier than others though and as the heat of summer settles in there is more than just the volatile weather to deal with.

'Summer by the Jewel Sea is a story of creating a family, making friendships, and a continuing romance, set amidst the tropical north of Queensland.' (Publication summary)

'We'll Meet Again is Book 3 in the We'll Meet Again Series. Readers will delight in continuing to follow the stories of the characters from Book 1 (Elizabeth's Star) and Book 2 (Until We Meet).

'The 1950s are a carefree time for a young woman like Grace. The war is over and when her family moves to Brisbane, plans are made for her to complete her studies at the University of Queensland.

'Ewan is also studying the same course and when he meets the beautiful, head-strong Grace, the differences in their backgrounds are pushed aside as they plan their future together.

'However, not everyone is happy with the romance and when the young couple is forced to separate, decisions are made that will determine their path in life. Will the path taken, lead Grace to the story behind a star she knows as Elizabeth’s Star, and will a fortune teller’s prophecy 40 years prior, be proven?

'We’ll Meet Again is a story of love and family, a connection between those who suffered loss and separation and a sweeping tale of hope, chance and love.' (Publication summary)

(Publication summary)

'When Charlotte leaves her old life to start afresh near the township of Bindarra Creek, she experiences a sense of liberation and adventure. The rural property she purchases is perfect for her new business venture and a friendly neighbour, Alex, along with his two children, Isla and Eli, help her settle in.

However, plans for a peaceful rural life do not run smoothly and when she stumbles on a sinister connection to her past, Isla is also drawn into the web of evil. Now Charlotte faces the perilous task of saving the young girl from a deadly situation.

Will Alex rescue Charlotte and Isla in time? Or will the secret places beyond the gate, hide forever, their fate?' (Publication summary)

We who are about to die, salute you.' Rabaul New Guinea, 1942.
A small garrison of Australian soldiers is left to defend a town and its people against the might of the Japanese forces. This is a story of those who were left behind and those who waited for them to return.
***
In early 1940, Bud joins the United States Navy, his aim, to become a US Submariner. Less than two years later, Japanese forces bomb Pearl Harbour. Those living on the islands of New Guinea lie directly in the path of the oncoming enemy.

'In Rabaul, Joanie prepares to depart, leaving behind her fiancée, those who she loves and many who she has become friends with. As the volcano Tavurvur gathers its forces and bursts forth from its crater, the ill-equipped, small Australian defence known as Lark Force is left to secure the small town. Overwhelmed by the large enemy forces, the order is given, ‘every man for themselves.’ Although some will survive, 1053 men lose their lives when a US Submarine sinks the POW Japanese ship, Montevideo Maru. The seeds of destiny are sown and the lives of the American submariner, Bud, and those in Rabaul, intrinsically linked.

'Will Michael return to fulfil his promise of marrying Joanie and what will be the fate of his young daughter, Gracie, who still turns to the evening star for guidance, for her questions to be answered, and above all to be reunited with her father.

'Until We Meet is an epic saga, based on actual events that continues the story of Elizabeth’s Star. A tale of survival, love and family, set amidst the backdrop of World War II.'(Publication summary) 

'Frankie knew one thing. She’d return to the city when the job was done. But will an accidental meeting with local farmer Simon, change her perspective on what is important in life and remind her of her ethics. Or will it send her running in the opposite direction?' (Publication summary)

'In 1941, Queensland drover, Michael McTavish leaves behind his young daughter Gracie and joins the 2/22 AIF, his destination, Rabaul, New Guinea, a small town surrounded by impenetrable jungles and steep jagged mountains, its shores lined by tranquil bays and active volcanos.

'Joanie has also arrived in New Guinea, with a chance to manage a trading store with her father, Reg, too exciting an opportunity to pass up.

'As the tendrils of war creep closer to the islands north of Australia, some who call Rabaul home are given an opportunity to return to Australian shores. Others have no option but to stay. Will separation and distance affect the destiny of those who live in the path of the approaching enemy or will the power of love prevail?

'Based on actual events, Elizabeth’s Star begins the story of Michael and Joanie, unfolding the lives of their families and friends while following the life of Gracie, a little girl left behind when her father went to war.

'A moving tale of love, loss and separation.' (Publication summary)

'When Jess discovered love with Daniel in the tiny outback town of Gowrie, her previous troubled life was cast aside. However, differences in their backgrounds, her doubts about real love and the urge to return and support her twin brother Johnno, forced her to make a decision to leave.

'A new home in the small community of Tamborine Mountain provides an opportunity to contemplate how she really feels and what is important. Johnno lives nearby and new friends and a romantic encounter give her a fresh start but is this what she really wants? And if it isn't, will Daniel welcome her back with open arms?

'The tranquil setting of Tamborine Mountain joins forces with the outback of Queensland to continue the story of Two Heartbeats. Will the decision be taken out of Jess's hands, pushing her further away, or will her heart lead her to where she will find true happiness?'

Source: Publisher's blurb. 

'‘If I close my eyes, it’s easier to hold onto a memory. When I open them, I think it might really be there in front of me.’ 

'After three tours of duty in Afghanistan, Liam Andrews is home safe in Queensland. His weekly life drawing class, full of colourful local artists, helps him manage his post-traumatic stress disorder. But he’s struggling to open up about a past that still haunts him.

'Belourine ‘Billy’ is an Afghan refugee who lost everything before arriving in Australia as a child. She finds joy in her daily swims in the lake. After years of upheaval, she’s still searching for a place to call home. But her past makes it hard to trust people.

'When Liam and Billy meet, they form an instant connection. But will they ever overcome the past? And will it be together?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'When Jess heads west for a fresh start in a small mining town, the dusty, outback plains are a far cry from her former life in the city. Despite having no knowledge of country life, she finds herself loving the isolation and local people who she lives with. All she has to do is keep her head down and work hard to create a better life for herself and Johnno, the only person she has ever truly cared about.

'As relationships develop and change, Jess discovers the caring warmth of a welcoming family and a circle of friends who look out for her. She begins to feel that maybe for once, her life is heading in the right direction.

'However, problems arise when her temper and stubborn nature collide with her new boss Daniel, who is suspicious of her background story. Has Jess told him everything, or is there a hidden secret to justify his earlier distrust of her?

'With a cast of eclectic characters, set amidst the rugged outback of Australia, Two Heartbeats is a story of friendship, resilience and the hope that ultimately loving relationships may triumph over obstacles defined by the past.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Ruby and Bobby are best friends who spend their spare time together in a tree house where they retreat from the adult world and share their secrets. To Ruby’s dismay, Bobby’s family life is far different from her own and when he is forced to leave home at a young age it seems that the two may never see each other again.

'After many years the events of the past resurface, and as an adult, Ruby is unexpectedly faced with the gravity of their secrets and the seeking of justice. A court case forces her to search for Bobby but will she find him amidst the vastness of the Australian outback and if she does, will he want to return to what he has spent his entire life running away from.

'This is a story about the secrets that children keep, the strength that comes from a childhood friendship and a special family love that overcomes the hardships of the past.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'An isolated fishing shack on a beautiful bay in the Whitsundays provides Luke with a retreat where he can find peace and solitude. However, the discovery of family war relics, and a developing relationship with the beautiful Lily, connects family histories and reveals a story that threatens to destroy his chance at real happiness.

'Will the wartime secrets prove to be the breaking point for a beautiful romance? Or can two families put the deeds of the past behind them?

'Romantic and purely Australian, The Shack by the Bay captures the pristine beauty of the Whitsundays and the wartime memories of older Australians while introducing an eclectic blend of friends and family.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.