Book excerpt: New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Geri Foster brings you the epic serial Love Released, Women of Courage Best if books are read in order. Episode One: She’s running from a past, he’s duty-bound to protect her. He stands on the other side of sorrow and despair with a love so vast and strong it reaches into her soul and sparks the courage to become the woman she dares. Cora Williams is an ex-con with no place to go but Gibbs City, Missouri. A small mid-western town where she hopes to remain undisturbed and unobtrusive. With her nephew Jack, her wants are simple, to hide from the horrors of her past. Sheriff Virgil Carter is a WW2 veteran with demons of his own, but Parker County is his to protect. That includes a young, beautiful woman newly released from prison who longs to be left alone. Episode Two: The past stands between them, but a strong abiding love bridges the gap. Violence and crime intrude on the quiet town of Gibbs City, Missouri when a citizen does the unthinkable, but Sheriff Virgil Carter is determined to uphold the law at all cost. Cora Williams reaches out to an abused child whose tiny heart is capable of great love and innocent acceptance. Cora must decide if she can tear down the invisible walls she’s erected to protect herself and love greater than her fear. There is no sorrow love cannot heal and no challenge that does not bow to an act of courage. Episode Three: Fate, the great equalizer, binds two broken and battered hearts together in their true destiny. When those wanting to silence Cora show up in Gibbs City, Missouri to do her harm, Sheriff Virgil Carter fights against Cora’s past as it rises and threatens to destroy them both. Caught between her past and the future she longs for, Cora must make a difficult decision. Torn between her desire to hold on to love, Cora must surrender what she holds dear to her heart and allow the healing to begin. Fate says one thing, the heart another. Destiny stands at the crossroads. Love often comes like sleep, softly, quietly and unexpectedly. You just have to close your eyes and dream.