Contemporary Romance intended for mature readers. Told from dual point of view from Sam and Holden, this novel can be read as a standalone or as part of the Living Heartwood series.
Pressing the boundaries of both the psyche and the heart, Sam and
Holden embark on a dangerous journey that will test the limits of love.
Sam Wintry's life used to be almost perfect. She was engaged to her
childhood best friend and high school sweetheart, Tyler Marks, planning
an amazing cross-country honeymoon during her college break. But after a
hit-and-run leaves her in ruin, she begins seeing Tyler's fractured,
ghostly presence, and her family believes she's losing her mind. Not
until she completes their journey, stopping along the way to scatter
Tyler's remains, will Tyler be able cross over. Only...is Sam ready for
him to leave her?
When the black sheep of the Marks' family, Holden Marks, returns to
check on Tyler's case, Sam convinces him to give her his brother's
ashes. Despite their shaky history, she needs him...plus, he owes it to
Sam and his brother. What she doesn't count on is Holden's
relentlessness to go on the trip.
On the road, Holden realizes just how unhinged Sam has become.
Dealing with her psychosis forces him to confront his dark past, making
it harder to keep secrets hidden that should remain buried. Especially
from Sam, the only woman he's ever loved. And as Sam starts to unravel
the truth, she begins to question if the brother she's unwillingly
falling for again is in an even darker place than her.
For Tatum, love has always been something to keep at a distance. It was easier and it was safer. As an independent young woman, she is content to enjoy a life split casually between friends and her career. Her life changes one night when by chance she meets the mysterious Cole and finds herself irresistibly drawn to him. Almost instantly he leaves a lingering impression on her that is so perfect it's terrifying. Soon she isn't sure what she wants and finds it impossible to get him off her mind. It's everything about him. It's the scent of him that lingers, the closeness of his breath, the slightest touch of his skin and the blue of his eyes that makes her very soul ache. The last thing she wants is to admit to love and the inevitable complications that come with it. But it isn't long before her inability to reconcile what her heart wants sends her life spiraling out of her control and she becomes trapped in a dance of giving in and running away.
Before two people can share their lives, they need to face their past.