Lauren K McKellar

She thought she had her future sorted, but life has other plans...

Get the reference, get the job, get out of here: I know what I want. What I've always wanted. What I've been raised to want. The only thing standing between me and my dream overseas nursing job is a reference from my boss – and a very special little girl in the hospice care where I work who I just can't say goodbye to yet.

The last thing I need is Sawyer Benson, the AFL legend and an arrogant smile, coming in to visit the kids at the hospice and interfering with my life.

But when Emily tells me that girls can't play football, I know that I have to prove to her that girls can do anything they want. So Sawyer and I strike a bargain. I'll play his girlfriend when the camera's on, and off–camera he'll train me up for the Women's Aussie Rules league try–outs. Together we'll show Emily that girls are brave and strong and can do anything they dream of.

I still know what I want. I can walk away from footy and go back to my original plan. Football and arrogant smiles can't be my future.

Can they?

Moody, atmospheric, and just a little bit punk, Finding Home takes contemporary YA to a new level of grit...

When Amy's mum dies, the last thing she expects is to be kicked off her dad's music tour all the way to her Aunt Lou in a depressing hole of a seaside town. But it's okay – Amy learned how to cope with the best, and soon finds a hard–drinking, party–loving crowd to help ease the pain.

The only solace is her music class, but even there she can't seem to keep it together, sabotaging her grade and her one chance at a meaningful relationship. It takes a hard truth from her only friend before Amy realises that she has to come to terms with her past, before she destroys her future.

Asher is barely keeping her head above water, which is impressive given the drought–stricken land around her. Between her job at the real estate agent, her father's reliance on the bottle, her estranged mother's pushy texts, and her gorgeous daughter, Dakota, she has no time for relationships…even if Flynn Carmichael is the most beautiful man she's ever seen. But Flynn is only in Mindalby for a short time, and Asher and Dakota have no space in their lives for a man not willing to put down roots.

Mindalby, a small town, a community, a home. But when the mill that supports the local cotton farmers and employs many of the town's residents closes unexpectedly, old tensions are exposed and new rifts develop. Everyone is affected and some react better than others, but one thing is certain: living on the edge of the outback means they have to survive together, or let their town die.

One promotion, two dedicated employees, one very inconvenient attraction...

Claire Roberts wants one thing this Christmas: to land the big promotion at work and finally shake free of the office gossip that haunts her. What she doesn't need is more competition, especially from a man who is nothing but trouble.

Hamish Christianson's Christmas wish is to get that same promotion so he can support those he loves. What he doesn't need is for his 'nice guy' personality to get in the way, or even worse, to fall for his biggest rival.

With everything on the line, will Hamish and Claire discover what it truly means to win? Or will their naughty games ruin everything?

A delightful holiday novella from our favourite Australian storyteller Lauren K McKellar.