Gertie’s Redemption by Bliss Carter

**Warning: This book includes discussions of sexual assault and descriptive memories of the assault and aftermath.

Gertrude Anderson was next to last in the four Anderson sisters. She used to be the most outgoing of them all, the one with the most sass and sex appeal. That was until she became a sexual assault victim of an unknown perpetrator. Not knowing who he was or where he was lurking drilled fear and distrust deep into Gertie’s world. Three years later and she hadn’t even begun to heal, despite the coaxing from her sisters and best friend, Grace. But then she moved in next door to him. Braxton Harris, a firefighter captain, and a long-standing crush of Gertie was her hunky neighbor. He didn’t know her story of sexual assault and Gertie wanted to keep it that way. Physically and emotionally, she needed to keep Braxton at arm’s length. She just couldn’t risk being hurt anymore.

Braxton Harris grew up in Mercy Springs. He was very familiar with all of the Anderson sisters and when she moved in next to him three years ago, he became very knowledgeable about Gertie. She was fire and ice, heartbreak clear in her eyes. And he wanted her as if nothing else existed but her. He knew it would be a gamble to get her to open up to him. He’d build on a friendship first and if he were lucky, he could someday call her his. Braxton wouldn’t give up. He would become Gertie’s redemption and a new beginning.