Mark My Words

Sarah Brooks had her life all figured out—until everything changed. A wife, a gracious hostess, a respected nurse, and a woman who followed the rules, Sarah’s world begins to unravel on the eve of her husband’s long-anticipated retirement. A service filled with whispers instead of comfort. Lingering gossip about her husband. Uncertainty about her place in the lives of her adult children. With so much shifting around her, Sarah realizes it’s time to rearrange the pieces of a life she once understood. Set against the polished façades of Southern respectability—book clubs, church pews, dinner reservations, and well-kept homes—Mark My Words follows Sarah’s journey through grief, betrayal, and long-buried truths. As she reexamines her marriage, her faith, and the role she plays in a world that expects women her age to quietly step aside, She begins to rediscover herself. Determined to reset, Sarah plans a much-needed beach vacation with her three closest friends. Laughter, sun, and salty air are just the refresh she needs. Meanwhile, an unexpected online romance begins to bloom, offering a taste of something new, something exciting. Could there be more to life—and love—after all? A heartwarming story about love, friendship, and second chances, Mark My Words is a celebration of rediscovery and the surprising freedom that comes when a woman dares to live for herself. Because it’s never too late to begin again, to feel desired, and to embrace a future that finally belongs to you.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sharon Kaye Murphy is a debut novelist, retired registered nurse, Southern Belle writing with the insight, humor, and unapologetic honesty that only living a full life can provide and from observing human nature. After decades as a registered nurse, she has retired from the health field—but not from observing human nature. She can start an IV, calm a crisis, and identify nonsense from across a crowded room. Her years at the bedside taught her that everyone has a story, and she has plenty of opinions about how those stories should be told, particularly stories about spirited senior women who refuse to fade quietly into a beige wing-back chair. Now in her seventies—and proud to say she has managed to hold on to her figure, hair, teeth, looks, hearing, and most of her mind (though her three children may offer competing testimony)—Sharon brings warmth, wisdom, and a sharp eye to her fiction, especially stories centered on senior women navigating life with grit and grace. She lives in Louisville—home of the Kentucky Derby, fine bourbon, and storied traditions—in an established neighborhood where the HOA keeps things tidy and the conversations keep things interesting. Sharon has opinions about the HOA. The HOA likely has opinions about Sharon. She shares her home with her senior dog, Pearl, who serves as both loyal companion and household manager. Sharon considers herself an expert on most things—or at the very least, well-qualified to offer an opinion. She has a keen sense of style (in both fashion and décor), enjoys intelligent conversation—especially when well-informed—and spends her days reading, writing, painting, crafting greeting cards, taking well-earned afternoon naps, and offering spirited commentary to incompetent drivers. Above all, Sharon is the very proud grandmother of three flawless grandchildren. Should you require detailed documentation of their brilliance, achievements, and general perfection, she stands ready to present it.