Cirrus@Austlit

'The delightful new romantic comedy by the bestselling Australian author of The Other Bridget.

'When serial dater Winifred Darling – Fred – is asked to be the maid of honour at her mother’s sixth wedding, she’s determined to do everything in her power to stop it. As the author of a forthcoming book called 21 Rules for Not Catching Feelings, she knows better than most about the perils of falling in love.

'On arrival at the island wedding destination, Fred is delighted to discover that the groom’s hot muso son Leo is just as set against the wedding as she is. Together, they come up with ‘Operation Break-Up’ to prevent their parents from making what they believe will be a catastrophic mistake.

'But as Fred and Leo get to know each other better, their unexpected feelings for each other create further complications, and Fred is forced to rethink her own rigid rules about romance and family. Maybe not every relationship has to play by the book, and could Fred become the star in a romcom of her own?
A heart-warming friends-to-lovers romance about the magic and mayhem of weddings – and what happens when everything you thought you knew about love is turned upside down.' (Publication summary)
 

'They spent one magical night together, but when he woke up she was gone ...

'Eight years later, Gabriela Jimenez is hoping a couple of weeks in Bunyip Bay with the Grand Jimenez Family Circus will give her and Luna, her daughter, the chance to reconnect after the tragic death of Luna's father. The last thing Gabi expects is to run into the man she once knew. Mark Morgan is still as sweet and sexy as she remembers, but Gabi is harbouring guilt and dealing with the grief of her in-laws. She can't afford to let him get under her skin again.

'After his successful career in AFL was cut short due to a crushing injury, Mark is struggling to readjust to small-town life and working the family farm. As if this isn't bad enough, his wife's betrayal means he may never be able to risk his heart to love again. Mark couldn't be less interested in the circus that has arrived in town ... until he discovers that the woman who vanished from his bed all those years ago without saying goodbye is part of it.

'Will a chance meeting lead to something more?' (Publication summary)

'A feelgood romantic comedy by Australia's bestselling romance writer, ideal for fans of Emily Henry and Marian Keyes.

'Named after a famous fictional character, librarian Bridget Jones was raised on a remote cattle station, with only her mother’s romance novels for company. Now living alone in Fremantle, Bridget is a hopeless romantic. She also believes that anyone who doesn’t like reading just hasn’t met the right book yet, and that connecting books to their readers is her superpower. If only her love life was that easy.

'When handsome Italian barista Fabio progresses from flirting with love hearts on her coffee foam to joining the book club she runs at her library, Bridget prays her romance ‘curse’ won’t ruin things. But it’s the attention of her cranky neighbour Sully that seems to be the major obstacle in her life. Why is he going to so much effort to get under her skin?

'With the help of her close friends and the colourful characters who frequent her library, Bridget decides to put both men to the test by finding just the right books to capture their very different hearts. She soon discovers that not all romances start with a meet-cute, but they might just end in happily ever after…

'Written by Australia’s most beloved romance writer, The Other Bridget is a delightfully uplifting book about books, and a gorgeous celebration of the power and pleasure of romance novels throughout the ages.' (Publication summary) 

'Adeline Walsh never thought she would give up her worldly possessions - her iPhone, her make-up and even her successful life as a dog breeder - to join a convent on the other side of the country. But after the discovery of a shocking family secret she feels called to a life of poverty, chastity and obedience.

'Life at the Smallton convent is nothing like Adeline expected. The other sisters quickly become like family and Adeline feels like she's found her place in the world. Until she meets Holden Campbell, a man as tempting as the devil himself.

'Due to a devastating accident in his past, Holden is not interested in any relationship or even a friendship with Adeline, but when their dogs keep bringing them together, he reluctantly accepts her help to organise a charity event. An accidental kiss tests both their resolves, but they are determined to fight the attraction raging between them.

'Holden doesn't believe in love and Adeline isn't going to risk everything she's just found. Can they resist each other while continuing to work on a cause they both passionately believe in?' (Publication summary)

'How well do you really know the people you work with?

'For work wives Debra and Quinn, it's a case of opposites attract. They are each other's lifelines as they navigate office politics and jobs that pay the bills but don't inspire them.

