Sandy's Spotlight
NEW RELEASE
If Only
By
Norma Budden
Blurb/synopsis:
While still in high school, Demi gave birth to a baby girl and, feeling she had no other options, put her up for adoption. Having moved on with her life – gotten married and having had two other children – 16 years later, Demi Glenn suddenly cannot get her firstborn daughter out of her mind.
After hiring two private detectives but getting no solid information to go on, Demi turns to the one man who will not come back empty-handed, who will not give up until he finds the answers – David Alexander, a married father of two daughters – the father of the baby she had given up so long ago who had no idea he had sired a child as a teen.
Together, will they be able to find their daughter without their families being torn apart or will fate intervene, upsetting their lives in a way they'd never dreamed in the pursuit of finding the daughter they can no longer live without?
EXCERPT: Prologue
Renee Jacobs enjoyed spending time on either Canadian coast but there was something about British Columbia, particularly Vancouver Island, which drew her attention most of all.
It could've been the Rocky Mountains or the opportunity to watch orcas from the shore or even the Inner Harbor at Victoria. Whatever the case, when given the choice to pick where her family would vacation during spring, she often picked the Pacific coast of Canada.
This year was different, though. Renee would be turning 16 in June and, for reasons she couldn't explain, she found herself longing for something more.
In the semi-darkness, she made her way to the isolated sandy beach not far from the hotel where her family was staying. She stood, staring into the darkness, letting her thoughts roam.
They never did give me the brother or sister I asked for; I didn't ask for lots of them – just asked for one – but they settled for just having me.
Being an only kid isn't so bad sometimes but, other times – when my parents argue or when they both go away for work at the same time – I just wish I had company. It's a lot better than before we moved to Winnipeg because I have Kevin, but he's not with me every day.
I wish I belonged at home. I know my parents love me but why don't I have any common ground with them? I don't look like either of them and our interests are different, too. Dad prefers to read documentaries and my mother doesn't even care to read. Dad likes to hunt and fish in his spare time but Mom knits and sews. I have no interest in those things.
I enjoy reading mysteries, working with numbers, solving problems, trying to figure things out but, though they are patient with me, I can tell they don't understand my passion. We go back home again tomorrow. I won't have the distraction of a holiday to keep my mind entertained.
As the night grew darker, Renee lowered herself to the sand, legs outstretched. Arms spread to either side – palms pressed slightly beneath the surface – she turned her head in the direction of the ocean she, now, could not see.
Staring into the blackness the ocean had become, she listened to the sound of the surf. Digging her toes into the sand, she wiggled them freely, embracing the cool smoothness of the grains beneath her feet.
A wave crashed against the shoreline as thunder rolled, as lightning split the darkened sky. As the water receded and she felt the sand disappear from beneath her feet, she was unafraid.
Tears flowing from her eyes, she wiggled her toes in the sand again but, this time, she pulled at the sand with her left hand and hurled a handful into the air.
Two words were all she whispered: “If only...”
E-book price: $2.99
Purchase links:
Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/if-only-norma-budden/1121173863?ean=2940046558999
Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-CA/ebook/if-only-26
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/book/if-only/id964678566?mt=11
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/516742
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00S4GV7OU
While still in high school, Demi gave birth to a baby girl and, feeling she had no other options, put her up for adoption. Having moved on with her life – gotten married and having had two other children – 16 years later, Demi Glenn suddenly cannot get her firstborn daughter out of her mind.
After hiring two private detectives but getting no solid information to go on, Demi turns to the one man who will not come back empty-handed, who will not give up until he finds the answers – David Alexander, a married father of two daughters – the father of the baby she had given up so long ago who had no idea he had sired a child as a teen.
Together, will they be able to find their daughter without their families being torn apart or will fate intervene, upsetting their lives in a way they'd never dreamed in the pursuit of finding the daughter they can no longer live without?
EXCERPT: Prologue
Renee Jacobs enjoyed spending time on either Canadian coast but there was something about British Columbia, particularly Vancouver Island, which drew her attention most of all.
It could've been the Rocky Mountains or the opportunity to watch orcas from the shore or even the Inner Harbor at Victoria. Whatever the case, when given the choice to pick where her family would vacation during spring, she often picked the Pacific coast of Canada.
This year was different, though. Renee would be turning 16 in June and, for reasons she couldn't explain, she found herself longing for something more.
In the semi-darkness, she made her way to the isolated sandy beach not far from the hotel where her family was staying. She stood, staring into the darkness, letting her thoughts roam.
They never did give me the brother or sister I asked for; I didn't ask for lots of them – just asked for one – but they settled for just having me.
Being an only kid isn't so bad sometimes but, other times – when my parents argue or when they both go away for work at the same time – I just wish I had company. It's a lot better than before we moved to Winnipeg because I have Kevin, but he's not with me every day.
I wish I belonged at home. I know my parents love me but why don't I have any common ground with them? I don't look like either of them and our interests are different, too. Dad prefers to read documentaries and my mother doesn't even care to read. Dad likes to hunt and fish in his spare time but Mom knits and sews. I have no interest in those things.
I enjoy reading mysteries, working with numbers, solving problems, trying to figure things out but, though they are patient with me, I can tell they don't understand my passion. We go back home again tomorrow. I won't have the distraction of a holiday to keep my mind entertained.
As the night grew darker, Renee lowered herself to the sand, legs outstretched. Arms spread to either side – palms pressed slightly beneath the surface – she turned her head in the direction of the ocean she, now, could not see.
Staring into the blackness the ocean had become, she listened to the sound of the surf. Digging her toes into the sand, she wiggled them freely, embracing the cool smoothness of the grains beneath her feet.
A wave crashed against the shoreline as thunder rolled, as lightning split the darkened sky. As the water receded and she felt the sand disappear from beneath her feet, she was unafraid.
Tears flowing from her eyes, she wiggled her toes in the sand again but, this time, she pulled at the sand with her left hand and hurled a handful into the air.
Two words were all she whispered: “If only...”
E-book price: $2.99
Purchase links:
Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/if-only-norma-budden/1121173863?ean=2940046558999
Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-CA/ebook/if-only-26
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/book/if-only/id964678566?mt=11
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/516742
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00S4GV7OU
Author Links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authornormabudden
Twitter: @NormaBudden https://twitter.com/NormaBudden
Website: www.normasbooks.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authornormabudden
Twitter: @NormaBudden https://twitter.com/NormaBudden
Website: www.normasbooks.com
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