an unlikely romance between a Washington rancher and an illegal Mexican immigrant whom she rescues one snowy night.

When a saddled horse shows up riderless at Alice Anderson’s snowed-in ranch, she knows someone’s in danger—no one could survive long in the bitter Washington cold. Bundled up atop her best horse, Alice sets out to find the rider, preparing herself for the worst. But when Alice comes across a hunched figure in a snow bank and brings the man back to Standfast, she realizes she wasn’t prepared for Domingo Rolodan. The Mexican raquero is on the run from immigration services—and harboring a deep secret. He and Alice slowly develop an abiding friendship that gradually blossoms into romance. Now, facing threats that include deportation, cultural misunderstandings, and the looming presence of a drug addict with claim to the ranch, can Alice and Domingo find a way to hold firm to their new love?

Through her warm and engaging prose Foster skillfully brings to life the pastoral landscape of Washington state, transporting readers into her breathtaking world.

• January 2012 Indie Next List
• December 2011 Indie Next List
• November 2011 Indie Next List