Dear Reader,
I have always been fascinated by the lives of pioneersâthe men who were brave enough, strong enough, determined enough to take on a harsh, dangerous and alien land and forge a future for themselves and their families. To me such men are a very special breed.
Two years ago I wrote a trilogy about the KINGS OF THE OUTBACK from the Kimberly, a family who had become legendary in that vast expanse of Australia. Another part of Australia that tested the grit and endurance of pioneers is the tropical far north of Queensland. Instead of drought, they faced cyclones; instead of desert, almost impenetrable rain forest. Yet the land was cleared for profitable plantationsâsugarcane, tea, tropical fruit.
I decided to marry one of the King men from the Kimberly to a remarkable Italian woman, Isabella Valeri, whose father had pioneered the far north. This trilogy is about their three grandsonsâAlex, Tony and Matt, and the women they choose to partner them into their future.
These men are a very special breed. Nothing will stop them from winning what they want. I love reading about men like that. I hope you do, too.
With love
Award-winning Australian author Emma Darcy writes compelling, sexy, intensely emotional novels that have gripped the imagination of readers around the globe. Sheâs written an impressive eighty novels for Harlequin Presents>® and sold nearly 60 million copies of her books worldwide.
We hope you enjoy Emma Darcyâs exciting new trilogy:
The King brothers must marryâcan they claim the brides of their choice?
Alessandro, Antonio and Matteo are three gorgeous brothers and heirs to a plantation empire in the lush tropical north of Australia. Each must find a bride to continue the prestigious family lineâ¦but will they marry for duty, or love?
⢠THE ARRANGED MARRIAGE
⢠THE BRIDAL BARGAIN
⢠THE HONEYMOON CONTRACT
Donât miss the KINGS OF AUSTRALIA!
JOB day!
Hannah OâNeill rolled out of her bunk in the youth hostel, collected the necessities and raced for the shower block, needing an early start this morning. She had to prime herself up for the interview which would win her the job she wanted. Of course, there were probably other jobs she could get, and certainly her financial situation demanded that she snag one this week, but chef on board a luxury catamaran doing day-trips to The Great Barrier Reef was definitely a plum position.
It was to be hoped that whoever was doing the hiring had been so impressed by her brilliant résumé of previous experience, they hadnât checked every minute detail. Not that sheâd actually lied. Kitchen hands did assist chefs so saying sheâd been an assistant chef was a perfectly reasonable statement. And a take-away fish and fries shop was a seafood restaurantâmore or less.
All she needed was the chance to talk her way into being given the opportunity to prove she was as good as her word. It was her one great talentâconvincing people she could do anything. Lots of zippy energy and confidenceâthat was all it took. Plus being a nice person to have around; cheerful disposition, ample tolerance, ready smile, never too proud to appeal for help.
On her two-year journey of discovery around Australia, these well-developed qualities had won her work whenever she had needed to replenish her bank balance. There was only the east coast left to explore now. Sheâd come across The Top End to Cooktown and down the Bloomfield Track to Cape Tribulation. Next stop, Port Douglas, where she hoped to stay for the main tourist seasonâMay to Novemberâprovided she got a job.
The job, if luck was with her.
As she showered and washed her hair, Hannah gave herself the pleasure of remembering the wonderful days sheâd had here at Cape Tribulation; hiking through the fantastic Daintree Forest which was as primeval in its own way as the ancient Kimberley Outback, then the incredible contrast of Myall Beach, surely the most beautiful beach in the world with its brilliant white sand and turquoise water.
It was sad to be leaving, but needs must, she told herself. Her shoestring budget was running out of string. Besides, Port Douglas and The Great Barrier Reef would undoubtedly prove a great new adventure. And it was time to get in touch with her family again to let them know she was still alive. Not that they worried overmuch about her. All the OâNeills had been brought up to be resourceful. But it was always nice to call in and catch up on the family gossip.
It would be interesting to find out if the faithless Flynn was still happily married to her ex-best friend, for whom heâd virtually jilted Hannah at the altar. Two years onâ¦the honeymoon period would definitely be over by now. Some darkly malevolent thoughts skated through Hannahâs mind. It was easy to say forgive and forget, move on. Sheâd certainly moved on, and on, and on, but forgiving and forgettingâ¦not easy at all!