New release April’s Rainbow
by Cathryn Hein
There’s also an excerpt to read – and a giveaway!
(Giveaway open to Australian postal addressees only.Giveaway ends midnight AEST Sunday 7 February.)
You’ll often hear romance authors refer to a release as the book of their heart. Well, April’s Rainbow is mine.
During the 90’s I was a sales representative for a pasture seed company. I spent my days driving around New South Wales doing seed deals, discussing innovations in plant breeding with agricultural retailers, hanging out at field days, visiting farms, and chatting with agronomists. At one point I was covering coastal NSW from Bega in the south to Brisbane in the north, and west out to Moree.
That’s a lot of kilometres and a whole lot of daydreaming time.
I came up hundreds of stories. But there were two that proved so powerful, so emotional, they embedded themselves inside me and stayed there. The first was April’s Rainbow. The other? You’ll just have to wait for it!
From inception April’s Rainbow proved itself special. This story encompasses everything I adore about an Australian-set love story - a kind, gorgeous hero to fall in love with, a bright, talented heroine with a tragic secret, and a heartbreaking but ultimately uplifting romance to make you smile and sigh.
But it’s also the location that gets to me. The rolling landscape around Casterton and Coleraine in the far western districts of Victoria, near where I grew up and from where April’s Rainbow takes its inspiration, is truly spectacular. This land is lush, beautiful, rich and loaded with history. As our hero Tristan explains in the excerpt below, it’s the very heart of fortunate Australia.
How fortunate it turns out to be for Tristan and April, you’ll have read the story to discover!
April’s Rainbow has truly taken my heart. I hope it takes yours too.
Cathryn
To win a signed paperback copy of April’s Rainbow, reveal which Australian landscape brings longing to your heart
and you’ll go into the draw.
April’s Rainbow
From the spectacular beauty of Victoria’s lush western districts comes this deeply emotional story of grief, courage and love.
When shy farmer Tristan Blake is given free rein to manage iconic local property Rainbow, he soon finds himself living his dream. Even more so once the farm’s dark-haired artist owner April Tremayne arrives. April is mysterious and slightly wild, with an air of tragedy, and Tristan is captivated. The more involved he becomes with April and her eccentric projects, the harder he falls for her. April might believe the price of love is pain, but Tristan vows that is one thing she’ll never experience with him.
But even the sweetest dream can turn dark. April is haunted by the very heartbreak she’d come to Rainbow to heal, and as her demons tighten their grip, Tristan is torn between keeping his promise or betraying the woman he loves. And the risk of either choice is losing her forever.
A compelling and moving love story from Cathryn Hein, best-selling author of Summer and the Groomsman, The Falls, Rocking Horse Hill, Heartland, Heart of the Valley, Promises and The French Prize.
Excerpt from April’s Rainbow by Cathryn Hein
After spotting a curious ad in the local paper for a farm manager’s position, Tristan has ventured into town to find out more…
Our little town is in the heart of Australia Felix. Which means nothing to most people when you say it, but actually means ‘the heart of fortunate Australia’. Major Mitchell, the explorer who coined the phrase, was right. We are blessed here. This part of far western Victoria is lush, fertile, and grows some of the best wool in the country. We have romantic hills, pretty streams and rivers, and reliable rainfall. We also have plenty of erosion thanks to our forebears’ enthusiasm for land clearing, but that’s another story.
Still, it’s a hard place to stay away from if your heart’s here. Junior had thought he belonged elsewhere, but one mention from his father of selling up and early retirement and he was back. Apparently, Rannoch without a Quinn as solicitor turned out to be as unthinkable for Junior as it was for the rest of us.
He grinned at me further. ‘You’re here about the ad.’
I stopped myself from reaching for my hat. ‘Yes.’
‘You heard Rainbow was sold?’
I nodded, something rustling down in my gut. It was my dream to one day own a property like Rainbow. In two lifetimes I could never have afforded it. There weren’t many with the capital or borrowing power who could. Someone had though.
Dad had offered a few times to help me to get started with a small place, even to the point of going guarantor for the bank. I always refused. To everyone’s relief I suspect. Money changes things, especially within families. You only had to look at the dust-up that happened between McKenna’s kids when he died. They were still squabbling and firing lawyers at one another, while the property – that I’d worked with as much dedication as the old man for the last eleven years – was going to ruin.
It’d happen for me one day, when I’d saved some more. Which was why the ad and its ‘generous terms’ had me talking to Junior.
‘Bought by a woman from Melbourne. An artist.’ Junior tossed me a look. ‘Interesting type.’
I nodded, a picture forming in my head that wasn’t flattering.
‘It’s not really a manager’s job, more a share-farming type arrangement.’ Again that look. ‘For the right person.’
‘What are the qualities of the right person?’
