ARR2025: Save the date
Venue contracts are signed for ARR2025, so please save these dates:
- Brisbane, Saturday 22 March 2025
- Sydney, Sunday 23 March 2025
- Melbourne, Saturday 29 March 2025
- Perth, Sunday 30 March 2025
We’ve listened to the feedback from readers and will be changing the format of the events a little for 2025. Our plan is to make each day feel more like a mini-convention:
- we’ll be adding panels/talks in the morning
- we’ll be adding an author-hosted luncheon (each table hosted by an author; number of spots will be limited); in Perth it will be a high tea
- signing will be in the afternoon only
- pricing for reader tickets will be reduced
- you will have the option to pick exactly which sessions you want to attend
- there will also be a VIP upgrade option.
The Expression of Interest forms for authors and vendors are now open:
Join us on the FB group to keep up to date with announcements.
PS—Save the date for the Awards Dinner too: Friday 28 March in Melbourne.
Guest blogger: Sarah Peis
If someone had told me six years ago that not only would I write fifteen full-length novels and five novellas, but also do it in my second language, I would have laughed in their face and then turned back to continue reading my book.
But it turns out my obsession with books knows no bounds. And now writing has become such an important part of my life, that I barely remember what it was like being without it.
While stumbling my way through writing and publishing (and all the fun stuff that comes with it), I’ve met many lovely people over the years and was pushed out of my comfort zone more than once. I still prefer staying at home reading a book over going out. I still get awkward and blurt out words that make no sense when put together. I still don’t use commas correctly (if I use them at all).
But sharing my stories with like-minded people who love books as much as I do has been an amazing experience.
I started writing rom-coms to get all the stories in my head out (it was getting pretty crowded in there). Then I discovered my passion for romantic suspense. So now I write both, one as me, the other as my alter ego, Senna Kincaid.
And because my brain won’t ever shut up and is always looking for ways to make my life harder, I somehow ended up enrolling for a masters degree in translation and interpretation.
It’s going to take me a few more years and a lot of chocolate to finish. But in the meantime, I’ll be working on releasing a few more of my book babies. My latest work in progress is the third book of the In My Dreams series (naming a series is definitely not one of my strengths), a spin-off from the Sweet Dreams series. There is no publication date or official title yet because those are dangerous for my waistline. But I’ll finish it this year. Probably. OK, maybe.
Feel free to get in touch, I’d love to hear from you!
You can find Sarah here: Website | Facebook | Instagram
Mastering uncooperative cooking utensils, fixing wardrobe malfunctions and the ability to speak to dogs are all on Sarah’s bucket list. One thing she did tick off her list recently is the conquest of the computer. Well, for the most part. There may have been a few incidents proving the contrary to be true. Just don’t mention a supposedly missing ON button to her.
After discovering e-readers and book apps, Sarah began her journey of sneaking books into concerts, parties, clubs (that one time she went in the last ten years), and on walks. This made her realise she had a problem. So she started writing as a way of combatting her addiction. Clear to all but her it was a strategy doomed to failure. Now she is not only obsessed with reading books but also writing them.
She lives in Gippsland, Victoria, with the holder of her heart, her two little humans, and fur baby.
Sarah is currently in treatment for her book addiction.
Contents May Catch Fire
There’s only one thing Malena Cortez dislikes more than cold coffee and that’s Thad King. They’ve worked at the same law firm for almost seven years. She even once thought they were friends. But there is nothing friendly about Thad. Except maybe his dog. When they’re forced to work together on a case, Malena realizes there is more to the preppy rich guy than she’d always thought. But she doesn’t have time to figure out why Thad suddenly doesn’t hate her anymore. Or why she can’t stop thinking about the time they almost kissed. Besides, she’s still mourning her late husband while navigating the world as a single mom. She’s definitely not ready to date again. Or fall in love for the first time in her life. But maybe there’s more to the guy who shows up when she needs him most. But is a maybe worth risking everything for?
Return of the Outback Billionaire by Kelly Hunter
Series: Billionaires of the Outback #1
Subgenre: contemporary romance
Release date: 1 Apr 2022
Publisher: Mills & Boon
Format: ebook, print
Length: 193 pages
RRP: $5.99 (ebook); $19.99 (print; 4-story bindup Can’t Fight This Feeling)
It’s been a while since I read a Kelly Hunter romance, with absolutely no excuses why not. She is a superb romance writer who manages to write vulnerable but alpha heroes, and vulnerable but strong heroines. Every time I read her, I think yessssss, you absolute queen of romance.
