Wildfire
and Roses
by
Hope Malory
Genre:
Contemporary Romance
Sparks
fly when tenacious mountain climber and hiker Beasley McLemore meets
hot smokejumper Will Gregor on a search and rescue mission in
Yosemite. Getting together, however, isn’t easy. Strong-willed
Beasley is bent on building a thriving landscaping business back home
in the foothills of the majestic Smoky Mountains. Busy working 24/7,
she has no time or energy for a man in her life...she
thinks.
Scorched
by love in his past, Will is content to live near awe-inspiring Lake
Tahoe where he saves lives and forests as a remote wildland
firefighter. He doesn’t need a committed relationship complicating
his dangerous lifestyle...he thinks.
Through
life-changing events and a family mystery, each must question long
held beliefs about work, love, and life. Looming over their
blossoming love affair is the 2,400 miles separating their homes and
livelihoods. Will love keep them together or distance tear them
apart?
An opening in the trees revealed thickets growing beside a creek
with green algae coating the rocks. The afternoon heat working in tandem with
the heavy downpour gave way to sweltering humidity. She removed her rain and
sweat-soaked shirt in favor of the cooler camisole underneath. Although she had
packed a light waterproof jacket, the storm came without warning. The almost
horizontal, wind-driven rain swept the ridge, plastering her hair to her head.
Drenched, their clothes clung to their bodies. It was impossible not to notice
Will’s ripped torso underneath his wet shirt. Stop looking at his body. She observed his stolen glance at
her assets when she took off the outer layer. To rid her mind of those
thoughts, she shook her head and turned her attention back to the task. She
agonized about the frightened little boy, knowing the first twenty-four hours
were the most critical. Would he survive the night if they didn’t locate him
soon? A sense of unease gnawed at her.
At the same moment she turned toward Ranger Walsh to ask what
they would do if they didn’t find him before dark, thunder roared through the
forest making her words inaudible. The crunch of twigs and leaves beneath their
feet turned into splashes as the rain persisted. They slogged through
ankle-deep mud, around jutting rocks, and over blown-down trunks and branches.
The wind whipped, and the downpour continued, slowing their progress.
The trail narrowed with sharp drop-offs on the left side.
Walking in a single line, Ranger Walsh led, Will followed him, and she took the
rear position. In a fraction of a second, she recognized what was happening
ahead. Seized by fear, she cried out as Will stepped in a pool of mud, lost his
footing, and tumbled down the side of a cliff.
***
Transported
by books as a child, Hope Malory developed an interest in writing in
second grade when she discovered poetry. Those early seeds, along
with a penchant for happy endings, led her to fulfill her dream of
becoming a romance novelist.
After
thirty years in the education field, Hope traded in a commute,
traffic, and early mornings for inventing strong-willed characters
and putting them in unpredictable situations.
Now,
whether relaxing on the beach, traveling with her husband, or
spending time at home, she is busy writing her next novel.
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2 comments:
Thank you for hosting and featuring Wildfire and Roses on your blog today!
Love the cover! Interesting blurb and excerpt - makes me want more!
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