Junior skated his chair back, reached to the shelf behind him and plucked a sheet of paper from a document tray. He rolled back to his desk and propped a pair of glasses onto his nose.
‘Usual stuff about pasture and livestock management. You’ve got all that, no worries.’ He rubbed at his chin and I had the feeling Junior was trying to hide a grin. ‘Then there are, ah, other things.’
I shifted in my seat and tried not to worry that another job was about to go begging.
‘Like what?’
‘Patience.’
I said nothing. Everyone knew I had that in droves.
‘Kindness.’
I had plenty of that too. Ask anybody.
‘Tolerance.’ Junior’s eyes were fairly twinkling by now. ‘And the ability to follow instructions no matter how ridiculous they may seem at the time.’
‘Right.’ Wasn’t much more I could say to that list. Who had those sorts of intangible criteria as job specifications? Artists, obviously.
April’s Rainbow is available in eBook and paperback.
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Leave a comment to Cathryn’s question: “reveal which Australian landscape brings longing to your heart” and you’ll go into the draw to win a signed paperback of April’s Rainbow.
(Giveaway open to Australian postal addressees only. Giveaway ends midnight AEST Sunday 7 February 2016.)
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Oh my !! I lived at Coleraine when I was young and have spent a lot of time over the years back in the flowing green hills. Lots of memories made in the country, very picturesque. Congrats on the book and can’t wait to read it. Beautiful green countryside or rugged seascapes would be a favourite for the heart and mind to dance in beauty.
How wonderful, Jane. You’ll know exactly what I’m talking about with April’s Rainbow’s setting. Truly beautiful!
I adore Australia and its beautiful landscapes. I am originally from New Zealand but now a proud Aussie. Probably the landscape that really moves my heart and captures it is up and down the gorgeous East Coast of Tasmania ♡
Congratulations on this beautiful book.
Ah, yes, Tassie is gorgeous. I’m hoping to get back there for a trip this year. Great choice, Josephine-Anne and thanks for the congratulations.
Can’t wait to read April’s Rainbow Cathryn! Very intrigued
The Australian landscape that my heart longs for is Otway National Park - I fell in love with it reading the Aussie Angels series by Margaret Clark when I was 11, I got to see it when I was 17 and nothing has ever topped it for me. There’s something about those massive trees that have stood tall and strong for generations and the sound of everything that calls it home working in harmony that make my soul feel peace. Even now when I begin to feel stressed I just imagine I am back there hearing the birds and animals and the drips of rainwater as they go from leaf to leaf. One day I will end up living there….atleast I hope to
What a beautiful description, Clare. I hope your dream of living near the Otways comes true. Fantastic produce down that way too, land and sea. You’ll be very well fed!
For me, it’s bringing up my young family on the South West Coast. This is where my husband grew up, I’m a Queensland girl, but felt I’d finally come home when we took a chance and moved from Hervey Bay, Qld to Capel, WA. Set within 10 minutes of both the bush and the sea, it’s my piece of paradise
The south-west corner of the continent I called home for only 20 years but on each visit back I feel like I have never left. NSW has some beautiful country areas and although I now live on its south coast — take me home country roads to the place I belong … West Australia…… (thank John Denver) one day.
Nothing quite like home, is there Roslyn? Although the NSW south coast is pretty stunning. That gorgeous sea!
How wonderful to have bush and sea so close, Tanya. Sounds heavenly.
So much on offer in this region, close to Margaret River and vineyards, hidden cottages and indigo blue sandy lakes hidden like an invaluable gem in the middle of the bush
So many choices of gorgeous landscapes in Australia. The bush tugs at my strings but the cliffs of the ocean really get me going. I love parts of the Great Ocean Road in Victoria in particular. Can’t wait to read this new book! Thanks
Isn’t the Great Ocean Road stunning? Mum and Dad used to take us that way to Melbourne when we were kids. Magnificent, and the shipwreck history is fascinating, albeit heartbreaking. Great choice.
I grew up around Swan Hill and loved the definite seasons of greenery to dryness and dust, moved to Gippsland when a young child and lived there for many years, in often lush summer grass and having to mow, until unfortunate circumstances in life provided me with a choice to stay or move, and I moved to central Victoria to the views of the Grampians, and again the seasons of dryness and dust… and praying for rain for the dams, waterways for the Farmers needs in time of planting and for conversely praying for no rain at time of harvest…Love this country
The extremes of our country never cease to amaze, do they, Roma?
My favourite are the hills around the Glengallan homestead, which was one of the first pastoral runs in the Darling Downs in Queensland, and the creepy Ghost Gate Road that connected Glengallan to Goomburra. Just love that part of the Downs and imagining what life was like back in the day.
