Short Reads – Take Some Me Time

In a waiting room? Got a short commute? Only half an hour before the kids come home? Desperately need an escape but can only hang out in the bathroom for so long?

Short reads. The busy reader’s best friend. And we’ve got a great collection of Australia-set, coastal romances that we think you’ll love. They’re flirty, they’re fun, they’re from superstar author Jenny Schwartz – and they’re available now.

Take some me time – get your romance fix quick. Short reads. They’ll change your world.

Travel coast to coast with five romantic tales from Jenny Schwartz, the master of Coastal Romance, now available as one digital volume.

In Mistaken Engagement, after a disastrous fake engagement, the Australia Day long weekend down at Grace’s family beach house is the perfect time to show everyone that Grace and Saul are friends, with not a broken heart between them. But can a fake engagement become life-changingly real?

In Memories of Love, when her family home burns down, it’s the final heartbreak for Rita Jorden. Her boss, Ivan Novak, steps in, offering her his home and his help. But Ivan has his own demons, and although he’s interested in Rita, there’s darkness in his past that could cause her harm.

In Second Chance Island, Laura Robertson is working at a tropical resort on the Great Barrier Reef, biding her time and nursing her wounds when her ex-lover Phil Cooper arrives on Topaz Island. She’s spent her whole life fighting to save the reef, and her time on Topaz Island fighting for her self-respect. Does she have enough left to fight for a second chance?

In Ice-Breaker, Kiara and Selwyn’s first encounter is dramatic, and their attraction instantaneous. But Kiara has commitments, dreams, and plans – and Selwyn doesn’t fit into any of it. But he’s not willing to give up on the chance at love, so he plans a second encounter just as dramatic. Maybe all they need for a chance at real love is a break from real life.

In No Rescue, after a tragic incident, Miri Blair has escaped to Sydney, and the anonymity of a friend’s apartment. Then, one day, she finds herself acting out a Romeo-and-Juliet balcony style scene with Sergeant Tad Robertson of the Water Police, who dares her to risk living again. Will she have the strength to move away from her past and towards a future with Tad?

April Showers New Reads!

Available today!

Eva Scott debuts a new rural romance: in the battle of duty versus desire, only one can survive the hot Australian sunshine.

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New in the fresh, sexy world of The Seek: he can’t trust anyone, so why should he trust his heart?

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It’s going to take more than summer loving to heal old wounds, but a remote beach, old friendships and a bit of sunshine might just spark a second chance at love.

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Coastal romance short read at its best: She went to Sydney to hide, instead she was found by love.

March Madness – New Titles!

Released today: come and get ’em!

The second saga in Scarlett Dawn’s bestselling, groundbreaking Forever Evermore series begins with Chosen Thief, where the life of a skilled lawbreaker becomes much more than she ever wanted…

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A new Tarrin’s Bay novel from best-selling author Juliet Madison. She took a break from real life,  and found what she didn’t know she was looking for.

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A beautiful new short read in Jenny Schwartz’s romantic tour of Australia: It was a case of the right person at the absolute worst time – so he found a way to make time.

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and in case you missed it, the second-last housewife: 

To all of Sydney’s society, she’s just the upstart, gold-digging waitress that somehow managed to snare one of Australia’s most eligible bachelors…

 

From February with Love

From Jacquie Underdown comes a new adult story about what happens when you meet the perfect guy at the worst possible time.

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From Jenny Schwartz comes a new coastal short read: She’s escaped to a tropical paradise, but her past is going to find her.

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From Elisabeth Rose: One honeymoon, one vanished husband, one desperate wife—and the cop who is tasked to help her, but can’t seem to keep his thoughts on the job.

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From Carly Drake, a YA fantasy romance: In Words Once Spoken¸ we met Evelyn, the normal girl with an extraordinary secret. Now we meet the men who love her…

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This housewife is bright, intelligent and loves her family, but she’s also sensitive and prone to worry. What she lacks in confidence however is made up in her artistic flair, charm and hidden sensuality. She is dedicated to her man and there is nothing she won’t try to keep the fire in her relationship burning.

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All titles available now from Escape Publishing!

October Releases – Mach 1

October brings a bit of a change to the Escape release schedule: we’ve moved to a bi-monthly release calendar. That means you’ll have new Escape titles twice a month.

Here are the first round releases for October!

King Tomb
Scarlett Dawn

From Scarlett Dawn comes the stunning, sexy, sensual, surprising, spellbinding conclusion to the best-selling Forever Evermore trilogy.

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The Healer
Allison Butler

Curb your Outlander cravings with Allison Butler’s seriously sexy Scottish novel about an English woman, a Scottish Laird, a case of mistaken identity and a love that will surpass all barriers.

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Kiss it Better
Jenny Schwartz

Revisit gorgeous Jardin Bay in Jenny Schwartz’s new coastal romance. The town may look like paradise, but for one nurse it represents only broken dreams.

