Cirrus@Austlit

'“Aging is a mess,” declares the protagonist of Brian Castro’s 10th novel, Chinese Postman. Abraham Quin is a 74-year-old literary professor who lives on his property in the Adelaide Hills with his dogs, his memories, the ghosts of three failed marriages and nightmares of shitting himself in public. He talks, he muses in the novel’s opening pages, mostly to himself.' (Introduction)   

'Unlucky in love Lily Baker is ready to get back in the dating game. But her first night out ends with the guy ditching her—in the middle of a dance floor. Wonderful. Public humiliation on top of rejection. And worse, Caleb Willmett, the sexy local contractor with an unfortunate desire to remain single, witnessed the whole thing. But where Lily sees disaster, Caleb finds opportunity.

'The only long-term relationship Caleb wants is a business partnership with Lily’s father, but the man won’t give him the time of day. If Lily can arrange a meeting for him, Caleb promises to help her find a guy worth dating. Perfect trade. And this should be easy—just look for someone completely opposite of himself, someone who’s willing to settle down.

'But when Lily unexpectedly captures his heart, playing matchmaker for her becomes the most difficult job he’s ever done.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Amber Miller has worked hard to get her small business thriving. Now the Wright family wants to tear down her store to put up a mega center. What's even worse, the guy who broke her heart in high school is the new CEO of Wright Inc. He’s just as infuriating now—and just as tempting—as he was back then, but she isn't giving up without a fight.

'Logan Wright is back in Pine Falls for one reason: to turn his dad’s failing company around. His plans should put them on the upswing. But he didn’t count on Amber Miller standing in his way, as fiery and stubborn as she was years ago. And the more time he spends with her, the harder it is to resist falling for her again. The only problem is he's everything she doesn't want.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Derek Carmichael has harbored a secret crush on his best friend's older sister for years, but she's always been out of his reach. Now that Hannah is back in their hometown and newly single, suddenly the five-year age gap doesn't seem so huge. But convincing her to see him as more than just the kid she used to know is another story. Hannah Willmett can't believe how grown-up Derek Carmichael has become. The troubled kid from her youth has turned into a sexy, successful TV celebrity, but Hannah's wary of his player past and the rampant rumors connecting him to beautiful socialites. Still, she can't help but give in when their attraction reaches a boiling point. Trying to keep their fling a secret from her overprotective brother is one thing, but when Hannah finds herself unexpectedly expecting, her life is thrown upside down. She and Derek may be becoming parents together, but that's no basis for a happily-ever-after.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Cassie Cooper has never been the kind of girl noticed for her looks. But around billionaire Kirk Rochester, her best friend from college, Cassie wishes she could turn just one head–his. So when Kirk asks her to be his pretend girlfriend to thwart another woman's unwanted advances, Cassie embraces the opportunity to prove to him that she does have a feminine side. Disillusioned by a rough marriage that had an even rougher end, Kirk values friendship more than romance. He's always had a good thing going with Cassie. But he can't ignore how sexy she is now playing the role of his girlfriend, and soon he's fighting a dangerous attraction to her. Even though their time between the sheets is scorching hot, he refuses to take it beyond " friends with benefits." He's learned the hard way that loving someone is the first step to destroying his heart, and he won't risk losing the best person in his life by falling in love with her.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'He knew everything he wanted…until she showed him everything he never knew he needed

'Dog person, cat person: Joel Winslow is a money person. PetzBizz is facing bankruptcy, and it’s his job to fix it. Shoring up a business often means hard decisions, but Joel knows that short term pain leads to long term gains, and it is in everyone’s best interest to keep the doors of PetzBizz open. If only he can convince Andrea, the prickly part-time clerk determined to get in his way.

'Andrea Ho understands jargon, and ‘restructuring’ means ‘slash and burn’. The last thing PetzBizz needs is some corporate drone coming in and making decisions based on money instead of compassion. But Joel comes with three adorable if unruly dogs, and Andrea is desperate for some extra cash. A side job doing something she loves seems like a perfect solution—and it allows her to keep an eye on Joel and PetzBizz. Unfortunately, Andrea likes what she sees just a bit too much for her own comfort—and it looks like Joel feels the same way.

'Opposites may attract, but different values aren’t the basis for long-term happiness. When it comes to a choice between love and money, only one can win.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Amidst an ugly divorce and an even uglier scandal, Paige Kerrigan has returned to her parents' estate to hide out until things blow over. While she's enjoying a late-night naked swim, however, she's shocked to find Owen Bellamy— her family's former cute pool boy—standing poolside. Now he's all hot, grown up, and renting the Kerrigan property…and he's definitely not forgiven Paige for how she used to treat him.

'Once, the beautiful but spoiled Paige Kerrigan was everything Owen wanted. Now she's broke and Owen finally has his revenge...by offering her a place to stay as his housekeeper. Yet Paige isn't the person he remembers. Instead, she's far more than he imagined, and far more irresistible than is safe. But the last thing Owen can afford is to give his heart to the same woman who once broke it.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Anna Reynolds is stuck with the infuriating Giles St Clair. If she wants to meet her project deadline, she needs the highly sought after consultant’s help. But everything about Giles annoys Anna, from his posh English accent to the way every woman swoons at his feet.

'And the worst thing about Giles? She can’t help being attracted to him. Not that she’ll ever act on that attraction. A messy office affair would stall her career, and she’s not interested in being another notch on Giles’s bedpost.

'When a close encounter with Giles in a stationery cupboard forces the truth out, Anna forgets all her own rules. She and Giles need a circuit-breaker, and one steamy summer night together might be just what they both need.

