 |
| ISBN: 9780463618424 ASIN: B07Z8DYNYV Publisher: Tirgearr Publishing CLICK HERE TO BUY Cover artist: Cora Graphics |
When they receive bad news after a prenatal exam, both must face that their charmed lives are about to come crashing down around them.
Do Christmas wishes really come true? Elaine is staking her life on it!
Limerick City, Ireland—June
The best feeling in the world had to be lying in a lover’s arms, completely exhausted after a night of lovemaking, totally and absolutely sated.
Elaine went with Ethan as he fell back onto the mattress and snuggled close to him, weaving her legs with his and grinning at how his leg hairs tickled her.
The warm, masculine scent of his body—the lingering hint of his cologne, the smell of his skin damp with fine perspiration, the heady aroma of sex—permeated her senses and made that place deep inside her long for him once more.
In a word, he smelled delicious. So much so, she had practically gobbled him up over the last several hours. Perhaps she would again, she thought, trailing her fingertips across the ridges of his broad chest and boldly circling his nipples.
His strong hand grasped hers and brought it to lips framed with dark stubble, kissing the backs of her fingers. “Please, love. I can barely move.”
Elaine glanced down the solid length of him to the twitch beneath the sheet just covering his hips. “Could have fooled me.”
Leaning over, he propped himself up on an elbow and looked down at her. He nestled her head in the crook of his arm.
“Isn’t it enough you kept me up all night,” winking at the double meaning, “but you want to make me late for work, as well?”
“You weren’t complaining an hour ago.”
His lips against hers echoed the passion they had shared through the night.
When he leaned away, his deep voice was soft, his blue-eyed gaze intense. “And I never will, Lany. I love you to the depths of my soul and will always be here for you.”
Tears welled and threatened to spill down her cheeks. “Will you?”
Nodding, he said, “Aye. Always.”
“You truly want this baby.” It wasn’t a question. She rubbed her belly without breaking her gaze with him. When he nodded again, his grin answering more than his voice could, she added, “Oh, Ethan! You make me so happy.” She slid her arms around his shoulders. He came to her instantly, burying his face in the curve of her neck, kissing her there. Familiar tingles shivered up her body and threatened to rekindle the passion she felt hovering just beneath the surface.
All too soon, he pulled away. “I still need to go to work. Now let me go or we’ll be raising our child on the Dole.” He winked again before placing a quick peck on her lips then rose from the bed.
Elaine laughed lightly. "As if you'd accept unemployment money."
When the sheet fell away as he left the bed, she leaned up on her elbow and watched his firm ass flex as he strode out of the room. Something inside her swelled with admiration. Yes, no matter how exhausted she was, she could eat him up over and over again.
A moment later she heard the shower go on then splashing and she imagined the water sluicing over him, wishing she could be in there with him.
She cocked her head at another sound. He was actually singing! He must be really happy. She considered joining him, but he was right. He had to get to work—so did she—or they would both be raising their baby on the Dole.
As she rose and threw on a robe, she laughed at her feelings of dread last night. She had been so afraid to tell Ethan she was pregnant. They had only been married a few short months and were trying to plan their future and keep to an agenda. That included birth control—at least for a while. But nothing was one hundred percent effective, as her current condition proved.
She could barely contain her joy at how Ethan welcomed the baby much sooner than they had planned that she felt she was floating down the stairs.
In the kitchen, Elaine put on the coffee then turned her gaze out the kitchen window to their back garden. She tried imagining a swing set, sand box, and a Wendy house rather than the clothesline, spotty lawn, and falling down tool shed. She wrapped her arms around her waist, wondering how they were going to give their child the life he or she deserved. If money was tight now, it would only get tighter once their child was born.
A moment later, strong arms encircled her, pulling her against a broad chest. Ethan kissed the curve of her neck and she melted against him.
“You okay?” He turned her to face him. “You’ve been standing there for a while just staring outside.”
His dark hair was damp and hanging over the dark brows and lashes framing his crystal blue eyes. His gaze was both concerned and sexy. She wanted to rip his shirt from his shoulders and . . .
Instead, she just finger-combed the curls back from his face. “Aye. I’m trying to imagine a swing set in the garden instead of the clothesline.”
