Diamond Road
By- Ginger King
Genre- Women's Fiction
Published By- Second Wind Publishing
Published On- December 10th, 2014
In this intriguing debut novel-a journey that reveals how memories shape our lives and connect or separate us from others- Jamie, a young woman ascending from an oppressive relationship embarks on a desperate quest to escape. However her refuge is to return to the home she despised and left in the dust years before. Only her childhood journal and the family who raised her, can guide her search for answers to questions from decades ago that have molded her choices and left her with the stinging consequences she now must face.
As vivid memories of a tragedy that cost her both parents, come flooding back, Jamie discovers a truth that she kept locked away - something only she knows about the night they both died. Could re-living the memories that have shaped her life and relationships be the key to finding real, lasting happiness? What else may it bring to her door?
Excerpt-
From Chapter 22
"Boy this is so nice. I didn't realize how much I
missed flying." Jamie said into the radio.
"I knew how much I've missed flying with you and I am
so happy to see your smile back."
The air was less humid than at home and they climbed out
without a lot of excess drag on the airplane. Josh flew for a few minutes and
Jamie looked over the horizon. It was almost 4pm and the sun had begun its
descent in the western sky. A few more hours and it would succumb entirely. For
almost ten minutes they didn't talk at all.
Once they were on the heading toward the visual landmark
they'd used all day to turn back to the farm, Jamie reached up for Josh's
shoulder and pinched it softly. "Hey hog... it's my turn, give me the
stick."
She took control of the plane and made adjustments to her
posture in the seat so that she could see better. The rear tandem seat was
normally reserved for the instructor but flying from that position is just as
comfortable for most people because of how the plane is built. They planned on
landing and switching positions so she could do both a takeoff and landing on
the next flight.
When she turned the plane and headed back toward the farm,
Josh relaxed and started looking around. "Hey Jamie, see that barn down
there at two o'clock? Doesn't that look like that old tobacco barn that Daddy
tore down when we were seven or eight years old? It's tall and shaped just like
it.”
"It sure does. I bet if they tore that barn down today
they could get good money for the wood. Reclaimed wood is a huge deal up here.
Dan just had his kitchen floor done in all wide plank white pine that had been
reclaimed from a barn. He paid a pretty penny I'll tell you."
Josh chuckled. "If only those boards could talk. Wonder
how many kisses have been stolen behind those walls?'
Jamie thought about the day she first kissed Josh and that
he hadn't returned her affections. It was puzzling to her as an adult why he
never did, and never really said anything about it either. He always was
protecting her and looking out for her, she thought he was just being a big
brother until Link innocently spilled the beans about how much Josh loved her.
After that she paid more attention but she was so focused on her studies at
Juilliard to have anyone for a boyfriend. She didn't want to hurt him by saying
he should go to another school in another city but she didn't want him to waste
his time waiting on her either.
"Hey you've gotten kind of quiet back there. You doing
ok?" Josh asked.
"I sure am. We are coming up on the farm in a few
minutes. I see their silos from here. You wanna take the stick and prep for
landing. We'll switch and I'll do a takeoff and landing then we can call it a
day. Sound like a plan?"
"Sure. I just don't want this day to end though.
Landing means we have to go back soon." Josh's tone became somber, much
different than moments ago when he was gazing down on the green and brown
quilted shapes of farmland draped in the golden rays of the late afternoon sun.
"I know." is all Jamie said.
Josh setup for approach at Taylor's farm and radioed in to
the base radio in their hangar. His landing was quick and easy
*************************
"Hey Josh, the wind is picking up a little. It may get
bumpy on the way back. Seems it’s changed directions on us. Looks like a storm
brewing over there to the north."
"Yea, maybe we should go ahead and cut this leg short.
I hate this happened while you were flying but its better safe than sorry,
right."
"Yeah, I guess." She turned and headed back
towards the farm. When she approached she had to land in the opposite direction
of her takeoff to use the headwind which was now mostly coming from the north
instead of the southwest.
"You got this Jamie. I'm here if you need me though.
Just steady."
"You stinker, you don't think I can do it?"
"What. I never said that. He chuckled wondering if she
said it that way on purpose. Just the way she had the day she kissed him for
the first time. He only had to wait a minute for confirmation.
"What do you want to bet I can do it? The stakes are
higher now than they were way back then."
Josh smiled and said, "I know and I like it."
Jamie laughed out loud and then got really serious about
setting up for landing. The wind was variable now and as she was bringing the
plane down to altitude the wind started to shift into a cross wind. She
adjusted and began using more rudder to control the plane on their downward
slope nearing the runway.
Even with the wind complications her landing was nearly as
smooth as Josh's had been.
Josh said, “You’ve got some smooth moves too. That was
amazing."
"Why thank you sir. I guess I won!"
Josh just smiled quietly waiting for the plane to come to a
stop and for the prop to stop turning.
They got out of the plane, and Josh stretched his legs by bending over
and sticking each leg out to the side. His long legs were cramped in the back
seat position. Jamie stood there at the door of the plane for a while getting
the headsets put up and stretching a little too.
They were standing behind the airplane so that it was
between them and the hangar. Josh said, "Just look at the sky. What a
perfect setup for sundown." When Jamie turned around to see, Josh's look
said so much. He kissed her gently and looked at her as if he was seeing
something in her that was so familiar. To Jamie it felt like coming home. She
gave in and melted into him just the way the bright sun was melting into the
azure sky. She spoke before any thoughts could hinder it. "I love you so
much Josh."
It was the words he had always wanted to hear her say, in
the way he always wanted to hear them. The only problem was it happened in the
brief seconds they had before Taylor approached.
About the Author-
Ginger King is the author (and or contributor) to more than four books, the Carolina Wine Country Cooking series and contemporary women's fiction with a kick. Her debut novel Diamond Road (December 2014) marks the first in a four part series called The Lost and Found Series.
Carolina Wine Country Cooking is all about cooking with or pairing with wines from the Carolina vines. These cookbooks include recipes using the famous North Carolina Muscadine as well as European varietals produced in the state. Some titles in the series also include photography, poetry, and short stories inspired by the great tapestry that the NC people and landscape add to the experience of Carolina Wine Country.
Carolina Wine Country Cooking is all about cooking with or pairing with wines from the Carolina vines. These cookbooks include recipes using the famous North Carolina Muscadine as well as European varietals produced in the state. Some titles in the series also include photography, poetry, and short stories inspired by the great tapestry that the NC people and landscape add to the experience of Carolina Wine Country.
The Lost and Found Series - Diamond Road (book one of the series) is about the life and memories of a young woman, escaping an abusive relationship and reuniting with those she turned her back on years before. The stories in this series are centered around loving in difficult situations and the choices, consequences, forgiveness and patience required to move forward. They will resonate with anyone who has wanted a fresh start in life ,suffered tragedy, been abused/stalked or estranged from family. The next title in the series is Hope in Carolina and is scheduled to be published in 2015.
Ginger is also a contributor to her publisher's anthologies, for example Second Helpings, which is a compilation of holiday short stories and authors recipes. Ginger worked with other food writers from around the globe and the World Food Travel Association on a culinary travel guide titled Have Fork Will Travel. Look for her regular column in Yadkin Valley Living Magazine and other writings for regional NC magazines across the state.
Links-
Website ~ Goodreads ~ Twitter ~ Publisher ~ 2nd Wind Blog ~
Blog Tour Organized by:
1 comments:
Thank you for hosting!
Post a Comment