Today please welcome best-selling author Loretta Hill to Pilyara, talking about her latest release The Maxwell Sisters – a heartwarming romantic comedy about three extraordinary women on a journey to find love and rediscover family. This is Loretta’s fifth novel, and a departure from her previous mining theme. It is based at a vineyard in the beautiful Margaret River region of Western Australia. Leave a comment to go in the draw for a chance to win this fabulous book. Now it’s over to you Loretta 🙂
Hi Jennifer,
How are you? Happy New Year! It seems like such a long time since I saw you at the RWA conference in Sydney. Hope your writing is thriving. Did you have a nice Christmas?
I’ve just started, “Chapter One” of my next novel. Seven thousand words on the page. Sigh! There’s a long way to go. The ride starts this way every year. In the meantime however, my Margaret River Wine Region story, The Maxwell Sisters finally hits shelves this month! I’m both nervous and excited to see how it will be received. It’s not the same as my other novels. No construction site. No jetties. No teams of men in hard hats. I decided I needed a change of scenery.
My husband and I take our kids to the Margaret River Wine Region at least three times a year. We have family there so we like to visit but also it’s got to be the absolute perfect place to eat, drink and relax. With so many wineries in the area, it’s also the ideal place to get married. So setting my novel here was definitely a no brainer.
“The Maxwell Sisters” is about family and the rivalry and secrets between siblings that always comes out in big events like weddings. I think the relationship particularly between sisters is a very special one. There’s love, competition, envy, protectiveness and pride all at work here. Sisters know about the best of us. They also know the worst.
The three estranged sisters, Phoebe, Natasha and Eve, must return home to the family winery when Phoebe decides to get married there. They need to find a way to put the past behind them and get along in preparation for Phoebe’s big day.
Each of the sister’s has a secret which immediately colours their mood and perspective when they return. Natasha Maxwell, the eldest of the three, has not told anyone she and her husband are separated. Known for being a Sydney corporate bad arse, she is hiding a lot of pain behind her hard wearing, city slicker façade. Still hurting from the ordeal, the last thing she wants is for her family to wade in with advice, so she decides not to tell them and keep her reputation as the woman who has it all intact. This is her biggest mistake.
When she turns up at Tawny Brooks Estate to help prepare for the wedding, the first person she sees is her husband, Heath. He’s found out about the family gathering and has turned up with his own agenda. She can either blow the whistle on their separation and spoil her sister’s wedding or play happy married couple for the four week lead up to the wedding.
I loved writing about Tash’s dilemma. It was so emotionally intense to be forced to be with someone that you both hate and miss at the same time. I don’t think I’ve ever tortured a heroine this much before. I do believe in strong character arcs for my heroines. I think Tash gets to grow a lot in this book because she has such a difficult problem.
I wish I had time to tell you the secrets of Eve and Phoebe but you’ll just have to follow me to Helene Young’s (http://www.heleneyoung.com) blog next week to find out!
Don’t tease us like that Loretta! Many thanks for telling us about your fabulous new book. Readers, don’t forget to leave a comment for your chance to win a copy. You can connect with Loretta at her website, on Twitter or on Facebook.
This does sound fabulous I must say. I have 5 sisters, so I am going to enjoy that aspect of the story. It’s been ages since I visited the Margaret River Wine Region. Thank goodness for armchair travel.
marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
A pleasure to have you Loretta, and good luck in the draw Mary!
Thanks again for having me on your blog today Jennifer. And what a wonderful phrase, Mary. “Armchair Travel.” I hope you enjoy it.
I like reading all of Lorettas Books and really cant wait to get this one… I lived in the South West of WA and loved going on outings like to Margaret River and enjoying the food and the wine..
Just by reading the blog this sounds like an interesting read and i love the rural romance books of Australian Authors
Thanks Meygan. That’s lovely of you to say. The Margaret River Wine region is such a beautiful place. I’m such a foodie, so I never get over it.
Yes Meygan, Loretta spins a good yarn all right!
Sounds like my kind of story, Loretta. Even though I have no siblings, I have four children, and their sibling rivalry is alive and well. However, I must admit that they are there for each other when things get rough. I hope they keep these feelings as they grow older.
Looking forward to a read about my home state, and the beautiful Margaret RIver region.
I have four children too! And I know exactly what you mean. They all have such different personalities so there are always some clashes. At the same time, I can already see the protective bonds that they’ve formed. I know they will value these when they are older.
Hope you enjoy, “The Maxwell Sisters.”
No sister here either Karen. I do have four children, but only one girl. I’m fascinated by the dynamic I see between sisters in other families though.
There’s nothing like the drama between sisters. They love fiercely and fight fiercely too. I’m looking forward to reading this book and finding out what the secrets are!
kaur_chanpreet (at) hotmail (dot) com
This book is full of secrets, Chanpreet. Virtually one under every rock. 🙂 Hope you enjoy the story.
I love a story full of secrets! Good luck in the draw Chanpreet!
I have loved all her other books and I am so looking forward to reading this one.
Hope you enjoy it, Megan.
Thanks for the comment Megan and good luck in the draw!
If its anything like your other books, it’ll be a winner – look fwd to reading it!
Thank you Karen. I’d say it’s same style just different setting. Hope you enjoy it.
We’re certainly spoiled for choice with books by Australian women writers Karen!
I can’t wait to read this. I don’t have sisters but wished I did. This book sounds great and I can’t wait to hear how they separated couple manage their little secret!
I don’t have sisters either, and wish I did.
Thanks Nicki 🙂 There’s actually secrets around every corner in this book. Heath and Tash’s separation is one of many 🙂 Enjoy!
Sounds really good I am in UK and am just discovering rural fiction !
I think you’ll love it. Rural fiction is huge here in Australia 🙂