AustLit

'From the best-selling Karly Lane comes a pitch-perfect story of rural tragedy, old flames reawakened and the meaning of home. A tribute to the Rural Fire Service and the work they selflessly do.

'Recently divorced mother-of-two Samantha Murphy agrees to house-sit for her parents for a few weeks-but when the house involves several hundred acres of farming and livestock, it's a little more involved than the usual job. Sam left the family farm years ago for a more exciting, glamorous life on the Sunshine Coast, but now that her kids have grown up and moved out, she's at a crossroads.

'Jack Cameron was in love with Sam when they were teenagers, and she broke his heart when she left town at eighteen. Their lives moved along similar paths-both marrying, having families and getting divorced-but in very different locations. Now that Sam is back, they begin to realise that there are unresolved feelings between them.

'As catastrophic fires roar destructively through the local farming community, Sam has no choice but to evacuate her parents' farm. But worse is still to come: Jack is reported missing and Sam is forced to prepare for the worst news.

'A heartwarming story of second chances, of loss and rebuilding, and of finally coming home.'

Source : publisher's blurb

'It was a straightforward request. Take her gran home to her beloved Scotland.

'In the space of a few days, Elle loses her job and her home and faces moving back in with her parents—where she knows she'll hear a lot about how she is wasting her life, unlike her three siblings . . .

'Then Gran's will is read and everything changes.

'It seems simple: a road trip across Scotland, a country Gran loved, to locate the family castle; meet some long lost cousins; oh, and work out what she wants to do with the rest of her life before returning home. Not a problem.

'That is unless the family castle is a ruin that has pretty much been lost in time; the family Elle has never met seem to be hiding a mysterious secret; her over-achieving parents are breathing down her neck, and she's running out of time to make a decision about her future.

'Take Me Home is a glorious lesson in life, love and finding your true destiny.'

Source : publisher's blurb

'A spellbinding new rural romance from the bestselling author of the Callahans of Stringybark Creek trilogy and Fool Me Once.

'Jason Weaver just wants to be left alone. It was a tough transition from his army days to civilian life, so when he buys an isolated fixer-upper property on the outskirts of Ben Tirran in the New England mountains, he's looking forward to some peace and quiet.

'Tilly Hollis is working two jobs to save for her dream career: running an equine therapy program from her farm in Ben Tirran. It's not the most glamorous life - as her New York fashion designer sister would agree - but Tilly loves her horses more than anything, and after losing her husband and business partner just a few years earlier, she's determined to make it work on her own.

'When Jason walks into the cafe where Tilly works, his plans for a quiet, solitary life quickly evaporate. They're drawn to one another immediately, but they both have walls up and aren't afraid to tell it like it is. They've both been alone for too long, but can they overcome their pasts to build a future together?' (Publication summary)

'After losing her family farm to an aggressive global conglomerate, ambitious farmer Georgie Henderson manages Stoney Creek, a cattle farm in the New England region of NSW, and spends every waking moment plotting and saving to buy Tamban back from those corporate vultures. When an unlikely meeting with Armani-clad businessman Michael Delacourt at a rowdy B&S Ball sends them on a whirlwind romance, Georgie can't believe it's possible for life to be this good. But her world shatters when she discovers the shocking secret Michael has been trying to keep from her. Can Michael convince her they still have a future? And after having her heart so thoroughly broken, can Georgie ever trust anyone again?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'When top-flight journalists Hadley Callahan and Mitch Samuals married two years ago, it was the wedding of the year. But, now, Hadley unexpectedly returns to Stringybark Creek alone to tell her parents one major piece of news while determinedly hiding another even more explosive secret. While in town, the shocking suicide of an old school friend brings Oliver Dawson and Hadley together. Beginning a campaign to raise awareness of rural mental health, Hadley's feelings for Ollie take her by surprise. But her life is so messed up—what future could they possibly have together? Return to Stringybark Creek concludes the Callahan family trilogy with a delightfully irresistible story of loyalty, hope and the importance of staying true to yourself.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Griffin Callahan and Olivia Dawson were inseparable. Everyone in town knew it. But when Griff went off to Ag College, Liv told him it was over and fled her family's farm to study law. Griff had never understood her reasons but eventually accepted that first loves don't last. Until now.

'Currently back on the farm to help her twin brother with the harvest, Liv is the same gorgeous, laughing, hazel-eyed girl he'd always loved. Yet Griff can sense a difference, an uncertainty playing beneath the surface that wasn't there before. Amidst crossed wires, drunken declarations and families on a mission, will Griff and Liv finally have a second chance? Or will the old saying— if you love someone set them free—become their reality?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'It had been two long years since Lincoln Callahan had found himself in front of the gates to Stringybark Creek. He was in the army then—a lifetime ago. Linc had always been the unsettled Callahan, looking for danger, the one who couldn't wait to leave the family farm. This time he was back for his little sister, Hadley's, wedding. From far and wide, the Callahan relatives were streaming toward Stringybark Creek.

