JEAN JOACHIM (Cont.)
THE FINAL SLAPSHOT
BLURB EXCERPT
Harry ―Deke‖ Edmonds is a Hartford Husky
defenseman known to be tricky, fast, and unbreakable.
An amazing defensive lunge in a playoff game ends in a
life-threatening injury. But Harry’d bounce back. He al-
ways did, didn’t he?
Kitty, his wife, runs a successful art gallery in Wash-
ington, D.C. Over the last three years, the couple agreed
to live in different cities and be together whenever they
can. Harry swears they make it work.
Unwilling to face the truth about the damage he suf-
fered, Harry hides his secret. Hoping for a Christmas
miracle, but confronted with the inevitable, he makes a
decision that breaks his heart. Is this the end of the road
for him with the Huskies and Kitty, too?
Previously published in the Hockey Holiday Anthol-
ogy. The way his sweat glands worked overtime, you’d
think he faced the last game in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Deke had faked his way through morning skate, again.
Not that he’d fooled the trainers or his coach. He noticed
their narrowed eyes following him as he sprinted across
the ice. After half an hour, he huffed and puffed, bent
over in a corner to catch his breath.
He couldn’t continue to stall or say he needed a few
more weeks. The Huskies were losing. They needed Deke
in top form now.
―You’re starting in D.C.,‖ Coach had said a week ago.
It was do or die time. Deke stocked up on inhalers
and prayers. Harry ―Deke‖ Edwards was all about pro
hockey. He figured with Kitty’s success with her gallery,
she’d probably dump him if he got put out to pasture.
He’d have nothing. The thought kicked up his heart rate.
***** Amazon Review by The Mysterious Ama-
zon Customer: ―It is, however, a powerful and truly
poignant story with wonderful writing and superbly
crafted characters. It really gripped me and didn’t let go
until the last page.‖
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