Catherine Killean is a woman on a mission. When her new husband disappears,
leaving a suicide note, she is determined to find out why. She follows his
tracks first to the North Woods of Maine, then to Florida, and back again to
Maine. Along the way, she meets the tall, dark, gruff Holden Taggart, a Maine
guide.
In her doubt and loneliness she is drawn to Holden, leaving her
confused and adrift. What will happen when her questions about Jonathan are
finally answered? Will old loyalty or new love triumph?
Holden and Catherine meet in the North Woods, where moose and
bears are common.
Black bears are the most common bear in North America. They are
quite small, averaging four to five feet long and about 250 pounds. They
usually subsist on berries, roots, grasses, and insects, with an occasional
fish. They are not normally aggressive, although when harassed by a human
female such as Catherine and kept from their favorite dish—ripe
raspberries—they can become quite grumpy.
Good thing Holden was nearby to console Catherine after her
fright.
Excerpt (R): Panic Turns to Desire
Another wave of panic
washed over her. Holden started to rise but she held him closer. “Not yet.
Don’t go yet. Just give me a minute.”
Holden clucked his tongue.
“You’ll be fine. I promise.”
Catherine tried
unsuccessfully to loosen her grip. Holden got one arm free but used it to
stroke her hair. “Really, you’re perfectly safe now.” He brushed his lips
against her forehead. Then he lifted her chin. He looked at her, concerned.
Suddenly, he bent and kissed her lightly. “Are you okay?”
She raised her face to his.
Her heart constricted. He really is handsome, isn’t he? Especially when that
bad-tempered scowl softens. Before she could say anything, he kissed her
again, this time a little harder. In her shaky state, it felt comforting. She
kissed him back. An instant later, their arms were wrapped around each other
and Holden’s tongue had slipped between her teeth to explore the inside of her
mouth. She dropped back onto the bed. He followed her, bracing himself above
her, his kisses now passionate. When they broke apart, they were both panting.
A split second of decision, then his fingers went to the hem of her nightgown
and lifted. Catherine gazed into his eyes, willing him to continue.
He fumbled at the buttons
on the nightgown. Finally, in frustration, he took hold of the collar, tore it
in two and threw the pieces on the floor. She lay back on the blanket, her long
hair spread out on the pillow, drained of all rational thought, watching and waiting.
The moon bathed her body with a misty light. Holden unzipped his jeans and let
them drop. He was naked underneath and she thought fleetingly that he must have
thrown them on when she screamed. That means he sleeps in the nude. She
smiled at the thought, but he gave her no more time for reflection.
He fell on her, the length
of his body pressed to hers, his arousal obvious. He kissed her hungrily, and
then brushed his lips down her neck, continuing down to the right breast. She
arched her back to bring her nipple closer. Her chest heaved beneath his mouth.
He moved to the left breast and began to suckle. She gasped, the sensation too
pleasurable for words. He lifted his head, as though praying that the sound
didn’t mean she wanted him to stop. Instead, her arms went round his neck and
her legs around his back, pulling him closer. He had no choice but to enter
her. He didn’t hesitate. She was wet and ready for him. It didn’t take much,
she thought. Then she stopped thinking.
Like an escalator—one which
changed direction every few seconds—they went up, up, up, then down and down.
They began to move faster and faster. Now they were both steaming uphill, but
instead of flying off at the top of the stair, they met and came together.
Catherine let out a mewling sound like a baby eagle and went rigid in midair.
Holden held her up, ignoring the laws of gravity for just long enough to reach
the moment of pure ecstasy. Then they plummeted. Quiet. Peace. Comfort.
It could not last.
Catherine’s eyes flew open.
“What did we just do?” she whispered.
If Holden was wondering the
same thing, he didn’t let on. “Do?”
“I mean…I mean…” She
trailed off.
Holden gave her one more
deep kiss before pushing himself off. He shook his head. “I don’t know, Mrs.
Killean. It just happened. Sometimes it does. You were scared, you needed
comfort. That’s all. Forget about it.” He looked out the window. She looked
over his shoulder at the sky. The moon had gone down. It must be near dawn.
He turned to her. “The bear is gone. I’ll take my leave as well.”
Catherine was so thunderstruck she couldn’t think of anything to
say. Lost in wonder at what had just happened, she didn’t even hear him pull on
his pants and leave, closing the door softly behind him. Just before she fell
asleep, she whispered into the night, “Catherine…call me Catherine.”
I Heart Book Publishing, June 6, 2016
Ebook: words; Print: 227 p.
Contemporary romantic suspense, M/F, 2 flames
Buy Links:
About the Author
Although M. S. Spencer has lived or traveled in five continents,
the last thirty years were spent mostly in Washington, D.C. as a librarian, Congressional
staff assistant, speechwriter, editor, birdwatcher, kayaker, policy wonk,
non-profit director and parent. She has two fabulous grown children and a
perfect granddaughter. Ms. Spencer has published ten romantic suspense/murder
mystery novels, and currently divides her time between the Gulf coast of
Florida and a tiny village in Maine.
Contacts:
Author Pages:
I Heart Book Publishing:
Amazon Author Page:
M.
S. Spencer Tale Spinner
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Day
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federal statutory holiday celebrating the anniversary of the July 1, 1867,
enactment of the Constitution Act, 1867 (then called the British North America
Act, 1867), which united three colonies into a single country called Canada
within the British Empire. Originally called Dominion Day (French: Le Jour de
la Confederation) the holiday was renamed in 1982, the year the Canada was
passed. Canada observances take place throughout Canada as well as among
Canadians internationally. 