Case in point: Judah Blake has returned to his remote outback ranch after seven years locked away for a crime he did not commit. He took the fall for someone else, a mad impulse he still thinks was right. But wow, what a sacrifice. His prison stint has marked him in deep, terrible ways. He counts the kitchen knives, for example, to make sure they’re all still there and not in someone’s pocket ready to shiv him. He’s still adjusting to life with unlocked doors and the chance to sleep under the stars instead of in a locked, claustrophobic cell.
His brother Reid (the hero in Bk #2 Cinderella and the Outback Billionaire) is a fabulous support but much younger, still in his late teens. Reid’s puppy dog enthusiasm and unrestrained love for Judah is healing and wonderful, as was his ability to keep the ranch going for the last part of Judah’s sentence after their parents died. (Yes, definitely shaping up to be a hero, and his smart-alec one-liners are great fun.)
Bridie Starr lives in the neighbouring ranch with her father and is slowly making her mark as a photographer of note. She and Judah grew up together. When he was inside, Bridie sent him photos of the ranches, something he cherished deeply. His heart is rooted in that land. What he didn’t realise was how much the crime he went down for also affected her, almost to the point of never being able to step outside her own house. And now, mysteriously, parts of his ranch have been signed over to Bridie. Judah wants to know why, and he passionately wants that land back.
In a rash moment at his ‘welcome home’ ball, Judah announces his engagement to Bridie, thinking the only way he can regain his land is by linking the two ranches together. It utterly surprises Bridie. Hmm. Understandable on one level, but maybe not the best of moves.
Kelly sets up the most fascinating romance, including lots of questions about the crime that gate-crashed their lives. The fall-out from that terrible night, physically and emotionally, is an ongoing, appalling thing.
Both Judah and Bridie have difficult emotional journeys to travel on their rocky romantic path. Obviously, life has not been easy (understatement), and trust and hope and joy and love don’t come naturally.
Ah, but Kelly Hunter makes it happen. Thanks, Kelly! Five stars!
reviewed by Malvina
A review copy of this book was provided by the author.
Release day: The Saloon Girl’s Only Shot
Today is the official release of The Saloon Girl’s Only Shot by Dani Collins (paperback and ebook, Entangled Publishing). Here’s the blurb:
Can a charming saloon keeper convince a ruined barmaid he’s a sure bet?
Scandal has taught aspiring school teacher Temperance Goodrich to never trust a man.
Stranded in lawless Denver City, she’ll do anything to earn enough to return home before winter–even work as a saloon girl. But entertaining rough men who are starved for female company isn’t easy, and time is running out.
When Owen Stames finally finds a claim that pays, he’s determined to prove the naysayers wrong and open his own saloon before the gold runs out. Too bad the sole vacant building is a former funeral parlor, and the only available employee is the prickly city girl who’s been fired from every bar in town.
Temperance is wary of Owen, especially when the accommodation he offers is a bed they must share. But when a brazen robbery nearly costs them everything, they realize they only have one shot at love… so they’d better take it.
Dani dropped by today to tell us a little about this book:
At the end of The Prospector’s Only Prospect, the heroine’s sister Pearl shows up. I had every intention of making her the heroine of my next Quail’s Creek story. In fact, the most common question I get on The Prospector is ‘Will Pearl get her own story?’ (Yes. Eventually. But not this one.) My editor at the time wanted a saloon girl, so I brought one in from Chicago. Temperance needs money for the stagecoach home, but keeps getting fired—usually because of Owen. His banter is the bane of her existence, but he’s also very kind. He hires her to help him open a saloon and she agrees, even though it’s in a former funeral parlor and there’s only one bed. When she gets Pretty Woman-ed at the dress shop, bringing up all the feelings of ruin that chased her from Chicago, he bolsters her. And when he confesses his secret past, she begins to fall in love. But he’s not planning on marrying anyone, leaving her to wonder if they have a future. Amid all that, there’s shenanigans and saloon brawls, a silly dog and a very serious daylight robbery that puts them to the test. I hope you enjoy this next rollicking visit to the Old West!
You can find out more about this book at Dani’s website or buy it from here.
Release day: Wolf’s Prize
Today is the official release of Wolf’s Prize by KE Turner (The Wolves of Langeais #2) (ebook and paperback, publisher). Here’s the blurb:
She’s not supposed to exist. Finding her changes everything.
Kathryn Beauchene has spent most of her life in the shadows. As a daughter of a minor chevalier, she’s rarely the focus of the Langeais nobility.
