Alissa Callen

Loving a book for Mother's Day ...

Margareta-Admin — Wed, 29 Apr 2020 07:28:28 +0000

Loving a book for Mother's Day ...

Margareta-Admin Wed, 29/04/2020 - 5:28 pm

Hi there!

How are we all going with this new crazy, weird world we've found ourselves inhabiting for the last little while? Up here on the hill, the teenagers are home doing their remote learning with all of us biting our nails as to whether the monthly satellite internet allocation is going to last. Our once a week Netflix movie Friday "Takeaway-at-home" night has had to come to a pause, while we figure out how much schooling via the internet is going to eat up the 60GB + 10GB of peak-time data we have for the month. Of course, the swimming has also stopped along with the hill climbs and cattle camps and a myriad of other extracurricular activities. The children are very sad, and I am too, because I love being involved in all their activities and we do have a lot of fun. That said, it's lovely not to be on the road in the wee hours of morning and we are getting so much done here at home. Katie and I have been busy breaking in our BEAUTIFUL Speckle Park heifer calves. I know, to be taken seriously as a cattle breeder, I shouldn't say they're 'cute'. So don't tell anyone, but THEY ARE SO FREAKIN' CUTE, IT'S RIDICULOUS!

"Ruger" - He's like a panda bear!

I love the Speckle Parks. They perform so well, stand up to the tough seasons, and produce fabulous calves with great carcase characteristics. And yep, THEY'RE SO FLAMIN' CUTE! (Shhhhhh ... )They're also very quiet which is a big plus for us. I hold temperament as one of my five top cattle selection attributes. We now have another seven cows left to calve to a top PB Canadian Speckle Park bull, with our one stud Hereford (Katie's Bella) due as well. This calf will be the fifth Hereford for Katie's Karinya Hereford Stud and she is seriously hoping for another heifer. I just want to see all the new arrivals safely on the ground with happy healthy mums!

We've also had a wonderful 36mm of rain up to Thursday morning, which is making me ever so happy as it was starting to get very dry again.

Anyway, enough farming talk! I've also managed to read a couple of books! Which leads me to my topic of choice today. Mother's Day. Did you see the meme doing the round on on social media that Dad's can't rely on schools to come up with a Mother's Day creation this year? So, I'm here to save them. Perhaps they'd like to get really excited and buy you at least three, maybe four books for delivery into your hands on Mother's Day morn. I mean, we mums have all been juggling a lot of hats lately. I don't know about you, but with three older kids at home, and the supermarket shopping restrictions in place, trying to keep the pantry stocked has been a challenge! My oven seems to have been going for at least four hours a day ... or maybe it just seems like that?

Mother's Day! Focus woman!

Okay. So I've done a little research and come up with quite a few options for all you rural fiction lovers, women's fiction readers, plus a few more I have to mention because I'm putting them on my own list to fling around in front of the fam-bam and hope they take notice!

For the rural fiction lovers;

Quite a few of your fav rural authors (also lovely friends of mine), have books out now or in the next few months ...

Karly Lane, known as "Rural Fiction's Favourite Daughter", has another new book out this week called 'Fool Me Once'. Karly's story output has me completely in awe.

Fool Me Once, Karly Lane

Fleur McDonald, our rural crime/mystery author, has released the third book in her Dave Burrows series, 'Red Dirt Country'. Fleur assures me you can still read this one even if you haven't read the previous two.

Red Dirt Country, Fleur McDonald

Rachael Johns, also a prolific writer, has just released 'Something to Talk About', in a return to the rural romance genre which should cause great excitement amongst her fans.

Something to Talk About, Rachael Johns

Nicole Alexander released 'The Cedar Tree' in March. H absolutely loves Nicole's books! They're always merticulously researched and very well written.

The Cedar Tree, Nicole Alexander

Alissa Callen's, 'The Boundary Fence' came out in January. Alissa lives on a farm in Central NSW and is a lovely person and writer, if you haven't come across her books before.