Creepy Ghost Gate Road, Kristy? You’re making me want to visit. Sounds like my kind of story country…
I would have to say the place that captures my heart is the Great Ocean Road as it has so many different landmarks to see, like the 12 Apostles with beautiful beach views that are totally spectacular to experience. I’m still finding places to see every time I visit the South West Region of Victoria.
Also, Cathryn….Congratulations on your new book. Looking forward to reading it!!
Thanks for the congratulations, Anna. I’m very excited about this release. Another for the Great Ocean Road. Can’t say I blame you. ‘Tis beoootiful!
My heart will always be in the ever changing landscape of the West Australian wheatbelt and the coastline of WA. Like most Aussies I cannot separate the two. We are islanders from a big brown land surrounded by the sea. Every time I hear Dorothea MacKellar’s poem it reminds me how attached I am to this country. Congratulations Cathryn on April’s Rainbow and the opportunity.!
Thanks Delores. I really must head over and explore more of WA. I’ve only been there the once and everyone makes it sounds so wonderful.
the place that captures my heart is the hay plains after i have been away in sydney for a while ..coming into the hay plains brings joy and a smile to my face s i know im heading home and to my own bed ..i live in hay so yeah i guess the hay plains does it for me
Wonderful, Karen. You’re probably going to laugh but when I was at agricultural college the broadacre cropping students did a bus trip from Roseworthy (north of Adelaide) across the Hay Plain to tour around NSW and everyone was terribly excited because they thought it sounded so cool!!
So much looking forward to your new book. Can’t wait
Thanks, Anne-Marie. I love this one.
I think australia has so many beautiful places it’s far too hard to pick just one! The snowy mountains are just breathtaking and helped me clear my mind and relax, kakadu was stunning and the beaches and coastline down near robe in SA is our favourite family holiday spot close to home.
I agree, Jenny. It’s very hard to choose when we have a landscape as diverse as Australia. Robe’s lovely though!
I think that Australia has a huge diversity of landscapes in it, but I love the outback, as you can see the true beauty of the ground, to the true beauty of the sky, showing what our land is about.
That’s so true, Melissa. Lovely choice.
The beautiful gorges of the North West’s Kimberley region are just breathtaking. The red dirt and freshwater falls and pools surrounded by green. So much to explore
You’ve made it sound breath-taking, Peta-Lee. I’ll have to add it to the bucket list!
Growing up with the Man From Snowy River the rugged high country of Victoria with its ghostly gums and ever changing skies would have to be my absolute favourite
Oh, I bet it’s your favourite, Rachel. Must have been amazing growing up there.
Hi ! Cathryn,
Congrats! on the new release. Australia is a land of Amazing and Spectacular views. Haven’t travelled much . But visited Kangaroo Valley last year and loved the views of the waterfalls and mountains. It was very mesmerizing.
The Kangaroo Valley is gorgeous, Jessy! I used to go there a lot for work and it never ceased to leave me wondrous. Great location.
So many places in this huge country of ours to choose from. I will pick Hanging Rock! I had family that lived close by in Woodend, so we visited the rock frequently. Loved the movie too! Look forward to reading your new book.
Hanging Rock - wonderful choice, Andrea. So iconic. I can hear the creepy music now…
I am a farm girl from the great southern area of WA at heart but the landscape that always pulls at my heartstrings is King George Sound in Albany. I spent many hours looking out over the sound after my mother died and my husband proposed to me years later from another vantage point overlooking it.
What a special place that must be for you. Thanks for sharing it.
The snowy river flats are fantastic or really all of east gippsland .
So green, so lush, so much a part of Australia’s psyche. A wonderful place indeed, Tina.
A real country girl growing up in the South West of WA, but the place that’s takes my heart is Kings Canyon, been there twice now and long to go back again.
YES! My brother lived in Alice Springs for several years and I was fortunate enough to visit several times. Amazing, ancient landscape. Wonderful, Jenny.
I have most of your books and love them.
That’s really lovely to hear, Kathryn. Thanks so much. I hope you enjoy April’s Rainbow too.
Ten years ago my husband and I bought some property just out of York in Western Australia. We take our children there getting them off electronics and enjoying the wide open spaces on quad bikes, exploring the winter creek looking for fox dens, taking long walks and watching the simple things like ants building tube entries into their nests to avoid the rain. What pulls at my heartstrings, watching my family enjoy life on our little rural retreat, toasting marshmallows in the fire (winter time only) and just spending time together at this beautiful spot.
That sounds glorious, Kerry. Wonderful times and future memories for everyone to cherish.
It is glorious, and so special because it’s our piece of glorious. It’s a pity I can’t post a picture here. Took the best shot on the weekend after it had just rained (yes the farmers aren’t happy) with a rainbow in it.
Not to worry, Kerry. You painted a lovely word picture of your special place. Long may you enjoy it!
