Welcome to another delectable edition of Teaser Tuesday, the blog where I share snippets from upcoming and past releases, and works-in-progress. And occasionally con writer buddies into doing the same.

This week I’m delighted to host Marilyn Forsyth on the blog. Marilyn writes in the best genre – rural romance. Her stories feature hunky heroes (of course!) and huggable heroines and are set in remote and rugged outback locations. You may know Marilyn from her debut novel The Farmer’s Perfect Match, book one in her Outback Gems series.

Well, book two has just released and it sounds a beauty. Here’s Marilyn to tell you more about it.

Thanks so much for having me on Teaser Tuesday, Cathryn!

Falling in Love Again is a story about star-crossed lovers reunited (my favourite trope 😊). Gemma and Jamie meet by chance in an outback town seven years after the demise of their youthful relationship. Gemma is now a single mum struggling to recover from an abusive marriage, while Jamie is an opal miner who has recently unearthed a treasure in the form of an opalized skeleton. Though the old pull is still there for them both, there is a major obstacle. Gem is desperate to buy the unique fossil for the museum she works for, but Jamie—in order to repay a debt owed to someone close to him—needs to sell it to the highest bidder.

Gem tries everything she can think of to convince Jamie of the need to save the fossil, but to no avail. In this excerpt, they are having drinks in the only pub in town. Jamie makes it clear that he is still very much attracted to her, and Gem is considering giving in to the old feelings he arouses, in the hope that in doing so she can persuade him to sell the skeleton to her. It’s a moral dilemma made even more problematic by the prospect that, maybe, just maybe, she’s starting to fall in love with him again.

Gem stared at Jamie’s mouth, remembering the feeling of being kissed by him, knowing that if she allowed it to happen, she could be experiencing that same unforgettable sensation again before the night ended.

Towards the end of her counselling sessions, her counsellor had stressed the importance of ‘moving on’ from her abusive marriage—when she was ready.

Was she finally ready?

It had been two years since the separation, longer still since sex had been enjoyable. Roger had liked things on the rough side as their relationship worsened. It hadn’t been hard for her to suppress any longing to be with a man after that.

Until now.

Much as she hated to admit it, the thought of making love with Jamie, this man she’d once loved, intrigued her. What would it be like? Beneath the table, her thighs pressed together as her body recalled the intimate touch of Jamie’s long, square-tipped fingers. The impact on her senses—the thundering heartbeat, the rapid breathing, the somersaulting stomach—was instant. And unstoppable.

That’s what made this man so dangerous.

But the appeal of giving in to her sensual side was suddenly almost overwhelming and, if she and Jamie were as good together as memory served, it might be exactly what she needed to help her move on after Roger. The question remained though: could she allow herself to respond to Jamie freely, knowing that love was not a part of the equation?

Or would this habit of hers, of overthinking everything, prevent her from even going through with it?

Maybe this isn’t such a good idea.

Jamie fixed his unsettlingly perceptive storm-blue eyes on her. Was he reading her thoughts again?

Without a word, he pushed off his chair and walked to the jukebox. Next thing, the soft and beautiful strains of Can’t Help Falling in Love floated through the air. The music caught and held her and she smiled despite herself; they’d both been fanatical Elvis fans.

He sauntered back. ‘Dance with me?’

How could she say no? She nodded, her insides quivering like a bungee-jumper on the verge of a leap into…nothingness.

He led her onto the floor and, locked within the confines of his strong arms, she fell into the song’s smooth rhythm. They moved perfectly in step. Like old times.

His hand firmly on the small of her spine, he pulled her against him, folding their fingers together on his chest. Pulsatingly conscious of his heartbeat under her hand, of his cheek pressed against her hair, of his warm breath on her neck, every nerve in her swaying body palpitated with the awareness.

‘This feels good,’ he murmured into her ear.

‘Mmm,’ she hummed back.

The agreement was unfeigned; it felt way better than good. He held her the way he had when they’d first fallen in love. Tightly. Protectively. His body felt so solid, so reliable, and his arms provided such a sense of safety it was difficult to resist the dangerous ground he represented.

But she had to resist it. And with a lot more success than she was currently experiencing. She breathed in his spicy aftershave, her eyes slid closed and she surrendered to the sensations, forgetting everything else.

Doesn’t that sound fantastic? And it’s a lover’s reunited story. Rah! One for us rural romance fans and anyone who loves Aussie stories.

Falling In Love Again is out now. Score your copy in an instant by simply swiping, tapping or clicking these links. Try Amazon, iBooks, Kobo, Google Play, Nook, Booktopia or your favourite ebook retailer.

If you’d like to learn more about Marilyn and her books, please visit her website. You can also connect via Facebook and Twitter using @emforsyth.