In the ancient, Celtic land of Cornwall, Emma Hayward searched for a myth and found truth. Needing to prove she's got what it takes in the world of wildlife photography, Emma sets herself an impossible task-to be the one to capture the fabled Beast of Bodmin Moor on film. It's her big adventure and nothing-not even the charismatic, motorcycle designer, Seth Trevelyan-will distract her from reaching her goals. But a man wearing black leathers can mess with a girl's mind, no matter how big her plans.
Then she saw it. Sleek and black, its coat had an eerie silvery sheen in the moonlight. She gasped and felt her eyes physically widen. A black leopard. Of course! The sawing sound was one of the noises leopards made.
Fighting the effects of the tablets, she glanced quickly across to the dressing table where her camera lay. It was too far to stretch. Besides it was still empty. By the time she'd hobbled over there, reloaded and got back to the window the creature would be gone.
It was so beautiful she wanted to cry. All muscle and sinew, it was also terrifying in its raw power. Emma cleared the lump in her throat she hadn't realized was there and gave the creature a watery smile. Then the animal slipped into the shadows and was gone, probably back out onto the moor.
Excerpt
"I saw the beast last night."
Professional Reviews
Beats A Wild Heart
This was a terrific book! The author writes well, and Beats a Wild Heart is not the typical romance genre novel. The multilayered story was rich, well crafted, and heart warming. Let me say straight out, I loved this book.
Emma Hayward has the single minded dream of becoming a world class nature photographer. Excellence means more to this naive American than money, although money would be nice too. Her goal is to do what her more experienced male counterparts have not accomplished -- to capture the fabled "beast of Bodmin Moor" on film. She finds Bodmin Moor in Cornwall UK to be daunting, it's swirling fogs and mists frightening. But nothing Bodmin Moor can offer is as threatening to Emma's plans as Seth Trevelyan.
Seth Trevelyan is a man who has lost all trust in others. Nearly every hope and dream has been crushed, save one last secret plan. Abandoned in childhood by his mother, labeled an unwanted bastard by his father, and betrayed by a faithless wife, Seth has given up on any hope of love or joy. When he discovers Emma lost and injured in the fog, he provides her with shelter and medical attention. The unworldly but empathetic Emma sees almost immediately a deep sorrow in the man, along with secrets he tries to hide.
Neither Seth nor Emma have the confidence or courage to face rejection in love. Uneasily, over time, they share past disappointments and future plans with the stark beauty of Bodmin Moor as a backdrop. Instrumental in their understanding of each other is the aging, lonely beast Emma seeks and the regretful mother Seth has shunned for years. Their attraction to each other inevitably progresses to lovemaking, but that intimacy only adds to their insecurity.
I said up front that Beats a Wild Heart is a heart warming story, and so it is. How Seth and Emma reach for hope, ease lingering doubts, and help realize each other's dreams is the uplifting message. Ms. Adams did a bang up job of giving her characters life and telling their story. I heartily recommend this book to romance readers everywhere.
