Cirrus@Austlit

'An unlikely friendship between two young women from opposite ends of Fitzroy sparks lifechanging transformations they could never have anticipated.

'Melbourne, 1945. Born into a well-to-do family, Maggie Johnson wants freedom from her parents' strict conservative beliefs and their unbending desire for her to marry the right sort of man. Instead, Maggie longs to forge her own path in life. Lil Kelly, who lives in the slums, works tirelessly to care for her mother and sister. Lil looks for contentment wherever she can find it, not daring to dream of more.

'When their paths cross during the exhilarating celebrations of Victory in the Pacific Day, they form a secret friendship. Determined to help lift Lil out of poverty, Maggie finds herself in need of her friend's help when her own carefully ordered world collapses.

'As Maggie discovers the strength and vibrancy within the close-knit community of southern Fitzroy, Lil is inspired to take a chance and look beyond the only life she has ever known.

'In a world where destiny is dictated by the street where you were born, can Maggie and Lil find the courage to pursue their dreams and follow their hearts?' (Publication summary)

'A war. The girl she'd been. And the woman she was forced to become. A dazzling, heartbreaking story of friendship and redemption from bestselling author Jennie Jones.

'Townsville, 1942. Young women aged sixteen and over are obliged by law to join the war effort, and Emma Hatton's world is at last about to change. Longing to escape the humdrum poverty of oceanside Blueholm Bay and the demands of her domineering mother, Emma reaches the bustling wartime mayhem of Townsville where the city streets are filled with glamorous GIs and red lipstick is the colour of the day. Befriending charismatic Cassie O'Byrne, Emma believes her adult life has finally begun.

'Private Frank Kendrick's kisses make her heart beat faster and with all the talk of his family in California, surely a proposal is imminent. But after a hasty seduction, Frank disappears and Emma finds herself in trouble.

'Her family's solution is the Holy Refuge of Saint Philomena in Brisbane, a prison-like 'home' where unmarried, pregnant young women are sent to repent and wait out their term before their babies are forcibly adopted. Longing to keep her child, Emma befriends other girls struggling in this cruel environment while her dearest friend of all seeks a way to help.

'The courageous choices Emma must make will lead her to true adulthood, forever friendships ... and a home and family she could never have anticipated.'(Publication summary)

'A collection of sparkling holiday romance stories from five bestselling Australian authors.'

'If you don’t fight for what you love, you won’t know what you’ve lost

'When Lauren Mackillop’s shady business partner gambles away her small business, she heads home to Surrender in Calamity Valley, Texas, to lick her wounds and plan her next move. But she walks straight into another battle to thwart a development company’s scheme to take over their charming Texas haven. Determined to safeguard her town, her senses are on alert when the sexy stranger she flirted with while briefly stranded at LAX turns up as the new owner of the saloon. Something’s going on, and this time, Lauren isn’t going to give in without a fight.

'Mark Sterrett has trouble on his heels and more on the way. To protect his family’s reputation from ruin he’s been tasked with ensuring this land deal goes through. But he’s up against more than he bargained for. Making his life more complicated, he’s drawn to the intriguing and enticing Lauren and as their attraction simmers and the threat to the town heightens, Mark wonders if he can get through the next two weeks with his conscience and his heart intact.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Jaxine Brown has made a good life for herself in the Western Australian outback town of Mt Maria. But the homecoming of her teenage daughter, Frances, changes everything. At only seventeen, Jax was coerced to give up the baby to Frances's father and his wife. Finally, she has a chance to make it right, and hasn't got time to think about recently returned Detective Senior Sergeant Jack Maxwell, who inexplicably disappeared in the middle of their only date last year.

'But Jack's back in town to investigate suspicion of drug trafficking and the man he's watching works in the closest mine to town. He expects to have this case wrapped up in four weeks, and feels he can take his time, not only with the case but also with Jaxine Brown, the woman he hasn't been able to get out of his mind.

'When graffiti and vandalism escalate in an issue involving stolen animals, Jax and Frances are unwittingly drawn into a mystery connected to the same mine Jack has under surveillance. Can Jack get to the bottom of the furtive goings–on, and do whatever it takes to protect the would–be family that's wound its way into his heart?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Six years ago Molly Mackillop left her hometown of Hopeless in Calamity Valley, Texas to seek out adventure. Now she’s back to lick her wounds after a string of humiliations and a failed engagement.

'Saul Solomon arrived in Texas after a heartbreaking discovery made him walk away from his hometown. Now, all he wants is to lie low until the complications in his life die down. Guided into Hopeless by forces unknown, Saul wonders if he should walk right out again.

'But the trouble with trouble, is that there’s always more on the way…'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Actress Edie Granger is in a spot of trouble.

'When a big-time producer threatens to ruin her career—and possibly the rest of her life—she flees to her remote hometown in the Snowy Mountains and opens a theatre to put on her comedy whodunnit Who Shot the Producer.