'Linc's little brother, Griffin, was the steady son, the one who stayed at home, the one who did the right things. And now, the one who had feelings for city-girl, Cash Sullivan. For Cash, the offer to manage her best friend's luxury beauty spa tucked away in the country had come at the right time. She knew she needed to make smarter choices in her life, starting with the men she dated, and an enforced break in the country seemed the right way to consider her options. When Linc sets eyes on Cash at a family dinner, their swift attraction floors him. But Cash is his brother's girlfriend . . . what was he thinking? As Linc, Griff and Cash form an uneasy triangle, each of them have personal demons to face before they can open their hearts.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'When bestselling author, twenty-nine year old Hayley Stevens, walked in on her husband, Paul, and her best friend in bed together, she knew her life would never be the same again.

'One year later, Hayley stowed her last bag in her much-loved Audi Coupe and said goodbye to the city. She was excited to be heading west to Lochway, a small colonial village sitting on the beautiful Macdonald River. Wanting peace and quiet, Hayley had impulsively bought a cosy sandstone cottage there surrounded by lush rose gardens, with a small overseer's cottage - ideal for a writer's retreat.

'What she didn't expect was the almost immediate 'gift' of a very noisy donkey named Errol. Nor did Hayley expect to meet her handsome new neighbour, Luke Mason, when she was covered in mud trying to drag Errol out of Luke's dam. The strange thing was though that Luke seemed very familiar to her.

'As Hayley slowly gains acceptance into her small community and starts writing again she becomes almost afraid of the inexplicable visions she sees. What does it all mean? And why does Luke refuse to listen to her? ' (Publication Summary)

'When city naturopath, Rilee Summers meets gorgeous farmer, Dan Kincaid, sparks fly. A whirlwind romance follows, and the next thing Rilee knows she's married and living on her husband's family property in a small rural community. Never one to shy from a challenge, Rilee is determined to win over her in-laws and the townsfolk of nearby Pallaburra, but her city ways and outspoken views only seem to alienate her further.

'Opening her own naturopathy practice has always been her dream. Although Pallaburra isn't Sydney, and despite the fact she's not exactly inundated with new clients, she's not ready to give up. Things get even worse for Rilee when she champions the issue of teen pregnancies in the deeply conservative town. Worn down by the ill-will towards her and what she sees as Dan's lack of support, Rilee flees the station to think about the future. Can her marriage survive—or is she destined to leave Dan and move back to the city?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'This captivating story of two people recovering from terrible tragedy and loss, and the importance of community, friendship and the power of love.

'Already struggling to come to terms with the tragic death of her husband, Sophie Bryant nearly loses her own life while attending a domestic dispute as a paramedic. Diagnosed with a mild form of post-traumatic stress disorder, Sophie decides to accept a posting to the remote township of Hilsons Ridge.

'Soon after her arrival, Sophie decides on a whim to buy an old house on the outskirts of town. There, she discovers the diary of a light horse trooper from the First World War, which she finds fascinating.

'Local vet, Zac Conway, is also struggling in the wake of losing his life partner. So when Sophie brings an abandoned horse to him for treatment and they get to know each other, Zac is surprised to feel emotions he never hoped to experience again.

'The peace and tranquillity of living in her new community sees Sophie gradually recovering from her trauma and grief. As she discovers more about her farm’s history, she realises that the past and the present are irrevocably connected and, just like love, it waits for the right person to come along to unlock its secrets.

'If Wishes Were Horses is a totally captivating novel combining romance and history with a dash of suspense.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Suspenseful, pace-filled and packed with romance, Second Chance Town is a gorgeous new novel from the bestselling Karly Lane, about a single mother doing her best to support her teenage daughter.

'The town of Bundah is dying, with many of its young people fleeing for jobs in the city. A desperate plan to revive Bundah's fortunes - with generous incentives to attract new businesses - results in a flood of people coming to the town to set up shop.

'As Bundah begins to come to life with the new arrivals a spate of teenage drug overdoses starts to divide the locals. Many are convinced the narcotics trade has been brought to town by one of the newcomers. It doesn't help that the mysterious new owner of one of the local pubs has a dark past.

'Lucy Parker is a single mother doing her best to support her teenage daughter, Belle, through her last year of high school. It's long been Belle's dream to go to university, so when she starts to turn wayward, hanging out with the wrong kids and experimenting with alcohol and possibly drugs, her mother is deeply troubled.

'The very last thing Lucy needs is for a man like Hugh Thompson to mess with her heart and disrupt her life. However, it seems fate has other ideas...' (Publication summary)

'When her marriage ends, December Doyle returns home to Christmas Creek. Will she conquer her fear of heartbreak? A heart-warming novel about betrayal, ambition and the power of love.

'After a disastrous marriage, December Doyle has returned to her home town to try to pick up the pieces of her life and start again. She’s also intent on helping breathe new life into the Christmas Creek township, so the last thing she needs is trouble.

'Bad boy Seth Hunter has also returned to Christmas Creek, and trouble is his middle name. Wrongly convicted of a serious crime in his youth, Seth is now a successful businessman, but he’s intent on settling some old scores.

