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Saltwater Romance #2
Emerald Secrets
Thriving on structure and organisation, Lachie’s life is a well-planned tapestry of travel, surf, and sea. Working and living in the breathtaking Whitsunday Islands, he finds solace in the ocean's embrace, but when carefree Irish traveller Kat crosses his path, he senses a disruption looming—a whirlwind of chaos where she treads.
Kat's arrival in Australia sparks playful jokes from her family about husband-hunting, yet her desires lie in travel, work, and the simple joys of life. Romance is a distant possibility if fate allows it.
As Lachie and Kat’s worlds collide, their differences spark more than the summer heat. Will Lachie be able to deal with their differences, or will Kat forgive his initial distrust?
In the gentle sway of an ocean breeze, supported by family ties, Lachie and Kat try to unearth what they are both looking for. Emerald Secrets is a tale of kinship, discovery, and love, as two wanderers chart a course through life's unexpected twists and turns.
Kat's arrival in Australia sparks playful jokes from her family about husband-hunting, yet her desires lie in travel, work, and the simple joys of life. Romance is a distant possibility if fate allows it.
As Lachie and Kat’s worlds collide, their differences spark more than the summer heat. Will Lachie be able to deal with their differences, or will Kat forgive his initial distrust?
In the gentle sway of an ocean breeze, supported by family ties, Lachie and Kat try to unearth what they are both looking for. Emerald Secrets is a tale of kinship, discovery, and love, as two wanderers chart a course through life's unexpected twists and turns.
354 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 12, 2024
15 people are currently reading
18 people want to read
About the author
Rhonda Forrest
35 books79 followersAn Australian voice creating compelling contemporary fiction - from bush to beach, steamy romances, riveting history and eclectic characters.
Rhonda Forrest is an Australian teacher and author who writes captivating contemporary and historical fiction about relationships, family life and social issues, set amidst beautiful and uniquely Australian landscapes.
After bringing up three daughters and traversing several different careers, Rhonda went on to teach creative writing, English and History to high school students. Her passion for literacy, history and travelling around Australia fuels her novels.
Rhonda currently lives with her husband between two Queensland homes: one on Tamborine Mountain, the other a century-old cottage with a rambling garden, overlooking the waters of the Whitsundays.
Readers can connect with Rhonda via her website www.rhondaforrest.com, Instagram @rhondaforrestauthor or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/valeenapress.
Rhonda Forrest is an Australian teacher and author who writes captivating contemporary and historical fiction about relationships, family life and social issues, set amidst beautiful and uniquely Australian landscapes.
After bringing up three daughters and traversing several different careers, Rhonda went on to teach creative writing, English and History to high school students. Her passion for literacy, history and travelling around Australia fuels her novels.
Rhonda currently lives with her husband between two Queensland homes: one on Tamborine Mountain, the other a century-old cottage with a rambling garden, overlooking the waters of the Whitsundays.
Readers can connect with Rhonda via her website www.rhondaforrest.com, Instagram @rhondaforrestauthor or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/valeenapress.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 25, 2025
Set in the beautiful Whitsunday Islands, Lachie meets Kat and their romance is almost instantaneous. However serious issues from Kat's past arise which send Lachie running and Kat returning to her home in Galway, Ireland. Is their relationship over already?
This was a really enjoyable story with relatable characters and two diverse but equally lovely settings. Well worth reading. Four stars.
This was a really enjoyable story with relatable characters and two diverse but equally lovely settings. Well worth reading. Four stars.
November 22, 2024
Brothers, Lachie and Jasper McIntosh, helped run the resort their family owned - Vivre - in the beautiful Whitsunday Islands, and kept the flow of itinerant workers steady, with young people from all over the world arriving to enjoy the ambience of the Whitsundays. One such worker was Kat MacCullagh, a young Irish traveller. She was continually blown away by the beach, the island, the breathtaking view all around her; she loved her job, especially since she had moved onto reception and could save some money. Getting to know Lachie was a bonus, with him taking her out onto the reef for some snorkeling and swimming. But trouble was on the horizon in the form of two cousins of Kat's from Ireland and suddenly distrust and anger rose up between the two young people and it seemed a relationship was over before it had really begun...
