Heart's Conquest (Jacklyn's Story)

Paula Freda, writing as Marianne Dora Rose, presents "Heart's Conquest (Jacklyn's Story), a non-graphic and wholesome inspirational romance, that begins where the author's "The Persistent Heart" ends with the story of Jacklyn, Debbie's infamous rival. She marries Jeffrey, a young, handsome, goodnatured, God-fearing, bank executive. Married eight years, she has never doubted his love, his patience and his kindness. But in the past few months, something has changed, and Jacklyn is terrified that she is losing his love. Excerpt: ..."Jeffrey, why do you hate me?" She was sure he heard her the first time. He didn't answer, didn't look at her, kept his gaze fixed on the road ahead. But she saw his shoulders flinch despite his silence. Her next question would have been, Is there another woman? But she had no need to ask. The private investigator she had hired a few months ago assured her there was no other woman, or man. "Are you planning to leave me?" she asked instead.At last a reaction. A wearisome sigh followed by "I'm tired, Jacklyn. And I need to concentrate on the road. If the silence bothers you, turn on the radio."Best he wasn't looking at her, she thought. He'd see the sadness on her face blaze into outrage. She was tempted to turn on the radio to its highest volume on a station blasting wild music with incomprehensible lyrics. That would get his attention, for the instant, then his cold glare, before he lowered the volume or turned the radio off. She'd have accomplished nothing except risking their having an accident. Suddenly, she felt ugly and unwanted, and sank against the passenger door, tired and weary. She pulled the ermine cape closer about her and closed her eyes. "I think I'll take a nap. I guess I am tired, after all." She didn't see Jeffrey finally turn his head to look at her, or see the despair filling his eyes.