In the sun-drenched coastal town of Angourie, Northern NSW, the early 1990s unfold without the tether of mobile phones or social media a time when connection required something deeper than a screen.

Matilda Macallan is a wild child through and through. Raised alongside three older brothers in this tight-knit seaside community, she's grown accustomed to love that burns bright and fades fast, leaving her guarded beneath her free spirit.

When Dalton arrives from the rural reaches of Deniliquin, he carries with him a tragic past and a secret he's desperate to keep buried. Their meeting at The Angourie Local where the only whisky served is The Macallan, a nod to Matilda's family name sparks something neither expects: a magnetic friendship that ignites into romance with breathtaking speed.

But old wounds and hidden truths have a way of surfacing. Matilda's emotional scars from past relationships collide with Dalton's carefully concealed darkness, and a single miscommunication sends them spinning apart each unaware that the other is searching just as desperately.

Their separate journeys carry them along the Queensland coast through Byron Bay, Coolangatta, and Surfers Paradise where chance encounters and unexpected adventures gradually pull them back toward each other. Yet even reunion comes with one final, heart-stopping twist.

This is a story about synchronicity: that invisible thread Carl Jung described as "the presence of a deeper intelligence at work" the magical, universal tapestry weaving through nature and human connection. In an era before constant digital contact, when finding someone meant truly listening to the whispers of fate, synchronicity worked its quiet magic for those paying attention.

And for those who weren't? Well, they'd never know what they missed.

Cambridge Legal Studies Stage 6 Year 11 is a senior secondary legal studies textbook designed to support Year 11 students undertaking the NSW Stage 6 Legal Studies course. Covering core legal concepts, case studies, contemporary issues and assessment skills, the text prepares learners for classroom success and examination readiness with accessible explanations, updated legislative context and structured activities.

Cambridge Legal Studies Stage 6 Year 11 provides comprehensive, syllabus-aligned coverage of legal concepts and contemporary issues for senior secondary students in New South Wales. Authored by an expert team of legal educators Paul Milgate, Kate Dally, Phil Webster, Daryl Le Cornu and Tim Kelly  this sixth edition integrates up-to-date legislation, topical case studies and statistical insights to reflect changes in law and current events. 

Designed for use in both classroom and independent study, the textbook combines clear explanations of foundational legal principles with practical activities that build analytical and critical thinking skills. Each chapter supports syllabus requirements with structured summaries, review and research activities and exam-style questions that help students consolidate understanding and prepare effectively for assessments.

The mixed media package includes print content and digital access via Cambridge GO, allowing students to engage with interactive features such as searchable text, cross-referencing glossaries and enhanced learning tools. The text’s organized layout and real-world case examples  from privacy and technology issues to landmark criminal cases  ensure relevance to contemporary legal study and encourage deeper engagement with the subject.

As an authoritative resource aligned with the NSW Stage 6 Legal Studies curriculum, this title supports both foundational learning in Year 11 and the development of knowledge and skills that underpin progression into Year 12 legal studies.

Antiquity 1 is the first volume in New South Wales’ most trusted Ancient History series, fully updated to align with the 2018 Ancient History Stage 6 syllabus. Developed by experienced educators Hurley and Murray, this authoritative resource delivers syllabus-accurate, in-depth content designed to support both teachers and students in achieving curriculum objectives with clarity and confidence.

The book presents explicitly mapped syllabus content, ensuring every topic, skill, and outcome is addressed with precision. Its newly simplified structure organises material into manageable topics and spreads, enabling efficient lesson planning and improved student comprehension. Clear, unambiguous language is supported by high-quality visuals that reinforce historical understanding and engagement.

Antiquity 1 integrates the latest scientific research, contemporary case studies, and updated source material, providing students with current perspectives on the ancient world. A distinctive emphasis on ethics and historical contestability, including discussions such as “Who owns the bones?”, encourages critical thinking and informed debate around archaeological interpretation and cultural heritage.

Each chapter begins with clearly defined Focus Questions, Focus Concepts and Skills, and Learning Outcomes, offering structured guidance for teaching and learning. “Check Your Learning” questions are included throughout to support knowledge consolidation, revision, and skill development.

