Uniting the Souls

by Annabella Michaels

  Rick grabbed a couple extra chairs for Dylan and Max then everyone settled into their assigned seats, families intermixing according to Sarah’s plan and I noticed that she’d seated herself right next to me. I kissed the top of her head as I sat down next to her and she grinned up at me. Rick stood at the head of the table and we all bowed our heads as he said grace then everyone was laughing and talking as they passed the food around, filling their plates.

  I looked around at the people gathered there to celebrate Thanksgiving with us. We’d been through an awful lot over the past few years, some good and some bad. We’d been sad when Caleb had left to study abroad, but he’d returned to take the job of his dreams and in doing so, met the love of his life.

  We’d been worried sick when Carter had been trapped in a fire at Romero’s, but Ryan had pulled him to safety and we’d all stood by his side as he struggled through physical therapy to repair the damage done to his hand, not sure if he’d ever play his guitar again. Carter was strong and determined though and he’d regained the strength needed in his hand and we’d all been there to celebrate his first sold out concert.

  We’d agonized over whether or not Landon would pull through after being kidnapped and shot by an insane woman, thankful that Micah had been there to rescue him and get him to safety quickly. Landon had survived though and I couldn’t remember ever seeing him as content and happy as he was since falling in love with Micah.

  We’d made it through all those moments intact and we’d gone on to celebrate many happy occasions as well. Each of my boys married their soulmates, Caleb and Giovanni adopted Sarah. My girls, Emma and Michelle, had given me two other grandchildren to love and dote upon. I was sure it wouldn’t be long before Landon and Micah added to our family and perhaps Carter and Ryan too, once the tour wound down.

  Rylie had faced his demons and come out smiling, giving Lachlan someone to love again after losing his brother. Morgan had found someone he could trust and depend on with Akio, and Hudson, Isaac, and Matt had found a love that, despite what society may think, I knew was strong and true and would last forever.

  I smiled as I looked around at my family. While some of them may not biologically be mine, they were the family of my choosing, the family of my heart. I had claimed them and I loved them as if they were my own. My eyes met my husband’s from across the table and my breath caught in my throat at the love I found staring back at me.

  We shared a smile. We’d been married long enough that I knew we were thinking the same thing. There was no possible way for us to know what life had in store. I was sure there would be struggles and surprises along the way, but whatever happened, we would always be strong because we would always have each other. We were family and there was no love more powerful than that.

  Coming December 2017…join the Greene family one more time as they celebrate Christmas together.

  Also, follow me on Facebook or join my group, Annabella’s Sexy Souls to find out about my upcoming projects, including Zane’s story.

  Agape (pronounced like uh-gop-A) love is the highest form of love. It embraces a universal, unconditional love that transcends and persists regardless of circumstance.

  When I started this series, I wanted to write about a family that loved and accepted each other unconditionally, regardless of age, race, sexual orientation or circumstance. The Greene family live their lives as an example of agape love. Sure, they have their ups and downs, moments where they’re frustrated or even angry with each other, what family doesn’t? But at the center of it all is their love and commitment to each other and that never wavers.

  I also wanted to include a LGBTQA youth center that would extend agape love beyond that of a family, reaching out to help those who have been cast aside, hurt, lost or broken and giving them a place where they could feel understood, accepted and loved for who they were.

  Writing this series has been an incredible journey for me. Not only has it provided a fun, creative outlet for me, it’s also taught me to be stronger and braver than I ever thought I could be. It’s taken me on adventures, brought me joy and a sense of purpose while introducing me to countless new friends that I might have never met had I not started writing.

  So, I thank you all for your encouragement and support, your friendship and love throughout this journey. I hope that you will join me as I take off on my next adventure and I encourage you to practice agape love in your own lives. Show others that they are loved and cared for because of who they are and exactly how they are, without limitations.

  As always, my first thanks go to my family; my husband, my children, my siblings and my parents. You have stood by my side from the moment I started dreaming up the Greene family. You offered your support, your wisdom and your encouragement and none of this would have become a reality without you. I love you guys. You are my heart and soul.

  Thank you to Aimee for teaching me, guiding me and encouraging me to give writing a chance, but mostly, I thank you for being my friend. I can’t wait to show the world what we can do when we join forces.

  Thank you to Deena for being my rock and my best friend. Through every change we’ve had in our lives, our friendship has never faltered. I know that no matter what, we will always have each other’s backs. You are the best friend I could’ve ever asked for.

  Thank you to Jenn, my PD for being my best friend and my sister by heart. Somehow, in this huge, crazy world, we were lucky enough to find each other and I will be thankful for that every day of my life. We’ve had a lot of fun together, but we’ve also been there to support each other through some darker moments. I will always be there for you no matter what.

