Kindle Edition Download to your Nook (eBook) Download from Apple iTunes (eBook) Amazon Category:  Romance Publisher: Plato Publishing ISBN-10:  1946560014 Pages: 130 Copyright: May 1, 2017 ISBN-13: 9781946560018 Price: $2.99 (eBook) A tortured soul meets a shattered heart. Can the past heal the present? .99 at B&N, Apple, Kobo A tortured soul meets a shattered heart... Chloe Hicks' life consisted of an egocentric ex-husband, a pile of bills, and an equine business in foreclosure until a fire destroys the stable and her beloved ranch horse. What little hope she has left is smashed after the marshal suspects arson. She escapes the accusing eyes of her hometown, but not the memories and melancholy. Jackson Hahn, Virginia Beach's local historian, has his eyes on the mysterious new woman in town. When she arrives in Pungo, he is struck by her haunting beauty and the raw pain in her eyes. Her descriptions of the odd events happening in her bungalow pique his curiosity. The sexy historian distracts Chloe with the legend of a woman wrongly accused of witchcraft. She is drawn to the story and the similarities of events that plagued their lives. Perhaps the past can help heal the present. But danger lurks in the shadows...  Excerpt Chloe bolted up, willing the fog in her head to dissipate. The bed sheets were twisted around her ankles. Sweat trickled down her back. The terror froze her limbs while she struggled to calm her thudding heart and listen for the sound all horse owners dread. But it was the smell that made her realize this was not a terrible dream. Smoke. Instinct took over and she scrambled from the four-poster, making a beeline for the back door and the barn. Her toe smacked against the corner of a wall as her eyes adjusted to the darkness. Pain radiated up her ankle. Oh god, not my babies. Not Bunny. Panic weighed down her legs as her bare feet hit the gravel. Sharp stones dug into the soft pads as the pungent smell of burning hay filled her nostrils. Everything seemed to move in slow motion. She tried to run down the long driveway, her eyes riveted to the red-orange flames shooting up into the black sky. Paul, her trainer, emerged from the darkness, his signature white hat on his head, his face colored yellow from the fiery glow. He signaled for her to take the front of the building as he disappeared around the back. The frigid night air slapped her awake, but a horrifying screech from a panicked horse kicked in her adrenaline. Chloe reached the big, sliding doors and tugged them open. Heat smacked her face, and the smoke assaulted her lungs. Coughing, tears running down her cheeks, she slid back the bolts and opened the stall doors. On the other side, Paul’s voice faintly reached her over the crackle that filled her ears. “Hiya! Move it, move it.” The fire had consumed the other half of the barn where the arena was located. Above her was the loft, filled with winter hay and the last of her savings, now adding fuel to the already intense blaze. She pushed the thought from her mind as the flames shot through the center of the alleyway, and the arena caved in. Grabbing one of the lead ropes that hung at each door, she smacked the first horse on the rump with the end of it and sent him flying out of the barn. The first three horses on each side followed their stable mates into safety with little persuasion. But Duchess, her mother’s old mare, wouldn’t budge. Chloe threw the lead rope over her neck and forced a calm tone. “Easy, girl. That’s my girl. Walk on, now. Walk on.” The old horse snorted and pranced but followed her out of the stall. When they neared the opening, she withdrew the rope and whacked Duchess’ hindquarters. With a leap, the horse disappeared into the gray haze. The acrid odor of scorched hair and burnt wood filled her nostrils. Embers popped. She felt her cheek blister and wiped at it with her shoulder, while leading two more horses out by hand. She could hear BW’s shrill bark and knew he was herding the animals into a paddock as she sent them out. Crack! Above her, a beam gave way and formed a fiery V. The horses must have sensed it also because they lunged ahead, snapping Chloe’s shoulders forward. She struggled to maintain her balance but fell to the matted floor, her knees striking the hard rubber. A boom behind her sent a spray of sparks, and pain shot along her backside. From the corner of her eye, she saw a strand of her hair spark. She beat at her neck frantically, putting it out with her bare hand. The heat was sweltering now. Images wavered in the flames that licked at the dry timbers of the remaining stalls and the heavy beams above. Scrambling to her feet, Chloe ran outside into the frigid night and stumbled down the drive to help Paul. As she reached the other side of the barn, she doubled over as a coughing spasm racked her body. Hands on her knees, gasping to pull air into her tight chest, she heard him yelling over the crackle and whinnies. “Bunny won’t leave the stall or let me near her foal.” “What about Jack?” “He’s good. C’mon, the roof is gonna give.” His hand tightened around her arm and pulled with such force her feet almost left the ground. Plunging back into the smoking hell, they entered Bunny’s stall and found them both backed into the corner. “Paul, I’ll push the foal toward the door, and then Bunny will follow.” Another loud snap from above. She grabbed the lead rope dangling from the horse’s halter and handed it to the trainer. Running a palm down her mare’s neck, she spoke soothingly, “Atta girl, Bunny. There’s my girl. Let’s get your baby out of here.” The mare’s ears perked at her voice and words. Chloe tossed a rope around the foal’s neck and pulled. The baby gave in to the pressure and took a step. It was all Bunny needed to give in to Paul’s urgent pressure. They emerged from the stall, the baby dashing ahead with Chloe on its heels. Behind her, a loud, splintering crash was followed by a shrill squeal. Her stomach twisted as she turned to see Paul pulling on the lead rope. A fiery beam pinned Bunny as she thrashed, her legs flying in the air. One hoof caught the man in the head, and he crumpled to the ground. Fighting for air, her chest a tight ball of agony, Chloe stumbled back in and grabbed Paul under his arms. BW appeared at her side, his teeth sinking into the canvas jacket. Together, they dragged him out of danger. With the last of her strength, she shuffled backwards until her feet tripped on something solid. She fell, his body tangled in her legs as they both landed with a thud. A sob ripped at her raw throat at the sound of a muffled shriek. Tears spilled down her burning cheeks as she shook the lifeless body on top of her. BW licked at his master’s face. Chloe collapsed, her hand still on Paul’s chest, finding hope in the slight rise and fall of his shallow breathing. In the back of her brain, the sound of sirens wailed faintly. Above her, a shadow loomed. Mike? How did he get here so fast? And then her world went black.

