Title: White Tulips - The Flower of Forgiven
Author: Cheryl A. Daniels
Book blurb:
The Flower of Forgiveness After a terrible car wreck, Cassidy Fallow’s family secrets are revealed. She finds out that her mother had an affair, and now questions the man she believes is her father. Her mother was inebriated the night of the accident, and drove the SUV recklessly. As a result, she lost her life. Once, Cassidy was a blossoming artist—a socialite with exhibits demanding her attention. Now, consumed with grief, her previous life doesn't matter and she withdraws from society. To make matters worse, Cassidy has fallen for the Christian detective her family has wronged. Who is God anyway, and why does this handsome man think she needs him? Interracial Romance BW/WM, Christian, Inspirational & Sweet Romance.
Purchasing Link:
Cheryl decided instead of reading another book, she would write one. She lives in Texas with her husband and teenaged daughter. Cheryl is a mother of four, and cherishes a bond of friendship with her three adult children, and she adores her grandchildren.
Excerpt:
The black SUV sped along the icy, wet Wyoming road. A frigid wind
sporadically pushed the vehicle into the other lane. Even with all-weather tires, the SUV
continued to skid across the asphalt in some places. Small ice pellets fell to the
ground—another thief of nature, stealing the driver's view.
Sleet pounded heavily against the vehicle causing it to hydroplane. Cassidy bit her fingernails. Her body jerked forward, and her heart pounded as if seeking refuge outside her anxiety-ridden body. She watched her mother adjust the speed and straighten the steering wheel, only to have the vehicle hydroplane again. SUV and driver tangoed intermittently, each wanting to take the lead.
Dangers of the poorly lit, ice-glazed road didn’t seem to faze Karen and Charles, Cassidy's parents. Their argument escalated with every gust of wind. Neither the flickering windshield wipers, nor the icy pellets pounding the SUV, could mask the shouting inside the automobile. Periodically her mother would cry, adding fuel to an already explosive situation.
As a child, Cassidy disliked when her parents argued. Their altercations made her feel insecure and guilty. Now, at age twenty-five, their bickering was still abhorrent and exhausting. Her mother became so consumed with arguing that nothing else mattered, including the current dangerous conditions of the road.
Though worried her fear would only intensify the situation, Cassidy spoke out. "Mom, would you like for me to drive?” She tried desperately to dampen the anxiety in her voice.
Her mother glared at her through the rearview mirror. "No Cassie. I don’t need you to drive."
Under her mother’s curt words, Cassidy looked apologetically. "Mom, I only made that suggestion because my eyesight is better than yours at night."
Charles turned to face Karen. "I agree. You should let one of us drive."
"I said I'm fine!" Once again, Karen looked into the rear view mirror and frowned, as if warning Cassidy to let it go.
Cassidy gave her attention to the flowers next to her, hoping to take her mind off her parents. Red roses were always her favorite. Her father had given them to her for having another successful art exhibit. She’d sold almost all of her paintings. Touching the delicate petals, Cassidy beamed with pride, never dreaming her career would be so successful and lucrative.
A few of the flowers shifted as the SUV hydroplaned again, bringing Cassidy back into focus. Her mother still waged war on her father.
Karen turned her head from the road to look at Charles. "Just admit it, Charles. I saw you flirting! Why do you always flirt in front of me? And this time, at Cassie's art exhibit!"
Charles snorted. "I'm sixty years old, Karen─too old to flirt with a woman half my age. It would be disrespectful to behave in such a way in front of my daughter."
Sitting in the middle of the back seat, Cassidy could see the side of her mother’s face, which was illuminated by the incandescent light of the dashboard. She thought she saw her mother’s nostrils flare as she slammed her fist against the steering wheel. "I'm your wife, Charles. Respect me!"
Cassidy sighed. Her parents had been having the same argument for most of her life. Grade school through grad school, delusional or not, her mother always accused her father of infidelity.
Cassidy folded her arms. “Ten more minutes and we'll be home.” Relief washed over her for a brief moment.
The vehicle swerved on the winding two-lane road. Cassidy's heart leaped in her chest, and a shiver ran down her spine.
"Mom, please pull over." She held back the scream building inside. "I think you've had too much to drink."
There. She'd finally said what she'd been thinking. Her mother was intoxicated and shouldn't be driving. Inside the rearview mirror, a look of betrayal was etched on Karen’s face. Right then Cassidy had no desire to pacify her.
They swerved into the wrong lane once again, throwing Cassidy against the window. Glaring headlights rushed toward them, blinding her. "Karen!" Charles tried to wrestle the steering wheel from her grasp.
