Summer in Bliss by Freda Ann
Series: A Bliss Cay Novella
Publication date: June 5th, 2020
Synopsis (according to Goodreads):
Mia Everly is an independent, driven woman happily married to her career. She has everything--loving parents, a brother who's her best friend, and the perfect companion any woman could ask for... her canine pal, Hope. When her traumatic past resurfaces, rocking her to the core, Mia questions her future.
Dash Stevens, a Lieutenant with the county fire department, is a widowed father to his daughter, Allie. After three long years, he's come to terms with single fatherhood. He insists that Allie is the only girl he wants in his life.
Newly-neighbored on Bliss Cay, Dash and Mia's worlds intertwine changing their lives forever. Will Mia get the answers she so desperately needs? Will Dash's ambitious personality push her away or is his compassionate heart exactly what she needs to help her find them?
In Summer in Bliss, wit and drive meets tragedy. Can the hunky fire lieutenant help Mia face her past and put her life back together?
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Excerpt
"Aaaah!" Hack, hack. The pain was more than anyone should have to endure but she couldn't move away. Held firmly against the sofa cushions, her life flashed before her eyes.
She would never see them again. Her mom, dad, step-dad and brother. Not her grandparents, aunts, uncles, or close friends either.
No! I can't die like this. After six long, tough years in the military where they pushed her to fight harder than she ever thought was possible--her life couldn't end this way.
"Aaaah! Help me!" Hack, hack. "Help, somebody! Aaaah!" Her throat was raw from the thick black smoke threatening every breath she took.
Gasping for her next breath, the fiery pain chomping at Mia's leg won the battle, consuming her as the room grew dark.
Groaning from the pain waking her, she felt wet sandpaper raking over her face, again and again.
When her eyes fluttered open, her senses returned and she felt a weight holding her against the bed. A twinge of pain crawled over her right thigh and using all of her strength, Mia pushed herself up and off the bed.
Unable to breathe, she bolted through the house until she found a door taking her outside into the fresh air.
She jumped from the porch landing onto the soft sand on all fours, gasping for air. Her head throbbed from her heart beating so loud.
"Arf! Arf! Arf!"
Trying to clear her lungs of the smoke, she breathed deeply and forced it out with an exhale. Breathe in, breathe out, she continued the pace while the pounding slowed.
As something grabbed her, she flinched. Standing unsteadily, she twisted from its grip, her arm flying through the air but was stopped by a large, firm hand.
"Mia, what happened? Did someone hurt you?" She stared up at the familiar hazel-blue eyes.
"Where are they? How many are there?" He gripped her biceps as anger filled her eyes.
"Bedroom... f-fire." She forced the words out.
She would never see them again. Her mom, dad, step-dad and brother. Not her grandparents, aunts, uncles, or close friends either.
No! I can't die like this. After six long, tough years in the military where they pushed her to fight harder than she ever thought was possible--her life couldn't end this way.
"Aaaah! Help me!" Hack, hack. "Help, somebody! Aaaah!" Her throat was raw from the thick black smoke threatening every breath she took.
Gasping for her next breath, the fiery pain chomping at Mia's leg won the battle, consuming her as the room grew dark.
Groaning from the pain waking her, she felt wet sandpaper raking over her face, again and again.
When her eyes fluttered open, her senses returned and she felt a weight holding her against the bed. A twinge of pain crawled over her right thigh and using all of her strength, Mia pushed herself up and off the bed.
Unable to breathe, she bolted through the house until she found a door taking her outside into the fresh air.
She jumped from the porch landing onto the soft sand on all fours, gasping for air. Her head throbbed from her heart beating so loud.
"Arf! Arf! Arf!"
Trying to clear her lungs of the smoke, she breathed deeply and forced it out with an exhale. Breathe in, breathe out, she continued the pace while the pounding slowed.
As something grabbed her, she flinched. Standing unsteadily, she twisted from its grip, her arm flying through the air but was stopped by a large, firm hand.
"Mia, what happened? Did someone hurt you?" She stared up at the familiar hazel-blue eyes.
"Where are they? How many are there?" He gripped her biceps as anger filled her eyes.
"Bedroom... f-fire." She forced the words out.
About the Author:
Freda was born in southern New Jersey but grew up in Florida. She has loved writing her entire life. After retiring from a career in law enforcement, she knew it was time to fulfill her lifelong dream of being a published author.
She's the author of The Hawaii Series, proudly named from her love of the beautiful Hawaiian Islands. It's a three-book series with all of them written as standalone books.
Freda loves her large family, horses, dogs, cat, and close friends. She hosts monthly family dinners at her home in the country, which she shares with her husband.
She loves baking (she owned and operated a cupcake business for years), cooking, yoga, crocheting, nature and traveling with the love of her life.
What helps her write? Music makes her happy! If music doesn't give her the right motivation, she puts on a romantic movie, usually from the Hallmark Channel, which she can't get enough of!
Freda speaks her mind and pushes perfection to its limit. She strives to be her best, most positive self she can be in life. With time, determination, and practice, she believes anything is possible.
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