title: Ariel's Cottage
author: Douglas, Judith Victoria
description: A powerful suspense, filled with romance and intrigue; what discovery doesn't separate a broken promise could shatter. There is a price for everything, even love. Ariel was a victim at seventeen. She's now an unsung hero hidden for her protection. No one knows where she is or her real identity except her advocate. But strange events begin to occur around her home. It affects her sense of invisibility. As a writer in her early twenties living in a country cottage, Ariel devises an experiment to boost her writing and ease her perilously low funds. It's risky, but everything in Ariel's life is risky. Ariel's encounters bring back memories of how her ordeal began, as she learns to deal with the demons within. Her first real love is Jerry, the eighteen year old who cuts her grass. Stuck at seventeen emotionally Ariel experiences the pleasant side of her previous horrors, and begins to trust love again. A puppy leads trouble into her life, bringing Danny, a local deputy, to her door. Drawn to her he appoints himself guardian, soon learning there's more to her than imagined. But Danny harbors regret. His hard lesson brings out his true strength when he learns of Ariel's plight, her risky trysts and her love for another. He must let her go to keep her safe, allowing her to heal herself in her own way, always there to look out for her...always loving her. Quote from Book: The young military trainee now moved quickly, releasing his hold on Danny, looking at him, barely awake, but holding on enough to nod when asked if he could walk. Jerry looked for his tied-up friend, but he was gone. Instantly he realized what Danny knew. There had to be two of them. He checked Danny's impact site knowing from his recent experience even a slight wound would incapacitate him. Real life wasn't like the depictions in the movies. Jerry carefully lifted Danny's heavier slack weight. Pulling his friend's uninjured arm over his shoulders Jerry gripped his arm around the injured man's back to lift and carry him in a slow trot back. Danny gritted his teeth, but groans of pain still escaped him. He could barely breathe. With the jostling he began to feel lightheaded, thinking he might pass out. He missed steps, dragging a foot. Jerry hesitated with each stumble fearing he'd drop Danny injuring him further. "Slower," the wounded man pressed out with a quick short breath. Jerry's hold was slipping, almost tenuous as Danny's bulk became heavier. Feeling the perp would've escaped rather than follow he slowed hanging on to Danny more carefully exiting the trees to reach the brush where they'd started. "Medic  Medic " He yelled, almost breathless from his efforts. CONTAINS SUGGESTIVE ADULT SITUATIONS