Title: Finding Hope for Tomorrow
(Tomorrows #2)
Author: Kathryn McNeill
Crane
Release Date: April 26,
2016
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Goodreads
Every person’s life tells a story.
Some are uncomplicated, straightforward, and easy. Things fall into place with a simplicity that boggles the mind.
Others twist and turn, and every day is centered on fighting and scraping, yet never finding victory.
And then there are those who gain an inch only to be knocked back a foot. They love. They fight. They stumble. They fall. But through it all, they stagger to their feet, step back on life’s path, and push through until they win. For these people, happiness is not an illusion. It’s a truth, a promise, worth any effort, any scars, but just out of arm’s reach. It stands at the end of the path, taunting and teasing, tempting them to take one more blow.
And in the end, the battles make victory sweeter. More valued. More precious than ever imagined. More than any one person could hope.
This is Liam’s story.
Loyal, protective, shoulders stronger than Atlas'.
Broken, worn, battered.
Win or lose, he’s ready to fight for what tomorrow brings.
Life. Love. Healing. Hope.
Some are uncomplicated, straightforward, and easy. Things fall into place with a simplicity that boggles the mind.
Others twist and turn, and every day is centered on fighting and scraping, yet never finding victory.
And then there are those who gain an inch only to be knocked back a foot. They love. They fight. They stumble. They fall. But through it all, they stagger to their feet, step back on life’s path, and push through until they win. For these people, happiness is not an illusion. It’s a truth, a promise, worth any effort, any scars, but just out of arm’s reach. It stands at the end of the path, taunting and teasing, tempting them to take one more blow.
And in the end, the battles make victory sweeter. More valued. More precious than ever imagined. More than any one person could hope.
This is Liam’s story.
Loyal, protective, shoulders stronger than Atlas'.
Broken, worn, battered.
Win or lose, he’s ready to fight for what tomorrow brings.
Life. Love. Healing. Hope.
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Annie’s eyes widened and filled with
shame. Her lower lip trembled as she whispered her apology. “Sorry, Uncle
Liam. That wasn’t very nice of me.” Her body curled into itself, and
she grew smaller right before his eyes. Tears slipped down her cheeks as her tiny
voice cracked. “Daddy wouldn’t be very proud of me, would
he?”
“Aww, honey.” His heart melted.
That her first thought was of what her father’s reaction might be
didn’t surprise him. He longed for the day when she would accept that Tripp
wasn’t coming back to them.
Though she tried to be strong for her younger
sisters, the burden was too heavy for Annie to carry. Like her mother, she still
struggled fiercely with her dad’s death. As the oldest of the three girls, her
father’s memory whirled through her mind on constant repeat. Even though
more than two years had passed, she sometimes waited beside the door, hoping
Tripp would walk through and sweep her up in his arms. More than once, Liam had
caught her carrying on a conversation with her dad, reminiscing about the time
they’d spent together. The past Christmas had hit her hard, and her uncle
had spent most of the day with her tiny body snuggled on his lap, attempting to
soothe her and encouraging her to enjoy the day.
No child should need coaxing to open her
gifts.
He leaned down and tipped her chin up, forcing
her to look him in the eyes. “Baby girl, if your daddy were here, there
wouldn’t be enough room to hold the pride he’d have for
you.” The sight of her glistening eyes and wet face slammed against his heart.
Pain shot through him, and a single tear traced a path down his cheek. His voice
cracked under the weight of his grief. “He would see you growing up, being
such a good big sister, and helping your momma all the time.” He thumbed
the tear from his ruddy cheek, lifted her off the floor, and carried her to the
couch.
“And he would snatch you right up and tell
you just how proud he is of you, how much he loves you.” His arms tightened
around her, trying to calm her shuddering sobs. “I know I’m not him,
and I never will be, but I love you, and I’m so proud of you. You’re
such an amazing little girl.” He chuckled quietly and tickled her side.
“Or maybe not such a little girl, as I’ve been recently
reminded.”
His joking words produced the result he wanted.
Blinking her eyes at a rapid pace, she looked up at him and cracked a small
smile.
“Thanks, Uncle Liam.” She settled
back against his chest, her words coming out in choppy huffs. “I really am
sorry I was mean to you. I just miss him so much.” Her breath hitched, and
her petite body melted against him.
