Finding Peace

B. E. Baker

Dec 2020 · The Finding Home Series Book 9 · Purple Puppy Publishing

About this ebook

Keeping score is the quickest way to lose. 

Anica Maggard was born under a lucky star. Her big sister became her very best friend. Her debut novel was an instant bestseller. She lived in the apartment of her dreams at the age of twenty-five. 

But luck changes. . . and sometimes it runs out entirely.

Cancer steals her sister, and that loss robs Anica of her words. Years later, she still can't even find the desire to search for them. 

Ethan Trainor coasts through life, trading on his boyish grin, cerulean eyes, and ample trust fund to succeed. No one has ever bothered to peel back the façade and discover that Ethan's glorious life didn't begin with a silver spoon. 

It began with bars on his windows. 

A boiling rage simmers just below the surface, and when the demons from his past swing back around, that fury threatens to consume him. 

When fate drags Ethan to Atlanta to confront his past and Anica there to search for her future, can they both find the peace they need to let go? Or will they lose what really matters in the process?

Keywords: family saga, women's fiction, love and healing, clean contemporary romance, beach read, billionaire romance book, billionaire, MMF, Ultimate fighter, bad boy romance, rom com, romantic comedy, clean rom com, sweet contemporary romance, clean romantic comedy, billionaire romance, clean billionaire romance, hilarious romantic fiction, romantic women's fiction, clean love story, beach read, clean beach read, debbie macomber, pamela kelley, for fans of robyn carr, robyn carr, nora roberts, lilly mirren, jan moran, elin hilderbrand, nantucket, danielle steele, nicholas sparks, Carolyn Brown, Lisa Kleypas, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Anne Marie meyer, virgin river, fans of debbie macomber, lisa kleypas, debbie macomber, for fans of debbie macomber, pamela kelley, lilly mirren, nora roberts, danielle steele, jan moran, rachel hanna, elin hildebrand, nicholas sparks, holiday romance, christmas romance, free first in series, mary kay andrews, ken follett, amy harmon, karen kingsbury, elin hilderbrand, brenda novak, jennifer weiner, nancy thayer, dorothea benton frank.

Ratings and reviews

So, I've finally come to the last book in this series, and I'm a little sad that it's over. I've enjoyed these feel-good stories with sweet romances so much. Each of the stories in this series are heartwarming, and the main characters in each book are looking for something important that's missing in their lives. Thus the title of the series. Anica wasn't one of my favorite characters going into this, but after reading many books by Bridget Baker, I was confident she could win me over to Anica's side, and I was right. Anica and Ethan's story was pretty smooth most of the way, with only a couple of little bumps, and I liked how easily they fell into their relationship. There were some pretty heavy themes in this book—past abuse, and that abuse leading to the death of a loved one—but Bridget was able to write those elements into the story without it feeling too dark. I liked the way the book dealt with the topic of forgiveness. It made my think about how we can forgive but still keep our distance from someone who may not be healthy for us to be around. I also liked that the book showed that we can't control and make decisions for those that we love, and how tough that can be when we see they could be heading for something not good for them. This book also showed how low a person can be brought by their own actions and the consequences of those actions, and how sometimes a person can change because of that.

What do you do when you lose everything that gives your life meaning? Anica was a best-selling author and had a loving sister and handsome, successful boyfriend. When she lost all three of these, she found herself asking who she really was, and what her purpose was. Lizzie had told her before dying that Anica’s words could change the world. But not if no agent would accept them. Anica’s niece and nephew think she’s the most amazing person ever. But no adult seems to agree, and she can’t even land a waitressing job. That just solidifies her opinion that she’s a loser, doomed to a life of mediocrity at best. When she meets Ethan she quickly realizes that he’s not “the one.” They have only one thing in common: they’re both single. A setup first date lasts only five minutes. But somehow, as their paths continue to cross, they begin to build a friendship. Surrounded by “perfect” couples, they find solidarity in their shared sense of failure and brokenness. And just maybe…they can find healing together as well, if they can work through the pain of their pasts. This book may be the deepest, most heartfelt of the set. Anica’s despair, frustration, and joy are so relatable, so realistic. Watching both her and Ethan develop a sense of self-worth and an understanding of what they want from life, as well as letting go of what they used to think was important, is a beautiful, inspiring journey. Finding Peace is not only a fun, uplifting read but leaves the reader with hope that this journey to fulfillment may be possible for them, too.

This story is a lovely portrait of how a person can honor someone they loved (grieving) without letting anger and bitterness overcome their lives. Both of the main characters have a beautifully developed story, as they learn and grow together.

About the author

 Bridget won her first writing contest in first grade with a story about a day in the life of a little spot of air. (Who says you need a good hook?)  

She hasn't stopped writing (or talking) since then, although she was briefly derailed by her pursuit of a legal career. Ultimately, boring words, well, bored her. She quit her job to spend less time counting gobs of ill gotten gains, and more time writing stories. 

She loves her husband and all five of her kids (most days). She has a yappy dog and a bouncy dog, three goofy horses, a demanding cat, two lion's head rabbits, and more chickens than she cares to admit. (Chicken math is REAL!) Every day is a battle between playing with kids, riding her horse Leo, and writing. If her publication speed has slowed down, you can blame the kids and the horse.

She makes cookies all the time, and thinks they should have their own food group. In a possibly misguided attempt at balancing the scales between overconsumption and exertion, she kickboxes every day. So if you don't like her kids, her cookies, or her books, maybe don't tell her in person.

Please sign up for her newsletter on her website at: www.BridgetEBakerWrites.com!