BLURB: Shelby Summers has serious problems. A mysterious stranger, a
demanding boss, a lost child and two stray dogs are only the beginning…
During a wild storm, Shelby Summers is
rescued by a mysterious stranger who then disappears, leaving no way for her to
thank him. The man haunts her memory. At twenty-two, Shelby is trying to
understand why she attracts men who don’t respect her. Her traumatic
adolescence has left scars. How can she become assertive and find a loving
partner?
Fate brings Shelby and her rescuer together
again. Nathan Monroe, a country veterinarian, has reluctantly moved with his
four-year-old daughter Caity to the city. He needs to begin life again after a
personal tragedy.
When he offers Shelby employment as a nanny
for Caity, she is hopeful. Might she even build a life with this enigmatic man,
his daughter, and the two stray dogs that need a home? Shelby must make a
confronting choice. It is time to claim her personal strength, and face her
worst fear of all.
LINKS.
Amazon.com
Author Bio
Margaret Sutherland is a New Zealand
author who lives in Australia. She has recently turned from general novel
writing to a new category; romance with dogs. Her romantic stories are grounded
in reality, with dogs playing a part in the stories. Enthusiastic 5 star reviews encourage this
author to enjoy this new stage of her impressive writing career. Readers who
like well-crafted writing, a good story and the ‘Aaw!’ factor will love these
romantic tales.
More information is on her website at
www.margaretsutherland.com
Excerpt
Nathan Monroe
parked his mud-splattered Nissan Patrol on the cliff top overlooking the beach
and sat looking down at the turmoil of whitecaps and hissing surf. The wild,
lonely vista matched his mood. The past came with you, however far you
traveled.
Shrugging on his oilskin coat, he stepped
out into the rain and stood facing the icy southerly. The wind whipped his
brown hair as he strode to the cliff edge. Legs planted apart, arms hugging his
chest, he was a dark, unapproachable figure, defiant in his stance. At the end
of the beach, spray geysered high as waves smashed onto the rocks. Lashing
rain, almost horizontal, stung his face and he pulled up the black hood. His
vision was blurred as he squinted, peering downwards. Had he imagined movement
on the beach? A vague shape
interrupted the otherwise deserted vista. Large logs, washed up and
rolled about by the ferocity of the current? Surely not a swimmer on such a
day? An uneasy premonition gripped him. Instinctively he began to run downhill,
digging the heels of his boots into the steep track to gain purchase as his
stride lengthened.
His senses kicked in. He heard screams for
help and saw the horse half-buried in black mud. The smeared rider, also caught
in the sinkhole, was supporting the terrified animal’s neck above the
encroaching waves. The tide was coming in.
“Please help.” The boy sounded desperate.
“Help us!”
Nathan had reached
the perimeter of the sand and the boy waved frantically. “Get back! If you get
caught, we’ll all...”
“We’ll have you both out in a jiffy.”
Would he? Time was critical. Stay calm. His trained veterinary mind went into
analytical mode. The Nissan’s towing capacity would easily handle a horse
weighing around four or five hundred kilograms. Fortunately he had heavy ropes.
He'd even tossed his stun gun in with his vet case before driving down from
Roma for the interview. He must get the four wheel drive down to the beach, get
the horse roped, free the rider then use the vehicle to ease the horse free.
“Try
not to panic. Talk to your horse. Keep him calm if possible. I’m bringing
transport now.”
The boy’s muddy features dissolved into
terror at the prospect of being left alone. He was only a teenager, as far as
Nathan could judge. The waves were already creeping closer. Would he have time
to carry out a rescue? The thought of the boy and his horse vanishing from
sight was too horrible to bear.
“Hang in there!” Turning, he sprinted
towards the steep track. Was it the only vehicle access? He’d be at a forty
five degree angle, and he had no time to consider tire pressure. Compelled by
the plea of the trapped boy, he had to stop calculating and simply do it.
Panting, he arrived at the Nissan, engaged the low range gear and took an
involuntary deep breath as he went over the edge and the horizon disappeared.
Plunging down the steep slope, the Nissan
angled sharply, on the verge of rolling. Nathan forced that image out of his
head and concentrated on reaching the beach below. The tires slipped and
skidded, the body swaying from side to side and lurching horribly as it hit
buried logs and debris. Miraculously, he was on the beach, desperately seeking
traction in the sand.
The rider and horse looked smaller, as
though they’d sunk further into the treacherous pit. He could see the muddy arm
flail, waving to him. Poor kid! This must be what pure terror felt like. As he
came closer, he could see the whites of the horse’s eyes as it struggled to
break free.
“Hold on, fella!” Delivering the steady
patter of words he’d so often used to calm a birthing cow or a sheep tangled in
a barbed wire fence, Nathan grabbed the heaviest ropes.
.jpg)
No comments:
Post a Comment