That changes when her wealthy and powerful cousin vanishes, and the Count of Anjou bestows on them his estate. He’s using her cousin’s wealth and unwed Kathryn as bait.
But Kathryn has a secret. One that haunts her nights and threatens everything she holds dear.
Three years ago, Aimon Proulx almost died. Becoming a werewolf has given him another chance at life and opened him up to a world he never knew existed. Now the pack who rescued him is under threat and he will do anything to save them.
When he catches the scent of a female werewolf, something they’d all believed extinct, he vows to protect her and keep her safe.
But Kathryn stands to lose more than her secret, and Aimon fears their enemies aren’t the only thing Kathryn’s in danger from. With her burnished copper locks and fiery temper, she’s a temptation that’s hard to resist. She’s not safe. Not even from him.
KE dropped by today to tell us a little about this book:
Wolf’s Prize picks up where Wolf’s Keep finished, but with a new couple—Aimon and Kathryn. If you’ve read book 1, you will have met Aimon and Kathryn. Set in 10th century France, where some of the chevaliers (knights) are also werewolves, Aimon is a recent edition to the Langeais wolves. Yes, he was turned, not born. And Kathryn is anything but a typical 10th-century maiden. Though Aimon is a werewolf and a 10th-century chevalier, there is something noble and sweet about him. The way he is with Kathryn … chef’s kiss. I thought Aimon would be difficult to write, to find the balance between my description of him in Wolf’s Keep—naive, young, loyal, altruistic—and him being a werewolf and an accomplished chevalier. After writing Gaharet, the alpha, I needed to change tack and that presented a challenge. But by the end of my first draft, I’d fallen in love with Aimon. There’s just something really special about him. We could all do with an Aimon in our lives. It’s been a journey writing Kathryn, too. She’s so brave and strong, and all she really wants—apart from Aimon—is the right to choose her own path when so much has been decided for her. (That’s the 10th century for you.) Kathryn’s also a little feisty. It was no surprise to me she was the one to make the first move. And I love her for that.
You can find out more about this book at KE Turner’s website or buy it from here.
Guest blogger: Liz Harris
Taking a deep breath
If you’ve read any of my posts to ARRA over the past few years, you’ll know that I’ve set a few novels in Wyoming in the 1880s, and several in the UK, the US and Germany in the years between 1920 and 1935, and in India and Vietnam during the 1930s. But with my latest series—Three Sisters—I’ve taken a deep breath and moved forward to a period that is new to me: the 1940s.
Each of the three books in my series set in the 1940s is a standalone novel, complete in itself, which tells the story of one of the Hammond sisters. The Loose Thread is Rose’s story. Set in Jersey, the largest of the Channel Islands, it takes place between 1940 and 1945, the years during which the Germans occupied Jersey and the other islands.
Surprisingly, the idea for writing a story set in the Occupation was given to me by the German translator of my novels. She told me that few Germans knew that during WW2, Germany had invaded the Channel Islands. And I knew that many in the UK today have no idea that German jackboots walked on British soil for five years, but such history is interesting.
During those years, children were taught German; Reichsmarks replaced pounds sterling as the currency; drivers had to change to driving on the continental side of the road; clocks were moved forward so that Jersey time matched that in Berlin; the islanders lived under a curfew.
To start a novel set in a new background is always both daunting and exciting, and I was keen to begin my research into a book that I knew before I wrote a single word would have love and friendship at its heart.
Needless to say, a tax deductible research trip last May to the lovely island of Jersey, which lies 15 miles off the Normandy coast, was a must, and I spent several days in a gorgeous hotel overlooking the sea. Yes, an author has to be prepared to sacrifice herself for her craft!
The second novel in the Three Sisters series, The Silken Knot, will be published this coming September. This is Iris’s story, and it’ll take the reader to Dinan in Brittany in 1947.
Last October, I went to Dinan for research purposes, and there, with my readers’ interests ever to the fore of my mind, I forced myself to try all the local delicacies, such as galettes, far Breton and kouign-amann. After all, how else could I satisfactorily describe them in the novel?
The third of the three novels, The Woven Lie, which is Violet’s story, is set in 1948. This will come out early in 2025. And yes, at present, I’m busy organising another research trip!
When I started writing the 1940s novels, I found myself facing challenges I hadn’t encountered before. Namely, with how to establish time and place.