  Thank you to my team: Pam Ebeler of Undivided Editing, Jay Aheer of Simply Defined Art, Judy Zweifler of Judy’s Proofreading, Stacey Blake of Champagne Formats and my beta readers; Lee Rey, Melissa McIntyre, Jenn Gibson, Allison Hopfazel, Meredith King, Lori Greis, Wendy Lynn, Nemerald and Jodie Temple-Harding. Writing this series has been an amazing journey from beginning to end and I’ve been very blessed to have the same people working with me and encouraging me throughout the entire process, while adding a few new friends along the way. You all have shown me more support, encouragement and enthusiasm than I could ever repay you for. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

  I am married to my high school sweetheart who let’s face it, is a saint for putting up with me all of these years. Together we have been blessed with the chance to raise two amazing human beings and so far we haven’t screwed it up; I’ll let you know for sure later. I am a business owner and spend more time laughing than actually working most days. I love watching movies, cooking, going to the beach and spending time with my family and best friends. I am an obsessive reader who is a complete sucker for a good love story, but loves to feel a broad range of emotions throughout a book. I think real life is hard enough and so my books offer twists and turns, but always with a happy ending.

  I love to hear from my readers. You can reach me at:

  Twitter

  Facebook

  Annabella’s Sexy Souls

  Blog

  Annabella’s Recommendations

  Saving Sebastian: A Catharsis Novel (Custos Securities Series Book 3) by Luna David

  Gideon McCade—weighed down by memories of his previous life as a Navy SEAL and a CIA agent—has blood on his hands. He turns to his BDSM club, Catharsis, and Dominating submissives to get him through the daily grind of civilian life. Knowing his past is too much to inflict on a life partner, he keeps his connections brief and superficial. When his former life comes back to haunt him, his desire for revenge pulls him back into the shadows, darkening his hopes for a future in the light.

  Temporarily sidelining his career as a tattoo artist, Sebastian Phillips works as a composite artist for the local police department. To alleviate the inescapable burden of a congenital medical condition, he immerses himself in his art and seeks the catharsis of submission. But with life weighing heavily on his shoulders and darkness encroac
hing, he yearns for a contract with a Dominant that sees past the protective barriers he's erected to the vulnerable submissive within.

  When happenstance brings Gideon and Sebastian together, their connection is undeniable. The knowledge that they are both too damaged to form permanent bonds of love causes them to rely on an impersonal contract to fulfil their physical needs. But staying emotionally detached becomes impossible, and breaking their contract seems the only option. Will Gideon's need for vengeance and Sebastian's declining health destroy what's grown between them, or will they help each other find their way back into the light?

  Letting Go (Love By Design Book 1) by Morningstar Ashley

  Years ago, before tragedy struck, Alex made a child's promise to always protect and care for his little sister, Evie. Then piece by piece, all the good in his life was taken away until Alex was left alone as guardian to his much younger sister. Suffering and loss scarred Alex, causing him to withdraw from the world. Struggling with anxiety and trust issues, Alex attempts to help Evie heal from their shared traumatic past, but each day is harder than the last. To make matters worse, Alex's best friend, Ben, is pushing him to get out of his rut, confronting him with the fact that what Alex thinks is contentment is just stagnation and fear. The last thing he needs is for an old acquaintance to reappear in his life, making him feel things he hadn't dealt with in years.

  The executive of the marketing department at the graphic design firm Vivid, Kelley has his life together. While not perfect, he's happy with his career and his three best friends. A chance encounter with Alex, the guy he was once attracted to, is icing on the cake. Fighting through Alex's defenses to find the breathtaking man underneath will be hard, but Kelley is up to the challenge. Kelley believes that the things most worth fighting for never come easy.

  To accept all that Kelley is offering means Alex must drop his barriers. Kelley will need to keep trying and prove that Alex can trust him, even when grief and anxiety try to pull him back.

  Looking In by Michael Bailey

  David Barrow’s world fell apart at the age of eleven after his mother died. Years of physical and emotional abuse followed, leaving him scarred in body and mind, mired in the belief that he is unlovable. He spends his days working in a comic shop, and his nights alone wrestling with the ghosts of his past.

  As a Marine, Adam Duncan has sworn to protect and serve, and there is no one he is more protective of than his brother and nephew. When tragedy strikes, threatening the security of his family, his protective instincts kick in. But how can he fight an enemy he can’t see?

  David and Adam feel the connection between them, but David has built walls around his heart that no one has bothered to break through, until Adam. Adam can see what a special man David is, and is willing to do whatever it takes to break down those barriers. Can he make David see he doesn’t have to keep living his life…Looking In?