Bitter Roots

A woman weary of battling the system

Fighter pilot Colonel Sara Shaw longs for the wild blue yonder, but she’s stuck flying a desk in the Pentagon. The military is still a boy’s club, so she misses out on the best missions. In desperate need of a break, she agrees to spend her use-or-lose leave helping a squadron-mate’s mom on her Montana ranch.

An injured rancher, struggling to accept help

Grant Maclay runs the Bar MC ranch. He’s happiest on his tractor feeding the cows by himself. But with a broken arm, even the toughest military veteran needs help. His mother is quick to step up, but it’s too much for one woman in the depths of a frigid Montana winter. His brother can’t get leave, so he sends a squadron mate to help—a tiny woman who’s never set foot on a cattle ranch.

Used to working twice as hard as the men for half the credit, Sara ignores Grant’s grumpiness and jumps in, vowing to take a beach vacation next time. But as they learn to work together, Grant and Sara discover they have more in common than they expected. A tiny ember sparks heats up the icy ranch. If they fan the flame, will it bring them warmth or burn them both?