Jaded (30 page)

About the Author

Varina Denman is a native Texan who spent her high school years in a small Texas town. Now she lives near Fort Worth with her husband and her five mostly grown children.
Jaded
is her debut novel. Look for the sequel,
Justified
, to be released soon from David C Cook.

JADED

Published by David C Cook

4050 Lee Vance View

Colorado Springs, CO 80918 U.S.A.

David C Cook Distribution Canada

55 Woodslee Avenue, Paris, Ontario, Canada N3L 3E5

David C Cook U.K., Kingsway Communications

Eastbourne, East Sussex BN23 6NT, England

The graphic circle C logo is a registered trademark of David C Cook.

All rights reserved. No part of this ebook may be reproduced, scanned, resold, or distributed by or through any print or electronic medium without written permission from the publisher. This ebook is licensed solely for the personal and noncommercial use of the original authorized purchaser, subject to the terms of use under which it was purchased. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author's rights.

This story is a work of fiction. All characters and events are the product of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to any person, living or dead, is coincidental.

All Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com.

LCCN 2014948814

ISBN 978-1-4347-0837-3

eISBN 978-0-7814-1288-9

© 2015 Varina Denman

The Team: Ingrid Beck, Jamie Chavez, Nick Lee, Jennifer Lonas, Helen Macdonald, Karen Athen

Cover Design: Amy Konyndyk

Cover Photos: Getty Images (Thomas Barwick), Veer Images, iStockphoto

First Edition 2015

Photo by Madalyn Wallace

VARINA DENMAN
writes stories about the unique struggles women face. She has five children, teaches creative writing and literature, volunteers in her local homeschool cooperative, and boasts 16 years as a home educator. She resides with her family in North Texas. Her first novel,
Jaded
, won the 2013 ACFW Genesis Award.

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DCCeBooks.com
for more great reads.

What people are saying about …

Jaded

“Small-town flavor, real-life issues, romantic, funny, and poignant—hope with a hint of a drawl. Denman's fresh voice is a delight, and her debut is a winner.”

Candace Calvert,
bestselling author of
By Your Side

“In her debut novel, Varina Denman tackles tough subjects in a contemporary setting as she weaves a story of memorable characters with the secrets that haunt them. With touches of humor and an air of mystery,
Jaded
may trigger a few of your own questions about spiritual truths and the accountability of church leaders. A nicely paced small-town tale. I look forward to more stories from this gifted storyteller.

Carla Stewart,
award-winning author of
Stardust
and
The Hatmaker's Heart

“A compelling story with truth tightly woven at the core, Ruth Ann and Dodd's journey will stay in your mind long after the last word is read, and it will challenge you to look at others and the world through different eyes. A powerful debut novel.”

Anne Mateer,
author of
Playing by Heart

“Varina Denman's
Jaded
showcases the talent of an author who is unafraid to inflict truth upon her characters as they journey from prejudice and naïveté toward acceptance and the rawness of knowledge gained through pain. Relevant and real, this emotive debut subtly strikes at the heart of what keeps so many people at arm's length from God and provides a satisfying romance that keeps the pages turning toward its hoped-for happy ever after.”

Serena Chase,
author of
The Ryn
and contributor of the
Happy Ever After
blog at
USA Today

“
Jaded
is a poignant story of old scars and new hope. Through the journey of one wounded family, the transformational powers of forgiveness and genuine faith become clear. Varina Denman's fictional small town could be any town, and many readers will recognize the all-too-human challenges facing today's churches.”

Lisa Wingate,
international bestselling author of
The Prayer Box
and
The Story Keeper

“Varina captures your heart in this journey of love, pain, and intrigue. Captivated by the town's mysterious past, caught up in the suspense, and lost in forbidden romance, you'll never be prepared for what happens next. Read this book. You will not regret it.”

Don Brobst,
MD, author

“
Jaded
is not only a soul-stirring tale of
transformational love, but it's also a bridge—one that stretches the delicate divide between hurt and hope. The empathy and grace of Denman's skilled pen will carry far beyond these characters and into the hearts of her readers.”

Nicole Deese,
author of the Letting Go series and
A Cliché Christmas

“
Jaded
is an emotionally-charged masterpiece that sinks into your soul and challenges you to see beyond the pitfalls of religion. The small-town setting, remarkably real characters, and meaningful theme of forgiveness makes this book a 2015 must-read.”

T. L. Gray,
Kindle bestselling author of the Winsor and Set Apart series

“Trapp, Texas, is a town where football and gossip are king and queen, secrets are kept and told, and nothing changes—until it does. Denman has given us a story as rich as a chocolate sheath cake with characters as familiar as an old pickup truck and with grace as broad as the flat fields of cotton. Recommended!”

Bill Higgs,
author