Congratulations Lisa Ireland on the release of Honey Hill House
There’s a giveaway too!
GIVEAWAY NOW ENDED
A paperback copy of all three stories in the series. Plus a mug!
(Giveaway open until midnight AEST Monday 7 March 2016. Giveaway open to Australian postal addressees only.)
Newly divorced Bea Elliot needs Honey Hill House for more than just a quaint project – restoring a ramshackle old farm house to a successful B&B will prove to her family – and herself – that she is strong enough to make a go of things on her own. She doesn’t need anyone to help her, even if the guy next door is remarkably obliging, delightfully generous, and terribly charming.
A city girl won’t last six months in the country, but Callum ‘Mitch’ Mitchell has good manners and loves his town, so he’ll be neighbourly, but keep his distance. Experience has taught him not to get involved with out-of-towners. Even if this out-of-towner is surprisingly resilient, unexpectedly tough, and unpredictably fond of local football.
Good fences make good neighbours, but in Dulili, it seems like barriers might instead be breaking down…
Over to Lisa…
Release day for any book is always a special day, but I’m extra excited about the release of Honey Hill House for a number of reasons.
It’s the first time I’ve ever collaborated with other authors on a writing project and I have to say it’s been a wonderful experience.
Catherine Evans and I met at a manuscript development program back in 2010. We formed an immediate bond during the program and kept the friendship going via messenger chats and marathon phone calls when we returned to our home states. I met Jennie Jones very briefly at the Romance Writers of Australia Fremantle conference back in 2013. Even though our contact was minimal, I knew right away that I liked her.
Catherine Evans and I at the Romance Writers of Australia 2014 conference – Jennie’s not in this one because she was taking the photo!
When Catherine suggested we combine forces on a joint project, I jumped at the chance. Catherine envisaged a three book series and when she suggested approaching Jennie as the third member of our team I was delighted. The three of us have quite different writing styles, but we believe our stories complement each other. We hope readers will see our differences in approach and style as a natural refection of the diversity of the people in our fictional town of Dulili.
Being part of a team means the excitement of each book’s release day is shared, and that makes the launch of Honey Hill House just wee bit extra special for me.
Another reason for my excitement is that I have a particular fondness for this story and my two characters, Bea and Mitch. I feel a bit like a mother admitting she has a favourite child, but I can’t help it! I really love these two characters. They’re made for each other, even if they don’t know it in the beginning!
One of the surprising things I found out about Bea and Mitch is that they both love AFL football. Mitch takes Bea on a “non-date” to a game at a ground just like this one.
Authors like to talk about their writing process. Some authors are plotters, sticking carefully to an outline or synopsis, others refer to themselves as “pansters” meaning they write by the seat of the pants, letting their characters dictate the story. I can’t tell you what my process is, because I’ve used a different one for each book I’ve written! Honey Hill House was completely “pantsed”. It seemed to fly from my fingers of its own accord. I think it was such an enjoyable book to write because of my love for Bea and Mitch. They took me by surprise sometimes, but always in a good way!
I hope readers will enjoy it reading Honey Hill House as much as I did writing it.
Lisa
Excerpt from Honey Hill House by Lisa Ireland
‘Hello. Anybody home?’ Callum Mitchell stood on the back porch of Honey Hill House and tried once again to get his new neighbour’s attention. ‘Can I come in?’ he called through the tattered wire of the screen door, but no reply came. There was definitely someone in there. He could hear music coming from the direction of the kitchen and every now and then there was a bang.
He tapped his foot impatiently. Damn his mother and her blasted welcome baskets. He had way better things to be doing than standing here like a chump at the back of some unknown woman’s house. Mum clearly thought he was stupid. She’d made some excuse about a committee meeting at the Country Women’s Association hall in town and dumped the wicker basket of freshly made scones and homemade jams in his hands. ‘Tell Beatrice, I’ll pop in to see her tomorrow, darling,’ she’d said as she bustled out the door. Clearly she thought ‘Beatrice’ was an appropriate romantic choice for him—in other words she was a woman of a similar age—and she was wasting no time in putting the two of them together. If he didn’t know better Mitch would have sworn that his mother had devised the whole ‘Move to Dulili for one dollar’ scheme with the sole purpose of getting him hitched.
Even if he was in the market for a partner—which he most definitely wasn’t—some fly-by-night chick from the city would never be his choice. But Evelyn Mitchell was a difficult woman to say no to, so here he was, wasting his Friday morning trying to get the city chick to answer her door. He banged hard on the screen door again and was rewarded with a muffled response from inside just as the door’s hinges gave way.
With his arms full of scones there was nothing he could do. The door crashed onto the sagging timber deck, sending a cloud of grey dust into the air. ‘Goddammit!’
‘Can I help you?’
He wasn’t exactly sure what he’d imagined Beatrice Elliott would look like but he did know the person standing before him wasn’t it. She was tall, almost the same height as him, even in bare feet. Feet that featured toe rings, no less. He hadn’t seen that coming. Stupid, impractical shoes perhaps, but toe rings? Nope, they hadn’t crossed his mind. She was dressed in loose-fitting denim overalls and had her hair pulled back off her face and covered with a scarf.