The Boundary Fence, Alissa Callen

Other books that have caught my eye;

'The Beautiful Mother' by Katherine Scholes. If you love books set in Africa, this one's for you. Words like 'powerful', 'beautiful' and 'fulfilling,' are being used to describe this novel set in Tanzania.

The Beautiful Mother, Katherine Scholes

'The Secret Life of Shirley Sullivan' by Lisa Ireland, is getting some very good reviews. It's also a book brought to your bookshelf by my own publisher, the wonderful, Beverly Cousins, so I'm a little biased. I've definitely put this one on my Mother's Day list!

'The Giver of Stars' by JoJo Moyes. I'm LOVING my current read and dragging it out bites at a time like a delicious box of chocolates, savouring this story based on the horse-back librarians of the mountains of Kentucky. LATE NOTE: I finished it this morning and I ADORED IT!!! A FIVE STAR READ.

The Giver of Stars, Jojo Moyes

'Gulliver's Wife' by Lauren Chater. The cover of this one is divine. "One woman's journey to the edge of love and loyalty" (Booktopia), this book is getting rave reviews.

Gulliver's Wife, Lauren Chater

Isn't this cover beautiful?!

'The Dictionary of Lost Words' by Pip Williams. Touted by 'Better Reading' as "... one of the most remarkable debuts you'll ever read", I've jumped the gun and already bought this one as I loved the sample on iBooks.

The Dictionary of Lost Words, Pip Williams

'Who We Were' by B.M. Carroll, is also in all good bookstores. Liane Moriaty, author of the international bestseller, 'Little White Lies', says Ber's books are "addictive". I'm really looking forward to reading this mystery/thriller.

Who We Were, B.M. Carroll

'Maggie's Going Nowhere' by Rose Hartley, was also a good read. Different and quirky, the caravan clad cover really caught my eye and I'm glad I gave into the impluse to buy.

'The Paris Secret' by Natasha Lester. A stunning cover on this one as well. They do say around 90% of choices are made on the cover appeal! An excellent author, Natasha's books would appeal to the historical fiction lovers too.

For the Dervla McTiernan book lovers, 'The Good Turn' has been released and I'm told it's a better reading experience if you've read 'The Ruin' and 'The Scholar' first.

Fiona Lowe, a former Mills & Boon author, has jumped into women's fiction with another release, 'Just An Ordinary Family', earlier this year. I haven't read it yet, but a visitor to Gippsland, Fiona has set this book around the Gippsland Lakes.

Some Favourite Authors with releases coming soon;

Mandy Magro's, 'The Stockman's Secret' is out on May 18.

Maya Linnell, (a new voice in rural romance) has released the smaller version of her debut novel 'Wildflower Ridge', in preparation for the release of her second book 'Bottlebrush Creek'; out on June 2

And Fiona Palmer has a new novel, 'Tiny White Lies' arriving on the shelf on August 25. Can't wait for this one!

Tiny White Lies, Fiona Palmer

Fiona's new book out on August 25

... and the delightful MONICA McINERNEY!!! has a newbie coming. I love Monica's books and will be waiting for 'The Godmothers' due out on September 29, 2020, with great anticipation. It's published just in time for my birthday. WINNING!

For those who love biographies;

'Becoming' by Michelle Obama, I'm told, is a wonderful read

Self Help, anyone?

'You've Got This' - The life changing power of trusting yourself by Margie Warrell, is acutally, ... life changing. I love Margie's books, and the fact she grew up on a dairy farm at Nungurner and then went onto conquer the world, is testament to her wonderful and encouraging words.

Any Regenerative Farmers out there?

Nicole Masters' book 'For Love of Soil'. After doing a Zoom Webinar with Nicole recently, I've ordered this book. It sounds like a fabulous, informative read and resource for the agriculturalist. A book reviewer and farming friend, Phillip Boote, who is a great lover of rural fiction, also recommended Nicole's book to me. Seeing I need to know more about our soil, to grow the grass to feed our cattle, I was in!

SO, that's a few ideas for the family of a book lover, like you and me, to ponder over ...

