Cirrus@Austlit

'Two colleagues. One conference. No strings attached?

'Two people who've been burned by past lovers settle for a conference fling while secretly wanting more.

'Jules lives in her comfort zone. Years ago, taking a risk left her dumped and heartbroken, and now the status quo is her safe space. It's not so bad. She lives with two awesome friends, has a manageable crush on Cameron, a colleague she's never met in person, and her job ... well, she used to love her IT job at a publishing company. Now it feels like ticking a box. So when she's asked at the last minute to attend a conference, she figures it could be the thing she needs to reinspire her. And then she finds out Cameron is coming too.

'Cameron left his last workplace abruptly after a break-up gone wrong. In a new city and a new team, he's content to keep everyone at arm's length so there's no chance of the past repeating. Except for one person in the IT department who always answers his calls for help, and shares his humour and taste in music. But they've never met face-to-face, so it doesn't count. Until they get sent to a conference together and suddenly, Cameron realises it does count. A lot.

'Thrown together away from the office and their colleagues, Jules and Cameron decide to have a conference fling. It's risk-free and has a guaranteed amicable ending. But emotions are never predictable ...

''Four Night Stand is a great read - flirtatious fun becoming hot and spicy and layered with deep, emotional vulnerability.' - USA Today bestselling author Alyssa J. Montgomery' (Publication summary)

'When two old flames come back to their home town, sparks are bound to ignite. A rural romance from USA Today bestselling author Alyssa J. Montgomery.

'A horrific car accident ended former world number-one Stella Simpson’s tennis career, and a betrayal ended her relationship with her fiancé/coach. When a family friend offers to sell her half of a property in the rural community where she grew up, it seems like the perfect place to escape, heal and begin the next phase of her life. Until she discovers that the man who broke her heart ten years ago has bought the other half of the same property.

'Mitchell Scott seemingly had it all: fame and fortune as one of the NFL’s highest-paid quarterbacks, and a beautiful family. But wealth and celebrity can’t compensate for a loveless, toxic marriage, and he’s glad to give it all up to raise his son in the one place that always brought him peace. Encountering Stella again so long after the messy end to their relationship is a complication he doesn’t need — but one he finds himself wanting.

'As each tries to build a new life, they are drawn to each other, and find that their chemistry is just as strong as it ever was. When the press gets wind of their romance and descend on Hope Creek looking for a scoop, Mitchell’s malicious ex-wife isn’t far behind. Will she tear apart everything they’ve built, or will their love be stronger the second time around?' (Publication summary)

'Can their love overcome an old family feud?

'Josephine Romano has a history of dating people her parents would not approve of. But since returning to her hometown of Ash Gully as a schoolteacher, her love life is basically non-existent. She’s ready to settle down — just not with someone her parents set her up with.

'Angelo Rossi, the owner of Ash Gully’s only pub, has long known there’s something special about the dark-haired schoolteacher. The only problem is she’s never shown an interest in him as anything more than a friend.

'But when a snowstorm at Mount Hotham forces the two of them to share a room, the long-simmering attraction between them comes to a head.

'Feeling like she’s finally found someone her parents will approve of, Josephine is thrilled to break the news to them — only to discover that an old family feud means Angelo is the last man they’d want her to be with.

'Can they heal the rift between their families, or will the pressure break their relationship before it’s even really begun?' (Publication summary)

'From witnessing mountaintop sunrises to exploring the depths of the ocean, can Mia and Aiden discover their hearts’ true desires and form a family together?

'Mia has arrived in Bali for a solo holiday — her tentative first steps into the world after her mother’s death. With an abundance of adventure at her fingertips, Mia is seeking courage to try new things while she chooses a new career path. She wants to do something meaningful and with purpose, and romance is far from her mind.

'Single-dad Aiden has been gifted a holiday — without his beloved daughter — to help him find joy again after his divorce. Alone in Bali, Aiden needs to remember how to have fun again so he can be a happy father. But haunted by the pain in his past, Aiden doesn’t plan to fall in love again.

