The Hummingbird Sanctuary, page 1
Hummingbird Sanctuary
Synopsis
Enjoy your vacation at the Hummingbird Sanctuary, Colorado’s hottest resort destination. Come for the mountains, stay for the charm, and enjoy the drama as Olive, Eleanor, and Harriet figure out their lives, their loves, and the meaning of true friendship.
Owning and operating the Hummingbird Sanctuary was supposed to be the best time of Olive Zyntarski’s life. She was going to tackle the future with eyes wide open and forget about her guilty conscience. All that changes when a chance meeting with a mysterious new guest has Olive’s long-buried secrets bubbling to the surface.
As marketing director, Eleanor Fitzwallace knows how to present everything in its best light, everything except her nonexistent love life. When her high school heartbreak unexpectedly saunters into the Sanctuary’s restaurant, Eleanor’s determined to ignore her. She wants real love, and people don’t change, do they?
After hitting rock bottom, Harriet Marshall made a promise to herself: no more one-night stands that make her feel bad about herself. She’s determined to turn her life around, and that means focusing on keeping the Sanctuary’s restaurant and bar hip, trendy, and booked solid. So, of course, she meets the most gorgeous woman ever, and everything changes.
Praise for Erin Zak
The Other Women
“This book is like a love letter to anyone with a broken heart. Erin Zak is telling you that you will get through it, and if someone breaks your heart, they were never worthy in the first place.”—Les Rêveur
The Road Home
“Zak writes interesting, unusual, and unique circumstances in which the leading ladies meet but their chemistry is so awesome right off the bat that you are rooting for them all along…This is a wonderfully immersive read and highly recommended.”—Best Lesfic Reviews
“Lila and Gwen have chemistry for days. They also have quick witty banter that keeps you on your toes. I love this angsty drama, it is just an amazing read. I could gush over this one for days, but I am just going to say don’t deny yourself this one.”—Romantic Reader Blog
Beautiful Accidents
“The main characters had so much chemistry I felt like I was right there with them observing every interaction. The attraction was so well written from their first meeting. The writing was engaging and well paced.”—Melina Bickard, Librarian (Waterloo Library, London UK)
“Beautiful Accidents is an intriguing and exciting romance with real depth, and I really appreciated how romance is reframed as enrichment rather than sacrifice. Stevie and Bernadette never give up any aspects of their real identities to be together; Zak has created a pair of characters that are definitely going to stick with me.”—Beyond the Words
“This book kept me engaged from beginning to end. I enjoyed the chemistry between Stevie and Bernadette.”—Maggie Shullick, Librarian, Lorain and Cuyahoga County (Ohio)
“[T]his lesbian age gap romance book is [Zak’s] best to date. This is an easy one to recommend to romance fans who like a lot of chemistry and some angst.”—Lez Review Books
“[I]f you want big dramatic feelings, Zak is the way to go.”—Colleen Corgel, Librarian, Queens Borough Public Library
“This book made my heart ache from the start. When Stevie sees Bernadette for the first time, her breath catches. Mine did too. The way Erin Zak describes reactions, both physical and mental, pulled me in absolutely. It’s both wonderful and painful. It’s what I’m looking for in romances. It’s the best feeling.”—Jude in the Stars
“Zak takes her time with the characters in developing them as individuals and allowing the relationship time to develop…This is a bit more of a mature romance in that there is unquestionably a connection but both characters recognize that with their lives at major turning points…that HEA isn’t easy and compromising for the other person holds the danger of regret. There’s drama, but not overblown—it’s real, messy, and complicated with difficult decisions that have to be made.”—C-Spot Reviews
Create a Life to Love
“Erin Zak does unexpected attraction and sexual awakening late in life really, really well.”—Reviewer@large
“Create A Life To Love is a soulful story of how love can conquer all. I laughed, cried (sobbed) and got butterflies more than once, and did you see the cover art? Fantastic.”—Les Rêveur
“This is officially one of my favorite books of all time.”—Maggie Shullick, Librarian, Lorain and Cuyahoga County (Ohio)
Breaking Down Her Walls
“If I could describe this book in one word it would be this: annnngggssstt…If angst is your thing, this a great book for you.”—Colleen Corgel, Librarian, Queens Public Library
“Breaking Down Her Walls had me completely spun. One minute I’m thinking that it’s such a sweet romance, the next I found it sexy as hell then by the end, I had it as an all-encompassing love story that I just adored.”—Les Rêveur
“I loved the attraction between the two main characters and the opposites attract part of the story. The setting was amazing…I look forward to reading more from this author.”—Kat Adams, Bookseller (QBD Books, Australia)
“This is a charming contemporary romance set on a cattle ranch near the Colorado Mountains…This is a slow burn romance, but the chemistry is obvious and strong almost from the beginning. Breaking Down Her Walls made me feel good.”—Rainbow Reflections
“If you like contemporary romances, ice queens, ranchers, or age gap pairings, you’ll want to pick up Breaking Down Her Walls.”—Lesbian Review
Falling Into Her
“Falling Into Her by Erin Zak is an age gap, toaster oven romance that I really enjoyed. The romance has a nice burn that’s slow without being too slow. And while I’m glad that lesfic isn’t all coming out stories anymore, I enjoyed this particular one because it shows how it can happen in a person’s 40s.”—Lesbian Review
“I loved everything about this book…I’m always slightly worried when I try a book by someone who a) I’ve never heard of before; b) never published anything before (as far as I know). Especially if the book is in a sub-niche market area. But I’m quite glad I found my way to trying this book and reading it. And enjoying it.”—Lexxi is Reading
“[A] great debut novel from Erin Zak and looking forward to seeing what’s to come.”—Les Rêveur
The Hummingbird Sanctuary
Brought to you by
eBooks from Bold Strokes Books, Inc.
