Hello and welcome back to Romancelandia, the land of meet cutes and Happily Ever Afters. Also lashings of pixie dust! Yep – pixie dust. Because we can all use a little bit of magic in our lives, right? Especially now. Rest assured, you need look no further than the pages of a romance novel for a sprinkle of something enchanted to whisk you away for a few hours to a place where everything is always going to be okay (even if it looks like all is lost at the midway point!).
That may well be something to be scoffed at by those with loftier literary tastes but if a worldwide pandemic has taught us anything it’s the value of escaping reality even if just for a little while and, we here in Romancelandia, have you covered!
Before I launch into what books are out at the moment, I just want to follow up on last month’s column and present the winners of the Romance Writers of Australia’s 2020 Ruby awards – for excellence in romantic fiction.
The winners are:
Fiona McArthur, The Desert Midwife
Bronwyn Parry, The Clothier’s Daughter
Georgia Tingley, Whistler Wonderland
Rachael Johns, One Last Wish
Leah Ashton, Out Run the Night
Anna Hackett, Heart of Eon
Congratulations to everyone on their wins – all well deserved!
Now, go grab some Long Island Ice Tea I have sitting in that pitcher over there in the corner (next to the pixie dust) and we’ll begin! And don’t forget, all books featured are available via Booktopia so just click on the covers if something takes your fancy!
Australian Romance Authors
Lonely in Longreach
by Eva Scott
Widower Sam Costello has no time for love. When he’s not working on his farm, he’s trying to figure out how to connect with his teenage son Levi.
But Levi is about to finish high school, and he has big plans to move to Sydney for university with his best friend Maddie. If only he didn’t feel so guilty about abandoning his dad. Maddie has her own reasons for wanting to go to Sydney and she’s not going to let Levi’s dad ruin her future happiness. Mr Costello needs a girlfriend and, with her talent for matchmaking, Maddie is the girl to make it happen. By the time Mr C figures out what she’s done, surely he’ll be too in love to be angry.
Journalist Sarah Lewis has a good job, a nice boyfriend and a safe life in Sydney. Though sometimes she wonders if life has more to offer than nice and safe…
Buy it in paperback here and eBook here
The Bush Telegraph
by Fiona McArthur
It’s been more than ten years since Maddy Locke left Spinifex, the small outback town where she gave birth to her daughter, Bridget. But everything’s changed – the old pub is gone, her new colleagues aren’t pleased to see her, and it’s drier and hotter than ever.
Station owner, Connor Fairhall, thought he’d left the drama behind in Sydney, but moving back to Spinifex with his rebellious son, Jayden, hasn’t been the fresh start he’d envisioned. The only bright spot on the horizon is meeting Nurse Maddy, who’s breathing new life into the weary town up the road, little by little.
Buy it in paperback here and eBook here
Her Aussie Holiday
by Stefanie London
Stefanie is an ex Melbourne author who is currently residing in Canada!
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Cora Cabot’s life is falling apart. So when her Australian friend announces she’s secured an internship in the States, Cora has a brilliant idea: house swap! Small-town Australia sounds like the perfect getaway. Only, when she gets there, the house isn’t empty. Turns out her friend’s hot Australian brother is staying there, too-and he doesn’t look happy to see her.
The last thing Trent Walters needs is a roommate for the summer. But between late nights cooking, pints at the local pub, and competitive matches of cricket on the beach, Cora starts to break through Trent’s defences. Too bad Cora made a promise to return to working with her father at the end of the summer – a promise she can’t break – because this holiday is starting to feel like one she never wants to end.
Buy it in eBook here
One Night to Forever Family
by Meredith Webber
The baby she always hoped for … the family she never expected!
Dr Sam Reilly can’t believe it. She’s standing face-to-face with Andy Wilkie, her late husband’s best friend – and her new boss! Sam cut ties with Andy years ago. But for their patients’ sake, they must learn to work together. They just didn’t expect to learn that, maybe, they might want to be more than just colleagues! A temptation that leads to one baby bombshell …
Buy it in eBook here
Overseas Romance Authors
You Had Me at Hola
by Alexis Daria
After a messy public breakup, soap opera darling Jasmine Lin Rodriguez finds her face splashed across the tabloids. When she returns to her hometown of New York City to film the starring role in a bilingual romantic comedy, Jasmine figures her new “Leading Lady Plan” should be easy enough to follow – until a casting shake-up pairs her with telenovela hunk Ashton Suárez.