Definitely worth the read!
Oh my goodness, I loved this book so much! Short and sweet, I read it in a day, but I probably would've, anyways, even it had been longer.
I did enjoy that the author didn't go the route that so many seem to in dragging out the story. All of the important information was there, and yet, I didn't feel like I had been deprived of character or plot development. It was a great story and well-written.
It had a good mix of things that I enjoy: the history of witchcraft in the US and a love story. It was a good flow having the story flip between Grace and Chloe's stories until you see how they line up. I think that I fell even more in love with the story with the note at the end explaining that Grace's story was true. It made the whole story that much more interesting to look back on. With how natural the story was, including dialogue and the emotions characters went through, you could easily imagine this story playing out in real life. It's the sort of story that would spark a youngster to dig into the history book and maybe strike out on an adventure to Muddy Creek.
I'm definitely interested in anything else this author writes. The genre is totally up my alley and the writing is really great. This book is definitely worth it!

Saving Grace had me holding my breath until the end and sighing in satisfaction.
A sweet story of two women from two entirely different centuries fighting for the things they love. Grace and Chloe share a common pain, they were both wronged and stripped of the things they held valuable. Both of these women inspired me with their strength, determination, and loyalty. Saving Grace had me holding my breath until the end and sighing in satisfaction. Aubrey Wynne has created yet another masterpiece in which the past and the present are weaved beautifully together.

A fun quick read! 4.5 stars
Nicely written by author Aubrey Wynne, Saving Grace is a short sweet novella with a fantasy touch! It involves two charming characters Jackson, a historian and Chloe, a young woman with a bruised soul. Together, they will embark on a journey of discovery, as they find the story of Grace, a young woman wrongly accused of witchcraft. Be prepared to travel from present to the past. This is why, this story is so special.