When the railroad comes to town, some fights are worth everything. Thomas Hayes has spent four years building a life in Shamrock Ridge—a successful blacksmith shop, a respected place in the community, and a promising marriage to mail-order bride Fiona Long. But when railroad developers arrive with generous buyout offers and veiled threats, Thomas' carefully constructed world begins to crumble. As neighbors turn away and the community fractures under pressure, Thomas considers the one thing he swore he'd never do run. But Fiona didn't abandon everything in New York to watch her husband surrender to shame. She's learned what it means to fight for what matters, and she won't let fear win—not in their marriage, and not in their town. With friends rallying and enemies closing in, Thomas must choose between the safety of surrender and the courage to stand for what's right. Because sometimes the only way to prove you're not a coward is to face the fight that terrifies you most. A story of love, loyalty, and the price of doing what's right when everything is at stake.
Author
Rachel Wesson was born in Kilkenny, Ireland but considers herself to be from the capital, Dublin as that's where she spent most of her life. Her dad brought Rachel and her two sisters out every Saturday to give their mother a break. He took them to the library and for ice-cream after. It took a long time for her sisters to forgive her for the hours she spent choosing her books! She grew up driving everyone nuts asking them questions about what they did during the War or what side they were on in the 1916 rising etc. Finally her Granny told her to write her stories down so people would get the pleasure of reading them. In fact what Granny meant was everyone would get some peace while Rachel was busy writing! When not writing, or annoying relatives, Rachel was reading. Her report cards from school commented on her love of reading especially when she should have been learning. Seems you can't read Great Expectations in Maths. After a doomed love affair and an unpleasant bank raid during which she defended herself with a tea tray, she headed to London for a couple of years. (There is a reason she doesn't write romance!). She never intended staying but a chance meeting with the man of her dreams put paid to any return to Ireland. Having spent most of her career in the City, she decided something was missing. Working in the City is great but it's a young person's dream. Having three children you never see isn't good for anyone. So she packed in the job and started writing. Thanks to her amazing readers, that writing turned into a career far more exciting and rewarding than any other. Rachel lives in Surrey with her husband and three children, two boys and a girl. When not reading, writing or watching films for "research" purposes, Rachel likes to hang out with her family. She also travels regularly back home - in fact she should have shares in BA and Aerlingus.
