Play it Again, Sam is a romance featuring an older character who struggles to put her life back together after divorce. The e-book is available for KINDLE NOOK APPLE and KOBO – Or buy directly from Uncial Press to get files that can be easily be converted from one format to another and are readable on every electronic device thus far known. Also in paperback. at Amazon and at the Texas Association of Authors website.
BL
URB
When her husband comes home from work one day to announce he’s moving out, Samantha Rutgers thinks it’s a joke. She hopes it’s a joke. It’s not. He packs his suitcase and moves out. For twenty-five years, Sam was a corporate wife, a stay-at-home mom. Now she’s divorced, adrift, and alienated from her daughter who blames her for the divorce.
Ill equipped to be a single woman in a whole new dating culture, she would have foundered without help from an old friend who challenges her to finish up the art degree she put on hold when she married. Her classes open the door to a job at an advertising agency, where Sam makes several new friends and one enemy. There she meets Frank Reynolds, who invites her to take that first step into new love.
Love can be better the second time around, and so can the sex.
REVIEWS
“PLAY IT AGAIN, SAM turns the standard “The End’ of a marriage into the “Once upon a time” of a genuine grown-up love story.” Laura Parker, author of The Gamble
“This was a very moving and touching book about how one woman rebuilds her life after the dissolution of her 25-year marriage. Her fears and successes are all very real. I especially enjoyed watching Sam flounder her way through a relationship with Frank after being married for 25 years. I loved seeing Sam grow into a independent woman, in charge of every aspect of her own life, from her career to her love life to her relationship with her two grown children. This is a book that every divorced woman can relate to and I can definitely recommend it for any age woman.” Timeless Tales review
“Maryann Miller’s PLAY IT AGAIN, SAM is wonderfully written, full of heartache and hard lessons learned. The characters are a woman who must learn to have faith in herself and learn to love again, and a man who finds himself attracted to a woman he wants to take care of and protect. The characters are portrayed with depth, and even though they have problems, they are both willing to work through them for a second chance at happiness. For an enjoyable book to cozy up with, read PLAY IT AGAIN, SAM.” Robin Peek,Romance Reviews Today
“This is a poignant story of human frailties, emotions, turmoil, confusion and the sometimes, inescapable fear of the unknown. Samantha is encouraged to turn-off the familiar road of ‘what use to be’ and forge a new path of ‘what could be.’ Miller develops her characters well in this enjoyable story, giving them qualities that we would all relate to. A sensitive portrayal of romance, not of the sweet first time love, but a realistic viewpoint of life and love, and the curve ball it can throw.” J.B. Scott
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Play It Again, Sam
Chapter One
Sam’s breath caught in her throat and her voice broke, “John, you can’t be serious.”
“I’m sorry.”
“But a divorce! How can you…?”
He shifted his gaze, fingering the pages of a magazine on the counter. Watching the pages flutter with a soft whoosh, she saw life as she knew it slipping away.
“John! Talk to me.”
“Please. Don’t make this any harder-”
“What?” She didn’t even try to keep the sarcasm out of her voice. “I should make it easy? You walk in here and end our marriage as casually as… as…” Emotion choked her and she took an angry swipe at the tears searing her cheeks.
“I didn’t want it to be this way.”
Sam took a deep breath. “Then why is it happening?”
A long, thin silence followed.
“Is there someone else?” she asked, barely having the courage to hear the answer.
“No.”
The denial came quickly. Too quickly?
“Don’t lie to me, John. Whatever you do, don’t lie.”
“I’m not. I swear.” He shifted his weight and looked away.
“Then talk to me,” she implored. “Tell me how we reached this point and I didn’t even have a clue.”
“It just happened.” He glanced at her, then away again. “I don’t know. One day I just knew I wasn’t happy anymore.”
Sam stared in disbelief. He was having a mid-life crisis? They used to laugh at people who let their lives fall apart like this.
“That isn’t a reason. It’s an excuse,” she said. “There has to be something else.”
“I told you there isn’t.” John raised his head in defiance and their eyes locked until Sam felt her composure about to crumble. The deep brown eyes that used to melt her heart now chilled her. Everything about him seemed to be changing. The square jaw she used to find strong and attractive was now hard and unyielding. And when had his hair thinned to mere wisps?
Feeling like she’d entered some strange time-warp, Sam shook her head in an effort to bring back the real John. It didn’t work. A stranger still stood in front of her.
“It’s not your fault.”
His words focused her wandering mind.
“It’s me,” he continued. “I should have told you sooner. It was cruel to keep living a lie.”
Slowly, she sank into a nearby chair as a new wave of pain washed over her. Did he mean their whole life had been a lie? A game?
This didn’t happen to couples like them. It happened to people who had nothing in common. People who cheated. Argued. Screamed at each other. Not to people who’d lived over twenty-five years together in relative harmony.
Sam felt the pain burning inside, rising and swelling like some alien invader. She wondered if it would tear her apart and scatter her in little pieces across the freshly scrubbed floor.
“I’ll just pack a few things,” he said.
She watched him walk out of the room, his back rigid with resolve. Should she go after him? Plead with him to stay?
The small shred of dignity she had left kept her rooted in the chair, and shock held her immobile as John passed back through with a suitcase. She thought she heard him say he would call in a few days, but she wasn’t sure.
Maybe if she tried hard enough, she could pretend that he was just leaving on a business trip.
Sam sat in the chair in front of the window until the late afternoon sun faded toward dusk. Idly, she glanced around the kitchen. Shafts of pale light illuminated the blue flowers she’d so carefully painted on the white squares of tile above the sink. They’d built this house together and hadn’t even argued about the pattern on the wallpaper or the color of the carpeting.
