 The
Captive Bird
By Claire Sanders
Inspirational Romance
$3.99 eBook/$13.99 print
ISBN:978-1-940099-17-0
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A SHAMEFUL SECRET
Jenna Ryan
has a secret she plans to take to the grave, but the arrival of
Matt Watson on her doorstep threatens to reveal that secret.
There’s no way Jenna will
fulfill Matt’s request, because doing so would threaten the
fragile world she’s built.
A DUTY TO FULFILL
Matt Watson
grew up idolizing his uncle.
But as he endeavors to
fulfill his uncle’s last request, Matt reveals a secret he
wishes he’d never uncovered.
How can a man Matt idolized
have committed such an appalling act?
THE CAPTIVE BIRD
Jenna Ryan
has created a safe haven in the north Georgia town of Walnut
Hill.
The victim of a devastating
crime, she’s established a new life where she’s loved and
admired.
But her house of cards will
crash around her unless she does the one thing she thinks is
impossible – forgive the man who hurt her.
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EXCERPT
Copyright
2013 © Claire Sanders
Matt Watson drove through the
autumn-hued foothills of northern Georgia with one question
pressing on his mind like an ever-tightening vice. Of all the
people his Uncle Frank had known, why did he want to see Jenna
Ryan?
She’d been the kid sister of Frank’s
first wife and by his own admission, Frank hadn’t seen her for
fifteen years. She was all but a stranger. So what business
could Frank possibly have with her?
Not that Matt was in any position to
question Frank’s dying wish. The image of Frank’s gaunt body
under the white sheets of the hospital bed bit at Matt’s heart.
Matt had seen death before, but he’d never seen someone he loved
inching his way toward the inevitable. Cancer crept through his
uncle’s body like crabs on a dead fish, but despite Matt’s years
of medical training, all he could do was help Frank’s doctor
manage the pain.
“Welcome to Walnut Hill,” the sign at
the city limits proclaimed. “The home of southern charm.”
Matt had heard of the town, one of the
many places in north Georgia that lured visitors from Atlanta
with promises of cozy inns and home-style meals, but he’d never
treated himself to the luxury of time to visit the area.
Golden leaves flew from beneath his
wheels as he drove along the orderly streets and indulged his
interest in southern architecture. On one corner sat a white
Charleston single house, its gallery painted a contrasting
bright blue. Another block yielded an antebellum structure with
a flying staircase leading to what was once the bachelor’s
quarters. The citizens of Walnut Hill obviously treasured their
history. Even the newer houses featured period doors and
windows. The whole town was a throwback to the time when
southern ladies ruled their neighborhoods with white gloves and
lemonade.
Jenna’s house turned out to be the
type of raised, two-story, Victorian cottage common to small
southern towns. A wide porch wrapped around three sides of her
white, clapboard house, and multi-paned windows fronted the
lower story. Two stone chimneys bracketed opposite ends of the
roof and a white picket fence bordered the spacious,
well-manicured lawn. Everything about her place spoke of
security and warmth, of lazy Sunday dinners with family, and
warm summer evenings with friends.
Matt parked on the street, got out of
his car, and stretched. Maybe he should’ve called first. He
paused at the gate, rehearsing what he’d say when she answered
the door.
“Hi, it’s been fifteen years since we
last met and I’m sure you don’t remember me, but my dying uncle
wants to see you.”
Too direct.
“Hello, I’m the nephew of your
sister’s ex-husband and I was in the neighborhood, so I…”
Lame.
“Good afternoon. I’m here to ask if
you have a relationship with our Lord, Jesus Christ.”
As if he was qualified to ask such a
question.
At that moment, a woman stood up from
behind a bed of tall flowers. Although her back was to Matt, the
honey-colored hair tumbling down her back matched his memory.
Even though Jenna was no longer the annoying twelve-year-old
who’d peppered him with nonstop questions and followed him like
a stalker, Matt hadn’t thought to envision how she’d look now.
The woman turned and caught a glimpse
of him, then walked slowly toward the gate. “Hello,” she called
as she pulled off her gloves and gathered her hair into a
ponytail. “I bet you’re looking for the Morrison’s house.”
Time had frozen Jenna’s face in Matt’s
memory, but the beautiful woman approaching him bore little
resemblance to the girl he recalled. A smattering of freckles
danced across her nose. Large, hazel-green eyes took him in as a
genial smile produced one dimple in her left cheek, giving her
face a distinctive, off-center appeal.
“My address is 30 Maple Hill Lane,”
she continued. “The Morrisons live at 30 Maple Street. People
are always showing up at my house by mistake.”
She was tall and slender with gentle
curves in all the right places. When Matt didn’t respond, her
smile faltered under arched eyebrows. “Are you looking for the
Morrisons?”
So pesky, skinny Jenna Ryan had grown
into a knockout. Who would have imagined?
“No,” Matt answered, finally finding
his voice. “I’m looking for you. At least, I think I am. You’re
Jenna Ryan, aren’t you?”
Her gaze turned inquisitive. “And you
are…?”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
After many years of dry, academic
publications, Claire Sanders yearned to stretch her creative
muscles. Since she’d long enjoyed the guilty pleasure of
reading romance novels, Claire decided to try her hand at
writing one.
After two disastrous attempts which
ended up in the recycling bin, Claire’s third novel, “Fresh
Start”, was published in 2008 by The Wild Rose Press.
She has since published two novellas for Barbour Books —“A
Quaker Christmas” and “The Quakers of New Garden”. She has
won and finaled in numerous writing contests. To learn
more about her check out the web site
www.clairesandersbooks.com.
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