At a glance
Things We Cannot Keep
Christian contemporary romance
Things We Cannot Keep
Clock repairer Tess Holcomb has built a quiet Alabama life under a name that keeps her troubled past at a safe distance. A mysterious package addressed to Teresa Baker—the identity she abandoned—pulls her into a puzzle involving a lost heirloom and stories that refuse to stay buried. Elliot Sullivan appears after eighteen years with motives Tess does not trust, yet he may be the only person who can help her trace the package to its rightful owner. This contemporary novel combines restoration work, family history, second chances, an intercontinental search, and a thoughtful exploration of whether healing means preserving the past or finally allowing it to be known.
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Jump to the pours ↓Portuguese Rose Lemonade + Sloe Gin Fizz
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No surprises at chapter twelve
Content notes
Troubled/hidden past and abandoned identity; mysterious package with cryptic contents; eighteen-year estrangement and distrust; family secrets and emotional wounds; Christian themes and restrained romance.
Alcohol-Free Pour
Portuguese Rose Lemonade
A bright, refreshing sip suits romantic anticipation and a little escapism.
What you'll need
- 1 1/2 oz fresh lemon juice ↗
- 1/2 oz rose syrup ↗
- 5 oz cold water
- 4 raspberries ↗
- Ice
How to mix it
- Muddle raspberries lightly with rose syrup. Add lemon juice, cold water, and ice; stir well.
- Garnish: Raspberries and lemon wheel.
- Glassware: Highball glass.
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Highball glass ↗Muddler ↗Cocktail Pour · 21+
Sloe Gin Fizz
For adults of legal drinking age. Please drink responsibly.
A crisp botanical pour suits romantic anticipation and a little escapism.
What you'll need
- 2 oz sloe gin
- 0.75 oz fresh lemon juice ↗
- 0.25 oz simple syrup, adjusted to taste ↗
- 2–3 oz club soda ↗
- Ice
Shop the spirits 21+Search Total Wine for Gin · 21+ ↗
How to mix it
- Shake sloe gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup with ice. Strain into a highball glass over fresh ice, top with club soda, and stir gently.
- Garnish: Lemon wheel.
- Glassware: Highball glass.
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Highball glass ↗Set up the bar cart
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