Escape to Sanderson Ridge
Small‑town Australian drama full of heart, resilience, and unforgettable characters.
If you love emotional, character‑driven stories set against rugged landscapes and tight‑knit communities, you’ll fall in love with this outback series.
What readers are saying
Returning Home ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“The author has written the story well and used the emotions that are faced in daily life with exceptional grace towards the perception of the reader.
The setting of the story gave the reader an insight into how the characters lived and how they needed the support of the community and each other to achieve the desired outcome of the book.”
Melissa W.
Enjoyable Read ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Reality hits early for the family at Sanderson Ridge, and a tragic accident causes grief for the sisters and turmoil for all they’ve known.
It is an enjoyable read with a delicate, underlying subject, but dealt with sensitively. A good start to a series.”
Emma.
Great Start ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“A great start to a series. Can’t wait for the next book.”
Rose.
Why Readers Love the Sanderson Ridge Series
- Deeply emotional, character‑driven storytelling
- Authentic Australian setting with heart and grit
- Themes of family, resilience, and second chances
- Slow‑burn romance woven through real‑life challenges
- A cast of characters you’ll want to return to again and again
- Perfect for fans of small-town drama and heartfelt women’s fiction

Orange Sky: Sanderson Ridge Prequel
From the dusty streets of Sanderson Ridge to the gleaming skyscrapers of the city, Angela Martin thought she knew exactly what she wanted: escape, adventure, and a chance to prove herself. But between juggling dead-end jobs, navigating workplace rivalries, and handling romantic misadventures, she’s about to learn that adulting is harder than it looks.
This fresh, funny, and deeply authentic story about family ties, friendship, and finding your feet will resonate with anyone who’s ever felt caught between who they were and who they want to be.

The Growing Season: Sanderson Ridge Book 1
How far would you go for your family?
Twelve years after escaping Sanderson Ridge, Angela thought she’d finally found her place in the world. Life in the city was everything she had dreamed it would be. She had loyal friends and a successful marketing career, and her new boyfriend seemed to be a perfect match.
But when tragedy strikes, Angela returns to the outback town of Sanderson Ridge and the family farm that represents everything she escaped—small-town limitations and backbreaking work. When her younger sister, Charlotte, deals another blow, Angela must make some life-changing decisions while navigating local politics and handling a persistent investor who’ll stop at nothing to get his hands on the farm.
With the help of her reserved neighbour, Nate, Angela is about to learn how far she’ll go for her family and whether she can find herself and repair her relationships in the process.

All Wrapped Up: A Sanderson Ridge Christmas
The annual Christmas Fair is the highlight of the year in Sanderson Ridge, featuring tractor parades down the main street, homemade cake stalls, and a concert that brings everyone together. But this year’s fair will be remembered for all the wrong reasons.
Between the craft stalls and twinkling lights, two generations will discover that sometimes the most perfect moments happen away from the spotlight, and that Christmas magic works best when you’re willing to be vulnerable enough to let love in.
This cosy small-town Christmas novella proves that the best gifts come wrapped in second chances, honest conversations, and the courage to love again.

Courage and Dust: Sanderson Ridge Book 2
What happens when the life we’ve carefully built crumbles overnight?
Kit Brody’s life was exactly how she’d always pictured it. She has a loving husband, a perfect home, and a baby on the way. But when tragedy strikes, Kit must reflect on the reality of when “in sickness and in health” becomes more than just wedding vows. Between enduring a difficult pregnancy, running a cattle farm, and dealing with a marriage that’s forever changed, Kit is about to discover a strength she never knew she had and learn that some things are worth fighting for, even when the seasons seem endless.
Courage and Dust will resonate with anyone who has faced impossible choices or wondered if love is enough to sustain us through our darkest moments.

Lessons in Resilience: Sanderson Ridge Book 3
What if the town you stumbled into was the one you were always meant to find?
Emily thought Sanderson Ridge would be a quiet chapter in her life, just a small town teaching post and perhaps a chance to solve a secret she’s held for years. But Sanderson Ridge is a town holding its breath. Waiting for rain, waiting for relief, waiting for something to change.
What Emily didn’t count on was a community that would steal her heart, a fundraiser that would push her to her limits, and a ruggedly handsome but infuriating man named John who seems determined to get under her skin in the most inconvenient way possible. And as the community rallies together, Emily begins to wonder if she didn’t just come to Sanderson Ridge to teach. Maybe she came home.
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About the Author
Armed with an overactive imagination and a concerning amount of coffee, Australian author Alicia Hitchcock creates historical and contemporary novels filled with emotionally captivating drama, high-stakes tension, and heartfelt romance.
When not travelling through time and space on the page, Alicia can be found exploring historical sites and modern cafés with equal enthusiasm, people-watching and gathering stories that blur the boundaries between then and now.
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