Posted in Australian Rural Romance, Cover Reveal, Secrets at Wongan Creek

Country Suspense out for Christmas


Isn’t she beautiful? I’m pretty excited about this rural bind up because Sarah Barrie and Melissa James are favourites of mine to read. And it’s out just in time for Christmas. Release date: December 17, 2018 from Harper Collins in Paperback

Harper Collins

Angus & Robertson ~ Booktopia ~ Boomerang Books ~ The Nile ~ Dymocks

Country Suspense

Legacy of Hunters Ridge – Sarah Barrie

Widowed, in debt and under suspicion of arson, Alissa Morgan-Jones’s life is in tatters. Her mother-in-law’s isolated farm gives her the opportunity to pull her life back together and get herself back on her feet. Four years after fleeing the city and the scandal that ruined his career, disgraced lawyer Cameron Blakely has a successful new business and a new life. When his neighbour, Mavis Littleton, is diagnosed with a terminal illness he volunteers to handle her affairs – and her farm until her daughter-in-law arrives to take over. When Alissa finally shows up, he’s drawn to her immediately. But there are secrets in both Alissa’s past and Hunters Ridge – secrets that jeopardise far more than Cameron’s fledgling feelings. Lurking in the isolated wilderness is a danger that neither anticipates – but one that threatens everything: the town, their love, and their lives.

Secrets at Wongan Creek – Juanita Kees

When spray drift ruins his crop, Harley Baker wants to confront his neighbour. But arguments are tricky when the woman whose herbicides killed his crop is also the woman he’s loved his whole life. Tameka Chalmers knows that her father’s farming methods are outdated, inefficient, and even dangerous, so when the man she wants but can never have charges her with the loss of his livelihood, she can only accept the blame. There’s so much she would like to do differently, but her father’s rule is absolute. But the simple action of speaking with Harley starts an unexpected chain of events that throws everything she’s ever known into question: her past, her family, her life …

Beneath the Skin – Melissa James

Flying Doctor Elly Lavender has spent years on the run from an obsessive former patient who will do anything in his campaign to force her to love him. When her most recent cover is blown, she runs for help to the childhood friend she could never get out of her mind – outback cop Adam Jepson. After the deaths of his wife and son three years before, Adam has moved to the outback with his young daughter, Zoe, to put the past behind him for good. But when Elly walks into his station, she reminds him of all the childhood joy and love he’d forgotten. Though the whole town seems against them, he can’t stop wanting the forbidden. But when anonymous harassment escalates to murder, Elly knows her presence in Macks Lake has put Adam and Zoe’s lives at risk. Everyone’s safer if she remains alone – a fact that her stalker is very much counting on …

Posted in Australian Rural Romance, Books by Juanita Kees, Under the Law

Under the Covers


With Under the Hood on special this month, I’m taking a trip down memory lane.

Back in 2012, Kate Cuthbert from Escape Publishing took a chance on a little-known author with big dreams. I remember it being the best day of my life because writing for Harlequin had been a dream since I picked up my first M&B romance as a young teenager. Eight books later, that dream is still well and truly alive with a new release, Shadows over Wongan Creek, waiting in the wings.

I have a lot to thank Kate and the editing team for. I have learnt so much from them in the last six years, and I’m still learning. One thing I’ve learnt is the importance of branding and covers.

When I wrote Under the Hood, I had no idea it would be the start of a series, yet it evolved into one. Under the Law started out as The Tag Raiders, but the editorial team soon recognised that the series title and covers didn’t reflect the underlying message of the books which is the suspense theme, so it was re-branded and re-covered with much excitement from all involved.

When the first book in the series hit the shelves in 2013, Escape Publishing was just starting out, and digital covers hit the market as artists explored a whole new world of cover design. I loved my first covers, but when the series was re-branded with the re-release of Fly Away Peta as Under Shadow of Doubt in 2017, I had a whole new love for them.

Today, I’d like to take you on a visual journey of how my covers grew with me and my writing dream.

Every book is a new adventure, every cover is a new first love, and every release is a dream come true. I couldn’t have achieved any of that without Kate, the editorial team and the cover fairies. Thank you ❤

Under the Law

Three young boys, caught up in a gang crime, bring together families and lovers in a fight for freedom in Under the Law. The girl who wants to save them, a detective fighting to stamp out gang-related crime, and the link to a crime boss’ widow they weren’t expecting.