As to actually getting your books, seeing not many of us are leaving home, I'm positive if you ring your local bookstore they will post the book/s out. If you're in Gippsland, give the likes of Collins Booksellers Sale (51446262), Just Books in Bairnsdale (51525181) and Lakes Entrance (51552618) or the Reader's Emporium in Traralgon (51764620) a call. I'll bet they can help deliver to your door, or post box, or even your re-purposed roadside 20 litre drench drum.

Happy 'flinging your list around'!

Love

Margareta xo

Tags

Speckle Cattle

For Love of Soil

Nicole Masters

You've Got This

The Dictionary of Lost Words

The Secret Life of Shirley Sullivan

Something to Talk About

Maggie's Going Nowhere

Just An Ordinary Family

The Stockman's Secret

Need Help With Your Christmas Shopping List?

Margareta-Admin — Wed, 03 Dec 2014 10:16:17 +0000

Need Help With Your Christmas Shopping List?

Margareta-Admin Wed, 03/12/2014 - 9:16 pm

The first week of December - my official crank up week for Christmas. Unfortunately, as I have edits due at two publishing houses for both ROSE RIVER and my new US novella, I haven't gotten into festive mode yet. Although I'd better hurry, the kids are currently counting down the days until end of school and I haven't even STARTED Christmas shopping yet!

(Breathe Margareta, breathe.)

This led me to thinking about my Christmas list. What should I buy those nearest and dearest to me this year? Which then led me to thinking about YOUR Christmas list. What are YOU going to buy your nearest and dearest with regards to reading material this year?

Need a hand? (You also might like to join me in those breathing exercises?)

There have been many, many books on my TBR (To Be Read) pile this year and whilst I'd LOVE to mention a whole swag of them, that's only going to confuse both of us, and my brain is addled enough. Instead I focused on the books I simply could not put down. The ones that came with me to the bus stop, to the kids swimming and running training, netball and even to the shed when I thought H wasn't looking. These were the novels I had to have with me just in case I got the slightest excuse to stop and read.

AND I only gave myself five choices. Gulp. Do you know how hard that was?!

After much debate, here they are, in no particular order accompanied by a suggestion as to who they might be a good present for. Although (disclaimer following), I might get it wrong, so don't blame me if your mother-in-law/father-in-law won't speak to you for weeks, okay?!

Big Little Lies - Liane Moriarty

A no brainer choice. I simply could NOT put this book down even going so far as to read it while having cups of tea, eating breakfast & lunch. Dinner was out of bounds but I can tell you I was wishing the family would eat up fast and then do the dishes for me so I could get back to reading!

Here's the blurb:

I guess it started with the mothers.' 'It was all just a terrible misunderstanding.' 'I'll tell you exactly why it happened.' Pirriwee Public's annual school Trivia Night has ended in a shocking riot. A parent is dead. Liane Moriarty's new novel is funny and heartbreaking, challenging and compassionate. The No. 1 New York Times bestselling author turns her unique gaze on parenting and playground politics, showing us what really goes on behind closed suburban doors. 'Let me be clear. This is not a circus. This is a murder investigation.'

BIG LITTLE LIES is a brilliant take on ex-husbands and second wives, mothers and daughters, school-yard scandal, and the dangerous little lies we tell ourselves just to survive.

For the mother/grandmother/aunt/daughter who has attended play groups, parents and friend groups, in fact been involved with committees of any sort - and made it out the other side in one piece. Or not.

Hello From the Gillespies - Monica McInerney

I'll admit it. I'm a HUGE fan of Monica's work and she'd have to do many things wrong for me to hate one of her books, but I honestly did love this one. At the time I needed 'a chocolate' (sweet and engaging) read and Monica delivered ... and then some.

Here's the blurb:

For more than thirty years, Angela Gillespie has sent friends and family around the world an end-of-the-year letter titled ‘Hello from the Gillespies’. It’s always been cheery and full of good news. This year, Angela surprises herself – she tells the truth . . .

