In at the Deep End

What woman doesn't love a real-life hero? Harriet Scott, for one. The fiercely independent daughter of famous adventurers, she grew up travelling the world on the environmental flagship The Watch. So when Harriet's ship sinks in Antarctica and she has to be rescued by Commander Per Amundsen, an infuriatingly capable Norwegian naval officer and living breathing action hero, her world is turned upside down.

Like their namesakes, the original Scott and Amundsen who competed to reach the South Pole first, Per and Harriet have different ways of doing things. Per thinks Harriet is an accident waiting to happen; Harriet thinks Per is a control freak. But when Harriet realises that Per is the only one who can help her fund the new ship she desperately wants, she is forced to cooperate with him.

Per refuses to assist unless Harriet allows him to teach her to swim. But there is more to Harriet's terrible fear of water than meets the eye. Can Harriet face her fears and come to terms with the trauma and loss of her past? And will she begin to appreciate that some risks are well worth taking-and that polar opposites can, in fact, attract?

About the author

Penelope Janu is an Australian author who writes contemporary fiction about clever and adventurous women who don't mean to fall in love, but do.

Penelope was a lawyer for many years and has a passion for the environment. She, like her characters, is prepared for any adventure, even though she has a terrible sense of direction. She lives on a farm and has six children, big dogs, a distracting husband and never enough time to write.

Penelope's eighth novel, Sunshine through the Rain, was published by HarperCollins in December 2023, and is available in print and as an ebook. HarperCollins have also published earlier novels, In at the Deep End, On the Right Track, Up on Horseshoe Hill, Starting From Scratch, Clouds on the Horizon and Shelter from the Storm. Two novellas, The Six Rules of Christmas, and The Countdown to Christmas, were published in 2020 and 2023.

• Dimensions: 5.12 x 0.98 x 7.83 inches