The Long Paddock

A captivating love story about community and second chances.

Country-girl Cressida Knight fills her days with her farm, a mischievous pet bull called Reggie and her volunteer emergency services work. The busier she keeps, the less she thinks about the cowboy who left her behind. She’s convinced the small-town Woodlea grapevine that she’s moved on, but now it’s time to move on for real.

Champion bull rider Denham Rigby shares Cressy’s deep love for the land and all he’s ever wanted was to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Cressy through life. But three years ago a dark family secret left him no choice but to run. Now family duty gives him no choice but to return to the bush.

What Denham hasn’t come home to do is to hurt Cressy by rekindling their relationship. He’s nothing but a liability and the beautiful, self-reliant cowgirl has to stay off limits. But when faced with Cressy’s desperation to save her drought-stricken farm, he can’t keep his distance. He joins her out droving on the long paddock. Then when Woodlea is hit by more than just rodeo fever, they are further thrown together and Denham loses the battle to lock down his emotions.

But has he left it too late to stop running? And will the woman he’s always loved be prepared to risk her heart for a second time?

Praise for THE LONG PADDOCK:

‘Alissa brings romance and country together in just the right balance.’ — Tricia Stringer, Australian bestselling author

‘Alissa Callen has captured the heart of the country and woven it into a captivating story of love, hope and persistence against the odds. This book has brought me smiles and moments where I have really connected with the characters or smiled at those familiar small town events and the way everyone pulls together to make them a success. For pure feel-good reading you’d be hard pressed to go past Alissa Callen. ’ — Shelagh Merlin (Netgalley)

‘A rich, powerful story that touches to close to the problems that small communities are facing.’ — Natasha Tambiah (Netgalley)

‘The Long Paddock by Alissa Callen is a feel good story full of likeable characters. Describing the many highlights and challenges of farm-life in a small town rural setting. A vast tale of broken hearts, second chances and family secrets.’ — Talking Books (Netgalley)

‘The Long Paddock is a delightful and inspiring rural novel that hits all the right boxes: an alpha male and his equally stubborn childhood sweet heart, a rather cheeky bull with a carrot addiction, a cattle dog with swinging loyalties and bucket loads of mystery, small town gossip, and a good dash of romance thrown in as well. More importantly though, The Long Paddock has so much heart and soul that it is sure to grip the reader until the very last page.’ — Jess Fitzpatrick (Netgalley)

‘This a beautiful, moving, and emotional story that shows us the love of the small town country community.’ — Helen Sibbritt (Netgalley)