Almost There

Paris, the City of Lights. To seventeen-year-old Dani Deane, it's the Promised Land. There, her widowed mother's depression will vanish and she will no longer fear losing her only parent, her arty New York life, or her devoted boyfriend.But shortly before their Paris getaway, Dani's tyrannical grandfather falls ill, pulling them to rural Pennsylvania to deal with his hoarder horror of a house. Among the piles, Dani finds disturbing truths that could make Mum completely unravel. Desperate to protect her from pain and escape to Paris, Dani hatches a plan with the flirtatious neighbor boy that only threatens the relationships she most wants to save.Why would God block all paths to Paris? Could real hope for healing be as close as a box tucked in the rafters? Laurel Garver holds degrees in English and journalism and earns a living as a magazine editor. She is a mosaic artist who enjoys quirky independent films, word games, British television, and Celtic music. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband and daughter. An arty, urban Christian teen navigates the storms of loss, first love, and family crises. Along the way, she wrestles with God to find hope in dark times and discovers how those closest to us can often surprise us.