AustLit

'From the gentle romance of "Kissing Emily Baker", to the trials and tribulations of a young English family setting out for a new life in 1920s Australia in "The Group Settler''s Wife", this collection contains fifteen stories of love, second chances and new beginnings that will enthral Anna Jacobs' many fans and new readers alike.

'Who would think a pelican could act as matchmaker? Enjoy a "bachelors and spinsters" ball in the outback. Live with settlers to Western Australia in the 1920s. Ever thought where those personal advertisements might lead? An attempt to avoid Christmas leads to another sort of celebration.

'Have you ever wondered what sparks an idea for a story? Well, Anna explains that with each of these tales.'

'When a new feature on Pete Newbury's popular TV programme shows his adult image digitally transformed to that of a young child, Beth is shocked to realize that he's her 'baby' brother, who vanished without trace thirty-eight years ago. But bringing their family back together after so much heartache isn't going to be easy, and she may lose the man she loves in the process . . .'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

' When novelist Sophie Carr rescues a man hiding in her garden from a group of paparazzi, she finds that her new neighbour is ageing pop star Jez Winter. She's loved his music for years and knows he's had a tough time lately, with an intruder slashing his face, then a car accident putting his ability to play music at risk.

'Sophie hasn't had it easy, either, losing her husband just as she was taking off as a novelist, and having difficulties with her control-freak son William and her daughter Andi, who is into recreational drugs and has lost her way in life since her father’s death. And Sophie has a secret to hide, a secret that makes her wary of getting involved with Jez, a man who’s already had two failed marriages.

'But they can’t help falling in love, even though their families continue to complicate their lives. Jez’s illegitimate son Tom turns up suddenly in London, meeting his father for the first time and bringing his own problems. Money hasn’t made Jez happy but people can, if he’ll only trust them.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Meet the Corrigans. Childless Maeve, though rich and successful, is dying of cancer. She wants to leave her business empire to one of the offspring of her two estranged brothers, Des and Leo. But which young relative should she choose?

'Des has four children. His second wife Judith has just left him and he’s over-stretched financially. HIs brother Leo is the unambitious owner of a hardware store in a remote Australian town and has two children. Leo's daughter, suffering from ME/chronic fatigue syndrome, defies him to accept her aunt’s invitation to be treated in England.

'Des's wife Judith has met another man, Cal. But it’s bad timing because Cal has just found out he’s not the biological father of his beloved daughter and his ex-wife wants to take Lily away from him.

'As the younger generation begin to gather around Maeve, old secrets are revealed, new allegiances made, and there are surprises for every member of the family—because the Corrigan Legacy isn’t what it first seems.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Abigail Beadle has given two decades of her life to first caring for her father who has developed Parkinson’s, then, at his request as his health fails completely, looking after the centuries old family home Ashgrove House. In order to do that she has to put up with being ordered around by her stepmother Edwina, who is not a pleasant person.

'Abigail has never married because Lucas Chadwick, the man she loved when she was young, left the village suddenly with his family. This was due to her stepmother’s machinations and threats, but as Edwina also intercepted his letters to Abigail afterwards, the relationship was broken up. When her stepmother dies suddenly, Abigail is glad to be released from the woman’s nagging and bullying, but doubts she’ll manage to keep her beloved home, because of the need to pay inheritance tax.

'Various people start plotting to help Abigail put together enough money to pay the inheritance taxes and keep her family’s home. Will they succeed or will she lose everything?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'When Mara Gregory receives a letter from the father whom she believed to have died when she was a child, her world is turned upside down. Aaron Buchanan only discovered that he had a daughter a couple of years ago and now he's desperate to play a part in her life.

'In the face of her mother's opposition, Mara arranges to go to Australia to meet her father and his family. Will she find him the disappointment that her mother promises? And when Australia brings another man into her life, she's faced with some huge decisions and some heartrending choices.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Their relationship didn't get off to the best of starts...but who can tell what the future will bring? As a longstanding fan of bestselling author Jivan Childering, aspiring young novelist Jessica Lord is dismayed on encountering the man himself to find him aloof, arrogant and stand-offish. But, some months later, many thousands of miles away in Western Australia, Jessica's path is destined to cross with Jivan's once more - and she begins to see a different side to this talented yet reserved and private man. For his part, Jivan finds himself increasingly drawn to the unpretentious Jessica, and impressed by her single-minded determination to follow her dreams of becoming a successful writer. But following a bitter divorce, Jivan has vowed never to get romantically involved with a woman again. Can Jessica break down his emotional barriers? What's more, Jivan's vengeful ex-wife is determined to stop him embarking on a new relationship - and is prepared to go to any lengths to achieve her aim.' (Publication summary)

'On the other side of the world, Russ has just taken possession of his new house and wants only peace and quiet after a serious injury and months of rehab. Can Simone and Russ help one another avoid meddling friends and relatives, and build new lives?'

(Source: publisher's blurb)

'When the teenage girl who’s been hanging around near the house knocks on the door and tells her she’s her granddaughter, Cassie is shocked rigid. There’s only one way this can be true: if Evie is the daughter of the baby Cassie gave away for adoption when she was herself a troubled teenager. Is this a trick? Or is Evie’s tale true? When she finds out why the girl has come to find her, it brings a tangle of other problems that she can't ignore. This was the last thing she expected to be dealing with as she moves into her new home in a leisure village in Wiltshire.'

