Mason Sykes had served many years in the Marine Corps for his country. His loyalty and sacrifice had left him disfigured-inside and out. He didn't harbor regrets, especially since he'd finally found the peace and quiet he'd always desired on a Nebraska farm.





Brenna Helm was a country girl through and through, right down to her cowgirl boots. Her heart had always belonged to the acres of land that had been her family's legacy through multiple generations. She'd only ever loved one thing more, and that was the military man who'd moved back to town a few years ago who'd come home a changed man-one who apparently wanted nothing to do with anyone.





The day the world filled with ash was the day Mason was forced to rise above his scars. Facing death off of the battlefield made him realize what he'd pushed away in the name of compassion, but that was about to change. The flames of desire he'd once felt were about to be reignited, but he first had to get Brenna to safety through the fiery, harsh new world that could claim their lives if they took one wrong step.