'Outside work, they are also friends, but where Quinn is addicted to dating apps and desperate to find love, Deb has sworn off men. Although Deb is not close to her own mother, her teenage daughter is her life and there's nothing she wouldn't do to protect her. But Ramona has other ideas and is beginning to push boundaries.

'Life becomes even more complicated by the arrival of a new man at the office. One woman is attracted to him, while the other hoped she'd never meet him again.

'But when Deb, Quinn and Ramona are forced to choose between friends, love and family, the ramifications run deeper than they could ever have expected.'  (Publication summary)

'Liam Castle knows the secrets of everyone in Bunyip Bay. As the owner of the pub, he's heard it all - from marriage proposals and farming disasters to family rifts and everything in between. The locals love to confide in him, but no one knows he's hiding a tragic past.

'And he wants to keep it that way.

'Agricultural pilot Henrietta Forward lives for her job, choosing work over romance. But when an incident in the air brings Henri home to Bunyip Bay earlier than planned, she finds herself questioning everything she believes about herself.

'But Henri's secret isn't her only problem.

'Her mother will stop at nothing to have her settled down back in the Bay, and while Henri had always known domesticity wasn't the life for her, now she wonders what her future holds. So when Liam - always the first to lend a hand to those in need - agrees to play along with Henri's scheme to ward off her mother, she has mixed feelings. What happens when a pretend romance starts to feel like the real thing?

'Will Henri's demons and Liam's traumatic past prove too great a barrier to love?' (Publication summary) 

'Felicity Bell has struggled to move on after her marriage broke down. Her ex has found love again, her children have their own lives, and it's beginning to feel like her only comfort comes from her dog and her job as a taxidermist. So when Flick gets an offer to work in New Orleans for a few months, she's drawn to the chance to make a fresh start.

'Zoe is ready to start a family with her husband, but when he betrays her, she's left shattered and desperate for a change of scenery. Joining her mother on the other side of the world to drown her sorrows seems the perfect solution. 

'Although both mother and daughter are wary of risking their hearts to love again, Theo, a jazz bar owner, and Jack, a local ghost hunter, offer fun, friendship and distraction. But all is not as it seems in New Orleans...

'A chance meeting with Aurelia, a reclusive artist who surprises them with lessons from her life, prompts Flick and Zoe to reassess what they want too. Can all three women learn from the past in order to embrace their future?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'They say a change is as good as a holiday...but what if you don't want either?

'Is her family's happiness more important than her own?

'The first time Ashling Wood realises her marriage is on the rocks is when her husband, Adrian, suggests they try nest parenting. Heartbroken, Ash suddenly finds herself living a double life - one week with her children, the next cohabiting with her happily single sister-in-law. Her friends think the modern custody solution is an exciting opportunity for her to spread her wings, but all Ash wants is her family back together.

'An offer to renovate a seaside cottage seems like the perfect distraction for Ash while waiting for Adrian to come to his senses. She's determined to fix her marriage as well as the cottage, but life gets even more complicated when she meets local fisherman Dan Emerson.

'Soon, each home-stay becomes more dysfunctional, while for the other week Ash enjoys the peaceful life of the beachside community. The more time Ash spends in Ragged Point, the more she questions what she really wants. Is a sea-change the fresh start she needs to move on?

'When tragedy calls Ash back to the city, she's torn between the needs of her family and her future. Can her family life fit in with a permanent move to the beach or could Ash's new-found independence attract Adrian back to the nest?' (Publication summary)

'It's the opposite of love at first sight...or is it?

'Dairy farmer Tabitha Cooper-Jones has a heart of gold, yet she's the eternal bridesmaid. Everyone's best mate. Despite facing some serious challenges over the years, she's built a successful ice-cream business and cafe, she's adored by her family and is an integral part of her hometown - there's just one thing missing from her life. But the last thing Tab wants is a man - or worse, love - to stop her achieving her dream.

'In town for a temporary teaching contract, Fergus McWilliams thinks the small community of Walsh will be the perfect place to stay under the radar but he couldn't be more wrong. Suddenly, the kids' cricket team coached by Ferg is inundated with female supporters - single female supporters - and that's only the beginning.