The further back in time the author goes, the easier it is to create a sense of time and place. The sconce on the wall, straw on the floor, walls made of wattle and daub, inhabited castles, ladies in gowns engaged in embroidery, archers, knights and crusaders, and so on. These establish the setting with few words.
But my historical novels take place in more recent times, and have a closer to modern background. I was forced to look, therefore, at the customs of the period. The insistence of a chaperone for an unmarried woman, for example, helped me enormously with locating the 1930s books in the past, as I found when writing Darjeeling Inheritance.
It’s much harder, though, to establish time and place with novels set in the 1940s. There were cars early in the twentieth century, so although there are far more cars these days, cars on the road won’t create a feeling of period. Not like a horse-drawn wagon can do. The same is true of clothes. Apart from designs that shriek the flapper era, the ‘New Look’ or the arrival of Mary Quant and miniskirts, what was popular then has quite likely returned to popularity now.
The most fruitful way of establishing the sense of time and place was going to be through social attitudes, I decided. Women’s way of thinking, and the opportunities facing them, differed in the 1940s from today. Back then, there was no contraception, a wide number of jobs were closed to women, the development of household appliances, such as washing machines, was yet to revolutionise the life of women.
But even in this, it’s harder to show a difference between then and now because of what we expect today from our female characters. Today, fictional women are supposed to be ‘feisty’ and strong. But a woman in the 1940s wouldn’t have the mindset of a 21st-century woman. At the same time, the fictional 1940s woman mustn’t be a boring doormat, meek and submissive. She must have sufficient strength and imagination to think for herself, and the wits to grasp life with both of her hands. There’s a thin line to tread here.
So, as I put my fingers to the keyboard and began to write The Loose Thread, I knew there would be challenges in creating a sense of time and place. Only you, the readers, will know if I’ve succeeded in sending you mentally back to the 1940s.
You can find Liz here: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
The Loose Thread
Early in 1938, with the threat of WW2 little more than a shadow on the horizon, Rose Hammond marries Tom Benest, whom she hardly knows, and leaves London to go to live with Tom on his family’s farm in Jersey. There, she’s welcomed by his parents as she attempts to adjust to her new life, but meets with open hostility from Tom’s sister, Kathleen.
Less than two years later, the lives of the family are turned upside down when Jersey is cut loose from British protection. The Germans move in and seize control of the island, forcing the islanders into a perilous situation that will test their endurance and resourcefulness.
As the German Occupation tightens its grip on life on the island, Tom and Rose are torn apart in a situation of unimaginable heartbreak, which calls for the greatest of courage, and a powerful determination to survive.
Favourite reads: Apr 2024
Welcome to our favourite reads for April. Each month some of ARRA’s members will tell you a little bit about one of the books they’ve recently read and loved.
These are not full reviews of the books, just honest opinions on why they enjoyed the book so much. Hopefully one of these will strike a chord with you.
So, we asked our members to tell us about some of their favourite reads for April …
Feather by Olivia Wildenstein (Angels of Elysium #1) (romantasy)
A good girl-angel/bad boy-human sinner romance done really, really well; with fantastic worldbuilding and great character growth for both characters. The POV character makes some not-so-wise decisions along the way, but given her youth, this is within character. The rules of the angel realm, along with its penalty for untruths or unkind thoughts is fascinating. The ending had me bawling my eyes out well into the wee small hours, so be warned. This one will really get to you. [Sophia, ACT]
A Pregnancy Bombshell to Bind Them by Annie West (contemporary romance)
I loved this one so much, I am very partial to Greek heroes and remote Greek Islands but in saying that this one is so beautifully written as Annie West does so well, she opened her hero Vassili and heroine Aussie Laura up so wonderfully I felt for them both, the emotions flowed as they spent more time together in such gorgeous settings. I do highly recommend this one to any romance reader. I was filled with happiness reading this one, don’t miss it. [Helen, NSW]
Reluctantly Royal by Erin Nicolle (Royals Gone Rogue #1) (contemporary romance)
This was such a fun read as the main leading lady is just so real and very un-royal and yet they way Erin Nicholas writes she allows you to visualise certain scenes so clearly that I was laughing out loud. It was one of those books that I just wanted to keep reading to see how the characters joined harmoniously. I also loved the extra epilogue that you could get as an extra when joining her mailing list. [Simone, NSW]
