Move over, Cupid Country Chance, it’s time for Cupid Country Challenge to star!

Yes, my lovelies, today is release day for book two in my new Cupid Country series, and what a cracking read it is (if I do say so myself). I adored writing this couple, especially Niamh with all her quirks, but Olly was a pleasure too. He’s the nicest man.

I hope you enjoy them both too.

Depending on your time zone, Cupid Country Challenge should now be available for download from your favourite ebook platform. Or, if you’ve pre-ordered (*blows huge kisses in thanks*) already on or coming soon to your e-reader or app.

Opposites attract in this charming small-town romance.

When Niamh O’Connor’s best friend urges her to contact Olly Braithwaite on rural dating app Cupid Country, Niamh isn’t keen. Niamh’s a maths nerd perfectionist, while Olly’s likely to be a hippie organic farmer who probably only bathes once a week, composts his own hair and eats too many lentils.

Except Olly turns out to be sweet, passionate about his geese and ducks, and weirdly hot. He’s also far too tall and habitually late. Faults that would normally be deal breakers for punctual, petite Niamh.

Her head and heart have opposing ideas, and when Olly makes his feelings clear, Niamh can’t resist. But Niamh’s hang-ups are soul deep, and their differences seem insurmountable. One night of delicious passion won’t change that.

Can Niamh get past her quirks and embrace love, or will she give in to her fears and forsake the sexy farmer?

Amazon US  |  Amazon AU | Amazon UK  |  Apple Books  | Google Play | Barnes & Noble

I just realised that the lovely paragraph of acknowledgements I’d written for Cupid Country Chance’s launch failed to make it into the release day post. How, I have no idea. But they weren’t there and it’s time to correct that. My thanks cover all three books in the series.

I’m blessed with some incredible writing friends whose unswerving faith and encouragement has helped me more than I can express. Heartfelt thanks to Michelle Douglas, Annie West, Anna Campbell, Monique McDonell, Janette Paul and the wonderful members of my Newcastle Romance Writers and Hunter Romance Writers groups. An extra special mention to Paula Beavan, who read the first drafts of all three Cupid Country books and generously shared her valuable insight, and to Debbie Phillips from DPPlus for her excellent feedback and editing.

Most of all, thanks to my Jim, to whom, as with all my books, Cupid Country Challenge is dedicated to.

And now, as is my habit on release day, here are six secret things about the book.

Six Secret Things About Cupid Country Challenge

1/. The theme song for Cupid Country Challenge was “Nature’s Law” by Embrace because no matter what the arguments, Olly and Niamh can’t fight nature.

They try but… fighting something that’s meant to be is hard!

I’ve included this song on other book playlists (The Country Girl, for example) but never as the overall theme song. I just love it.

2/. I had a BALL learning about showing waterfowl. I’ve always loved visiting the poultry sections of agricultural shows but never given much thought into the showcraft involved. But showing birds is no different to showing horses, cattle, dogs or other animals—there are tricks of the trade. It was fascinating.

Here are some poultry pavillion photos from a Sydney Royal Easter Show and last year’s Maitland Show.

3/. For quite a while, Niamh’s character was actually Jas from my previous novel Wayward Heart, now happily married to Digby Wallace-Jones, and Niamh’s friend and riding instructor. But as book one, Cupid Country Chance, came together (where we first meet Niamh) and I began to think ahead to book two, I realised Jas wasn’t who I needed. And so Niamh was born.

Except she wasn’t called Niamh then. For a long time she was known simply as X, then I made one of my usual lists, scribbling down names from Angelique to Layla (a name that could conjure all sorts of ideas in Olly’s head) and Genevieve. X hated that last one. It’s the kind of name that’d get shortened to Gen or Viv and the thought made her fume. In the end, Niamh just seemed to fit.

Olly was Olly from the start.

4/. Another fun thing was researching Niamh’s sexy outfits. She had gorgeous clothes! Alas, not always wisely chosen.

Scroll down this page link to check out her farm outfit.

5/. I desperately wanted geese or ducks on the front over of Cupid Country Challenge because Olly’s birds feature so prominently in the book. Alas, they made the book look like a children’s story, which Challenge is most definitely not. The hay bale was a compromise.

6/. In my initial series planning, Cupid Country Challenge was scheduled to be book three, instead of two, but as Cupid Country Chance (book one) progressed, it became increasingly obvious that Niamh and Olly had to be next.

There you have it. I hope you enjoyed your peek behind the writing scenes and that Cupid Country Challenge brings you great joy.

Happy reading and here are those links again.

Amazon US  |  Amazon AU | Amazon UK  |  Apple Books  | Google Play | Barnes & Noble