‘Is something wrong? Do I have something on my face?’
He was staring. ‘Oh … no. Sorry. You just took me by surprise, that’s all. I’ve been out here banging for a while now.’
‘I didn’t hear you. I had my head in the oven.’
He raised his eyebrows but she didn’t elaborate. Her gaze was firmly fixed on the fallen door.
‘Sorry about the door,’ he said. ‘I can fix it for you later. I’ll come back.’
She reached back to adjust the bandana that was just covering her pink—yes, it was definitely pink—hair. ‘And you would be?’
‘Mitch, err, Callum actually. Callum Mitchell. I’m your neighbour from up at Warialda Farm. I live in the first cottage.’
Her lips stretched into a smile of recognition. ‘Evelyn’s son, right?’
Mitch laughed. ‘Yep. So Mum mentioned me then?’
Beatrice grinned. ‘Your name might have come up once or twice when we met last month. Anyway, Callum, what can I do for you?’
‘First of all you can call me Mitch. No one calls me Callum except for my parents.’
‘Fair enough. You can call me Bea. All my friends do.’
‘Bea it is.’
Honey Hill House is available in eBook from all good retailers. And will be available in paperback in bookshops and department stores around 21 March 2016 in an anthology with all 3 stories in the series, titled Last Chance Country.
BUY NOW
Booktopia
Amazon Australia
Amazon.com
iBooks
Kobo
All stories in the A Dollar for a Dream series will be available together in one paperback and in the all the usual shops and bookstores at the end of March 2016 in an anthology titled Last Chance Country.
BUY the paperback now on pre-order
Booktopia
Angus & Robertson Bookworld
Harlequin
Or buy the individual eBooks
A Heart Stuck on Hope by Jennie Jones – out now
Honey Hill House by Lisa Ireland – out now
The Healing Season by Catherine Evans – pre-order now
Read more about Lisa and her books on
MEET LISA IRELAND
Visit Lisa on her website LisaIrelandBooks.com
Visit Lisa Ireland on Facebook
Giveaway!
GIVEAWAY NOW ENDED
Leave a comment for Lisa and you’re in the draw to win a paperback copy of the anthology Last Chance County (with all 3 stories in the series), plus a mug!
(Giveaway open until midnight AEST Monday 7 March 2016. Giveaway open to Australian postal addressees only.)
Loving your books.
Thanks so much Jodi. xx
Hi I love your books and I would love to own them forever and while I read them again I will have a hot cup of tea
Nothing better than a book and a tea, Sabrina, x
All three books sound fabulous, can’t wait to get stuck into them (and I do need a new coffee mug, lol).
I hope you enjoy our stories, Kristy. x
I have brought all three on my kindle but it would be so nice to have hard copies I can then share with my 91 year old Mum and my 90 year Dad they both love reading. The mug would be my bonus to enjoy my coffee. Keep up the great writing.
Good luck in the draw, Evonne!
I love reading australian authors. They take me to places i only dream off, i have many writers i like but none better than good old aussie girls !!
I love Aussie stories too, Dot!
I love the blurb on the delightful Rural Romance book. I love a good book with a strong female lead who against all odds can make something from nothing. It would be great to see how three great minds create such a setting.
We loved working on this project together, Tanya, and we hope readers enjoy the stories we’ve created.
Now that I have started reading your book Lisa, I cant wait to buy it!! Looks good
Thanks so much, Robyn. I hope you enjoy it!
Congratulations on your new book, Lisa! I’m looking forward to reading Bea and Mitch’s story. I like that it starts out from the male’s point of view and am already wondering what other twists are in store.
I’m glad you enjoyed the start, Vicki. I have to confess to being a little bit in love with Mitch. Don’t thell my husband that, especially today - it’s our wedding anniversary!
Oops, please forgive my typo! Of course I meant “tell”.
Note to self: Don’t tell Lisa’s hubby she’s created a character she actually likes! 😉
Wishing you a very Happy Anniversary, Lisa!
LOL!
Hi Lisa….I am really enjoying reading books by our Australian authors and your new anthology “Last Chance Country” sounds great. I am really looking forward to reading it.
Thanks Pam. I love Australian stories too. I hope you enjoy Last Chance Country.
This giveaway looks amazing!
Good luck in the draw, Angela!
Wonderful
To read Australian stories
Thanks Louisa. I love Australian stories too!
Can always imagine I am in the towns you write about, oh well one can only but dream through your writing, can’t wait to read this one
Thank you so much, Julia, for your kind words. I dream of having a little farm one day, but we are so settled on the coast that I can’t imagine anyone else in my family wanting to move!
Lisa what a SWEET name for your book. Lol love your characters and love them like i k ow rhem. X
What a lovely thing to say, Michelle. I’m so glad you feel like you know my characters. That’s what I’m aiming for! As for the title, there is a bit of a honey theme running through the book.
CONGRATULATIONS MICHELLE PARKER you won! Lisa will be in touch shortly. Thank you everyone who left a comment. Your support is outstanding and every author on ARR is so appreciative!
