Maggie Robin has been dating the irresistibly good-looking, successful Jeffrey Preston for two years. But when Jeffrey proposes marriage a week after Maggie's college graduation, she is no longer sure if she wants to marry a workaholic TV producer.
Her doubts culminate when during a ski trip to British Columbia, Maggie meets Taylor Denton, a handsome, free-spirited big mountain skier who is the complete opposite of Jeffrey. It does not take Maggie long to realize that she has fallen in love with Taylor and she decides to break off her engagement with Jeffrey. But just when she thinks she has found the love of her life, an ill-fated misunderstanding tears Maggie and Taylor apart.
A week later, Maggie is told that Taylor has died in a tragic ski accident; yet, her heart refuses to believe in Taylor's death. When Maggie returns to Taylor's native town, she learns that Taylor is indeed alive, but has been seriously injured. Resolved to bring her lover back to life Maggie stands by Taylor's side, convincing him to embrace life again.
EXCERPT: “So you are dead set on skiing the Needle Eye?” asked Maggie after Hannah and Shawn had left.
“Yes,” Taylor’s voice was firm.
There is no way of talking him out of this, Maggie thought, seized by the icy hollowness that the mere sight of the couloir instilled in her.
“Maggie, you have to understand what this means to me.” Taylor placed his arm around her shoulders in an attempt to reassure her. “It’s something that I’ve strived to do my entire life, ever since I can remember myself.” Taylor flashed a fiery glance at the mountains. “I want the whole world to see that it is possible to ski the Needle Eye, but even more so, I want to know what it feels like to ski this line.”
“But didn’t you say that your grandfather already skied it?” asked Maggie, almost sobbing. “Why do you have to do it again?” Her voice was barely audible as her glance traveled to the steep, saw-toothed couloir: ‘passage or corridor’ was the meaning of the foreign word that she remembered from her French lessons, but she had learned its other meaning from Taylor who told her that the French word had been adopted into English to define terrain akin to that of the Needle Eye. At first, she briefly wondered why the French word had been recruited – was it because it sounded more glamorous than the English alternatives? Now, she thought that perhaps it was because of its primary meaning: “a passage.” Her time with Taylor in the mountains had shown her that skiing off-piste terrain was far more than just skiing - it taught one to face one’s weaknesses and fears - it was indeed a passage to finding one’s inner strength. Still, she could not suppress the shivers that prickled her back at the mere sight of the Needle Eye.
“My grandfather skied the Needle Eye forty years ago. He was the only one out of the entire expedition to climb all the way to the mountaintop and his descent was not witnessed by anyone. The following day, he flew on a helicopter with his friend and took several pictures of the ski tracks that he had left – you would think that should be proof enough, and for a long time it was. But a few years ago, some of the lesser skiers…” Taylor drew a deep breath to steady himself. “Began implying that the photographs were fake, arguing that since no one else has tried to ski the Needle Eye again, it’s impossible to ski it – there was even an article about it in one of the ski magazines. I understand that they are saying this out of spite and their own limitations, but that still does not change the fact that they are insulting my grandfather’s legacy, and I won’t stand for that. I know he skied that line, and so does everyone else who matters, but I want to put the doubts to rest once and for all.”
In Taylor’s eyes Maggie saw unshakable resolve that reminded her why she fell in love with him in the first place, but now she understood that this part of his personality also meant that he would pursue his dreams regardless of the danger that they might entail.
.jpg)
Author Bio:
Marie Astor is the author of contemporary romance novels This Tangled Thing Called Love, Lucky Charm, On the Rim of Love, romantic suspense, To Catch a Bad Guy, and a short story collection, A Dress in a Window. Marie is also the author of young adult fantasy adventure novel, Over the Mountain and Back.
If you would like to learn more about Marie’s writing, please stop by her website: www.marieastor.comor visit her on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/marieastorcollection
Books by Marie Astor:
This Tangled Thing Called Love – a contemporary romance about overcoming one’s inhibitions, learning to tango, and finding one’s true love match.
Lucky Charm – a humorous contemporary romance about love, luck and friendship.
On the Rim of Love – a contemporary romance about the unexpected power of love.
A Dress in a Window – a collection of short stories about love, coincidences, and fate.
http://www.amazon.com/A-Dress-Window-ebook/dp/B004E112TO/ref=pd_sim_kstore_3?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2
Over the Mountain and Back – young adult fantasy adventure novel about a boy who takes his snowboard for a ride and finds himself in a magical, hidden world he never knew existed.
Connect with Marie!
Website: http://www.marieastor.com/
Twitter: @marieastor
GIVEAWAY INFO:
**Everyone who leaves a comment on Marie’s tour page will be entered in the giveaway! Anyone who purchases their copy of How To Catch a Bad Guy before November 19 and sends their receipt to Samantha (at) ChickLitPlus (dot) com, will get five bonus entries! Three individual winners will receive a piece of jewelry shown above, and one bonus winner will receive a $10 Amazon gift card! Please note this is open to US residents only.**
Merry Christmas, Nikki and Marie. It's another great book and tour.
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a book I would really enjoy reading! Thanks for the spotlight on this book
ReplyDelete