Monica Murphy thought she had it all: a good education, a marriage proposal from her high-school sweetheart, and a dream of one day opening her own restaurant. When Monica learns she's pregnant, it seems like the final piece in the puzzle of her life. Then, on one terrible day, her fiancé blindsides her with a breakup, and she loses the baby.
Years later, Monica is still feeling scarred-and scared. She devotes herself to her bakery while her social life is practically nonexistent. Although Monica is lonely, at least her heart is protected. Then, in part to honor her beloved grandmother, who'd been her rock before she passed, Monica decides to start over. But how can she get out of the (safe) rut she's in?
Then Monica meets Amos. He's handsome, engaging-and heartbroken about his wife leaving him. The pair bond over their similar troubles, and Monica slowly feels herself wanting to trust and even love again. The wall around her heart is high, and yet Monica hears Grams in her head urging her to give Amos a chance. Can Monica let herself be vulnerable, or will she forever be trapped by the pain of her past?
About the Author: Chelle Renee is a nurse living in rural Missouri with her loving husband of seventeen years. She's always been inspired by the written word, believing in its power to give hope and transform readers' lives. Over the years, she's written and published short stories, song lyrics, essays, and poetry.
A few of her poems were published in Missouri Life and Missouri Conservationist. Her song lyrics have been featured on the Dallas Songwriters Association website. In 2007 and 2016, Renee won the Missouri Healthcare Association essay contest award. Her essays have also been published in local newspapers, such as the Herald Free Press. Additionally, Renee has recently authored and published a couple of stories for children.