Emerald Secrets is the 2nd in the Saltwater Romance series by Aussie author Rhonda Forrest and I enjoyed it very much. Emotional and heartwarming, it was set in both Galway, Ireland and the Whitsunday Islands, Australia - both places as different as chalk and cheese, but equally beautiful. I've read and loved Rhonda Forrest's writing for a long time, and she never disappoints. Highly recommended.
With thanks to the author for my uncorrected proof ARC to read and review.
Emerald Secrets is the 2nd in the Saltwater Romance series by Aussie author Rhonda Forrest and I enjoyed it very much. Emotional and heartwarming, it was set in both Galway, Ireland and the Whitsunday Islands, Australia - both places as different as chalk and cheese, but equally beautiful. I've read and loved Rhonda Forrest's writing for a long time, and she never disappoints. Highly recommended.
With thanks to the author for my uncorrected proof ARC to read and review.
September 29, 2025
Queensland. Lachie McIntosh works for his parents Chris and Evie, he's just been transferred to Vivre one of the many businesses they own, it’s a luxury resort on a private island in the Whitsundays. When he’s not on the job, Lachie likes sailing, surfing and fishing with his brother Jasper.
Kat MacCullagh is an Irish backpacker from Galway, her plan is to earn enough money to travel Australia, have a grand adventure and a break from her family and pesky cousins Seamus and Kiaran.
Lachie and Kat meet, they get off to a very rocky start, he overheard an odd conversation she was having on the phone with her sister Grace, while she was supposed to be cleaning and wonders if she’s dishonest. Lachie was bossed around by his previous partner, he’s not sure if he can trust Kat and but he’s still attracted to her despite his misgivings.
This story takes you from the beaches of the Whitsundays, where Kat is sure she’s either going to be eaten by a shark or burnt to a crisp and Lachie convinces her to go sailing and snorkelling, to Ireland and where there’s never a dull moment with Kat’s family and are very similar to my extended Scottish one.
Emerald Secrets is the second book in the Saltwater Romance Series by Rhonda Forrest, the narrative is about uncovering the truth about Kat and her Granny Mae, inheritances, keeping promises, love, and with lots of unexpected twists and turns along the way.
I enjoyed reading about the Whitsunday and Stradbroke Islands, Galway and Ireland, how Irish people like to sing and dance, my favourite characters were Kat and Lachie, Chris and Evie, Grace and Jasper, Jock and Morag, and later Orla and Patrick.
Five stars from me, Kat and her quotes made me laugh out loud, I highly recommend, and I’m keen to read the next book in the series Saltwater Place.
Kat MacCullagh is an Irish backpacker from Galway, her plan is to earn enough money to travel Australia, have a grand adventure and a break from her family and pesky cousins Seamus and Kiaran.
Lachie and Kat meet, they get off to a very rocky start, he overheard an odd conversation she was having on the phone with her sister Grace, while she was supposed to be cleaning and wonders if she’s dishonest. Lachie was bossed around by his previous partner, he’s not sure if he can trust Kat and but he’s still attracted to her despite his misgivings.
This story takes you from the beaches of the Whitsundays, where Kat is sure she’s either going to be eaten by a shark or burnt to a crisp and Lachie convinces her to go sailing and snorkelling, to Ireland and where there’s never a dull moment with Kat’s family and are very similar to my extended Scottish one.
Emerald Secrets is the second book in the Saltwater Romance Series by Rhonda Forrest, the narrative is about uncovering the truth about Kat and her Granny Mae, inheritances, keeping promises, love, and with lots of unexpected twists and turns along the way.
I enjoyed reading about the Whitsunday and Stradbroke Islands, Galway and Ireland, how Irish people like to sing and dance, my favourite characters were Kat and Lachie, Chris and Evie, Grace and Jasper, Jock and Morag, and later Orla and Patrick.
Five stars from me, Kat and her quotes made me laugh out loud, I highly recommend, and I’m keen to read the next book in the series Saltwater Place.
October 12, 2024
Another beautiful story in this series, this one set in the beautiful Whitsunday Islands and Ireland two totally different climates and one Aussie hero and an Irish heroine, come along and get to know them and see how they get to a gorgeous HEA with a few ups and downs along the way, I am sure you will love it as much as I did.
