AustLit

'It's nearly Christmas, Julia Devine's favourite time of the year. She's just programmed a wonderful lead into the holidays at Sunny Street Cinema, which leaves her plenty of time to worry about going home to Cumbria for Christmas. Her mum and stepdad are fine, but the thought of spending another holiday with her awful stepsister Becca is enough to make a Scrooge out of anyone.

'When Becca calls to let her know about the dreamy pilot she's bring to Christmas lunch, Julia finally snaps and does something very silly. She tells Becca she's dating heartthrob movie star Hugo Turner.

'Of course, Julia isn't dating Hugo Turner - she isn't dating anyone - but Becca will never let her live it down if she discovers Julia's lie. Enter Sam Hunter, ordinary guy on the street with a startling resemblance to a movie star. Without any holiday plans of his own, he's the perfect stand-in for the real Hugo. Sam has his own reasons for agreeing to be Julia's sham movie-star boyfriend. It's just for one weekend, right? But will this Christmas charade flourish into real Christmas magic?' (Publication summary)

'Marlo is a living her best life in sunny Sydney and avoiding thinking about her past at all costs. Avoiding thinking about the quaint village life she left behind in Britain. Avoiding thinking about that fateful Christmas Day.

'When Marlo is unceremoniously ghosted by her part-time lover, she decides she’ll need to avoid the whole Christmas season. That is actually pretty easy in this country, because it’s so hot and so far away from anything that means Christmas to her. But Marlo’s flatmate Alex is determined to lift her out of her grinch slump and convince her that Christmas Down Under may be unfamiliar, but exactly what she needs to start her life on a new course. Alex, with his calm order and terrible Dad jokes. Alex, with his sparkling Christmas cocktails, his chiseled jaw and washboard abs. Alex, who’s going to turn Marlo’s Christmas wish list upside down.' (Publication summary)

'Christa Playfoot is looking for a fresh start after her divorce. Having lost her Michelin-starred restaurant, she hadn't expected to be job hunting and single just before Christmas, so when her best friend says she's recommended her for a gig as a private chef over the Christmas period, she can't think of a reason to say no...

'Christa has no idea what to expect but it's certainly not grumpy billionaire divorcee Marc Ferrier and his rambunctious twin sons, or the beautiful but cheerless country estate, Pudding Hall, that they inhabit.

'With her knack for pouring love into her cooking, Christa is determined to make this Christmas sparkle for the Ferrier family and maybe get her life back on track in the process...' (Publication summary)

'Tressa Buckland likes her quiet life in Port Lowdy, with its cobbled streets and colourful terraced houses overlooking the sea. Her job at the local paper allows her to pursue her art in her free time, with no one but her tabby cat Ginger Pickles to mind her in Mermaid Terrace. But then the owner of the paper is called away on an emergency, and it's up to Tressa to run the paper for six months. Her first task: find a new part-time journalist.

'Dan Byrne is the angriest man in Ireland – or so the readers of his very successful column, 'Dan takes on the world', think. But after a story goes south and he loses his job in Dublin, Dan has no choice but to start afresh. When an opportunity comes up in sleepy Cornwall, Dan and his Golden Retriever Ritchie set off for a new adventure.

'For Tressa, Dan's arrival to Port Lowdy changes everything. Tressa tries not to look too deeply at her own life, but Dan sees a story to uncover in absolutely everyone – even her. The two of them couldn't be more different... yet, if they can find a way to work together, they may just breathe new life and joy into this sleepy seaside village.' (Publication summary)

'Lily is back from Australia for the first time in seven years to spend Christmas at her mum’s house in a small, gossipy English village. To her surprise, she returns to find that her mother is dating the man next door, who also happens to be the father of her ex-boyfriend Tom. Tom, who broke Lily’s heart all those years ago. Tom, the real reason Lily fled to the other side of the world and stayed there. Tom, who is also home for Christmas and right there, next door.

'In what is shaping up to be the worst Christmas ever, somehow Lily and Tom have to try to get along and play happy families, but living with the man who she is clearly not over is proving to be difficult, and tensions are high. Add in some drunken caroling, a reindeer bite, a potent Christmas pudding and some meddling parents and Lily’s trip home will turn her entire life upside down.' (Publication summary)

'Buying a thatched cottage in the country may not be the usual cure for a broken heart. But after Clara Maxwell finds out her boyfriend and best friend have been sneaking around behind her back, packing her bags and leaving everything in London behind feels like it's the only way forward.

'Clara knew Acorn Cottage would be a fixer-upper... Yet in person, the cottage is less charmingly ramshackle and more a real health and safety concern. When Henry Garnett, her (rather handsome) new contractor, turns up with his little daughter Pansy and a van shaped like a cottage in tow, she isn't sure whether to laugh or cry. What on earth has she gotten herself into?!