The text is complemented by obook assess, a comprehensive digital platform that provides:

• Answers to every question in the book

• Assessment and exam preparation resources

• Instructional videos and interactive content

• Teacher support materials for effective classroom delivery

Together, the print and digital resources form a complete learning pathway that accommodates a wide range of student abilities, promoting academic achievement and syllabus mastery.

Antiquity 1 is an essential resource for the study of Ancient History in NSW, offering accuracy, accessibility, and curriculum confidence for Stage 6 classrooms.

Unmasked is Turia Pitt’s deeply honest and empowering memoir that goes beyond survival to reveal identity, courage, and the mental strength required to rebuild a life after unimaginable trauma.

Unmasked is the definitive portrait of Turia Pitt, revealing the woman behind the resilience, the public figure, and the remarkable physical achievements. While the world knows the story of the devastating ultramarathon accident in 2011 and the long road of surgeries and recovery that followed, this book explores what happened beyond survival: the emotional, mental, and personal transformation that shaped her life.

Moving beyond a timeline of events, Unmasked answers the questions people have long wondered. What drives Turia to constantly test her physical and mental limits? How does she truly see herself? How has sudden public attention reshaped her identity? And how did trauma transform not just her body, but her relationships, priorities, and purpose?

Set against a backdrop of extraordinary achievements including climbing the Great Wall of China, walking the Kokoda Track, and completing two Ironman competitions this book uncovers the inner journey behind the triumphs. It presents Turia as she truly is: funny, determined, intelligent, vulnerable, and human.

With clarity and reflection gained over five years, Unmasked explores the cost of resilience as well as its power. It examines identity, self-acceptance, love, ambition, and the quiet strength required to move forward when life changes in an instant. Most importantly, it translates those lessons into practical inspiration, showing readers how courage, perspective, and persistence can be applied to their own lives.

Honest, empowering, and deeply personal, Unmasked is not just the story of survival it is the story of reclaiming purpose, redefining strength, and choosing to live fully, without masks.

Jesus Calling: 365 Devotions for Kids by Sarah Young is a year-long devotional designed to help children and tweens build a strong, personal relationship with Jesus through daily moments of faith, peace, and reflection. Adapted from the bestselling Jesus Calling series, this special edition speaks directly to young hearts in a language they can understand and trust.

The central focus of this devotional is the biblical promise of peace peace that is available at any time and in every situation. Each daily reading is written as if Jesus Himself is speaking to the reader, offering reassurance, guidance, and love rooted in God’s Word. Supported by carefully selected Scripture verses, these devotions help children experience comfort, confidence, and spiritual growth in their everyday lives.

With 365 engaging entries, children are encouraged to pause, reflect, and connect with Jesus on a daily basis. The messages gently guide them to understand God’s presence, develop their faith, and recognize His unending love. The devotional format makes it ideal for independent reading or shared family devotion time.

In Jesus Calling: 365 Devotions for Kids, children ages 6 to 12 will:

• Discover daily encouragement grounded in Scripture

• Feel reassured by messages of Jesus’ constant love and care

• Develop confidence through words of hope and peace

• Strengthen their faith with meaningful Bible verses

• Build a habit of daily prayer, reflection, and spiritual connection

This devotional also supports family engagement, making it easy for parents and children to explore God’s Word together. With editions available for both adults and kids, families can share devotional moments and grow spiritually as a unit.

Jesus Calling: 365 Devotions for Kids is an inspiring, faith-centered resource that nurtures young hearts, encourages spiritual growth, and creates a daily rhythm of peace, trust, and connection with Jesus.

Days That Changed the World by Hywel Williams delivers a compelling exploration of the single days that reshaped civilizations, altered empires, and redefined humanity’s future. Covering nearly 2,500 years, from 28 September 480 BC to 11 September 2001, this authoritative work brings together 50 pivotal moments that changed the direction of world history forever.

Each chapter focuses on one defining day, presenting the events, the people involved, and the immediate and lasting consequences that followed. The book highlights the power of a single moment to transform politics, religion, science, exploration, warfare, and society itself. From the assassination of Julius Caesar and the Crucifixion of Christ to the launch of revolutionary ideas and technologies, these stories reveal how history is often shaped in an instant.