'When the two shy Australians meet on a sunrise volcano hike, they discover the value in a holiday friendship. But as Bali helps Mia face her fears and brings Aiden his forgotten happiness, the walls around their hearts begin to crumble.' (Publication summary)

'Georgia Williams knows firsthand how love can turn violent. Running from her past, stalked by daily phone calls she refuses to answer, she arrives in the small country town of Gleneagle looking for a place to hide. And even though the local men - admittedly one rather attractive guy in particular - try to catch her attention, the last thing she needs is another man making her life a living hell.

'Country boy Trent Turner works his family's cattle stud. After a childhood marked by tragedy, he's working hard to earn his father's approval. He dreams of one day running the farm and being a husband and a father himself. But, unlucky in love, he's losing hope of finding someone to share that dream with. When Trent meets Georgia, he can't help but bank his happily ever after on their sizzling attraction. With Georgia dodging his attention and his father having secret meetings with a city accountant, is it all for nothing?

'Georgia can't avoid Trent entirely in their small town, and amid blossoming trust and deepening desire, she lowers her walls enough to let him in. As they grow closer, Trent notices the calls Georgia refuses to answer. Who's so desperate to speak with her? And what trouble will answering them lead to?' (Publication summary)

'Can two wounded hearts find peace in a time of war?

'1944. Widow Poppy Guilford is fighting to save her farm, the one thing tethering her to her husband - and the legacy promised for their young son. But a devastating secret from her husband's past threatens to derail her struggle to save the property and keep her son by her side.

'Former soldier JB Beaton's wartime injuries and personal losses have left him with scars, both inside and out. Believing he's too damaged to be the father his son deserves, he leaves him with his sister and takes on a job as a farmhand, far away from the city and his failures.

'Poppy, battling the elements and the heartache of her husband's secret, finds the new farmhand is never far from her thoughts, and JB's world is thrown into disarray by one of the most beautiful and capable women he has ever met. Neither can battle the surge of attraction they both feel.

'In a small town where gossip reigns, will they surrender to duty or follow their hearts?' (Publication summary)

'Can a fling turn into a family?

'After a chance meeting in Brisbane, Shayne Smith and Cassie Long had a perfect fortnight together. But when Shayne returned to his historic sheep property, they both assumed there was no future in a relationship between a city girl and a grazier.

'Six months later, Cassie arrives at Maiden's Landing to let Shayne know they made more than memories in their brief idyll. She has no expectations, only a duty to let him know.

'Shayne's life is already complicated with a property to run and a sixteen-year-old daughter growing up fast. He never expected the woman he can't forget to turn up on his doorstep bringing news that is all too familiar.

'Fiercely independent Cassie isn't asking anything of him, but he persuades her to stay at his homestead until the babies are born. Cassie's difficult pregnancy means that any possibility of romance must be put on hold - despite the intense attraction they feel for each other. How long can they resist? And will each of them overcome their own baggage so they can build a future together?' (Publication summary)

'How do you forgive what you can never forget?
'Helen Walsh has never stopped searching for the daughter who ran away from home when she was just fifteen. Now, her daughter has found her. Face to face with the woman her child has become, Helen longs to be forgiven for her mistakes.
'Ed Collins has walked Helen’s path, and he knows that she needs more than her daughter’s forgiveness. He would help her if he could.
'Ed’s wife Stephanie returns – thirteen years after she deserted Ed and their young son. 'Now Ed is being asked to forgive. Steph was his first and only love… but are some things impossible to forgive?
'In the tiny outback town of Coorah Creek, secrets are hard to keep.
'What will happen when Ed learns the truth about his wife?
'And as Helen plans her daughter’s wedding, dare she dream of her own?

'Wedding Bells By The Creek is the latest instalment in the award winning Coorah Creek series by Janet Gover. If you like small town romance that's full of emotion and drama, you'll love this book. Order now and discover your new favourite town.'

Source : publisher's blurb

'Can four wounded souls find love? Iraq war veteran Dan Mitchell once disobeyed an order - and it nearly destroyed him. Now a national park ranger in the Australian outback, he's faced with another order he is unwilling to obey Photographer Rachel Quinn seeks out beauty in unlikely places. Her work comforted Dan in his darkest days. But Quinn knows darkness too - and Dan soon realises she needs his help as much as he needs hers. Carrie Bryant was a talented jockey until a racing accident broke her nerve. Now Dan and Quinn need her expertise, but can she face her fear? And could horse breeder, Justin Fraser, a man fighting to save his own heritage, be the one to help put that fear to rest? Sometimes, the wounds you can't see are the hardest to heal.' (Publication summary)

'Two broken hearts learning how to live - and love - again.