(Source: publisher's blurb)

'This is a story of change, and how different people within the same family react to it.

'If you take a devoted wife and mother and push her out of her cosy home in Australia into a whole series of crises in England, you can’t expect her to be unmarked by the experience. Rosalind has made a career out of caring for her family, but now the last of her three children is starting university and her husband Paul insists on her spending the summer in England with him, as a prelude to the changes he’s intending to make in all their lives.

'But Paul’s careful plans go awry and Rosalind is left to face life in a strange country on her own. The friends she makes are not the ones he would have chosen for her. The choices she makes are not the ones he was hoping for. And she has to deal not only with the serious problems of her three grown-up children, but also the discovery of her husband’s philandering, her own sudden success as an embroidery artist and her attraction to a very different kind of man . . .

'In fact, no member of the Stevenson family remains unmarked by this summer’s events.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Christmas is fast approaching but for some people living at the top end of Peppercorn Street, the mood is far from festive. Luke Morgan is not getting on with his teenage daughter, who has recently returned to live with him. In a nearby village Claire Small is trying to avoid her sadistic ex who is stalking her. When Claire and Luke are thrown together by a car accident caused by her dog, it’s obvious that she is in danger and he impulsively invites Claire, her delightful small daughter and their lovable dog to take refuge in his home.

'Can the presence of strangers help to rebuild the relationship between Luke and his own daughter? And will this Christmas give them the best present of all: a new family – or will Claire’s ex again cause trouble?'

(Source: publisher's blurb)

'Lara Perryman has spent many years travelling for her busy corporate job, so it’s a relief when she can take early retirement and settle in her new home in a leisure village in Wiltshire. But a terrible crime throws her new life into chaos. Can she find her way through the ensuing difficulties?

'Her new neighbour also has his troubles, and maybe she and Ross can help one another.'

(Source: author's website)

'Armistice Day, London, 1918. Fiercely independent Georgie is tired of being told what’s best for her by men. When she defies her father’s wishes by going out into the peace festivities, she tries to help a woman being attacked and encounters Patrick, a gallant wounded ex-soldier looking for a new calling now that the fighting is done.

'But the war isn’t over for everybody. Enemy forces have infiltrated the bureau and sent her father into hiding. And they are coming for her too. Georgie knows there’s only one place where she’ll be safe: Honeyfield. But there are traitors in the bureau and she doesn’t know who she can trust.

'With Patrick in charge of her security detail, can she get to Honeyfield before her father’s enemies find her? And will she be reunited with her father, the only family she has left?'

(Source: publisher's blurb)

'The houses in Saffron Lane are being filled with artists thanks to the efforts of Nell and Angus. Ginger doesn’t win a place there, but gets a job running the small café/art gallery, taking refuge there from her abusive bully of a son. When she meets Iain, sparks fly between them, the first time she’s felt attracted to anyone for years. But will her son spoil it?

'Emil is in town to open the small museum in Saffron Lane and run his father’s business. This throws new opportunities in his path, and new problems too. Will the newcomers manage to build new lives or will selfish people destroy their attempts to find happiness?'

(Source: publisher's blurb)

'Linked to the Greyladies series, these historical stories are about the women helped by the Greyladies Trust. The stories are set in Wiltshire, UK, in the early years of the 20th century.'

(Source: author's website)

'Nell has come to feel very at home in her beautiful corner of Wiltshire with her partner Angus. What she could do with, however, is a challenge, and the prospect of bringing life back to an abandoned row of houses, Saffron Lane, is just what she’s looking for.

'Stacy, lost and alone after a divorce she didn’t see coming, is trying her best to start over. And Elise, battling her nieces who would force her into residential care, longs for a home where she can get back to her painting. When their paths cross, the future starts to look brighter although not all goes according to plan.'

(Source: publisher's blurb)

'1916: Bella is working as a Voluntary Aid driving ambulances in England when she gets engaged to Philip, on leave from fighting in France. His family strongly disapprove of her but the two of them are happy together.

'Georgie, Philip’s sister, is in trouble having broken her engagement and fled from her bullying family. As she wonders who can she turn to for help when she needs it most, she finds herself at the gates of Honeyfield.

'When the worst happens, Bella must manage on her own, though there are shocks and dangers she did not foresee ahead. Thankfully, Philip’s best friend Tez, injured in France, steps in to offer assistance. Can he also help Bella build a new life?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'1901, Wiltshire. Young Kathleen Keller is being forced into marriage with a man she despises by her cruel father. In an act of desperation, she runs away in a bid for a safer life, although one she might not have otherwise have chosen. But when tragedy strikes, Kathleen is left vulnerable and one man threatens the fragile peace she has made for herself. Meanwhile, Nathan Perry works for his father's accountancy firm but yearns for something more satisfying. He is brought in to help with the purchase of Honeyfield House, intended as a safe house for women in trouble by a charitable benefactor, and there encounters Kathleen. Their lives are set to intertwine and neither will be the same again.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.