http://www.boldstrokesbooks.com
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By the Author
Falling into Her
Breaking Down Her Walls
Create a Life to Love
Beautiful Accidents
Hot Ice Novella – Closed Door Policy
The Road Home
The Other Women
Swift Vengeance (with Jean Copeland and Jackie D)
The Hummingbird Sanctuary
The Hummingbird Sanctuary
© 2022 By Erin Zak. All Rights Reserved.
ISBN 13: 978-1-63679-164-7
This Electronic Original Is Published By
Bold Strokes Books, Inc.
P.O. Box 249
Valley Falls, NY 12185
First Edition: April 2022
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission.
Credits
Editor: Barbara Ann Wright
Production Design: Stacia Seaman
Cover Design by Jeanine Henning
eBook Design by Toni Whitaker
Acknowledgments
Whew! I don’t know about the rest of y’all, but the past couple of years have really taken it out of me. COVID and politics and maintaining friendships and wearing masks and wondering if every little sniffle was going to be the dreaded virus. It was a lot! For a lot of us, aside from, oh, maybe Taylor Swift, writing during the pandemic has been really hard. (Also, thank you, Taylor, for putting out the two best albums of your career.) Everything about my writing habits had to change. It may seem dramatic, but it took everything out of me most days. But other days? It felt really amazing to write again, and to write for myself, once I got into my groove. In the end, I’m so very happy with how this story turned out. I really hope you enjoy visiting The Hummingbird Sanctuary. If I were to ever own and operate a resort, the sanctuary is what it would be like. Hard to believe a fictional place could mean so much to me, but it does. And it means even more to my characters.
I have to give a huge shout-out to my amazing editor, Barbara Ann Wright. Let me tell you, this lady knows how to deal with a broken author. She helped me so much, so many times, and I’m forever grateful to her. Much love to you!
And, of course, I want to thank Rad and Sandy, who continue to let me tell my quirky stories. It means the world to me. And to the rest of the BSB team—thank you so much for everything.
To my friends…you’re all amazing. Jackie and Stacey, th
To Gail. What a ride this has been. You have always been my rock, but even more so in the past three years. I’m so happy you married me.
Finally, to my readers. It always, always takes me by surprise that people actually read what I write. I wish I had a better way of saying that I love you all without it sounding so nonchalant, but it’s the truth. I keep writing partly for myself, but also for you all. Thank you and enjoy your stay.
To the brokenhearted amongst us. Trust me, it gets better.
The Mesa County Times
April 1, 2022
“Dilapidated Old Resort Near Grand Junction Finally Booming”
by Cassandra Smith, Tourism Staff Writer
If you haven’t had a chance to visit the Hummingbird Sanctuary yet, what are you waiting for? Not only is it this year’s hottest destination for Coloradans, but it’s also a top tourist destination for many others. When the new resort owners, Olive Zyntarski, Eleanor Fitzwallace, and Harriet Marshall, decided to purchase the abandoned property in Unaweep Canyon, they set out to build a getaway that would rival the most amazing resorts across the United States. A Native American term, Unaweep means “canyon with two mouths.” Any newcomer to the newly renovated, refurbished, and renamed Hummingbird Sanctuary Resort will quickly find that there are certainly a lot more than two mouths escaping to the gorgeous territory.
The five-hundred-acre plot of land is home to ten buildings, a fifteen-thousand-square-foot living area for the owners, and a soon-to-be-open, state of the art event venue. All the structures are adobe style, with light brown stucco and wooden beams protruding. The landscaping is impeccable, not xeriscaped like many expect because of the dry weather conditions typical in Colorado, especially on the Western Slope. Instead, beautiful shrubbery and lush turf areas are spread throughout the property.
“After my husband passed away, I wanted to open a resort that caters mainly to women. I don’t want to say we frown upon men being here because men are more than welcome. But everything we offer is specifically marketed toward women,” explains Olive Zyntarski, dressed impeccably in a navy-blue suit with a fuchsia button-down peeking out. She has a floral scarf around her neck, tied delicately in a bow, bringing the entire outfit together. Olive, who moved her entire life from the bustling city of Chicago to chase her dream of being a resort owner, jokes, saying, “It wasn’t easy, and there were definitely moments when we all wanted to kill each other, but that’s what happens with friends. You love each other through all the ups and downs.”
