Detours: A Novel about the Resiliency of the Human Spirit

Everybody has a story. Everyone is on a journey.

A love story that will touch your heart.

Haley Duncan is a high school English teacher. At thirty-nine-years old, she has already experienced more than enough tragedies in her life after facing the death of her husband and her own infertility. In an attempt to jump-start her life and fill her empty spaces of time, she starts volunteering at the local Service Dog Association. After much persuasion, she reluctantly agrees to finish raising one of their puppies when its puppy raiser becomes ill. This has heartbreak written all over it, keeps running through her mind as she embarks on this journey. But knowing that this puppy could change someone's life for the better, Haley embraces the challenge ahead of her.

Mark Lancer is a forty-five-year-old divorced father and state policeman whose life certainly has not gone as planned. Within five months, his son left for college, his wife filed for divorce, and his accident happened. All three life-changing events left him bitter and angry. The worst one being the head trauma from the accident that left him with seizures. As he faced an unknown future, his son MJ urged him to apply for a service dog.

"I'll be advertising to the world that I'm disabled," he argued. But finding it hard to say no, he reluctantly agreed to fill out the application.

When Jed, a service dog, brings together Haley and Mark, both are surprised by their instant attraction for each other. But can these two tragedy-riddled people overcome their pasts and open their hearts to a new beginning? Can giving love a second chance mend two broken hearts and change the path of their lives?

What happens when tragedy strikes . . .and changes everything?

* * *

Carol Fricke is a retired teacher and coach from Derry Township School District in Hershey, Pennsylvania. She grew up in Fryburg, a small town. After high school, she attended Indiana University of Pennsylvania where she competed on their gymnastics team. Following graduation, she moved to Hershey where she spent the next thirty-five years teaching Health and Physical Education at Hershey High School and coaching gymnastics for thirty of those years.

Being an animal lover her entire life, Carol knew her retirement had to involve her passion for dogs. She started volunteering with the Susquehanna Service Dogs in Grantville, Pennsylvania after reading about the organization in a local paper. The trainers, volunteers, puppy raisers and dogs that she met there inspired her to write.

Carol shares her life with her husband, a daughter, a granddaughter, and two Newfoundland dogs. She spends her time playing music, tennis, and as vice-chair for the South Hanover Township Parks & Recreation Board.