Included are landmark events such as the First Crusade, Columbus making landfall in the Americas, the defeat of the Spanish Armada, and Captain Cook’s Endeavour setting sail from Plymouth. The narrative continues through the fall of the Bastille, Einstein unveiling the Theory of Relativity, the first day of the Battle of the Somme, the devastation of Hiroshima, the Apollo 11 Moon landing, and the fall of the Berlin Wall, culminating with the events of 11 September 2001.

Written with clarity and energy, Days That Changed the World provides essential historical context while keeping the focus on the dramatic impact of each day. It is designed for readers who want a broad, engaging, and accessible overview of world history through its most defining moments.

This book stands as a concise yet powerful record of how 50 individual days shaped the political, cultural, scientific, and social foundations of the modern world.

Book Author: Hywel Williams

When a series of mysterious deaths among top surgeons reveals a chilling pattern, former FBI agent Lucas Page must race against time to stop a brilliant killer before his own wife becomes the next victim.

Do No Harm by Robert Pobi delivers a high-stakes thriller driven by intelligence, precision, and a race against an invisible enemy.

Lucas Page is a polymath: an astrophysicist, university professor, bestselling author, devoted husband, and father to five adopted children. He is also a former FBI agent, forced into early retirement after a devastating explosion left him severely wounded. Determined to rebuild his life, Page has turned away from the dangers of federal investigations. Yet his rare ability to detect patterns others overlook continues to draw the attention of law enforcement.

When Lucas’s wife, Erin, loses a close friend—a renowned plastic surgeon—to an apparent suicide, unsettling questions emerge. Lucas begins to notice a troubling trend: an unusual number of doctors within Erin’s social circle have died over the past year, first in strange accidents, and now by suicide. Digging through obituaries and records, Lucas uncovers a disturbing reality. These deaths are not random. They form a calculated pattern that points to murder.

The conclusion is inescapable: someone is targeting elite medical professionals with chilling precision. The FBI, reluctant to involve Lucas and wary of his unorthodox methods, keeps its distance. Lucas is left with a choice—walk away and protect the fragile stability of his family, or pursue the truth alone.

Then the pattern sharpens. The next likely victim is Erin.

With time running out, Lucas must rely on his intellect, resilience, and instinct to stop a killer who operates with surgical brilliance. Do No Harm is a fast-paced, intelligent thriller that blends crime, medical intrigue, and psychological suspense, marking Robert Pobi’s signature style of sophisticated storytelling and relentless momentum.

In a House of Lies by Ian Rankin

A cold case resurfaces with devastating consequences in In a House of Lies by Ian Rankin, when a missing private investigator is discovered dead in a locked car hidden deep in the woods on land that had already been searched years earlier. The shocking find exposes critical failures in the original investigation and ignites a renewed inquiry that threatens to unravel long-buried secrets within the police force itself.

Detective Inspector Siobhan Clarke is assigned to lead the new investigation, tasked with examining the conduct of her own colleagues and uncovering how such a vital oversight was ever allowed to happen. As she retraces the steps of the original case, it becomes clear that the truth was never simply lost it was concealed. Every report, decision, and silence now demands scrutiny.

With reputations, careers, and personal lives at stake, each officer connected to the case must be questioned. The deeper Clarke digs, the more she realizes that everyone involved has something to hide, and the cost of exposure could be catastrophic. Loyalties are tested, trust is eroded, and the thin line between justice and self-preservation becomes dangerously blurred.

One man understands the true significance of what is about to be uncovered: the legendary John Rebus. He knows where the trail may lead, and he knows that following it could be the end of him. As the investigation closes in on the truth, the house of lies begins to collapse, revealing a powerful story of accountability, corruption, and the price of silence.

In a House of Lies is a compelling crime thriller that explores integrity within law enforcement and the consequences of secrets left buried for too long.

Strange Country by Mark Dapin explores Australia’s most eccentric people, places, and traditions, revealing a nation shaped by heroes, legends, illusions, and hope through vivid travel writing and cultural insight.

