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Where are the children?
In real life, this frightening question too often results in a tragic conclusion. But one of the most fulfilling aspects of writing romantic fiction is knowing that anything is possible: sad stories can have happy endings; love and hope can be regained.
In Embers of Time, two lonely, shattered people meet in Charleston at the end of World War II. Due to a tragic orphanage fire, Adrian has lost his son; Vickie, her sister. A deep, bittersweet bond develops between the couple.
But as the two begin to compare notes, both question whether their children are really lost. Who are the childlike ghosts both have glimpsed in the Charleston streets? And where does the legend of Brown Bessie figure in the mystery? Is Bessie a vengeful wraith who may have set the fire that claimed the children’s lives? Or is she a benevolent spirit who possibly performed a miracle?
These questions lead Adrian and Vickie on an amazing journey back in time, into the soul of historic Charleston. There, the two must race against time, hoping to find their lost children before a great earthquake will ravage the city.
Rarely have I written a book that so touched my own emotions. Adrian and Vickie pulled at my heartstrings as they transcended their grief and embraced the healing power of love. And intertwined throughout the book are two other unique love stories. The Charleston setting was so real that it became another character in my mind. Brown Bessie, the ghost of a slave falsely accused of arson, became so vivid in my imagination that when my editor read my proposal, she actually believed Bessie was a real legend! I hope Bessie will spring to life just as dramatically in your mind as she performs her miracles and brings shattered hearts together.
Copyright 
2001
by Eugenia Riley
