New Release -- Cool Water by Jeanne Harrell

Trail guide Natalie Coleman has her perfect job in Yosemite National Park—until she and a group of riders come face-to-face with the biggest, meanest grizzly she’s ever seen! When the bear attacks, she must not only save her group, but also a lone rider who comes out of the woods—unaware of what’s happening.

Wes Evans is down to his last good nerve. Camping in Yosemite to study owls—and get away from his life—seems like the perfect solution. Though he’s just been fired, been served divorce papers, and had his head set afire by his brother, Fate still has plenty of tricks up her sleeve for him. Charged by an angry bear, he’s bucked off his horse, knocked unconscious, and left with a case of total amnesia. The only bright spot is that Natalie takes him under her wing until he can remember…something! With his lack of memory, things get complicated with parents, jobs, and ex-lovers.

The longer Wes stays with Natalie, the more uncertain he is about returning to his former life—whatever it might have been. And although Natalie has sworn off men, she can’t help but enjoy having Wes in her life—even with the chance that their friendship is about to go into forbidden territory! How can she fall for a man she knows nothing about?

EXCERPT

Natalie

My mother always said that I was usually in the wrong place at the right time. Now, generally that didn’t make too much sense to me because I really didn’t understand what she meant. All I’ve ever done is live around Yosemite, ride horses and try to be the best person I can be. And things that have happened to me like…dodging that bolt of lightning in a sudden storm, or dropping a hymnal in church and having the cute guy next to me pick it up…or maybe getting close enough to the altar right before the floor collapsed below my feet. Well, would they classify? I never was much sure.

But when I saw that bear, it hit me smack between the eyes what my mom meant by wrong place, right time. But I’ll get back to that.

Wes

None of it made any sense. At that time, the world made no sense to me. Divorced, adrift, jobless and hairless all added up to my pointless existence. My father told me to buck up. Shovel through the shit that had landed in my lap and be a man! My friends all felt sorry for me – too much happening and all at once.

But that’s the way life is sometimes, or so the professor down the hall told me. Just because I’d been bucked off didn’t mean I shouldn’t get right back on that horse again. It was an insane metaphor for a biology professor to use, but it turned out to be prophetic. Who knew?

     

Photo Journal: Yosemite National Park

 

The president of the United States and his family are flying into my part of the world this evening. They are coming in order to visit Yosemite National Park over the weekend to celebrate the centennial of the Parks Service. I decided to share a few photos--mostly mine I've taken over the years--of Yosemite.

The first family will arrive at Castle Air Base in Merced County, the former Air Force base, which is not that far of a drive from where I live. From there they will go on a whirlwind tour of the park. For security reasons, much of the itinerary is hush-hush. The following images are some of the sites within the park he may see before they jet off to the next park they plan to visit.

If the first family enters by way of Merced on Highway 140, they will travel along the Merced River for much of the way. This river originates high in Yosemite National Park and lends its name to both the county and county seat where I live. This is the spring run-off a few years ago just west of the entrance to the park.
 

After passing the entry kiosk on Highway 140, any and all vehicles must be able to pass through this rock formation.

If the first family enters the park further south by way of Mariposa Grove on Wawona Road, they will be treated to this view of Bridal Veil Falls and Half Dome from the Tunnel View scenic outlook. 

Hopefully, if they come this way, the dogwoods may still be in bloom. Most dogwood blossoms I have seen in the past were along Wawona Road and in Yosemite Village itself. This picture was taken in May, so it may already be too late in the year.

If the first family travels Tioga Road leading to Tioga Pass, at one scenic look-out they may be able to see this view of the back of Half Dome.

Hubby and I were on our way home from a hunting trip (he shoots rifles; I shoot cameras) in the Eastern Sierra Nevada in September 2009 when we drove through the mopping up efforts of the Big Meadow fire that affected a large part of the park. The ground was still smouldering and fire trucks and firefighters were still stationed along Tioga Road to keep an eye out for hot spots.

Six years later in 2015, the land is starting to come back. If the first family visits the east part of the park, they may see this region appear something like this.

Here is Half Dome again from Olmstead Point. You cannot believe there is this much granite in the world until you have visited this scenic look-out.

Twist slightly to the left at Olmstead Point, and you will see this.

Tioga Road passes several lakes. Here is Tenaya Lake.

The first family may visit Tuolumne Meadows on the east side of the park. An internet search will help you find images with greener grass. That is what I had hoped to see in May the year this picture was taken. Unfortunately, the meadow still showed the signs of the California drought.

If the first family tours the Yosemite Valley, they may see this view of Lower Yosemite Falls. This was taken in June 2009 before our four year drought in California.

Across from the view above the first family will find the Yosemite church. Throughout the summer, in their assigned time slot, several faiths offer church services to park visitors. My husband and I have had the privilege a few times of assisting in services for our faith in this church.

They may visit Yosemite Village.... 

 

....and/or the Yosemite Museum

On the eastern edge of Yosemite Valley, if they are up to a one mile hike, the first family may visit Mirror Lake.

 

One of my favorite places to stop for pictures in all seasons is the Valley View look-out on the north side of the Merced River as we drive towards the 140 park exit. This view of the river and Cathedral Rocks was taken in April 2007, long before our four-year California drought. 

If the first family stops here, they may view several Yosemite landmarks that may be seen from this location. Here they are marked on my photo taken last November.

Here is a better shot of El Capitan.

I hope you have enjoyed this brief photo tour of Yosemite National Park. Although we may not know exactly where in the park the President and his family will visit until it is all over, this may give you an idea where you might find him this weekend--if you are brave or foolish enough to try to get close to him and his entourage.

 Zina Abbott is the pen name used by Robyn Echols for her historical novels. Her novel, Family Secrets, was published by Fire Star Press. 

In this photo Robyn is standing by her buddy John Muir inside the museum at Yosemite National Park.

Please visit and follow the Zina Abbott’s Amazon Author Page by clicking HERE.

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Join with the first family-PHOTO JOURNAL: YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK @ZinaAbbott #FireStarPress http://bit.ly/1W3WDX2