'Still, there is something strangely lovable about the people in the little village of Merryknowe, from Rachel Brown, the quiet, lonely girl who bakes magical confections for the tearooms, to Tassie McIver, a little old lady with a lot of wisdom and a penchant for reading tea leaves. And Clara can't deny that Henry and Pansy are quickly worming their way into her heart...' (Publication summary)

'Inspired by the life of Coco Chanel, this is the story of the scandalous life of the fictional beauty maven, Daphné le Marche. Set between 1950's Paris and present day London, it's a lovely-get-away-from-it-all read' - Red Paris, 1956. Eighteen year old Daphné may be from a tiny French village, but she knows she's destined for more. Stepping off a bus into bustling Paris with a suitcase full of her home-made beauty products, she's ready to do whatever it takes to claim her stake in the world. London, 2016. Scandalous love affairs and an iconic cosmetics brand have kept Daphné le Marche in spotlight - but her darkest secrets have never come to light. Now, in her London penthouse, enveloped in her rich signature scent, the Grande Dame of glamour has died. But not even those closest to her could have been prepared for what came next. The Last Will and Testament of Daphné le Marche is a sweeping story of heartbreak, scandal and the importance of keeping it in all the family...' (Publication summary)

'Rebecca’s so called splendid life isn’t so wonderful. She is fresh out of rehab, her husband and children aren’t home for the holiday, and her Christmas tree has alopecia.

'Days from Christmas, Rebecca has to explore her grief about a loss so huge, it tipped her over the edge, and imagine a future that maybe spent alone.

'But she learns that, while Christmas for one is possible, it’s just a lot nicer when there’s family to share it with.

'Love, loss and forgiveness come together to make a Christmas that Rebecca will never forget, and one that will unwrap a joyous future, even it’s not at all like what she imagined was waiting for her under the Christmas tree.' (Publication summary)

'It's been a bad year for Andie Powers. But things are looking up now she has a one-way ticket to the glamorous world of Hollywood, movie starts, palm trees and endless summer.

'Suddenly Andie has a dream mansion, a new best friend, unlimited credit cards and a brand-new BMW. But she can't shake the feeling that this place is fake. It's only after an encounter with bad-boy movie start James Hawthorn that she discovers something real.

'Andie knows a guy like James Hawthorn couldn't possible feel the same way about her. But when everything around her is one big act, it's hard not to get caught up in the story ...' (Publication summary)

'Mia knows what she wants in life - she was born to perform, and she doesn't need anyone's help to succeed. So when she is paired with the obnoxious new guy for her final music assessment, she is beyond frustrated. Rob is into hip-hop in a big way and they have absolutely zero in common. But as they spend more time together, Mia starts to realise that there's more to hip-hop than she'd thought. And that Rob could just be the guy she never knew she was looking for.' (Publisher's blurb)

'Ludo introduces Cinda to the heady world of the super-rich, taking her to parties on yachts and villas all over Europe. Sparks start to fly as Ludo and Cinda spend more and more time together, and even cautious Cinda wonders if there might be something real between them. Then Gus, Ludo's twin brother and heir to the Sardinian throne, arrives to ruin everyone's fun. Gus is obsessed with duty, and having a commoner like Cinda around just isn't part of his plan. But when fate throws Cinda and Gus together, he's astounded to discover that he and Cinda get along well. So well, in fact, that he might be prepared to throw away everything to be with her...' (Publisher's blurb)

'Lola is set for the adventure of a lifetime. Much as she loves living above her dad's bustling cafe, she's got some serious baggage to deal with, and she can only do that in London. But when her dad is in a car accident the morning she's due to leave, Lola has to abandon her plans and stay. She has to grow up, take responsibility, act like an adult. That means running the café, and hiring a new chef. Enter Sam, a hot backpacker and cook extraordinaire – with an adorable accent and a secret of his own.

'Before too long, Lola and Sam have created something special at the cafe. Their business chemistry just works. And maybe there's some other chemistry at work too...' (Publisher's blurb

'Charlotte can’t wait to get her cheating ex out of her life. She just needs to pick up the last of her stuff from his house - and try not to fall for his adorable housemate.' (Publication summary)

'Lily didn’t mean to drink so much champagne at her friend’s 18th. But when gorgeous Henri shows up to hold her hair back, she’s not sure it was an entirely bad idea...' (Publication summary)

'Footballer Jack has a major thing for Tash. Too bad she's a hot hipster who hates jocks. But when a uni assignment pairs them together, he jumps at the chance to change her mind. Full of love, romance and a whole heap of flirty fun, Smitten is a series that will make you weak at the knees. Download this free Lovebite to get a taste of what it's all about. There are four Lovebites to collect.' (Publication summary)