Cirrus@Austlit

'Love isn't easy in the cutthroat world of Australian politics...

'Cecily Carter and Gwen Fairford have both started a fantastic new life in Canberra – jobs they love, a fabulous friend (each other) and even, it seems, the perfect men. Or at least, they could be perfect, if they changed political allegiances.

'Alec Moncrieff and John Worthing are leading perfect lives: great jobs, a great friend (each other) and even great new relationships. But when they are caught out in a lie, everything begins to fall apart. Alec, so used to manipulating everything to his own satisfaction finds he can't manipulate his way out of his feelings. And Cecily's past is about to roar into the public domain. Will Gwen and Cecily give their men a second chance, or is love just another empty campaign promise?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

Three full-length novels about those situations where you find yourself up close and personal...

What Love Sounds Like – Alissa Callen

Outback speech pathologist, Mia Windsor, believes her morning from hell is over. Then city-boy Kade Reid strides into her office and announces he and his wide-eyed niece are her new clients.

For Kade Reid, money is as important as breathing. But when he becomes an instant father to four-year-old Tilly, he escapes to the only place he was allowed to be a child...the family property of Berrilea.

As Mia and Kade work together to help Tilly overcome her speech delay, can they face their fears in order to give Tilly the family she so desperately needs?

Getting Real – Ainslie Paton

Rielle Mainline is a rock star with a hardcore image, a troubled heart, and a tour to front with her band, Ice Queen. She should be ecstatic. But the tour includes Sydney and Rielle has spent years running away from that city.

Jake Reed knows Rielle’s reputation as a prize bitch will make being Ice Queen’s tour manager a challenge, but Jake’s confident he can handle her — until he meets her. Sparks fly, tempers flare, and two loners are about to discover that being alone isn’t the same as being lonely.

Loving The Prince – Nicole Murphy

Cassandra Wiltmore is the heir to the throne of Rica, but it’s unlikely she’ll be stepping up any time soon. So she spends her days managing and building the Rican Balcite Mining Company. When an unwelcome bid for the mining license is announced, and threats and thefts ensue, Cassandra is forced to hire a new protector. If only the best man for the job wasn’t also the best-looking man she’s ever seen.

Kernan Radaton has ambition, and as protector to Cassandra Wiltmore, he’s well placed to reach his goals. If only his new all-business boss didn’t make him think only of pleasure. Now is not the time for a distraction, but once everything is safe again, Kernan has new goals — ones that involve a lot of time spent getting to know his boss on a very personal level.

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'He thought it was all a game...until he grew accustomed to her face.

'Henri Higgins is bored by everything – his life, his work, even the models he regularly sees socially (and privately). So when a close friend suggests a high-stakes, friendly competition, a 'fame' game, Ree leaps at the opportunity for a little shake-up in his daily routine. The rules are simple: the competitors are to take the first person that they meet at a certain time and make them as famous as possible within two weeks.

'But Ree doesn't expect Elizabeta.

'Elizabeta Flores del Fuego has a plan. An office manager by day, she moonlights at a number of creative Canberra businesses by night to learn all she can about the fashion industry and put her in the best place possible to help launch her beloved daughter, Angelina's design career. Cleaning the office of Higgins Publishing is just one of those jobs, but when Henri Higgins offers her a week's worth of work and a paycheque large enough to get Angelina Designs on its feet, it's an offer she can't refuse.

'But Elizabeta doesn't expect Ree, and neither expect the lessons in love they're both about to learn.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Opposites attract—but that doesn’t mean the road to happy-ever-after runs smooth…

'Trix Leon and Ben Anthony have two things in common—they don’t believe in love and, together, they set the sheets on fire. Their relationship is safe, uncomplicated, and just what they both need—until John Aragorn shows up and gives them a third thing in common: an enemy.

'When their friends decide it’s time for Trix and Ben to admit to themselves—and each other—how they really feel, Trix and Ben are caught in a whirlwind of emotion, a promise of something more. But Aragorn is determined to destroy everything: Trix’s hard work, her future, and her chance at something more with Ben.

'Now Ben and Trix are left fighting for the one thing that neither of them knew they wanted: love.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Maree Haraldson has done all the right things as Milpinyani Springs’ only teacher—she’s good at her job, the children and parents have accepted her, she’s even become a local at Lucky’s pub. Now it’s time for Maree to do something right for herself, and that means finally seducing the school groundsman Brad Williams into her bed. Maree has always been a woman who goes after what she wants, but a small community means there’s no place to hide if Brad turns her down, and Maree has been out of the seduction game for a long time. Her small schoolroom is safe and comfortable, but life isn’t meant to be lived on the sidelines. With the rodeo in town, Maree is ready to step up, take her risks, and throw her hat into the ring of love.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Plissa Waltric has made mistakes: being a bitch to the Prince of Rica was probably not the best career move. But she’s really tried to make the best of her punishment for almost killing Kernan Radaton – turning things around at the Rican Balcite Mining Company, training a replacement, and waiting for the King of Angonia to forgive her and let her return home.