The Gillespies are far from the perfect family that Angela has made them out to be. Her husband is coping poorly with retirement. Her 32-year-old twins are having career meltdowns. Her third daughter, badly in debt, can’t stop crying. And her ten-year-old son spends more time talking to his imaginary friend than to real ones.

Without Angela, the family would fall apart. But when Angela is taken from them in a most unexpected manner, the Gillespies pull together – and pull themselves together – in wonderfully surprising ways . . .

For the mother/grandmother/aunt/danughter/friend who loves an easy, warm and engaging story. There will be laughter, there will be tears, but once you turn the final page you will be more than satisfied. (Hint: Wrap it up with a box of tissues.)

Evergreen Falls - Kimberley Freeman

Inspired by elements of her own grandmother's life, this gem by Kimberley Freeman has a dual narrative. A master of the historical, I loved the way Kim brought the 1926 Evergreen Spa Hotel alive in my mind, with all it's grace and rich extravagance. She then effortlessly flips to modern day and a romantic love affair that will change one young woman's life.

Passion, romance and intrigue thread this novel together using both historical and modern day storylines.

The blurb:

1926: Violet Armstrong is one of the few remaining members of staff working at the grand Evergreen Spa Hotel as it closes down over winter. Only a handful of guests are left, including the heir to a rich grazing family, his sister and her suave suitor. When a snowstorm moves in, the hotel is cut off and they are all trapped. No one could have predicted what would unfold.

2014: After years of putting her sick brother's needs before her own, Lauren Beck leaves her home and takes a job at a Blue Mountains cafe, the first stage of the Evergreen Spa Hotel's renovations. There she meets Tomas, the Danish architect who is overseeing the project, and an attraction begins to grow. In a wing of the old hotel, Lauren finds a series of passionate love letters dated back to 1926, alluding to an affair - and a shocking secret. If she can unravel this long-ago mystery, will it make Lauren brave enough to take a risk and change everything in her own life?

Inspired by elements of her grandmother's life, a rich and satisfying tale of intrigue, heartbreak and love from the author of the bestselling Lighthouse Bay and Wildflower Hill.

For the great-aunt, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother in your life who loves a rich tale of bygone days spliced with modern-day life and love.

Life or Death - Michael Robotham

Simply incredible. I don't normally read thrillers but my lovely website manager (told you so ... told you so ... told you so!) talked me into reading this one and I was gobsmacked. The writing is superb, the storyline intense and intricate, the situation entirely plausible. I gave it to my husband after I'd finished and he read it in a matter of days as well. One hell of a read.

Why would a man escape from prison the day before he's due to be released?

Audie Palmer has spent a decade in prison for an armed robbery in which four people died, including two of his gang. Five million dollars has never been recovered and everybody believes that Audie knows where the money is.

For ten years he has been beaten, stabbed, throttled and threatened almost daily by fellow inmates and prison guards, who all want to answer this same question, but suddenly Audie vanishes, the day before he's due to be released.

Everybody wants to find Audie, but he's not running. Instead he's trying to save a life . . . and not just his own.

A great one for the male (or female) reader in your family (and then you can pinch it back from him to read first ... or second depending on who wins the stoush :)

The Sunnyvale Girls - Fiona Palmer

Fiona Palmer has become the author of my first personal choice when it comes to rural fiction. I can see, feel and breathe her stories, which seem to roll effortlessly from a very able pen. With the added Italian POW aspect embedded into this particular story, The Sunnyvale Girls, is a polished and well rounded tale that gives you plenty to think about.

Three generations of Stewart women share a deep connection to their family farm, but a secret from the past threatens to tear them apart.

Widowed matriarch Maggie remembers a time when the Italian prisoners of war came to work on their land, changing her heart and her home forever. Single mum Toni has been tied to the place for as long as she can recall, although farming was never her dream. And Flick is as passionate about the farm as a young girl could be, despite the limited opportunities for love.

When a letter from 1946 is unearthed in an old cottage on the property, the Sunnyvale girls find themselves on a journey deep into their own hearts and all the way across the world to Italy. Their quest to solve a mystery leads to incredible discoveries about each other, and about themselves.

