The Sea Stone Collection

Book excerpt: Growing up in the small seaside town of Cutter's Cove, Maine, Kathy Jennings has walked the beach, since she was 11, searching for her magical sea stones. Now, her collection is to be envied. Still alone at 60, she finally finds that one special sea stone that tells her she will soon fall in love for the first time. Is 60 too old to fall in love? Not according to her life long friend, Becky Porter, who owns the local flower shop. An avid marathon runner, Becky is always willing to pull on her running shoes for any good cause. So, at 59, she makes plans to run a 5-K race to benefit Juvenile Diabetes. When she is diagnosed with terminal cancer, during her training, she finds herself unable to run her race. Kathy, a classic couch potato, steps up and offers to run it for her. However, the transformation from couch potato to marathon runner has its challenges for Kathy. Will meeting Marcus Stone, a handsome British gentleman, be just the inspiration she needs? Kathy soon discovers that she'll need more than just Marcus's love to see her through the loss of her best friend. She'll need God. However, both women have long ago turned their back on that one Divine Hope that could now see them through their challenges. As Becky's illness progresses, both women are forced to re-examine the childhood trauma that caused them to turn their backs on God so many years ago. Kathy finds herself torn between the happiness of finally falling in love and the heartache of watching a life long friend die.