P.J. Hoge – författare

Garrett has always been busy building his fortune and, as a result, has paid the ultimate price with the loss of close relationships. As his son Jack clings to life, Garrett learns that his three young grandchildren have survived the accident, but his daughter-in-law has not. Even though her mother Meg is grief stricken, she is a pillar of strength for Garrett . As Garrett and Meg lean on each other for comfort, learns that he is battling more than just grief. Meanwhile, Garrett has his own problems. He has to face the decisions he has made throughout his life time.

How much of the life he had so carefully built will he have to forsake? Will this tragedy force him to face the things he has fought all his life to avoid?

It had been an amazing year. Carl Kincaids entire life had changed. It was a far cry from that lonely Louisiana hospital room. Little did he know then, that some strangers would change his life! He was happier now than he had ever been, even though it required getting used to.

Now he had a family and a pile of friends. He was stepfather to eight grown kids and all their families. Helping them face the changes in their lives while building a new life for his new wife and himself, required a lot of energy. There was always a challenge somewhere or something that made him proud, joyful or stark raving mad.

He was aware he had become a petunia. It was the very thing that he had spent his life ridiculing. Now it meant a lot to Carl Kincaid, the loner who needed no one, to be the best petunia he could. Carl had never been one to settle for second place, and if he was going to have a life in a petunia patch, it would be the best Petunia Patch.

The bullwhip cracked the frigid air and its end tore across her back leaving huge welts. The whipping did not stop until the young girl managed to stumble her way into a small log shed. She closed the door behind her. She heard her father wedge something against the door. He shouted, You will stay there until you decided to obey your father!

What had precipitated his violent anger? Her father had always been strict, but never this way. Her mother never made a move to come to her aid.

It was late afternoon and below freezing already. Leisel curled up, whimpering. She felt the blood oozing from the lash across her neck and throat. She lay there alone in the dark listening to the wind howl through the tress. Leisel didnt know that a person could feel so desolate.

May of 1972 finds the folks of the Engelmann clan preparing for the long-awaited wedding of Matt Harrington and Diane Waggoner. Numerous family members from out East will be attending the event. In the past, members of both their families had shown vehement objection to the wedding; but as of late, most of those things seemed settled. They had hopes of having a fun family reunion.

As the event nears, other families appear and attend the wedding. There are many characters and subplots revealing themselves before the nuptials take place. In the end, the Engelmann clan learns to value their clan even more.

Ian Harrington had worked all his life in law enforcement, until a gunshot ruined his arm, rendering it almost useless. With the help of his family and friends, he was able to rebuild his life. Even though being an accountant was less exciting, it was much more stable. He was loved his new wife and the life they were building together. He was someone who felt family was the very important, so he welcomed the news that he and his wife were expecting their first child that fall.

In the spring, his arm began giving him severe muscle spasms and his doctor thought he should go back to Boston to see the neurologist who had cared for him after the shooting. Hoping to get the arm all taken care of before the arrival of his child, he and his wife traveled to Boston for his medical care.

Ian was a good, gentle and decent man, who always tried to live above reproach. He was not perfect and never claimed to be, but he tried to be honest and fair in all his dealings. He had left the police force with an excellent record.

A chance encounter at a street bazaar shakes the very foundation of everything that he believed about his past, his life and himself. He soon realizes that no matter how straight forward and simple actions seem when one does them; they can have far, unintended repercussions. Handling them in a fair and decent manner can be much more daunting than the original intention.