'As teenagers, December and Seth were madly in love, and seeing each other again reawakens past feelings. But will Seth be able to overcome his destructive anger about the past, and can December conquer her fear of heartbreak to make their relationship third time lucky?' (Publication summary)

'When Erin Macalister leaves the city to take care of her beloved grandmother, she's relieved to be escaping the remnants of her broken marriage.

'Arriving in the small rural community she grew up in, Erin finds nothing much has changed - including Jamie McBride, who is still as ridiculously good looking as he was when they were seventeen and madly in love.

'Leafing through old photo albums evokes vivid memories for her grandmother of a soldier she once loved. Erin's curiosity about this mysterious soldier deepens when she finds an engagement ring he once gave her grandmother.

'Meanwhile, Jamie McBride seems intent on rekindling his relationship with Erin, even though she’s not at all sure she wants to risk heartache again.

'From the bestselling author of Poppy's Dilemma, this poignant, heartfelt story of old loves and new possibilities is both inspirational and entertaining.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Smart and reliable, Gemma Northcote has always done what's expected of her. So it's not surprising that after uni she defers to her father's wish that she join the family business.

'Gemma's best friend, Jasmine, is a different personality altogether. She thrives on spontaneity, is unpredictable and has generally pursued her own path.

'When Gemma and Jasmine decide to spend a working holiday on a large rural property, their friends and family are surprised. Neither has any experience of country life (unless you count Jasmine's love of McLeod's Daughters) and they're not exactly farming types.

'Away from her family, Gemma feels liberated. The longer she's away the more she questions what she really wants to do with her future. Ultimately, she realises she needs to choose between duty and what's right for her in life - and love.

'From the bestselling author of Bridie's Choice and Poppy's Dilemma, this inspirational novel is sure to appeal to anyone who's questioned the direction they should take for true happiness.

'Sebastian (Seb) Taylor and Rebecca Whiteman were high school sweethearts dreaming of a future together, when one terrible night forever changed their destiny.

Eighteen years after the tragedy, Rebecca, newly divorced, has brought her children back to the town she left behind, to start a new life.

'Seb, an elite SAS soldier in the Australian Army, has returned home injured, angry and grieving, to face a town that hasn't forgotten and a father who has never understood him.

'Rebecca has enough problems of her own without adding Seb Taylor to the mix; a failed marriage, two children to support and an annoying heavy breather who refuses to stop calling. The last thing she needed was her first love to make a sudden reappearance in her life...especially when it was clear he came with more baggage than an airport luggage carousel.

'Seb didn't want to get mixed up in Rebecca's problems. And he sure as hell didn't need two kids thrown into the equation. He came home to heal his wounds, both old and new but could he do it without getting burnt?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Christmas Creek is a small town struggling to stay alive but December Doyle has a plan that will breathe life back into the rural community once more. Seth Hunter holds nothing but contempt for Christmas Creek. After being framed and sent to jail in his youth, he returns to town a wealthy businessman with plans of his own for the town... he plans to destroy it along with everyone that ever looked down on him, including December's father, Jack Doyle. Revenge brought him back, but he soon discovers that old insecurities die hard in a place that holds so many painful memories, and all the years he'd spent orchestrating his big plan hadn't taken into account that December still owned his heart. A story of lies, betrayal and revenge in the Australian high country.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Poppy Abbott seems to have it all. Bright, successful and attractive, she lives in a beautiful apartment with sweeping views of Sydney. However, since the recent death of her beloved grandmother, she's been struggling to come to terms with her grief.

'Feeling nostalgic one evening, Poppy decides to sort through her grandmother's belongings, which she hasn't been able to face before. She's hardly started when she comes across an old leather diary with the name 'Maggie Abbott' written in the front. It's not long before she's drawn into Maggie's life and her fears for her soldier boyfriend during the First World War.

'As her interest in Maggie's diary intensifies, Poppy decides to spend some time at her grandmother's house in the country. Away from the city, Poppy begins to wonder if all the things she's always valued so much are what she really wants out of life. And then love intervenes...' (Publisher's blurb)

'Bridie Farrell and Shaun Broderick come from opposite sides of the tracks. But unlike Bridie's family, who are perennial strugglers, the Brodericks are the wealthy owners of Jinjulu - one of the most prestigious properties in their local district.

'All her life Bridie has longed to leave the small town she grew up in. But time afer time family responsibilites have kept her anchored there. Meanwhile, Shaun's dream of taking over the management of Jinjulu is dashed by his dictatorial father who tries to rule Shaun's life both on and off the farm.

'The Brodericks are dismayed when Shaun falls in love with 'that Farrell girl', whom they deem unsuitable. And they don't just make their feelings clear to Shaun but to Bridie as well. Faced with a choice, Bridie must decide whether to turn her back on her heart or her dreams in order to make the biggest decision of her life...

'From the author of the bestselling rural saga North Star and Morgan's Law, this absorbing novel is about alternative destinies and the power of love.' (Publisher's blurb)