“Love saves us?”
“Does it not? Not simply sexual love, but also love of one’s fellow man, love of God, love of family and friends, and, of course,”—he glanced toward their sleeping daughter—“the love of a father and mother for their child. All these taken together, with all the joy and pain that they confer—that can save us, surely. Love of life, Alix. You have it. And since I’ve found you, so do I.”
He was right, she thought. The simple pleasures of drawing a breath, crunching leaves underfoot, smelling the tangy scent of wildflowers, and watching the gray-green heaving of an angry sea—these were the little things that gave her strength and filled her spirit with joy. And Roger. Being close to him, touching his warm, living flesh, hearing his well-beloved voice, meeting his mind and soul in a union that transcended earthly time and space. “We are blessed. My heart is full. I feel as if I’m going to cry.”
He slid his arms around her. “No, love. Laugh, as you always do, my sweetling. Your laughter and your light have saved me, and will save others, I expect, in the years ahead. Now, come. We’ve tarried in this dark place long enough.”
Carrying their daughter, they left the church, walking hand in hand together into the sunlight.
The End
Author’s Note
Fires of Destiny is the first of several novels that I will be re-issuing over the next few months. There will also be new, previously unpublished books available soon. For more information about the next release in the Trevor Family Chronicles, and my contemporary romance series, Night Games, please sign up for my newsletter at http://eepurl.com/yB2x5 or visit my website at www.lindabarlow.com
I love to hear from my readers. You can contact me at the following email address: [email protected].
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Acknowledgments
I am deeply indebted to my wonderful lover and partner Curt Monash for all the support he has given me during my revisions of this edition of Fires of Destiny. He has served as my consultant, my historical fact checker, and my incomparable copy-editor (who patiently read the lengthy manuscript at least three times, hunting down errors). I love you, sweetheart.
Meet Linda Barlow
Linda Barlow is an internationally published, Rita Award winning author who has been addicted to inventing characters and writing stories for most of her life. Fires of Destiny was her first novel; she created the initial versions of Roger and Alexandra when she was in seventh grade. They’ve been lingering in her head ever since.
Linda lives in a suburb of Boston with her partner, Curt Monash, and their cat, Tiger. A former university instructor of both English literature and neurobiology, she is also the author of many other critically acclaimed novels.
Table of Contents
Cover
Author’s Note
Prologue
Part I
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Part II
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Part III
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Part IV
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Epilogue
Author’s Note
Acknowledgements
Meet Linda Barlow
Linda Barlow Page 56
