Facing financial ruin, a stubborn veteran off-road racer is determined to preserve her father’s business legacy by competing in a grueling eight-day, 4-wheel drive desert auto rally for the prize money. When her daughter drops her for the Jeep team, she’s forced to partner with a disgraced media personality and they battle deadly conditions, sabotage, and a shady former racing partner to claw their way to the win.

SYNOPSIS:

The inspiration for Desert Belles is the Rebelle Rally, a women-only, 4-wheel drive competition in the Mojave desert. It’s a test of old-school orienteering using only a compass and paper maps. And there’s no outside contact or help. I’ve met some of the competitors and was inspired by their determination and resourcefulness.

The main character is Geri, who’s been part of her father’s competitive off-roading world all her life. In her 60s she’s been relegated to navigator, essentially the passenger, while her daughter drives, as Geri’s father coaches them to compete in the Desert Belle, a grueling eight-day, 4-wheel drive auto rally in the majestic, yet deadly Mojave desert.

When Geri’s father suddenly dies and her daughter drops her for a manufacturer’s team, she discovers the business is in financial trouble. She makes deals to reduce her debt in trade for partial sponsorships if she competes in the Desert Belle. Too late to get an experienced partner, Geri’s matched with a down-on-her-luck media personality and they battle deadly conditions, sabotage, and a shady former racing partner. They survive a crash in the sand dunes of Glamis, rescue her cheating former partner's team from a burning crash and end up winning the competition when the cheating saboteurs are disqualified.

DESERT BELLES