Welcome to Teaser Tuesday, where I share snippets from new and past releases and works-in-progress, and am sometime lucky enough to have author buddies do the same.
Life is getting back to normal after the whirlwind that was Fictionally Yours, Melbourne. I can’t tell you what fun I had at that event. It was brilliant! I shared a bunch of photos in a This Writing Life post last Friday. Check it out here, if you missed it.
As I mentioned in our previous Teaser Tuesday, I’ve started work on a new book and it’s going marvellously. I’d love to tell you more but, sorry, you’ll just have to wait. I don’t want to jinx this goodness.
In other suuuuuper important news, Eddie and the Show Queen is one step closer with proof copies finally in production. As soon as they’re checked over and approved it’ll be all systems go. This one’s been a long time coming, but the warm glow of release is now truly in sight. Rah!
Enough of that. We’re hear for a Teaser and today we have an absolute cracker thanks to regular (and special!) guest Fiona McArthur.
You’ll of course remember Fiona from her involvement in the Outback Brides continuity which I was also part of with Elsa’s Stand. But Fiona is also a beloved medical rural romance author, with best-selling titles like Mother’s Day (ebook currently on sale for only $4-99), Red Sand Sunrise, The Homestead Girls, Heart of the Sky and The Baby Doctor. Her latest release – out today, in fact – is The Desert Midwife, and it sounds and looks gorgeous.
Here’s Fiona to tell you more and share a snippet. Make sure you read until the end because there could be a GIVEAWAY!
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Thanks so much for having me, Cathryn, and your readers, because I do love sharing my new books on Tuesday Teaser page with you all.
The Desert Midwife has been such a joy. The story is told in one of my favourite parts of the world, the magical landscape of Central Australia and Uluru and I do have fun sharing with you all my love of the setting.
A view of Uluru from Yalara Resort
Fiona at KataTjuta in central Australia.
And it’s been fun, too, as an amnesia story, I mean – what IF your new lover, almost fiancée, love of your life, man you were besotted with but wondered it was all too good to be true – totally forgot who you were after an accident when you were driving? How would you feel? How would you get him back? And all of this in the middle of Australia in a place he was a stranger to? It’s a dilemma Ava has to work through while doing the job she loves, caring for the family she knows she’s lucky to have, and all the while she can see Zac wonders if he knew her well – while her heart is breaking.
I do hope you love their journey as much as I do. I’d love to share an excerpt –
Ava. After she’d met Zac on the flight home to Alice Springs…
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…The sunrise tinted a pink swathe across the wall of the room, blushed across the white duvet, and dusted the beginnings of Central Australian heat across Ava’s cheek, warming her skin. Hazily, as she shifted her head, she squinted at the unfamiliar rose-coloured room and frowned.
She could see the flecks of floating dust motes crystallise but, unfortunately, that wasn’t all that formed as clarity returned. Her cheeks burned as the fractured pieces of last night re-emerged and she stifled the urge to groan. Good ghastly grief.
She’d had a one-night stand.
You’re a grown woman. Her inner voice shut down the embarrassment.
That may be, but oh my. Though, she had to admit, she would hate to have grown much older without experiencing last night. Talk about lust at first sight. It had been complete enchantment and they’d been soulmates for at least the length of the spell.
She was no blushing virgin – though her virginity could quite possibly have grown back because it had been more than five years since she’d last been with anyone – for good reason – but darn, this morning felt uncomfortable. Especially when she was a novice at waking up next to a stranger from the night before, with the heat from his body still warming her hip.
She knew the outback rule: never leave your car if you break down. Were there rules for one-night stands?
Her stomach growled and she lifted her hand carefully to cover her eyes. Did this get any more awkward? Maybe she could slip sideways out of the bed. She wasn’t game to turn her head in case he woke up.
‘Would you like coffee?’ Deep, rumbling masculine tones with just a hint of amusement sounded, and she shifted her head to meet his eyes. Yep, those unfairly chocolate eyes were twinkling and not at all abashed.
She sighed and tried not to breathe her dragon breath on him. Another new skill she needed to learn.
Her hand dropped from her face. Right. Toughen up, Ava. ‘Weak black tea would be wonderful. Earl Grey, if you have it. Thank you.’ She wriggled up the pillows, strategically holding the sheet. ‘Then I have to go.’
‘Of course. Would you like a shower while I’m making it? There are extra towels in the bathroom and a bathrobe on the back of the door.’
She thought about a shower, feeling refreshed, more relaxed and restored to her normal unshakable composure, or, alternatively, the messy, crumpled walk of shame without one.
‘That would be great,’ she said. ‘Thanks. I won’t use the robe, though, I’ll just get dressed.’ She could do this. Calm and composure were her middle names; nothing fazed her. Everybody in Alice Springs knew that.
‘Umm . . .’ More amusement sounded in the dulcet tones of his voice, and she turned her head back his way. ‘I think we may have popped a few buttons on both our shirts.’
Her hand came back up and slapped her forehead palm up as the full glory of their lustful exuberance returned.
‘A night to remember,’ she managed in an even tone.
‘I’d like to think so,’ he said. ‘Your Central Australian charisma does fascinate me.’ Then with less amusement he said, ‘I’ll put the kettle on.’
Zac Logan – at least she recalled his name – tossed back the sheet, swung his long, muscled, naked body to the edge of the bed and stood. All six foot plus of solid, sexy, sinfully seductive stud. And he didn’t pause to put on any clothes. He just strode to the bench with the kitchen appliances and reached for the switch.
Ava blinked, dragged her eyes from his tantalising backside and scrambled to get to the bathroom before he turned around and gave her a front view…
Ooh-la-la, so sexy! And with The Desert Midwife hitting stores today you won’t have to wait. Trot on down to your favourite book or department store and pick yourself up a copy, or get instant gratification with an ebook (or print) from these online platforms:
iBooks | Kobo | Google Play
Booktopia | Angus & Robertson | Bookdepository
Now, as mentioned in the introduction, we have a …
GIVEAWAY!
Yes, my lovelies, Fiona has very generously offered a print copy of The Desert Midwife to giveaway to one lucky reader.
Here’s Fiona to tell you what to do.
I have a book prize of a free copy of The Desert Midwife to send to one reader – if you will share your favourite place in Australia to visit and why.
Got that? Easy-peasy!
Hmm, what’s my favourite place … There are so many wonderful places in this gorgeous country of ours, but I’m going to choose my hometown of Mount Gambier, in the south-east of South Australia. Why? Because it’s where my family lives, it’s loaded with wonderful memories, it’s truly beautiful, and with so many of my rural romances being set in the area visiting fills my creative well.
What about you? Simply share your favourite place in Australia to visit and why and we’ll pop you into the draw to win a copy of The Desert Midwife.
Please Note: Giveaway closes midnight Sunday 21st July 2019, Australian Eastern Time. Australian postal addresses only.
If you’d like to learn more about Fiona and her books, please visit her website. You can also connect via Facebook, Instagram and Twitter using @FiCatchesBabies.
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