If you'd rather place an order by talking to one of our cheerful order desk clerks, please call 1-888-232-4444 (USA and Canada only) or 250-383-6864. From Europe, ring our UK order desk clerk at local rate number 0845 230 9601 (UK only) or 44 (0)1865 722 113.

A Heartbeat Away

by Rebecca Cohn

130 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #02-0994; ISBN 1-55395-280-4; US$16.00, C$18.00, EUR13.00, £9.50

Come along with two little girls on an unexpected journey into the unknown.

Read more!

about the book      about the author      sample excerpt      catalogue info

About the Book A heart-warming and inspirational Christmas tale about the friendship between two young girls. This story's descriptiveness and detail gives a true sense of rural American life.

---

About the Author Rebecca Cohn is a native of Birmingham, Alabama and a first-time novelist.

---

Sample Excerpt

They loved each other so much that a couple of years ago, in a secret ritual in the old barn behind Jessica's house, they pricked each other's fingers with an old pocketknife. Dancing around a candle and chanting they slowly and carefully placed their fingers together and pressed them hard into one another. The ceremony was complete; they were blood sisters, sisters for life. If Jessica's mother had known about the girls' antics, she would've surely had one of her famous - but thank God infrequent - "Olivia Conway fits", without a doubt mumbling something about " lockjaw and just wait till your father gets home" and "borderline work of the devil". So, to prevent having to write about a thousand sentences each, the two girls pinky-swore to never, ever tell a soul about the late-night ritual.

Day would soon be turning to night and Jessica and Edie's lanterns began to softly reflect off the snow-covered path. At Hanover's Pass they left the wooded trail and jumped onto the train tracks. They were halfway home. Even though they were bundled from head to toe, the cold night air was piercing and their cheeks were beginning to sting from the icy air. In the distance, the train trestle became visible. It was the landmark that told them they were almost home. The day was, sadly, almost over. But Jessica's mother would be expecting them soon, and the little wooden farmhouse would be warm and cozy. They would warm themselves by the fire and the familiar smells of Christmas would fill the air. Pearl would have freshly-baked Christmas cookies and warm vanilla milk waiting in the kitchen. Pearl baked the cookies only once a year and the anticipation of them started growing every year after Thanksgiving. They could already taste warm butter and sugar melting in their mouths.

As they approached the trestle, they knew to cross single-file. So they released hands, and Jessica led the way. As Jessica crossed the open tracks, she could see the dark river raging below. Huge blocks of ice occasionally passed beneath the bridge, creating illusions of clouds in the water. The girls had crossed the bridge at least a hundred times, but they unconsciously always crossed in utter silence. It wasn't day, but it wasn't night either. Brilliant shades of deep orange and purple created a beautiful point of twilight and a million stars and a full moon already adorned the clear country sky. Their familiar path was still visible without their lanterns, but they steadily burned bright as a beacon toward home. In perfect rhythm, they crossed each board one by one, steadily making their way. The clunking of their boots on the old wood bridge and the steady roar of the river were the only sounds filling the silent forest.

---

Catalogue Information

---