Finding Peace in Orange Valley: Hearts Unveiled, #1

By Aminata Coote

A case of mistaken identity may be the perfect solution

 

After a lifetime of being the screw-up in her family, Courtney James dreams of becoming a successful events coordinator. She gets her chance when she persuades a basketball star to speak at their old high school graduation. But when Trent Baxter cancels last minute, Courtney must find a new speaker or convince Trent to honor his commitment.

 

Trent, once at the pinnacle of success, is now a recluse nursing a career-ending wound. Mistaking Courtney for his caregiver, he's drawn out of isolation by her tenacity and warmth. Yet, as they reconnect, their opposing goals threaten to drive them apart.

 

Courtney and Trent must navigate a delicate dance of vulnerability and courage. As they grapple with their insecurities, they confront their deepest fears for the chance at a future together.

 

Finding Peace in Orange Valley is a heartwarming tale of redemption and self-discovery. Explore the transformative power of love and the courage it takes to embrace life's unexpected twists.

 

Reading Order

Book 1: Finding Peace in Orange Valley

Book 2: Finding Love in Orange Valley

Book 3: Finding Joy in Orange Valley

 

The novellas in the Hearts Unveiled series are Christian contemporary romances with strong faith themes. Each novella is a complete story but is best enjoyed in the reading order above.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hopelight Publishers
• Release date: Apr 2, 2024
• ISBN: 9789768334282

Aminata Coote

Aminata Coote is a wife, mother, author, and follower of Jesus Christ. She is passionate about helping women to run their race. She encourages women to first know God, and then know themselves while getting on with the business of running their race.  You can read more from Aminata at www.Hebrews12Endurance.com. You may also connect with her on Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest.

Book preview

Aminata Coote

Finding Peace in Orange Valley

First published by Hopelight Publishers 2024

Copyright © 2024 by Aminata Coote

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

The King James Version, public domain.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Cover design by Hopelight Graphics

First edition

ISBN: 978 976 8334 28 2

This book was professionally typeset on Reedsy

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Contents

1. Trent

2. Courtney

3. Trent

4. Courtney

5. Trent

6. Courtney

7. Trent

8. Courtney

9. Trent

10. Courtney

11. Trent

12. Courtney

13. Trent

14. Courtney

15. Trent

16. Courtney

17. Trent

18. Courtney

19. Trent

Epilogue

Author’s Note

Bible Verses About Serving Others

About Aminata

Other Books by Aminata

One

Trent

Trent Baxter swiped the notification on his phone and groaned as he read the email from Violet Ramsay. She’d contacted him a few months ago about being the keynote speaker at Silver Springs High School’s graduation in June.

They’d won a game against one of their most savage opponents, and he’d been jubilant. Plus, his agent always encouraged him to give back to the community. It was amazing how things changed in a short time. The day he accepted the invitation, he’d been riding high. Not today.

His fingers flew over the keypad as he typed his response. It’s not as if the students at his alma mater wanted motivation from a crippled former athlete, anyway.

Trent rubbed a hand over his right knee. He wasn’t crippled. In time, with physical therapy, he’d heal, though his torn ACL meant the end of his basketball career.

He pulled up the video of his last game. What could he have done to prevent his injury? Trent muted the commentator’s sympathetic announcement about his career-ending leap.

He’d gone for the jump shot and landed on his right foot, his body jutting over his knee. He almost felt the jar from his landing and heard the pop as his ACL tore.

The pain had been excruciating, as evidenced by his on-screen self writhing on the court and clutching his knee. He watched the video again.

When his phone rang, Trent considered not answering. His agent called twice a week to check on Trent’s progress and to convince him he still had a future in the industry.

What? Trent was at the end of his patience with the man. Mark McGregor could out-encourage a saint.

Why do I have an email from your old high school asking why you pulled out of speaking at their graduation?

Trent groaned. He’d emailed the organizer seconds ago. He checked the time. More time had passed than he’d realized, but how had the woman already read his denial and sent a response to his agent?

What’s the point of me speaking at this year’s graduation?

Mark sighed. Has anything I’ve said to you over the past few weeks registered?

Trent kept silent. Better the man not know Trent tuned out most of his motivational speeches.

Mark shuffled papers, the sound crackling down the line. Nobody will offer a sponsorship contract to a recluse.

I’m not a recluse. Trent’s response was immediate.

Yeah? Mark was unamused. When was the last time you left your house?

Yesterday.

Physical therapy sessions don’t count. Have you gone to the supermarket? Visited a friend? Gone to the movies?

Those were all things he’d enjoyed. Before. Was it wrong for him to classify his life into two distinct sections? Before His Injury. After His Injury.

Have you told your parents the truth yet?

They have two weeks of their trip left. Let them enjoy the rest of their vacation. Trent had gifted his parents with a month-long trip to Europe for their anniversary.

Let me invite Nate and the rest of the team to visit you the next time they have a break between games. They’ve asked for you, especially Nate.

There was a time he’d considered Nate Hawkins a friend. The two of them had been recruited by the Saturn Island Strikers the same year and had bonded. As the only two players from small towns, they’d claimed each other as brothers.

But that was in the past. The Hawk was a rising star and Trent wouldn’t tie himself to his friend or hold him back.

No. Nate should concentrate on winning the championship and so should the rest of the guys. They don’t need to hang around with a loser like me.

Trent. I can’t help you if you refuse to help yourself.

Why couldn’t Mark get it? Without basketball, what was he? Who was he?

Go out and talk to people. Sitting around in your house pigging out on junk food is not healthy.

Trent glanced around the living room. Wrappers from discarded snacks and disposable containers littered the room, and the stench of stale food clung to the air. Funny how he hadn’t noticed until Mark’s comment. Why was it so dark in here?

His eyes drifted to the windows. Bronze curtains covered every inch of them. Only a soft glow penetrated the thick fabric. How long had it been since he’d opened the drapes? Had it been in the Time Before?

I bet the place is a dump.

How had Mark known? Had the man installed a hidden camera the last time he’d visited? Trent cast his gaze around the room before giving up. He didn’t care enough to do anything about it. If he couldn’t play ball, he had no goals to achieve.

Speaking of which. There was no easy way to say it. I need a new caregiver.

What happened to the last one?

She quit.

Did defeat have a sound?