Bearing & Breakwater
Two broken hearts trapped on a research vessel must survive a lethal storm and a corporate conspiracy to reclaim the love they lost ten years ago.
Piper Vale was once a rising star in marine biology until a corrupt mentor framed her for data falsification, destroying her reputation and her career. Now, her only path to redemption lies in an independent impact study proving that Vanguard Resources is illegally poisoning the Alaskan fjords. To get the samples she needs, she must return to the home she fled and hire the only man capable of navigating the Razor Straits—Rhys 'Anchor' Montgomery, the man she ghosted a decade ago.
Rhys has spent ten years hardening himself against the memory of the woman who left him without a word. As a cynical captain at NorthStar Aviation & Rescue, he wants nothing to do with Piper's mission. But with the town’s economy under a corporate squeeze, he reluctantly accepts the charter, trapping them both aboard The Obsidian. Amidst the cramped quarters and the spray of freezing saltwater, the professional respect they have for each other's competence begins to thaw the ice around their hearts.
When corporate sabotage leaves them stranded in the heart of a massive Alaskan storm, Piper and Rhys must rely on each other’s expertise to survive. As they battle 20-foot swells and mercenaries intent on burying the truth, they realize that the greatest threat isn't the ocean—it’s the secrets that drove them apart. In the face of a lethal environment, they must decide if their love is a weight that will drown them or the anchor that will bring them home.
The Blurb
Piper Vale was once a rising star in marine biology until a corrupt mentor framed her for data falsification, destroying her reputation and her career. Now, her only path to redemption lies in an independent impact study proving that Vanguard Resources is illegally poisoning the Alaskan fjords. To get the samples she needs, she must return to the home she fled and hire the only man capable of navigating the Razor Straits—Rhys 'Anchor' Montgomery, the man she ghosted a decade ago.
Rhys has spent ten years hardening himself against the memory of the woman who left him without a word. As a cynical captain at NorthStar Aviation & Rescue, he wants nothing to do with Piper's mission. But with the town’s economy under a corporate squeeze, he reluctantly accepts the charter, trapping them both aboard The Obsidian. Amidst the cramped quarters and the spray of freezing saltwater, the professional respect they have for each other's competence begins to thaw the ice around their hearts.
When corporate sabotage leaves them stranded in the heart of a massive Alaskan storm, Piper and Rhys must rely on each other’s expertise to survive. As they battle 20-foot swells and mercenaries intent on burying the truth, they realize that the greatest threat isn't the ocean—it’s the secrets that drove them apart. In the face of a lethal environment, they must decide if their love is a weight that will drown them or the anchor that will bring them home.
"The tension between Rhys and Piper is as cold and sharp as the Alaskan water, but their chemistry is absolute fire. James delivers the perfect blend of high-stakes survival and deeply emotional second-chance romance."— SeaReads Reviews