A Life in Bloom

High school teacher Kristin Caine has a black belt in settling for less and a dying mother who doesn’t mince words when it comes to voicing how disappointed this makes her. But when Kristin’s status quo is rocked by an unexpected pregnancy and the consequent breakup with her less-than-enthusiastic boyfriend, things change. Suddenly, agreeing to help her overbearing mother complete a bucket list before the big C wins seems not the worst thing in the world—despite their many differences and Kristin’s fear of traveling.

But Kristin’s sense of self-preservation is strong, and if not for the compassion of Lily Landon, a friendly airport stranger with a tissue to spare, the first leg of the trip might have been over before it even began. Lily is like no one Kristin has ever met—a globe-trotting photographer full of joie de vivre who is on a first-name basis with the flight crew—and in her presence, the impossible suddenly seems… well… possible.

As a journey of physical and emotional adventures, belated mother-daughter bonding, and unexpected romantic feelings for Lily ensues, Kristin must challenge preconceived notions of motherhood, love, and what it means to live life fully, one bucket-list checkmark at a time. Only if she succeeds will she be able to create a new future free of self-imposed limits, for herself and her unborn child. 

Description

Page Count: Approx. 280

ISBN-13: 978-1-958231-17-3

Publication Date: July 4, 2023

About the Author

Anna E. Collins was born and raised in Sweden, where she spent her early years hounding the local librarians for new reads. One American husband, two children, and two international moves later, she realized she had her own stories to tell, and once that proverbial lid was opened, there was no closing it again. She put her master’s degree in educational psychology on the shelf and picked up the pen.

Anna currently resides in the Seattle area, where she writes about the lives and inner workings of women—their hopes, dreams, journeys, and relationships. Her goal is to make readers both laugh and cry. In 2019, she was a Golden Heart finalist.

When not writing, reading, or raising humans, she can be found exploring other creative pursuits like painting, woodworking, and baking as well as endlessly brushing her mini goldendoodle, Archie, who is a Very Good Boy.

Visit Anna’s Author Page