For anyone who loves a rich, well-told yarn.

There you have it. My personal picks for 2014. Of course, there are a plethora of fabulous books to pick from this year so, whatever you choose, happy reading ... oh, I mean shopping! {blush}

RURAL BOOKS CURRENTLY HITTING THE SHELF

If you love your rural books, there are a few rural authors who have novels out in time for Christmas. (Just in case you want to put them on your own Santa list! ) These include THE GREAT PLAINS by Nicole Alexander, GEMMA'S BLUFF by Karly Lane, OUTBACK GHOST by Rachael Johns, RIVERBOAT POINT by Tricia Stringer and the list goes on. Check out http://www.australianruralromance.com for more rural books available in the festive season.

CHRISTMAS BARGAINS

If you're into romance eBooks along the lines of Nora Roberts, Linda Lael Miller and Diana Palmer, over at Tule there's a great lineup of Christmas eBook novellas, with some going really cheap at the moment. Our own Alissa Callen has one called HER MISTLETOE COWBOY available for approx. $3.39. There's also a few on sale for a limited time at 0.99c (titled Christmas at Waratah Bay; Just in time for Christmas; No Rest for the Wicked).

Oh and if that's not enough for you - some special offers on Amazon for Rural Romance (both Aussie & US based) The House at the Bottom of the Hill by Jennie Jones, Promise Me, Cowboy by CJ Carmichael and Marry Me, Cowboy by Lilian Darcy.

Should be something there to keep us all occupied in that post Christmas lull!

Tags

Big Little Lies

Liane Moriarty

Christmas

Hello From the Gillespies

The House at the Bottom of the Hill

About Alissa Callen's BENEATH OUTBACK SKIES (and a giveaway)

Margareta-Admin — Tue, 17 Jun 2014 07:33:54 +0000

About Alissa Callen's BENEATH OUTBACK SKIES (and a giveaway)

Margareta-Admin Tue, 17/06/2014 - 5:33 pm

Today on my blog, we're hosting a lovely girl I met in Dubbo, whilst on tour last year for HOPE'S ROAD. She is also a rural author with Random House, Australia, and along with that, a wife, mother to four rug-rats and is somehow keeping it all together in this mad world just like me. We really clicked and so it's with great delight I'd like to introduce you to Alissa Callen.

Alissa Callen

Alissa's got two books out at the moment, one in both print and ebook, the other ebook only. They're both rural romance novels and we have her latest one, Beneath Outback Skies (in print), to give away thanks to Random House, Australia! So if you're an avid lover of this genre and you haven't checked out Alissa's novels, I suggest you venture forth. Make a comment on the blog below or on Facebook and you'll go in the draw to win. But first, let's hear from Alissa herself ...

Thanks so much Margareta for having me over {smiley}

When I’m not writing I play traffic controller to four children, three dogs, two horses and one renegade cow who really does believe the grass is greener on the other side of the fence.

I am lucky enough to live on a small slice of rural Australia in the beautiful and diverse central west of NSW. We have vivid pink sunsets, chilly pale sunrises, roasting sunshine and finger-numbing frosts. We also have had a summer bushfire in our front paddock and a one-in-twenty-year flood that washed away our river pumps. But we wouldn’t live anywhere else.

I love writing stories that encapsulate the rural way of life and that pay homage to the resilience of bush communities. Beneath Outback Skies owes its genesis to the years we lived further out west. Our time there was characterized by extreme drought and I will never take water for granted again. On the long and arrow-straight drive to the closest regional centre, I’d pass a burned out old house and this ruin became the inspiration for Killora Downs. Further east there are thankfully still standing historic homesteads and I used these to fashion Paige Quinn’s beloved home, Banora Downs.

Despite the ongoing drought and the hardships Paige, her wheelchair-bound father and the local community endure, Beneath Outback Skies is a story of strength, courage and hope. It is also a story of secrets, romance and redemption.