The Other Bridget by Rachael Johns (contemporary romance)
This book is a love letter to libraries, books, reading, romance, and a whole heap of other life issues. I happily wallowed in it all. The fabulous storyline gives a huge nod to Bridget Jones’s Diary, which we all know and love. I sat down one afternoon and didn’t want to stop reading. Funny, sad, quirky, with loads of great characters and snappy dialogue, it has lots of booky talk (my catnip), and loads of heart. Absolutely everything to enjoy. [Malvina, NSW]
Bride by Ali Hazelwood (romantasy)
My fave rave this month is Bride. The vampyres, the humans and the weres are enemies, constantly on the brink of war. Misery, the daughter of the leader of the Vampyres was sent, aged eight, as a hostage to grow up with the humans. Now an adult, she’s been selected to ‘marry’—unseen—the Alpha of the weres. It’s a political marriage—she’s still a hostage. But life with the wolfish Alpha is nothing like she expected. It’s a gripping read, and a great romance. [Anne, Vic]
Storms and Secrets by Claire Kingsley (Haven Brothers #2) (romantic suspense)
Zachary is a bit wild and known to be unpredictable. He and Marigold have known each other all their lives. Marigold longs for a loving relationship, and then a new man comes to town who wines/dines her. There is something off with him and luckily she goes with her instinct and stops seeing him. He is quite the sinister character and gets what he wants. This was a fabulous story, and I enjoyed the POV of the third character as well! This story is riveting. [Linda, WA]
Ransom by Rachel Schurig (Ransom #1) (rock star romance)
I’ve read the first three books in this series so far and they were all excellent. I would be hard pushed to pick a favourite between the three, so I’m just going to pick the first one. Daisy and Daltry have known each other since they were five and bonded over their lack of mothers. They grew up as best friends and have a strong friendship. As adults, there is a lot to overcome so they can be together, but it was an awesome, angsty ride. Love all the Ransome brothers! [Debbie, ACT]
Publisher pitch: Tule Publishing, MAy 2024
Tule Publishing brings you the best in commercial fiction, from romance to chick-lit to compelling women’s fiction. Whether you’re in the mood for sexy or sweet, Tule brings you fresh, modern and exciting plots and beloved classic romance.
Tule has nearly 200 authors who have unique styles, terrific voices, and have helped us grow to house over 1000 titles, and garner 13 RITA® nominations and one win in five years.
We love our readers and acclaimed authors! Visit us at www.tulepublishing.com or subscribe to our newsletter here.
This May, enjoy Tule Publishing’s newest releases from our Muse, Tule Mystery, Southern Born, Montana Born, Holiday and American Heart imprints:
- Happy Mother’s Day anthology featuring stories by CJ Carmichael, Nan Reinhardt, Sinclair Jayne, E Elizabeth Watson, Kris Bock and HL Marsay
- The Eight Second Wedding by Anne McAllister
- The Echo by Melinda Di Lorenzo
- The Cowboy’s Mail-Order Bride by Megan Crane
- When the Earl Desired Me by Lydia Lloyd
- Tangle of Lies by CJ Carmichael
- Bayou Redemption by Susan Sands
- Enchanted by the Highlander by Gerri Russell
- Sworn to Honor by Charlee James
- The Cowboy’s Bride by Barbara Ankrum
Feature book: The Baby His Secretary Carries
The Baby His Secretary Carries by Dani Collins
Subgenre: contemporary romance
Release date: 1 Feb 2024
Publisher: Mills & Boon Modern
Format: ebook and print
Length: 201 pages
RRP: $5.99 (ebook); $8.99 (print)
Tycoon Georgio (Gio) Casella runs a thriving business empire but when he hears that his grandfather, Otto Casella, has fallen ill, he immediately rushes to be by his side. His reluctant Personal Assistant, Molly Brooks, accompanies Gio and is soon pulled into a fake engagement. Gio’s grandfather isn’t prepared to fight for his health unless Gio marries and has a son.
Gio isn’t the only person hiding things. Having been offered her dream job by Gio, Molly is forced to explain that she can’t accept without revealing she’s three months pregnant. Gio soon works this out, however, Molly manages to hide that she’s carrying a surrogate baby for her closest childhood friend, Sasha and her husband Rafael Zamos. As they attempt to maintain this charade, both Molly and Gio feel a growing attraction as they learn more about each other.
Molly and Sasha were close friends even before Sasha encounters with Molly’s mum at a voluntary health clinic. Pregnant and with no support from her parents, sixteen-year-old Sasha, decided to have her baby and adopt her out. With nowhere to stay, she goes to live with Molly and her mum until she recovers from the birth. Her daughter, Libby, becomes Molly’s sister. Unfortunately, now that she’s married, she is unable to conceive. Gio then discovers his parents visiting his grandfather, and they are enraged at his engagement, and Molly being given Gio’s grandmother’s ring by Otto. Gio reveals to Molly his parents were forced to marry because his mother became pregnant with him. His childhood was full of neglect and ever-changing staff members as his parents indulged in alcohol and drugs.
