Cirrus@Austlit

'She might be broken, but he's the one who needs rescuing.

'Lacey Carmichael is the daughter of a rich, influential family, and has led a sheltered life. Until she witnesses a horrific crime while working as a junior constable and decides to leave her job and simplify her life by travelling around Tasmania in her Kombi van. But her vehicle breaks down, and she becomes stranded in a tiny backwater town.

'Detective Nico Favreau approaches to offer his help, but in the dark Lacey mistakes him for a mugger and uses her Judo skills to incapacitate him. Ending up on the ground, Nico's ego takes a beating, but when the sight of the blood on his face, triggers flashbacks for Lacey, he takes it on himself to offer her a place to stay.

'But this sleepy little township is not all it seems and on an early morning walk, Lacey responds to a call for help, only to find a woman unconscious, suffering stab wounds to her chest, lying in her front yard. But there is nothing Lacey can do to save the woman, and Lacey is now caught up in a murder investigation.

'A suspected serial killer is haunting the Tasmanian coastline, and Nico thinks the dead girl might be another of his victims. Stuck in Boat Harbour, and against her wishes, Lacey is drawn deeper into the conspiracy and lies that only a small town can hold. When she becomes the next target of the killer, Nico must do everything in his power and put his job on the line to save her.' (Publication summary)

'Mistake number one was to risk her heart.

'Mack Diaz was the golden boy of bull riding...until the accident. Sent to Stormcloud Station to learn the ropes on an Australian cattle station, Mack hopes to try his luck on the local rodeo circuit. Mack won't admit his injuries have affected his self-confidence, and he keeps up a fa§ade of swaggering bravado. Until he meets Bindi, a sassy, dark-eyed beauty, who gets under his skin.

'Bindi Takao is perfectly happy with her ordinary life working on Stormcloud. She loves her horses and her cooking. When the cocky new cowboy arrives from Montana, she steers clear, deciding he's too sexy for his own boots. Mack pushes all her buttons, and she can't decide if she wants to throttle him or kiss him. Then she does something totally out of character and spends one delicious night with him. Which is mistake number one, because Mack never dares to risk his heart. 

'An out-of-control bushfire threatens Stormcloud. Details come to light that the fire may have been deliberately lit and suspicions swirl that Mack was the intended target.

'Not only does someone want him dead, but Mack struggles to deny his growing connection with Bindi. Can Mack succeed in facing his fears or will he head back to Montana with his tail between his legs? When two people fight their true feelings, something's got to give. But mistake number two may just cost Bindi her life.' (Publication summary)

'She has a secret.
He will always fight for what’s right.
They’ll need to uncover the truth if they’re to stay alive.

'The last place Aria Cusak ever wanted is to be back in her deadbeat hometown. Yet, she has no other option, without a job and no place to stay, she’s pretty much hit rock bottom. She hopes to find redemption with her fractured family, but even that doesn’t go according to plan. Then a job opportunity arises at Stargazer Ranch and things start to look up.

'Deputy Sheriff Jude Wilder is back on duty after recovering from a gunshot wound, when he pulls Aria over for a minor traffic violation. He remembers her as the cute, but shy girl from school with the traumatic past. But now, eight years later, she’s blossomed into a beautiful, yet somehow still vulnerable, woman.

'Against his better judgement, Jude offers Aria a place to stay at his house until she can get back on her feet. Aria reveals she had a teenage crush on Jude, and things heat up between them. But when there are three murders in quick succession, and Aria becomes a suspect, Jude is torn between wanting to protect her, and doing his duty by taking her into custody.

'When Aria’s nightmares from her past show up, and she becomes the next target, she thinks she’s alone, but Jude hopes to prove her wrong. He vows to put everything on the line to protect her. But when she tells him her shameful secret, will he be able to keep that promise?' (Publication summary)

'She’s reckless and damaged.

'He’s the only decent thing in her life.

'A deadly arsonist attack. Who’ll be next?

'Cat Lawson is called back to Stargazer Ranch by a hard-to-refuse job offer, but the first person she comes across is the very last person she wants to see.

'Levi Wilson rues the day he ever met Cat. She was the girl of his dreams who abandoned him six months ago. Now she’s back.

'On the day of Cat’s return, a luxury cabin is set on fire and Cat becomes suspect number one. Levi knows he can’t trust her; but his head never did agree with his heart. One thing he does know, however, is that Cat is no arsonist, and against his better instincts he becomes a friend and champion in her time of need.

'Surely, he can’t be falling for her again, can he?

'Cat finds herself irresistibly drawn to Levi once more. He’s the only one who can see through her reckless behavior to her damaged soul. But commitment was never one of her strong points and he deserves better. Which was the whole reason she left him in the first place.

'When Cat is caught in a wildfire, she realizes there’s a killer stalking her. As the flames race up the mountain, time is running out for Levi as he tries desperately to save the woman who means everything.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'She’s a ticking time bomb.

'His past is tearing him to pieces.

'Together they make an explosive combination.

'Emily Hillenbrand believes every day is a gift and should be lived to the fullest. But she carries a secret that could destroy her plans to survive on her own terms.

