Workaholic Erin Ryder was on the fast track to self-destruction. Reeling after her lover walked out on her, she turned to booze and caffeine to make it through each day. After a family intervention, she finds herself on a remote ranch in New Mexico--on womyn's land--to detox and heal. No cell service, no Internet--she's convinced she won't last three days, much less for the three-month sentence her father has mandated.
Running from the chaos that had become her life, Melanie West moved to Eagle Bluff Ranch seven years ago. By far the youngest there, she embraced the compassionate, peaceful life that the elders espoused. Living off what her garden produced, her chickens and goats became her friends and confidants. Exposure to the outside world was limited to the handful of guests who stayed a few days at the ranch each year.
This summer would be different. Melanie found herself hosting a young woman for three months. A young woman who wanted to be anywhere but there. As the days and weeks passed, their animosity turned to friendship as they helped the other heal from their past failures.
Erin soon found herself loving life on Mel's little farm. Loving life and loving Mel. Saying goodbye would be the hardest thing she had to do--saying goodbye to Mel...or saying goodbye to her previous life.
Industry Reviews
Gerri Hill is simply one of the best romance writers in the genre. This is an archetypal Hill, slightly unusual characters in a slightly unusual setting. The slow burn romance, however, is a classic, trying not to fall in love, but unable to fight the pull.
The characters are endearing and you simply cannot help engage with the older women who have lived on the land for years; when escape from homophobic patriarchal society seemed the best way to be free. Mel and Erin capture your heart from the first moment, however strung out Erin is from caffeine and the consequent crash.
The romance pulls you in, the lack of angst is a refreshing change, and the will she, won't she climax worth the wait. It's a slow sensual tug on your heart, reminding us that not everything that glitters is worth the loss of our souls and social/partner expectation can destroy us. I love many of Gerri Hill's books for many reasons and this one is right up there for me as an exquisitely gentle balm to the heart.--Lesbian Reading Room