Harlequin Heartwarming Thanksgiving: Autumn at Jasper Lake (excerpt) by Carol Ross

On tour with Prism Book Tours.

Autumn at Jasper Lake by Carol Ross

War veteran Ryder Shelton has moved to remote Jasper Lake to escape the guilt and pain that has taken over his life. He’s convinced the only way he can do that is to retreat from the world. That includes staying away from his captivating neighbor Jessie Madigan. But Jessie has a troubled foster dog that needs Ryder’s help. Somehow he has to keep his distance from one while he spends time with the other.

Jessie studied him with narrowed eyes. “Are you a vet?”

“Not the kind you’re thinking.”

“You’re military?”

“Was. Yes.”

“Ryder was special forces,” Tag chimed in.

“Thank you,” Jessie said immediately. “For your service. I hope you know that every single day people all over this country are grateful to you. You guys go through so much and I… I’m grateful.”

The sincerity in her tone was startling and her gaze burned into him. Ryder was used to people thanking him, but a complicated tangle of emotions tightened inside of him at her words; a yearning for the camaraderie he’d enjoyed with his team, regret that he was no longer there for them, wishing he could go back to that day before everything went so horribly wrong. Before he and Dell were injured and Zoe had been killed.

But the way this woman was looking at him also made him feel appreciated, valued. “You’re welcome,” he said. “It was an honor to serve. I’m as grateful for this country as you are.”

The smile she flashed him was dazzling. His heart skipped a beat, possibly two. And he’d thought the view of Rankins from the plane was as beautiful as anything he’d ever seen. What was wrong with him? He’d been here for a matter of minutes and already he was being taken in by a pretty dog rescuer and her new orphan? Proof, Ryder immediately asserted to himself, that he was not in his right mind. He was here to get away from people, to take a break from the world. He needed to get his head together, not jumble it further.

Ryder rose to his feet. “It was nice to meet you both. Good luck with this beautiful girl.” He reached down to give Fife a final scratch.

“Thanks,” she said. “You, too. I’m going to need some of that luck since I don’t speak dog quite as fluently as you obviously do.”

 He chuckled. “Just listen closely. Sometimes they have their own ways of telling us what they need. You’ll figure it out.”  Then he turned toward Tag. “How about showing me my new digs?”

Ryder could feel two sets of eyes on his back as he and Tag started toward the cabin. Something in him itched to turn around and see if he was right. What could it hurt to take one more glance at the lovely Jessie and her dog Fife? Cool it, Ryder, he told himself, women and dogs were both off limits. Instead, he glanced over his shoulder. Jessie lifted a hand and he returned the gesture as Fife stared at him hopefully.

“Nice.” Tag’s tone was teasing when he turned back around. “I can tell you like it here in Rankins already.”

Read it HERE!

Carol Ross is the author of three books for the Seasons of Alaska series for the Harlequin Heartwarming line. She lives with her husband and one loveable miscreant of a dachshund in a small town in Washington close to both the ocean and the mountains. For a complete list of her books, giveaways, and other fun stuff stop by and visit her new website: carolrossauthor.com.

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