Hello, dear. My name is Caroline Graham. I’m originally from Virginia, but I found my way here to Glenn Lake to live near my good friends, the Daileys. I’m going to take you back to my life before Glenn Lake. To tell you about the person I once was and how I grew to be the person who fights for the little guy or gal. It’s not an easy story for me to tell as I’ve had lots of losses in my 70+ years on this planet. But as my mother once told me I would, I found my hope, my purpose, and the meaning in all the loss. It just took some time and patience to get here. Come sit by me and we'll flip through my photo albums of the past as I tell you my story.
Collects short stories spanning the author's career, including the tale of a beauty parlor owner upset by an employee's concentration camp tattoo and a birth mother who shares a horrible meal with her son's wealthy adopted mother.
Hi. My name is Becca. I’ve lived in Glenn Lake nearly my entire life. I’m the mother of three wonderful children, but I didn’t always enjoy that title. I used to think of it as my prison, my punishment for all my sins. Until one night when my life changed and everything I loved was nearly gone from me, or at least I was going to be gone. If not for my amazing daughter, Mandy, I don’t know if I would be here to tell my story. And what’s my story? It’s one of finding purpose and forgiveness, getting a second chance at being a mother, and finding my way back to my true love. Come have a seat. I’ll fix you a cup of tea and cut you a big slice of my famous banana bread while you listen to my tale. My name is Ricky. I will also share a part of Becca’s story by telling my side. We share a past, and I’d love to rekindle that flame. However, being a single dad and trying to raise young children, especially one who is still grieving her mother, might be too much for us to overcome.
Hi. My name is Mandy. I live in the quaint town of Glenn Lake. I was born to a young mother who struggled to raise me in an unforgiving world, and when she finally broke, I had to take over my care and learn to survive. Taking care of myself wasn’t all that hard. I found odd jobs and learned to cope, but then in my early teens, two innocent babies were added to the mix. While I instantly loved my siblings, my role changed from sister to mother, and my survival had to include them. But one night, push came to shove, literally, and I had had enough. That is when my once small World got a whole lot bigger, and I took complete control. This is my coming-of-age story, though many would argue I was born grown. And, hi, I’m Jimmy. I play a part in telling Mandy’s story as well. The once young and timid girl has grown into a woman who can handle anything life throws at her, and it does. I’m here to cheer her on and give her a hand when needed. Anything to make her life a little easier. She has worked too hard to get here. Join us in this first story from Glenn Lake.
Two women, one soul spanning two different lifetimes and one vengeful husband. Anna-Rose thought she had met the man of her dreams. She moved across the country from her urban home to the small pioneering town of Wisteria, Texas, to be with her new husband. But soon the dream turns to a nightmare when his anger surfaces. She now lives in fear and walks on eggshells. After he causes her to miscarry several times, she decides enough is enough. Lindsey is fired from her job only to come home to find her husband in the middle of leaving her. He already filed for divorce. How could her day get worse? Instead of wallowing, she decides to shake up her life. She randomly picks a spot on the map. Wisteria, Texas sounds nice, and the abandoned house has all the potential for a quaint bed and breakfast, except for one thing, an extremely angry ghost haunts it. Journals and pictures left in the attic point to an odd coincidence. Lindsey and Anna-Rose could pass for twins, but they were born over 100 years apart. Their appearances explain why the ghost keeps calling her Anna-Rose and seems to be mistaking Lindsey for his wife. Before this spirit ruins her business, she must find a way to rid herself of him or this entire new life she’s built will be swept away.
It’s wedding time for Micah and Josh. The backdrop for this long-awaited wedding is the private island resort of Wilder Island Weddings in Key West, Florida. Their families and friends are happy to hop a plane to join in the fun. Joanna will be acting as maiden of honor and Oakley will be the flower girl, and with their relationship currently in a great place, Clint joins them for the trip. Their first trip as a couple and Clint has a few surprises planned, if only he gets the chance. Joanna is just looking forward to a week off of being a medium or sleuthing for the dead and spending time with her friends, celebrating their love and commitment. It doesn't hurt that there are white sand beaches and crystal blue water. But when Joanna overhears a few conversations, she quickly realizes that paradise isn’t all it’s cracked up to be and dead people are everywhere.
Four middle-aged friends embark on a week-long treasure-hunting girls' trip as a distraction from the pressures of everyday life, but as it does, life catches up, and they are forced to face their struggles and insecurities. Amy is concerned her third marriage is going the way of the first two. She has no escape because even her job is a source of stress and the mundane tasks drone on. She just needs a break to think. Heather is bored and lonely with her two sons grown and moved away. She lost her identity when she became Tyler’s mom and Cody’s mom. She needs this trip to feel like Heather again. Marissa is burning the candle at both ends, but the burnout is coming. Between her parents living with her and requiring her full attention to her teenage kids' demands, she needs to get away or lose her mind. Denise was just diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer. This may be the last fun thing she gets to do. Never wanting to be a burden to anyone, she doesn’t mention it to anyone. Now, if only she can hide it from her closest friends, they’ll only have good memories to remember her by. They may or may not find the treasure, but they gain something much more valuable.
I hate the Harlequin boys. Fox, JJ, Chase and Maverick. The four names tattooed onto my heart more permanently than the ink on my skin. Once upon a time, they broke my heart, stole my life and sent me away from everything I'd ever known. But they don't just live in this town anymore, they rule it. And the view here may be beautiful, but the sun, sea and sand hide dark secrets. The gangs. The lies. The violence. It all lurks beneath a veil so thin that once you've seen through it, you can never close your eyes to the truth again. But I don't plan on closing my eyes. I have four devils set in my sights. And this dead girl no longer has anything to lose.