'But is one night enough?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'It’s New Year’s Eve, and Megan has an old year’s resolution to fulfil. Before midnight strikes, she’s determined to put her ex-boyfriend behind her by kissing a new man. Her friend has the perfect candidate lined up for her, but that’s before gorgeous, sexy Dane crosses her path. Dane is the most amazing man Megan’s ever met, but he has plans he can’t break, and besides, he’s leaving for China tomorrow.

'Is Megan ready to throw caution to the winds and take a chance on Dane? On New Year’s Eve anything can happen, and the only guarantee is fireworks at midnight.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'As far as Nina Beaumont is concerned, money ruins everything. Leave it to her wealthy family to screw up her professional life and her personal life. When she crashes and her car sinks, sending her identification and all her belongings spiraling into the watery abyss, Nina sees her chance to escape.

'And stumbles into a job with the hottest man she's ever met…as his maid.

'Between running an inn, caring for his grandmother, and trying to keep the dirty-dealing Beaumont Corporation from stealing his land, Joe Farina's plate is full. He doesn't have time for romantic entanglements—especially not with the suspiciously bad maid he just hired, no matter how much he needs her…both in and out of his bed.

'Screwing with her life is one thing, but Nina's not about to let her family screw with Joe. That is, if she doesn't lose him when he finds out who she really is.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Love can hook you before you know it...

'Abigail has bigger problems than adjusting to her role as owner of a yarn store she inherited from her aunt. Petty crime is hurting her business, plus that of all the other shops in the area. When she spots a man stealing an orange from a neighboring store, she doesn't hesitate to give chase-only to discover the man she's just tackled to the ground is a cop.

'Detective Brody Donovan is about to slap some cuffs on the woman decked out in a yarn costume, when his better sense prevails. Her apartment is the perfect place to set up a stakeout to catch the criminal who wounded his partner. Specifically, her bedroom. The heat between them unexpectedly fries his concentration, though he can't figure out why. She's into '50s nostalgia. He's all about his job. She yearns for a man who will court her. He goes through women like tissues. But when the criminal finally surfaces, Brody realizes too late that he's dangerously close to losing the one woman he never thought he wanted.

'Warning: Contains a commitment-phobic cop, stolen oranges and flirty aprons, and some heartfelt Shim Sham shimmying.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'A late night call out, a handsome, sexy CEO, and a brother who needs protection…Jacinta Greene knows she’s courting trouble when she assists Lex Rochester while disguising her true identity. When he pursues her, she knows she should turn him down and walk away, but this man is too irresistible for her own good.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Billionaire Lex Rochester has a problem. Someone is trying to sabotage the family company, but the investigation needs to be highly discreet because Lex suspects it's one of his own relatives. His solution–hire IT security specialist Jacinta Greene, who also happens to be his ex-girlfriend. With Jacinta posing as his newly reconciled girlfriend, the other Rochesters won't suspect they're being monitored.

'The last thing Jacinta wants is to see Lex again. Their breakup still tortures her, but she'll do just about anything to help her kid brother, even pretend to reunite with Lex. But the more time she spends with Lex, the more she realizes she's never gotten over him. Which is bad news, because she and Lex are fatally incompatible.

'The fire that still burns between them is as hot and irresistible as ever. Can Jacinta remember what's real and what's fake, or will she be hurt by Lex all over again?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'She rescued him, and saved herself.

'When Ellie Sherwood rescues her boss from drowning, she never anticipates the consequences. For three years she’s existed in an emotional limbo after a catastrophic family tragedy, but now she’s awake and ready to seize life with both hands. And that includes the sexy boss she’s been secretly infatuated with for some time.

'Drake Crawford is about to achieve his lifelong goal when a car accident plays havoc with his life. Not only is his plan for revenge delayed, but his once demure personal assistant is now shockingly, irresistibly forward. Drake is against office affairs, and Ellie is vital to his success, but he can’t get her out of his mind, and besides, he does owe her...

'His solution—a two-week break with Ellie at his wilderness hideout. They’ll indulge in a scorching, private affair, and when it’s over they’ll return to their normal lives. But as Drake discovers more about Ellie, he realises her quiet exterior hides a backbone of steel. When she asks him to walk away from his ultimate goal, he knows it’s time to let her go.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'In Victorian London an unexpected death brings Lady Arabella Fitzwilliam into contact with her jilted fiancé. Alastor Arronax does not believe his uncle’s death was an accident. His enquiries lead him to clash with the beautiful Lady Arabella until they find themselves both trapped in a house that has become as monstrous as its owner.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Ever since he awoke one day on the floor of his workshop with a brain-splitting headache, Asher Quigley has been haunted by fleeting visions of a beautiful woman everywhere he looks–a woman he's sure he knows, but can't recall. In spite of this he has finished his most wondrous invention yet, one that will literally make history: a time machine. But before he can complete his exacting calculations a bizarre accident causes the device to be activated, with him inside! He awakes to find himself in his lab, eight months in the past, and suddenly he remembers her...

'Asher knows that something in the near future causes Minerva Lambkin, the woman who turned down his marriage proposal, to be erased from existence. And he's sure it has something to do with his device. Alone in a familiar world where he doesn't belong, he'll have to find a way to destroy the time machine to save the woman he loves from extinction. Even if that means erasing his own future.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Naomi’s sworn off men like Aaron—rich, cocky, and dismissive of holiday traditions. Aaron decided to spend Christmas in sunny Australia to avoid snowy New York, not to fall for the woman his best friend warned him away from. But when a volcano grounds him, Aaron and Naomi’s relationship becomes eruptive.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.