Deep in the darkness of a Depression-era night, a man addicted to alcohol commits an unspeakable crime to obtain it. His vile action impacts the lives of two entire families, and decades will pass before the horrible wrong begins to be made right again.
A man's eyes are the windows to his soul...if he has one.
Deep in the darkness of a Depression-era night, a man addicted to alcohol commits an unspeakable crime to obtain it. His vile action impacts the lives of two entire families, and it will be over two decades before the horrible wrong begins to be made right again. Two young women - strangers to each other - unknowingly enmeshed in a Pandora's Box of secrets that could prevent them from finding happiness with the men they love. Two adoring mothers who know more than they are willing to say. A newsman with a story he cannot tell. What is their connection, and who is the golden-eyed stranger who moves in the shadows of their broken lives?
Excerpt
The old cuckoo clock on the shelf in the front room struck midnight. Its persistent chirping irritated Jack Kelly’s already frayed nerves as he paced back and forth across the small room.
“Shut up! Shut up!” he growled beneath his breath, casting an anxious look at the crib in the next room. When no signs of disturbed sleep were forthcoming, he breathed a grateful sigh of relief. The last thing he needed right now was a squalling infant to further vex the burning demon within him. He had promised his wife he would not spend a cent on liquor. New babies meant new expenses, and those things must come first.
So far he had kept his promise; he’d had no choice. Every penny he earned with his hoe, day after blistering day in the cotton fields, was swallowed up in scratching out a meager existence.
There never seemed to be a penny extra, to say nothing of the few dollars a bottle of whiskey would cost. With the addition of this new offspring, who knew when he would be able to quench the gnawing demon of thirst that drove him insane?
He had to put food on the table and a roof over their heads. The arrival of more children would only make that job harder, and it was obvious Annie did not intend to stop at one pregnancy.
Another glance into the small bedroom revealed no unwelcome stirrings from the crib. A bright moonbeam, however, lay across the bed, and Kelly’s tormented gaze fell on the lovely face of the woman he had married. He had considered himself a lucky man when she said yes to his proposal, despite her goody-two-shoes, Bible-thumping parents. If he loved anything on this poor excuse of an earth, he loved Annie. She was a perfect wife.
Their home might be barely more than a shack, but it sparkled, and she was a real wonder in the kitchen. He could not remember her voice ever raised in anger, even when he had fallen through the front door, dog drunk, a week after she married him.
Kelly’s fevered mind wandered to his conversation with the poor fish in the cotton field. Had it only been eight or nine hours ago? It seemed an eon; every moment without the drink he craved was an eternity.
Poor fella don’t know how lucky he is. Only has to worry ‘bout that pretty little gal and hisself. I bet he could buy a bottle of whiskey if he wanted one!
With the thought, an idea was born, full-blown and itching for action. He actually stopped pacing for a moment, shocked to the core by the undiluted vileness of the seed taking root in his mind. He stood staring at the crib against the far wall and shook his head as if to toss out the evil thought.
“You’re crazy,” he whispered. His heart pounded painfully against his chest; little beads of sweat dotted his forehead and chin. “You’ve done gone stark, starin’ mad!”
And perhaps he had, for suddenly he found himself across the room, gazing down into the hand-me-down crib. He was horrified at the darkness within his imagination, yet knew full well he hadn’t the strength of mind or will to resist its powerful pull.
One more almost desperate glance at his wife’s face…if she would only wake up, he would have to forsake this notion, and perhaps he could rid himself of the unforgivable intent. Indeed, Annie did stir a little and drew a deep sigh, almost as though she heard his desperate mental cry. But hers was the sleep of utter exhaustion, and she slumbered on.
A few moments later, Kelly slipped silently out the back door of the little shack, clutching a tiny pink bundle in his arms and blinking back the tears of shame and self-loathing that sprang unbidden to his eyes.
