Cirrus@Austlit

But for her parents determination to couple her with pastoral agent, John Downing, Jenny Haseltine would never have thought of leaving her home in Yaraandoo. Although John was a pleasant enough young man, Jenny was not in love with him, and never would be - she knew that she needed to get away for a time. The advertisement for a country-style cook for a safari leaving shortly for the Outback seemed heaven-sent, and when Jenny was offered the job thanks to the untiring efforts of Geoff hallam, an old schoolfriend, she was beside herself with joy.

Drew Carey, the "Big Boss Fella" of the safari was a disturbingly fascinating manwho took pains to tell his cook and general rouseabout something of gemstones - the trip to the Outback was supposedly in search of opals - a gesture resented by the beautiful and efficient Nicole Armstrong who obviously felt she had exclusive claim on Drew's attentions. Although Geoff Hallam was always on hand to advise and cheer her, Jenny often felt "left out". But though she knew little of gemstones, Jenny wasn't a farm girl for nothing - she had learned to look out for anything that was out of place, and the behaviour of a stranger aroused her suspicions. Later she learned that it was gold Drew Carey was after, not opals, and her alertness enabled him to be the first to take out "Miner's Rights". And by this time Jenny had discovered who it was she really loved ... - from frontmatter (1975)

'Mardie was a stranger to the lonely Outback, but she was determined to live in the general store that was her inheritance. However, she fell in love with her very first customer – a handsome taciturn geologist – and was immediately involved in his life. His problems were now hers – and that included two mineral-exploration spies and one troublesome woman.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

An anthology of romance novels, including (in addition to Lucy Walker's novel), Bride of Pendorric by Victoria Holt and The Heir of Garlands by Hebe Elsna.

'Lacey Coole and Riley Scott stood at opposite ends of the drawing room - and at opposite ends of the social spectrum: Lacey was the wellbred darling of a powerful aristocratic father, and Riley was an orphan boy from the swamplands. Between them stood her possessive father, Riley's past, and a secret that could destroy them all...'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

Laura Montgomery, said her family, was born with a silver spoon in her mouth and ribbons in her hair. Beautiful, aristocratic, and with all the charm and resourcefulness of her Irish ancestors, Laura had no trouble finding admirers in the raw new cities of Western Australian. But her heart was still in Ireland, and the man she truly wanted was the heir of the Irish Montgomeries, her cousin Danny. And he was beyond her reach...

'Which one of us do you intend to marry?...

'Fleeing from a disastrous love affair, Jeckie had no intention of marrying anybody - but her three handsome cousins had other ideas. The vast sheep station of Mallibee Downs had been a subject of disagreement among the family for three generations - and somehow they were convinced the answer was marriage. Only no one had bothered to tell Jeckie...'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Another time, another place...

'Jodi half turned and stared at him; right into his eyes. This was the strangest feeling she had ever had. "You weren't on the ship Indiana coming out from England?" she asked.

'"I'm afraid not," he said in an attractive drawl. He was all Australian – tall, lean, burned brown by continual exposure to a fierce sun, his eyes so very blue.

'Jodi sat forward a little as if to see away across the paddock the better. She must not look at him. His eyes had stirred a thought in her... It couldn't possible be...?

'"You remind me of someone," he said slowly.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Esther and Oliver grew up together in Pepper Tree Bay. She was shy and lonely, oppressed by her parents' strange personalities, he was wild and adventurous and fascinated by this forlorn child so different from himself. Time and circumstances parted them. Esther went to live in formidable Mrs. Riccard's mansion, and Oliver left for the country to find work. There he met Hilary, also growing up the hard way. But Oliver never forgot his childhood companion. On his return to Pepper Tree Bay, he and Esther found that in spite of the intervening years and all the obstacles in their way, there was still a bond between them too strong to be broken...'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Two girls are among the twelve-strong team that sets out on a botanical expedition to the Australian outback. Myree is outwardly the more striking - a qualified botanist, brilliant and dazzlingly beautiful. She sets out to oversadow Kim, who is pretty but shy and much younger.

'For a time it looks as though she will succeed. Then both girls fall for Dr John Andrews, the handsome leader of the expedition. And Kim shows that she is not so shy and naive after all.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'A horseman was coming. It had to be Ransome. Lisa turned to run in and tell Mrs. Watson. Then she stopped and stared, for a movement from the opposite end of the valley had caught her eye. It was Imelda's car!

'The rider from the north and the car from the south would meet right in the gravel square by the home paddock.

'Lisa couldn't bear to see it. She went inside. She would rather experience an earthquake than watch Ransome kiss Imelda.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Ann has always been the second-prettiest of the Boyd cousins, over-shadowed by beautiful Claire - and she thinks her chance has come at last when her aunt's friend Mrs Franklin invites her to Australia. When she meets Mrs Franklin's rich, eligible nephew Lang, for Ann it is love at first sight. Then she learns the awful truth. Mrs Franklin wanted Claire, not Ann to meet her nephew. And when Claire does come, Lang seems to feel the same way... '

(Source: Back cover, 1982 reprint, Fontana)

'Leura – fiercely independent, running away from a broken romance... Allison – beautiful as a butterfly and just as flighty... Eve – bound by the conventions of her class but longing for love.

'Each was deeply drawn to the vibrant outdoorsman who dominated their lives - but each thought she had lost out to The Other Girl.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.