Toward Her Passion: Denton Heights Book 5

Rikki Carmichael is strong, stoic, and in charge. She does not need help from anyone. She can navigate her own life, thank you very much, and resents her friends’ efforts to give her charity. She doesn’t take charity; she gives it. Financial troubles threaten to topple her coffee shop business, her livelihood, and her sense of self-worth. Abruptly single and oddly uninterested in finding a new relationship, be it a long-term life partner or a short-term lover, she finds herself reminiscing about past loves and relationships: Hard Eileen, fun Emily, newbie Sarah, and young Jessica.

The anniversary of her mother’s death all those years ago sends her into another bout of ’deep downs, ’ the code words her mother used for Rikki’s bouts with depression growing up. Her bestie, Shasti, advises her to make room for someone, a new lover, or a life partner. Shasti wants Rikki to send a message to the universe that she is ready to receive someone into her life. And, lo and behold, in walks Esme, a blonde bombshell customer at the coffee shop. Rikki’s hopes are lifted...until they aren’t. With no biological family left to lean on, Rikki has to find the strength to become vulnerable and ask for help. Easier said than done. It’s much easier to counsel others than to ask for help for herself. She discovers, however, that asking for help is where real strength lies.