Title: Imperfect Love
Author: Rebecca Talley
Release Date: March 1. 2014
Blurb ~ Lauren Wilson is well on her way to her happily-ever-after. She has a career she loves, a husband she adores and a baby on the way, but a devastating diagnosis changes everything. The life she's built suddenly crumbles around her when her husband insists she choose—the baby or him. Returning to her small hometown to rebuild her shattered life, Lauren crosses paths with Ethan Campbell, the man who stole her teenage heart. The old attraction is still there, but Lauren won't admit it to anyone—least of all herself. Her only priority is providing a life for her child, and she can't afford to get it wrong. Ethan is confusing everything, including stirring up feelings she’s not prepared to face. Will she spend her life raising her baby alone or is the family she's always wanted finally within her reach?
Rebecca Lynn Talley grew up in the gorgeous seaside city of Santa Barbara, CA. She met, and married, her husband, Del, while attending Brigham Young University. She graduated from BYU with a degree in Communications. She currently lives in rural Colorado on a small ranch with a dog, too many cats to count, and a herd of goats. She and Del are the proud parents of ten wildly-creative, multi-talented children. Rebecca is the author of a children’s picture book, Grasshopper Pie (WindRiver 2003), a children’s chapter book, Gabby’s Secret (DuBon Publishing 2011), four novels, Heaven Scent (CFI 2008), Altared Plans (CFI 2009), The Upside of Down (CFI 2011), and Aura (DuBon Publishing 2012). She has also authored numerous children’s stories and articles for both print and online magazines. When she isn’t writing, Rebecca loves to date her husband, play with her kids, swim in the ocean, and dance to disco music while she cleans the house. She has folded at least one million loads of laundry, baked hundreds of batches of chocolate chip cookies, and eaten 5,478 gallons of ice cream.
Excerpt
When she arrived home, Lauren checked her phone. No text
from Paul. Opening the refrigerator, she decided to try to resurrect the dinner
from last night, even if she had to eat it by herself. No need to waste a
perfectly good meal.
She reheated the steak and the potatoes, and just as she was
setting them on the table, Paul opened the front door and came in with a bottle
of champagne in his hands.
“Guess what?”
“I don’t know.” Lauren was so happy to see him, she didn’t
care what he had to say. She’d finally be able to tell him.
“We won the Jackson case.” He hugged her and picked her up
off her feet.
She laughed. “That’s great.”
He set her down. “I’ll say. It was a huge case too. And
because of my investigations into the Durhams, we won the case.” He grinned,
his hazel eyes sparkling.
“I’m proud of you.”
He opened the cupboard and found two wine glasses. “Let’s
celebrate.”
Lauren bit her lip. “I want to celebrate, but I think I’ll
skip the champagne.”
“Huh? Why?” He gave her a perplexed expression.
Lauren grabbed her purse and pulled out the baby bottle.
Without a word, she handed it to Paul.
“What’s this?” With a bewildered look, he read the card
attached to the bottle.
“Wait… what?”
Lauren nodded, her smile so wide it hurt her cheeks.
“We’re going to… you’re… we’re having a…” The happy
questions hung over them like a bouquet of fresh roses.
“Yes. We are.” Her heart beat with rapture.
Paul collapsed onto a kitchen chair and raked his hand through
his hair. “Wow. I don’t know what to say.”
Ignoring his body language, Lauren said, “That you’re as
thrilled as I am.”
“Well, yeah. Of course.” He sat back against the chair,
looking as if he’d lost all the air in his lungs.
“But?”
“I didn’t expect this. I’m surprised.” He gazed at her, the
baby bottle rotating in his hands.
“Surprised in a good way,
right?” She held her breath, waiting for his answer.
“It’s just that I’m so busy at work trying to open this new
office and… but this is great news.” He stood and pulled her in for a hug.
“Really?’
“Yes.”
“You’re sure?”
He looked at her, “Yeah.”
Lauren tried not to let her disappointment in his reaction
show. What had she expected, exactly? Cartwheels? Hollering at the top of his
lungs? Dancing? Singing? Probably not, but at least a little more enthusiasm.
“Lauren?” Paul said.
“We’ve been trying for a while, and it’s finally happened. I
wanted you to be—”
“I’m totally happy about it.” He embraced her again. Maybe
she’d expected too much from him.
“I’m not sure of the date. I’ll call tomorrow and make an
appointment to see the doctor. Can you come with me?” She wanted Paul to be
there with her every step of the way. This was their baby, and she wanted them
to share everything together.
He stepped back from her. “I really want to, but we’ll have
to see what my schedule is like.”
She nodded, trying to keep her emotions in check. “Okay.
I’ll let you know.”
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