5 Facts About "Love Takes Flight:"
1. The fictional setting is based on a real area of western Montana, which includes a real national wildlife refuge (although the names of the valley and of the refuge are different than in my story).
2. I have visited this area of Montana several times and I find it inspiring in its natural beauty and the wildlife that coexist with people.
3. My primary female character once worked for the National Park Service, and the primary male character is a biologist. When I was young, I wanted to be a biologist and work in Yellowstone National Park.
4. Sandhill cranes play a pivotal role in the story; sandhill cranes mate for life.
5. The grandparents of my primary female character, Ellie, owned a farm and grew vegetables and fruit; my grandparents owned a farm in Iowa and raised dairy cows and sheep, and they had a large vegetable garden and some apple trees. I enjoyed sharing the bond between Ellie and her grandparents, especially her grandfather, as my own grandparents were very special to me. In this story, I feel like I've honored them and their legacy of love, compassion, and kindness.
Book Description:
Events from the past could destroy their present and future.
Eleanor "Ellie" Davis inherited her grandparents' farm in western Montana. Her vision, to continue the fruit and vegetable growing and selling legacy and to add a rescued animal program, is threatened by her dad, who wants to sell the property. The rift between them widens after Ellie discovers her money-driven dad attempted to obtain the land in secret.
When she connects with a local wildlife biologist over a mutual love for the land, Ellie discovers an ally in her quest to keep the farm ... and maybe something more. However, an event from her past adds to Ellie's concerns about the future.
Nathan Ford's job as a federal biologist involves behavioral studies of the wildlife found at two different refuges in the region. He discovers more sandhill cranes than previously documented in the area during the past 20 years, and that work brings Ellie into his life. Nathan falls fast for the granddaughter of a friend whose funeral Nathan could not attend because of something he prefers to leave in the past. When he learns of Ellie's desires for the farm and the opposition she faces from her father, Nathan determines to help her fulfill her dream – but revealing a part of his life he would rather forget is a task he's hesitant to tackle.
When their challenging pasts are finally revealed, will Ellie and Nathan's new
-found love shrivel like a prairie flower during a drought or grow, strengthen, and take flight like a young bird?
A sweet, contemporary romance about forgiveness and healing that weaves pet rescue and family saga into the love story.
Book Universal Buy Link:
"Love Takes Flight" is available in e-book and paperback formats from various online retailers, such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and Apple Books.
Excerpt from “Love Takes Flight”:
“Cal really loved these horses,” Nathan commented.
“Yes, he did. Grace in particular.”
Nathan looked at her.
“Are they adjusting? To his absence, I mean?”
Ellie shrugged.
“I think so, little by little. They stayed at the Flannagan place over the winter. Abby is going to foal in a few months, so I’ll be giving Mr. Flanagan the youngster when it’s old enough to leave its mother. He’s giving me two bum lambs to start my little petting zoo. I’m getting chickens for eggs, so I hope a few of them will be kind enough to tolerate kids.”
Nathan studied her.
“Petting zoo? Kids? I sense a story there.”
Ellie chuckled.
“Yeah. Variety is the spice of life, they say, so, in addition to the normal fruit, veggies, and herb offerings at the Davis Family Farm, we’re going to have naturalist-style programs for families, including a petting zoo.”
“Wow! Sounds incredible. And it sounds like you have a lot in the works already.”
Ellie nodded.
“I started working on the plan in November. I had hoped at Thanksgiving to help my dad see the opportunity to make this place fun and profitable with the various ways of bringing in money.”
“No go, uh?”
Ellie shook her head.
“He said my business plan was a pipe dream and doomed for failure.”
“I’m sorry, Ellie.”
Nathan couldn’t imagine a father not encouraging his child in her dreams, especially someone like Ellie who was not only passionate about her goals, but realistic and intelligent enough to draw up a business plan.
“I’ve come to expect such things from him. Still, I can’t say I wasn’t disappointed.”
Their eyes met and held for a moment.
Author Bio and Social Media Links:
Gayle M. Irwin lives in the United States and is an award-winning Wyoming author and freelance writer who has been recognized by Wyoming Writers, Inc. and the Wyoming Press Association for several of her works. She is a contributing writer in eight Chicken Soup for the Soul books, including the January 2023 release “Lessons Learned From My Dog.” Gayle is the author of many inspirational pet books for children and adults, including stories about her blind dog, such as Sage’s Big Adventure and Walking in Trust: Lessons Learned With My Blind Dog, and other books with animals as main characters, like Cody’s Cabin: Life in a Pine Forest and A Dog Named Mary Visits Yellowstone National Park. She subtly teaches readers about life lessons like courage, perseverance, friendship, and appreciation for nature. She also writes sweet, contemporary romance that weaves pet rescue and adoption into the love story, including a series set in the area around Yellowstone National Park, as well as stand-alone books, such as Love Takes Flight, set in western Montana. She volunteers for animal rescue organizations and donates a percentage of all book sales to such groups.
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