Guest Post: Living with the Past by Heather BurchCan I be honest? Writing this book shattered my heart. I found myself so drawn into the situations unfolding in the story that it was hard to leave the characters behind at the end of each writing day. I cried so many tears—along with my characters—that by the time I finished the book—happy ending in place—I had to take some time off to process. This is a raw and honest glimpse into a woman’s heart who has carried her love for the twelve years she’s been away from him. It’s also a glimpse into the heart of a soldier who has come home.In Down the Hidden Path, we’re introduced to Jeremiah McKinley and Mary Grace “Gray” Smith. They were best friends through high school and even though they were only friends, she’s always loved Jeremiah. Now, it’s twelve years later and Jeremiah has returned home from active duty. A chance meeting with Gray and suddenly, small town River Rock seems to hold even more promise than he’d expected. There’s only one problem. Gray shows no interest in rekindling their friendship. What happened to his best friend?Gray is hiding a secret which—if Jeremiah knew—could literally destroy her life, a life she’s fought hard to protect. But then Jeremiah’s younger brother Caleb suffers a brain injury while serving in the army and it seems Gray is the only occupational therapist who can help with his rehabilitation. Growing up, she’d always thought of him as the kid-brother she never had. She puts everything on the line to help Caleb. But that throws her into Jeremiah’s orbit and her deep emotional connection to him is impossible to ignore.It’s not always easy to live with the past. Often, it’s our memories that frame us. Situations, people, circumstances. What went right. What went wrong. In the midst of a snowstorm, Gray finds herself living under the same roof as Jeremiah. Her past and all its troubles are right there, literally knocking on her door.Can you imagine being tossed into a situation like that? Living with a past love…one who’d never thought of you in those terms? It’s a rocky, bumpy road to healing for all concerned, but Gray has Jeremiah’s strong shoulders to lean on. One way or another, she’ll survive the storm.I hope you get the chance to read Down the Hidden Path. Maybe you’ll see a glimpse of yourself in Gray’s character. She’s strong, independent, and making the most of a difficult situation. She’s fiercely devoted, protective of those she loves, and willing to lay down her own wants to fulfill the greater good. Grab a hot cup of tea and curl up by the fire. And if you do happen to get drawn into the story, when you lay the book down, connect with me at heatherburchbooks.com. I always love to hear others thoughts about my characters. Happy reading!About the Book
Title: Down the Hidden PathAuthor: Heather BurchRelease Date: 12/1/15Publisher: Montlake RomanceGenre: Contemporary RomanceSummaryJeremiah McKinley is the first of his enlisted brothers to return home to River Rock, Missouri—their sleepy but charming hometown in the Ozarks—in the wake of their father’s death in combat. While he’s grateful to be home with his sister nearby, his grief over losing the man known as Major Mack proves almost overwhelming, especially without his brothers around.After years of guilt and tireless effort, Mary Grace “Gray” Smith finally has her life on track. The last person she wants to see is Jeremiah: her former best friend, former crush, and the man who could easily destroy the one thing she holds most dear. But after one of Jeremiah’s brothers returns home with a head injury, Gray becomes his therapist—and a long-kept secret threatens to reveal itself and alter the course of several lives forever. Could this secret also give Jeremiah and Gray the chance to finally have the future together they always longed for?Author BiographyHeather Burch has always been drawn to epic stories about love and loss. She has a wide range of tales from sagas of love lost then rekindled to high adventure young adult novels. But in all, you will find a common thread. She calls it the soul-mate factor. So, jump on in and enjoy the journey with her unforgettable characters. Whether they’re saving the world or just their own lives, they find their inner strength and risk it all for that elusive thing called love.Heather lives in Florida where she writes full time and has conversations with fictional people. Every. Single. Day.Social Media Links