Despite his background, Gio asks Molly to marry him because he thinks they could have a marriage that lasts. Overhearing a phone call, he learns Molly’s secret, but their story isn’t going to become any easier. With Gio’s parents forcing them to announce their engagement to the world, and Sasha and her husband involved in a car accident, and Molly is unable to discover how she is.
This is a complicated story with a plot full of secrets. Even secondary characters have secrets. The twists and turns keep coming throughout the story and cause numerous misunderstandings. As the book comes to a conclusion, the characters are well rounded, and plots are tied up well. An added bonus is that this story is just the first in Dani Collins Bound by A Surrogate Baby duo of stories. You can read Sasha and Rafeal Zamos’s story in The Secret of Their Billion-Dollar Baby, published on 20 March.
I highly recommend picking up this book with a drink and snack beside you. Once you begin reading you won’t want to put it down until you finish.
reviewed by Tracey
A review copy of this book was provided by the author.
Publisher pitch: Escape Publishing, May 2024
In the spirit of winter being just around the corner, we’re about to be snowed in with the newest release from Australian author RJ Groves. Will new love be strong enough to overcome an old family feud?
As always, we’d love to know what you think. Check in with us in all the usual places! Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and on our website.
Happy reading!
The Escape Team
Here’s what we have coming out in May …
Mountain Lodge by RJ Groves. Josephine Romano has a history of dating people her parents would not approve of. But since returning to her hometown of Ash Gully, she’s ready to settle down. Angelo Rossi has long known there’s something special about the dark-haired schoolteacher. The only problem is she’s never shown an interest in him as anything more than a friend. When a snowstorm forces the two of them to share a room, the long-simmering attraction between them comes to a head—only to discover that an old family feud means Angelo is the last man her parents would want her to be with.
Guest blogger: Cathleen Ross
I live part time in the Megalong Valley and really love the quiet and solitude here. It’s a great place for writers to write without disturbance, although it’s an isolated place, and the one road in and out of the valley is subject to collapsing. Often, it looks like nothing goes on here. I heard a strange story about a meth factory being set up in the bush. Apparently, one of the meth men was murdered and put into an unmarked grave. A keen gardener, this story intrigued me from the moment I heard it, because the valley base is made of granite and it’s very clear if there is any disturbance to the earth. Although the police spent a long time combing over the valley farm trying to find the body, it was never found. Although people love the Blue Mountains, the place also has a dark side. It’s a place where anything could happen, so I used it in my story.
As a writer, the story did get me thinking, though. How easy would it be to get rid of someone when they’d passed their use-by date, especially in 1918? The Megalong was remote then and difficult to access at the end of the First World War. Pioneers lived in the valley and, unless you could ride a horse, or drive a dray, the one road in and out of the valley was difficult to navigate. The entrepreneur, Mark Foy, who built the Hydro Majestic, had established a shooting box in the valley and used to bring his guests down to the valley to hunt. Far from Sydney, the mountains was a great place for illicit affairs.
I had the idea to set a story in my imaginary Hunting Lodge where my heroine, Anna, finds a pool of blood in one of the cottages on the ground and a desperate handprint. No one will talk about what happened but everyone knows what happened, except my heroine.
You can find Cathleen here: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
An Unsuitable Bride
It’s 1918, the war’s nearly over and people are looking for fun. Anna Hall is delighted when her wealthy, older fiancé, Max Elliot invites her on a holiday to the Hunting Lodge in the beautiful Megalong Valley, Blue Mountains. But once there, she finds everything is not as it seems. Everyone has secrets and she soon finds herself entangled in a dangerous web of lies and deception.
Anna has a secret too but she cannot admit it for fear of vilification.
Max has a secret that will destroy Anna’s life, only he’s not prepared to tell her until he’s had his fun with her.
Jack-of-all-trades at the Hunting Lodge, Thomas Rutherford, has three secrets. He’s fallen for Anna, knows the real story as to why her fiancé, Max can’t marry her; he also doesn’t wish to admit he has shellshock and can no longer work as a doctor.
But the worst secret of all is how did Max’s last fiancée, Cora Hanson die?
Will Anna be next?
Australian Romance Readers Association 