Amazon Maggie Bishop, Author Category:  Romance Publisher: High Country Publishers ISBN-10:  0971304564 Type: Fiction Pages: 172 Copyright: 2002 Athletic career woman meets good-old-boy for a five-day backpacking trek in the rugged North Carolina mountains.  Chapter 1 - The Best Laid Plans Suzanne unloaded the groceries, checking each bag as she hung the plastic handles over her hand. She snagged the Mast General Store bag from the trunk of her Accord and surveyed her uncle's cabin. Disgraceful. A rampant wisteria vine, heavy with purple blooms, was trying to devour the porch, and giant rhododendrons loaded with fat pink buds threatened to take over the entire property. Though it was springtime, and everything was fresh and green, there was something creepy about the place. Anything or anyone could be concealed in all that mess. It really was a burglary waiting to happen. She listened but heard only soft forest sounds. She was being silly. It was just the constant fog that made the forest seem forbidding, that made the surrounding mountains seem to loom threateningly on all sides. Still, this place needed the civilizing influence of a chain saw and weed whacker. Just another depressing day in paradise. She stuck her nose in the Mast Store bag and inhaled the rich odor of new leather then tramped up the steps to the porch. The beginning of success is having the proper equipment. Her new hiking boots were almost two hundred dollars, but cross trainers wouldn't give her feet enough support for a five-day hike. Might as well be pampered since she was following doctor's orders. Mid-weight Italian boots with Perwanger leather upper. Inside the front door, she hung a left to the kitchen and set the bags on her uncle's kitchen table. Carefully selected groceries for the hike included freeze-dried entrees, trail mix, instant coffee --Ugh --pancake mix, instant oatmeal, granola, hot cocoa mix, whole wheat bread, peanut butter and zipper baggies. She glanced around the spacious kitchen with its pine cabinets. No need to put most of this stuff away as it was going into her backpack. Creak! Suzanne froze. What was that noise? Had she left the radio on? A chill traveled the length of her frame. A quick look around the kitchen revealed nothing unusual. Waiting for another sound, she held her breath. The spring wind whistled through the trees. There were bound to be noises she wasn't used to hearing in her apartment in Baltimore. Probably just all those bushes brushing against the house. After all, she hadn't spent time alone in this house before, this way-back-in-the-woods place. Day two by herself and already she was jumpy. No doubt about it, she needed a vacation. Some independent woman you are. She took the brown boots from their box and lifted one to her face to inhale the tangy aroma. The leather felt cool against her cheek. She set the boots side by side on the table admiring their sturdy stylishness, and unloaded her other bags. There was a backpacker's camp stove, a compact cooking set with utensils and flame-resistant potholders, flashlights with extra batteries, waterproof matches, water purification tablets, ultralight women's backpack with a quick-assembly tent and tarpaulin, first aid kit, compass and her cell phone. While assembling the groceries for her hike, she decided tonight she'd splurge before heading out for the unknown by having frozen pizza with extra veggies, two imported beers and a chocolate eclair for dessert. She removed one frozen eclair and stood on tiptoes to put the rest of the box in the freezer. She really should get around to reorganizing that before she left. Uncle John would be able to find things better if they were stacked in categories rather than just piled in a heap. Suzanne stopped and listened. . . . Something wasn't quite right in the house. Absently, she picked up the boot. She rubbed the smooth leather with her thumb. Zzz. It was not her imagination. Something in the living room. Boot gripped tightly in her hand, she crept to the archway and peeked around the corner. Was that a foot hanging over the arm of the sofa? The sofa faced the fireplace, its back toward the kitchen. If only there were a mirror over the mantle. She held her breath and inched to the back of the sofa, careful not to trip on the braided throw rug, peered over and gasped. A man lay there, sleeping. I should call the police. But the house was deep in the mountains. It would take too long for them to get here. She could be dead or worse by then. I'll get in my car and drive