Rita Gerlach

Beside Two Rivers Rita Gerlach

(Inspirational Historical Romance, Historical Drama /  Book 2 in The Daughters of the Potomac Series)
 
Years have passed since that desperate night when Darcy last saw her mother pale and sick, shocked into silence. Hayward sent her to live with her kind uncle William Breeze, a horticulturalist, his excitable wife Mari, and their five daughters. Dark memories have faded, and she loves her life along the river--attached to nature and in love with its Creator.
 
Her family is sent an invitation, to attend a gathering at Twin Oaks, a plantation across the river on the Virginia side. Its young heir has returned from a lengthy trip to England, accompanied by two ladies and a gentleman, Ethan Brennan. While out walking the grounds, Ethan nearly runs Darcy over while testing out one of Twin Oaks stallions. Darcy is drawn to him, but puts off any idea of an attachment. It is assumed Ethan is engaged to one of the ladies.
 
When he saves Darcy from a near drowning, she cannot deny Ethan is in love with her, and she with him. Yet their time together is short lived after her rival gives Darcy a letter from Ethan saying he must return to England and keep his word to Miss Roth that he would marry her.
 
Brokenhearted, Darcy tries to accept his rejection, and then she is suddenly summoned to England to at last meet the grandmother she never knew. Will the truth concerning her parents unravel? When Darcy meets with an accident that leaves her paralyzed, will she discover Ethan's deeper, heroic side? Will her faith help her survive the ordeals she will face, the losses she will experience, and the final reunion with those she thought forever parted?
 
Secrets are slowly revealed, which leads to her life hanging from a dangerous thread. Ethan is her only hope.