Ethan chuckled. “Everything is going to be grand. We’ve a perfect life. Nothing’s going to change that.” He kissed her on the forehead before releasing her to pour himself a cup of coffee.
Even as she watched the man she loved more than anything move about the kitchen, she could not quell the feeling of dread suddenly eating at her.
A Beautifully Written Story! Ethan and Elaine are delightful, expressive characters who steal one’s heart from the beginning. A very short piece, the reader becomes particularly emotionally invested while reading about this couple’s tragedy. The surreal adds to the story and gives that much more credence to how powerful love can be. This is a beautiful, must read story! ~ Belinda Wilson, Amazon
*
I’ve never been more blown away by what Ms. Shortland penned. This is a heartfelt, hopeful and special kind of story. I’ve never read anything like it before and probably never well. There are no smexy times between Ethan and Elaine but you can feel the love and cherishment that they have for each other throughout the story. It’s beautiful, poignant and sometimes sad . . . It’s hopeful and at times, magical. Yes, magical . . . the twist is spectacular . . . Wow, just wow . . . Bravo Ms. Shortland and I can’t wait to read more of your work. ~ Harlie, Harlie's Books
*
A quick look into the life of Elaine and Ethan. The emotions were strong and up and down. I smiled, I cried, and I smiled again. This story touched me so much I had to give it 5 stars. I still have tears as I think about this story. Their love for each other felt so real and showed that love can conquer a lot. I highly recommend this story but have tissues nearby. ~ Christine Woinich, Goodreads, Iron Canuck Reviews
*
I have to be honest, I was really sad that this was a short story, as I loved the writing style and the story line. Kemberlee Shortland has a writing style that pulls you in at the first page and leaves you wanting more at the last. I immediately felt the emotions that Elaine and Ethan were feeling and found myself pulling for them as a couple as their world crashed around them. The descriptions of the characters and situations the characters were in were written so well that you felt like you where right in the book with them. My only complaint for this book was that it was not long enough and I wanted to know more about what happened to Elaine and Ethan. I can’t wait to explore more of Kemberlee Shortland’s books and get lost in her writing again!! ~ Kelli, Amazon, Goodreads, Lost in a Book after a Day of Social Work
*
I liked the main characters, Elaine and Ethan. They were an adorable couple that were newlyweds and are still very much in love. It was sweet to see how happy and on cloud nine they were! I really loved the character’s passion and spark. It was obvious this couple were truly, deeply in love and meant everything to each other. You can feel their devotion, adoration, and love just radiate off the pages!! The author described a graceful and delicate love story that is tried and tested and proves love always wins in the end!! . . . I felt emotionally tangled in this story line and found myself going from overjoyed and excited, then anxious and worrisome, then sad and heartbroken, and so on. I was completely invested in the main characters and felt connected hanging on their every emotion as I turned each page!! There were many times I found myself totally caught up in the story! . . . there was such an intriguing and creative story line and fantastic characters that I wanted MORE!!! ~ Ally, Amazon, Goodreads, Fabulous and Brunette Reviews
•
This contemporary romance short story with fantasy elements is a beautiful celebration of love—both the passionate love shared by a husband and wife but also that of a parent for a child . . . there is beautiful emotionalism (and the need for a tissue or two) and a lovely connection to the Christmas season. A quick heartwarming read. ~ E., Goodreads, Reading Addict Elf
This book has a happy ending, but what a heart-wrencher it was getting there! Kemberlee Shortland is a master at pulling on my heartstrings with this highly emotional story of newlyweds Elaine and Ethan who face the hardest of announcements at a pre-natal exam. I loved how this couple has a love for one another that brings them closer together with the arrival of bad news instead of tearing them apart. The story flows smoothly and I really liked Elaine and Ethan. Their emotions come alive on the page, in bright color and sound. I felt like I was in the room with them praying alongside them for a Christmas miracle. ~ Sherri Bryant, Goodreads, The Bookworm News & Reviews
•
•