As the lights flooded the vehicle, Karen screamed. Quickly, she hit the brakes, but the SUV didn't stop. It skidded across the road, then slammed into the oncoming vehicle. Shattering glass and thunderous sounds of metal against metal were deafening. The SUV flipped over, and landed upside down. Sleet pelted Cassidy's warm face. Her eyes burned and watered. Gas fumes, smoke and burnt rubber fouled the air.
When Cassidy tried to move, the seat belt cut deep into her shoulder. The taste of blood and rose petals was inside her mouth.
"Mom, Dad?” Cassidy wasn't sure if the words actually left her lips. Neither parent responded.
"I think they're all dead," she heard a voice say before losing consciousness.
Sleet pounded heavily against the vehicle causing it to hydroplane. Cassidy bit her fingernails. Her body jerked forward, and her heart pounded as if seeking refuge outside her anxiety-ridden body. She watched her mother adjust the speed and straighten the steering wheel, only to have the vehicle hydroplane again. SUV and driver tangoed intermittently, each wanting to take the lead.
Dangers of the poorly lit, ice-glazed road didn’t seem to faze Karen and Charles, Cassidy's parents. Their argument escalated with every gust of wind. Neither the flickering windshield wipers, nor the icy pellets pounding the SUV, could mask the shouting inside the automobile. Periodically her mother would cry, adding fuel to an already explosive situation.
As a child, Cassidy disliked when her parents argued. Their altercations made her feel insecure and guilty. Now, at age twenty-five, their bickering was still abhorrent and exhausting. Her mother became so consumed with arguing that nothing else mattered, including the current dangerous conditions of the road.
Though worried her fear would only intensify the situation, Cassidy spoke out. "Mom, would you like for me to drive?” She tried desperately to dampen the anxiety in her voice.
Her mother glared at her through the rearview mirror. "No Cassie. I don’t need you to drive."
Under her mother’s curt words, Cassidy looked apologetically. "Mom, I only made that suggestion because my eyesight is better than yours at night."
Charles turned to face Karen. "I agree. You should let one of us drive."
"I said I'm fine!" Once again, Karen looked into the rear view mirror and frowned, as if warning Cassidy to let it go.
Cassidy gave her attention to the flowers next to her, hoping to take her mind off her parents. Red roses were always her favorite. Her father had given them to her for having another successful art exhibit. She’d sold almost all of her paintings. Touching the delicate petals, Cassidy beamed with pride, never dreaming her career would be so successful and lucrative.
A few of the flowers shifted as the SUV hydroplaned again, bringing Cassidy back into focus. Her mother still waged war on her father.
Karen turned her head from the road to look at Charles. "Just admit it, Charles. I saw you flirting! Why do you always flirt in front of me? And this time, at Cassie's art exhibit!"
Charles snorted. "I'm sixty years old, Karen─too old to flirt with a woman half my age. It would be disrespectful to behave in such a way in front of my daughter."
Sitting in the middle of the back seat, Cassidy could see the side of her mother’s face, which was illuminated by the incandescent light of the dashboard. She thought she saw her mother’s nostrils flare as she slammed her fist against the steering wheel. "I'm your wife, Charles. Respect me!"
Cassidy sighed. Her parents had been having the same argument for most of her life. Grade school through grad school, delusional or not, her mother always accused her father of infidelity.
Cassidy folded her arms. “Ten more minutes and we'll be home.” Relief washed over her for a brief moment.
The vehicle swerved on the winding two-lane road. Cassidy's heart leaped in her chest, and a shiver ran down her spine.
"Mom, please pull over." She held back the scream building inside. "I think you've had too much to drink."
There. She'd finally said what she'd been thinking. Her mother was intoxicated and shouldn't be driving. Inside the rearview mirror, a look of betrayal was etched on Karen’s face. Right then Cassidy had no desire to pacify her.
They swerved into the wrong lane once again, throwing Cassidy against the window. Glaring headlights rushed toward them, blinding her. "Karen!" Charles tried to wrestle the steering wheel from her grasp.
As the lights flooded the vehicle, Karen screamed. Quickly, she hit the brakes, but the SUV didn't stop. It skidded across the road, then slammed into the oncoming vehicle. Shattering glass and thunderous sounds of metal against metal were deafening. The SUV flipped over, and landed upside down. Sleet pelted Cassidy's warm face. Her eyes burned and watered. Gas fumes, smoke and burnt rubber fouled the air.
When Cassidy tried to move, the seat belt cut deep into her shoulder. The taste of blood and rose petals was inside her mouth.
"Mom, Dad?” Cassidy wasn't sure if the words actually left her lips. Neither parent responded.
"I think they're all dead," she heard a voice say before losing consciousness.
