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    A Winter's Hope
    A Winter's Hope
    A Winter's Hope
    Ebook51 pages43 minutes

    A Winter's Hope

    By Liv Rancourt

    ()

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    About this ebook

    Owen spends 1918 fighting in the trenches of Europe. It's a long, horrible nightmare, except for one dream of a night in Paris with a man he'll never see again.

    He comes home a shadow of himself.

    Isolated in his parent's winter cabin, Owen searches for healing in the silence of the forest. His journey back is helped along when, against all odds, the man from Paris appears in his town.

    Can Jeremy - and a little holiday magic - bring Owen back to life?

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherLiv Rancourt
    Release dateDec 5, 2024
    ISBN9798992000306
    A Winter's Hope
    Author

    Liv Rancourt

    An Adams Media author.

    Read more from Liv Rancourt

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      Book preview

      A Winter's Hope - Liv Rancourt

      Dedication

      This story was originally called War Wounds, so I’d like to dedicate it to all the people who fought in the Great War and died for our freedom. Your service was not in vain, and I hope you found the healing you so richly deserve.

      Author’s Note

      As I said in the dedication, this book was originally called War Wounds. It appeared in a holiday novella put together by the Rainbow Romance Writers chapter of RWA, with proceeds going to The Trevor Project. Since I was given the rights back, and wanted to release it as a solo work, I had it lightly re-edited and changed the title into something a little more holiday-adjacent.

      Because yeah, War Wounds might describe some family Christmases, but that’s not really the vibe I was going for here.

      In addition, I added a sixth chapter, which will hopefully put a little holiday bow on Owen’s journey of healing. I hope you enjoy the story, and that you have a very happy holiday. If you feel motivated to leave a review or a rating, so much the better. Indie authors thrive on reviews!

      Happy reading!

      Table of Contents

      Dedication

      Author’s Note

      Table of Contents

      Chapter One

      Chapter Two

      Chapter Three

      Chapter Four

      Chapter Five

      Chapter Six

      Chapter One

      Paris, August 1918

      The man looked young, his face unlined, his smile bright—too young and unsoiled to be wearing a soldier’s uniform. His eyes, though, told a different story. The shadows there spoke of the same horrors Owen had witnessed.

      All around them men talked and laughed, the air blue with cigarette smoke. Owen had one night, maybe two, in this little corner of Paris. He’d sprung for a decent glass of whisky, and the liquor’s burn loosened something deep in his chest. More than likely his unit would return to the front, but for the first time in a long while, no one was shooting at him and he could draw a breath.

      Without any real intent, Owen caught the young man’s gaze and held it long enough for an offer to be made and accepted. The man was blond, his eyes dark, and he stood up from his seat at the bar with an easy grace.

      Owen tilted his head toward the rear of the café. There must be a back door, which would likely lead to an alley. From there, they’d find a quiet corner, or something close by.

      Leading the way, Owen wove through the crowd. His shoulders felt the weight of the young man’s gaze, a sensation that made him stand straighter. To his dismay, he couldn’t find the café’s rear door. They couldn’t very well waltz through the kitchen. He turned, his new friend stopping a shade too close to him.

      No door, Owen murmured.

      The man’s smile lit a fire deep in his belly. My room’s not far.

      A room? Owen was bunking with three other men. No one else will be there?

      Come on. The man shook his head, and for the first time, Owen noticed his officer’s bar.

      He let the man go first, following at a reasonable distance. Up close, he’d noted creases at the corner of the man’s eyes and framing his lips, either from age or sun or both. Being caught in a compromising position with any man was dangerous. For an officer to take that risk made the fire

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