Get out the kleenex! This heartwarming short story is filled with love, emotion and the spirit of giving. Short but sweet it is packed with a lifetime of love. I didn’t know how it would end but knew that Elaine and Ethan would be able to endure whatever they faced due to the true love that bonded their souls together. This is a romance that I believe should be read every year as a reminder of what true love is and what it can do. ~ Cathy Geha, Goodreads, Bookbub, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, Twitter, Library Thing
•
This is a short story and took about 30 minutes to read but it is packed with a lot of emotions. By the time I had finished this story my face was soaking wet from tears . . . This story had me hooked from the very beginning and I had no idea how it would end. ~ Shelleen, Goodreads, Shelleen's Musings
•
This may be a short story, but it is a jam-packed emotional roller coaster. I do not know what I would do in their situation. There are so many options . . . But no matter the choice made after weighing all the options, it is going to be emotional and difficult. You may need a tissue with this one. ~ Andrea, Goodreads, Andi's Book Reviews
•
This short read was well written with very likable and believable characters that pulled me right in from the very beginning! Elaine and Ethan kept me totally engaged throughout the entire book! ~ Pat, Goodreads, Kobo, Nook
This book hooked me from the beginning. I just couldn’t put it down. I fell for these characters and, what a story just perfect. ~Tayra Sanders, Goodreads
•
•
This is a really short story that packs a lot into the pages. This is a new Author to me. A story that has alot of emotion and love, I enjoyed reading. ~ Barbara, Goodreads
•
This was a really good pretty emotional well written short story and I really enjoyed it and just loved Elaine and Ethan they were just a great couple I cannot wait to read more from this author. ~ Poppy, Amazon, Goodreads
•
An emotional short story: The Power of Love is a short story that is full of love and emotion. This storyline is well written and flows nicely throughout. The characters are lovable and very much in love with each other. ~ Heather Wamboldt, Goodreads
•
This is the 1st book I've read written by Kemberlee Shortland; she has done a great job at writing a good short story; I can’t wait to read more of her books. The story line caught my attention at the very beginning and kept me interested throughout the entire book. I loved the chemistry between the characters. ~ Jeanne Richardson, Goodreads
•
I adored the chemistry between Elaine and her husband Ethan. They were newlyweds when this tale began, and their giddiness at starting their lives together made me eager to find out what would happen to them after Elaine got pregnant much sooner than they’d been expecting her to. While welcoming a baby into their family so quickly was a strain on their finances, their excitement over soon becoming parents was contagious...I adored the ending. It fit the tone of the plot quite nicely. Christmas is a magical time of the year, so I was glad to see how that season played out when Elaine and Ethan were struggling with so much uncertainty and grief. This was a heartwarming thing for me to read as the holiday season approaches. I’d recommend The Power of Love to anyone who wants to get into the spirit of Christmas a little early this year. ~ Heidi White, Long and Short Reviews, Goodreads
•
Very lovely story, beautifully written. ~ hrhsophia, Smashwords Reader
•
Excellent author
I throughly (sic) enjoyed her book. She is an excellent author. I highly recommend her books to my friends and to anyone that is interested in ready books by an excellent author. ~ Pat Hohmann, Amazon
•
Life was pretty much perfect for Elaine (Lany) and Ethan and even though they hadn't planned to start a family right away their love was strong enough to sustain anything as long as they would be together. They would discover that love is the most powerful gift of all especially when St. Nicholas is around on Christmas eve to help miracles happen. *** Shortland writes a powerfully emotional story that moved me to tears with an intensity that took my breath away. ~ Marilyn Rondeau
•
"The Power of Love" by Kemberlee Shortland focuses on newlyweds Elaine and Ethan as they expect their first child. When they receive the devastating news that Elaine's heart will not withstand the delivery, "The Power of Love" receives a whole new meaning. . . Kemberlee Shortland's heart-rending tale will leave the reader in tears. Never has a story been so aptly named as this one! The depth of emotion displayed between Ethan and Elaine is simply stunning. Kemberlee Shortland proves herself to be a true force in the romance genre with this gem! ~ CK2S Kwips and Kritiques
•
Set in Ireland, present day. Elaine and Ethan O'Donovan are devastated when the hospital doctor informs them that Elaine's heart is too weak to survive the birth of their unborn child. Sometime within the next few weeks, Elaine would die in labor. On Christmas Eve, though, anything is possible. ~ Detra Fitch, Huntress Reviews