I hope you enjoy visiting my fictional small rural community of Glenalla as much as I enjoyed creating it for Beneath Outback Skies and the second book in the series, Down Outback Roads.Happy reading {smiley}

Beneath Outback Skies, Alissa Callen

Beneath Outback Skies

Paige Quinn will let nothing and no one distract her from caring for her wheelchair-bound father, Connor, and fighting for her remote, drought-stricken property, Banora Downs. Least of all a surprise farm-stay guest named Tait Cavanaugh, whose smooth words are as lethal as his movie-star smile.

Except Paige can't help noticing that, for a city-boy, Tait seems unexpectedly at home on the land. And he does ask a lot of questions. It doesn't matter how much he helps out or how much laughter he brings into her life, she soon suspects he is harbouring a big secret - the real reason he has come to Banora Downs.

You can buy Beneath Outback Skies from your favourite bookseller:

Booktopia
Collins Booksellers
Dymocks
Angus and Robertson

Down Outback Roads, Alissa Callen

Down Outback Roads (ebook)

Sometimes you need to give yourself permission to fall in love.

Kree Garrett's younger brother Seth is all the family she has left, so when he goes missing in the Australian outback, she doesn't think twice about leaving her American home to find him. When Seth is rescued Kree vows to find a way to thank the small town of Glenalla. It isn't long before she falls in love with the tight-knit rural community. But is it really the town she's falling for?

Ewan Mackenzie has given up everything for his brother's family, but he can never give enough to assuage his guilt at what happened one dark night, years ago . . . Ewan knows he doesn't deserve a second chance at happiness, but when beautiful, open-hearted Kree stays to fight to save his home town, he finds it hard to keep his distance.

Can Kree and Ewan leave their pasts behind for long enough to find a future together?

You can buy the ebook from your favourite online ebook store:

US Amazon
AUS Amazon
Itunes
Google play
Kobo

As I said earlier, we have ONE print copy of BENEATH OUTBACK SKIES to give away, thanks to Random House Australia. To go in the draw to win, make a comment below or on Facebook and your name will go into my cake tin! GOOD LUCK!

Tags

Alissa Callen

Beneath Outback Skies

Down Outback Roads

Giveaway

Mothers Day Present Dilemmas

Margareta — Tue, 06 May 2014 02:32:45 +0000

Mothers Day Present Dilemmas

Margareta Tue, 06/05/2014 - 12:32 pm

Mother's Day is fast coming upon us and I have been watching a couple of interesting conversations taking place on social media, concerning presents. Some mothers appear to want to be asked, 'What would you like for Mother's Day?' Others think the family should be able to come up with the answer to that question all on their own. Then you have the camp that have specific needs and wants and in all likelihood will secretly take back whatever they're given if it's the wrong item. And then there are those who count themselves lucky and shower blessings on children/husband's who may/or may not remember and acknowledge the event at al!

Which are you?Which is your mum/ mother-in-law/step-mother/grandmother (because sometimes they're sole mothers to their grandkids too)?Personally speaking I vary between numbers, 1, 2 and 4.

I have to say, regardless of what occasion it is, I MARGARETA OSBORN un-ashamably LOVE presents. I don't mind if I'm giving them or if I'm receiving them, but I just LOVE the whole present exchange thing and the pleasure that comes with giving/receiving a gift. I don't care whether it's handmade (in fact that makes it all the more special), bought or even borrowed (the 'big-arse tractor' for a days heavy-duty gardening comes to mind here), it's all in the fun of the gift.

This Mother's Day, I know I'm getting some chooks because I've organised that myself. Three actually. Plymouth Rock's. I'll post a photo when they arrive because I am SOOOO excited. I'm also rather desperately hoping the school my children attend has done their usual yearly creative present making exercise, because I adore anything made with love by my kids. (Yes, even those droopy clay creations that sometimes look like a mug.) I've also dropped a hint (or two or three ... ahem ...) to H that I'm hoping for a book, time curled up at my massive picture window overlooking the hills to read it, and if I'm really, reallly lucky, maybe a few secondhand parts (read windows/walls/doors/anything will do) for the building collection that's going to turn my writers shack into a reality. I'm 'fairly' confident of the book, but not so sure about the bibs and bobs though. He's a tad focused on building his 'big-arse machinery shed' at the moment. #writersshackunlikelyinnexttenyears

Anyway, at your house, if a present is the order of the day AND you're like me and would love a book. Do you want/need a suggestion of which one?

