Birthday Girl: The Birthday Romance Series, #1

By Rachel Rinetti

Birthday Girl: Book One in The Birthday Romance Series. 

Angie, a single, straight-laced lawyer, doesn't date and hates birthdays…

But she's not getting out of celebrating her twenty-eighth birthday when her best friend whisks her away to the Snowy Mountains for a surprise Brumby spotting tour. Angie has never been to the Snowy Mountains, let alone ridden a horse. And she never imagined she'd meet Liam, the sexy cowboy and expert horseman, who sets her heart (and soul) on fire.  

Set in the beautiful landscape of the Australian Snowy Mountains, this short story will make you believe birthday wishes do come true. 

Birthday Girl is the first book in The Birthday Romance Series by Rachel Rinetti.

Other books in the series: 
Book 2, Birthday Boy 
Book 3, Birthday Wish

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rachel Rinetti
• Release date: Feb 25, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386898887

Rachel Rinetti

Rachel Rinetti is a communication professional by day and an author, dreamer and law student by night. She’s a mumma to a badass Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, a solo traveller and self-love advocate. Rachel wrote her first novel at 22. It was an angsty, young adult romance set in the country that she’s hidden in a drawer to never see the light of day. After finishing that first book, she caught the writing bug. Rachel lives in Canberra (Australia) with her pooch, Bailey J and a large collection of romance novels and law textbooks. When she’s not writing or studying, she likes making soy candles, meditating and going on adventures on the roads less travelled! The Birthday Romance Series is her first series. 

Book preview

Chapter one

THE SILVER HONDA SCREECHED to a halt on the gravel driveway, sending rocks flying into the air.

‘Lizzie, for crying out loud!’ Angie grabbed the seatbelt to stop herself launching straight through the windscreen.

‘Sorry. I might still be a little drunk from last night,’ Lizzie quipped, almost proud of herself.

Angie glared at her best friend. They’d been out on the town the night before. It was an invitation Angie had begrudgingly accepted at five thirty on Friday afternoon. Like always, Lizzie had a good time dancing and binge drinking before passing out on Angie’s couch in her work clothes. Angie had offered to drive today, but Lizzie insisted Angie’s birthday trip be kept a secret until they arrived at the mystery location.

‘Here we are,’ Lizzie announced.

They both sat in the humming Honda and Angie leaned towards the windscreen to take a look around. They were in the country alright, but for what? Lizzie still hadn’t let the secret slip.

To the left of the driveway stood an old homestead. The orange brick reminded Angie of the terracotta pots her mum used for her outdoor plants. The freshly mown grass was complimented by a garden of natives and a hedge of lavender running around the perimeter of the fence. A small birdbath sat in the corner of the backyard, soaking up the shade of the old, giant gum trees. A kookaburra perched on the edge, dipping its beak into the water for a drink.

There was a sign on the gate, swaying to the rhythm of the wind.  

‘Brumby-spotting?’ Angie asked.

‘You betcha. What’s better than riding a horse? Riding a tame horse while you spot wild horses in their natural habitat. Pretty cool, huh?’

A single large gum tree hung its leaves over a faded green shed to the right of the gravel driveway. Three kookaburras sat on a branch humming their koo-kaas. The kookaburra in the bird bath swooped to the ground before flying majestically to the branch where the others were sitting.

‘Ooo la la. Looks like we might have a cowboy on our hands today,’ Lizzie cooed and pointed to a lone man in dark blue jeans, a black and red flannelette shirt, and an Akubra hat to finish off the look.

Angie swallowed.

A cowboy?  

Could he hear her thoughts? He changed his direction and headed towards them. His boots clipped against the gravel and he held a rope in either hand with a tight grip, forcing the veins in his forearms to pop. Wispy brunette hair sat underneath the Akubra, and his tan resembled the colour of butterscotch.

‘He’s coming this way. Let’s roll.’ Lizzie opened the driver door. She swung both legs outside and