Renovating Grief

By Angelica Kate

Their lives were destroyed by one roadside bomb, and these three women will never be the same. 

As they plan for what comes after their ejection from base housing, the future is bleak indeed but one unexpected visitor changes everything. 

A gift so huge it seems like their must be strings is granted them, together or no one gets it. 

As they make the choice to relocate a thousand plus miles to the middle of Wyoming, their lives go from bleak to out of their control. 

As they lean into their faith, ability to learn quickly, and adoration for each other Restoration Ranch is born from the ashes of their grief. 

Second chances happened for this group of amazing women, and they are detrmined to pay it forward to anyone seeking santuary at the ranch. 

Love, forgiveness, safety and a new way of life is theirs for the taking - they just have to dig deep and fight for a future they never had planned for themselves. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Angelica Kate
• Release date: Feb 18, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224605965

Angelica Kate

Angelica Kate writes contemporary romances with strong characters and inspiration to keep the readers coming back for more. She is a lifetime scribbler who has been journaling since an early age and finally parlayed that into more structured storytelling. Angelica loves strong female leads and the men that adore them, despite their scars and baggage. When not writing, she spends time on Florida's sunny shores near her home in Sarasota, FL, with her puppies Tesla and Harley Quinn, her daughters, and a host of kooky amazing friends. TWITTER: @AngelicaKate5 FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/authorangelicakate INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/aknaff12/ Email Angelica directly: [e-mail] HAPPY READING AND CHASING HAPPINESS WHEREVER YOU CHOOSE TO FIND IT!!

Book preview

Table of Contents

Renovating Grief

Renovating Grief

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Preview for Rebuilding Hearts | Book 1 – Restoration Ranch | Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Renovating Grief

Prequel – Restoration Ranch Series

––––––––

Angelica Kate

Copyright © [2024] by Angelica Kate

All rights reserved.

No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher or author except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.

Renovating Grief

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 1

Sophia

I turn to check that the odd man over behind the tree is still standing there. He has been at all three funerals, my sweet husband Ben being the last. As I attempt to focus on the pomp and circumstance of the love of my life being laid to rest, I can’t help but take note of the mysterious trench coat-attired man in a suit who has stood apart from us at each of the somber events. I have not seen his eyes behind the glasses he wears that transition to sunglasses in direct sunlight to shield his eyes, but there is something about him that makes me think of those spy movies Ben used to make me watch when he was home from deployment.

I’m so sorry. the man in uniform lays a flag perfectly tucked together in my lap.

This is it, the final goodbye that I never believed would come. My husband had been the only man I ever loved from the first day he transferred into my freshman class in high school. One probing look, and I was sold on the burly linebacker on the football team, a sweet destined for service to his country.

The military had taken him all over the world, and when he returned, he never could say what he did at that time. I knew he would die for his brothers in arms, though, and was grateful when I finally met the better halves of the men he was most loyal to. Amelia Knight was wed to Tom for two years now and is a teacher who works with a host of nonprofits. Also, Eleanor, who was married to Rich, is training to be an occupational therapist and is nearly nine months pregnant with their first child—a little girl.

Amelia, Eleanor, and I are as close as sisters after surviving deployments and extended time away from our husbands. It is wonderful to have such caring people in our lives who lived the same challenges as you every day, building lives while separated for long periods from the men you love. Now, we will also all share our grief, along with the trials of rebuilding a life bereft of our husbands. The roadside bomb that ended our happily ever after, unfortunately, put us three ladies into the category of widow, which is not a club anyone wishes to be part of, though we were determined to overcome these life-altering losses.

Sophia, it’s time, Amelia says, taking my hand as I hold the flag close.

I move toward the casket, putting the single flower I’m gripping on top of the lid, then kissing my fingertips as I place them gently on the wood cover. I feel the tears slip down my face as the pain slices across my heart. The gaping hole in my life looks insurmountable at this moment, but I know my husband will watch over me. My friends are on each side as we support each other through this trying time.

He’s still out there, I mutter under my breath as the group starts to break up, and I look to see the man under the tree.

Weird. He has been to all the funerals but doesn’t join in, Amelia whispers as she follows my line of sight.

"I’m going to talk to