'Childhood friend and ex-commando Ryan Munroe has returned to Swallow’s Fall to see if there’s a future for him and Edie after their disastrous but unforgettable first and only kiss three years ago. She’s still dazzling, still in love with her career and still out of his reach. He’s about to give up when he learns that Edie might have trouble on her heels.

'Struggling with her growing attraction to Ryan, and torn between her career and a rekindled love for her hometown, Edie focuses on generating her cast and crew from the 182 Swallow’s Fall residents and producing her play. But when elements from the play start happening for real, the comedy turns dangerous.

'Edie is suddenly centre stage in the biggest role of her life. Can she pull it off ? And can Ryan ensure everyone survives to make it to the curtain call?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Move to the country for a dollar a week!

'Dulili is suffering a people drought. Over the years more people have moved away than have arrived to stay in this old New South Wales farming town, and now only a handful of young families and elderly residents are left. The locals put a plan into action to entice newcomers: offering the town's empty houses to people from anywhere in Australia. Who could resist renting a beautiful homestead for a dollar a week?

'Three people, eager for a new chance at life, take up the challenge. Adele, newly retrenched and with a daughter in tow, is living on hope; while newly divorced Bea has a point to prove both to herself and her family. For Lachlan, a farmhouse for a buck, a job and a town to call his own seems perfect. But can he keep his secret in such a close-knit community?

'Are the newcomers prepared for the revelations, disruptions and distractions of love?

'Featuring stories by bestselling authors Jennie Jones, Lisa Ireland and Catherine Evans, Last Chance Country is a collection of small town dreams, second chances and the healing power of hope.' (Publication summary)

'Dulili is suffering a people drought. Over the years more people have moved away than have arrived to stay in this old New South Wales farming town, and now only a handful of young families and elderly residents are left. The locals put a plan into action to entice newcomers: offering the town’s empty houses to newcomers from anywhere in Australia. Who could resist renting a beautiful homestead for a dollar a week?

'There’s nothing left for Adele Devereux in Sydney: no job, no relationship, no hope, and no diagnosis for her shy, uncommunicative daughter Ali. So she packs her bags, takes her meagre savings, and moves her small family to the country. She never expects to meet Tom Wade, a man facing his own hopeless situation, but whose kindness reaches her daughter in an unexpected friendship. As the small town of Dulili attempts to regenerate itself, Adele finds herself drawn further in to the community – and into her attraction to Tom.

'Tom is not back in Dulili to build a relationship. He’s there to heal wounds, help his grandmother, and make new plans. Plans that don’t come with his grandmother’s new tenant, part of the Dulili dollar scheme. But as Adele and Ali effortlessly work their way into his thoughts and his heart, he realises that there are two crucial elements that he left out of his long-term plans – the chance to find love and renewed hope for the future.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'A new outback home where she can become someone new—and maybe find a forever love?

'Rachel Meade is a woman with a past she wants to escape from. Finding herself in Mt Maria, a remote outback town in Western Australia, she thinks she’s found a place to stay.

'Before she knows it, Rachel is corralled into helping with the Tidy Town competition by the Dramatic Society widows who have a tendency to gossip and take charge. It’s not in her plan, but she finds herself allowing friendships to develop. She’s even more surprised by her growing attraction to the town’s engaging senior police officer.

'Ex-detective Senior Sergeant Luke Weston knows anything and everything happens in the country, and he’s seen it all—stolen chickens, pub fights and alleged cheating for the Tidy Town competition are only some of puzzles Mt Maria offers Luke. He’s been playing for Rachel, thinking maybe she’s the one. Then he gets news that the Crime Squad are looking for her, and he’s ordered to get close and stay close. Is Rachael in trouble, or is she the trouble?

'Luke is fighting his attraction to a woman he might have to take into custody, and it looks like he’s going to be arresting more than one person before the end of the week. Luke needs to restore peace in his corner of the outback, but he knows he’s not going to get out of this without getting his heart busted.

'With her past catching up with her, Rachael has to decide whether it’s time to cut and run again, or whether this time she’s found the person—and the place—to finally heal her heart. '

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Gemma Munroe loves hard, laughs hard and plays hard. Or at least she did before today. Her dream is finally within her grasp – owning the toy shop in Swallow’s Fall and establishing herself permanently. Only one person has the power to get in her way: Josh Rutherford – the love of her life who kissed her and left her ten years ago is coming home.

'Josh will be in town for five days. Only five days. He’ll finally sever the ties to a youth filled with poverty by selling the properties that are now his. He’s returning healthy, wealthy and emotionally stable, and then he’ll leave forever. It’s all in the plan. Everything…except for Gem. He never forgot her, but he definitely forgot the effect she has on him. Now she’s got problems, and he can’t seem to leave without trying to help her solve them.

'The town itself also has its own plans: Gemma and Josh are thrown together in Speed-Date fiascos, kissing experiments, bar fights and an issue with the North Star – Josh’s compass and the road to his next adventure. Seven weeks later Josh is still in town. Gem has to get through her best friends’ wedding and Josh has to get over Gem. Because he’s not staying. Is he?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.