Breathless - Cindy Stark

Laurel Ewing hides her traumatic childhood behind an impenetrable emotional fortress. The successful journalist buries herself in writing about her outdoor adventures and caring for rescue animals to avoid the danger of others. But when her best friend sets Laurel up on a surprise blind date, her carefully guarded world is rocked.

Charlie Blackmore may be handsome, charming, and passionate about his work, but Laurel knows his type all too well. The consummate ladies' man can't possibly offer the safety and stability her wary heart requires. Yet as they're thrown together again and again, Charlie manages to disarm Laurel's defenses and inspire unfamiliar longing.

The more Laurel tries to resist, the stronger their magnetic pull grows. Her heart wavers on the precipice of trust, leading her to question her initial assumptions about Charlie. Is he truly the Casanova she'd painted him to be? Or could he be the anchor she's secretly been seeking?

Laurel is no stranger to life-threatening risks in her professional exploits. The real question now is, will she dare to gamble with the most fragile thing she possesses - her heart - to uncover the truth about Charlie, and perhaps, find the love she's always denied herself?

From bestselling author Cindy Stark, Breathless is the tenth book in the Aspen series full of enthralling heroes and the strong women who love them. If you enjoy heartwarming romances with a side of sexy set in a charming small town, you'll love these stories.

Content Warning: This book lightly touches on the subject of child abduction.