Q: So, Lily, why did you write a romance with a heroine who has a dodgy vagina?

• Because I enjoy flushing pink as my beanie whenever I’m asked this question, that’s why!
• Because I always wanted my mother (who has read Fairway To Heaven) to study me over her glasses and say: “is everything really alright with you, Love? You know… down below?”
• Oh heck, because I like an author research challenge as much as the next writer!
• Because I wanted to write a heroine with a sexual physical disability, and make this as natural in a romantic context as I could.
• Because I wanted to raise awareness about Lichen Sclerosus as a women’s health issue, AND because auto-immune diseases/illness of all kinds SUCK!
• Because one of the romance books I best remember reading about 20 years ago featured a heroine with huge breasts, (and not in a good way). I cannot remember the title of the book but the heroine played violin or bass brilliantly and was only comfortable when playing the instrument (because it hid her breasts). The story was as much about the romance between the H&H as it was about the heroine’s personal journey toward eventual breast-reduction surgery and a happier, healthier life. This resonated with me and still does! Too many perfect heroines, or heroines given token issues as character ‘flaws’.
• Because a friend in my mother’s group dared me to do it.
• Because it felt like a good idea at the time.
• Because I was interested in pushing the boundaries of ‘realistic’ contemporary romance, to see how readers responded and to see where this would go.
• Because I really want to write a heroine or hero (or both) who have genital herpes. DO YOU THINK THE ROMANCE WORLD IS READY FOR THIS??

Long live Jennifer Gates’ and her dodgy fanny. Loud and Proud!

It’s going to take more than summer loving to heal old wounds, but a remote beach, old friendships and a bit of sunshine might just spark a second chance at love.

When Jennifer Gates drives to Sea Breeze Golf Club to kick off date-night with her boyfriend, the last thing she expects is to find Golf Pro Jack giving one of his lady students a private—and very personal—lesson in bunker-play.

Lucky for Jenn, her best friend gives her the keys to the Culhane family’s beach shack on the white-pepper shores of Western Australia’s Geographe Bay. Jenn hopes a weekend on the coast with her young son will give her the space she needs to rebuild her confidence after Jack’s betrayal.

But she’s not the only person seeking sanctuary by the sea. Brayden Culhane is there too, and Jenn can’t look at Brayden without remembering the tequila-flavoured kiss they shared on the shack steps years ago.

As long-buried feelings are rekindled, and a friendship is renewed, Jenn knows it is more than lazy summer days bringing her mojo back. Romantic sunsets, ice-cold beers and the odd round of golf can only go so far, because this time trusting Brayden with her heart won’t be enough. Jenn has to learn to trust her body, too.