A Southern Strait
(Across the Strait #3)
by Anya Forest
Release Date: 27th October 2017
Genres: Romance
She's abandoned ship. His secrets haunt him daily. Can two wayward souls keep their love afloat when the winds of change begin to blow?
Rebecca Ryan's marriage is on the rocks. She's at an impasse, torn between the stress of fertility treatments and a husband who refuses to love a childless wife. Rebecca hopes a trip to a remote southern coast will clear her mind, but when a storm disrupts her search for serenity, she's left stranded and alone.
Fate has never been too kind to Heath Morgan. Haunted by a tragic past and left to roam the Earth in the shadow of his past mistakes, he finally stumbles upon a chance at redemption. For once, he was in the right place at the right time to save a beautiful stranger. Heath's chance encounter with Rebecca could be new opportunity for romance - if he's willing to let his past sink to the bottom of the ocean.
Rebecca and Heath feel a pull stronger than any current. But they'll need to confront painful losses if they have any chance at charting a new course toward love.
Excerpt:
Rebecca shivered,
focusing on the track ahead once more. I’m going to Mason Bay, not
Mordor. The tramp was taking longer than she’d thought, and she was
glad when the scrub became tussock, giving her a broad view over the plain. In
the distance a large sand dune loomed over the landscape, and she watched it
draw closer as the track narrowed up and over an incline. Her gaze swung around
as she sensed movement, her instinct telling her it was too big for a kiwi.
“Seen any deer?” Cold blue eyes fixed on her.
“Seen any kiwis?” she countered.
He looked at the sky and then back at her.
“They can’t fly,” she said, mutinous.
“I think I know that.” He shook his head. “You’re as bad as those bloody kids.” He unobtrusively adjusted the rifle slung over his shoulder, the glint of his wedding band catching her eye.
“You don’t need to hide your rifle,” she said quickly. “I mean, my brother hunts.” She blushed.
“So does mine.”
She wondered if she’d imagined his amusement. Probably not. She pulled at her new long-sleeved top. “I haven’t seen any deer.”
“I’ve just walked up the track, but now I’ve come back and seen their sign.” He gestured at the mud and Rebecca thought she could see hoof prints. “The bloody thing was probably walking behind me.”
“Bugger.”
His eyes narrowed. “Are you winding me up?”
“Of course not.” Her smile was wide. “Anyway, I’d better keep going.” Otherwise I’ll stand here staring at you. She wrenched her gaze away and stepped around him, her arm brushing his torso. With a murmured apology she glanced up at him, unprepared for his expression.
“I’ve always cursed these narrow tracks,” he murmured. “Not today.” The coldness left his face, transforming it.
Rebecca inclined her head, the warm glow of his compliment settling over her. “I thought seeing a kiwi would be the highlight,” she replied softly. She hesitated. “But not today.”
“High praise indeed.” His grin took her by surprise. “But you don’t have to choose between us.” He indicated behind her. “Because I spy with my little eye, something beginning with K.” She swiveled to look where he’d indicated. When she finally looked back to where he’d been standing he’d disappeared as soundlessly as he’d arrived.
“Seen any deer?” Cold blue eyes fixed on her.
“Seen any kiwis?” she countered.
He looked at the sky and then back at her.
“They can’t fly,” she said, mutinous.
“I think I know that.” He shook his head. “You’re as bad as those bloody kids.” He unobtrusively adjusted the rifle slung over his shoulder, the glint of his wedding band catching her eye.
“You don’t need to hide your rifle,” she said quickly. “I mean, my brother hunts.” She blushed.
“So does mine.”
She wondered if she’d imagined his amusement. Probably not. She pulled at her new long-sleeved top. “I haven’t seen any deer.”
“I’ve just walked up the track, but now I’ve come back and seen their sign.” He gestured at the mud and Rebecca thought she could see hoof prints. “The bloody thing was probably walking behind me.”
“Bugger.”
His eyes narrowed. “Are you winding me up?”
“Of course not.” Her smile was wide. “Anyway, I’d better keep going.” Otherwise I’ll stand here staring at you. She wrenched her gaze away and stepped around him, her arm brushing his torso. With a murmured apology she glanced up at him, unprepared for his expression.
“I’ve always cursed these narrow tracks,” he murmured. “Not today.” The coldness left his face, transforming it.
Rebecca inclined her head, the warm glow of his compliment settling over her. “I thought seeing a kiwi would be the highlight,” she replied softly. She hesitated. “But not today.”
“High praise indeed.” His grin took her by surprise. “But you don’t have to choose between us.” He indicated behind her. “Because I spy with my little eye, something beginning with K.” She swiveled to look where he’d indicated. When she finally looked back to where he’d been standing he’d disappeared as soundlessly as he’d arrived.
Author Bio:I'm a New Zealand writer who enjoys creating true-to-life Kiwi characters and communities in my contemporary New Zealand stories, capturing the unique way of life of small-town rural Mainlanders. I've lived around the South Island (and Stewart Island!) with family originally hailing from the West Coast. Each of my books weaves in the southern places that have a special place in my heart, and the outdoor way of life that is such a special part of New Zealand life.
My "Across the Strait" series is set around a family where all is not as it seems, moving through Central Otago and Stewart Island. My "Maniototo Skies" series is set around the plains of the Maniototo, dealing with the far reaching consequences of a moment of anger, and the nature of forgiveness - or not! My stories have a strong flavour of New Zealand - including the wildlife, the scenery, the music and art.
Yep, my books are romances - they have a hero and heroine, and a happily ever after. But a fair bit happens along the way to appeal to those readers who tell me they "never ever read romance" (yeah, I believe you!) as well as those of us that do (and there's a few of us, looking at the stats!)
My latest book "A Southern Shelter" (Book 2, Across the Strait) is set around Central Otago and Stewart Island, with strong themes of family and everything that word can mean. I've already started work on “A Southern Strait” (Book 3, Across the Strait). Next on my list is "A Link of Gold" - the book that will start my "On the Coast" series, taking inspiration from my West Coast heritage.
When I’m not writing I’m enjoying the outdoors with my retriever dog Crockett. And no, he’s not spoilt – I’m just very well trained!
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