'Thanks to her role in protecting the RBMC, it looks like Plissa might finally be free. But with the end of her punishment in sight, the very last thing Plissa needs is a secret from her past to make an appearance. Unfortunately, Paolo has always done just as he pleases, and it pleases him to rekindle his relationship with Plissa. But the secretive organisation of capaz de pensa is outlawed now, and Plissa’s past involvement could risk her whole future.

'With Paolo back in her life—and her bed—it soon becomes clear that her future is not the only thing she’s risking. Plissa has always valued her head above her heart, her ambition over her relationships. Now she needs to figure out what is really important, and what she is willing to sacrifice to get it.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Blue eyes, golden curls, a body songs are composed about, and part of one of the most powerful families in the colonies, Diana Wiltmore is not used to ever hearing the word ‘no’. So when she sets her sights on a fling with the gorgeous, potent and single King of Angonia, Gareth, she is shocked when he turns her down flat. In an effort to put the rejection behind her, she agrees to her sister’s plan to gain some political leverage by cosying up to a rival planetary ruler.

'Gareth has responsibilities and no time for a woman like Diana. She is all temptation and distraction, but Gareth wants more from a woman than decoration. But it is Diana standing by his side as his beloved home of Angonia is attacked and he starts to see that underneath the surface is a strong woman even more beautiful than her picture-perfect exterior.

'Gareth’s people need him and to be there for them, he needs Diana. But has he ruined every chance he has of winning her heart?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Four stories of eroticism, strength, experimentation, and ultimate salvation.

'Cursed after death to live in grey nothingness until they atone for their sins, four spirits have spent centuries doing good for others. Finally they stumble upon the true key to their salvation — because they hurt women in their lives, they’ll only find release by now helping women to become all they should be.

'One by one, the spirits meet a woman and as each sexual delight unfurls, the grey nothingness disappears a little more. As the women find their happily ever after, they grant the spirits a chance at peace for eternity.

'Follow the journey of four remarkable women — Luisa, Anna, Cara, and Jan — and the four spirits that set them on a new path to sexual freedom and boundless pleasure.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Cassandra Wiltmore is the heir to the throne of Rica, but it’s unlikely she’ll be stepping up any time soon. So she spends her days managing and building the Rican Balcite Mining Company. The company has made her family wealthy beyond imagination, but that kind of power needs careful control, and Cassandra is just the Wiltmore to control it.

'When a new bid for the mining license is announced, Cassandra is determined to squash it. Then the thefts and threats begin, and every step she takes seems to be wrong. Taking on a new protector seems like an indulgence Cass can’t afford, but she equally cannot afford to be caught off-guard. If only the best man for the job wasn’t also the best-looking man she’s ever seen.

'Kernan Radaton has ambition, and as protector to Cassandra Wiltmore, he’s well placed to reach all his long-held goals. If only his new all-business boss didn’t make him think of only pleasure. With the company, the heir and the family under attack, the last thing anyone needs is a distraction. But once everything is safe again, Kernan is developing new ambitions — ones that involve a lot of very personal time spent getting to know his boss on a very personal level.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

Kate Doolan works as an inventor in Sydney Town, creating and servicing extravagant mechanical creations for the rich. But things take a turn for the worse when her estranged husband, bushranger Jack Doolan, returns to town, asking her to repair the mechanical arm she once made him.

'Take eight authors, work them like they’ve never worked before and what do you get?

'Working for the devil, running from zombies, talking your way out of a throat slashing…

'The In Fabula-divino project – eight months of mentoring, editing and publishing.

'Those eight stories are joined by four tales from some of the biggest names in speculative fiction – Kevin J Anderson & Rebecca Moesta, Trudi Canavan, Angela Slatter and Kaaron Warren.

'You’ll be entranced, entertained and inspired. And maybe even find your own halo…'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'All her life, Madhuri Singh has been sure she’ll make an arranged marriage with an Indian man. But when the opportunity arrives at the same time that a past lover returns to her life, Maddie finds herself torn between her culture and her desire.

'All his life, Jack Faulkner has been obsessed with being the one his father chooses to take over the reins of Faulkner Publications. When it seems it’s finally within his grasp, he finds himself face to face with the one woman who can make him forget everything.

'What will win out—the dreams they’ve always held for their futures, or the passion that even after seven years apart cannot be contained. Will they remain blinded to the truth—that they will only be happy if they can be together?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Ten years ago, Todd Lansing stood over his father’s grave, his heart thumping out curses on Sia Collins for causing his death. When he returns to Oberon and sees Sia again, his heart thumps with a different emotion, one he fights with all the anger he still feels.

'Sia didn’t commit the break-in that ended up killing Mr Lansing, but to admit that would send her father to jail. She has rebuilt her life in the small town, atoned for her accused crime, and carved out a niche using her talent with paint to reach out to the community, raise funds, and support her family.

'When Todd finds out the truth, he can’t understand why Sia won’t speak out and clear her name, and it threatens to tear them apart. With her relationship with Todd on the line, will Sia choose loyalty or love?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

A space shuttle, part of a fleet forming a new Earth free from consumerism, comes across a space station extravagantly decorated for Christmas.