Strange Country by Mark Dapin is a compelling journey into the eccentric, puzzling, and unforgettable corners of Australia. Drawing on his sharp observational style and journalistic storytelling, Dapin captures a nation defined by heroes and legends, illusions and delusions, resilience and hope, and the extraordinary characters who bring its stories to life.

This book uncovers an Australia rarely seen, where nostalgia collides with modern oddities and big-hearted generosity exists alongside small-minded thinking. From the last travelling boxing tent to feral sewer rats thriving in urban landscapes, from Vietnam veteran bikie culture to the iconic annual Parkes Elvis Festival, each story reveals a distinctive piece of the country’s strange and fascinating identity.

Blending travel writing, social commentary, and cultural exploration, Strange Country offers a richly textured portrait of a nation that is bold, bewildering, and endlessly surprising. It presents Australia as a land of contrasts—sometimes chaotic, often humorous, and always deeply human—through encounters that are as confronting as they are entertaining.

This is a travel book that moves beyond destinations to focus on the people, traditions, and subcultures that shape Australia’s character. It is a celebration of the unusual, the overlooked, and the unforgettable, presenting a country that is eccentric, puzzling, big-hearted, and sometimes just plain mad.

Trick Shot by David Hunt is a gripping thriller featuring Kay Farrow, a color-blind photographer who uncovers a murder mystery through black-and-white images, rare firearms, and hidden truths in San Francisco’s shadowed waterfront.

Trick Shot by David Hunt delivers a visually driven, suspenseful thriller centered on Kay Farrow, a San Francisco photographer whose severe color-blindness shapes the way she sees the world and uncovers its darkest secrets. When her mentor and beloved teacher, Maddy Yamada, is found murdered, Kay is drawn into an investigation that challenges her instincts, her art, and her understanding of hidden truths.

The case begins with a series of photographs left behind by Maddy images that differ sharply from her well-known journalistic style. These mysterious pictures, paired with the discovery of rare and intricately engraved firearms, become crucial clues in unraveling a past filled with danger and deception. Kay’s unique perception, heightened in black and white, allows her to recognize patterns and meanings invisible to others.

Set against the stark beauty of San Francisco’s waterfront, Trick Shot explores a world of illegal immigration, underground networks, and shadowed apartments where desperation and crime intersect. Kay’s investigation is further shaped by concepts of hidden order and sensory crossover, giving depth and complexity to the mystery she must solve.

With a protagonist who is intelligent, resilient, and professionally driven, Trick Shot blends crime, photography, and psychological insight into a fast-paced narrative. David Hunt crafts a story where images speak louder than words, perception becomes power, and every photograph may conceal a deadly truth.

Military romantic suspense survival story

The Woman Left Behind is a pulse-pounding military romantic suspense that blends danger, devotion, and daring rescue. When communication specialist Jina Modell is presumed dead after a brutal attack on her base, she is left alone behind enemy lines with no support and no protection. Survival becomes her only mission.

Levi Butcher, the disciplined leader of the GO-Team, lives by precision and focus. Distractions cost lives, and emotions have no place in combat. Yet the calm, sensual voice of Jina—known to him only as “Babe” over the radio—has already breached his defenses. When he learns that she may still be alive, Levi refuses to accept a mission without her rescue. Leaving a soldier behind is not an option.

Stranded and hunted, Jina must rely on her intelligence, resilience, and courage to evade capture and find a way back to safety. Every step brings her closer to danger, and time is running out. Meanwhile, Levi launches a relentless pursuit through hostile territory, determined to recover the woman whose voice has never left his mind.

This high-intensity story delivers action-driven suspense, emotional depth, and powerful romance, showcasing two warriors bound by duty, loyalty, and a connection forged under fire. The Woman Left Behind is a gripping tale of survival, sacrifice, and the unstoppable force of determination.

When Ava Collette arrives at Brodie’s Watch, a remote and imposing house perched high on a coastal hill, she believes she has finally found a place to disappear. Haunted by a shameful event she cannot undo, Ava is desperate for isolation, silence, and the chance to forget who she once was.

