Can enduring love heal her shattered soul and his broken body?
In their small agricultural town, Scarlett’s family is the picture-perfect variety. The mother encourages juvenile delinquents at the local detention center and her father coaches the church’s youth group.
All is right until Scarlett lets a shameful secret slip. Blaming her for the indiscretion, the family silences Scarlett’s accusation but the arrival of a new high school student threatens the delicate balance.
Everett’s giant frame and fractured skull are compliments of his father, but his world shifts after an accidental touch from Scarlett. Starved for affection, they forge an inescapable bond. Their relationship is encouraged by Everett’s grandmother, Marjorie Ashley, a woman with an unnatural gift, the ability to witness painful memories of those around her.
Fifteen years later, Marjorie is fading, her impending death a blow to Scarlett. Everett enjoys a flourishing legal career while Scarlett writes weekly investigative articles—keeping her own secrets hidden. An old police report is found in Marjorie’s house, revealing a web of deception spun by Scarlett’s family.
The deeper Scarlett digs, the more unsettling the discoveries. No longer aided by Marjorie’s gift, Scarlett is given an impossible ultimatum, she must choose between the family who raised her and the man who loves her—or risk losing both.
Clarissa Kae is a preeminent voice whose professional career began as a freelance editor in 2007. She's the former president of her local California Writers Club after spending several years as the Critique Director.
Since her first novel, she's explored different writing genres and created a loyal group of fans who eagerly await her upcoming release. With numerous awards to her name, Clarissa continues to honor the role of storyteller.
Aside from the writing community, she and her daughters founded Kind Girls Make Strong Women to help undervalued nonprofit organizations—from reuniting children with families to giving Junior Olympic athletes their shot at success.
She lives in the agricultural belly of California with her family and farm of horses, chickens, dogs and kittens aplenty.
Snippet 2
Everett
smirked and folded his arms, settling in for our own battle of wills. “Why are
you sad?”
“Again,
you’ll have to be more—”
“Tonight.”
He rubbed the scruff on his jaw. When I didn’t answer, he reached out and
pulled the ends of his jacket, bringing me closer. “What made you sad tonight?”
“I
don’t know.” It wasn’t a lie. But it wasn’t the truth.
“Yes,
you do.” He nodded in the direction of the dance hall. “Your mom? Marjorie? The
wedding?”
Fighting
to keep the stupid emotions in check, I looked away. Marjorie’s gift of knowing
my thoughts wasn’t as strong as Everett’s, but the little he did have was
enough. It wasn’t fair, the power he held. “You can’t just show up and think
I’m going to vomit everything.”
“Me.”
He sighed. “I made you sad.”
“I
didn’t say that.” It came across silly and stupid, like a pout. He arched an
infuriating eyebrow, looking more like my mother than my—I swallowed the
thought. He wasn’t really mine.
Everett
tucked two fingers under my chin, raising my gaze to meet his and ever so
softly whispered, “I’m home, Scarlett.”
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Clarissa Kae is a preeminent voice whose professional career began as a freelance editor in 2007. She's the former president of her local California Writers Club after spending several years as the Critique Director.
It sounds like a Great read!
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