away. But he could steal all her new stuff and who knows what else. And he'd be gone in the woods by the time she returned with the police. She'd have to figure out how to handle this by herself. Does Uncle John have a gun? But what would I do if I had one? I've never handled a gun, and if this guy's really dangerous, he'll only take it away and kill me. I'm being silly, a dangerous burglar doesn't go to sleep in a house he's robbing. Looking around, she saw a large pair of leather work boots and a ratty plaid flannel shirt draped over a chair. No guns or knives in sight, but no knapsack or car keys either. How had he gotten here? It didn't make sense. He must be a homeless wanderer. His build suggested a laborer. His faded, stained jeans stretched over muscular thighs. A steak of dirt marked his biceps -- arms as big as those of the self-absorbed body builders at the gym. His chest rose and fell rhythmically in sleep, naked except for a dusting of light brown hair. Dark stubble covered his square jaw and his shaggy brown hair needed cutting. He must be in his early thirties, about her own age. He was tall -- too long for the six-foot sofa. He would wake up with a pain in his neck if he stayed in that position too long. She told herself to move farther away. Maybe if she fed him, he would leave peacefully. A thief wouldn't still be here, but she didn't have time or patience to coddle some homeless housebreaker. He mumbled something. Armed with her boot, Suzanne leaned over closer to figure out what he was saying. The rug slipped under her feet. "Ah!" Suzanne lost her balance, toppled over the back of the sofa -- right on top of him. "Umph!" He wrapped his arms around her, trapping her arms between their bodies. Her weapon clunked to the floor. She struggled to free herself. Her lips brushed his. Help! What's this? She pushed against him with no effect. The part of her mind still functioning told her she wasn't afraid of him --just indignant. Think! What had she learned in self-defense class? Watch for an opening. She arched away from him, pinched him hard with both sets of fingers. "Ow! You little she-devil!" He released her just as she pushed against him. Losing balance, she tumbled off the sofa and crashed to the floor. All dignity was gone, but at least she was out of his grip. "Thank you, Darlin', I appreciate the welcome." "Welcome!" she sputtered. "How dare you? You kissed me-- that's assault." "Whoa! Who jumped on who here?" He rubbed his scruffy beard with the back of his hand. "I fell. It was an accident." She stood up and glared at him.

Reader to Reader
Readers, you are in for a special treat when you pick up APPALACHIAN PARADISE. In
today's busy world of doing everything by schedule, on the double, it doesn't leave much time to
smell the roses, so to speak. If you recognize yourself in the heroine's lifestyle, it's time to
change. This is a book you will have a lot of fun reading it's rewarding, thought
provoking, and filled with a heady dose of the love bug.
Suzanne Bowers is a high- powered career woman who works in computer programming. Her
days are run by a schedule of exercise, work, work, work, and being in control of her feelings at
all times. She's been ordered to relax by her therapist, so she decides to take a five-day hike in
the mountains of North Carolina when her favorite uncle lets her use his cabin.
Unbeknownst to Suzanne, Wes Avery, a man with enough southern charm to break a ton of
hearts, is also headed for Uncle John's cabin. Wes has to pay off a debt to watch over Suzanne
by Uncle John and her estranged father. Wes is laid back and totally different from Ms. Control.
Oh, boy, let the camping games begin as Wes and Suzanne set off on a five-day hike that is filled
with humor, insightful delving into each others' souls, looking at life in a new perspective, and
the love of a lifetime has a great possibility of fruition.
Suzanne "Wishing I was hiking with the divine Wes right now. Just hearing him call me
"Darlin'" would be enough to keep me warm." Coleburn
"APPALACHIAN PARADISE is a romantic adventure that will touch your heart in all the right
places. Ms. Bishop spins a beautiful love story that will make you laugh, cry, and sigh. It's about
redemption, renewal, hope and taking a chance on finding the partner of your dreams if you're
willing to take a chance on love. I'm putting APPALACHIAN PARADISE on my keeper shelf
to reread whenever I need a lift. Yes, it's that good!"
Suzanne Coleburn, Winner of the Melinda Helfer Fairy Godmother Award 2002