But Brodie’s Watch is no ordinary refuge. The house seems to watch her as closely as she watches it. Strange sounds, unsettling discoveries, and a growing feeling of being observed begin to erode her sense of safety. Ava is left questioning whether the house holds a presence of its own or whether her troubled mind is creating threats that do not exist.

As she explores the history of the property, Ava uncovers disturbing secrets connected to its former occupants. Each revelation tightens the grip of fear around her, blurring the line between imagination and reality. The danger feels both intimate and inescapable, as though the walls themselves are urging her to flee.

The Shape of Night is a tense psychological thriller that blends suspense, mystery, and emotional depth. Tess Gerritsen crafts a haunting story of guilt, redemption, and survival, where the past refuses to stay buried and the truth may be more terrifying than any ghost.

You Betrayed Me by Lisa Jackson is a fast-paced psychological suspense novel that explores how one moment of betrayal can unravel an entire life.

The Cahill family is known for two things: immense wealth and relentless scandal. James Cahill has always tried to distance himself from his family’s shadow, though he has never resisted the attention that comes with being a charming, wealthy heir. 

His life takes a terrifying turn when he wakes up in a hospital, battered and disoriented, with no memory of how he got there.

At his bedside is Sophia, his beautiful mistress someone he barely recognizes, yet someone who knows him far too well. As fragments of memory begin to return, a chilling truth emerges. His girlfriend, Megan, discovered the affair.

Now Megan is missing. The police are watching. His powerful family is demanding answers. And James himself cannot explain what happened on the night everything fell apart.

Every clue points toward a betrayal far deeper than infidelity. As James struggles to piece together the events of that night, he must confront the possibility that the truth he can’t remember may be more dangerous than any lie he could tell.

Filled with emotional tension, scandal, and suspense, You Betrayed Me is a compelling story of hidden motives, fractured memories, and the devastating price of betrayal.

Readers who enjoy romantic thrillers and psychological mysteries will be drawn into this gripping tale where love, deception, and danger collide.

In Where the Truth Lies, Karina Kilmore delivers a powerful and suspenseful thriller driven by determination, danger, and the unrelenting pursuit of truth. When investigative journalist Chrissie O’Brian secures a senior role at The Argus, she sees it as her chance to rebuild her career and escape the haunting memories that threaten to consume her. Journalism is not just her profession it is her lifeline.

Assigned to cover a volatile confrontation on the waterfront between unions and big business, Chrissie steps into a story that could define her future. But when a dockworker who confided in her is found dead, the assignment transforms into a personal mission. Convinced that the truth is being buried, Chrissie becomes consumed with uncovering what really happened.

The danger escalates when a gruesome threat lands on her desk, making it clear that powerful forces are determined to silence her. As intimidation intensifies and the line between professional duty and personal survival blurs, Chrissie is forced to confront not only a ruthless enemy but also her own fragile state of mind.

With sharp tension, emotional depth, and a fearless female lead, Where the Truth Lies explores the cost of truth in a world ruled by secrecy and power. It asks a chilling question: who is more dangerous a criminal desperate to stay hidden, or a woman with nothing left to lose?

Compelling, fast-moving, and psychologically charged, Where the Truth Lies is a gripping read for fans of crime thrillers and investigative drama, delivering a story where courage, obsession, and justice collide.

In a future ruled by powerful galactic families and a fragile imperial throne, loyalty is engineered, power is inherited, and survival is never guaranteed. The Diabolic by S. J. Kincaid delivers a high-impact science fiction thriller centered on one extraordinary weapon: a Diabolic.

Diabolics are genetically engineered bodyguards created to be flawless protectors faster, stronger, and more lethal than any human. Their sole purpose is to serve and defend their owner at any cost. Nemesis is one such creation, bound by design to protect Sidonia, the daughter of a powerful senator. When political tensions force Sidonia to the imperial court as a hostage, Nemesis is sent in her place, disguised as a human.

