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Scottish soldier Robert Stewart and Charlotte Roussard, a French young woman, meet shortly before the start of the Second World War. A gifted piano prodigy, Charlotte is attending the Paris Conservatory of Music. It was love at first sight for him. After a brief courtship, they cross her parents, marry and move to Canada.During Robert's employment on the Alcan Highway during the war, Charlotte bears him two sons and a daughter. At war's end, Robert hires on with a railroad and moves his family to San Luis Obispo, CA. Depressed by the weather, the responsibility of marriage and motherhood, Charlotte begins to lose touch with reality. Upon the death of her mother, Charlotte's father asks that his daughter return to France to care for him. Against Robert's protests, Charlotte returns to France while Robert remains at his job in California.Their decisions thrust their children into a life of insecurity, unacceptance and anger at their absent father. Phillip, the oldest child, becomes the man of the family as his mother slowly slips into a land of make believe. Is Phillip up to task?When his grandfather passes away, Charlotte is institutionalized leaving fourteen year old Phillip to deal with a disinherited uncle, a self-righteous church and an exploitive bureaucracy that separates the children by farming them out as menial workers. Upset at the separation, Phillip's anger toward his father grows deeper each day.Does the father ever learn of his wife's mental collapse, that his children have been separated and placed in the service of strangers? Does Phillip mange to reunite with his siblings? At what cost?

Author Sharon Poppen has put together a collection of her short stories Just For You, her readers. Some are funny, some are sad, some are sweet, some feature the dark side of human nature and some are just plain eerie. While most are pure fiction created from Poppen's imagination, some are fiction based on fact. Several of the stories have won writing awards for the author. For the most part, they are quick reads for the busy reader during a work break, commuting or while sitting in a waiting room or for the reader that enjoys a late night read before slipping off into the land of Nod. So sit back, relax and treat yourself to the variety of people, places and things in this book of many stories.

Recently discharged Viet Nam veteran Danny Lawrence had made it back to Sparta, Texas after serving two years in the Army. Drafted shortly after high school, he was now ready to take his place in the family ranching business, find a wife and start a family. It was June 1971 and it seemed everyone had come home for summer. Most of the local girls were already married, but several had gone away to colleges. At a 4th of July dance at the local armory, a former classmate and much sought after high school cheerleader spotted Danny and asked him to dance. She had just finished her junior year at an Ivy League university back east and had brought some friends home for a taste of Texas hospitality. She insisted Danny meet them.One look at Amy Harrington swept Danny off his feet. His heart took control. Her three-day visit extended into a week. Danny monopolized her time. The night before she left, he asked her to marry him. Surprisingly, she said yes. All Danny could see ahead was love, happiness and foreverness. Reality had something else in store for Danny and it came in the form of a cold, interfering mother-in-law, a wife who mentally and socially was still a child, and a misguided heart that believed that patience and understanding could make everything all right.

Photographer/artist Michael Parker is a gay man from the planet Maurac. Star Command Captain Tom McConnell is a heterosexual earthling who is married with a five-year-old daughter. The two men fall in love against all odds as they jointly cope with the varied conflicts they face including conflicted children, contrary family members, and career impediments.

Peace by Pieces - The Farrell Family Saga - Book 7 by Sharon Poppen. Over a hundred years have passed since the Farrell family in After the War, Before The Peace - Book 1 struggled to overcome the devastating aftermath of the U.S. Civil war. The family drew on its sense of right and wrong, along with the love and trust that each family member would rise to any and all challenges placed in their path. As the series of books moved through the generations, the Farrell's handled the creative era of new inventions brought on at the beginning of the twentieth century. They served and suffered during, and after, World War II. While remaining cowboys first, they flourished as entertainers during the sex, drugs and rock roll era of the mid-century. Now, Peace by Pieces, brings on the greatest challenge yet to the Farrell family as they attempt to extend their adventures out into the unknown and uncharted wilderness of the stars. While still a child, Lita Farrell's fascination with classis cars escalated to a curiosity and drive to rocket off solid ground to soar among the stars. This focus led her into the U.S. Air Force where she rose to the rank of Captain. Every office she held, was a step guiding her to the space program. Once she was accepted, she planned on clearing her slate of personal involvements, leaving her with total commitment to becoming an astronaut. But, nothing comes easy to a Farrell and her arrival in Houston was the beginning of a wild ride that included more than just achieving her goal. Men, one in Hawaii and one in Houston, presented Lita with challenges that threatened her life long dream of space travel. As usual with the Farrell family, what happens to one Farrell affects every Farrell, from parent to grandchild, from generation to generation. I hope this family continues to touch your heart and that you'll want to experience Lita's road to peace of mind as she is assisted in her quest by surprising visits from the past.

