Desert Fire, Mountain Rain

Andi Nelson's dream was to go to the Naval Academy and serve her country. As an intelligence commander with SEAL Team Three, her life is what she always imagined until a lapse in intelligence leads to the death of her team and the man she loves. Plagued with survivor's guilt, Andi returns to her hometown in the Arkansas Ozarks only to discover that Buffalo Springs is as depressed and broken as she is. Wade Montgomery, a mover and shaker in New York City's world of finance, has closed his heart to the possibility of love. When he returns to Buffalo Springs to care for his ailing mother, Wade accepts the position of mayor and the task of helping the town to die gracefully. Succumbing to the pitfalls of pride, he closes his eyes to the illegal dealings within the town's government, plunging the town and Wade into a pit of lies and deceit that may destroy them both. Will restoring the town provide the purpose Andi needs to continue living? Will Andi's determination to save the town open Wade's eyes and his heart? A riveting novel with great characters, well-thought-out backstories, a budding romance, small town secrets, and deception – this book has everything you need for a gripping and enjoyable read. This is an inspiring story of hope and love, which sensitively and skillfully explores the issue of combat PTSD. We instantly like and sympathize with main character, former Navy SEAL Andi Nelson, especially because of all that she's been through and her efforts to conquer her fears. We feel for her as she returns home longing for her old, familiar community only to find it drastically changed and dying. With a sense of purpose and passion, we cheer her on as she sets out to revitalize the town. The plot thickens of course when she encounters hostility, obstacles, and danger. This is a riveting read. I love how the relationship develops between Andi and the town mayor Wade, who she essentially evolves in her presence, and how they're able to reconcile their differences, conquer their fears, and finally fall in love. The writing is expressive and the descriptions poignant, 'A piece of her died in the desert with him." "Like a canopy of Spanish moss." I love how the book's title is tied in with the characters on page 323: "You are the rain that quenches my fire." -Writer's Digest