Irish Encounter - Dougherty, Hope Toler

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Résumé :
After almost three years of living under a fog of grief, Ellen Shepherd is ready for the next chapter in her life. Perhaps she'll find adventure during a visit to Galway. Her idea of excitement consists of exploring Ireland for yarn to feature in her shop back home, but the adventure awaiting her includes an edgy stranger who disrupts her tea time, challenges her belief system, and stirs up feelings she thought she'd buried with her husband. After years of ignoring God, nursing anger, and stifling his grief, Payne Anderson isn't ready for the feelings a chance encounter with an enchanting stranger evokes. Though avoiding women and small talk has been his pattern, something about Ellen makes him want to seek her-and God again. Can Ellen accept a new life different than the one she planned? Can Payne release his guilt and accept the peace he's longed for? Can they surrender their past pain and embrace healing together, or will fear and doubt ruin their second chance at happiness?

Biographie:
Hope Toler Dougherty holds a Master's degree in English and taught at East Carolina University as well as York Technical College. Before writing novels, she published non-fiction articles on topics ranging from gardening with children and environmental awareness to writing apprehension. Her published novels are Irish Encounter, Mars...With Venus Rising, and Rescued Hearts. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Romance Writers of America, Sisters in Crimes and writes for SeriousWriter.com. A native North Carolinian, she and her husband look forward to visits with their two daughters and twin sons. Hope shares her belief in the God who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, weighed the mountains on the scales, and who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine through her actions in real life as well as the words in her stories. She likes cheering for the Pittsburgh Steelers, ACC basketball, and Army West Point Football. Except for pumpkins, oranges, and autumn leaves, she avoids the color orange. Things that make her happy include her children, writing and receiving real mail, cooking, reading, books, book stores, book clubs, used book sales, libraries, traveling, and crocheting. Things that make her sad include washing dishes, de-cluttering, dusting, sweeping, mopping... A chronic volunteer, she donates her time to several church ministries, two public libraries, Princeton Veterans' Committee, Meals on Wheels, and the Johnston County Arts Council. She has a soft spot for marching bands, soccer players, and cross country runners.