A Trail of Love

A TRAIL OF LOVE

Available now in digital format, print in November 2008

from The Wild Rose Press

BLURB: Kerrie is on the run from a painful past, and she hides in plain sight as a summer employee in the majestic setting of Glacier National Park. Lonely and isolated from the family and friends she left behind, she dreams of the day when a kind and gentle man will say to her: “I fell in love with you the first time I saw you across the room.”

Dace Mitchell could be that man! When the handsome bear ranger rescues Kerrie from her own foolish behavior...more than once, she finds herself drawn to him against her will...until she discovers he’s already involved with someone else.

When Kerrie begins to get mysterious silent phone calls, it seems likely that the past has caught up to her. Can Dace save her from a violent man who will stop at nothing to have her?

EXCERPT

Dace cleaned off the battery posts and reattached the cables. He got back in the truck and turned the ignition over. The truck started right up. Kerrie was sure she actually heard it purring under his care.

Dace unfolded his long legs from the small truck and got out.

“There you go,” he said with a grin as Kerrie kept her distance.

“Thank you, Dace. I really appreciate your help. I should get one of those gizmos so I don’t have to stand by my dead car like a helpless female.”

His eyebrows shot up, and he tilted his head inquiringly. “I doubt you’re helpless. I’ve discovered you women are pretty handy when you need to be.”

You women? Ah, yes, Sandy.

“Well, thanks again, Dace. I appreciate it. Goodnight.”

“Goodnight, Kerrie,” he said quietly before he walked off into the dark toward his own truck.

****

Dace climbed in his truck and watched Kerrie pull out of the parking lot. He watched her taillights disappear into the night as he tried to make heads or tails of the evening. What was with that woman? For that matter, what was with him? He had better things to do than stalk an unwilling female. Didn’t he?

A vision of his sterile, lonely apartment in government housing popped into view. He hadn’t even hooked up cable for television since he’d been there. What was the use? He didn’t really like staying in the place anyway. It seemed rather dreary. The review of his travels brought the emptiness of his existence up for review.

Okay, so maybe he didn’t have anything better to do than stalk an unwilling female.

Still, there was something in those beautiful brown eyes of hers that compelled him. Every now and then, he caught her looking at him with an expression of...

With a shake of his head and a rueful grin on his face, Dace put the truck into gear and pulled out onto the dark road. Loneliness was turning him into a hopeless romantic, for Pete’s sake.

The expression in her eyes when she looked at him. What was it?

Longing?

Dace bit his lower lip. Nah! Knock it off. If anything, Kerrie acted like she would be happy to see the last of him. For the most part.

He smiled at the last thought. There was something about her, and he wasn’t going to be satisfied until he knew what it was...or she gave him firm marching orders. With a sigh, he pondered the night ahead, hoping he would be able to get some sleep...though that seemed unlikely. The silky dark curls of a complicated woman had been interrupting his sleep for the past few nights.

REVIEWS

Five Hearts and A Recommended Read!

"Ms. McBride wrote this story from the heart and she even had me laughing at loud during some of the scenes. Pick up a copy of this story. I assure you that you won’t be disappointed. You did a fantastic job, Bess!"

Diana Coyle/Night Owl Romance, June 2008

http://www.nightowlromance.com/nightowlromance/reviews/Review.asp?ReviewId=2005

An Outstanding Read from Simply Romance Reviews!

I really enjoyed reading A Trail of Love by Bess McBride. I read it straight through with only a brief break for obvious reasons...Trust me when I say that the ending is well worth it. I can’t recall the last time I read a book that left me on the edge of my seat, shushing my kids and husband, dying to find out how each of the characters would react to the twists and turns that molded them into who they are. I was blown away by the inner strength of an abused woman and the love and persistence of a sympathetic man and how they found their way into each other’s arms in spite of life’s pits and potholes.

Simply Romance Reviews/Laura/Aug 08
http://www.simplyromancereviews.com/srrreviews/atrailoflove.aspx