'Tom Coulston is hiding from a past heartbreak. He’s drawn to Emily’s vivacious nature; he’s beyond salvation, however, and is no good for this sweet-natured woman.

'Together, they’d make an explosive combination, if only they let themselves feel.

'They all thought they’d caught the arsonist threatening Stargazers Ranch, but now more strange happenings have them all on edge and wondering if there is a copycat firebug at large. Tom is desperate to protect Emily; he can’t go through the agony of losing another woman he loves. When she agrees to leave the ranch, little does Emily know she’s walking straight into danger.

'Tom will have to overcome tragedy and risk it all as the arsonist stalks them both and everything goes up in flames…'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Two strangers caught in a treacherous blizzard.

'Stella Pereira has never seen snow like this before. But she has to get the turkeys back for Christmas dinner at Stargazer Ranch, or her new boss will never forgive her, so she drives on into the growing blizzard. Suddenly, her truck starts to skid, teetering on the very edge of the road.

'It’s pure dumb luck Wyatt Wilson sees the disappearing taillights of a car as it leaves the road in front of him. Should he stop? The last thing he needs is more trouble, he has enough problems of his own. He never intended on rescuing a clueless French girl who shouldn’t be on the road in this weather.

'When the biggest storm Montana has seen in decades traps them deep in the mountains on Christmas Eve, the only safe place to shelter is Wyatt’s truck. Things heat up, as they spend the night huddled in each other’s arms, riding out the storm.

'Will they have to spend Christmas Day snowbound in a truck in a blizzard?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'She’s a helpless romantic.

'He’s an enigmatic loner.

'Surviving the treacherous, mountain wilderness might be the least of their problems.

'French pastry chef, Stella Pereira has come to Stargazer Ranch to spend a year working as the assistant cook, hoping to sort out her troublesome feelings of restlessness and get back to living her perfect, planned life…until she meets Wyatt.

'Fresh out of prison—accused of a murder he didn’t commit—Wyatt Wilson is trying to get his life back on track. The last thing he needs is more trouble, and he never anticipated rescuing a clueless French girl stuck in a storm.

'Just as things heat up between them, an acquaintance from Wyatt’s prison days comes to visit, bringing trouble in the form of stolen diamonds and a gang of hired hitmen. When Wyatt’s boss is murdered, Stella is caught up in the battle for survival, as they’re forced to run into the mountains in the dead of winter to evade the murderous gangsters.

'For Wyatt, protecting the woman he’s falling in love with might well be the biggest fight of his life…'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'She’s not who she seems.

'He doesn’t know who to trust.

'They’ll need each other to survive.

'Behind her shy, schoolteacher guise, Penny hides a traumatic past. Her job as the receptionist at Stargazer Ranch has provided sanctuary over the last two years. But when her abusive ex-husband reappears and tries to snatch her off the street, former cowboy Clayton steps in to help.

'Clayton has a chequered past; he’s spent a year in prison for an attempted abduction. So, while Penny is eternally grateful to him for rescuing her, the irony isn’t lost on him. Even if he is drawn to this beautiful, courageous woman, and their attraction is undeniable, he’s the absolute last person Penny needs as a saviour.

'Against his better judgement, Clayton offers Penny refuge at his house. But things go from bad to worse when two hired hitmen try to kill them both, because Clayton is to be a witness in an upcoming trial of a notorious mob boss.

'It seems Penny is the only one who trusts him. But will that trust prove her undoing? Clayton will do anything to protect Penny, but neither of them bargained on the depths their pursuers will go to find them. Who will pay the ultimate sacrifice?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'They’re polar opposites, with only one thing in common…they survived the helicopter crash…but that’s just the beginning.

'Acclaimed chef, Skylar, is perfectly happy with her life. She has her food and her family luxury eco-resort to keep her busy. But when she hears the unmistakable sound of a muffled scream and confronts a sadistic husband hurting his wife, she finds herself on the other end of the man’s violent fists.

'Senior Constable Nash can’t believe Skylar put herself in such danger. Nash has admired her from afar for over two years. He even asked her on a date, but she shot him down in flames. Resigned to the fact they will never be together; Nash wants only to protect her from herself.

'But on a shared helicopter ride to return home from testifying at the abusive husband’s court case, their aircraft is shot down. Lost in remote far North Queensland, Nash and Skylar have only their wits to help them survive.

'Whoever crashed their helicopter is now also hunting them through the tropical jungle, intent on seeing them dead.

'Skylar seems to be all that she portrays on the surface, sophisticated, cool and self-reliant. But when Nash digs deeper, he begins to uncover the truth about her past not even her family know. Secrets are often dark, and everyone has them. But Skylar and Nash will need to share their deepest fears if they are to survive.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Fate and flooding rains brought them together. Secrets may tear them apart.

'Daisy’s in trouble. Her car is stalled in the middle of a flooded creek, with the water rising quickly.

'Dale is in no mood to rescue the woman about to be swept away by a raging tropical storm, who’s clearly a city girl, unfamiliar with the country roads, and driving a completely unsuitable car. He has half a mind to leave her right where she is.

