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THE LADY WHO LIVED AGAIN
THE LADY WHO LIVED AGAIN
The Sole Survivor Series #1
Thomasine Rappold
Releasing Dec 8th, 2015
Lyrical Press
Doctor Jace Merrick has fled the failures and futility of city life to start anew in rural Misty Lake. A man of science, he rejects the superstitious chatter surrounding Maddie and finds himself drawn to her confidence and beauty. And when she seduces him into a sham engagement, he agrees to be her ticket back into society, if she supports his new practice—and reveals the details of her remarkable recovery. But when his patients begin to heal miraculously, Jace may have to abandon logic, accept the inexplicable—and surrender to a love beyond reason…
Mr.
Piedmont worked swiftly, the sound of crumpling paper filling the
awkward silence as he wrapped her purchases and bound the tidy parcel
with string. By rote, his freckled hand reached to the nearby jar of
candy. Placing a single peppermint stick on top of the bundle, he
slid it toward her, then turned to face the shelves lining the wall
behind him.
Tears
blurred Maddie’s vision as she stared down at the red-striped
treat, the simple reminder of who she once was—who she still was,
if only one of her neighbors could manage to look her in the eye long
enough to see it. She swallowed hard.
“Thank
you,” she murmured to the shopkeeper’s back before he walked
away.
Maddie
left the store and proceeded to her final errand. As she’d
anticipated, a letter from Amelia awaited her at the post office.
Maddie would wait until later to open it. Their recent correspondence
had rattled her to the bone, and she knew any public display of
emotion would be ripe fruit for hungry local gossips.
Not
that maintaining decorum could help her cause now. People already
believed the worst about her. These rare trips to town only served to
remind her that nothing had changed.
Shoving
the letter into her skirt pocket, she headed south on Main Street. To
her relief, the band of young hooligans that had taunted her earlier
was nowhere to be seen. She hurried out of town nonetheless. Each
dreaded trip was a tax on her nerves, and when added to the anxiety
of what awaited in Amelia’s letter, Maddie yearned for the comfort
of home.
When
she reached the outskirts of town, she took the path through the
woods that opened to a large field. She welcomed the sound of
chirping crickets and birds. As always after she exerted herself with
a lengthy walk, her leg was beginning to ache. She slowed her pace,
then stopped to rest at her favorite spot on her grandfather’s
sprawling property. Sitting on a felled birch log in the broad
clearing, she stretched out her leg. The cramped muscles unfurled as
she enjoyed the serenity of the surrounding forest, the gentle spring
breeze through the swaying trees. The sun felt heavenly, and she
lifted her face to bask in its glow.
She’d
avoided town all winter, hibernating like a bear in a cave. She’d
emerged from seclusion renewed by foolish hopes, but the first outing
of the new season had been just like the last. A bear would be better
received.
Maddie
sighed in defeat, dug out the letter that was fairly vibrating in her
pocket, and unfolded its pages. The bold strokes on the delicate
cream sheets conveyed Amelia’s confident tone and dramatic style.
My
dearest Mads,
I
received your response denying my request, but I refuse to take no
for an answer. I simply cannot get married without you!
You
swore an oath to one day serve as my bridesmaid, and it is time for
you to honor it. My deep love and concern for you force me to hold
you to your promise.
The
past is the past, my dear friend, and you must lay it to rest.
Eventually, the town will follow suit. Consider attending my wedding
as your first step toward getting on with your life.
We
arrive in Misty Lake in three weeks. I look forward to seeing you
then.
Forever
yours,
Amelia
Maddie’s
breakfast turned in her stomach. How on earth could she attend? No
one, save Amelia, wanted her there. Certainly not Daniel. The mere
thought of facing her former fiancé and all the others who’d
blamed and abandoned her…no. Maddie hadn’t the courage. Amelia
didn’t understand. How could she? She was not present when it
happened. Nor was she here for the aftermath.
A three-time RWA Golden Heart nominee, Thomasine Rappold writes historical romance and historical romance with paranormal elements. She lives with her husband in a small town in upstate New York that inspired her current series. When she’s not spinning tales of passion and angst, she enjoys spending time with her family, fishing on one of the nearby lakes, and basking on the beach in Cape Cod. Thomasine is a member of Romance Writers of America and the Capital Region Romance Writers. Readers can find her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter: @ThomRappold.
