Sunday, July 17, 2022

RRR presents... EMBER by Catherine Yardley - EXCERPT!

Hi there! 
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers. 


Today, we’re shining the book spotlight on a book that has more than a few skeleton’s in the family’s closet, and begs the question of whether one can truly forgive and forget. Get ready to dig into the past and see if they can brighten their future, as we take a closer peek between the pages of today’s blog tour guest via Rachel’s Random Resources and our title in the spotlight... 


Ember 
by 
Catherine Yardley 


About the book... 

A family torn apart by their father’s infidelity are forced to confront the past thirty years later. As Natalie’s younger sister, Amanda, prepares for marriage and impending motherhood, her plea for the family to reunite uncovers pent-up tension and animosity. Can they forget the past and become a family again? 

Natalie’s life begins to unravel as their father starts to creep back into their lives and family tensions resurface, affecting her relationship with her boyfriend, Rob. Will the couple find their way back to each other, and can a family that has been torn apart ever heal their wounds? 

Can you ever walk away from someone you love, or do some fires never die out? 




AMAZON  UK  |  US




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Ember is a dual timeline novel told from different perspectives. Natalie’s younger sister is getting married before her and their father is coming to the wedding. Their father broke the family apart thirty years ago on Christmas day after an affair. Ember is a novel about childhood trauma. We think we grow up and it is all in the past, but something can trigger us, and if we don’t sort things out with the ones who hurt us we will keep bleeding over the ones that didn’t cut us.

Ember is also a love story. It has joy and happiness, and sadness and grief. Much like life itself.

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1999

Natalie


I can see the light is on in Mum’s bedroom. It is with trepidation that I walk towards it. I never know what I will find. Even though I had seen a lot — tears, tantrums, depression — it takes me a moment to take this in. Mum is unpacking Father’s suitcase. She has taken him back. Again. I feel a wave of crushing disappointment. Why does my mum have to be such a doormat? I start to leave but it is too late. Mum turns her head to acknowledge me.

Hello, Natalie.’

Hello, Mummy.’

Mum looks at me.

Did you want something?’

How can you do it?’

Do what?’

How can you let him walk all over you again?’

Natalie, you are too young to understand.’

That is so condescending.’

I know it sounds that way, but you have so much left to learn. Things get greyer as you get older. I am not just talking about hair.’

Mum gives a faint smile at her little joke. She is hoping to see kindness in my eyes, but I don’t have any to give.

You could do so much better.’

You want the truth?’

Yes, I want the truth.’

Fine. The truth is that sometimes you have to love someone more than they love themselves.’

God, that is lame.’

I can tell Mum is hurt by my words, but she doesn’t show it. She has become the queen of the poker face.

I am sorry that you think that.’

I can’t see this through your eyes. I just can’t.’

I leave. Feeling like my world has blown open. I wish I could respect my mother. It hurts that there is no female in my life that I can look up to, but I guess I have no male role model either.

I go downstairs and he is sitting there. Snuggled up with Amanda and Paul like we are a normal family. I give the bastard an evil glare. I grab the remote and start flicking through the channels. Sitting on the edge of the sofa. Not part of this crap.

Oh look. Fine line between love and hate is on. Perfect.’ I look around as I say this. Daring father — anyone — to say anything. They turn to look at me, but they do not dare make a comment. They all look away.



Jacqueline


I unpack Tim’s clothes carefully. Putting them in the drawers and wardrobes. I only realise now that I never used up any of the space he left behind. I hate being a single mother and even though I know this situation is not ideal, I am hoping for the best. It will be good for the children to have their father back. To get to know him. I am even excited about the thought of having help with childcare and some help around the house. I stop as I feel the presence of someone behind me. It is Natalie. I did not want her to find out like this. I was going to go to her room. It was all so unexpected. I talk to her and nothing seems to help.

I look at my daughter. The harshness of her youth, and the inexperience of it. She doesn’t know much about love yet. She has never experienced it. It is incomprehensible to her that you can love someone who might hurt you. Who constantly makes mistakes. That anyone in life could possibly settle, or forgive. But life wears you down. The more mistakes you make in life, the easier it is to forgive other people. We are all so flawed.

I look on as she walks away. I feel like I have lost my daughter. Both of them. Amanda had chosen to live with her father for so long. The pain has been unbearable. It is hard to get through to Natalie. I know she loves me, but it devastates me that she doesn’t respect me. It even makes me question if my husband is worth the price, but it is done now. Hopefully there won’t be another time. The stakes are so much higher now. That is the worst of it. That I am lying to my children. There is something in me that might take me away from them forever. All they will have left is a father who has never been a father. I guess that is better than nothing. All I have left is hope. 




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About the author… 


Catherine Yardley has been writing since she was in single figures. She is happiest when she is reading or writing. She writes women’s fiction because she believes women have the right to have their stories told in all of their messy glory. She is represented by Susan Yearwood She lives in London with her husband and their children. Ember is her debut novel. 

Twitter @balavage 
Instagram @frostmag 
TikTok @balavage 





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Special thanks to Rachel at Rachel's Random Resources for the chance to bring this tour to you. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, this promotion, or those on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above. Be sure to check out the rest of the tour for more bookish fun!


Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!


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