White Water Passion
Dawn Luedecke
Genre: Historical Romance
Publisher: Kensington
Date of Publication: November 12, 2017
ISBN: 978-1516103461
ASIN: B06VXY79YL
Number of pages: 301
Word Count: 89k
Tagline: Only by working together can they save their mill…and their future.
Book Description:
The Montana Territory is one of the last outposts of the American West—where adventure as grand as the wide-open plains is around every corner, and passion as wild as the land itself beats in every heart . . .
Elizabeth Sanders isn’t afraid of anything, except what will happen to her beloved town if the Big Mountain Lumber Mill is destroyed. When she overhears a plot to do just that, she vows to put a stop to it, even if it means dressing as a young lumberjack to expose the saboteur. There’s only one problem with her plan—her brother’s handsome friend and fellow logger Garrett Jones, who arouses a desire within her soul as fierce as the river rapids.
When Garrett discovers that the odd new lad on the crew is in fact Beth, he’s shocked. A logging camp is no place for a young woman—especially the spirited beauty he’s admired for so long. Keeping her safe is easier said than done, however, as the attraction between them flares into true passion. As the danger mounts, Beth and Garrett must work together to survive the last log run down the wild rapids and claim any chance of saving the mill—and their chance at a future .
“Well written, well researched. Like the river, this plot runs faster and faster. Readers won’t be able to put it down.”
—New York Times bestselling author Jodi Thomas
Excerpt:
Missoula
Montana, 1888
Montana, 1888
Elizabeth
Sanders could vanish right now, and no one would notice. She blended in with
every other woman by wearing her matching pinstriped walking skirt and blouse.
Each store clerk and patron in Missoula, focused on their affairs without a
care to their neighbor, would fail to notice if she walked through Higgins
Street naked, let alone disappeared into thin air. They certainly wouldn’t look
twice when she came back this way a different person.
Sanders could vanish right now, and no one would notice. She blended in with
every other woman by wearing her matching pinstriped walking skirt and blouse.
Each store clerk and patron in Missoula, focused on their affairs without a
care to their neighbor, would fail to notice if she walked through Higgins
Street naked, let alone disappeared into thin air. They certainly wouldn’t look
twice when she came back this way a different person.
Hundreds of
people bustled in the heat of the Montana sun doing the same old things, the
same old ways, with nothing to show for their trouble but dirty shoes. If
Elizabeth was going to get her shoes dirty, she preferred to have fun doing
it…the Devil May Care way.
people bustled in the heat of the Montana sun doing the same old things, the
same old ways, with nothing to show for their trouble but dirty shoes. If
Elizabeth was going to get her shoes dirty, she preferred to have fun doing
it…the Devil May Care way.
Navigating the
pedestrian-riddled streets was treacherous at best. Times like this made her
wish she’d taken her grandmother’s buggy. At least then she wouldn’t be jostled
around like a dirty shirt in a churning wash bin. A deep exhale boosted her
determination enough to risk a step to the side to duck around a particularly
slow matriarch. The small triumph lasted only a moment before she slammed into
a hard chest.
pedestrian-riddled streets was treacherous at best. Times like this made her
wish she’d taken her grandmother’s buggy. At least then she wouldn’t be jostled
around like a dirty shirt in a churning wash bin. A deep exhale boosted her
determination enough to risk a step to the side to duck around a particularly
slow matriarch. The small triumph lasted only a moment before she slammed into
a hard chest.
The soft fabric
of a well-tailored suit skimmed her cheek a split second before warm hands
reached out to steady her. The touch—firm, yet gentle—made her feel like she
now balanced on the back of a high-strung and wild mustang as it fled down a
hill with uncontrolled freedom. She hadn’t needed the extra hand. Wasn’t in
danger of falling over. What sort of dullard rescues a woman in no need of
liberation? She pulled away and adjusted her skirts as he let go. Her mind
focused once more.
of a well-tailored suit skimmed her cheek a split second before warm hands
reached out to steady her. The touch—firm, yet gentle—made her feel like she
now balanced on the back of a high-strung and wild mustang as it fled down a
hill with uncontrolled freedom. She hadn’t needed the extra hand. Wasn’t in
danger of falling over. What sort of dullard rescues a woman in no need of
liberation? She pulled away and adjusted her skirts as he let go. Her mind
focused once more.
