Love faces cyclone fury in Hannay’s new book

Set against the backdrop of a cyclone-ravaged North Queensland, The Wife’s Secret tells the emotional journey of a couple rekindling love and hope after years of separation.

Award-winning author Barbara Hannay has launched her latest novel A Wife's Secret. Picture: Shae Beplate.

With more than 12 million books sold worldwide, Townsville author Barbara Hannay has established herself as one of Australia’s most beloved writers of feel-good fiction.

The best-selling author of The Life Swap, returns with a powerful new novel, The Wife’s Secret, a tale that blends the forces of nature with the complexities of the human heart.

Set against the picturesque coastline of Queensland’s far north, this second-chance romance invites readers into a world where love, loss and hope intertwine amid the aftermath of a devastating cyclone.

Like many of Hannay’s novels, its setting in tropical North Queensland is integral to the story.

Hannay’s deep connection to the region is evident in the vivid descriptions of the landscape and the community spirit that emerges in the wake of a natural disaster.

“There’s a cyclone on the Cassowary Coast followed by the inevitable destruction and heartbreak, but also the community’s resilience and determination to rebuild and move on,” she says.

The Wife’s Secret is the heartfelt new second-chance romance by the internationally award-winning author of The Life Swap Barbara Hannay.

In The Wife’s Secret, Hannay introduces us to Lisa and Rolf, a couple whose lives have drifted far apart since their bitter divorce.

Lisa, a stalwart figure in the small community of Beacon Bay, has built a new life for herself and Rolf is now a successful author.

Hannay says it’s a story about love, forgiveness and the courage to face difficult truths. “When a cyclone brings a massive tree crashing onto the house where Lisa lives and that Rolf originally built for his family, their son Dave convinces Rolf he should return to do the repairs,” Hannay explains.

“It’s the last thing Lisa or Rolf want, but it’s the obvious solution.

“Extra tension is added to the mix with the arrival of Renata, a famous opera star and Ellie a pretty young publicist. Inevitably their past is revisited, a secret is shared, but for Lisa and Rolf, is it too late to repair the damage?”

Hannay explores the idea of how past wounds can be reopened by circumstances beyond our control, and whether people can find the strength to heal and move forward.

She captures the unique blend of beauty and danger that characterises life in tropical North Queensland.

Barbara Hannay The Life Swap

Hannay’s portrayal of Beacon Bay’s tight-knit community is also both realistic and heartfelt.

As Lisa and Rolf come together to repair the damage to her home, they are also drawn into the broader efforts to rebuild the town.

The big question is, can they repair not just the house but their fractured relationship?

The Wife’s Secret is more than just a romance; it’s a story of resilience, both in the face of natural disasters and in the journey of personal healing.

Hannay’s characters are deeply relatable, each grappling with their own fears and regrets, yet ultimately finding strength in one another and in the community that surrounds them.

“I hope readers really feel involved with the characters and enjoy the emotional journey,” Hannay says.

“I like to think they might be wondering, as I was while I was writing, how it all should end. I hope they appreciate the underlying theme of catastrophe and restoration.”

Hannay’s ability to weave together the emotional and physical landscapes of her stories has earned her a devoted readership worldwide.

Author of more than 60 books and with her novels translated into 26 languages, Hannay’s work resonates with readers across cultures and borders.

Barbara Hannay The Happiest Little Town

Her accolades include the prestigious RITA award from the Romance Writers of America and multiple wins for the Romance Writers of Australia’s Romantic Book of the Year award.

Despite her international success, Hannay remains deeply connected to her roots in Townsville, where she lives with her husband, also a writer.

It is clear that North Queensland’s unique tropical environment plays a crucial role in shaping the colourful characters and the stories she tells.

The Wife’s Secret is a testament to Hannay’s skill in capturing the complexities of relationships and the indomitable spirit of those who call North Queensland home.

It’s a novel that will resonate with anyone who has ever faced loss, sought redemption, or yearned for a second chance at love.

As readers turn the final page, they will be left with a renewed appreciation of the power of hope and the enduring strength of the human heart, even through the most turbulent of times.

Originally published as Love faces cyclone fury in Hannay’s new book