Romance Novel Giveaways - Freebies and Giveaways of All Things Romance Romance Novel Giveaways: Poohsticks Bridge by The Birch Twins 💕 Book Tour & Gift Card Giveaway 💕 (Contemporary Romance)

Saturday, September 29, 2018

Poohsticks Bridge by The Birch Twins 💕 Book Tour & Gift Card Giveaway 💕 (Contemporary Romance)



Beginning as a childhood game, Poohsticks Bridge tells the sweet story of a friendship between two children that, through the years, blossoms into adult love with an unbreakable bond and faith in one another. John and Melissa are tested throughout their lives by hardships, pain, and separation, yet their love and determination to live life together to its fullest never falters. In today’s culture of having everything, this couple shows us how a few, simple things can lead to a satisfying and fulfilling life.

Poignant in the extreme, you’ll want to keep the tissues nearby. These two will make you laugh, cry, and fall in love … with life and with them.


After a horrific accident, John begins to recover slowly.

2003, November.

“For always.”
Lola had liked it, and it hadn’t been long before things had been finalised, and Melissa and John adopted Lola as their own little girl. It had all suddenly come back.
Lola had gotten off the bus as normal, at the bottom of the driveway on Decatur road. It was cold, and although Momma Melissa had made Lola promise to wear her mittens and scarf, they were stuffed in her bag. Odd though that Momma Melissa hadn’t met her on the drive like she normally did. The car was there. As she got near the house, there was a note pinned to the door.
“Lola,” it read. “Come to Poohsticks. Surprise. Momma.”
Lola dropped her little schoolbag and trotted off to the bottom of the garden. She hoped Momma was ok. The two of them had been ok without John, but it had been weird. She knew Momma Melissa had been upset sometimes. Lola could always tell. Momma Melissa usually gave her extra cuddles when she felt sad, or arranged lots of activities for them. Lola didn’t mind. She was sad that daddy John was going to die. He was nice, but it was typical of her luck. She’d finally found people who liked her, and one of them died pretty much straight away. Lola kicked through the leaves as she made her way to Poohsticks. At first, she’d been closer to Mommie Melissa. She smiled a beautiful smile, and hugged her tight. Daddy John hugged her too, and smiled. But at first Lola had been a bit scared of him. Like he was fierce of something. Which he wasn’t. And just as she got not scared of him, he did something to the car and didn’t come home again. What was Mommie Melissa doing down here.? She only came here with Daddy John, and they hadn’t been here in a few months. But Lola knew the way, and pretty soon she neared the clearing. She rounded the corner, and saw Mommie Melissa sitting in one corner…

And saw something.
Saw someone.
Someone else sat beside her.
A man.
At first, she thought it was a new boyfriend. Daddy John had died. But then she saw the black hair, and that sideways smile, and the look in his eyes as he saw the little girl. He stood shakily.
She didn’t hear his words.
“Hey Lola,” he said softly. “Haven’t you got a kiss for your daddy?”
She flung herself across the path and into his arms. He sank to his knees and embraced the girl, tears streaming down his face.
“I remembered you,” he said, studying her face after, at long last, their embrace had ended. “Your little face. You kept appearing to me. My little Lola. I love you so much, my little Lola.”
Then Lola was sat between them, and they both embraced her. She was crying now, but they were tears of happiness.
The day after, they kept Lola away from school, and played with her all day. The happy day began at seven thirty, when, deep in contented slumber, John and Melissa were awakened by a happy little girl begging to be allowed into their bed. They relented, and she nestled down between her adopted mummy and daddy happily. But she was too excited to sleep.
“Sing me the song, Daddy,” she said looking into John’s face.
John’s mind was a blank, and he thought hard to try to remember it.
“Lola honey,” began Melissa. “He doesn’t…”
“It’s ok,” said John touching his wife’s arm gently, “I’ll figure it out. There’s something there in the back of my head. Let’s just see if it’s the right one.”
Lola propped herself up John’s chest and watched anxiously as John thought. There was only one song in his head, right there at the back of his mind. He watched his daughter and began to sing.
“Oh give me a home…” he began.
Lola closed her eyes with pleasure. He’d remembered.
“Where the buffalo roams,” he continued softly. “And the deer and the antelope play.”
“You remembered,” said Melissa, squeezing his arm.
“Can I continue the song?” he asked, a gentle smile playing across his face. They nodded.
“Where seldom is heard,” he sang watching the little girl’s eyes as they studied him. “A discouraging word. Come on honey, join in”
“And the skies are not cloudy all day,” they all sang together.
They lay there singing Home on the Range till gone nine. At just after ten, sitting in the leaky kitchen with the collapsed roof eating breakfast, a knock came on the door. Lola jumped down from her stool at the breakfast bar, but John held her arm.
“No honey,” he said. “Finish up your breakfast. The man of the house is home now. Let me answer my own front door. It’s been a while.”
Melissa watched him as he grabbed his walker and edged his way to the door. The knock came again. Bell must be burnt out again, she thought. She added it to her mental list of jobs to do.
In the hall, her husband had reached the door, and opened it. There was a woman standing there, slight of frame, with pulled back dark hair. She was wearing a uniform, all black with a logo on it that John didn’t recognise



