Genre: Woman's Fiction
A prenatal yoga studio in Boston brings together four expecting women who forge friendships that will carry each one of them through their unplanned pregnancies—and beyond.
Shannon feels under-appreciated by her husband after he makes it clear that she should be the full-time caregiver for baby number four. Lisbeth is pregnant with twins and wants her parents in their lives, but will they ever accept that she is happily married to a woman? Renee's boyfriend, Bryce, decides he is not ready to be a dad and leaves Renee to figure it out on her own. Struggling with an alcohol addiction since college, Erika continues to drink after finding out she's pregnant. AA meetings help, but will she get her life straightened out before her baby is born? After meeting at Maternal Instincts Yoga studio in Boston, these women practice yoga, endure hardships, and overcome obstacles to become lifelong friends.
Excerpt:
By three thirty that afternoon, Lisbeth pulled into the parking lot of a little diner in Cambridge. She spotted Shannon’s van a few spots over and hoped she wasn’t too late. She walked in and spotted her friends in a nearby booth. Pointing to them, she smiled and nodded to the hostess before walking over.
“Sorry I’m late,” she apologized and squeezed into the booth beside Erika.
“Don’t worry. We haven’t ordered yet,” Erika said.
“You look flushed,” Renee said.
“I was rushing around after work. They had a surprise shower for me.”
“Lucky. All I got at work was a whiny two-year-old who threw French fries at me,” Erika said.
“See what you’re giving up,” Shannon teased.
“I’ll pass on the tantrums, thanks.”
“How are you doing?” Lisbeth asked Shannon.
“Things aren’t exactly great. But we’ve started going to a counselor. We’re working on our communication and we’ve managed to decide on a name for the baby. Aiden. What about you? Does Rachel’s brother have a name yet?”
“No. I feel so bad.”
“What if we all write down a random name and see what sounds best?” Renee suggested.
“This from the girl who has her daughter’s name but is keeping it under lock and key like it’s a national secret,” Erika said.
“I like that idea,” Shannon said. She pulled a bunch of napkins out of the dispenser and passed them around.
Lisbeth watched her friends scribble names down and pass them to her. She looked through them smiling and laughing as she read the suggested names. She was sure some of the other people sitting around them gave her dirty looks.
“What?” Shannon asked.
“Which one of you wrote down Evan-Michael-Jamal.”
Erika raised her hand.
“He’s got two last names as it is. Can’t make his life hell by giving him three first names.”
“He’d be unforgettable though.”
Lisbeth shook her head and flipped to the next one. “Patrick wouldn’t be too bad. I’ll keep that one.”
The last one. “Nicholas isn’t too bad either.”
“Sure, pick the traditional names,” Erika said with a wink.
Before Lisbeth could tease her back, their waiter arrived with four waters and two chocolate milkshakes.
“Oh that looks good. I’ll have one of those,” Lisbeth said.
“Sure. Are we ready to order?” the waiter asked.
“We still need a few minutes,” Lisbeth said.
He nodded and disappeared in the direction of the kitchen. Lisbeth turned to the menu in front of her and flipped through it.
“You guys have any preferences?”
“Something big and greasy,” Renee answered.
“Aren’t we the poster child for health,” Shannon said.
“I have a craving. Onion rings.”
“Oh that sounds good. Let’s order two.” Erika agreed.
“What would Carolyn say?” Lisbeth asked with a smirk.
“She’d say to steady our breathing.”
“I’m so glad I met you all. You’ve made the last six months amazing,” Lisbeth said as the waiter came back with her milkshake.
About the Author:
Sarah grew up in Connecticut. She spent a lot of her childhood studying dance and music (piano and voice). She sang in her school and church choirs before discovering her passion for writing. She is now a licensed attorney and works for a state agency in the field of employment law.
Unplanned is her debut novel and quite appropriately, was inspired by a course during her first year of law school. She now lives in Massachusetts with her significant other and when not working on other writing projects enjoys reading and watching TV. She runs a TV recap blog with a friend.
Wilbur was used to going to his college formals alone. He thought the Halloween Ball would be no different. He’s amazed when a beautiful girl in a Victorian costume displays an interest in him and even more amazed to find himself alone with her on one of the campus nature trails.
What Wilbur doesn’t realize is that another woman has her eye on him too. The White Lady returns every Halloween to take revenge on the men of the campus for her brutal murder. She has chosen Wilbur as her next victim.
