Outback Secrets

by Annie Seaton

Small-town outback romance where love is worth the wait.

Jill and Ryan’s story continues in Outback Secrets as Irish photographer Finn O’Sullivan arrives in Garnet Creek running from a scandal—his reputation destroyed, his career in ruins.
Librarian Charlotte Hayes recognises Finn the moment he walks into her library. Her reaction is immediate, complicated—and she's not about to explain why.
When Finn is offered part-time bar work at The Happy Outback Hotel, Charlotte tells herself to stay away, but she can't ignore the growing connection between them—or the guilt of staying silent whilst Finn suffers.
When Charlotte's past catches up to her, threatening everything she's built, staying silent is no longer an option. Speaking the truth could save Finn—or destroy them both.
As Garnet Creek rallies around them both, Finn and Charlotte must keep running from the past or stand and fight for the love and family they never expected to find.
Because sometimes the biggest secret is what you're afraid to reach for.

252 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 28, 2026

About the author

Annie Seaton lives near the beach on the mid-north coast of New South Wales. She is fulfilling her lifelong dream of writing and has been delighted to discover that readers love reading her stories as much as she loves writing them. Her career and studies spanned the education sector for most of her working life until she took up a full-time writing career. Each winter, Annie and her husband leave the beach to roam the remote areas of Australia for story ideas and research.

Readers can contact Annie through her website annieseaton.net or find her on Facebook and Instagram.

Reviews

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am back in Garnet Creek ready for another fabulous story in this series, the Happy Outback Hotel has been renovated and been up and running for nearly one year now and Jake and Amelia have had their HEA will this be Jill’s time or someone else’s?

Finn O’Sullivan is a photographer he has arrived from Dublin escaping the things that have torn his reputation apart, his life has changed so much now and he is looking forward to the outback and hoping he will be able to put the past behind and get on with life, looking for love was not in the plan but maybe life has other plans.

Melanie Doherty is a single mum to five year old Oliver and the Garnet Creek Librarian her and Oliver are living a quiet life and she is hoping her past stays well in the past but when Finn O’Sullivan arrives asking about historical photos she knows who he is and what he has been through but life for Melanie is going to be just her and Oliver or maybe not.

Finn and Melanie are getting closer everyday and Finn is also getting closer to Oliver and with the town folk organising events Finn throws himself in to help and then when Melanie needs help when her past arrives in town he is there for them both, maybe a move to Garnet Creek permanently is what he needs with his past all sorted now, it is time for Melanie and Finn to find the HEA they both hadn’t thought about.

Jill on the other hand has her life turned upside down when Ryan arrives back in town after her waiting for six months how will that turn out?

I loved this one from start to finish fabulous characters the tight knit community who are always there for each other and the setting is just so beautiful and I look forward to many more stories in this series, there are so many characters that need a HEA. I do highly recommend this one, it is a lovely feel good story, heartfelt and filled with emotion.

[Sandra]

Another great book in the Happy Outback Hotel series.
Interesting characters and descriptions of the surrounding scenery are wonderful.