The View From Here

Emma Talbot is used to having the floor drop out on her. When life lands her at the HR Bar Ranch, she doesn’t plan to stay long, especially since her coworkers hate her and her supervisor likes her even less. Even her cranky horse Padlock is giving her problems. Little by little, Emma reluctantly finds herself caring about the people on the ranch. Through personal tragedy, hardship, loss, and a freak summer snowstorm, Emma grows closer to the staff at HR Bar, especially the lonely head wrangler, Mike. When the end of the summer comes, Emma must decide if what she’s found on the ranch is real or yet another of life’s cruel jokes. A non-traditional romance told in the first person with a clever narrative voice, THE VIEW FROM HERE is a heart-felt story of love, friendship, adventure, and finding a place to belong. EXCERPT: “Are you alright?” I looked up at him, hat brims nearly brushing. “I’m…fine.” I tried to take a step. Pins and needles shot through my frozen feet. Maybe I was colder then I thought. “I’m…chilly. No, I’m freezing. And I’m hungry. And I’m pissed as hell that Brandy gave me a short-range radio and and pissed as hell that it’s snowing in freaking June. My back is sore and I can’t feel my fingers. But I’m fine.” He let out a little choke that I think was a laugh and then pulled me forward and kissed me full on the mouth. Crushed up against his denim coat, hat knocked to the ground, I could only stand rigid from surprise as he squashed the air from my lungs, pulling me tight to his chest. He took his time, too, and I started kissing him right back, letting all the worry that was stiffening my spine melt out into the snow. And just a suddenly as it happened, it was over, and he was dusting off my hat and plopping it back on my head. “Well, I’ve got six thermal sleeping bags, a heater, and a bundle of sandwiches from Megs.” He climbed up on the roan, staring back at me. “Come on.” He said, with an impatient voice but a kindly wink. “I’m starving. ” Without waiting for me to mount, he started down into the valley. After scrambling aboard Shorty best I could with frozen feet, I followed, grateful he couldn’t see the warmth spreading across my cheeks, despite the pickup of the wind. 99,800 words, some adult language and themes.