AustLit

'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.

'Lawson Cooper-Jones has two priorities in life – his son, Ned, and the survival of the dairy farm that has been in his family for generations. Despite the best efforts of the town matchmakers and the determined pursuit of local girl Adeline Walsh, Lawson’s heart belongs still, and only, to his late wife.

'But when a flat tyre strands Lawson and Ned in nearby Rose Hill, he’s surprised to find a woman living alone in the old general store of the deserted town. Ned immediately forms a bond with the beautiful stranger called Meg, and Lawson is surprised to find himself captivated by her too.

'Although shy at first, Meg starts to open up to him about the haunting secrets of her new home and, with Lawson unable to get her out of his head, they agree to investigate the history of the old building together. Soon they find their friendship has bloomed into something more.

'But when meddling Adeline makes it her mission to uncover the truth about the newcomer and her real identity is revealed, Lawson and Meg’s budding romance comes crashing down. Can they both learn to forgive in order to claim a future for their damaged hearts?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'There's always a right kind of wrong...When anonymous advice columnist and devil-may-care playboy Quinn McKinnel receives a letter from Pregnant by Mr Wrong, he recognises the sender as Bailey Sawyer, one of his memorable one-night-stands. When faced with this dilemma, Quinn has to choose whether to simply do his duty or convince the mother of his child that she's the one a woman for him. Can Quinn finally settle down?' (Publication summary)

'How to break up with someone else's fiance

by Chelsea Porter, aka The Breakup Girl

• Tell him it's not him, it's her.
• Try to ignore how gorgeous Callum McKinnel is. You are breaking up with him, after all.
• Fall just a little bit when he rescues your dog.
• Try to resist when he asks you to join his family for Thanksgiving dinner in Jewell Rock.
• Succumb anyway.
• Succumb to a lot more than that.
• Remind yourself that you are The Breakup Girl. You don't do commitment.
• Wonder what would happen if The Breakup Girl stopped following her own advice...

'Frankie and Simone are sisters and best friends. Could a new man in town drive a wedge between them for the first time ever?

'Café owner Frankie has been unlucky in love all her life. It’s hard in a small town like Bunyip Bay to meet prospective partners. Her sister, Simone, lost the love of her life years before and is now devoted to raising their two teenage girls, leaving little time for romance. When Frankie is kissed by a handsome stranger who calls her Simone, it’s a case of mistaken identity but who is this man and how does he know Simone?

'Logan Knight is in town to meet up with a woman he has met online. Although raised on a farm with his brother Angus, he has travelled the world as a journalist and is now looking forward to meeting a girl and settling down. The girl in the café was an amazing kisser but not the one he thought he was meeting!

'Reclusive farmer Angus wants nothing to do with Logan’s plans for improving the property’s finances and finding a partner until he meets the sisters at a wedding. Who is attracted to whom? More importantly, can Frankie and Simone sort out their feelings for the two brothers without destroying their very close bond?' (Publication summary)