Ryan Steel and Ruby Lee are in love, but before they can move forward with a life together, they’re determined to bring resolution to the many unanswered questions they still face. To complicate matters, new threats arise with the arrival of two startling figures from their pasts.
As they race against time to find answers, unexpected forces pull them apart. Ryan's brothers, Talon and Jonah, rally to help, wanting to end the struggle and finally bring the last perpetrators to justice. But another riddle surfaces, deepening the rift between Ruby and Ryan. Will they salvage their relationship and finally unravel the mysteries surrounding them?
Meet The Author
#1 New York Times, #1 USA Today, and #1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling author Helen Hardt’s passion for the written word began with the books her mother read to her at bedtime. She wrote her first story at age six and hasn’t stopped since. In addition to being an award winning author of contemporary and historical romance and erotica, she’s a mother, a black belt in Taekwondo, a grammar geek, an appreciator of fine red wine, and a lover of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream. She writes from her home in Colorado, where she lives with her family. Helen loves to hear from readers.
Life in the fast lane is nothing new to Corbin James.
After completing his second stint in rehab, Corbin heads home to Riverview, determined to leave the music world behind and focus on his family, his songwriting, and his sobriety.
Crippled with debt but determined to make it on her own, Jolie Daniels pours her heart and soul into the town's bookstore. When Corbin finds his debut album in Jolie’s discount bin, sparks fly between the pretty bookstore owner and the rock star musician.
Corbin knows he’s nowhere near good enough for a sweet girl like Jolie . . .
But he wants to be.
When a record label approaches Corbin with the chance to make a musical comeback, he doesn’t think twice before saying no. He’s ready to settle down, and he wants to do it with Jolie. However, when her beloved bookstore is threatened with foreclosure, Corbin finds himself signing a contract that will take him away from home and back on tour for three months.
Can Corbin resist the temptations of the tour? Or will the loneliness of the road resurrect all the demons he’s worked so hard to bury?
It felt good to be writing songs again—even if he was the only one who might ever hear them.
Well, he and Jolie.
When Corbin let it slip that he’d been writing, Jolie begged him to bring his guitar to the river the next afternoon.
“The fall leaves are beautiful,” Corbin said, gazing at the mountains in the distance.
“They are. And you’re stalling.”
He couldn’t deny it. Corbin had never been one to be nervous about sharing new songs, but for some reason, this seemed different. Important. Meaningful. Maybe because the inspiration for these songs was sitting right in front of him, with her long hair in a braid and her green eyes bright with excitement as she eagerly awaited whatever he was about to play for her.
But that wasn’t the only reason he was nervous.
“I have a confession to make, Jolie.”
She crossed her legs in front of her. “Okay.”
“These songs . . . they’re the most I’ve ever written . . . while sober.”
Jolie nodded in understanding.
“I mean, there’s a very good chance they’ll suck. I just want you to be prepared. And I want you to be honest if they are.”
“They won’t suck.”
“How do you know?”
“Because they won’t.”
Corbin sighed heavily and pulled his guitar out of its case. Her faith unnerved him, maybe because he was used to letting everyone down. The very last thing he ever wanted to do was disappoint her.
Jolie must’ve sensed his anxiety, because before he placed his fingers on the strings, she gently reached for his hand.
“Don’t be nervous. It’s just me.”
Corbin smiled and squeezed her hand. She had no way of knowing it, but these days, it was her opinion that mattered most.
Taking a deep breath, he attached the capo to the neck of the guitar and strummed a few strings to make sure it was in tune.
Then he started to sing.
One song effortlessly flowed into the next, with Corbin’s soft tenor voice echoing across the water. He kept his eyes closed or on his guitar the entire time, too afraid to see Jolie’s reaction to the music. It was only when he played the final note in his last song that he finally allowed himself a glance at the beautiful woman sitting in front of him.
Tears streamed down her cheeks.
“I know they’re rough,” he said, his voice shaking slightly as he placed his guitar back in the case. “I’m still struggling with the bridge in that last one. My fault, since I wrote it that way. I was thinking maybe I should cut it out completely or—”
“Corbin—”
“And in the first song . . . the chorus needs some work. I’m thinking maybe trying it in a different key or something. I don’t know.”
“Corbin James, shut up and listen to me.”
He took a steadying breath and gazed at her.
“I loved them,” she said softly.
“Yeah?”
“Every single word. Every single note.”
