Leigh Riker - Lost And Found Family

Is their loss too much to overcome?

It’s been a year since her son died, and Emma Mallory can’t forgive herself. She’s dealing with her loss the only way she knows how—throwing herself into work. But spending all her time growing her business takes her further and further away from her husband.

Christian is finding his own way through the grief. He’s determined that whatever happens, he won’t lose his wife, too. If he can just remind Emma what they had, and could have again, he might be able to bring her back. Even forgive her. If not, they might lose each other for good...

“Hey, good-looking,” she murmured, then blushed.

Her teasing had come without thinking, as it might have less than a year ago. After their quarrel last night it sounded false.

Yet Christian’s eyes had warmed for a second. He turned to his father and the other men in the group, his tone a shade too hearty. “Am I a lucky man, or what?”

Southern gentlemen to the core, they all politely agreed. She gave her father-in-law a quick kiss on the cheek then slid her hand into Christian’s. “We need to circulate.”

She and Christian continued across the room, greeting people here and there until an older woman swooped down on them in a flash of blue organza. Emma couldn’t remember her name, but she was one of Frankie’s charity friends. She hugged Christian then cast a glance at Emma’s dress. “Lovely, my dear,” she murmured. “And how brave of you to come.”

She patted Emma’s bare shoulder.

“In your place I wouldn’t be able to leave the house.”

Dear Reader Dear Reader Title Page About the Author Dedication PROLOGUE CHAPTER ONE CHAPTER TWO CHAPTER THREE CHAPTER FOUR CHAPTER FIVE CHAPTER SIX CHAPTER SEVEN CHAPTER EIGHT CHAPTER NINE CHAPTER TEN CHAPTER ELEVEN CHAPTER TWELVE CHAPTER THIRTEEN CHAPTER FOURTEEN CHAPTER FIFTEEN CHAPTER SIXTEEN CHAPTER SEVENTEEN CHAPTER EIGHTEEN CHAPTER NINETEEN CHAPTER TWENTY CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE EPILOGUE Extract Copyright ,

We never know what fate will hand us, do we? In Lost and Found Family, Christian Mallory has gotten a second chance with his new wife, Emma. Together, they share the family he’s always wanted, the family Emma badly needs. Life is good.

But then, their world is shattered, and both Christian and Emma wonder if they should even try to go on together. Every attempt to deal with their loss only seems to drive them further apart. Is love strong enough to heal their family, their marriage, Emma and Christian themselves?

I know, if not exactly, how they must feel. In real life, I once came dangerously close to losing my younger son. He’d done a wonderful thing in adopting a rescue kitten, but she also carried cat-scratch fever, which can be devastating and, in rare cases, fatal. The “bug” spread to my son’s brain, and for one terrible day and night I feared he wouldn’t survive. Happily, he did—although the doctors told him he shouldn’t even be here! He’s fine again, healthy and happy. I danced at his wedding. But as you might guess, I haven’t been quite the same person ever since.

Neither are Christian and Emma in this story. How could they be? A tragic, or near-tragic, experience changes you forever. Yet with luck, it also makes you stronger. It makes you appreciate life, and love, even more.

I hope you’ll enjoy taking this journey from loss to love and hope again with Christian and Emma. I think they’re worth the trip.

Happy reading!

Best,

Leigh

Lost and Found Family

USA TODAY Bestselling Author

Leigh Riker

www.millsandboon.co.uk

LEIGH RIKER, like many readers and writers, grew up with her nose in a book. She still can’t imagine a better way to spend her time than to curl up with a good romance novel—unless it is to write one! She’s a member of the Authors Guild, Novelists, Inc. and Romance Writers of America. When not in her home office, she’s either in the garden, watching movies funny and sad, or traveling (for research purposes, of course). With added “help” from her mischievous Maine coon cat, she’s at work now on a new novel. You can find Leigh on her website, leighriker.com, on Facebook at LeighRikerAuthorand on Twitter, @lbrwriter.

For our horse, Windsor Castle, the inspiration for the General in this story. When he passed, the owner of the barn where he’d lived wrote: “He was a noble old guy and will be greatly missed. Goodbye, old friend.”

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text Is their loss too much to overcome? It’s been a year since her son died, and Emma Mallory can’t forgive herself. She’s dealing with her loss the only way she knows how—throwing herself into work. But spending all her time growing her business takes her further and further away from her husband. Christian is finding his own way through the grief. He’s determined that whatever happens, he won’t lose his wife, too. If he can just remind Emma what they had, and could have again, he might be able to bring her back. Even forgive her. If not, they might lose each other for good...

Introduction “Hey, good-looking,” she murmured, then blushed. Her teasing had come without thinking, as it might have less than a year ago. After their quarrel last night it sounded false. Yet Christian’s eyes had warmed for a second. He turned to his father and the other men in the group, his tone a shade too hearty. “Am I a lucky man, or what?” Southern gentlemen to the core, they all politely agreed. She gave her father-in-law a quick kiss on the cheek then slid her hand into Christian’s. “We need to circulate.” She and Christian continued across the room, greeting people here and there until an older woman swooped down on them in a flash of blue organza. Emma couldn’t remember her name, but she was one of Frankie’s charity friends. She hugged Christian then cast a glance at Emma’s dress. “Lovely, my dear,” she murmured. “And how brave of you to come.” She patted Emma’s bare shoulder. “In your place I wouldn’t be able to leave the house.”

Dear Reader Dear Reader Dear Reader Title Page About the Author Dedication PROLOGUE CHAPTER ONE CHAPTER TWO CHAPTER THREE CHAPTER FOUR CHAPTER FIVE CHAPTER SIX CHAPTER SEVEN CHAPTER EIGHT CHAPTER NINE CHAPTER TEN CHAPTER ELEVEN CHAPTER TWELVE CHAPTER THIRTEEN CHAPTER FOURTEEN CHAPTER FIFTEEN CHAPTER SIXTEEN CHAPTER SEVENTEEN CHAPTER EIGHTEEN CHAPTER NINETEEN CHAPTER TWENTY CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE EPILOGUE Extract Copyright , We never know what fate will hand us, do we? In Lost and Found Family, Christian Mallory has gotten a second chance with his new wife, Emma. Together, they share the family he’s always wanted, the family Emma badly needs. Life is good. But then, their world is shattered, and both Christian and Emma wonder if they should even try to go on together. Every attempt to deal with their loss only seems to drive them further apart. Is love strong enough to heal their family, their marriage, Emma and Christian themselves? I know, if not exactly, how they must feel. In real life, I once came dangerously close to losing my younger son. He’d done a wonderful thing in adopting a rescue kitten, but she also carried cat-scratch fever, which can be devastating and, in rare cases, fatal. The “bug” spread to my son’s brain, and for one terrible day and night I feared he wouldn’t survive. Happily, he did—although the doctors told him he shouldn’t even be here! He’s fine again, healthy and happy. I danced at his wedding. But as you might guess, I haven’t been quite the same person ever since. Neither are Christian and Emma in this story. How could they be? A tragic, or near-tragic, experience changes you forever. Yet with luck, it also makes you stronger. It makes you appreciate life, and love, even more. I hope you’ll enjoy taking this journey from loss to love and hope again with Christian and Emma. I think they’re worth the trip. Happy reading! Best, Leigh