I write under the name “The Birch Twins.” Helen, my twin, didn’t live to see life, and so I write for her. I’m a full time poverty stricken doll artist who took to writing as I seemed to spend more time writing out little back stories for the characters I created. My first book The Life of LOL was written in five weeks, and was about gangsters, grifters and drifters. Lots of cartoon slapstick violence mixed with a serious message.
Poohsticks Bridge, the new novel, shows my twin’s voice at is strongest as it tells the story of a little boy who begins to grow up lonely and alone, until he meets a little girl. It’s a glimpse of a life that Helen and I could have had together. She writes through me, I can feel her presence and hear her voice. Her tone is often wistful, low on movement, mature and often quiet, while I am brash and loud and full of silly car chases and boyhood dreams of rockets to the moon. We have the perfect writing partnership.


 



Win a $50 Amazon gift card!



 

34 comments :

  1. This sounds so good! Something that I would love to read.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you so much. That song that daddy sings to Lola in the excerpt was what my father sung to me as a small boy. I can still hear his voice

    ReplyDelete
  3. It sounds like an amazing story. I am adding to my list.

    ReplyDelete
  4. This sounds like it would be really touching. Im looking forward to reading it.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Well theres some desperately sad moments, and one or two places that I can still laugh out loud. I hope everyone enjoys it! Thanks all for commenting

    ReplyDelete
  6. This sounds like a sweet book, and I was also touched by the way you honor your sister.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thank you. I had to. She was just a name for someone forgotten back in 1974. I couldnt stand that. I had to let everyone know who she was.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Nice cover and an emotional story. Thanks for sharing and the chance! No question for the author.

    ReplyDelete
  9. No questions - the cover looks interesting

    ReplyDelete
  10. My questions for the writers are: What were the works, or who were the writers, that inspired you to go into this profession?

    ReplyDelete
  11. Sounds interesting. I like the cover.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Sounds like an awesome read! Right up my alley

    ReplyDelete
  13. I love the covers, how do writers come up with what pictures they are going to use ?

    ReplyDelete
  14. Loved the excerpt. Looking forward to reading.

    ReplyDelete
  15. like the cover and looks like a good read.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I like the cover, very calming and soothing and inviting.

    ReplyDelete
  17. What do you think of the books or the covers?

    i realy like the cover,its like an old painting,whit an image,but very textured and grainy but in a good sense!
    THX

    ReplyDelete
  18. I do like the cover and this looks like a book that I would enjoy reading.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I love the story. My husband and I met young and have been together most of my life. He is constantly reminding me that we already have more than most people ever will in their lives. We don't need more things, we need more love!

    ReplyDelete
  20. I love the name of the book! So unique!

    ReplyDelete
  21. the name reminds me of stepping in dog shit.sound funny.but cute bridge .

    ReplyDelete

PLEASE NOTE: I do not moderate comments, but some go to Spam anyway. Rest assured, I check regularly and will publish non-Spam comments shortly!