The Lake

Book excerpt: ***REVISED, 2nd EDITION***At 17, Layla Weston is already starting over. Having lost both her parents and grandparents, and with nowhere else to go, Layla is moving from Florida to a small town in North Carolina to live with the only family she has left: her estrangeduncle and aunt.The last five years of Layla's life were spent appeasing her lessthan-loving grandmother, followed by being her grandfather's caretaker. Growing old before her time, Layla lost her identity. Now she must learn how to allow herself to be the one who is cared for and loved.Life takes an unexpected turn when Layla meets Will Meyer. His breathtaking good looks are enough to catch her eye, but his sincerity and passion are everything she needs to find thestrength and confidence she lost - and lead her into love.When tragedy once again strikes Layla's life, her hope is all but completely crushed. Through it all, Layla learns what it means to truly love and be loved.