The Sign: Book One in the Cardinal Trilogy

Description

When April Turner and her fourteen-year-old daughter, Blake, stumble upon a homeless girl holding a sign asking for help on the streets of downtown Chicago, they simply walk past her without giving her another thought. But, when April hears the voice of her deceased husband, Nick, in her head commanding her to turn around and go back to her, April is stunned. Claire Forrester's life up to that point has been one disappointment after another. Ever since she was a little girl, she had never known what it was like to have a caring family. Her mom was a drug addict who lost custody of her years before and was now serving a lengthy prison sentence for causing a car accident while under the influence. Her dad left her when he found out he had a daughter on the way. In order to save herself from an unspeakable act, Claire was forced to run away from her foster home in Seattle, Washington. Now, four months later the streets of Chicago, Claire finds herself in dire need of food and shelter; but most of all, hope. What starts out to be a simple act of charity, turns into something more than April, Blake and Claire could have possibly imagined. The journey that began with a handwritten sign will take Claire places that will ultimately transform her life into one that is filled with unconditional love and will lead to a revelation that will forever change the way she thought of herself.

This is W.A. Smith's first novel, with additional novels penned for a series. He lives with his loving wife and two children along the banks of the St. Clair River. They have built a home on the spot where they met on the Fourth of July over thirty years ago. William, who is an identical twin, married his wife who coincidentally is a fraternal twin. Surprisingly enough, they have been blessed with one daughter and then six years later, one son. William has spent his entire life working in Pharmacy retail but over the past several years it has been a dream to publish his first novel. When he is not working, William loves spending time in the family boat house, reading, writing, and watching the freighters go by on the river. His deep love of family resonates through his writing, showcasing the bonds that we create with others who fatefully enter our lives when we least expect it.