That said something about the strength of their relationship, didn’t it?
Then again, maybe she just hadn’t seen it coming. A man doesn’t decide to throw away a marriage overnight. Surely there had been signs of his discontent. Had she been too blind or too stupid to see them?
Not liking where that train of thought led, Sam stood and went to the phone. She had to talk to somebody. She punched the first few digits of Melissa’s number, then hesitated. What could she say? “Hi, this is Mom. Just called to tell you Dad wants a divorce.”
She hung up. How was she going to tell the kids? How would they react? If she stalled long enough, would John change his mind?
Fighting a rising sense of panic, she reached for the phone again.
“Margaret, it’s me, Sam.”
“Hey, what’s up? It’s been ages since you called.”
“Well, uh…” She stopped. How could she say it? She cleared her throat and tried again. “Uh…” But the words wouldn’t come. Instead, she burst into tears.
“Sam? What’s wrong? Is it one of the kids?”
Between sobs and hiccups, she managed the words, “John’s leaving me.”
“What? Tell me this is a joke.”
“I wish I could.”
“What on earth has gotten into the man?”
“I don’t know.” Sam took a ragged breath. “I simply don’t know.”
“What did he say?”
“That he’s confused. Unsure about things. He needs time to sort it all out.”
“If I can be so indelicate. That’s a bunch of bullshit”
“Things have been tough at work lately. Maybe he-”
“Don’t you dare let him off the hook.”
Sam reached for a tissue and blew her nose.
“I suppose there’s some cute young thing as part of the equation,” Margaret continued. “Of course, he said there isn’t. There always isn’t in the beginning. The bimbos just magically appear a few months later.”
“You’re wrong. There’s been no indi-”
“Then tell me. How’s your sex life been, huh? Good as ever?”
“Criminy, Margaret. We’re in our fifties. It’s bound to slow-”
“Nope. Not true. People just assume old folks don’t have as much fun as young folks.”
Sam couldn’t stop the smile. Margaret did have a way of cutting right to the chase.
“What’re you going to do?” Margaret asked.
“Haven’t had a lot of time to think about it.”
“Well, do that. And while you’re thinking. Consider coming up here. If it comes to starting over, this isn’t a bad place. You could stay with me.”
“You make it sound so simple.” Sam leaned against the wall. “It’s not like flipping a switch. Up, I’m married. Down, I’m single. How can I get on with life when I don’t even know what that’s going to be?”
She heard a deep sigh over the miles that separated her from her friend. “You’re right,” Margaret said. “I just wanted you to know you have a refuge.”
“I appreciate it.”
“Have you called the kids?”
“I don’t know what to tell them.” Her voice faltered.
“Is it definite he wants a divorce? That’s it? Final?”
“I don’t know. I was so shocked I’m not sure what he said. Didn’t even have the presence of mind to ask if he’d consider trying to work it out.”
“Then don’t say anything to the kids for a day or so. Talk to John. See if he’ll go to counseling. Or take a romantic trip.”
“Are you nuts? A man who just asked for a divorce isn’t going to consider a cruise.”
“Okay. No trip. But don’t rule out counseling.”
“I suppose I could ask. It’d be better than sitting still and letting it happen.”
Hanging up, Sam silently thanked God for Margaret’s friendship. They’d been through a lot of years and a lot of stuff since their days at Wayne State University in Detroit , and she could always count on Margaret for good, level-headed advice. Maybe her friend was right about this.
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Synopsis
When her husband comes home from work one day to announce that he’s moving out, Samantha Rutgers thinks it’s a joke. She hopes it’s a joke. But he packs a suitcase and walks out, leaving her in emotional devastation. She thought their marriage was just fine. Their life was just fine. What happened?
Now Sam must rebuild her life. What is she going to do about a job, and more importantly, what is she going to do with the rest of her life? Can she love again? And what is she going to do about sex?
NEW REVIEW at Romance Junkies “PLAY IT AGAIN, SAM is a heart-touching and emotional story that proves life doesn’t end after divorce – in fact in some cases, it can only get better!” By Romance Junkies Reviewer: Chrissy Dionne
It pays to check reviews on Amazon. I just found another nice review: “Play It Again, Sam” is a charming, insightful, well-written novel. Sam Rutgers, its main character, finds strength she never knew she had and a freedom she never knew she wanted while wending her way through the unexpected obstacle course that life has placed before her. I found myself rooting for her as I would for a friend or sister and relating to her as a woman with a world of choices–if only she can muster the courage. It was a smooth, fun read–thoroughly enjoyable. I highly recommend it.” Theresa M. Havens on Amazon
Review Snippets
“A life and love affirming look into real life events of divorce, children, memories, regrets and the courage to love again.” Laura Castoro, Icing on the Cake, A New Lu, Crossing the Line, The Gamble (as Laura Parker.)
“Maryann Miller’s Play It Again Sam, is wonderfully written, full of heartache and hard lessons learned.” Robin Peek for Romance Reviews Today
“A tribute to those forced to rediscover romance the second time around.” J.B. Scott
“An easy going and pleasant novel to read.” Delores for CoffeetimeRomanceReviews
“Written with skill and humor, Play It Again Sam is a rich story with well-drawn characters you’ll care about. Once you start this book, you won’t be able to put it down.” Lyn Morgan for Ivy Quill Reviews
Published by Uncial Press and available for KINDLE NOOK and KOBO – Or buy directly from Uncial Press to get files that can be easily be converted from one format to another and are readable on every device thus far known.
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