Safe Distance

"Safe Distance" is a heartfelt story of the human spirit and the triumph of love. Isolated by COVID-19, Teagan O'Rourke struggles with fatigue, shortness of breath, and pain. Unable to care for her Animal Rescue, she relies on a stranger and unexpected caretaker, Ben Cornish. Ben prepares meals, attends to her rescued animals, and encourages Teagan. Communicating through a closed door, they share family stories, their love of music and books, and their dreams. Both want to explore their budding relationship, but what will happen when they can see, touch, and explore each other? When her isolation ends, will their emerging love and their evolving dreams survive?

Teagan O'Rourke's life is upended by Covid-19 and Ben Cornish. After a break-up and job loss, Teagan retreats to her Animal Rescue to reassess her future. Ben, bleeding from a head wound, bursts into her yard carrying an injured dog. Teagan, a Vet Tech, cares for the dog first then tends to the man. Keeping a safe distance, she cares for Ben's gash and checks for signs of a concussion. To keep watch over the injured Ben and his dog and to keep a safe distance, Teagan locks them in the Isolation Room, usually reserved for sick rescued animals. When Teagan receives her positive COVID-19 results, their roles are reversed. Teagan locks herself in her bedroom. Ben becomes the unlikely caregiver creating meals, tending to the rescue animals, and encouraging Teagan as she struggles through the pain and fatigue of the virus. Through a closed door, Ben and Teagan share family stories, music, books, and dances. A strong friendship develops as they reveal their dreams. Teagan aspires to establish a dog therapy service using rescue dogs. Ben explores resources to reinvent his physical therapy office to include holistic services. Their discussions create a strong bond and generates a growing need to see, touch, and know more about each other. When their isolation ends and their pasts and families rush in, will Teagan and Ben's emerging love and evolving dreams survive?

Reece Brett entertains herself at the mall, in a dentist's office, or in a restaurant forming imaginary lives for those around her which become ideas for her contemporary novels. Interactions between friends, lovers, and family fascinate her. Reece's greatest love is her yours, mine, and ours family of six children. To escape their crazy life, she and her husband kayak the rivers of South Jersey. She churns out ideas as she paddles. She works out knotty problems of tangled character relationships as she prunes or digs in her garden. She enjoys chatting about books with writing groups, book clubs, or organizations in person or through virtual talks. Book clubs will find games, recipes, or ideas to spark discussion on her website. Black Lyon published her novels: Stranger To Love and Levels of Truth. She has published numerous articles and has been a staff writer for Down Jersey, Horse and Show Journal, and New Jersey Romance Writers Heartline Herald. She also published a children's book series, The Adventures of Buck the Buckle-Up Dog for New Jersey Traffic Safety Bureau. Reece is currently working on the series, Readers Haven Books.