As I did at Easter, I thought I'd give you the heads up on a few friends of mine who have a rural book out on the shelves at the moment.

But ...

First, (she blushes here ...) you could consider giving my book MOUNTAIN ASH to someone you love? Here's the blurb in case you've forgotten ...

In matters of the heart she's playing with fire …

After years of struggling as a single mother, Jodie Ashton has given up on love and passion. What she craves now is security for herself and her beloved daughter Milly. And marriage to widower Alex McGregor, the owner of the prosperous Glenevelyn cattle station in the East Gippsland mountains, will certainly offer that. If only he wasn’t so much older and so controlling.

Needing space to decide her future, Jodie reluctantly agrees to a girls-only weekend at the Riverton rodeo . . .

Meanwhile, stockman Nate McGregor vows off women, after his latest one-night stand costs him his job in the Northern Territory. Perhaps it’s time to head back to his family home, Glenevelyn, to check out for himself the ‘gold-digger’ his father seems determined to marry.

But first, on his way through Riverton, he plans to stop off at a rodeo.

Two lives are about to collide in one passionate moment – with devastating results . . .

Alternatively we have Cathryn Hein with ROCKING HORSE HILL

Who do you trust when a stranger threatens to tear your family apart?

Ever since she was a little girl, Emily Wallace-Jones has loved Rocking Horse Hill. The beautiful family property is steeped in history. Everything important in Em's life has happened there. And even though Em's brother Digby has inherited the property, he has promised Em it will be her home for as long as she wishes.

When Digby falls in love with sweet Felicity Townsend, a girl from the wrong side of the tracks, Em worries about the future. But she is determined not to treat Felicity with the same teenage snobbery that tore apart her relationship with her first love, Josh Sinclair. A man who has now sauntered sexily back into Em's life and given her a chance for redemption.

But as Felicity settles in, the once tightly knitted Wallace-Jones family begins to fray. Suspicions are raised, Josh voices his distrust, and even Em's closest friends question where Felicity's motives lie. Conflicted but determined to make up for the damage caused by her past prejudices, Em sides with her brother and his fiancée until a near tragedy sets in motion a chain of events that will change the family forever.

Or Rachael Johns' OUTBACK BLAZE

Ruby wasn't looking for love, Drew wasn't looking to stay...until they found each other. Can their fling survive the darkness of Ruby's past and Drew's desire to move on?

Ruby Jones was always an optimist, but the trauma of her past had made her wary. So when she flees to the small rural community of Bunyip Bay to start afresh, she has her sights firmly set on establishing her horse-riding business and rebuilding her life. The last thing Ruby wants is a romance. In fact, after all she has been through, she can't imagine she will ever believe in love again.

Police officer Drew Noble has no intention of staying in Bunyip Bay - he is just an outsider seeking temporary refuge. But as the charm of the town sways him, Drew finds himself increasingly drawn to the community and its inhabitants, as well as another newcomer, the lovely Ruby Jones.

When Drew investigates a suspicious fire at Ruby's parents' business, he finds himself feeling strangely protective of the girl with the flowers in her hair. As the details of Ruby's past emerge and she comes once more under threat, Drew realises he will do all in his power to save her.

Soon these outsiders discover they have both lost their hearts - not only to the town but to each other.

And Alissa Callen with BENEATH OUTBACK SKIES

A captivating rural romance featuring an indomitable young woman determined to save her family farm, and the city-boy who is not all he seems...

Except Paige can't help noticing that, for a city-boy, Tait seems unexpectedly at home on the land. And he does ask a lot of questions…

It doesn't matter how much he helps out or how much laughter he brings into her life, she soon suspects he is harbouring a big secret – the real reason he has come to Banora Downs…

All these rural books, receiving fabulous reviews, are hitting the shelves in time for Mother's Day.

