Cirrus@Austlit

'When Jarrah Jandamarra wakes to find himself alone in the Australian desert, it takes a little while for him to realise that his father has failed to return from hunting. The year is 1770.

'A few years later, on the other side of the world, Regina Courtney finds herself abandoned in the slums of Plymouth, England, when her widowed mother is jailed for prostitution.

'Both Jarrah and Regina's stories start when they are just nine years old.

'What follows is a family saga of lives entwined with the history of 'Tranquillity Fields', the Plymouth property bought by Regina when she returns to England to search for her mother.

'Spanning more than 200 years and across two continents, Tranquillity Fields is a story of separation and reunion, passion, revenge and interacting relationships set against the backdrop of two World Wars and the many cultural and historic changes the descendants of Jarrah and Regina experience over those years.'  (Publication summary)

'Whilst attending university, Herman is selected to lead a group of unlikely candidates on an expedition to retrace the Silk Road journey of Marco Polo at the behest of a famous geographic publication and financed by a philanthropic trust. The trek takes them three thousand miles through several countries with hilarious consequences, commencing at Istanbul. The group consists of eight, plus three photographers, six camels, three donkeys, a Clydesdale horse, a dog and a Tiger Moth for surveillance and photography.

'There are seven men of differing religions, Christian, Muslim and Jewish, one of whom is seldomly sober, a lesbian cook, and two of the photographers are gay. They are joined on route by two very attractive Iranian girls who have a major impact on the demeanour of the group. As the journey progresses, their diversity finds common ground of spirituality, respect and love for each other.

'Silk Road is a story of adventure, humour, romance and the love of animals. It takes the reader through emotions of exhilarating joy and sadness on a journey of human trial and tribulation. It is bizarre, bewitching and beautiful, with an ending to satisfy the soul.'  (Publication summary)

'Arun is orphaned when his parents are shot in front of him. Alone in a war-torn country, he becomes a child with no future… until a miraculous set of circumstances occur and Arun becomes ‘Charlie’. He is adopted into a loving family and grows up in the safety of Sydney and Christchurch, far away from Kurdish uprisings, freedom fighters and refugees. Although he is grateful for his new life, in his heart, Charlie is unsettled. He cannot forget all those who gave him this second chance. He realises, to be at peace with himself, he must return to where it all began. Charlie reminds us that miracles happen every day when people invite love into their lives.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.