In 1880, newly weds Hannah and Caleb are building a cattle ranch on the plains of Texas. A cloud of dust in the distance advances toward their cabin bringing unwelcome changes into their lives. Caleb is killed, Hannah is raped and left for dead. Follow Hannah as she makes her way through bordellos, churches and shanty courts of the old west seeking justice - and finding a new love along the way.

Hailey's Family Tree is a collection of memories as remembered and shared by author Sharon Poppen. The book was created for her granddaughter Hailey Catherine Mann. It is intended to provide Hailey with a look at the women in her ancestral tree, beginning with her great, great, great grandmother and continuing through to her mother. The author was blessed to know all of these women and wanted to share her personal memories of these amazing women. It is the intent of the author for this book to provide Hailey with a sense of what these woman passed down to her in so many ways and possibly bring understanding to some of Hailey's own actions and feelings.

A Passage Through Secrets by Sharon Poppen. The year is 1923. Two brothers have just returned to their childhood home in Dawson City in Yukon Territory, Canada after four years of college in San Francisco, CA.Twenty-two year old River is ready to settle down and join his parents in working their lucrative gold mining operations. His older brother, twenty-three year old, Patrick has found a new passion in the thrill of piloting airplanes. The brothers have shared everything for as long as either of them can remember. The thought of pursuing different life choices does not sit well with them, especially River who worries about his brother's safety in the new contraptions.As the brothers work at coming to terms with their choices, an unsuspected revelation puts both their lives on hold when a man from their father's past arrives in the Yukon. His arrival demands the exposure of deep family secrets.These secrets take level-headed River on a journey of moment-to-moment discovery he never imagined or wanted. It forces fly-by-the-seat-of-the-pants Patrick to think ahead, to plan, to find a way to help his brother.Along the way, each brother meets life-changing people who offer help, wisdom and love as their treks force them to realize how much they have learned from each other over the years.

The Band - The Farrell Family Saga - Book 6 By Sharon Poppen The world has tended to the wounds suffered across the lands. Human nature has picked up the pieces and prosperity looms for those willing to accept the past, but look to the future and all the possibilities it offers. The latest generation of the Farrell Family has joined in looking toward the future. They continue to love ranching and daily intermingling with the land and the livestock, but another love has taken the attention of the sons of Josh and Lani Farrell. Their Hawaiian ancestors have instilled a love of music in all four sons. In this novel, the Farrell brothers are ranchers by day and musicians by night after forming a quartet to entertain tourists in the nightspots of Maui. Growing up as son of a father who gave so much during the Second World War, oldest son J.J. took on responsibilities as devoted son and reliable brother. He accepted those responsibilities readily. In addition to his brothers, a child of druggie parents comes under his protective wing. This child, Annie, becomes the love of his life. A talent agent discovers the brothers and lures them into the wild world of rock and roll music. They take the name The Islanders and the four young Farrell men are introduced to the exciting, yet dangerous, world of music. A world filled with fan admiration, exhausting touring, alcohol, drugs and women wanting their night with a music idol. A world not appreciated by their wives. As usual with the Farrell family, what happens to one Farrell affects every Farrell from grandparent to grandchild. I hope this family continues to touch your heart and that you'll want to read on to discover how this next Farrell generation copes with the changing times as they search for their generation of love, happiness and peace in their lives.

Deborah's Story Farrell Family Saga - Book 3 Sharon Poppen The Farrell clan has moved on from their days of avenging wartime atrocities. They are now responsible ranchers working their herds amid the wilderness beauty of verdant meadows and untamed mountain streams beneath Wyoming's Grand Teton Mountains. Deborah's Story revisits the relationship of the youngest Farrell brother, Danny, and his estranged wife, Deborah. The former lovers are presented with an opportunity, or risk, in dealing with a chance for reconciliation. But, as with all opportunities or risks, situations arise that bring challenges. In Deborah's Story these challenges include dealing with a resentful and jealous daughter, a stepson hell bent on becoming his own man and skepticism from members of the Farrell brothers. The author's hope is that this family continues to touch your hearts and that readers will enjoy reading how the brothers fare as husbands, fathers and ranchers in this rambunctious continuation of the Farrell Family adventures.