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Jonathan Knight can't believe his eyes when singer Stella Starr appears in tiny outback town Koologong. Stranded when her car breaks down, she is the answer to his prayers. If he can convince Stella to model the cotton clothing his company Koolwear produces, the struggling local industry will be saved. One problem. Stella is in disguise, calling herself Sue Starkey.
After a humiliating divorce, Stella flees the media spotlight. A celebrity since fifteen, she is desperate to be liked for who she is not what she is. Convinced no-one in Koologong recognises her, she enjoys the attention of local hero, Jonathan. What could he want from ordinary Sue? Nothing.
Falling in love becomes a torment, when both Stella and Jonathan find their deceptions looming like storm clouds over their future.
Outback Hero
Avalon Books
December 2009
ISBN 978-0-8034-9982-9
The garage was shut. There was a roughly printed sign stuck to the door. We're closed because we're not open.
Stella gasped in dismay which turned rapidly to incredulous anger.
"Oh great! Now what?"
This was too much. No clean clothes, no toothbrush, no shampoo. Maybe Doreen would loan her a floral frock circa 1954 or she could buy some of this man's cotton clothing. No, she couldn't. She had no money.
Jonathan tried the door experimentally. Dan had locked up tighter than the belt round Leo's beer belly. He hadn't meant to stop her getting at her suitcase, just asked Dan to take his time over the repairs tomorrow. He wouldn't be around to open up for her either, because Thursday was his cricket training night over in Cooper's Creek.
"Do you take credit cards?" Her voice was strained, near to breaking point.
"Not personally, no." He turned around. Her face was flushed from the heat. She looked so worried and defenseless he had an almost overwhelming desire to hug her.
"I mean for your clothing, the cotton stuff." Dimwit! His mind leapt into gear, carnal thoughts replaced immediately by business.
"Yes." Jonathan tried to keep his voice level and the excitement at a minimum. She was going to ask to wear some of his clothes, of her own volition. What would suit her? Any of the t-shirt or blouse range, the sundress, three quarter length pants, shorts, all of it would be stunning on her.
"Could you advance me some cash, please?"
The fantasy fizzled.
"Sorry. We don't carry cash at the factory. It's all mail or online order."
"Oh. Of course. Yes." Stella strode away down the street towards the pub, stumbling a little on the rough surface in her city bred sandals with the ridiculous heels. But they sure showed off her fantastic, tanned legs in those shorts. She must work out a lot.
"Bit short, are you?" Jonathan caught up to her.
"I can manage. I just didn't expect to have to pay cash at the hotel." She looked up at him, brow creased in annoyance. "It's such a . . . a . . ." She gestured vaguely at the dusty, heat baked town with its row of tall gum trees and peppercorn trees offering little relief from the intensity of the sun's rays. "There's nothing! How do you stand it?"
"I love it. It's where I was born and brought up," said Jonathan, stung by her tone and the squashing of the hope which had flared so unexpectedly. "City people don't have a clue. They have no affinity with the country at all. You people expect everything to just appear ready made and waiting for you to decide what you want. Spoilt," he finished in disgust.
"Maybe." Stella's voice rose in anger. Her eyes bored into his. "But we provide a market for your produce. You wouldn't get far if no-one bought what you grow, if we all made our own clothes. The same as I wouldn't get far if no-one . . ."
"What?" asked Jonathan. "What exactly do you do in the city?" This would be interesting.
She hesitated, looked away. "I'm between jobs at the moment."
"Maybe you'd like a job here," said Jonathan. "Then you'd see what it is we do in this backwater."
"I'm not looking for a job and if I was I'd hardly come here," she said, accompanying the words with a tense laugh and sweep of her arm.
Publisher's Weekly
Rose (Stuck) delivers down under romance in her latest about a superstar singer who falls hard for a rugged hottie. Sydney celebrity Stella Starr, recovering from a divorce, hits the road until her car breaks down in a tiny town where she catches the eye of the local hunk, Jonathan Knight, who is trying to make a go of it with Koolwear, his upstart fashion line. He's been crazy about Stella since he was teenager, and he hatches a plan to persuade her to do promo work for Koolwear, roping many of the locals—most of whom work for him—into helping him with the plan. What he doesn't count on is losing his heart. A subplot involving Jonathan's runaway little sister gives this slow-burning romance some texture, but don't expect much more than a sweet, simple story. (Dec.)
REVIEWS
Romance Reviews Today Jennifer Bishop
When Jonathan Knight realizes that the woman who’s become stranded in his small town is none other than singing sensation Stella Starr, he figures she is the answer to his prayers. Koologong is struggling to get by, and the only thing keeping the town alive is Koolwear, a line of clothes manufactured in town and produced with cotton grown by the community of farmers. It would certainly be a coup if Stella Starr were to endorse Koolwear. Sure, she may have introduced herself as Susanna Starrkey, but Jonathan has had a bit of a crush since her first album debuted, and he’d know her anywhere. With the locals helping to keep Sue/Stella in town, it shouldn’t be long before he can convince her to help.
After her humiliatingly public divorce, Stella wants nothing more than to get away by herself and live a normal life for a while. She’s not happy about her car breaking down in the middle of the outback, but since no one knows who she is, Stella is sure that these strangers are genuine. After all, what could they possibly want from plain old Sue Starrkey? While she finds Jonathan a bit annoying at first, he manages to charm her over dinner. He seems to like her for herself, not the superstar image that the world knows, and Stella finds that impossible to resist.
Having been a fan for years, Jonathan figures he knows everything he needs to about Stella, but he soon finds out otherwise in OUTBACK HERO. When his family farm was failing, Jonathan made the decision to switch from sheep and cattle ranching to cotton farming then persuaded the town to follow his example. Now he feels responsible for their success, and recent setbacks have him worried. He hopes that by being stuck in town, forced to spend time with the locals and exposed to Koolwear products, Stella will decide to help them out. The somewhat spoiled city girl is what he expected, but Stella’s vulnerability surprises Jonathan and has him rethinking his plans. Both characters make assumptions about the other that complicate their relationship.
While townspeople and Jonathan’s family make brief appearances, the story focuses almost completely on Stella and Jonathan. An entertaining tale, check out OUTBACK HERO.
Outback Hero is also available in a Large Print edition