Fiona Palmer also has a new release, a young adult novel called THE RECRUIT (available as an eBook only). You could gift a voucher?

From one of Australia’s Queens of Romance comes the debut in a brand new YA series about secrets, strengths, and what lies beneath the surface.

Jasmine Thomas may not be completely normal, but she’s a pretty typical seventeen-year-old girl. She hates the rich mean kids, loves her best friends, and can’t wait to get out of school each day. Her spare time is spent at The Ring — a boxing gym where she practically grew up — learning karate, boxing and street fighting. So, yeah, Jaz can kick some major butt.

Life seems pretty normal until the day Ryan Fletcher enters her gym…mysterious and hot with heaps of bad boy charm. Sure, she checks him out. Who wouldn’t? But what doesn’t show on his gorgeous abs are secrets and lies that dominate his very grown-up world. Now Jaz has to figure out just how far she is willing to go to know more. Could Ryan really be offering the life-fulfilling life path she’s always dreamed of?

The first in the MTG Agencies series.

I asked these lovely girls what they'd like, or like to give, for Mother's Day.

Cathryn Hein responded with, 'My mum has Alzheimer's and lives interstate, which makes Mother's Day hard. The phone is difficult because it is so easy for her to forget who she's talking to. The trick I've learned is to say 'Mum' as much as I can. So that will be my Mother's Day gift to mum. The reminder that she has a daughter she loves and who loves her.'

How beautiful is that?

Rachael Johns, a mother to three 'hero's in training' had this to say, ' I'd like to spend Mother's Day with my boys but I'm going to be in America this Mother's Day and we're all a bit sad about this. What I might give my mother (I hope she doesn't read this Rach!) is one of those electric blanket throw rugs as I adore my electric blanket and her house is VERY cold in Winter.'

Nice.

Fiona Palmer would 'like a good book and time to read it!'

A girl after my own heart.

While Alissa Callen told me, 'I'd love my older kids to be home from boarding school and to have a special family dinner that I didn't have to cook. I'd also love plenty of chocolate, my weekend washing to do itself and a quiet hour to curl up with a book.'

Ahhh... it all sounds divine, doesn't it.

Flipping sideways for a minute now ... (if you know me well enough, you'll know my brain is not geared for straight line thinking ...)

Another heart warming read to consider for Mother's Day is a delightful new release from Deborah O'Brien (who brought us, MR CHEN'S EMPORIUM). Although not specifically 'chook lit' (good Lord, did I just use that term?), this one could easily jostle for space on your rural shelf. (Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know you guys all have a rural shelf that's as jam packed as mine {smiley}).

A PLACE OF HER OWN has the most gorgeous cover. (I am having a serious case of 'jealous cover love' over this one. I have no particular idea why, it just warms my soul.)

A compelling novel of starting over from the author of Mr Chen's Emporium. Eighteen months ago Angie Wallace thought her world had ended. Now she's fighting off suitors – and facing a crisis she never saw coming . . .

‘Unrequited love hurt like hell – whether you were fifteen or fifty-something.'

Following the death of her beloved husband Phil, Angie has made a new life for herself in the enchanting gold rush town of Millbrooke. The proud proprietor of the Old Manse B&B and a fierce protector of local history, her transition from ‘blow-in' to bona fide Millbrooker is complete.
She's even fallen for the erudite but scruffy Richard Scott, owner of Millerbrooke House.

But just as the relationship between Angie and Richard seems to be blossoming, a woman from his past arrives back in town – and turns their world upside down.

Because Diana Goodmann isn't all she seems, and when Angie vows to unearth the truth about her rival she finds herself a long way from home - and in very grave danger.

Regardless if you manage to get over the line presentwise or not, from me to you, I sincerely hope you have a beautiful and happy Mother's Day surrounded by all those you love.

With love

M xo

Tags

Beneath Outback Skies

Alissa Callen