by J. L. Berg
"Woah there," Clare said, halting both of them in their tracks. "Where are you two off to in such a hurry?"
"Connor was going to show me his new Harry Potter wand in his room and then we were going to play video games," Maddie answered.
I turned back toward my husband, giving him doe eyes and made a small heart in the air with my fingers. He rolled his eyes.
Clare shifted her stance, as the wiggly toddler in her arms reached out for the cookies his sister was dangling in front of him.
"Okay," she managed to get out before Maddie took ahold of Connor's hand and they attempted their escape "But make sure you come back down when I call!" Clare shouted after them.
She gave me an exasperated, frazzled look and I laughed. I'd watched her be a mother long before I'd taken the role on myself and it was nice to finally have these moments where we could share in the craziness together.
I looked back at my one-year old daughter, covered in frosting and cake, giggling with glee as our friends and family watched with pride. I never thought I'd have a family of my own--children I could love and love me in return. Declan had given me a life I'd secretly always wanted.
"You did this Leah," he whispered in my ear. "You filled the emptiness in my heart and gave me a family, a home and a soulmate. He brought our joined hands to the spot where his tattoo lay etched into his chest, a celtic knot, now bearing my initial.
"We did this," I amended. "Together."
I wrapped my arms around my husband and smiled as we watched our daughter further destroy the beautifully crafted confectionary masterpiece.
Family, friends and someone to share your soul with, that's all you need in life.
Well, and maybe a bit of cake.
They say the stubborn ones always fall the hardest…
See what happens when Liv’s new neighbor turns out to be more than she could have ever bargained for.
The Ready Series continues with…
Ready or Not
Coming in October 2014
But, first…a brand new standalone from bestselling author J.L. Berg
Within these walls, he became my solace, my sanctuary and my strength.
I am not strong. I am just a survivor of circumstance.
Isn’t that what we all do? Survive?
Each of us has our own set of circumstances to muddle through. Mine are just more…complicated.
I’ve been weak and fragile since the day I was born with a severe heart defect. I’ve seen the inside of a hospital room more than my own. Within these walls, I’ve spent my childhood and adolescence. As others my age learned to ride bicycles and kiss boys, I was hooked up to monitors and IVs fighting for my life.
I was drowning, a prisoner to the illness that owned me, until he appeared, like a modern day knight, covered in a pair of scrubs with pudding cups shoved in the pockets.
He thinks he’s blocked out the rest of the world with his tattoos and hard exterior, but I see the real Jude, the one he so desperately wants to forget. He may not have grown up in these hallways, but he’s just as trapped as me.
Despite everything, we’re not that different. We all wander through life, from one moment to the next, hoping to find a glimpse of heaven in the midst of hell.
My name is Lailah Buchanan, and this is my story of hope, peace, and finding love in the most unlikely of places.
Within These Walls
Coming August 2014
Marry Me - Train
Wedding Dress - Matt Nathanson
Hold Onto Hope Love - Amy Stroup
Marry Me - Jason Derulo
At Last - Etta James
Turning Page - Sleeping At Last
I Won’t Give Up - Jason Mraz
A Thousand Years - Christina Perri
Mirrors - Justin Timberlake
Lovesong - Adele
Us Against the World - Coldplay
So Easy - Phillip Phillips
We Found Love - Calvin Harris featuring Rhianna
I Do - Colbie Caillat
Kiss Me - Ed Sheeran
Best Day of My Life - American Authors
(Everything I Do) I Do It For You - Bryan Adams
I’m Yours - The Script
Since this is a novella and this things are supposed to be short and sweet, I’m going to continue that theme through to the very end—including the acknowledgments.
Next month, I will be celebrating my one year anniversary of becoming a published author. Since that infamous night not too long ago that I hit publish on Amazon and my world literally exploded, I have been amazed by the generosity and compassion of those I’ve met along the way. I have made life long friends and formed connections with people all over the world, and I know I say this all the time, but I really do have the best readers ever.
Thank you to each and every one of you who has made this crazy dream of mine a reality. I love you all!
J.L. Berg is the USA Today bestselling author of the Ready Series. She is a California native living in the beautiful state of historic Virginia. Married to her high school sweetheart, they have two beautiful girls that drive them batty on a daily basis. When she's not writing, you will find her with her nose stuck in a romance novel, in a yoga studio or devouring anything chocolate.
Other Books by J.L. Berg
When You’re Ready
Ready to Wed (A Novella)
Never Been Ready
Ready for You
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