'Stranded on the wrong side of the creek, Daisy has no other option than to accept Dale’s offer to spend the night at the luxury resort, Stormcloud Station.

'All of Daisy’s plans to leave the station are thrown into chaos when a girl is found drowned in the creek and everyone become suspects in a murder investigation.

'Daisy has discovered that far north Queensland is a wholly inhospitable country, but it also has a man with mesmerizing dimples, whose kiss has captured her soul. But she hides a secret that would tear them apart.

'On a night full of chaos, Dale and Daisy uncover the truth about the killer. But how can Dale safeguard this willful, determined woman who owns his heart, when Daisy puts herself squarely in harm’s way?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'A deadly fire and a dangerous attraction.

'Cat Lawson loves only two things. Her freedom and her motorcycle. The twelve months she’s spent at Stargazer Ranch is the longest she’s ever stayed in one place, but when Cat hears screams, she ignores the danger and dashes into a burning building.

'Levi Wilson has just moved to the valley, taking up a job as the new park ranger. Seeing smoke coming from a nearby ranch, he arrives to find a log cabin fully alight. But after he risks his own life to dive in and save her, Cat denies she needed rescuing. He decides he’s never met a more stubborn, infuriating woman. She decides he’s a control-freak with a hero complex.

'They discover an arsonist is lighting fires on the ranch, but when Levi becomes the next target of the firebug, will Cat be able to save him from the inferno?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'When a night together leads to murder, will this unlikely pair survive the secrets and jeopardy in this heart-gripping suspense?

'Logan Goldstein keeps a low profile to avoid complications from his past, living a simple existence on his boat in the spectacular Caribbean islands. But things take a perilous turn when he believes the violent men he’s avoided for last two years might’ve finally caught up with him.

'Exotic dancer, Mia Winslet is streetwise and tough, with the looks of an angel. She can get away with just about anything. Except perhaps murder.

'After Logan and Mia are ambushed by a stranger on the way home from a first date and leave a body floating in the ocean, secrets about her family come out, threatening to destroy them both.

'Now they must unravel the mystery as to who wants them dead, and why. Before they can come up with answers, Logan’s two sisters arrive on the island. But their family reunion is shattered when Logan’s boat explodes, and lives hang in the balance.

'Logan wants to uncover the truth but when Mia disappears will his courage be enough to save them both? The quest to rescue her may just cost them their hearts…and their lives…'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Torn by a fate out of their control, they each must make a heart-rending choice.

'Keira Puana’s day couldn’t get much worse as she watches her beautiful house destroyed by a deadly lava flow. That is, until she discovers her husband is not what he seems, and she becomes the next target of a Mafia-style syndicate. Life on the Big Island of Hawaii is hardly ever boring.

'Dalton Kealoha stumbles across Keira hiding in his back shed and his first reaction is to turn her over to the police. He’s unwittingly drawn into her game of lies and danger, however, when he’s forced to take her into hiding after they’re both nearly killed in a shooting. But when Dalton’s young son is put in jeopardy, his life begins to spiral out of control.

'Keira’s sister, Sierra, and her fiancé, Reed arrive on the island and get caught up in the life-threatening situation, as they try and devise a plan to rescue her.

'Can Dalton help Keira clear her name and mend her broken heart before she self-destructs? Or will he be forced to betray her when he’s faced with an unbearable choice?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'When Molly is asked to guide Nathaniel on a day-ride into the Snowy Mountains, he reveals a secret tragedy that will bring them closer together. But neither of them expect to be caught up in a desperate search and rescue attempt for a missing girl.

'Country girl, Molly has a dream. She’s working hard to buy back her family property after it was repossessed by the bank. But she’s running out of time, and she has no patience for a businessman on a break from the city.

'But Nathaniel is not all that he seems. He hasn’t ridden a horse since a tragedy thirteen years ago and he decides to finally confront his fears, getting back in the saddle. While out enjoying the views of the highlands they get news of a girl gone missing, near to where they are riding. The news brings Nathaniel’s worst fears flooding back, as memories of a similar search that ended in tragedy haunt him. He becomes determined to find the girl as a means of redemption.

'Can Molly help Nathaniel put his demons to rest? Or will he abandon her and go back to his safe, solitary existence in the city?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'A twist you’ll never see coming. The truth will tear them apart.

'After a devastating crash changes her life, journalist Sierra Goldstein finds solace by moving to the wild and beautiful Kangaroo Island. But her peaceful sanctuary is shattered when a child goes missing and she becomes involved in the life and death search.

'Reed Kapua is also looking for a simpler life when he starts work as the new cop on the island, returning to the force after an on-the-job tragedy caused a break in his career.

'Reed recruits Sierra’s help after she reveals she ran a newspaper exposé on two child abductions years ago, believing there might be similarities to this new case. When bones belonging to a second child are uncovered, Sierra becomes a target of the predator as her house is vandalized and her car sabotaged. Then Reed discovers a terrible truth that will tear them both apart.

'Can Reed and Sierra uncover the killer hiding in plain sight and heal their own shattered hearts before time runs out?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.