Nora Roberts Land

Nora Roberts Land

Journalist Meredith Hale’s ex–husband claimed her Nora Roberts addiction gave her unrealistic expectations about marriage, and she believed him. All dreams of happily ever after—or Nora Roberts Land as her mother calls it— went up in smoke. But when her family asks her to temporarily help their Dare Valley, Colorado newspaper, she decides it’s time to change her life and prove her ex wrong. She’s determined to find her own small–town Nora Roberts hero, prove that true love exists, and publish a story about her quest.

War correspondent Tanner McBride has just returned stateside to work for a major newspaper, and the last thing he expects is blackmail. Yet, before he can even unpack, he’s headed to Colorado. His assignment? Make his boss’s ex–wife fall for him and then break her heart. Her article about discovering love à la Nora might air dirty laundry about her marriage to the media mogul, threatening his senate run. The mogul wants Meredith stopped, and he makes sure Tanner has no choice in the matter.

When the two meet, the sparks between them are undeniable. Meredith, who vowed never to date another journalist, begins to succumb. Could Tanner be her Nora Roberts hero? As they work together to uncover the truth behind a suspicious death, the depth of their feelings unfolds and both realize they’ve kept their secrets for far too long. But before the truth can be revealed, their investigation takes a deadly turn, one that might make Meredith’s personal Nora Roberts Land go up in flames.

PRAISE FOR AVA MILES AND NORA ROBERTS LAND

“Ava Miles’s debut novel is warm, funny, and wholly entertaining.”

—Joyfully Reviewed

“Debut author Ava Miles combines small-town romance with big-world issues in a full-bodied romance fiction in the first of the Dare Valley series… and paints a wonderful idyllic setting for this small-town series with great characters.”

—USA Today, Happily Ever After

“Ms. Miles has created a love story where REAL love can triumph over all! A perfect summer read!”

—Tome Tender

“Ms. Miles does a great job in creating a story that shows how much the heroine loves Nora Roberts books and how determined she is in finding her own small town hero of her own ala Nora Roberts. The writing is tight, story flows smoothly and the few twists and turns left me on the edge of my seat, waiting for baited breath for what happens next.”

—Love Romances & MORE

“An enjoyable book…leaves readers eager to find out if Meredith will find her Nora Roberts man, and if Meredith and Tanner’s romance can survive considerable adversity. The chemistry between Meredith and Tanner, and a dangerous, exciting plot line woven throughout this love story, makes this a fast read. We’ll see what author Ava Miles has in store for the second book of this trilogy!”

—Romance Reviews Today

The search for a real Nora Roberts hero begins…

Jill jumped off the bed and rifled through Meredith’s larger suitcase, sorting through the paperbacks. “You’ve lost your funny bone. So tell me, Divorcée Woman, who’s your favorite Nora Roberts hero?”

Meredith crawled over to the edge of the bed. “Man, that’s like asking me about my favorite food.”

Jill held up a book. “Mine’s Roarke. Hands down. That guy is smokin’ hot. I could write an ode to his hotness.” She threw aside a J.D. Robb paperback. “But we’re not going to find a Roarke here.”

“Okay, but I’m still going to fantasize about finding him.” Meredith picked up
Sea Swept
. “Ah, my first Nora book. Hard to find someone hotter than Cameron Quinn.”

“Oh yeah. Badass race car driver returns home when dad dies to take care of an orphan boy. That was a great series. His advertising executive brother, Phillip Quinn, was pretty hot in
Inner Harbor
, but a little urbane for my taste. The guy complained about getting blood out of a cotton blend, remember?”

“Yes, but he was a wine snob like me. We’d be a match made in heaven.”

“Haha. Okay, give me two more.” Jill leaned against the suitcase. After Meredith’s crazy attraction to Rick–the–Dick, she wasn’t sure what her sister went for in a man. “Then I’ll have something to work with. All of them need to be small–town guys.”

Meredith flopped onto her back. “How about Bradley Vane from
Key of Valor?
Owner of a home goods empire who looks hot in a suit, but isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty.”

“Oh, I love the Key series. It’s awesome how the heroines battle evil with their hunky heroes. Keep going.”

To the two women whose support helped make this book possible:

The incomparable Nora Roberts, for being okay with me using her name for this book—and for her stories of happily ever after or Nora Roberts Land as I call it, which always lift my spirit, but more importantly helped me pass many tense nights in dangerous places when I was trying to save the world in my own humble way.

My beautiful sister, Michelle, for letting me tell this story, which germinated from her life—proving truth is stranger than fiction—but happy endings always win out if we are brave enough to seek them.

And to my divine entourage, who continues to show me the way to my bliss every day.

Acknowledgements

There are a myriad of people who have helped me build a ladder to my dreams:

My former agent, Jennifer Schober, who left the business recently for personal reasons, but who loved this book right away like I did and supported me in seeking its highest potential. I miss you.

