The Diary by Sarah D Gordon is a Celebrate Mothers Bookish Event pick #paranormalromance #romance #mothersday #giveaway
- N. N. Light
- May 8
- 5 min read
Title: The Diary
Author: Sarah D Gordon
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Book Blurb:
When Sophie Harris is drawn back in time through the pages of an old diary, she lives the life of Emma McLeod in 1865 Western Australia. As Sophie moves back and forth between her own time and Emma’s, she finds that Emma is about to lose her family, her love, and her life to one man's greed. While in her own time, Sophie realizes there is a way to change Emma’s fate, unaware that changes she makes in the past will also alter her own future, as well as that of a man she has yet to meet.
Excerpt:
Sophie looked up, anticipation fluttering in her stomach. Nothing gave a better snapshot of the time than a diary. “You want the honors?” Becca stepped away from the table, Sophie taking her place. She reached out for the book that sat in the center of the oilskin coat, eager to hold it in her hands, her fingertips tingling as she brushed across the green marbled cover of the book. She had time only to assume static electricity to be the cause of the strange feeling before her world disappeared. **** 1865 Emma knew the infant was dead, yet still she rocked back and forth, a lullaby hummed quietly behind closed lips as the gray light of dawn gave way to a new day. She’d known the baby wouldn’t live long, but that knowledge didn’t make the sadness of his death any easier, and a tear rolled from her cheek, dropping onto the blanket she’d wrapped the infant in the night before. “Emma?” Emma looked up. Her eight-year-old brother stood in the doorway, his outline blurred by her tears. “I’m here, Daniel.” Daniel made no move toward her. “The baby is quiet now. Is he better? Has his sickness gone?” Emma looked down at the bundle in her arms and, for a long moment, she couldn’t speak. “Emma?” Emma took a breath and beckoned Daniel to her. He came slowly across the room, his dark eyes staring into hers. “Daniel, your brother was very sick, and his little body couldn’t fight anymore. He has gone to Heaven, Daniel. Do you understand?” Daniel’s eyes didn’t move from Emma’s, and he nodded. “To be with Mama?” Emma put a hand on the boy’s cheek, comforted by the warmth of his skin. “Yes, Daniel, to be with Mama.” Daniel looked down at the baby and reached out his own small hand. He traced a finger down his infant brother’s cheek. “He won’t feel sick in Heaven, will he, Em?” he whispered. Emma shook her head. “No,” she said, fresh tears welling in her eyes, “he won’t be sick anymore.” For a time neither of them moved, Daniel’s hand frozen on his brother’s cheek, Emma’s rocking halted, and for that moment Emma let herself believe the infant was just asleep. Then the moment passed. “There are things to be done now, Daniel,” she said briskly, knowing only action could keep grief at bay. “We have to make a place for the baby to rest.” Holding the still infant, she pushed herself from the rocking chair and gently laid him in his cradle in front of the fire. She turned to Daniel and took his hand. “I want you to find me a piece of wood for us to scratch his name onto, like the one you did for Mama. Can you do that for me?” Daniel looked up at her and nodded, his glistening eyes reflecting the firelight. “He never got a name, Emma. Mama didn’t…” Daniel’s words trailed off. Emma placed her hand on the little boy’s shoulder. “I know, Daniel,” she said softly. “But we will name him. I know Mama talked of calling him Adam. What do you think? We will name him Adam?” Daniel nodded. Emma swiped a tear from her cheek. She took Daniel’s hand and they went outside, the rain stopping….
Chapter 2 2022 “Sophie. Oh my God, Sophie! Are you okay?” It took a moment for Sophie to realize she was lying on the floor, a cushion from the sofa propped under her head. Becca was leaning over her. “Becca? What happened?” “You fainted, I think. I managed to catch you before you hit the ground, but are you okay?” Sophie did a mental check of all systems and they seemed to be functioning well enough. She knew where she was, what the date was, and even the prime minister’s name, which was something, as politics was the least of her interests. She wriggled her toes, her fingers, all seeming to obey the commands she sent them. “Yeah, yeah, I’m fine.” “Can you sit up? Should I get an ambulance?” Sophie sat up. All seemed okay. She shook her head. “No, no, I’m good. Can you help me up?” Becca took Sophie’s hands and pulled her to her feet, guiding her to the sofa. “I guess having only coffee for lunch wasn’t a good idea,” Sophie said. “No, and I think I have told you that before,” Becca replied. “I did offer to share my sushi with you.” Sophie stuck out her tongue in disgust.
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What makes your featured book a must-read?
This is a story of love, greed and the strength of two women to protect their family. Its uniqueness is that it is a time travel romance set in Western Australia in both the 1800’s and modern day.
Giveaway –
Enter to win a $10 Amazon gift card:
Open Internationally.
Runs May 6 – May 12, 2025.
Winner will be drawn on May 13, 2025.
Author Biography:
Sarah was born the UK and travelled to Australia with her family at the age of 2 where her family took up residence in Kwinana, Western Australia.
A fledgling suburb at the time, Sarah and her brother would spend days exploring the magnificent yet sometime harsh bushland that bordered the family’s home, their favourite place to visit being a limestone ridge called Chalk Hill.
Sarah developed an interest in the history of the area and a fascination with those that came to Western Australia as the first settlers. Sarah began to research those that made lives for themselves in the new colony.
Inspired by this and her love of writing, Sarah’s first book, The Diary was conceived.
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