Outback Moonlight

The Augathella Girls #6

by Annie Seaton

Jacinta Mason, kindergarten teacher at Augathella school, is horrified when she attends the hen’s night at the local pub for Sophie Cartwright, her future sister-in-law. Disillusioned by a failed romance when she was at university, Jacinta is content with her life in her hometown. Meeting Ryder Francesco again leaves her reeling. His new career is a far cry from his past studies in medical research.

Jacinta is the last person Ryder Francesco expected to encounter on the outback tour with the male dance troupe. Circumstances have changed his life drastically since he had to leave her. He is wary of Jacinta’s reaction to him, even though he has never stopped loving this gentle, shy woman.

Jacinta is torn, the hurt from her past tells her to steer clear of Ryder, but her heart wants to dig deeper and find why he really left. He pushes her away, yet every time she pushes back, Ryder finds her harder to resist.

Can they overcome the past and give in to the love that has never died?

Genres: Romance

201 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 28, 2022

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

[Phrynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sixth in the Augathella Girls series and this time the story is about Jacinta Mason, kindergarten teacher at the Augathella school and an old flame called Ryder Francesca, who arrives in town with a male dance group. Ryder comes attached with bad memories of how their affair ended but there is still a strong attraction between them. Will he just move on or will their relationship begin again.

I enjoy the way the author keeps the interest going in this series by focusing on a different couple in each book but retaining some familiar characters and the setting each time. These books are easy, comfortable reads which I keep returning to.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jacinta Mason had returned home to Augathella from Brisbane after she'd been hurt in a relationship, and now, two years later, was content in her life as school teacher, and soon to be bridesmaid for her good friend who was marrying her brother Kent. At the bridal shower - to which she was a reluctant attendant - she was shocked to see the man who'd hurt her so much in Brisbane. Fleeing the scene, she vowed not to be hurt again. But Ryder wanted to talk to Jacinta, to explain what had happened, and although he said they couldn't be together, it was all they both wanted. Why was Ryder so against being with Jacinta? And what had caused the trauma of the past?

Outback Moonlight is the 6th in The Augathella Girls series by Aussie author Annie Seaton and it was nice to catch up with them all once again. Lighthearted romance with a side of angst, I'm interested to see who will be the focus in book #7. Recommended.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are looking for a short story that is sure to pull you in with emotion and fabulous characters then this one and the series is what I recommend, this time back in Augathella we get to see Jacinta Mason come face to face with the man who broke her heart and sent her back home will they see the light?

When Jacinta local school teacher attends her future sister-in-law’s hen’s night she is stunned to see the man she loves up on stage with her heart in knots she runs and taking refuge in the beer garden he walks out the door, not much is said but Jacinta cannot forget him.

Ryder has never forgotten Jacinta but a promise made to his mother changes his life and he knew that he must leave her, he could not make her choose the life he must now lead, but knowing she came from a town out west with every visit the dance troupe made to these outback towns made him think of her and now he had found her.

This is a moving and emotional story and after years of struggling Jacinta shows her strength as she pushes for the man she loves, they deserve to be together will she win him over? This is another fabulous installment this series one that I do highly recommend.

[Beccabeccabooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kindergarten teacher Jacinta Mason once had high hopes for the future. Boyfriend of six months, Ryder Francesco was part of those plans that she'd already mapped out in her head. What could've been better than committing to the Brisbane lifestyle, so far removed from the dusty plains of outback Augathella?

Those dreams were shattered all at once when one morning, Ryder suddenly walked out. Poor Jacinta headed back to her hometown, took a job at the local primary school and tried to move on. Sadly, thanks to her horrible experience, Jacinta hadn't allowed herself to be truly happy in the romance stakes. Even though Ryder ripped her heart apart, Jacinta still thought of him often. In her eyes, no other man could ever compare.

So, imagine her shock when she claps eyes on Ryder during a girls night out. Bizarrely so, he's on stage. Performing in a male dance revue. What's a girl to do? Flee of course. It's been two and a half years without any contact and she's a boiling pot full of emotions.

Yeah, Ryder has some serious explaining to do. But will Jacinta manage to forgive him after he shares his side of the story? Only time will tell.

The more I got to know Ryder, the more my heart broke for him. Imagine having to upkeep a promise made to a dying mother. Such a difficult dilemma he was placed in way back when.

Outback Moon is the sixth book of Annie Seaton's Augathella Girls series. By now, these novellas are a part of my usual reading routine. I just love spending time with this community, especially with all the weddings bringing so much joy to the air.

Another short and sweet read. Two novellas to go!

4.75 🌟

[Cath Carkeet · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this on holidays and it’s a good holiday read. Undemanding, predictable, formulaic, easy.
Jacinta Mason, a teacher at Augathella attends a hen’s night at the local pub for Sophie Cartwright, her future sister-in-law. She’s returned to her hometown following a failed romance with Ryder Francesco.

And of course, Ryder is part of the tour with the male dance troupe.

From there, the outcome is predictable.

This is part of a series of books by this author – all set in western Queensland. It’s formulaic, predictable and implausible. I don’t think I’ll go for any others in the series!

Its strength is the outback setting and her capture of western Queensland.

[Brian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just sort of a train wreck of a story that continues the series themes of miscommunication (mostly a complete lack of communication of people who profess to love each other), ignoring years of hurt and pain to become instantly engaged to be married, abrupt endings, and lost opportunities to express a sense of place of being in the Outback.
I almost started to care about these people (hence two stars instead of one), but the ending appeared so quickly that I really didn’t care at the end.

[Ian Mcnamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the sixth book in this series, Jasinta and Rider's story was a sad one and really emotional in part. It was clear they were suppose to be together from the start although there were times when that was in doubt as Rider had been taken over by the promise he'd been asked to keep. I'm pretty sure his mother had not meant him to give up his whole life to care for his brother. Only 2 books to go.

[Paul R · Rating 4 out of 5]

The knees keep dropping

This novel continues the story of the people of and some visiting Augathella. Plenty of missed opportunities. Engagements and even some weddings appear. Enjoy!

[ANNE BARNES · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this can't wait for the next book

[Becc McNally · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot get enough of this series!

[Judith Byrne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outback Moonlight

Very pleasant reading on a quiet day,characters lovely,can’t beat true love.Even after a long time apart love wins in the end.

[Lynette Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written book as useual by the author it also catches up with people from earlier books in the series

[Julia Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

outback moonlight

A great read on enduring love winning in the end. Addiction having the potential to ruin a lot of lives. A hint on outback life in QLD