Mary Blayney and her willingness to be outfitted with angel wings by providing her generous assistance in seeking Nora Roberts’ okay for this book and being a trusted, dear friend.

Laura Reeth, Nora’s phenomenal publicist, who also helped with my request and many others, and has been a total joy to become friends with.

The incredible members of Team Ava, including my publicity helpers, Joan Schulhafer, Debby Tobias, and Alissa Di Giacomo of Joan Shulhafer Publishing and Media Consulting; Elizabeth Bemis and Sienna Condy of Bemis Promotions for my website; my editor, Angela Polidoro; the Killion Group for the cover art; my copy editor, Helen Hester–Osstra; Gregory Stewart for my publicity photos, the amazing Dare Valley map, and a million other things; Dr. Tabitha King and Janet Geary for being research consultants; and lastly, my amazing Indie guru, Meredith Bond.

Diane Gaston, the first writer I met on this journey, who assisted in nailing a few rungs in place on my ladder and is always willing to share her tools and skills when I need help, especially on this book.

Evie Owens, who helped me see a new direction for this story and always makes me laugh.

My Inn Boonsboro retreat gals who make our annual trek to Nora’s inn one of the highlights of my year.

Inspiring writing teachers from my sixth grade teacher, Jackie Mason, to college professors Dave Jauss and Michael Kleine—and many others unnamed, including a whole bunch of women in Romance Writers of America and Washington Romance Writers, who share their insights so generously.

Dan Baumstark, Kerrith McKechnie, Christine Spence, Julia Turner, Abhaya Schlesinger, Zahra Yousefi, Karen Dobson, Francis Ramirez, and other helpers for supporting me in magnificent ways.

My cousin, Terry Miles, for being my family newspaper source and for sharing new stories about our great–great grandfather, the founder, who reportedly won the first paper in a poker game when The Plains were the Wild West.

Jai Singh and Thuy-Doan Le for creating space for me to be my true self, and always finding the laughter in the divine or mundane.

My always supportive family, who have cried over my characters’ pain and laughed at their antics, confirming I was on the right track in touching people’s hearts while entertaining with a tale.

My TF, for things known and yet unknown. I love you.

And lastly, to all of you who are reading this book. Thank you. I wish you all your own Nora Roberts Land—in whatever way is best for you.

Prologue

Fairy tales, like shoes, come in all shapes and sizes. Frogs turn into princes. Princes assist ladies into glass slippers.

And now I’m back to shoes again. Shoes are comforting, right? They haven’t let me down, run around on me, or destroyed my dreams of happily ever after.

My husband never transformed into a handsome prince. He stayed quite firmly in the reptile family, a chameleon, perhaps? And I’m pretty sure that if I had ever lost a shoe—even if it were priceless, like a limited edition Manolo Blahnik—he wouldn’t have lifted a finger to find it. Why didn’t I see that he was never going to be my prince?

Modern fairy tales only exist in romance novels crafted by writers like Nora Roberts. For years, her words carried me to an enchanted place where love conquered all. And I bought into it—hook, line, and sinker. Now I need to set aside love and all of its false promises. It’s a messy business anyway.

So, I’ll…buy more shoes. No, scratch that—I’ll buy…La Perla lingerie.

I want to be a superhero now…like Divorcée Woman.

She’d know what to do after signing these papers.

Maybe an alter ego will help me regain my confidence.

After all, I already have plenty of shoes, and they’ve never helped me much anyway.

Diary entry by journalist Meredith Hale on the day of her divorce

Chapter 1

M
eredith Hale scanned the bookstore window. There it was—the new Nora Roberts book—the cover a bold, powerful landscape of sky and water.

Her superhero alter ego, Divorcée Woman, couldn’t override the rash of goosebumps on Meredith’s arms or her knotted stomach. Meredith patted the red lace La Perla bustier hidden under her black suit jacket and took one hesitant step closer to the glass, her breath hitching as she scanned Nora’s prominent display. She imagined Divorcée Woman telling her to suck it up. It was only a bookstore after all. It wasn’t like she had to take a bullet for the president or anything.

She’d gone cold turkey on Nora’s books a year ago, when her ex-husband, Rick-the-Dick, threw
Black Hills
at the wall, snarling that her favorite author had given her an unrealistic view of love. “Our marital problems are
her
fault,” he said. “She’s made you believe in happily ever after—something
any adult knows
is a myth. Grow up.” Then he packed his custom-tailored suits and slammed out the door of their swanky Manhattan apartment.

At first she’d thought maybe he was right. But she missed Nora’s books. And not reading them hadn't made the whole divorce thing any easier on her. It hadn't made the panic attacks go away.

She wanted her Nora Roberts back, dammit. It was time to reclaim her life.

Unfortunately, just looking at the cover had her hovering on the edge of a panic attack. Her hands grew clammy. She wiped them on her black suit and dug into her matching purse for her cell phone. Her sister would be able to talk her into going into the store. After all, Jill could talk anyone into anything.