Brave. My hero is a forest firefighter working at a nature reserve. He dreams of bigger challenges. My heroine is a widow desperate to find a part of herself she'd lost.
Stubborn. Neither one of them gives up easily and neither one of them accepts a loss easily. The biggest time that's a problem? When they're going head to head in a race up the mountains.
Beautiful. I've lucky enough to have spent some time tromping through state and national parks with a camera, so it was easy to dream up a nature reserve that combined some of the prettiest places I've seen and some I'd like to see someday soon.
Romantic. Romance comes in a lot of different packages. Sometimes it's candlelight and roses. It could also be a moonlit walk to see otters.
Hopeful. This is one I hope applies to every story I write, but I have a hero afraid he'll never break out of his small home town and then afraid he'll lose everything when he does. But it's going to work out. Then there's a woman who's lost the husband she'd made all these plans with and a piece of herself, the piece that drove her to take risks and live life fully. But Averycan go home again, and surrounded by the people who really know her, she can find that part of her that she loves.
If you're looking for a any of these words, consider Smoky Mountain Sweethearts. Here's the blurb:
How close is too close to the flame?
Sam Blackburn excels at fighting fire with fire in Tennessee, whether it's putting out deadly forest blazes or rescuing his old friend, widow Avery Montague, who's lost her nerve on a steep mountain cliff. What happened to the daring, adventure-loving teenager who wasn't afraid of anything? As kids, Avery was always pushing Sam to be brave, to be better, so he's ready to return the favor. Except he's up for his dream job in Colorado as a hotshot smoke jumper, and he can't be in two places at once. His future is fraught with risk, but what's the point of living if you don't take chances? He just wants Avery to find the courage to go after what she wants, and he's hoping it's him…
Sam Blackburn excels at fighting fire with fire in Tennessee, whether it's putting out deadly forest blazes or rescuing his old friend, widow Avery Montague, who's lost her nerve on a steep mountain cliff. What happened to the daring, adventure-loving teenager who wasn't afraid of anything? As kids, Avery was always pushing Sam to be brave, to be better, so he's ready to return the favor. Except he's up for his dream job in Colorado as a hotshot smoke jumper, and he can't be in two places at once. His future is fraught with risk, but what's the point of living if you don't take chances? He just wants Avery to find the courage to go after what she wants, and he's hoping it's him…
And an excerpt:
The thing about epiphanies was
that they never came when Avery wanted them to. After nearly a solid week of
living under her mother’s extremely watchful eye, it had become clear they both
needed a break from all their new togetherness.
Borrowing the car had been her first step to
freedom. When her mother asked for a destination, only one place came to mind.
It had been
ten years since
she’d made the easy hike up to Yanu Falls inside the park, but she would never forget the exhilaration of standing on the cliff that overlooked the
falls which led to a cove of Otter Lake.
Since her mother was hovering again, Avery had
grabbed a water bottle, waved her cell phone, and said she’d be back that
afternoon. After so many years of living in the city, even driving the
wide-open road winding up to the Otter Lake trailhead rolled off the weight of
years.
The first inkling that not everything would go
according to her plan was when she’d collapsed, panting, on the first bench
along the trail, the one she and her friends had always called “Better Off
Dead.”
Because anyone who had to stop there to rest
already had one foot in the grave.
She and her friends had been punks, obviously.
Otter Lake may be a compilation of a variety of nature reserves as you say, Cheryl, but you’ve made it so appealing I want to go there! I loved the excerpt, especially the “better off dead” bench and look forward to meeting Avery and Sam. Congratulations on your new book!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your new book, Cheryl. I'm jumping over to Amazon to order my copy. I love the cover, too. And yes, you were very lucky to have hiked and walked all those lovely parks. I love doing that. Best of luck!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the new series. Intriguing!
ReplyDeleteLove the excerpt, and the cover, too. We're so lucky to have that incredible part. And I only know a bit of it. Congratulations on your book and your series!
ReplyDeleteI loved Sam and Avery's story. They're so good together, and I won't spoil it but the phrase they text each other is so perfect I may print it out and pin it to the wall. So good.
ReplyDeleteAnything with the words Smoky Mountains and I’m all in. Love the cover. Love the excerpt. I ordered it a few days ago from Harlequin and am trying to wait patiently to receive it.
ReplyDeleteRight now I’m totally engaged in Heart’s Refuge, wondering how you’ve so brilliantly accomplished getting me to love a former bully.
Congratulations on the new release. I LOVE your books!!
Okay, now I want to go to Tennessee!! Congrats on the new release, Cheryl! I love your books and can't wait to read this one. <3
ReplyDeleteCheryl, I just finished reading all of this month's Heartwarming books, and need to say they are all excellent. I finished in time for the arrival today of next month's stories. Loved your characters and of course the setting.
ReplyDeleteYour excerpt sounds amazing! I love the setting and can't wait to read it!
ReplyDelete