Unknown Ajax FROM THE PUBLISHER
When E.R. doctor Cheyenne Allison's own sister dies on the trauma bed, Cheyenne retreats to isolated Hideaway, Missouri, to grieve. But peace and solitude elude her in this picturesque Ozarks community now terrorized by a dangerous vandal.
Mayor Austin Barlow insists the culprit resides with Cheyenne's charismatic neighbor Dane Gideon, whose ranch for foster boys has given rise to previous violence. Dane inspires Cheyenne's respect, and perhaps something more-although she can't share the faith that sustains him as the violence turns deadly. Then Cheyenne becomes the vandal's target, and she can only hope that Hideaway will prove her sanctuary. . .and perhaps a place to call home.
Hannah Alexanderis the pen name of husband-wife writing team Dr. Mel and Cheryl Hodde, who make their home in a homey Ozark setting like those featured in their novels, which include the Hideawayseries.
FROM THE CRITICS
Publishers Weekly
In this gentle romantic suspense novel for the Christian market, a competent physician finds faith, love and healing after her world crumbles. When Dr. Cheyenne Allison is unable to save the patient she loves the most, she is threatened with a lawsuit and ordered to go on leave. Angry with God and at loose ends, Cheyenne repairs to a dilapidated house on 65 acres of land in Hideaway, a rural Missouri town where she hopes to find quiet and healing. But country life is anything but peaceful. It's not long before the good-looking divorc Dane Gideon cajoles her into helping with a dyslexic teen at his ranch for troubled boys, and the widowed mayor, Austin Bartow, angles for a date. Tension simmers when a vandal wreaks havoc on the town, and Bartow blames a boy at the ranch. Cheyenne finds herself caught up in the melee, which culminates when a beloved elderly friend turns up missing. The tension is low-key; the romance between Dane and Cheyenne simmers but never boils, and Cheyenne's search for faith is slow and rather refreshingly undramatic. Some scenes feel wooden, however, especially when a young teen is accidentally electrocuted and Cheyenne works to save his life. Genuine humor and an interesting cast of characters keep the story perking along, and although some of the plot twists are a stretch, there are a few surprises. CBA readers who appreciate escapist romance with a dollop of suspense should find this an enjoyable read. (Oct.) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
"Hannah Alexander . . . is masterful at creating places so real you'll be looking for them on the map; characters so endearing you'll think of them as friends. . .God's intimate involvement in lives shines through on every page." (Deborah Raney, author of A Scarlet Cord and A Vow To Cherish)
Library Journal
Forced to take an extended vacation after her brother-in-law accuses her of malpractice in the death of her younger sister, Dr. Cheyenne Allison gratefully accepts an offer to retreat to a co-worker's cabin in the Ozark town of Hideaway, MO. Instead of tranquillity, though, Cheyenne finds herself attracted to rancher Dane Gideon and caught in the middle of a feud between Dane and the town's mayor, who is convinced that Dane's foster children have been perpetrating a string of vandalism. When the pranks turn violent, Cheyenne discovers how faith is able to sustain people in helping them overcome their grief and fear. Coauthored by husband-and-wife team Dr. Mel and Cheryl Hodde, whose earlier collaborations (e.g., Sacred Trust; Solemn Oath) made good use of Dr. Hodde's medical expertise combined with Cheryl's writing experience, Hideaway is gripping and romantic. It may also have crossover appeal to fans of medical suspense and of such authors as Tess Gerritsen. Recommended for public libraries. [This is the first title in Steeple Hill's new trade paperback line of inspirational fiction, which will include romantic suspense, relationship novels, women's fiction, and thrillers.-Ed.] Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
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