Mari Tucker is a wildlife biologist on the run. She's trying not to be found by her ex-husband. She’s in the vastness of the Mojave Desert where she can BREATHE THE SKY. Jack Wyatt’s hard-bitten crew works to build power lines and pylons across long distances. Today’s laws require supervision by a firm of biologists. That’s where Mari comes in, small and sweet and totally out of place, it seems. The rare and endangered tortoises are keystone species, because their burrows are used by other animals too, and they scatter seeds, making the desert more fertile. The crew may resent having to stop and check under vehicles before driving, but tortoises, lizards and birds’ nests are all protected. Mari has everything recorded. Jack has a quick temper and loud (and foul) mouth, so the other biologists don’t like getting assigned to his crew. But Mari ignores the theatrics and uses her solar cooker to make chocolate brownies for everyone. Both Mari and Jack suffered from emotional and physical abuse from family members, and bear the mental scars. Mari is still paying for hospital treatment due to her ex’s violence. She’s not going to fall for any man’s sweet talk again. And Jack surprises both of them by wanting to protect her, followed by wanting to get to know her. The run-down motels and bone-rattling trucks are part of the setting in the wide-open, arid landscape. Joshua trees and pylons may go strangely together, but they remind us of how modern life needs to progress while protecting the natural heritage of the countryside. This romance is for mature readers, who want to understand the work author Michelle Hazen has carried out in the past. She also describes some of the patterns of spousal or family abuse, such as isolating a victim from friends and telling them anything that goes wrong is their fault. Only when Mari understands exactly what was going on in her married life, can she start thinking about trusting another man. Jack also needs to change his mindset in some ways. BREATHE THE SKY is a powerful and emotional tale with probably accurate depictions of characters.
Mari Tucker is a wildlife biologist who scoops bunnies and endangered tortoises out of harm’s way on construction sites. Still haunted by her past, she takes the most remote jobs in the Mojave Desert to avoid people and hide from her ex. It’s a simple, quiet life filled with sweet animals and solar-powered baking until she ends up assigned to Jack Wyatt’s crew.
Construction foreman Jack Wyatt’s loud, foul-mouthed temper keeps even the most rugged of men on his crew in line. No mistake is overlooked, because out in the desert it could mean life or death. In his opinion, the job site is no place for sensitive biologists, especially one as shy as Mari. But instead of wilting from the heat and hard work, Mari wins over Jack and his crew one homemade brownie at a time.
Jack and Mari find a comfortable rhythm, building a friendship that’s rare for both of them. After Jack’s rocky childhood, they have more in common than they’d imagined. But even the Mojave sun can’t chase away the shadows when the past is determined to track them down…
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