'After a devastating tragedy shakes Erin's world, she returns to her hometown of Point Perry seeking solace and a fresh start. But just as she begins to find her footing, an unexpected visitor and an old enemy threaten to upend her life once again.

'Tom, a devoted single father and beloved teacher, is no stranger to turmoil. His ex-wife, now a Hollywood starlet, has descended upon Point Perry for her movie premiere, stirring up trouble and putting Tom's priorities to the test. As the town buzzes with excitement over the event, Tom must also navigate a strained relationship with his father and protect his son from his ex's manipulations.

'Despite their emotional scars and obstacles, Erin and Tom can't ignore their growing connection. As they begin to explore the chance for a future together, they must confront their past traumas and find a way to move forward. Will their love be enough to overcome the challenges they face, or will their emotional baggage prove too heavy to bear?' (Publication summary)

'King Xavier of Maynet doesn't believe in love: he's had enough experience to know it can't be trusted. But he does believe in duty and knows he'll choose a wife as tradition dictates. However, when his late brother's widow joins him on a month-long royal tour of Maynet he develops feelings for her deeper than anything he's ever known or believed possible, and he finds himself spending more time thinking about her than any prospective bride.

'Princess Katerina won't ever risk her heart again after the humiliation of her marriage. Instead, she's dedicating her life to the betterment of her beloved adopted country, Maynet. Yet she finds herself attracted to Xavier in a way that threatens all her careful plans, and the more time they spend together the stronger their connection gets.

'As time runs out for Xavier to choose a wife, will he realise what he feels for Katerina is love and that she's more important than any tradition? Can Katerina trust herself and her feelings for Xavier and demand what she truly deserves, someone who loves her?' (Publication summary)

'Dr Lauren Stephens is volunteering in Karesh when she uncovers a crime and is forced to flee for her life. When a huge sandstorm leaves her stranded in the middle of the desert, a handsome stranger comes to her rescue, taking her to his luxurious camp. As they shelter there, the attraction between career-focused Lauren and the man she assumes is a simple Bedouin herder becomes undeniable.

'Crown Prince Sharif has come to this remote camp to escape from the pressure to find a suitable wife before his 30th birthday - a prerequisite for inheriting the throne. He rescues Lauren out of traditional Kareshian hospitality, but is soon captivated by her beauty and intelligence - and the fact that she is falling for him rather than his title.

'As they give in to their passion, they know that their affair will be brief. But when a threat against his father's rule reunites them, will they find a way to make a future together?' (Publication summary)

'A woman longing for freedom, a man longing for a home. Can the magic of Christmas bring them together?

'It's 1890. Lizzie Naylor's life is working in her grumpy father's store in Munyup, trying to bring up her six-year-old daughter, Alice who's hellbent on finding herself a father. Christmas is nearing, and tempers are fraught, especially when mysterious Mr Nicholas is back with his pesky sidekick, Alf. Or Elf, as Alice calls him. And Elf is just about to make another big mistake.

'Mack Miller has returned to the district to make peace with his brother, Shep. He's weary of the life he's led, the loss he's experienced. He's longed for home for a while, but the family farm had been a contentious issue between the brothers, and Shep and he have not spoken for years. When Alice is quite taken with Mack, she tells him he's a suitable contender for the role of being her father. But then someone from her mother, Lizzie's past appears, and terrible trouble erupts. Alice is snatched away.

'Lizzie will do anything to have her back, Mack will do anything to find her, and Elf must redeem himself.

'Can Christmas, new to the town and its folk, work its special magic?' (Publication summary)

'Dark secrets. A mysterious past. And an unforgettable passion.

'After months in a coma, music promoter Melissa Linklater wakes up to a world she doesn't remember. She's shocked to discover she's married - to Phil Paris, the intensely handsome drummer of world-famous band The Sidhe - and has a baby daughter. She has lost the memory of the last eight years of her life. Phil, their baby and his bandmates are all strangers.

