Excerpt of A Christmas Homecoming by MaryAnn Diorio

Sonia blinked back the stinging tears. Truth be told, some days worry clawed at her tearing her heart to shreds. But there were other days, just as wrenching, when rage gripped her to the point she never wanted to see her daughter again. Like a scorching iron, raw pain seared the edges of her memory, leaving only blame to vent the hurt.

After all she'd done for her child. To have Jody leave without warning, without saying good-bye, without so much as an "I'll be in touch, Mom." Nothing. Just cold, heartless rejection fueled by arrogance and ingratitude that bordered on the cruel. A vicious slap i the face to a mother who'd given her life for her children.