books

Seeing Things -- Jana Richards

Take A Chance On Me

Teacher Darcy Ferris loves travel almost as much as she loves her Toronto neighborhood. But no matter how far she roams, she always returns to the genteelly shabby Victorian mansion where she grew up, the last place her father lived. Darcy’s world is turned upside-down when the Victorian is slated for demolition.

Since the death of architect Nick Cummings’ mother, his father has retreated from his real estate development business, and from life. In a desperate attempt to interest him in something once more, Nick buys a beat-up Victorian mansion and draws up plans to replace it with a Victorian-inspired condo. He hopes his father’s old spark will return if he helps him build the new condo. But he doesn’t expect such opposition from his new tenant, Darcy Ferris. Nor does he expect to fall in love with her.

Nick and Darcy must come to terms with the past before they can forge a future together. And they’ll need to take the biggest chance of all – on love.

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Heat Level: Sweet

reviews

This story is packed with emotion. The characters are well-developed and interesting. Both Darcy and Nick have complications within their families. Darcy’s relationship with her mother is strained and the author pulls you into their history filled with drama and disappointment…The plot is solid, and a little pug named Stanley shines as the star.
Still Moments Magazine

What a lovely story. Teacher Darcy loves to travel, but her old Victorian mansion makes her happy as well. Unfortunately, it might get torn down. She meets the person in charge and a connection might happen, who knows. Great reading.
Jackie, Goodreads

excerpt

Nick watched the excavator’s bucket smash into the porch roof of the condemned house. In minutes the roof and the front porch were reduced to rubble. Within an hour, the entire building followed suit. The overgrown bushes and broken fence were leveled next.

He should have been pleased that his project was finally under way. His dad had started coming into the office everyday and he was happy about that. Getting his father involved in life again had been the whole reason he’d embarked on this journey in the first place.

So why did he feel like a big hole had been excavated through his chest?

Who was he kidding? He knew exactly why. Darcy hadn’t spoken to him in days. She’d been avoiding him, and when they did happen to run into each other in the house, she looked right through him as if he were invisible. Surprisingly, that hurt most of all. If she’d been angry, if she’d yelled and screamed at him and told him to go to hell, it would have shown she still felt something. Her indifference suggested he was less than nothing to her.

A sharp bark followed by a low snarl grabbed his attention. He looked down to see Stanley baring his teeth and looking as menacing as a dog his size could hope to achieve. Darcy held tightly to his leash, her attention riveted on the pile of rubble that had once been her grandmother’s home.

“So, it’s done.” Her voice was so soft he barely heard her. “So many years gone so quickly.”

“I’m sorry, Darcy. I know the house meant a lot to you.”

She looked at him then and he was relieved by the glint of anger in her eyes. Anger was a big improvement over invisibility.

“Maybe I couldn’t stop this demolition, but I won’t let you tear down the other two houses.”

He took a step closer. “I heard you refused to rent the condo our company offered you. I really wish you’d take it, even if it’s only to the end of the summer.”

“You’d love to get rid of me, wouldn’t you? I can assure you, it won’t be that easy. I told you before that I intend to fight you, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do.” 

She pulled on Stanley’s leash and after directing a few more snarls at him, the dog followed her back to the Victorian, satisfied that he’d made his point. 

Nick watched them till they disappeared into the house, his heart heavy. Maybe if he’d told her about his plans and why they were so important to him, things would have been different.

He’d never know. It was too late for regrets, but he certainly had them.