TWICE LOVED – Lori Copeland
Belles of Timber Creek, Book 1
Avon Inspire
ISBN-13: 978-0-06-136491-4
August 2008
Inspirational Romance

Thunder Ridge, Texas - 1865

Thunder Ridge is a dry and desolate town where rain is scarce, dropping down only once or twice a year...maybe. Dusty and bleak, its only saving grace are the nearby creeks and rivers. If you travel just a couple of miles in any direction away from the town, you'll find plenty of rainfall and green grass, but even so, there are still a handful of downright stubborn people who insist on making a home out of the forsaken and parched town of Thunder Ridge, a place aptly named for the cosmic activity that's ever-present in the skies. Noisy rumblings occur daily, but the inhabitants of the town don't notice; they've grown accustomed to it. And, always following the thunder are the lightning strikes that keep a continuous round of fires igniting all over town, just from a single spark. Today, the Gray family sawmill is burning, but it isn't from a fire caused by lightning. This fire is strictly the work of one young schoolteacher, Miss Willow Madison.

Tucker Gray is fighting madly for his life and his livelihood. His sawmill, the same one he just spent his last penny rebuilding (finished just yesterday, dang it!), is in flames, thanks to some fool woman who raced into town hauling barrels of kerosene on her buckboard. If she hadn't been in such an all-fired hurry she wouldn't have crashed into his loaded wagon of lumber. At least the fuel barrels didn't land on the newly planed boards that were stacked on the wagon, but his sawmill is history. The fire is burning out of control now, and this being Thunder Ridge's driest year ever, there isn't much hope of dousing the roaring flames. As far as Tucker is concerned, that infuriating woman can leave town today, right after she pays him for damages!

Willow Madison has seen a lifetime of trouble in her nineteen years. Losing her home and having to fight Confederate soldiers just to stay alive has not dampened her spirit nor her stalwart faith in God. Pure luck, determination, and plain hard work has kept Willow and her friends (fellow teachers Copper and Audrey) alive after they lost nearly everything to marauding soldiers in Timber Creek. Willow's uncle, Wallace Madison, requested she bring a supply of kerosene to Thunder Ridge, stay to teach school, and consider marrying wealthy shipping magnate, Silas Sterling, who has made it known that he's looking for a young, attractive wife. Willow is horrified at the idea of marrying for money and without love, but her Uncle Wallace is counting on her help, so she'll have to make that sacrifice.

Willow Madison is truly TWICE LOVED in this story of forgiveness and retribution. Tucker Gray expects Willow to pay for the rebuilding of his mill. Willow has other ideas. As far as she's concerned, no one in their right minds would leave a wagonload of lumber sitting in the center of the road, so the obnoxious Mr. Gray owes her! She's the one who lost every single thing she owns in that fire, and now, without a penny to her name, Willow is reduced to wearing the Widow Gleason's ill-fitting clothing (her panties are truly twisted, tight drawers and all!). Uncle Wallace can barely afford to feed himself, and she can't teach classes until the schoolhouse is rebuilt after another fire burnt it to the ground. Tucker Gray can just go to...well...even though our Miss Willow Madison isn't always a lady, she does not condone profanity, but you get the idea.

A whole passel of secondary characters pop in and out of this story. Betsy Pike is Judge Wallace Madison's housekeeper and cook; Tucker's cousins, Eli and Caleb, and Eli's son Tate are on board to add humor and angst; Reverend Cordell and Silas Sterling, and Willow's friends from Timber Creek, Copper and Audrey, are people you'll look forward to meeting.

TWICE LOVED begins The Belles of Timber Creek trilogy, which will continue with THREE TIMES BLESSED in 2009. This book strikes an enormous spiritual chord, and you will laugh and cry as Willow struggles to find love and build a life in Thunder Ridge. Don't miss TWICE LOVED!

Diana Risso