Book IV : MIKE

ISBN# 1-4259-9127-0

Mike Taylor is the epitome of stability.  His family is proud of his academic and athletic achievements at Georgia Tech, and despite the temptations of college life, he has maintained his moral standards.  Yet beneath the peaceful surface, Mike is consumed with guilt, fearing condemnation and rejection.  A former girlfriend’s abortion and the intense love he feels for his roommate’s wife constantly remind Mike of his failures.  Unable to forget and full of shame, he refuses to forgive himself.  When Danielle enters his life, he realizes he can no longer hide the past.  Will she be able to reach him or is Mike past the point of redemption?

Dreaming of a Gold Medal, Lori had spent her entire life preparing to compete in the Olympics.  Swimming was the only thing she knew and Lori poured endless hours into her training every day.  She was focused, determined and had the attitude of a winner.

There was something missing, though.  Lori was smart, beautiful and ever the optimist, but she was always alone.  There was no one to share her victories with and to encourage her to greater heights.  Then one fateful day she met a man who would change her life forever.  Through Jason, Lori discovers her inner strength and begins to overcome her fear and isolation.

Will it be enough to help her achieve her lifelong dream or will the struggles and sacrifices be too much for love to survive?

James Sheppard’s future appears brighter.  Emerging from a troubled childhood, he is blessed with talent and a good work ethic, excelling in his classes and at the campus newspaper.  For James, his goal of editor appears within his grasp.

However, years of abuse and loneliness have dampened his spirit.  By the time Maria enters his world, James is merely existing and has become desperate for hope.  When a crisis abruptly forces him into adulthood, James becomes saddled with more responsibility than expected.

Struggling to cope with the situation, the past returns to haunt him.  Will James find peace before the mistakes of his father destroy him completely?