Author: Mary Dunne Collins
Published: ©1977
Publisher:
Illustrator: Edrien King
Her signature is in the lower right-hand corner.
Meredith Hale looked out of the bus window
and gloried in what she saw: beautiful snow-capped mountains, snug little
houses tucked beneath snow-covered trees. A virtual paradise! Meredith had left
her unhappy home to accept a nursing job at Mountain Hospital in Crystalline
Valley. Her mother, Blanche, and her second husband, Warren, had separated, and
Blanche relied on Meredith for companionship. But now Meredith was out of that unhappy,
tense situation. She was looking forward to a more relaxed life with Jill
Nolan, a longtime friend, and three other girls. She would be able to make a
living and enjoy the resort area. Skiing had always been one of her favorite
outdoor activities, and the prospect of winter sports during her off-hours was
very exciting indeed. What she did not anticipate, however, filled her with
increasing confusion. Her relationship with Lotus Johnson, one of her
housemates, deteriorated, and she became involved with several men: Günther Wahl, the handsome ski
instructor; Lyle Slater, a millionaire’s son; and Bruce Engel, manager of the
valley’s lodge. Bruce was everything she could hope for, but he did not seem at
all interested in her. She had hoped, by moving to Crystalline Valley, to find
peace, but instead, all she found was more confusion.
