Crystal is an enlisted mechanic with a tragic past. Grant is
an officer and a pilot with a broken heart. When faced with a difficult
decision, will Crystal choose wisely or lose the best thing that ever happened
to her?
The love between them burns hot, but their relationship
won't stay fueled if they can't beat the obstacles in their way. Besides
breaking the fraternization rules, Grant and Crystal have the difference of
race between them…but can they prove to the rest of the world, and to each
other, that love is color blind?
Afterburn is about overcoming one's past, not judging
others, learning to forgive, and what it's like to be a woman in a "man's
world".
~~~~~
Excerpt
"You called about a leak?" Crystal wasn't
surprised to find Grant, looking immaculate in his flight uniform, leaning
against the fuselage of his Falcon. She peered up at him from under her cap,
trying to look coy, but knowing she failed miserably. She was still shaking
from her encounter with Swenson. She heard her tools rattling in her tool bag.
The smile on Grant's face that had greeted her faded.
"What's wrong?" He reached out a hand and touched her shoulder. His
casual stance tensed, his body looking ready to battle any and all of her
demons.
Crystal took a deep breath. "I'm okay. Just those
problems at work I didn't want to talk about." She turned away from him,
not wanting him to see the tears that filled her eyes. "Where's that leak?
Which wing?" She dropped her bag onto the tarmac, lowered herself to her
knees, and began removing fasteners of different sizes. "What size is it?"
She kept her head down, avoiding his probing eyes.
"The only leak is in my heart. It doesn't need a
fastener, only for you to smile." Grant's soft voice rolled over her as he
crouched down beside her. The smell of his cologne tickled her nostrils, bringing
to mind memories of their wonderful weekend together. His kindness was her
undoing. Much to her embarrassment, she began to cry. Tears fell into her
canvas bag, wetting the tools of her trade.
Grant was on his knees beside her now, and he kept a lookout
as he put his arms around her and let her sob, offering her shelter and
comfort. He made soothing sounds, held her tight, and waited.
Feeling safer and reeling from all her conflicting emotions,
Crystal finally began to talk. In a tearful voice wracked by an occasional sob,
she told Grant about that morning, about the declined promotions, about how she
dreaded walking into her shop every day. It felt as though a leak was fixed in
her own heart, no fastener or sealing required, just the love and strength of a
caring man. If only all of her problems could be solved like this...
When she had told him everything, she sat back on her heels
and waited, wary at the clouds of anger on Grant's face. He stared at her
intently. "You need to go to EEO." He reached out and brushed a tear
off of Crystal's face. "No one, no woman or man, is supposed to put up
with discrimination or harassment over what they are. The military has a
zero-tolerance policy. I've been there, Crystal, and I know you can fight it.
We all deserve to be treated equally."
"I'm afraid," Crystal whispered. "Who will
believe me?"
"I believe you." Footsteps sounded behind him, and
Grant straightened and stood next to the jet wing, blocking Crystal's
tear-stained face from view. She heard him quietly conversing with someone.
When she saw the military boots walk away, she waited for Grant's face to
appear below the jet again. He held out a hand to her.
"I have to do a practice CAP." He pulled her to
her feet, grabbing her bag with his other hand.
She nodded, stood on shaky legs, and brushed off her
coveralls. "Are you sure there isn't a leak I need to fix before you go?
Combat Air Patrol maneuvers are no light thing. Was that really a fake call? Is
your jet fueled?" Her words came out in a rush of nervousness. Her fiasco
from the morning was forgotten in light of her sudden, new concern. She didn't
want to watch him fly. Her feelings for him were growing too strong. A picture
of her dad came to her mind. "I think I'll be going now. I can't watch you
fly now that I...that I..." Her voice trailed off. She didn't dare say it.
Didn't dare say the "L" word or that she cared for him deeply. It was
too soon.
Grant placed his hands on her shoulders, preventing her from
leaving. His voice was deep and serious. "Fake call. I just wanted to see
you. Don't worry. I know what I'm doing." He gave her a reassuring
squeeze. "With me at the controls and you as its mechanic, this jet will
perform wonders in the sky. We make a good team—in more ways than one”
~~~~~
Review
AFTERBURN by Tara Chevrestt has a fast paced romance locked into a powerful story about Racism and Sexual Harassment. As these are subjects that still exist today, she was delicate, yet firm in weaving the seriousness of these subjects into her romance.
The romance between Crystal and Grant was fast-paced (yes, it is a novella), if not a bit rushed, but I was still able to see the connection between them and could feel the emotion from each of them, for the other.
Tara is a fabulous writer and again she has written a romance that is not just all sweet as honey romance, but has a message about something many of us have had to deal with in our lives.
Nice Story, recommended to my followers who enjoy romance with a message!!
~~~~~
About Tara
Tara
Chevrestt is a deaf woman, former aviation mechanic, writer, and an editor. She
is most passionate about planes, motorcycles, dogs, and above all, reading.
That led to her love of writing. Between her writing and her editing, which
allows her to be home with her little canine kids, she believes she has the
greatest job in the world. She is very happily married.
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