Janet Gover Bio

Born in Melbourne, Australia, Janet Gover grew up in a small country town in Queensland. She studied journalism and politics at the University of Queensland and then went on to become a television journalist in Brisbane, Sydney, Hong Kong and London. 

With parents who loved to read, Gover grew up surrounded by books, and in the small bush town she grew up in, there wasn’t a lot to do other than read and ride her ponies. Knowing that it was hard to make a living riding ponies, writing was always going to be where she ended up. 

She spent much of her time as an on-the-road reporter, covering everything from natural disasters to meeting a few movie stars and a dolphin. From there, Gover moved to a specialist crime and court reporter and then changed her focus to politics. After several years spent in front of the camera as a reporter, she moved behind the camera as a programme producer and assignments editor. 

While working in Hong Kong, Janet met her husband, and they now live in London. 

Becoming a romance writer

Janet Gover wrote her first novel at the age of 11, where a young girl was rescued from two handsome men. Her first published story came in 2002 with The Last Dragon, a short story.

Her first novel, The Farmer Needs a Wife, was published in 2009 and was set in Australia, featuring men on horses. This has been a consistent theme through most of her books. 

Janet Gover books in order 

Janet Gover has published a series, Coorah Creek, as well as several standalone novels. She has also been a contributing author in Loves Me, Loves Me Not (2009) and 100 Stories for Queensland. 

Coorah Creek Series

• Flight to Coorah Creek (2014)

• Christmas at Coorah Creek (2015)

• The Wild One (2015)

• Little Girl Lost (2016)

• Wedding Bells by the Creek (2017)

Standalone Novels

• The Farmer Needs a Wife (2009)

• The Bachelor and Spinster Ball (2009)

• Girl Racers (2010)

• Bring Me Sunshine (2013)

• Marrying the Rebel Prince (2018)

• The Lawson Sisters (2020)

• Close to Home (2021)

• The Library at Wagtail Ridge (2022)

• The Lawson Legacy (2024)

• The Knitting Club at Wagtail Ridge (2025)

• Safe Haven at Wagtail Ridge (2026)

Published as Juliet Bell

• The Heights (2018)

• The Other Wife (2019)

Both of these books are currently out of print

Janet Gover has also published several short stories, many of which are available to read on her website. 

Writing as Juliet Bell

Juliet Bell is the pen name created by authors Janet Gover and Alison May, and is used for novels they collaborate on. The pen name was first created at a writer’s conference, when there was a chance remark about heroes who are far from heroic. Writing as Juliet Bell allows Janet and Alison to explore the darker side of relationships through their shared interest in misunderstood classic fiction.