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Books

Here you will find all of my books, a short description,  some reviews and links to purchase your copy.

(Books are only available from the author if postage is within Australia)

Elizabeth's Star

ELIZABETH'S STAR

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Book 1 – We’ll Meet Again Series

 

‘If you talk to the stars, I will talk back to you.’

 

In 1941, Queensland drover, Michael McTavish leaves behind his young daughter Gracie and joins the 2/22 AIF, his destination, Rabaul, New Guinea, a small town surrounded by impenetrable jungles and steep jagged mountains, its shores lined by tranquil bays and active volcanos.   

 

Joanie has also arrived in New Guinea, with a chance to manage a trading store with her father, Reg, too exciting an opportunity to pass up.

 

As the tendrils of war creep closer to the islands north of Australia, some who call Rabaul home are given an opportunity to return to Australian shores. Others have no option but to stay. Will separation and distance affect the destiny of those who live in the path of the approaching enemy or will the power of love prevail?

 

Based on actual events, Elizabeth’s Star begins the story of Michael and Joanie, unfolding the lives of their families and friends while following the life of Gracie, a little girl left behind when her father went to war.

 

A moving tale of love, loss and separation.

 

An absorbing, sweeping saga that harks back to a period in Australia’s pre-World War II history that has been largely ignored. Compelling historical authenticity based on research and familial connections to this era.   Maree Page-Gear

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Until We Meet
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UNTIL WE MEET

Book 2 – We’ll Meet Again Series

 

‘We who are about to die, salute you.’

 

In early 1940, Bud joins the United States Navy, his aim, to become a US Submariner. Less than two years later, Japanese forces bomb Pearl Harbour. Those living on the islands of New Guinea lie directly in the path of the oncoming enemy.

 

In Rabaul, Joanie prepares to depart, leaving behind her fiancée, those who she loves and many who she has become friends with. As the volcano Tavurvur gathers its forces and bursts forth from its crater, the ill-equipped, small Australian defence known as Lark Force is left to secure the small town. Overwhelmed by the large enemy forces, the order is given, ‘every man for themselves.’ Although some will survive, 1053 men lose their lives when a US Submarine sinks the POW Japanese ship, Montevideo Maru. The seeds of destiny are sown and the lives of the American submariner, Bud, and those in Rabaul, intrinsically linked.

 

Will Michael return to fulfil his promise of marrying Joanie and what will be the fate of his young daughter, Gracie, who still turns to the evening star for guidance, for her questions to be answered, and above all to be reunited with her father.

 

Until We Meet is an epic saga, based on actual events that continues the story of Elizabeth’s Star. A tale of survival, love and family, set amidst the backdrop of World War II.

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We'll Meet Again
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WE'LL MEET AGAIN

Book 3 – We’ll Meet Again Series

 

‘My troubles are over and I am home.’

 

The 1950s are a carefree time for a young woman like Grace. The war is over and when her family moves to Brisbane, plans are made for her to complete her studies at the University of Queensland.

Ewan is also studying the same course and when he meets the beautiful, head-strong Grace, the differences in their backgrounds are pushed aside as they plan their future together.

However, not everyone is happy with the romance and when the young couple are forced to separate, decisions are made that will determine their path in life. Will the path taken lead Grace to the story behind a star she knows as Elizabeth’s Star and will a fortune teller’s prophecy 40 years prior, be proven?

We’ll Meet Again is a story of devotion and family, a connection between those who suffered loss and separation and a sweeping tale of hope, chance, and love

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SILKWORM SECRETS

Book 1 – Silkworm Secrets Series

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What was it that two best friends, Ruby and Bobby, witnessed from high up in the sanctuary of their tree house? What chain of events will be pushed to the back of their minds, until a court case twenty years later, triggers memories and secrets that have remained silent?

 

The rural suburbs of Brisbane should have been an idyllic place for Ruby and Bobby to grow up in. Their tree house retreat, set high in a mulberry tree gives them a safe place, to not only share their friendship and problems but to also watch the events of the yards nearby. However as the years pass and the two become teenagers, the naive Ruby is exposed to the sinister events that Bobby has to deal with in his family life.

When the two friends, eventually go their separate ways, the childhood events become a distant memory. However, when evil deeds are exposed years later, Ruby and Bobby are forced to face up to the reality of what they saw so many years earlier.

This is a story about the secrets that children keep, the strength that comes from a childhood friendship and a special family love that overcomes the hardships of the past.