My favourite australian landscape would have to be the New England mountainous areas in NSW. I spent 10 months working in Tamworth with these mountains to one side and the plains to the other. Each Friday i would drive home to the New England and would breathe a sigh of relief as i drove down the first hill.
Louise, that sounds wonderful. A fantastic part of the world and very rich agriculturally. Nothing like driving home, is there? It fills your heart.
I see the ocean along the Sunshine Coast and my heart tells me I am home. Forget the fact that I live way inland. All my life we have holidayed on the coast. It’s truly a beautiful corner of the world and the sea is so incredibly calming. This is especially so at night. Nothing better then falling asleep listening to the roar of the ocean.
Mary, that sounds wonderful. The sound of the sea is so calming. And the sunsets and sunrises are magical. Great choice.
Hi Cathryn. I’m in Edenhope which I’m sure you’ve heard of, perhaps been to! The land of golden afternoons. The red gums fairly glow with shimmery almost iridescent light that changes tone as the sun sinks lower here. I’m not being poetic, it’s really how it is! What more can I say…
Oh, yes, see you at the high tea in March. Best wishes for every success with this new release. Congrats.
Jay
I have indeed been to Edenhope, Jay. I was only looking at some photos from around there last weekend. I did a talk at the Bush Nursing Centre in Balmoral a few years back (brilliant place!) and drove back to my home town of Mount Gambier via Edenhope for the fun of it. I even won my class at the Edenhope Pony Club One Day Event on my darling horse Mysty way back in the 80s!
So I can say with authority that I agree with everything you say about this stunning part of the world!!!
And I should add, REALLY looking forward to seeing you at High Tea. This event is going to be such fun. Can’t wait.
Flinders island is where I grew up and it’s one of the most peaceful and serene places you could be. The mountain on the island creates an amazing picture against the sandy beaches, I love how close to nature I feel, when I visit there.
Congratulations on your book, I’m so looking forward to reading April’s Rainbow
Wow, Sarah, Flinders Island!! What a fantastic place to grow up. So idyllic. I bet you must have had some amazing experiences there. Thanks for sharing.
Apollo Bay my friends used to have a house up the back of town which if you look out one window you get the mountians and farmland and out the front deck you see the whole bay. Its just the best of both worlds because you get country, rural and the beach & bay all in once beautiful little town
Can’t wait to read your new book - hopefully i can get to read it before my mum & friend pinches it first!
Another fantastic Great Ocean Road location. Great choice. LOL on having to compete with your mum and friend for reading rights!!
Tarra Bulga National Park in Gippsland Victoria. A very beautiful, tranquil piece of this planet that very few people know about.
And I’m one of them! That sounds absolutely beautiful, Astrid. I’m off to google for more info. Thanks!
I love the land around Tamworth, where I live, but the landscape that really brings longing to my heart is the land around Lightning Ridge. The red dirt and the land that stretches on for what seems like forever just draws me in. The people of the town just make it all the more appealing.
Rebecca, I visited Lightning Ridge for the first time the Christmas before last and loved it too! Such a great landscape and everyone was really friendly. Such a pity I couldn’t afford one of those black opals. They were stunning! Good choice. Thanks for sharing.
PS. The land around Tamworth is pretty special too.
I fell in love with the Murray River when I was a teenager. I went on quite a few holidays to Echuca, but when I was 13 my parents and my brother went on a trip starting from Echuca all the way down to the mouth of the Murray at Goolwa in South Australia. I have beautiful memories of the cliffs along the way with the river far below and the beautiful old towns that were once jam packed with paddlesteamers. Going for a ride on a true steam paddlesteamer is so romantic and peaceful.
Congrats on the book release, I’m yet to read one of your books Cathryn, it sounds like a great read. I have a daughter named April.
That Murray River trip sounds amazing, Aileen. What an incredible experience.
I hope you get to try one of my books soon!
I grew up in Adelaide, fell in love with a West Wimmera farmer became besotted by both him and his farm, so I married him. (That is over 30 years ago!) I adore this part of Australia. Its overwhelming beauty lies with numerous wetlands of all sizes, its huge red-gums, amazing bird life and a loving husband.
Your story sounds lovely, Jo! Congratulations on over 30 years together. That’s really wonderful.
Crikeys, how could I pick one spot??? I love everything that Australia has to offer, some lovely magical spots in the Northern Territory, also up the top of WA, just love the wilderness of Tasmania. But there is nothing more special than down south in the Walpole inlet and heading up the Franklin River. Each year we have our holiday, floating in a houseboat and enjoying the peacefulness and quiet. Nothing but the birdlife and the occasional fish and lots of books to read!
It’s so hard to choose, isn’t it, Noelle? We have such a wonderful country, and diverse too. But you make the Franklin sound magical, and on a houseboat! Very jealous.