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Praise for Jennifer Archer
On My Perfectly Imperfect Life
“A highly emotional story about sisters learning to see each other and the past through adult eyes…4.5 stars.”
—Romantic Times BOOKclub
“My Perfectly Imperfect Life is a deeply emotional family drama…. There is a lot of humor in this tale…add[ing] to a wonderful, affecting character study.”
—The Reader’s Guild
On The Me I Used To Be
“All the characters are vividly brought to life as they struggle to balance past and present.”
—Romantic Times BOOKclub
“A poignant novel that explores the issues and emotions associated with family, adoption, and love. Archer has a talent for developing interesting, ‘real’ characters.”
—“Curled Up with a Good Book” at www.curledup.com
On Sandwiched
“Archer captures the voices and vulnerabilities of her characters with precision.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Jennifer Archer’s a smart writer.”
—Michelle Buonfiglio, NBC11.com Entertainment
Jennifer Archer
As a frequent speaker at writing workshops, women’s events and creative writing classes, award-winning author Jennifer Archer enjoys inspiring others to set goals and pursue their dreams. She is the mother of two grown sons and currently resides in Texas with her high school sweetheart and their neurotic Brittany spaniel. Jennifer enjoys hearing from her readers through her Web site, www.jenniferarcher.net.
Off Her Rocker
Jennifer Archer
MILLS & BOON
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From the Author
Dear Reader,
A new generation of mothers has been in the news recently. Labeled “helicopter moms,” they hover over their children long after the kids are grown.
In the past four years, I’ve left both my “babies” more than eleven hundred miles away from home at college and, upon reading about these parents, I worried that I might fit the mold. As I researched the topic further, I learned that most true “helicopter moms,” if there are such beings, are much more obsessive than I am. Still, I recognized a hint of their overprotectiveness in myself.
The news stories were pushed to the back of my mind until a summer day when my husband and I decided to extend a stay at our mountain cabin longer than we’d planned. We drove into a tiny nearby town to do laundry, but almost every business on the main drag either had a closed sign on the door or boards nailed over the windows. I’d hate to get stuck in a town like this, I thought. And then, What if a helicopter mom as spoiled as her children became stranded here? That question gave birth to the Logan family. They all had a lot to learn, about themselves and about each other. They did so with frustration and confusion, tears and laughter. I fell in love with them, despite their faults. Or maybe because of them. I hope you will, too.
Happy reading!
Jennifer Archer
For loving mothers who hover too close
to their children too long.
And for the children who love them back, in spite of it.
CONTENTS
PROLOGUE
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 23
CHAPTER 24
CHAPTER 25
CHAPTER 26
CHAPTER 27
CHAPTER 28
PROLOGUE
“Push, Dana. Push!”
Holding my breath, I bear down with all the energy left in me. This kid is stubborn compared to Taylor Jane. After only an hour of labor, she popped into the world four years ago like a kernel of kettle corn. Tiny, pale and sweet, butter-yellow hair and an airy disposition.
Not this one, no. Eight hours, forty-three minutes and counting.
“That’s