Congrats Michelle
Congratulations Michelle!!! I’ll be in touch later today
Thank you to everyone who left a comment for me. Your kind words are greatly appreciated.
I love reading Australian Rural Romance…😃
Me too, Stacy!
The story sounds really great Lisa, thanks for the opportunity. Aussie authors are the best!
Thanks so much! We think our readers are the best. (Truly we do!)
I always think it is marvellous when authors collaborate. I feel it’s like hitting the jackpot. HONEY HILL HOUSE, great title, sounds fabulous.
It was really fun working together, Mary.
Love books with country houses in them. That’s rural romance right there!
The collaboration between the three of you is such a fabulous idea, and what fun! Best wishes Lisa, and to you all. Jay
Thanks so much, Jay.
I haven’t read any of your books yet, but I would like the opportunity!
Good luck in the draw!
Can’t wait to read this trilogy.
What a great idea this was, the collaboration 😀
I hope you enjoy them, Craig.
Wow Lisa, what a great giveaway !! Love to win, thanks for the opportunity !! ☕️📚 Jane
Good luck in the draw, Jane!
An amazing new read. The others were worth staying up late for too.
Thanks so much, Margaret.
Can’t wait to read it, i am loving your books and very excited about the 3 books.
Thanks Catherine. We’re excited too!!
Hi Lisa, I cannot wait to read Honey Hill House - what a great title, I loved your other books 😊 . Someone will be a very lucky to win a such great giveaway.
Thanks so much for your kind words, Jan.
Im looking forward to sinking my teeth into Homey Hill House. It sounnds like a lovely book
Thanks so much, Julie. I hope you enjoy it!
Looking forward to reading this in my down time when the kids are asleep!
Nothing better than a bit of “me time” Nicole. Enjoy!
I have not had the pleasure of reading any of your books as yet but they look amazing. Can’t wait to read them.
Thanks Nicola!
Congratulations! Lisa , on your release. Looking forward to reading all three stories.
Thanks so much Jessy.
I’m so looking forward to reading this and the other A Dollar for a Dream books, I love books set in the same town
Happy reading Kerry!
Sounds like a great collaboration Lisa. I’d love to read more of Honey Hill House and the other stories too. Congratulations on its release.
Thanks Aileen. good luck in the draw!
I can’t wait to get into your next one, Honey Hill House, sounds great, and of course a Coffee Mug to have a hot Cupper while I’m reading it would be fantastic. I love our Aussie authors with Aussie stories!!
Thanks so much, Pam!
Congratulations on the release of Honey Hill House! Can’t wait to read it!
Thank you, Dawn.
Can’t wait to see how all 3 different writing styles combine to make what I’m sure is a brilliant story.
I hope you enjoy all three books, Teags!
Can’t wait for this anthology to hit the stores. Love the anthology title too Last Chance Country.
Collaborating on stories like this must’ve been so much fun.
Congrats again, Lisa, on the release of Honey Hill House!
Thanks for your support, Sue. We really did have a lot of fun with this project!
I havn’t had the chance to read any of your books yet but this story sounds wonderful. Would love to read them all.
Thanks Wendy. Good luck in the draw!
Congratulations on the new release, thank you for giving us the chance for this amazing prize. I haven’t read your books as yet, but after reading the little excerpt above, i will be adding your books to my collection
Thanks so much, Teresa!
I have been waiting for this anthology as I love a series. Good book, mug of tea, cats next to me and I’m a happy lady.x
Sounds like the perfect way to spend a day, Bronwyn!
They are on my to buy list, so if i win them i would be a very happy girly
Good luck in the draw, Kylie!
my copy downloaded today can’t wait to read it but would love a print copy of all three - (even if i don’t win i’m going to buy it! Congratulations on your new release - so many great books just in time for holidays!
Thanks so much for your support and happy reading!
Another good Australian story. Thanks.
Good luck in the draw, Miriam!
Thank you so much for the chance to win one of your books. I am loving all the Aussie romance that is available for us aussie girls to read and become the person involved…. thank you for the great stories.
Cheers Jenny
I’m glad you’re enjoying our Aussie authors so much, Jenny! good luck in the draw!
would love the chance to win a copy of your book. All though my bookshelf is over flowing with fantastic books by yourself and the other fantastic Aussie rural romance writers that contribute this page, i would love to be able to have a copy of these stories amongst them. keep on creating fantastic characters and places for all of us to escape to.
Thanks for support Aussie writers Renee. Good luck in the draw!
Arrgh! I haven’t had my coffee yet! Please excuse my typo. I meant thanks for supporting Aussie writers.
hi Lisa, being selfish here but would love to be able to win a copy of your book have read the previous books and loved them, congrats on our new release, xxx
Hey Kim, not selfish at all! 😉 Good luck in the draw!
Sounds intriguing and a thoroughly captivating read. Thank you so much for sharing…can’t wait to read what happens! Aussie Rural Romance stories really are the best!
Thanks Kathy! I love reading Aussie rural romance too!