Their Family Legacy. Lorraine Beatty
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Can new love spring from old pain?
Hope lives in Mississippi Hearts
To keep her new inheritance, single mom Annie Shepherd must uphold an old court ruling imposed on Jake Langford, who’s still paying for the tragic accident from his youth. But as Annie and her twin boys get to know the grade school teacher, she discovers a kind, generous man beneath the past mistakes. Can Annie and Jake create a family through forgiveness?
LORRAINE BEATTY was raised in Columbus, Ohio, but now calls Mississippi home. She and her husband, Joe, have two sons and five grandchildren. Lorraine started writing in junior high and is a member of RWA and ACFW, and is a charter member and past president of Magnolia State Romance Writers. In her spare time she likes to work in her garden, travel and spend time with her family.
Mississippi Hearts
Her Fresh Start Family
Their Family Legacy
Home to Dover
Protecting the Widow’s Heart
His Small-Town Family
Bachelor to the Rescue
Her Christmas Hero
The Nanny’s Secret Child
A Mom for Christmas
The Lawman’s Secret Son
Her Handyman Hero
Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk
Their Family Legacy
Lorraine Beatty
ISBN: 978-1-474-08623-3
THEIR FAMILY LEGACY
© 2018 Lorraine Beatty
Published in Great Britain 2018
by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF
All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.
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“Jake the handyman to the rescue.”
He smiled and came toward Annie, causing a blip in her pulse. “What do you need repaired?”
His smile lit up his eyes and added another layer of attractiveness. He looked good in cargo shorts and a T-shirt that emphasized the breadth of his chest. She glanced away.
“It’s the twins. They want to build a doghouse for Sam.”
“An admirable goal.”
“Yes, but they have no idea how to go about it. I hope you don’t mind me calling you.”
“I don’t mind. I’ve been wanting you to ask for my help for a long time.” He grinned again and headed out to the yard. “Hey, fellas, what are you working on?”
What had he meant by that? Why did he want to help her? Annie watched as he spoke to the boys. The scene warmed her heart. She longed for a strong father figure to teach and guide her sons.
She couldn’t help but wonder how it would be if Jake were their father.
But that could never happen.
I hope you enjoyed meeting Annie, another member of the Widow’s Walk group. Telling Annie and Jake’s story was one of the most difficult books I’ve ever written. It was also one of the most satisfying. Both of them are dealing with very real fears and painful pasts that keep colliding and complicating their relationship. Despite that, their attraction and respect for one another grows. But how do you forgive someone for a deadly mistake? How do you learn to trust someone who suffers from an addiction that will never be completely cured?
Annie discovers that the strings attached to her inheritance come at too great a cost. Jake realizes that he must stand up and fight for what he wants. Before they can find their happily-ever-after, they both must learn to forgive and allow each other a second chance to get things right.
I’m a big believer in second chances. A mistake, a failure or a bad decision can happen to any of us, anytime. Our job is to learn from it and move forward—not sit down and wallow in the pain. The only answer is forgiveness—of others and of ourselves. It’s the only path to love and peace.
I love to hear from readers, so feel free to contact me at my website, lorrainebeatty.com, or like my author page on Facebook, Lorraine Beatty Author, or follow me @LorraineBeatty on Twitter.
Lorraine
Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.
—Proverbs 3:27
To my grandchildren—Casie, Chey, Drew, Anna and Addie. Love the Lord, follow your dreams and never forget we love you.
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