Title: A Soft Place to Fall
Author: Liz Flaherty
Genre: Inspirational Romance / Women’s Fiction
Book Blurb:
Early McGrath doesn't want freedom from her thirty-year marriage to Nash, but when it's forced upon her, she does the only thing she knows to do - she goes home to the Ridge to reinvent herself.
Only what is someone who's spent her life taking care of other people supposed to do when no one needs her anymore? Even as the threads of her life unravel, she finds new ones - reconnecting with the church of her childhood, building the quilt shop that has been a long-time dream, and forging a new friendship with her former husband.
The definition of freedom changes when it's combined with faith, and through it all perhaps Early and Nash can find a Soft Place to Fall.
Excerpt:
I’ve chosen this scene because it illustrates the mothering and fathering that remain such a part of Early and Nash even after their kids are grown, their marriage has disintegrated, and lives have gone—painfully—in different directions. – Liz
“You mustn’t wake Nana.” The admonishing voice filtered into the room and Nash listened in drowsy contentment. “She and Grandpa were up late helping Santa Claus. We’ll eat breakfast first this year. That way, Mommy and Uncle Evan can sleep and Uncle Evan won’t be such a bear.”
“I’m never a bear. Aunt Jessie’s just a pain.” Evan’s growl came from further away. “But she’s right about Nana and Grandpa, kids. They’re tired. Where’s Fiona?”
“She was right here a second ago.”
Nash opened his eyes in time to catch his youngest grandchild as she climbed into his lap. “Hey, there, sugar. Did you get away?”
Fiona kissed him wetly, then stretched chubby arms toward Early.
“Stay with me,” he urged, nuzzling her neck. “Nana’s sleeping.”
“No, she’s not.” The bed buzzed as Early raised her head. She patted the mattress beside her in invitation. “Want to sit with me, baby Fee?”
“No, she doesn’t.” Logan came into the room, Lucas on one hip, and reached for his daughter with his free arm. “You should still be sleeping, both of you.”
Nash scowled at his younger son. “Is your grandfather up?”
“Yes, but—”
“Is Granny Fran here? I could have sworn I heard her voice a little bit ago.”
“Well, yeah, but—”
“Last time I looked, they were even older than your mother and I are, believe it or not. Are the kids champing at the bit?”
Logan rolled his eyes. “Oh, yeah. We’re thinking of having Jacob arrested just to restrain him.”
Nash met Early’s eyes, exchanging unspoken promises. “Then give us a few minutes and we’ll be there.”
“Should Mom move that far?”
“She should.” Early swung her legs over the side of the bed, catching her breath for a moment. “Clear the couch for Dad and me.”
They’d sat on the couch together for thirty-one Christmas mornings, hoping the phone would hold off ringing on his on-call years and drinking their coffee as the children opened presents. This year wasn’t going to be any different. Nash felt relief move through him in a glad rush.
“You okay?” he asked, when they’d both managed to brush their teeth and were moving toward the living room. “Weren’t we in our forties just last week? What happened?”
“I’m not sure, but this week’s bound to be better.”
When they were seated and Jessie and Sarah were handing out gifts, Nash reached for Early’s hand. “You know, don’t you?” He spoke under cover of the noise and the music that filled the room.
“Probably. I’m the mom. I know everything. But exactly what are you referring to?”
He grinned at her. How could he have ever thought there could be a happy moment without her? “That I love you,” he said. “That I always have even when I didn’t know it myself.”
“Oh.” Her expression didn’t change, but her eyes did; they seemed to light from within. She brought her free hand to his face, shaping his cheek and scraping his morning beard lightly with her fingers. “Yes, I know that. I love you, too.”
Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub):
Amazon US: https://tinyurl.com/hn9m6t4s
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/42JrJJ6
Books2Read: https://books2read.com/u/bW57yx
Goodreads: https://tinyurl.com/4sukhycs
BookBub: https://tinyurl.com/5at5z3eh
What makes your featured book a must-read?
As a Mother’s Day read, I think it’s a good one because Early is at a changing place in her life and having grown children is so…different. She’s cared for people since she had her first baby at sixteen, and going through the choosing what to let go and what to keep as a mom and as an ex-wife with her was both a privilege as a writer and downright fun. I love Early McGrath. I think you will, too.
Giveaway –
Enter to win a $15 Amazon gift card:
Open Internationally. You must have a valid Amazon US or Amazon Canada account to win.
Runs May 9 – May 16, 2023.
Winner will be drawn on May 17, 2023.
Author Biography:
SA Today bestselling author Liz Flaherty and Duane, her husband of at least forever, live in a farmhouse in central Indiana, sharing grown children, spoiled cats, and their grandkids, the Magnificent Seven. (Don’t get her started on them—you’ll be here all day.) To find out more about her, stop by http://lizflaherty.net/ or sign up for her newsletter at http://eepurl.com/df7dhP.
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