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A Heart Worth Mending
Amanda Canham

Delve back into the exciting world of St Mary’s hospital in this new contemporary romance from Amanda Canham that introduces two sleep-medicine doctors, one sexy beach interlude and a workplace romance that’s sure to leave you feeling a whole lot better.

Newly sprung in June…

We have packed June full of amazing titles this year. Glory in the bounty!

For fans of Bronwyn Parry – whoever said small towns have no secrets didn’t know about this one…

A breakthrough rural romantic suspense novel from Sarah Barrie, about a country girl doing it tough, an undercover cop on the case of his career, and the sad fact that no good deed goes unpunished.

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Heroes meets Bridget Jones in this brilliant, hilarious, debut novel about a girl who just wants to save the world…

We are thrilled to welcome Auralee Wallace to the Escape Artists with this fantastic mash-up of New Adult romance and comic books, about a girl trying to find her way in the world, a journalist looking for a break, and the mysterious superhero who just wants to be left alone.

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In the world of Regency England, only one thing matters — the begetting of an heir…

The third in this exciting, sensual, surprising, unique series of historical romance novellas, about what goes on behind closed regency doors.

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His search for her has been timeless, eternal, and ultimately thwarted. Until now…

A new paranormal romance from Jennifer Brassel mixes action, adventure, eternal curses, soul mates, and art. How can she walk away from the man whose face has haunted her canvasses and her dreams?

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Job satisfaction has never been this good…

Alexis Fleming proves that workplace romances can be just the thing for a little stress relief, and a lot of fun, when a historical restorations expert meets an uptight banker. Nude paintings, blackmail, and mind-numbing sexual frustration…will either of them survive this project?

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A small-town romance about secrets, community, and the family we make for ourselves.

This is our second novel from Louise Forster, and she takes a decidedly rural turn in this sweet contemporary romance about a big city girl who goes home to mourn her uncle and get questions answered, only to find that the answers (and the local tradies!) are nothing like she expected.

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She can buy anything she wants, except the courage to stand up to her family. That’s where he comes in. 

A beautiful coastal romance set in the same world as It’s Love, Dude, about a billionaire Cinderella with a singular need: an ’emotional’ bodyguard to help her manage her family. How can a hero resist?

 

Finding love and hope through the ANZACs

by Jenny Schwartz

My dad’s a Vietnam Veteran and that gives special meaning to Anzac Day for me. I know the sacrifices our soldiers give, quietly, heroically, and how we take those sacrifices for granted. I know the strength it takes to rebuild your life when it’s been touched by war or tragedy – not first hand, but because that re-building is a whole family affair. We all feel the pain.

My parents met because of Vietnam. Mum was working with the girlfriend of a serving soldier and asked if there was anyone in his unit who didn’t have a girlfriend and wanted a penpal. Dad answered. They’ve been married for over forty years.

So I know that love is stronger than grief, stronger than loss. Love endures and love saves.

This Anzac Day, I hope you celebrate and draw strength from its message of courage and love, and from the power of mateship. That’s why I wrote “Memories of Love”.

–Jenny Schwartz

When her family home burns down, it’s the final heartbreak for Rita Jorden who has already lost her parents. Her boss, former SAS captain and head of Tamerlane Security, Ivan Novak, steps in, offering her his home and his help. But Ivan has his own demons, and although he’s interested in Rita, there’s darkness in his past that could cause her harm. Thrown together into a situation that’s too close for comfort, this story can only end in one of two ways: in the destruction of Rita’s dreams of love — or the gift of healing and hope to two damaged survivors.  

Let Us Rejoice!

by Kate

For we are overrun with amazing Australian authors and stories that are just tailor-made for an Australia Day beach holiday weekend.

Well, perhaps not in Melbourne. It’s going to be rainy and cold here. Melburnians – you take your books inside and cuddle up out of the wet.

We’re so proud of all our authors and their fantastic stories, particularly about how varied and wide-reaching they are – from all over Australia and New Zealand and the world. Barring Tasmania (c’mon, Tassie authors! Get cracking!) we have representation from every State and Territory and stories set in all but one – again Tassie (seriously, Tassie – get a wiggle on!).  We have construction managers and lawyers, space pirates and sky divers, rescue workers and programmers, speech pathologists and soldiers and dancers and childcare workers and chefs. We have uptight workaholics and loose free spirits, we have strong family ties and loners, communities and connections. We cover the spectrum from very sweet to seriously sizzling.

We even have a Australia-day-set short story from Jenny Schwartz.  Mistaken Engagement features a beach house, a bikini, a face-saving announcement, and a long-kept secret. At only 66 e-pages, it’s the perfect length for an hour’s getaway – a mini break to Western Australia with Grace and Saul.

In short, I think our authors are doing a damned good job of helping us achieve our mandate: bring Australia and New Zealand to the world. So thanks to all of you for writing such fantastic stories, thanks to the readers who are letting us know what you love and what you’d like to see, thanks to the bloggers who have shared our stories, and thanks to the Harlequin family who have made us welcome. Happy Australia Day.