Lachie, grew up on Stradbroke Island with his loving parents, who we met in the first book with his siblings his life is filled with love, surf, fishing the best life, he is now living on Emerald Island in the Whitsundays an island the family owns it is a holiday resort and he loves his work and life, he likes thing to run smoothly and easily, but when an Irish backpacker arrives on the island for work, Lachie feels himself falling for this beautiful woman, has he found love?
Kat also comes from a loving family in Galway, Ireland she has a very close relationship with her Granny and is encouraged by her to travel, to visit Australia, off she goes with a ring and hopes for a fabulous trip that is if she can stay away from some of Australia’s scary animals and insects and the burning sun. Arriving on Emerald Island she starts working in the bars and kitchens and cleaning, always willing to work but then she meets the boss Lachie and there is an instant attraction but an overheard conversation and a couple of cousins arriving put a spanner in the works and Kat is shocked that Lachie has trust issues.
Will they work things out between them, the love is there but these are two different people, and trusting is not always easy but time spent away makes the heart grow fonder they say and when Kat goes home, to Ireland will Lachie follow?
I loved this one so much and cannot highly recommend it, a beautifully told story of love, caring trust it had me turning the pages, smiling cheering them on, I felt every emotion that they went through and the settings are just gorgeous, I loved my trip to both parts of the world, so many fabulous characters that added to the story and catching up with Evie and Chris was fabulous, a must read, thank you Rhonda for another awesome tory I look forward to more in this series.
My thanks to the author for my copy to read and review.
Lachie, grew up on Stradbroke Island with his loving parents, who we met in the first book with his siblings his life is filled with love, surf, fishing the best life, he is now living on Emerald Island in the Whitsundays an island the family owns it is a holiday resort and he loves his work and life, he likes thing to run smoothly and easily, but when an Irish backpacker arrives on the island for work, Lachie feels himself falling for this beautiful woman, has he found love?
Kat also comes from a loving family in Galway, Ireland she has a very close relationship with her Granny and is encouraged by her to travel, to visit Australia, off she goes with a ring and hopes for a fabulous trip that is if she can stay away from some of Australia’s scary animals and insects and the burning sun. Arriving on Emerald Island she starts working in the bars and kitchens and cleaning, always willing to work but then she meets the boss Lachie and there is an instant attraction but an overheard conversation and a couple of cousins arriving put a spanner in the works and Kat is shocked that Lachie has trust issues.
Will they work things out between them, the love is there but these are two different people, and trusting is not always easy but time spent away makes the heart grow fonder they say and when Kat goes home, to Ireland will Lachie follow?
I loved this one so much and cannot highly recommend it, a beautifully told story of love, caring trust it had me turning the pages, smiling cheering them on, I felt every emotion that they went through and the settings are just gorgeous, I loved my trip to both parts of the world, so many fabulous characters that added to the story and catching up with Evie and Chris was fabulous, a must read, thank you Rhonda for another awesome tory I look forward to more in this series.
My thanks to the author for my copy to read and review.
October 15, 2024
Big thanks to Rhonda for sending us a copy to read and review.
Emerald Secrets is the second book in the Saltwater Romance series.
A love story set many, many years after the first book.
Travelling from Ireland, Kat arrives in the Whitsunday Islands.
Working to survive she has no time for romance.
Lachie is the boss of the resort where Kat works, his family owns the property and he loves work and living life.
Soon their paths cross and love is in the warm air.
But family secrets cause a divide and then disarray erupts.
Can they come to an understanding……..
An author that needs no introduction and continues to create beautiful stories that melt the heart.
Rhonda has the knack for bringing to life in the pages inspiring yet vulnerable characters woven into a very realistic plot.
Emotionally weighted and heartache charged, this can easily be read in one sitting.
A welcoming reading experience that captures rawness, realism and defenceless just beautifully.
An absolute delight to read and enjoy.
Emerald Secrets is the second book in the Saltwater Romance series.
A love story set many, many years after the first book.
Travelling from Ireland, Kat arrives in the Whitsunday Islands.
Working to survive she has no time for romance.