Corbin lifted his hand and trailed his fingers along her cheek, wiping her tears away. He heard her breath hitch in her throat as he leaned closer. He knew it was risky. Kissing her could ruin everything before it even had the chance to turn into something . . . something that might be incredible and wonderful and life changing.
It was a chance he had to take.
Not kissing her simply wasn’t an option.
Not anymore.
Jolie’s eyes fluttered closed as he cupped her cheek, letting his nose glide against hers. With a quiet sigh, her lips parted in silent invitation, and he couldn’t help but smile when he felt her tremble against him.
“This could change everything,” Corbin whispered, kissing the hollow just below her ear.
“I hope so.”
Their arms wrapped around each other, and Corbin buried his face against her neck, inhaling deeply and drowning in her sweet scent. She moaned softly, and it was that moan that finally broke him.
Corbin had every intention of kissing her gently, but her moan, combined with her hands pulling him impossibly closer, sent his body into overdrive, and they both groaned when his mouth hungrily captured hers. Frantic and sweet. Frenzied and tender. With quiet sighs and gentle whispers and warm arms that held each other tight, they laid back against the autumn grass and kissed until the sun disappeared behind the mountains.
Sydney Logan writes heartfelt romances that feature strong women and the men who love them. In addition to her novels, she has penned several short stories and is a contributor to Chicken Soup for the Soul. She is a Netflix junkie, music lover, and a Vol for Life. Sydney and her husband make their home in beautiful East Tennessee.
When you live in a place where “turbo speed” internet is a slight step above dial-up, men carry on nine-year beard-growing challenges out of stubborn pride, and your brothers do things like nail all your panties to the outside of your cabin just for funsies, you tend to be a little crazy. You can call it a "locational" hazard, if you will.
That’s Tomahawk for you.
We rank people based on just how crazy they are. And the four craziest families in town are called the Wild Ones.
I’m on the bottom tier of those, so technically I’m not as crazy as the other Wild Ones. In fact, if it wasn’t for my brothers and their endless antics, I wouldn’t be considered a Wild One at all. Ahem. Sure. We’ll go with that.
Anyway, I have a best friend who endures it all with me. Benson Nolans is my one, constant favorite person.
Without him, I’d probably go really crazy, and not the fun kind. It’d be ridiculous, after three years of a flawless friendship, to mess that all up by falling for him.
I mean, even if we did get a little too close one night, it’d be reckless endangerment. Even if we did suddenly feel the chemistry that’s always been there and stop toeing the line, it’d be a foolish risk to take.
It’d be stupid to start hoping a really fun, but completely irrational, night with zero inhibitions might accidentally happen.
USA Today Bestselling Author of the Sterling Shore Series, Property of Drex, and Deadly Beauties.C.M. Owens always loves a good laugh, and lives and breathes the emotions of the characters she becomes attached to. Though she came from a family of musicians, she has zero abilities with instruments; she sounds like a strangled cat when she sings; and her dancing is downright embarrassing. Just ask anyone who knows her. Her creativity rests solely in the written word. Her family is grateful that she gave up her quest to become a famous singer.
At night, as she’s drifting off to sleep, I press my ear to the door and listen to her heart wrenching pleas to bring her father back. Her words are agony to my healing heart, but I cherish the sound of them, for that’s the only time I ever hear my beautiful daughter speak. Since her father died two years ago, she’s grown quiet and withdrawn. Catalina’s Valley is to be our new beginning, a place where my family and I can heal, but what we find there is so much more.
Scars mar his body. Pain has darkened his life…
Three years ago, I lost the two things I cherished most in the world. They were ripped from my arms in the most painful and cruel way. Since then, I’ve kept to myself, preferring to stay away from the pitying looks and the uttered rumors. Everything changed when she and her children barged into my life. It was an accident, not meant to happen, but I wonder if maybe it was.
A tortured soul meets a damaged heart…
A lonely man, a widowed woman, a carefree boy, and a broken girl… Can the four come together and help heal each other? Or will fear of the unknown and guilt of the past keep them apart?
Alex Grayson is the bestselling author of heart pounding, emotionally gripping contemporary romance including the Jaded Series, the Consumed Series, and two standalone novels. Her passion for books was reignited by a gift from her sister-in-law. After spending several years as a devoted reader and blogger, Alex decided to write and independently publish her first novel in 2014 (an endeavor that took a little longer than expected). The rest, as they say, is history.
Originally a southern girl, Alex now lives in Ohio with her husband, two children, two cats and dog. She loves the color blue, homemade lasagna, casually browsing real estate, and interacting with her readers. Visit her website, www.alexgraysonbooks.com, or find her on social media!
