Goddess Fish Promotions Presents

Effie: A Love Story That Transcends Time
by Rhonda Lee

A randomly drawn winner will receive a $10 Amazon/BN GC – Enter Below

Effie is the heartwarming story of how a young couple, killed in a pickup truck accident in the spring of 1959, fulfill their dream of getting married in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee some forty years after their deaths, by helping a young widower and father find true love a second time in life, and a new mother for four-year old Effie.

Witness the incredible power of love, the undeniable force of destiny, and the enduring spirit of those who have passed before us. Get ready to be moved, inspired, and reminded of the beauty that can be found, even in the face of tragedy.

5 out of 5

Wow. The blurb had me intrigued, but the opening chapters of the book captured my heart. There’s just something…soft around the edges, like you’re looking back at a fond memory, even when it’s a heartbreaking one. But the imagery is somehow still quite vivid, and you feel like you’re standing right there watching it all unfold. Even though I knew what was going to happen in 1959, I still teared up reading it. At its heart, this is a truly heartwarming story. It’s easy to fall in love with the characters, and even though there are some moments that will have you reaching for tissues, by the end, your heart will feel fuller. Cannot recommend enough if you enjoy books about love.

OCEANSIDE, NEW JERSEY,

Spring, 1959

Jack scrambles to flip onto his belly to catch a white shoebox—tied neatly with the same pink ribbon—tossed out the window. “You could warn me, ya know!” Getting back on his feet, he wipes wet grass off his butt, tucks the box under his arm, then lifts the surprisingly still-fastened suitcase to stand on its end.

Quickly and carefully, Laura descends the ladder, delightful in black pedal pushers, a matching popover top, pink sweater, and flats. Today was not going to be like any other day, and she made sure she dressed for the occasion, purposely choosing an outfit that she felt complemented the celebratory mood she was in. Her Brownie camera—a high school graduation gift from her mom—hangs from a strap around her neck and, with the envelope in hand, she steps off the bottom rung, turns, and bounces excitedly into Jack’s arms, the shoebox falling to the ground. Taken by surprise when the camera flashes, they freeze.

“Whoops,” she giggles, bursting into nervous laughter.

“Shhh. We better get outta here,” Jack says anxiously, pulling away from Laura, hoping it’s not too late. Handing the shoebox back to her, he grabs the ladder to lay it alongside the house behind a hedge, knowing it will be safe and out of the way. Grabbing up the suitcase and taking her hand, he rushes with Laura to make their escape to the pickup.

Pulling the passenger door open, Jack helps Laura step up and slide onto the bench seat, then presses the door closed as gently as possible. He sets the suitcase in the bed of the truck next to his much smaller suitcase, then steals a look back at the house. Confident the coast is clear, he darts around the pickup and climbs in. Laura places the shoebox, camera, and envelope on top of the folded road map of Tennessee on the seat between them.

Amazon | Amazon CA | Barnes & Noble
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Indigo Chapters | Goodreads

Rhonda Lee resides in South-Western Ontario, Canada, and is a former talent agent for the film and television industry.

Ever since being introduced to the town of Gatlinburg—nestled deep in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee—by her parents when she was a young girl, Rhonda has continued to make the trek to the Smokies at least twice a year. 

It was in the spring of 1987 that she first brought her husband to Gatlinburg, and it was during that same weekend, while attending their first F-100 Supernationals pickup truck show, that he introduced her to the mid-50s Fords, affectionately referred to as Effies, and thus, this story was born.

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