by Elura Coren

A stranger on a strange planet... The words haunt Jade Bredenbury as much as her few memories of the night she became 'Crystal' and danced the night away with a handsome artist. The memories used to be so vivid, but less than a year later, a car accident robs her of her memories, and changes her in more ways than one. Small glimpses allow her to remember vague details, like his smokey grey eyes, but any chance of finding the man who evoked fierce passion faded with her head injury. As the Circulation Director of a small town newspaper, Jade deals with all sorts of people with flare. She's dedicated and good at her job, which is how she finds herself at the Lione Daily Times with the task of cleaning up the mess left by the previous Director. She handles this all cool, calm and collected, professional at all times. Until Gus Colfax, the cranky bellowing hermit, screams at one of her young carriers. No one knows what drove the gifted artist to solitude, and he's not inclined to enlighten them. He likes his self-imposed solitary confinement. Everyone simply leaves him to his memories. When his peace is disturbed with a crashing window, he strikes out at Jade. She doesn't back down. Instead, she fires back, shocking even herself. And piquing the interest of the temperamental artist. Yet, fate isn't done with them. A plan has begun to draw Gus from his personal prison and restore the missing part of Jade's life.