“Oh, sweetheart, I know you didn’t
mean it.” He brushed a kiss on the top of her head. “And just
remember, there’s nothing wrong with being sad or missing your daddy. We
all miss him, every single day.”
He may not be their dad, but he loved those girls
more than life, and his primary goal was to ensure their happiness and
wellbeing.
Liam squeezed her close as his eyes drifted to the
kitchen doorway. Wrynn leaned against the doorframe and mouthed thank
you. Her mahogany hair was tangled and unkempt. Stains dotted her
sweatshirt. Liam wouldn’t be surprised if those were the same clothes
she’d slept in the night before. What he wouldn’t give to see her
happy and carefree again. Because grief had a way of aging a person, she looked
much older than their twenty-eight years. Her pale face flushed as she
wept.
Glad I have Wrynn’s girls to fill the
empty. Don’t know what I’d do without
them.
His thought made him grimace. He tried not to
dwell on his lack of family, but at times, when he was with Wrynn and his nieces, it
became harder to fight back the desire to have his own. He often wondered if he was
meant to live his life alone because he’d yet to meet the right woman he
wanted to share in his life, his love, his family.
“Okay, guys and dolls, let’s
eat.” His sister’s hoarse voice broke through his
musings.
He wrapped Annie in one arm, grabbed six-year-
old Bekah in the other, and turned sideways on the couch to help Maggie climb on
his back. Satisfied all three were safe and secure, he stood to his feet and lurched
toward the kitchen with giant, fumbling steps. Giggles rang out around him. He
placed Annie and Bekah in their chairs, then leaned forward and flipped Maggie
over his shoulder. Lifting her above his head, he nibbled on her toes. As her laughter
increased, he blew raspberries on her belly before sitting her down and strapping
her in her booster seat.
Searching for Tomorrow (#1)
– Released Oct 13, 2013
Some people are blessed to find that one certain
person who completes them.
Wrynn’s yesterdays were what others only dream of having. She and Tripp were the best of friends before they even thought about love. They had the fairy tale life where ‘like’ turns into ‘love’, and ‘love’ becomes ‘happily ever after’...
What happens when life conspires against you, and snatches your soul mate from your arms?
… Only her forever love ended much too soon.
Broken beyond her own ability to repair, Wrynn boxes up her grief and attempts to raise her three girls the best she can on her own. As time slowly passes, Wrynn relives her life with Tripp while struggling most days to get out of bed. She is reminded of him at every turn.
How do you set your grief and anguish aside? How do you pick up the shattered pieces, put those pieces back together again, and try to move on?
Wrynn tries to find the joy in life every single day through her daughters, family, and friends. Her twin brother Liam has dedicated himself to helping Wrynn put her life back together after losing his own love. On the other hand, her mother-in-law lives to torment her at every turn. Wrynn can't even find a chance to breathe, much less a desire to somehow search for her tomorrow.
Wrynn’s yesterdays were what others only dream of having. She and Tripp were the best of friends before they even thought about love. They had the fairy tale life where ‘like’ turns into ‘love’, and ‘love’ becomes ‘happily ever after’...
What happens when life conspires against you, and snatches your soul mate from your arms?
… Only her forever love ended much too soon.
Broken beyond her own ability to repair, Wrynn boxes up her grief and attempts to raise her three girls the best she can on her own. As time slowly passes, Wrynn relives her life with Tripp while struggling most days to get out of bed. She is reminded of him at every turn.
How do you set your grief and anguish aside? How do you pick up the shattered pieces, put those pieces back together again, and try to move on?
Wrynn tries to find the joy in life every single day through her daughters, family, and friends. Her twin brother Liam has dedicated himself to helping Wrynn put her life back together after losing his own love. On the other hand, her mother-in-law lives to torment her at every turn. Wrynn can't even find a chance to breathe, much less a desire to somehow search for her tomorrow.
Kathryn is a simple country girl who likes to
spend time with her family. Born and raised in Eastern North Carolina, she loves to
travel, but can't imagine ever leaving the mountains she's come to call
home. She holds Jeremiah 29:11 very close to her heart and believes it with every
fiber of her being. "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the
Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future."