Welcome to the delight that is Teaser Tuesday, the blog series where I share snippets from my novels, past, present and in progress, and occasionally sucker author buddies into taking over.

I’ve just returned from a trip to outback Queensland and have a brain full of juicy new story ideas. I love travelling, whether it’s a journey just up the road or somewhere thousands of miles away, there’s always something to learn and interesting things to gain inspiration from. As usual, I’ll be sharing photos from the trip in a This Writing Life post so watch out for that. There may be dinosaurs.

Righty-o, let’s get on to today’s Teaser Tuesday snippet. Make sure to read until the end because I have a special offer for you, and it’s a beauty too.

I’ve been thinking a lot about horse racing lately because I have a really cool story that I want to write that revolves around a horse race. This subject isn’t new for me. My debut novel Promises featured a racehorse trainer as the hero, and what a gorgeous man he was too. My crush on Aaron lasted aaaaaaages, until Lachie from Heart of the Valley strode in and stole my affections, but as with all my book heroes there will always be a special place in my heart for him.

I hope this little snippet of Aaron in action in Promises shows you why.

Aaron stilled and cocked his head. The distinctive knock-knock of the Range Rover filtered in through the door of Hakea Lodge’s feed room. He smiled and allowed himself a moment’s mild fantasy before shutting down his thoughts. Making it through the morning without touching Sophie would be hard enough.

But it was a day for optimism. The storm had blown through, leaving clear skies and a landscape scrubbed clean. Earlier, he’d sat on the verandah steps watching the sun rise and the horses snort and stamp as the first rays of light drifted across the yards.

He’d thought about Sophie, and dreamed of how it could have been between them – but never would be. At sixteen, he hadn’t understood that mothers were capable of selfish exploitation. Or that fathers could die of shame. They were lessons he’d learnt too late, just as he’d learnt too late that pity and compassion could turn into something else. Something they shouldn’t.

The combined thrill and terror of watching Sophie ride cross-country like some equestrian kamikaze still lingered, plucking at his conscience the way Tess’s words did. Little pecks of doubt, eating away at his perception of Sophie, making him question her fortitude and query his own judgement.

Yet the memory of her expression when she had looked up from Chuck’s sweating neck and saw him eclipsed everything. Mud-splattered, wearing that stupid egg on her head and that equally stupid body protector, she’d gazed at him with huge grey eyes full of tears and amazement, as if seeing him was the best thing that had ever happened to her.

No one had looked at him like that before. Ever.

Now, as I mentioned in the intro, I have a special offer for you. You can purchase signed copies of Promises direct from me for only $15 including delivery to your Australian postal address. What a bargain!

To take advantage of this deal – and you know you want to, oh yes you do! – simply email me at cathryn@cathrynhein.com to order or use the contact form on the contact page of this website, and I’ll send you the Paypal link.

I also have limited quantities of my other titles available that I can personally sign to you or to someone else as a gift. Just shoot me an email and we’ll work it the cost.

Want to learn more about Promises? You’ll find the story behind the book, reviews, and more excerpts on its book page on this website.