"Wilde Hopes and Dreams" is an uplifting short story from Autumn Cotter—filled with heart, healing, and the kind of feel-good romance that lingers long after the final page.
If you’ve ever found yourself starting over—or wished you could—don't miss "Wilde Hopes and Dreams."
About "Wilde Hopes and Dreams"
Who is this story for?
This story is perfect for readers who enjoy heartwarming contemporary romances, particularly those who appreciate stories about healing from grief and finding love again. Women, especially those who have experienced loss or are looking for a story of hope and resilience, would likely connect with Gemma’s journey.
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Enjoy a Snippet from
"Wilde Hopes and Dreams"
On a spring morning, after she believed nothing in her life would ever be the same, Gemma Wilde took the road less traveled. The sweet apple blossom fragrance filled the air as she walked along the path behind her cabin, dotted with pretty yellow glacier lilies and dew-kissed grass. The hem of her long skirt dampened every time she veered a little too far off the trail, where she bent to pick a lovely flower. Beyond the trees, mountains soared to snow-capped peaks.
The small bouquet she’d gathered would look lovely in the blue mason jar on her kitchen windowsill, a spot of brightness to match the tentative hope blooming deep within.
She paused, letting the sunshine warm her face. Six months ago, she couldn’t have imagined feeling anything but grief.
“You’re running away,” her sister had said when Gemma announced she’d bought the cabin. Perhaps she was right. But standing here now, birdsong overhead and the distant murmur of the creek, Gemma felt like she was running toward something instead.
She continued along the path until it opened to her favorite spot—a small clearing where an ancient oak spread its massive limbs. Beneath it sat the weathered bench her neighbor, Old Mr. Thatcher, helped her position there last autumn. She settled onto it, arranging her flowers beside her.
The letter in her pocket crinkled as she shifted. She’d read it three times already but pulled it out again, fingers tracing the letterhead of a small publishing house with a reputation for quality over quantity. They wanted her illustrations for a children’s book about mountain wildflowers. Her work—the delicate watercolors she’d started painting to fill endless, lonely evenings—appears to have value to someone besides herself.
A chickadee landed on a branch above, tilting its head as if curious about the woman smiling at a piece of paper. Gemma looked up at the tiny bird and whispered, “I think I’m going to be okay.”
Excerpt © Autumn Cotter. Excerpt provided by the author.
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📚 Ready to fall in love again, or for the first time? Grab your copy now and rediscover the joy of a fresh start. Buy Today - Available in Kindle Unlimited
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Autumn Cotter, a pseudonym, spent two decades solving people problems in the corporate world. She now channels her experience into bringing mindful stillness and creative inspiration to others. She lives in the mountains among wildflowers and dreams where she writes stories.