After his last telenovela character was killed off, Ashton is worried his career is dead as well. To make it work, he’ll need to generate smoking-hot on-screen chemistry with Jasmine. Easier said than done, especially when a disastrous first impression smothers the embers of whatever sexual heat they might have had.
With their careers on the line, Jasmine and Ashton agree to rehearse in private. But rehearsal leads to kissing, and kissing leads to a behind-the-scenes romance worthy of a soap opera…
Buy it in paperback here and eBook here
Dating Makes Perfect
by Pintip Dunn
The Tech sisters don’t date in high school. Not because they’re not asked. Not because they’re not interested. Not even because no one can pronounce their long, Thai last name—hence the shortened, awkward moniker. But simply because they’re not allowed.
Until now.
In a shocking war on the status quo, their parents now insist that their youngest daughter, Orrawin (aka “Winnie”), must practice fake dating in high school. Under their watchful eyes, of course—and organised based on their favourite rom-coms. ’Cause that won’t end in disaster …
Buy it in paperback here and eBook here
Matched
by Paris Wynters
After a dangerous mission, Navy SEAL Anthony Martinez lets adrenaline and loneliness cloud his judgement when he signs up for the military’s spouse matching program without his Commanding Officer’s approval. Of course, nothing has ever come easy for Tony. He’s matched to a woman he’s already hit on and struck out with. Then his CO threatens his dreams of attending Officer Candidate School, leaving Tony with only one option – make the marriage work.
Inara Ramirez has always wanted love and a family, but her luck with romance is as bad as her serial divorcee mother’s. Determined to find the one, she signs up with the military’s science-based spouse matching program. She’s thrilled to be matched until she realises her new husband is the cockiest, flirtiest and hottest Navy SEAL she’s ever met.
Inara is determined to make the marriage work but Tony’s only planning on a year tops. Is it possible that science and fate have created the perfect match?
Buy it in eBook here
Amy’s Favourite of the Month!
Now … as an extra treat each month, I recommend one of my fave reads to you. This month I’m recommending Irresistible Cowboy (formerly titled Tanner) by Sarah Mayberry.
As with all my fave reads from fave authors, it’s hard to choose just one especially given Sarah has over 40 romances to her name. But, you don’t get much better excellence in romance writing than Sarah so you cannot go wrong with any of them! Sarah is Melbourne-based and also writes for network television here in Australia. Her writing combines heat and humour with a uniquely Australian voice and her heroes are really good men who are a special mix of hot and heartfelt. Seriously, check out Sarah’s backlist – you’ll thank me for it!
Buy it in eBook here
And that’s it for September. I hope you join me next month in Romancelandia, until then stay safe and happy reading!
Amy Andrews
About Amy
Amy Andrews is an award-winning, USA Today best-selling Aussie author who has written seventy plus contemporary romances in both the traditional and digital markets.
She’s sold three million books and been translated into over a dozen languages including manga. She has won three Ruby awards and is a triple RITA finalist.
In her other life, she was a paediatric intensive care nurse for twenty-one years. Amy lives near the sea with her husband of 30 years.
You can find out more about Amy and her books here.
Nothing But Trouble
For five years, Cecilia Morgan’s entire existence has revolved around playing personal assistant to self-centred former NFL quarterback Wade Carter. But just when she finally gives her notice, his father’s health fails, and Wade whisks her back to his hometown. CC will stay for his dad—for now—even if that means ignoring how sexy her boss is starting to look in his Wranglers.
To say CC’s notice is a bombshell is an insult to bombs. Wade can’t imagine his life without his “left tackle.” She’s the only person who can tell him “no” and strangely, it’s his favourite quality. He’ll do anything to keep her from leaving, even if it means playing dirty and dragging her back to Credence, Colorado, with him...
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