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Silkworm Secrets
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FOREVER MORE - 

Book 2 – Silkworm Secrets Series

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The days pass for Ruby and Bobby just how they like: slow and peaceful with plenty of time for the two of them. The dark secrets they once shared have faded into the past, and their life in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland is full of activity as they build their new business. A few head of cattle, a couple of horses, and their dog Rusty complete their family. It’s hard to imagine that anyone could want anything more.

However, when family connections from long ago surface, Ruby and Bobby face responsibilities they hadn’t anticipated. Bobby is reminded of his own tumultuous upbringing and the two of them make decisions that will change the paths of everyone involved.

Forever More, continues the story of Bobby and Ruby and reminds us of the good and bad in people, and that a loving family can come in many different forms.

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Love by the Jewel Sea

Book 1 - Whitsundays Romance Series

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Frankie knew one thing. She’d return to the city when the job was done.

When Frankie grasps an opportunity to advance her career, it means driving from the Gold Coast to North Queensland to sign off on a new development. Close to her destination, an accidental meeting with local farmer Simon has her arriving in a manner completely unlike anything she is used to. Tense and frustrated, her brief stay is extended, when all she wants is to do her job and head back to the city. Will the serenity of the tiny beachside community full of local characters change her perspective on what is important in life and remind her of her ethics, or will it send her running in the opposite direction?

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Summer by the Jewel Sea

Book 2 - Whitsundays Romance Series

 

The days pass for Ruby and Bobby just how they like: slow and peaceful with plenty of time for the two of them. The dark secrets they once shared have faded into the past, and their life in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland is full of activity as they build their new business. A few head of cattle, a couple of horses, and their dog Rusty complete their family. It’s hard to imagine that anyone could want anything more.

However, when family connections from long ago surface, Ruby and Bobby face responsibilities they hadn’t anticipated. Bobby is reminded of his own tumultuous upbringing and the two of them make decisions that will change the paths of everyone involved.

Forever More, continues the story of Bobby and Ruby and reminds us of the good and bad in people, and that a loving family can come in many different forms.

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Forever More
Love by the Jewel Sea
Summer by the Jewel Sea
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Lure of the Jewel Sea

Book 3 - Whitsundays Romance Series

 

THE LURE OF THE JEWEL SEA - Romance in the Whitsundays. You won’t want to leave!

When her friend Frankie asks her to officiate at her wedding in the Whitsundays, Kathleen agrees to fly in and fly out. A quick visit and then back to the comfort of the Gold Coast. Maybe then she'll be able to work out what direction her life is headed.

The heat of summer and the plagues of insects reinforce her idea of life in the north and she’s excited about returning home. She just needs to get the wedding out of the way. However, fate intervenes, a business opportunity arises and decisions need to be made.
Amidst the heat of the tropics, there is also a romance brewing and the business venture is not the only challenging question she needs to ask herself. Will she take a chance, or do what she’s always done and take the comfortable path in life?

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TWO HEARTBEATS

When Jess heads west for a fresh start in a small mining town, the dusty, outback plains are a far cry from her former life in the city. Despite having no knowledge of country life, she finds herself loving the isolation and local people who she lives with. All she has to do is keep her head down and work hard to create a better life for herself and Johnno, the only person she has ever truly cared about. 

 

As relationships develop and change, Jess discovers the caring warmth of a welcoming family and a circle of friends who look out for her. She begins to feel that maybe for once, her life is heading in the right direction. 

 

However, problems arise when her temper and stubborn nature collide with her new boss Daniel, who is suspicious of her background story. Has Jess told him everything, or is there a hidden secret to justify his earlier distrust of her?

 

With a cast of eclectic characters, set amidst the rugged outback of Australia, Two Heartbeats is a story of friendship, resilience and the hope that ultimately loving relationships may triumph over obstacles defined by the past. 

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Two Heartbeats
Time Will Tell
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TIME WILL TELL - Sequel to Two Heartbeats

When Jess discovered love with Daniel in the tiny outback town of Gowrie, her previous troubled life was cast aside. However, differences in their backgrounds, her doubts about real love and the urge to return and support her twin brother Johnno, forced her to make a decision to leave.

 

A new home in the small community of Tamborine Mountain provides an opportunity to contemplate how she really feels and what is important. Johnno lives nearby and new friends and a romantic encounter give her a fresh start, but is this what she really wants. And if it isn’t, will Daniel welcome her back with open arms?

