Amry Maracich is a lesbian novelist whose day job is editing for a local paper in Minneapolis. While vacationing in her hometown of Hibbing in northern Minnesota's spectacular iron range, the uncommon beauty of the region's spectacular overlooks, abundant wildlife, 10,000 lakes and lush forests never cease to leave her breathless--as does an unexpected encounter with Takoda Running Bear, a Forestry Officer she meets while cycling the scenic Mesabi Trail. The attraction between them is instantaneous and almost magical.
Unfortunately, reality rears its ugly head, in the form of Amry's homophobic siblings. Although they both profess to "love the sinner, hate the sin," like so many of their ilk, "hate" seems to be the operative word--reviving in Amry painful memories of growing up different in a close-minded small town and reminding her of why she chose to leave it for the anonymity of the big city.
Neither Amry nor Takoda are interested in a summer romance, so the geographically challenged couple struggle to make time for each other with long phone calls and short, passionate visits. But for Amry, falling in love would mean falling back into a life she fled. When fate turns her world upside down, will she have the courage to surrender the past and commit to a new life and an unknown future with Takoda?
Author of Running Towards Home and Saving Morgan, Bella's MB Panichi won a GCLS Goldie for Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy and was a Goldie finalist for Best Debut author.