This sensuous and thrilling tale is set amid the lush, steamy jungle of Hawaii. A business outing turns to terror when crime intrudes and a half-Hawaiian girl discovers hidden talents BLOOMING IN THE WILD.
A photo shoot on location for a sporting goods store brings together businesswoman Belle Moran, organiser of the trip, and Joel Girand, taking a break from his outdoor adventure reality show. Along with a photographer, models, makeup artist and trip crew, they head off on a catamaran to sail around the Big Island and camp in the jungle. Joel is pleased that in the warmth and humidity the girls find bikinis more comfortable than clothes, but his eyes keep returning to Bella and he can't understand why she seems stressed.
Bella, from Portland, Oregon, has been having strange dreams for some time, in which she falls off cliffs and controls plants, and on the island that has given her half her heritage the dreams grow stronger, making her uneasy. As the group enters the tropical jungle she seems to hear plants talking to her... not something the wahine, or woman, wants to share with the others.
The interactions between the group members and growing attraction between Joel and Bella would have been enough for most romances, but a gang of drug-runners is also scheming to use the situation to their advantage, and matters turn horribly wrong. A storm batters the island, the pontoons of the yacht are sabotaged and cell phone signal is disrupted. To save her friends Bella has to face the inner resource that helps her use the growth of the jungle.
The descriptions of the island are beautiful, between the scenery, coral reefs, volcanic caves and jungle plants. Edible plants are included - guava, mangoes, pineapple among them - and delicate blossoms assist lovemaking in delightful ways. The goddess Pele is patroness of the islands and her power is invoked in each of this series of books, called Hawaiian Heroes. Cathryn Cade knows her location and drops some very real people into the surroundings, and I for one will be looking out for her next book.
On Hawaiiβs Big Island to supervise a photo shoot for her
sporting goods company, Bella Moran is looking forward to
relaxing with her newfound family. As the island works its
magic on her Hoβomalu blood, though, something strange
begins to happen.
In her dreams, she is at one with the untamed rainforest,
able to command the trees and flowers with a terrifying
power. Unfortunately, she finds no rest in her waking hours,
dealing with the sexy, boy-in-a-man-suit star of the shoot.
Joel Girand, star of his own TV adventure show, signed on
for a relaxing weekend showcasing tropical camping gear. He
never expected to fall for an uptight executive type like
Bella, but thereβs something about her lush native beauty
that excites the wild places in his soul.
In Joelβs arms, Bella feels her civilized veneer peeling
away. But when it becomes clear someone with a grudge
against her family is using deadly force to sabotage the
shoot, Bellaβs frightening dream power manifests in the very
clear light of day. And Joel must decide if his heart will
let him stand back and let her sacrifice everythingβeven her
lifeβfor her native home.
Warning: A wahine whoβll stop at nothing to claim her man.
Steamy interlude in the tropical forest, including illicit
use of flowers.
No excerpt available.
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