“Pardon me.” She
glanced up to a familiar face. One she’d seen many times in her dreams. Her
breath failed as her brother’s friend, Garrett Jones, peered down at her with
silver-clouded eyes. Oh, how he made the world spin whenever he drew near. His
handsome, yet rugged, face made her fingers ache to touch the severe lines of
his jaw. The rich scent of tobacco infused with lavender and some sort of
citrus drifted on the breeze. Eau de Cologne. A fragrance only the wealthiest
of men in Montana could afford. A scent belying the canvas pants, spiked boots,
and sturdy cotton shirt he sported every time she’d seen him on the train
platform.
glanced up to a familiar face. One she’d seen many times in her dreams. Her
breath failed as her brother’s friend, Garrett Jones, peered down at her with
silver-clouded eyes. Oh, how he made the world spin whenever he drew near. His
handsome, yet rugged, face made her fingers ache to touch the severe lines of
his jaw. The rich scent of tobacco infused with lavender and some sort of
citrus drifted on the breeze. Eau de Cologne. A fragrance only the wealthiest
of men in Montana could afford. A scent belying the canvas pants, spiked boots,
and sturdy cotton shirt he sported every time she’d seen him on the train
platform.
“Elizabeth.” Did
he say her name, or did she dream the word? Oh to be noticed by a man like
Garrett Jones. The only man who could make butterflies flit around in her
stomach and fear slide through her chest in the same confusing moment.
he say her name, or did she dream the word? Oh to be noticed by a man like
Garrett Jones. The only man who could make butterflies flit around in her
stomach and fear slide through her chest in the same confusing moment.
The hem of her
dress hovered mere inches from his feet. Her face heated and heart began to
pound. Try as she might, she couldn’t keep her eyes off the man who led the
Devil May Care boys. The man who held her future in his hands if she succeeded
in becoming part of his crew at the logging camp. If things went the way she
planned, she’d be staring into his amber and steel speckled eyes for the rest
of the season. Did he truly recognize her after all these years of no more than
a passing glance?
dress hovered mere inches from his feet. Her face heated and heart began to
pound. Try as she might, she couldn’t keep her eyes off the man who led the
Devil May Care boys. The man who held her future in his hands if she succeeded
in becoming part of his crew at the logging camp. If things went the way she
planned, she’d be staring into his amber and steel speckled eyes for the rest
of the season. Did he truly recognize her after all these years of no more than
a passing glance?
About the Author:
A country girl born and bred, Dawn Luedecke has spent most of her life surrounded by horses, country folk, and the wild terrain of Nevada, Idaho and Montana. As a child she would spend many afternoons reading books, watching western classics, and Rogers and Hammerstein movies. When she grew up she decided to leave the quiet country life for a chance to find adventure by serving a successful tour in the United States Coast Guard. During that time she found her soul mate (and alpha male) and started a family and writing career. She enjoys writing historical and paranormal romance and spends as much time as she can working on her current manuscript.
For more information visit www.dawnluedeckebooks.com
Twitter: @d_luedecke
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/dawnluedecke
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dawnluedeckebooks/
Interview with Dawn Luedecke
Interview with Dawn Luedecke
Where do you get inspiration for your stories?
My inspirations usually come when I am doing research. I will find a fact about something that happened in the past that is completely out of the ordinary and it will spark a whole new story. For instance, in WHITE WATER PASSION my inspiration came when I found a blurb and picture about a group of river loggers in Missoula. They were said to be wild and have a ‘devil may care attitude toward life.’ Another time I discovered the army had brought camels to Montana around 1850 as an experiment, which sparked the idea for “To Tame a Montana Heart.” I love to get inspiration from the smallest of historical facts.
How did you do research for your book?
I love to collect historical nonfiction books, but unfortunately those were my books that got destroyed when our house flooded during Hurricane Harvey. On a positive note, I get to start collecting all over again. In addition to non-fiction books, my family and I LOVE to go to museums and historical places (such as Tombstone, deserted Montana mines, etc). And for WHITE WATER PASSION, I did both.
Do you have another profession besides writing?
I am a mother, veteran, military spouse, and (on occasion) homeschool teacher.
If you could go back in time, where would you go?
If I was back in time with my husband I’m sure we would go to Tombstone. However, I would love to visit nineteenth century England, and the American west.
What is your next project?
I’m working on Montana Bound, book 3 in my Montana Girl series, which will be self published with books 1 and 2 late next year. I also have a Coast Guard boot-camp contemporary out on submission and hoping to hear from editors soon.
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