Product Description

Chris McKenna gladly escaped the crowds of Yosemite to work as the new Search and Rescue in tiny Sierra City, nestled just west of Lake Tahoe. A loner by nature, she didn’t mind the seclusion of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Jessie Stone, a successful but reclusive writer, is haunted by memories of her childhood and finally returns to Sierra City after sixteen years of estrangement from her mother. The odd assortment of residents of this small mountain town brings them together but it is Annie Stone, a woman Chris has grown to admire and a woman Jessie still feels hatred for, that binds the two. Through lies and deception, they still cannot deny the growing attraction that will brighten both their lives . . . if only they will allow it. As Chris fights for her life in a winter blizzard, Jessie comes to terms with her past and her mother, finally accepting the love that Chris willingly offers her.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #225119 in Books
• Published on: 2004-10-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 264 pages

From the Inside Flap
They walked on in silence, their boots scuffing the rocks, the only sound. Chris led them higher, towards an overlook. She took out her flashlight and cast the beam ahead of them. They came near the edge and stopped, both looking out over the moon-touched mountaintops. The distant peaks all but glowed in the moonlight.

"It’s so quiet," Jessie whispered. "Beautiful."

Chris nodded. Indeed, it was enchanting. Her eyes strayed from the moon-kissed peaks to Jessie. Jessie stood, bathed in the moonlight, her face aglow as she scanned the horizon. Chris couldn’t pull her eyes away. She had never seen anything more beautiful. Jessie stood motionless, her eyes fixed on a distant mountain peak. A memory tried to crowd in . . . he was beside her, holding her, keeping her warm. What else? Were they camping? Had they been up this high? She closed her eyes, but still, she couldn’t remember. Instead, an image came to her of them camping near the river. She was seven, maybe eight and he had taught her to tie flies that trip. They had fished for hours the next day, bringing their catch home. It was one of the few times she could remember Annie having dinner with them.

"What are you thinking about?" Chris asked quietly.

Jessie shook her head. "Nothing really. Just . . . it’s so quiet. No owls. No wind. Nothing." Chris nodded, not wanting to speak and disturb the silence. She knew they should get back. It was getting late. And colder. But Jessie looked so peaceful standing there, her arms crossed against her waist as she stared out into the vastness.

Jessie felt Chris watching her. She turned and caught her eyes, her breath catching at the unguarded desire she saw there. It was at that very moment she realized she was starving for physical contact, for intimacy. And not from a total stranger she’d just met at a bar. She could imagine Chris kissing her, holding her. She wanted her heart to pound with life like she knew it would, should their lips meet. Chris swallowed hard, the sound echoing in her ears, so loud, she was sure it was bouncing off the canyon walls, for all to hear. But there was only Jessie, eyes locked with her own. Chris silenced the voice in her head that urged her to turn and go, leaving Jessie to follow if she chose. Instead, she stepped closer to the eyes that beckoned, unable to resist any longer. Their eyes locked again, then Jessie moved into her arms, her mouth searching for Chris’ waiting lips. The flashlight fell unnoticed between them as Chris pulled her closer, her hands on Jessie’s hips holding her flush against her. Their mouths moved together, tongues meeting as they let their desire rage unchecked. "Oh, God, yes," Jessie breathed, pressing her hips more firmly against Chris. She let her desire overtake her, felt her knees grow weak as Chris’ hands moved up her sides, stopping just beneath her breasts. Jessi tried to remember a time she’d wanted another’s touch this desperately. There was none. The countless, nameless list of strangers paraded through her mind in seconds and then there was only Chris, whose hands stoked the fire within her.

Customer Reviews

Best Yet!
This is the best book by Gerri Hill to date, and I'm sure they'll only get better. The relationship that forms between Jessie and Chris is very realistic. This book includes a little of everything. There's romance, suspense, and the reality of life. Gerri has mastered the art of conversation. I felt like I was eavesdropping on the characters in this book. If you want a good read that you can't put down, this is the book for you.

Lovely Romantic and Hot!
I just started reading Gerri Hill, and enjoyed Gulf Breeze so much I immediately ordered this one as well. Since I know the Sierra Nevadas passingly well, I like the setting of this book, for one.

What I liked most was the way Hill handled the intricate relationship between Chris, Annie and Jessie. It was a great example of small towns and since many lesbian romance novels are set in metropolitan areas, I enjoyed that aspect of the book a lot.

I totally recommend this book and Gulf Breeze. Hill is a pro and her writing is engaging, smooth and richly detailed.

Search & Rescue For Sure
Sierra City is one of my favorite romance novels mostly because of the outdoor setting in the Sierra mountains of Nevada. The main characters are believable: Chris McKenna is a Search and Rescue ranger for the city and Jessie Stone is a troubled author. I like how Hill shows the two characters slowly developing a friendship and bond with each other. It seems so real that a relationship would begin this way. Although it does happen quickly over a short period of time, it doesn't feel rushed. So many novels have the main characters quickly in bed before you can blink an eye. This is not the case here. In fact, a favorite scene is when the two main characters are camping and their attraction is so strong that they end up in each others arms engrossed in a hot & heated kiss. This could be it, but no, rational minds prevail and the characters resist the passion for the time being.

One problem I have with the story is Jesse's mysterious past. Don't worry; I won't give away the secret. But I found it hard to believe how she handles a very difficult situation once she is aware of it. Hill makes it seem as if it is no big deal and life goes on. Jesse's character is realistic up until this point. This is balanced out by the other characters and adventurous plot. I don't think anyone really wants to dwell on it. Another thing that bothered me was the constant drinking of the main characters. They had more wine in the course of 3 months than most people have in a whole year. But given the circumstances of certain characters, this was almost justified and somewhat realistic.

Favorite Scene: I keep coming back to the scene with Jesse up on the ledge when McKenna discovers she is up there alone. When she goes to investigate she finds Jesse in tears. It's a really touching scene that quickly turns disturbing. But there's something about that scene that gets to my heart.

First Kiss: The first kiss was good, but not too memorable. I liked the scene inwhich it takes place, but it doesn't stand out to me because it was so unexpected. It was more sweet than passionate. Sweet is good too sometimes. I found myself really rooting for Chris.