Eleanor Fitzwallace says she wasn’t entirely ready to make a move, but Olive was persuasive enough that she decided to follow her best friend. “I’m forty-seven, and I’ve been in the marketing industry since God was a boy.” She runs her hand through blond curled hair. “I left a great position at Synergy Marketing, one of the top marketing firms in Chicago, for this chick,” she says, jerking her thumb toward Olive, then leaning into her with a gentle nudge. “The CEO at the time, Cecily Yates, was sad that I was leaving but was super excited for me to grow. The energy at Synergy…” She pauses. “I’m a poet on the side.” We all chuckle. The mood is very easygoing with these women. “The energy there made it easy to want to be the best I can be. It made the decision to leave a lot easier, especially because the firm dealt mostly with casinos and the gaming industry. The jump wasn’t big to come to the hospitality side of things.”
And Harriet, who scolded me because she likes to be called Hattie, was an executive chef for Cat’s Pajamas in Chicago. Her main reason for making the move? “They told me the mountains would seduce me.”
“Were we wrong?” Eleanor asks, her hand out, a turquoise ring on her middle finger.
“Not one bit.”
“Any particular reason you used hummingbirds as your mascot?”
They all grin. “Well, we all have lost our moms.” The news that Eleanor shares is slightly shocking. I find myself pulled into the conversation even more. “When it came down to it, we wanted to find something that spoke about all of them without calling it the Mom Sanctuary.”
“And,” Olive interjects, “I’m originally from Colorado. Rangely, to be exact, which is literally a wide spot in the road. If you blink, you’ll miss it. I grew up learning about all the wildlife. But my mother, as much as she loved a good bear sighting or a mountain lion, she was, at the end of the day, a huge lover of birds, especially hummingbirds. I learned a lot about them when I was growing up. They are said to bring good news from beyond.”
“And a group of hummingbirds can be called a ‘charm.’” When Hattie speaks, her brown eyes hold a lot of kindness. “Which, once Ollie told me that, I was all in.”
“Right? It made it all come together.” Eleanor places a hand on Hattie’s.
“Everything here has a certain charm to it,” Olive explains. “Our mothers would have been very proud of this place.”
Many people are proud of the three women. Mesa County, in particular, has seen a huge uptick in tourism since the grand opening a little under three years ago on Mother’s Day. The unveiling of the new event venue will happen on this year’s Mother’s Day, followed by a grand party for the guests. The event has been sold out for six months, and the rooms have been booked as well.
These women are doing everything right. And it shows.
You can head to their website to check room availability and their event calendar.
“Escape to the Hummingbird Sanctuary, where you’re not only part of the family, you’re part of the charm.”
Chapter One
Olive
“Oh, holy shit. Snake!” I jump like a frightened cat onto a wrought iron chair on the patio behind the welcome building of the Hummingbird Sanctuary. If I were to make a list of things I cannot stand about nature, snakes would be at the very top. I cannot stand snakes. And they’re everywhere in Colorado. Everywhere! Even, apparently, on the patio sunning itself like it paid the resort fee.
The chair wobbles, the metal clanging as the legs bob from side to side on the brick pavers, and a shudder runs through my body. Homemade nectar from the hummingbird feeder I’m holding spills down my arm and all over the ground. The only thing I was truly looking forward to today—putting up the very first feeder of the year—and now it’s ruined. “Goddammit.” I groan. I am a mess, and I feel my nerve endings rake against my skin, a physical manifestation of my sure brush with death. One more thing to add to the already jam-packed day on my plate. As if seeing a reptile I loathe isn’t bad enough. “Oh God, Juan,” I say as my very amazing director of maintenance approaches from the path to the maintenance shed. He’s staring, wide-eyed, a smirk on his face.
“What’s going on, Ollie?” Juan is loving this. He’s choking on the laughter he’s holding back.
“What’s going on? Oh, I’ll tell you what’s going on. There’s a freaking snake. Right freaking there.” I point and gesture too wildly for my precarious position atop the chair.
“Okay. Just walk by it. It’s more afraid of you than you are of it, mi amiga.”
“Yeah, yeah, I could do that. And”—a weird strangled sound escapes from me—“I’d love nothing more than to do that. But you know I hate snakes.” A shiver sweeps through me like a zap of electricity. “What the frick kind of snake is that? Is it poisonous?” It slithers toward me. “Gah! Holy shit, it’s huge! Get rid of it!”
Juan snickers. He’s adorable with his perfectly manicured beard. I want to punch him, though, for no other reason than he’s making fun of me. If I and the rest of the sanctuary didn’t need him, I’d have half a mind to be pissed off at him. “I’ve never seen someone jump from seeing a snake before.” He is going for sincere, but it comes out like an accusation. As if I should be able to control myself.