'Phil is devastated that Mel can't remember her years with him. He needs her to remember - because he is nothing without his wife. Fame and wealth, even his music, no longer bring him joy. The only things that matter are Mel and their baby. He throws all he is into helping Mel remember, but instead of recovering memories of them, she starts to remember a secret past and a web of lies that threatens to destroy everything she knew about herself.

'Someone else is also after those secrets. As her mysterious stalker escalates from anonymous phone calls to break-ins and physical threats, the police and her doctors don't believe her - but Phil does. While she still can't remember anything about her life with him, she does feel things for him - passionate, needful things that make her want to trust him with her darkest secrets. Will sharing those secrets make them closer or bring more danger to their door?' (Publication summary)

'Not even fame will protect him from her violent past.

'Reclusive music producer, Lexi Deningham, has worked hard to escape a violent past, building her reputation so world famous rock stars come to her at her isolated recording studio in the Victorian High Country. That includes the wildly talented Daemon Flagherty who has just arrived to discuss his band's next album. After a messy divorce, all Daemon wants is to focus on his music, even if that means going to the end of the world to work with the best, albeit mysterious, music producer there is.

'When Lexi gets a call from her twin sister's secure mental health hospital telling her Cat has been attacked, Lexi has no choice but to bring her twin home. Lexi isn't ready to deal with both Cat and Daemon at the same time but if she wants to work with Daemon - and she does, desperately - she has no choice.

'Romance should be the last thing on their minds, but it seems that neither Lexi nor Daemon can ignore the passion between them. Until the threat from Lexi's past comes crashing into the present, determined to make her pay and with no care for who might get in the way. Lexi is used to going it alone, but will she realise she needs help before it's too late?'  (Publication summary)

'It's hard to hide love in the outback ...

'Hallie Harris has gone as far away as possible to escape the city and the humiliating revelations of her last relationship. Love is the last thing on her mind when she arrives at Karilga, a remote cattle station in outback Queensland, to take on the post of teacher to eight lively children. That is, until she locks eyes on aerial mustering pilot Ryan Walker. But how could a highly skilled pilot who lives and breathes the land ever fall for this hot-mess city girl?

'Quiet and reserved, Ryan's used to chasing down wayward cattle and flying his helicopter in the dangerous dead man's zone. But when it comes to the beautiful girl from the city, he's out of his element. When country larrikin and Ryan's best mate, Jackson, pursues the new teacher first, Ryan buries his head ... and his feelings ... in the red dirt. What's the point when Jackson always gets the girl?

'But the spark between Hallie and Ryan can't be ignored. In the small tightknit community of Karilga Station, can they keep their feelings on the down low? Or will everything the outback has to throw at them destroy any chance of building a home together?'  (Publication summary)

'When a little girl goes missing, an entire town comes together to find her ...
'When Tia Walsh rides into the small town of Coorah Creek on a Harley-Davidson, Sergeant Max Delaney senses that everything about her spells trouble. But Tia's trouble is not all of her own making, and the dangerous past she tried to leave behind is hot on her heels.

'Sarah Travers has returned home after three years of college to find that her parents have been keeping a devastating secret. Her childhood crush, Pete Rankin, is facing his own struggle with a harsh reality that will take him away from the girl and the life that he loves.

'Tia, Max, Sarah and Pete are all trying to find their future, but when a little girl goes missing in the harsh outback, nothing else matters except finding her safe ...'

Source : publisher's blurb

'Have you ever had a secret?

'In a small suburb of Gawler, South Australia, the tang of cut grass and eucalyptus seem to mingle perpetually on the warm air.

'The neat houses perched under the big gum on Church Street have seen many things over the long years. Years of sprinklers stuttering over clipped lawns, children playing behind low brick walls. The milkie, coming and going, leaving out bottles, or blocks of butter and cheese. A seemingly endless stream of youthful paperboys. Couples tending their veggies and chasing chooks. Family barbecues. Gossipy neighbours hanging out washing or drinking sundowners on their verandahs. Arguments. Accidents. Births, deaths, marriages. The street has seen it all.

'Until the arrival of Thomas, Elsie and Aida.

'In this, Kim Lock's third novel of what really goes on behind closed doors, she weaves the tale of three ordinary people with big secrets; a story of forty years of betrayal, marriage, loss and laughter. It is a joyous story, a rich tapestry of Australian life as well as a heartwarming depiction of love against the odds.' (Publication summary)