 

The tranquil setting of Tamborine Mountain joins forces with the outback of Queensland to continue the story of Two Heartbeats. Will the decision be taken out of Jess’s hands, pushing her further away, or will her heart lead her to where she will find true happiness?  

 

  Time Will Tell – a rural love story, where friendship, romance and hearts entwine.

 

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Turn Left
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TURN LEFT - BOOK 3
(OUTBACK QUEENSLAND ROMANCE SERIES)

***A stand-alone story with some links to the other books in the Outback Queensland Romance Series (Two Heartbeats and Time Will Tell)

When Amy takes up her first teaching position in an outback Queensland town she feels like her life is going ahead in leaps and bounds. However, her new boss doesn’t make life easy and she begins to question her choice of career.

Angus, a third-generation local, also struggles with life in the small town. A mistake made in his youth haunts him and stops him from letting anyone get too close

As the two become friends and hostilities within the small town come to a head, Amy and Angus are faced with decisions that could take them in an unknown direction. Should they trust their instincts, turn left, and leave their problems behind, or would staying and facing their adversaries be a better choice?

A Queensland outback story about friendship, family, and love with some unexpected twists and turns in the road.

 

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A New Start
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A NEW START - BOOK 4
(OUTBACK QUEENSLAND ROMANCE SERIES)

~ A Story of Love, Trust and Second Chance ~

In the small town of Matfield in outback Queensland, Elsie embarks on a fresh chapter of her life, leaving behind the shadows of a tough upbringing and a challenging neighbourhood. As she steps into her role as a teacher, the complex trails of her past give way to the promise of exciting new beginnings. When she meets Matt, a rugged fencing contractor, a connection forms and a tentative friendship unfolds.

Both carry responsibilities towards their families and soon find they share similar interests. Yet, when they venture on a date, the fragile thread holding them together unravels. Matt wonders if he has pushed away someone he cares for, or is there a chance to mend the friendship they once had? Will Elsie ever trust him again or is this the end of a promising connection that fate has intricately woven?

In a remote town where emotions can be as volatile as the weather, Elsie and Matt navigate the complexities of trust, love, and the echoes of their pasts. Will they find a way to bridge the gap or have they unwittingly let go of something that could have been extraordinary?

 

Kick the Dust
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KICK THE DUST

‘If I close my eyes, it’s easier to hold onto a memory. When I open them, I think it might really be there in front of me.’

 

After three tours of duty in Afghanistan, Liam Andrews is home safe in Queensland. His weekly life drawing class, full of colourful local artists, helps him manage his post-traumatic stress disorder. But he’s struggling to open up about a past that still haunts him.

 

Belourine ‘Billy’ is an Afghan refugee who lost everything before arriving in Australia as a child. She finds joy in her daily swims in the lake. After years of upheaval, she’s still searching for a place to call home. But her past makes it hard to trust people.

 

When Liam and Billy meet, they form an instant connection. But will they ever overcome the past? And will it be together?

 

A moving story of love, loss and resilience from the author of Two Heartbeats.

 

 

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Beyond the Gate - A Bindarra Creek Mystery

When Charlotte leaves her old life to start afresh near the township of Bindarra Creek, she experiences a sense of liberation and adventure. The rural property she purchases is perfect for her new business venture and a friendly neighbour, Alex, along with his two children, Isla and Eli, help her settle in.
However, plans for a peaceful rural life do not run smoothly and when she stumbles on a sinister connection to her past, Isla is also drawn into the web of evil. Now Charlotte faces the perilous task of saving the young girl from a deadly situation.
Will Alex rescue Charlotte and Isla in time? Or will the secret places beyond the gate hide their fate forever?
                                                            ~~~

 

 

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Beyond the Gate
The Shack By The Bay
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THE SHACK BY THE BAY

An isolated fishing shack on a beautiful bay in the Whitsundays provides Luke with a retreat where he can find peace and solitude. However, the discovery of family war relics, and a developing relationship with the beautiful Lily, connects family histories and reveals a story that threatens to destroy his chance at real happiness.

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Will the wartime secrets prove to be the breaking point for a beautiful romance? Or can two families put the deeds of the past behind them?

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Romantic and purely Australian, The Shack by the Bay captures the pristine beauty of the Whitsundays and the wartime memories of older Australians while introducing an eclectic blend of friends and family.

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"Rhonda is one talented Aussie author." 

 

Chapterichi.com

 

 

"When I read Rhonda’s work, I think "authentic". There is no pretense. Just raw, honest and beautifully crafted characters and dialogue."

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The MadHatter Book Reviewer

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