'The only woman who doesn't seem to have her sights set on Ferg is Tabitha. Despite a disastrous first meeting and a visit from a past love, circumstances keep throwing them together. Neither can deny the sparks between them, but can friendship even be possible for these two strong-willed people?

'A moving story of overcoming obstacles and learning to love, from ABIA award-winning author Rachael Johns.' (Publication summary)

'Rachael Johns is a bestselling author of 24 books ranging from Romance to Rural Romance to what she likes to call Life Lit. In 2016 Rachael's book, "The Patterson Girls" was named General Fiction Book of the Year at the Australian Book Industry Awards and her star has been rising ever since.

'In this special hour long interview with Pamela Cook, Rachael talks about releasing her latest Life Lit novel "Just One Wish', her long road to success, what she does to fight writers block and why she prefers to call her books Life Lit instead of Women's Fiction.' (Production summary)

'Three women, three secrets, one life-changing journey.

'Alice has always been a trailblazer as a scientist, activist, and mother. She knew her choices would involve sacrifices, but now, on the eve of her eightieth birthday, she's beginning to wonder if she's sacrificed too much.

'Alice's daughter Sappho rebelled against her unconventional upbringing, choosing to marry young and embrace life as a homemaker, but her status as a domestic goddess has recently taken a surprising turn.

'Ged, has always been the peacemaker between her grandmother and mother. A tenacious journalist she knows what she wants in life and love, yet when everything in her world starts falling apart, she begins to question whether she really knows anyone at all.

'At a crossroads in each of their lives, Alice, Sappho and Ged embark on a celebratory trip together, but instead of bringing them closer, the holiday sparks life-changing consequences and lifts the lid on a fifty-year secret.

'Can Ged rescue her family if their story is built on a betrayal?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Four women, one dress, and the secret that binds them all...

'On a special night that is supposed to be a celebration of new beginnings, Paige MacRitchie's joy quickly falls away when her mother collapses during the speeches at her book launch. In the aftermath, and terrified of losing her, Paige decides she wants to make the ultimate tribute to her parents' perfect marriage: she will wear her mother's wedding dress for her own big day.

'There's just one problem - her mum, Rebecca, no longer has the dress.

'As Paige tries to track down the elusive gown, she discovers that Rebecca has a long-hidden secret that, if revealed, could blow her whole family apart. Her new friend Josie is at a crossroads too. She met her husband Nik when she was singing in an eighties-themed bar, but now she's lonely, yearning for a family and wondering if Nik understands her at all.

'And then there's nurse Clara. When she married Rob Jones, an up-and-coming rock star, she thought she was in it forever. But now Clara needs to make a new life for herself and Rob can't seem to understand that it's over.

'When the fates of these four women intertwine in an unexpected and powerful way, none of their lives will ever be the same again.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Recipe for disaster? Or second chance?

'Take one single dad working night and day to open his hot new restaurant. Mix in his irresistible new hire, a woman with a secret looking for a fresh start. Simmer until a kiss leads to a clandestine affair that plunges Lachlan McKinnel and Eliza Coleman from the frying pan right into the fire!' (Publication Summary)

This collection of heart-warming Australian stories is full of the joys of the season and guaranteed to brighten your Christmas.' (Publication Summary)
 

'Mother: Female parent of a child

'Mum: The woman who nurtures, raises and loves a child

'Radio host Harper Drummond lives for her career. Every day she meets fascinating people doing extraordinary things, but has begun to wonder whether there could be something more for her out there. She's financially secure, happily married to Samuel and has a great group of friends – what more could she want? It's only when she interviews one special couple that she starts to think about whether she could make a different kind of contribution.

'Claire and Jasper Lombard are passionate about their thriving hot air balloon business and know they're lucky to find such joy in their work and in each other. But while Jasper has accepted that he will never be a father, Claire has found it hard to come to terms with her infertility. She doesn't want Jasper to regret choosing her over a child in the years to come. Is there a way to give themselves a real chance at being a happy family?

'Can they find someone who will give them the greatest gift? Or will it come at a greater cost?' (Synopsis)

The poignant, heartwarming story of two women: one who wants nothing else than to be a mum, and one who never wanted to be a mother, from the bestselling, ABIA award–winning author of The Patterson Girls.