Professional Reviews
The Romance Studio
Goldeneyes
Delia Latham
Inspirational romance
Available from Vintage Romance Publishing
2008
Oh, my goodness! I need to return to school to update my vocabulary in order to do justice to this book! Never have I read anything quite like it! This is the most unbelievable story I have ever read. Maybe someone could envision this plot; however, there is no way anyone could possibly match Ms. Delia Latham’s expertise in her details. I could not stop reading; it was that mind-boggling. I could not wait to turn the page. This book is bound for greatness…it should be seen on all the top-seller lists.
This incredible story started in 1936 in a place in California called Corman’s Corner. Clarence Camden tripped over a drunk as he tried to get into the office of his newspaper. That one action set off a chain reaction which would take decades to put back together. The drunk, Jack Kelly, told Clarence about selling his baby daughter for a few dollars so he could buy alcohol. His golden eyes literally burned into Clarence’s heart as he tried to understand the situation. He later identified the body of Jack at the site of a train accident by the ring on his finger.
Clarence wanted to tell Jack’s widow personally about his death; he never could tell her Jack had sold her baby. Her entire life, Annie grieved for her lost daughter. Then there was her daughter, Juliana, who truly trusted God for her life. She loved her parents, but grieved for her mother’s illness. She, of course, knew nothing about the past.
These characters are forceful and complex. Rarely have I ever seen a script written with so many characters which did not end up confusing readers and complicating the plot. However, this never happened here! Ms. Latham has a golden stroke with her computer! Truly her writing is touched by the Hand of God! This phenomenal story will capture the skeptic! Do not assume that you have this book figured out until you read the very last word!
Whatever you do---look for this book in 2008!
Overall rating:
Sensuality rating: Sweet
Reviewer: Brenda Talley
May 3, 2007
Coffee Time Romance
Jack Kelly is a father with a past that has haunted him his whole life. He must find someone to trust with his secret and help him to turn a wrong into a right. That someone, Clarence Camden, is a local newspaper reporter who has been pulled into a situation he would rather just go away; but something compels him to go on and eventually hides a secret of his own.
Juliana and Gillian are two young women that have grown up in families that love them. However, things are about to change for each of them as the past comes to life in a series of events that may alter their lives forever. Their mothers are also involved and have their own secrets that play an important part in the mystery that ties all these people to the man with the golden eyes.
As this horrible secret comes to life, each person must deal with the situation as it unfolds. Their faith is tested as is their relationships with each other. A series of inexplicable events only add to the mystery. Is God's hand guiding the path each must take or is it just a secret that will eventually destroy many lives?
This is a beautifully written story. Each character brings their own strong performance to the forefront with such a powerful force you can not help but entrance yourself in their world. Ms. Latham has written a story with such an amazing storyline, with so many twists and turns, that you are left wanting more. She takes having secrets to a whole new level. Golden Eyes is a story that booklovers should put at the top of their reading list.
Matilda
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance
Reviewer for Karen Find Out About New Books
Romance Reader at Heart
There's a part of me that really enjoys reading a good inspirational romance. I've actually read my fair share of them, and one of my all time favorite books happens to be an inspirational romance by Tamera Alexander called REKINDLED. I couldn't resist the opportunity to read Delia Latham's book, an inspirational romance called GOLDENEYES.
GOLDENEYES is a well-written, soul-stirring story about a terrible wrong that was done to one family and the repercussions that lasted for many years because of it. It's also a story of the good that can come by putting your faith and trust in God. Finally it's a story of redemption, forgiveness and love.
I was compelled to keep turning the pages of this book long into the night. It's really a beautiful story that at times is touched with such sorrow and angst. Juliana, Gillian, Annie and Mary Helen are the backbone of this story. Each of their lives take dramatic and unexpected twists and turns. It's really not until GOLDENEYES has almost ended that Ms. Latham lets the reader in on how intricately those ladies lives are connected.
Delia Latham's GOLDENEYES is a wonderful inspirational read. Not only that, it is also a tender romance. It's nice to read sweet romances, and it's also nice to have some spirituality woven into the storyline. GOLDENEYES touched me and hopefully it will touch you, too.
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