Blurb of The Thorn Healer by Pepper Basham:
Jessica Ross’ scars run much deeper than the wounds of war. Determined to escape the ghosts of her past and the German influence on her nightmares, she returns home to the sleepy Appalachian town of Hot Springs, NC, only to find the renowned Mountain Park Hotel has been converted into a ‘prison’ for displaced Germans. To Jessica’s dismay, her grandparents have befriended one of treacherous internees.
August Reinhold has not only found kinship with Jessica’s grandparents, but as they share their granddaughter’s letters from the Front, he discovers a surprising bond drawing him toward the independent and beautiful woman. Displaced by a war and a painful history, he finds Hot Springs and the intriguing, Jessica Ross, a tempting place to start over. Determined to scale the heights of her bitterness and show her the power of love, August faces more than just Jessica’s resistance, but a more devious design to harm the civilian sailors housed in Hot Springs.
Will August’s tender pursuit bring Jessica the healing and hope she needs, or will bitterness force her into the hands of a ‘true’ enemy waiting to destroy much more than her heart?
Interview with the hero from The Thorn Healer by Pepper Basham:
- August Reinhold, tell me the most interesting thing about you. *sly grin* I am a displaced person, German as a matter of fact, imprisoned in a small town in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. I also have a fascination with a certain feisty nurse.
- What do you do for fun? I’ve recently developed a love for badminton, but my true joy is found in restoring broken things – like furniture, buildings…the like.
- What do you put off doing because you dread it? Thinking about leaving people that I love. I am also not a fan of doing laundry – but I’m sure I’m not alone in the distaste of it.
- What are you afraid of most in life? Losing the ones I love, whether by death or worse, by separation of affections.
- What do you want out of life? I want a quiet life in these mountains with a family- far away from war.
- What is the most important thing to you? My faith and family – however the combination of that family may be. My sister and niece, the Carters, and *places his palm against his chest* Jessica Ross. I would love to spend the rest of my quiet life in the mountains with her.
- Do you read books? If so, what is your favorite type of book? I like to read thoughtful histories and humorous tales. There are many humorous tales in Appalachia, but they are not written down. They are told from one generation to the next.
- If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? I should like to be bolder – but I have a feeling Jessica Ross might be just the inspiration to inspire such a change.
- Do you have a pet? If so, what is it and why that pet? I have a dog I confiscated from its absent owner *grin broadens* until she returned from the war and demanded him back. I think we should share the dog…and a future together, but she will take some convincing, I think.
- If you could travel back in time, where would you go and why? I would wish to return to the bedside of my mother so I could be with her as she passed. I was unable to say goodbye.
Bio of Pepper Basham:
Pepper Basham is an award-winning author who writes novels inspired by her love for history and the Blue Ridge Mountains. Her Penned in Time series has garnered recognition by finaling in the Inspys, Grace Awards, and the ACFW Carol Awards. Her contemporary romance novel, A Twist of Faith, received 4-stars from Romantic Times, and most recently, her newest release, The Thorn Healer, received a Top Pick from RT with 4 ½ stars. You can get to know Pepper on Facebook, or over at her group blog, The Writer’s Alley, or Instagram.
