Wish You Were Here

As unofficial matchmaker for beautiful Abrigo Island, Zoe Cash practices her own form of no-risk romance. And when Yeager Gates arrives in town for a little R & R, Zoe decides that he'll be her latest project. But the secure world Zoe's created for herself is turned upside-down when she finds herself falling for the sexy fighter pilot.

Yeager's flying days might be over, but spending time on Mother Earth with tantalizing Zoe is putting him back on solid ground. Yeager makes no secret of the fact that his island stay is temporary, but when the time comes will he really be able to leave Zoe behind—for good?

Publishers Weekly

A blind astronaut and a 27-year-old virgin come together in this sweet but steamy romance set on a beautiful California island. Sexy Yeager Gates is slated to pilot the career-capping Millennium project when a freak accident throws his life off track. He's not only temporarily blinded, but impotent, too. Idyllic Abrigo Island offers the R&R he needs, and the diminutive, energetic form of innkeeper Zoe Cash will speed his healing. Zoe's bed-and-breakfast, Haven House, draws tourists visiting Abrigo's annual Firetail Festival, which celebrates the rare fish that keeps the island economy afloat. Romantic tension builds between the two as they await the firetail migration. Ridgway's smart, peppy style is reminiscent of Jennifer Crusie, but her vulnerable, tough-outside/marshmallow-inside heroine stands on her own. There's a smattering of graphic language, but Ridgway (Big Bad Dad) never gratuitously offends. And a secondary plot involving Zoe's sister, a leukemia survivor, and Yeager's middle-age, cynical friend provides an effective counterpoint to the main love story, making this novel a charmer. (Feb.) Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.

Christie Ridgway has never lived east of the Pacific Ocean, north of San Francisco, or south of San Diego. To put it simply, she's a California native who loves to travel but is happy to make the Golden State her home. She began her writing career in fifth grade when she penned a volume of love stories featuring herself and a teen idol who will probably be thrilled to remain nameless. Later, though, after marrying her college sweetheart, Christie again took up writing romances, this time with imaginary heroes and heroines. In a house full of males—one terrific husband, two school-age sons, a yellow dog, and tankfuls of fish, reptiles, and amphibians—Christie makes her own place (and peace) writing the kinds of stories she loves best.