Thrown into a world of ruthless politics, royal rivalries, and shifting alliances, Nemesis must navigate deception, court intrigue, and assassination plots while concealing her true identity. The imperial court is a battlefield where charm is a weapon and trust can be fatal. As power struggles intensify and loyalties are tested, Nemesis is forced to confront questions beyond her programming: what it means to choose, to feel, and to define one’s own humanity.

Blending action, suspense, and emotional depth, The Diabolic explores the cost of loyalty, the dangers of absolute power, and the strength found in self-determination. With its sharp pacing, immersive world-building, and unforgettable heroine, the novel stands out as a compelling blend of political drama and futuristic adventure.

Perfect for readers who enjoy high-stakes science fiction, strong female leads, and stories that combine heart-pounding action with thought-provoking themes, The Diabolic by S. J. Kincaid is a gripping journey into a universe where survival is engineered and identity is earned.

No Good Deed by Manda Scott is a fast-paced psychological crime thriller that explores how a single act of kindness can spiral into devastating consequences. When an ordinary decision is made with good intentions, it triggers a chain of events that exposes hidden motives, dangerous secrets, and the fragile line between justice and betrayal.

Set against a tense and atmospheric backdrop, the novel follows characters drawn into a complex web of deception, moral conflict, and escalating danger. As trust fractures and loyalties are tested, each choice pushes them further toward an outcome no one can control. Manda Scott delivers a tightly plotted narrative that blends emotional depth with relentless suspense, keeping readers engaged from the first page to the last.

With its sharp character development, high-stakes tension, and thought-provoking exploration of human responsibility, No Good Deed is ideal for readers who enjoy intelligent thrillers where every action carries a consequence and no decision is ever truly simple.

A fast-paced romantic suspense novel where danger, secrecy, and attraction collide. Troublemaker by New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Linda Howard delivers a gripping story of an elite operative forced into hiding and the small-town police chief whose life is turned upside down by his arrival.

Morgan Yancy is a dedicated operative in a covert, quasi-military organisation, trained to put duty above everything else. When a brutal ambush nearly costs him his life, his team suspects a targeted attack on its members. Ordered to recover off the grid, Morgan is sent to the home of his leader’s ex-stepsister, where he must stay hidden while remaining alert to the growing threat.

Bo Maran has rebuilt her life in a quiet West Virginian mountain town, balancing her role as part-time police chief with the stability she has worked hard to achieve. Her world is steady and predictable until Morgan appears on her doorstep. His presence brings mystery, danger, and an undeniable tension she never planned for. As Morgan becomes entangled in her life, Bo senses he is hiding something that could put them both at risk.

When secrets surface and Morgan’s cover is compromised, the danger becomes immediate and deadly. Troublemaker blends action, suspense, and romance into a tightly woven narrative where trust is tested, loyalties are challenged, and survival depends on uncovering the truth before it is too late.

Three high-impact medical thrillers from internationally bestselling author Tess Gerritsen, brought together in one gripping collection. Trust No One / Under the Knife / Whistleblower delivers relentless suspense, cutting-edge medical intrigue, and powerful conspiracies where survival depends on uncovering the truth.

Set against the high-stakes world of medicine and corporate power, these novels follow doctors and ordinary people thrust into extraordinary danger. When trusted institutions turn deadly, secrets are buried deep, and silence is enforced at any cost, the only option is to fight back. Each story explores the fragile line between trust and betrayal, combining fast-paced storytelling with authentic medical detail that has made Tess Gerritsen a global leader in the thriller genre.

Ideal for Australian readers who enjoy intelligent suspense, medical mysteries, and strong, determined protagonists, this collection offers page-turning entertainment with cinematic intensity. Perfect for fans of crime fiction, political thrillers, and high-stakes dramas where truth is the most dangerous weapon of all.

The third crime novel from Clare Donoghue in the DS Jane Bennett and DI Mike Lockyer series. Set in south London, a father dies in mysterious circumstances, leaving Jane Bennett to untangle the events leading up to his death, discovering hidden family secrets as she investigates...

About the Author

After ten years in London, working for a city law firm, Clare Donoghue moved back to her home town in Somerset to undertake an MA in Creative Writing at Bath Spa University. Never Look Back was her first novel and in 2011 she was longlisted for the CWA Debut Dagger.