Author Spotlgiht: Robert Gallant

While doing graduate environmental studies in the Louisiana AtchafalayaBasin, collegiate swimming champion Chesney Barrett expected her onlydangers would be water moccasins and alligators. Then Travis Weld, leaderof a clandestine government team, recruits her to search for an illicit drugoperation. With its drenched forests, labyrinths of meandering bayous, anddeserted coastlines, the swamp is a perfect hiding place for a drug dealer. In a combative, sometimes sensual relationship, Weld plunges Chesneyinto an arena where deception is the norm, sex is a weapon, and deathseparates winners from losers. Seducing plantation owner Jacques Dupreegives Chesney access to his vast Basin plantation. But can she elude trapsset by the plantation's foreman Tate Melancon, the drug operation's leader? The handsome, wealthy Dupree wants to marry Chesney, but she isrushing toward a likely fatal confrontation instead of embracing his ardentcourtship. When that final conflict comes, and Dupree realizes Chesneyhas deceived him, whose side will he be on? But, more importantly, canChesney trust Weld, or is she an expendable pawn in his obsession todestroy the drug operation?