Lachie is the boss of the resort where Kat works, his family owns the property and he loves work and living life.
Soon their paths cross and love is in the warm air.
But family secrets cause a divide and then disarray erupts.
Can they come to an understanding……..
An author that needs no introduction and continues to create beautiful stories that melt the heart.
Rhonda has the knack for bringing to life in the pages inspiring yet vulnerable characters woven into a very realistic plot.
Emotionally weighted and heartache charged, this can easily be read in one sitting.
A welcoming reading experience that captures rawness, realism and defenceless just beautifully.
An absolute delight to read and enjoy.
September 30, 2024
Saltwater Romance Series - Book 2 - Emerald Secrets
Kat is from Galway Ireland, Lachie from QLD, Australia. Their first encounter isn't positive and their relationship starts out with distrust. Only Rhonda Forrest could have readers falling in love with characters who seem quite unlikeable and an unlikely pair in the first instance.
Love, loss and secrets - the perfect combination for a romance with a twist. Rhonda challenges the norm and readers are to expect the unexpected. The backstory to 'Emerald Secrets' is filled with hurt, trauma and love. The story is set in sunny Queensland and rainy Galway, so readers are treated to locations that will take them away and not want to return to life outside of the pages.
Get ready to go on holidays! You'll zoom off with Rhonda to stunning locations that will make you feel like you're miles away.
The characters fall in love fast. Kat and Lachie's personalities are raw and representative of humanity. Both have flaws, yet they both develop in such beautiful ways. Kat, the fiery Irish and Lachie, the laid back Aussie. Rhonda expertly writes family scenes that welcome us into the drama and world of the characters. I love a romance novel where the families spend time together. Despite culture differences, love is at the heart of their lives.
The perfect beach or holiday read. If you love Ed Sheeran's song, Galway Girl, read this book. You'll be singing it as you read... I did.
Just like when at the beach, the characters experience the beauty of their surroundings. Within the writing is a gentleness, excitement and tumultuous vibe representative of the waves of life. When all seems to be perfect, a wave crashes down on our couple, sending them in different directions. Life is not without challenges and neither are relationships.
True love and surprises within family secrets. Kat's relationship with her Granny is beautiful and Granny's story absolutely makes the novel one of a kind. The humour when things are usually dreary, made tough situations feel more lighthearted. There is a reason why Rhonda is one of my favourite authors. This is a love story that I would highly recommend.
5 stars
@rhondaforrestauthor
Kat is from Galway Ireland, Lachie from QLD, Australia. Their first encounter isn't positive and their relationship starts out with distrust. Only Rhonda Forrest could have readers falling in love with characters who seem quite unlikeable and an unlikely pair in the first instance.
Love, loss and secrets - the perfect combination for a romance with a twist. Rhonda challenges the norm and readers are to expect the unexpected. The backstory to 'Emerald Secrets' is filled with hurt, trauma and love. The story is set in sunny Queensland and rainy Galway, so readers are treated to locations that will take them away and not want to return to life outside of the pages.
Get ready to go on holidays! You'll zoom off with Rhonda to stunning locations that will make you feel like you're miles away.
The characters fall in love fast. Kat and Lachie's personalities are raw and representative of humanity. Both have flaws, yet they both develop in such beautiful ways. Kat, the fiery Irish and Lachie, the laid back Aussie. Rhonda expertly writes family scenes that welcome us into the drama and world of the characters. I love a romance novel where the families spend time together. Despite culture differences, love is at the heart of their lives.
The perfect beach or holiday read. If you love Ed Sheeran's song, Galway Girl, read this book. You'll be singing it as you read... I did.
Just like when at the beach, the characters experience the beauty of their surroundings. Within the writing is a gentleness, excitement and tumultuous vibe representative of the waves of life. When all seems to be perfect, a wave crashes down on our couple, sending them in different directions. Life is not without challenges and neither are relationships.
True love and surprises within family secrets. Kat's relationship with her Granny is beautiful and Granny's story absolutely makes the novel one of a kind. The humour when things are usually dreary, made tough situations feel more lighthearted. There is a reason why Rhonda is one of my favourite authors. This is a love story that I would highly recommend.
5 stars
@rhondaforrestauthor
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews