Blog Tour: An Extract from The Songs That Find Us by Andrea Darby
Today I am taking part of the blog tour for The Songs that Find Us by Andrea Darby by sharing an extract from the novel! This one was just released this past Tuesday, September 22nd! **And if you are lucky enough to live in the UK, she has a fabulous giveaway going on!
Book Description:
Lizzie thinks the difficult years are behind her.
She has a happy marriage, a career she loves, and a daughter beginning to find her place in the world. But when her husband Ed receives a devastating diagnosis, long-buried secrets surface – shattering everything Lizzie believes about their life together.
Now Ed is desperate to set things right before his memories slip away.
Meanwhile, their adopted daughter Beck is searching for answers of her own that could change the family forever.
After rediscovering her love of singing, Lizzie brings together a community where friendship, kindness and music forge unexpected connections — and perhaps a way back to one another.
Buy Your Copy Here:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
A note from Andrea:
This is from an early scene of the novel featuring one of the novel’s three narrators, Beck. The other two narrators are her mum Lizzie and dad Ed — so the reader gets three different perspectives as the story unfolds. Beck has recently moved away from the tensions at home to live in London with best friend Meg and decided to look for her birth mum – though she hasn’t told her adoptive parents. Here, she’s in a café with best friend Meg after a trip to a few local charity shops.
Beck
We’ve barely settled onto a comfy leather sofa with our usual espresso macchiatos in short glasses when Meg pulls the rust-coloured vase from her inside pocket, plonking it down on the wooden table.
‘What the— ? ’ I gaze around the room. ‘Stealing from a charity shop. That’s low, even for you.’
‘Call it borrowing. We’ll take it back when you’re bored with it.’
‘When you put it like that.’ I smile, but I’m uneasy. We’re not students anymore – I thought we’d moved on. Meg’s parents are loaded so she doesn’t need to steal.
A text pings in from Dad:
Will get the costings across shortly.
I read it to Meg. ‘Clearly not meant for me.’
‘Old-gen alert! My mum’s done that a few times. One was actually a sext . . . ewww, cringe.’ Meg shudders.
I laugh, but Dad’s message mess-up troubles me a bit, which must show on my face because Meg asks about him.
‘He’s having a few tests and scans. I think the doctor has pretty much put it down to stress. That’s what Dad said anyway. Of course, Mum’s hyping it up.’
‘I’m sure it’ll be fine. Stress can really wear you down.’ Meg sips her coffee. ‘Bad news about Leo’s twenty-first.’ She looks earnest. ‘Sophie’s going, apparently.’
The thought of facing her again drags in my belly, a swell of dread, and irritation. ‘Hopefully it’s the last time I’ll ever see her.’
‘Why, you gonna bump her off? Getting ideas from all those psycho thrillers you read?’
‘Don’t tempt me. Her family’s moving to France, and she might join them.’ I cross two heavily ringed fingers. ‘Au revoir, bitch.’
‘Just stay away from her jacket at the party.’ Meg splutters a laugh over her drink.
‘What a fuss she made.’ I bite at some loose skin by my fingernail. Maybe what I did was extreme, but Sophie deserved it, for all her games with Jai. ‘Anyway, it couldn’t have been me, I don’t smoke anymore.’
‘Even Sophie’s not that stupid.’
I sip my coffee. ‘Can’t believe Leo’s twenty-one. I don’t think his party will be in the same league as one we’re organising at work for a client’s fiftieth birthday. A champagne fountain and ice sculptures. He’s even hiring a bloody orchestra.’
‘Impressive.’
‘Sadly, as a low-grade admin assistant, I won’t make the guest list.’ I wince as I rest the coffee glass on my thigh, catching the bare skin. ‘God, I need more money. My wage is pathetic.’
‘What about asking your parents?’
‘Why do you think I’m heading home for a couple of days?’ I expect a lecture: ‘You chose to live in London. If you can’t afford it then . . .blah-blah.’ But I’ll probably get money, so will have to suck it up.
‘A chance to tell them about searching for your birth mother perhaps?’
I stay silent, watching a family pile into the café, two children hidden under green umbrellas with huge frog eyes. ‘I’m following this great blog by someone looking for her biological family.’ I tap on my mobile. ‘Here, have a read.’ I hand it over.
‘Hang on, this isn’t it . . .’ Meg looks puzzled ‘. . . FreeToAGoodHome . . . sounds like furniture recycling or something.’
‘That’s what she calls the blog.’ I’ll have to spell it out for Meg, as usual. ‘She’s referring to herself, as a baby, when she was put up for adoption.’
‘Aww, that’s so sad,’ Meg says, pouting a bit.
Yes, it is sad.
Really sad.
About the Author:
Andrea Darby writes commercial women’s fiction with book club appeal, exploring emotionally engaging stories about family, relationships, resilience – and hope. Her stories are for readers who enjoy thought-provoking, uplifting novels with plenty to discuss. Andrea is a prize-winning journalist with more than 20 years’ experience as a writer and sub-editor on newspapers and magazines. Her articles have been published in regional and national titles, including Prima, Best, Take a Break, Prima Baby, Woman and Dogs Today. She plays several brass instruments, sings in a choir and teaches piano from her home in Gloucestershire – where she’s lucky to have very understanding neighbours. Ideas for writing often come while listening to music or walking Betty the cockapoo through muddy fields.
Contact Andrea:
Website
Twitter @ADarbyAuthor
Instagram @andreadarbyauthor
**UK GIVEAWAY**
Win signed copy of The Songs That Find Us, luxury tea, luxury chocolate and William Morris pen
Enter to win here!
*Terms and Conditions –UK entries welcome. Please enter using the link above. The winner will be selected at random via Gleam from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.
See the entire blog tour here:
