Bestselling romance author Sharon Sala writes under the pen name Dinah McCall and delivers an exciting romantic thriller, Touchstone. Rachel Austin is a twenty-year-old lifelong resident of Mirage, Texas, a sleepy town that has open stretches of land as far as the eye can see. However, Rachel feels boxed in and trapped in by her circumstances. Life has delivered cruel fate once again – with both of her parents deceased, the family farm is being auctioned off because Rachel is unable to keep her family home afloat. Alone and soon to be homeless, Rachel is a beautiful young woman who tearfully wonders what will happen to her.

However, Rachel is not completely alone. Her lover and boyfriend, Houston Bookout, loves Rachel more than life itself. His home is on the acreage neighboring Rachel’s family home. He met Rachel years ago and they have been together ever since. While Rachel is saddened over the loss of her parents and now her home, Houston knows that Rachel will make her home with him – forever. Houston plans to propose to Rachel and dedicate his life to her.

Unbeknownst to Houston, Rachel has other plans. While she loves Houston, he is in a precarious financial position himself. He drives a truck for the local feed store and can barely make the mortgage payments on his home and land with his meager hourly wage. Rachel is finished with living hand to mouth. She has been told time and again that she is a beautiful woman. Half Cherokee Indian, Rachel is stunning – six feet tall with long, straight black hair and piercing green eyes. Rachel bids a silent goodbye to Mirage and hops on a bus with her remaining funds to New York before Houston is aware of her plans.

New York is an unfamiliar and intimidating place for Rachel. When she finally gets her break in modeling, she hits the big time. However, her new celebrity status means that she is now in the public eye. When an obsessed madman begins stalking her, Rachel’s life is in danger, and she needs Houston more than she ever has before. She quickly learns that neither money nor fame bring her happiness, and the love that she shares with Houston will never die, despite the fact that she is miles away from home and both of their lives have changed dramatically.

Touchstone is an engrossing romantic thriller. Rachel and Houston are a passionate couple, and the author demonstrates how love transcends wealth, status and money - and that fate and destiny determine true love. The thriller element to the novel is exciting, realistic and makes the novel a page-turner. Touchstone is highly recommended to those who enjoy romance, as well as to fans of thrillers who are looking for a good beach read this summer.

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