Hearts in the Storm - Paperback

by Elmer Seward (Author)

Trista's world has shattered. A bitter divorce and the heartbreaking death of her daughter have left her trapped in a spiral of grief and regret. Driven by nightmares of her daughter crying out for her, she is compelled to return to the site of the boating accident on the anniversary of her daughter's death. But the storm of a lifetime, Hurricane Renee, is racing toward the fragile barrier islands, threatening to ruin her perfect plan.

As the hurricane intensifies, only one person is willing to take on the perilous task of navigating the storm-an unpredictable, hard-drinking outcast known as "Duck." Though Trista dreads relying on this drunkard, her daughter's haunting call must be answered. What begins as a reluctant partnership soon grows into an unexpected relationship. As they grow closer, Trista uncovers the painful truth that Duck is tortured by a tragic past-his role in the death of his best friend.

Together, they steer a wave-battered boat into the heart of the storm. As their sinking vessel is buffeted by the howling winds of the hurricane, they fight to survive. In the end, their struggle for peace and healing will require them to confront not only the storm that rages around them but also the tempests that rage within.

Author Biography

Elmer Seward was born and raised along the Chesapeake Bay in southeast Virginia. Growing up, the cemetery behind his house was his playground. The metaphorical theme of death and rebirth that figures prominently in his novels is probably influenced in some way by the time that his mother heard, through the screened window, a small voice crying for help. Rushing from the house and through the yard, she discovered her all-too-curious six-year-old son at the bottom of a freshly dug grave. In that moment, he discovered that trouble is much easier to get into than it is to get out of. Sometimes we need help getting out of the hole that we jump into willingly. He is blessed to have a large blended family. He is also the reluctant servant of three crazy dogs, a Maltese and a Japanese Chin, and a BruMaltChiYorkie. All of these strongly influence the characters and events in his novels; however, his beautiful wife, Mitzi, is the true inspiration for the tender hearted but determined women in his stories.