Erika Doss is no stranger to hardship and loss. After one failed marriage and another betrayal, she swore off all romantic relationships. She couldn't understand why her struggles continued despite her Faith, good works and kindness. Still, Erika found it harder and harder to get up each morning. Erika focused her attention on the two people that mattered most in her world, her children. Erika adopted Evie seven years ago after she witnessed her mother's murder in broad daylight. Adopting Evie cost Erika the career she'd spent a lifetime building, but she'd take the risk all over again for love of that child. Luke is Erika's only biological son, and a beast on the pitcher's mound. He's LSU-bound on a full ride baseball scholarship....if, he can overcome his greatest challenge and tragedy.
Dr. Alexander Benjamin, or AJ, is one of Erika's old med school friends, and a world-renown orthopedic surgeon. He and his overzealous, womanizing 72 year-old colleague, Dr. Peta Altman-Panu, or "Dr. Pap" have spent the last ten years building and perfecting the largest orthopedic surgery and rehab training facility in the world, just outside the Embera Village in Panama. Initially intended to treat only native children with gross physical abnormalities, theirs became the preferred training and rehab facility for injured Olympians, hoping to make it to Tokyo in 2020. Their differences nurtured a beautiful community atmosphere, pure and whole, until faced with another great tragedy.
Erika has been an overcomer for a long while now, but AJ will put that to the test when their relationship is inflicted by the greatest pain they could imagine. AJ and Erika's relationship is put to the test and they will see if their second-chance at love, built under the Panama sky proves to be something Erika can trust or will she be left broken again?
Luke's future in baseball depends on AJ stepping outside of his comfort zone; he knows he must find a way to help Luke and the love of his life. Together, Erika and AJ find their true selves, despite tragedy and doubt, but will they come through for each other?
Anna Walton a Michigan native, prides herself as being the "second mom" to a number of her teenage children's friends and classmates. A former psychologist, Anna lives her life according to her "mom instincts" and believes that rules are often subject to situational circumstances. She believes that one of her greatest gifts is her ability to understand teenagers and their struggles that coincide with adolescence. A once self-proclaimed workaholic, Anna has slowed down to raise her own 3 teenagers, and one young adult, accompanied by six dogs, 4 fish, a hamster and a bunny. This is Anna's first published novel, second only to a less enjoyable experience writing her dissertation on adolescent attachment and life satisfaction. Anna has enjoyed writing from an early age and has felt that it was her only scholarly talent that came with any ease. Anna's writing is influenced by her family and common life struggles that people often experience on a daily basis. In addition to working on her second novel, Anna looks forward to spending time on the water tubing with her family, watching college lacrosse, high school softball and planting herself down for a day of competitive gymnastics with her children.
