Interview with Ashley Martin about "Lost No More" (book)

Author Interview with Ashley Martin about her debut book “Lost No More: A Daily Path to God in the Midst of Your Deepest Valleys”

Alexis: Congratulations on writing and publishing your first book! Tell us about your journey to publication as a first-time author. Who was your publisher?

Ashley: I published with Called Creatives Publishing, a hybrid publisher, and it was truly a boutique experience. They walked me through every step of the process with clarity and detailed guidance. Nothing felt rushed or overwhelming. Their team brought real expertise to the editing, layout, and design, but what stood out most was how well they listened. My opinions and wishes weren't just heard; they were woven into every decision. The result is a book that is completely mine: my story, my personality, my calling.

Alexis: What was the most difficult part of your journey to publication?

Ashley: The most difficult part was revisiting those dark places: my first day of rehab, the mental and emotional pain I was carrying at the time. But my readers cannot truly understand the miracles God has performed in my life without knowing the depth of what He brought me through.

Alexis: What was the most rewarding part of writing your personal story in this book?

Ashley: Answering God's call to write my story. No words can fully describe what I felt the moment I held the finished product in my hands.

Alexis: What do you hope readers will take away from your real-life story?

Ashley: Hope. No matter how lost you feel, you are never beyond God's reach. It all begins with surrender.

Alexis: Who is your core audience for this book? Share how you hope to reach those readers with your message.

Ashley: My core audience is women who feel lost from God, or who once did, whether because of alcoholism, addiction, or simply the busyness of life pulling them off course. I also wrote this for the woman who wants more structure in her daily walk with God but is not sure where to start. My hope is that the three pillars of this book—surrender, prayer, and service—guide every reader into a closer walk with Jesus Christ.

Alexis: What was the most challenging part of your journey out of darkness of alcohol dependency and into the light of sobriety and freedom?

Ashley: Admitting I was an alcoholic and knowing how to ask for help. Both required a level of surrender I had never practiced before.

Alexis: How did your faith in God help you overcome your challenges?

Ashley: My mom gave me my faith. She instilled it in me daily and lived it without ceasing. Once I surrendered and allowed God to take over, the faith of my childhood returned.

Alexis: You talk about “the discipline of surrender” in your book. Tell us more. What does that mean, what did it look like for you and how can practicing this discipline help others who are struggling?

Ashley: Surrender sounds passive, but it is anything but. For me, the discipline of surrender meant choosing every single day to stop fighting God and start trusting Him. In my addiction, I was convinced I could manage life on my own. Surrender meant releasing that. For me it looked like getting on my knees in the morning before my feet hit the floor. It looked like calling my sponsor when I wanted to handle something myself. It looked like saying, "God, I cannot do this, but You can."

The discipline is in the daily practice. Surrender is not a one-time decision. It is a choice you make over and over again, especially on the hard days. For anyone who is struggling, whether with addiction, anxiety, grief, or simply feeling like life is out of control, surrender is not giving up. It is finally choosing to trust the One (God) who can actually handle it.

Alexis: When and how did you first have a defining moment and encounter God’s grace?

Ashley: The night of my last drink. I went to bed and asked God what was wrong with me. He woke me in the middle of the night and whispered one word: alcohol. In that moment, I knew His mercy and grace in a way I never had before. The next morning, I got busy and changed my life.

Alexis: What do you mean when you say that your book is not about religious obligation but an invitation to transformation?

Ashley: Spirituality is a personal, continual, transforming journey with God — not a weekly obligation fulfilled by sitting in a pew and half-listening to a sermon while mentally running through your Monday to-do list. Faith should never be reduced to "I believe because I always have" or "I believe because I am afraid of hell." That is religion. This book is about something deeper. God's grace and love should move you. They should draw you in, change you from the inside, and invite you to become a better person simply because of how much He loves you.

Alexis: How did your background in teaching, ministry and community leadership play into writing this book?

Ashley: Every road led me to this book. My master's in history taught me how to research, write, and cite sources with integrity. My years in the classroom taught me how to explain concepts clearly, which is exactly what this book requires. My call into ministry would not let me be still until every word was on the page. And my work in the community is what will carry this message to the people who need it most.

Alexis: If you could meet your readers one-on-one for coffee or at your upcoming book signings, what would you say to their heart about this book? Share your answer in a few sentences.

Ashley: I would tell them this book was written for them. Not for the person who has it all together, but for the one who is tired of pretending she does. I want every reader to walk away knowing that God has never stopped pursuing her, and that it is never too late to surrender, pray, and serve your way into the life He always intended.

Alexis: Thank you for the interview, Ashley! Do you have any closing comments?

Ashley: Thank you so much for helping me promote my book! I just want anyone reading this to know that I am not a theologian or a lifelong saint. I am a woman in recovery who said yes to God, and He did the rest. If my story can point even one person toward surrender, this book has done its job. I am grateful for every opportunity to share it.

~*~
Author Bio:

Ashley Martin is a writer, educator and speaker passionate about helping others discover healing and purpose through faith. 

With a background in teaching, ministry, and community leadership, she blends Biblical truth with honest storytelling that resonates with readers navigating life’s hardest seasons.

Her work focuses on spiritual growth, recovery, and practical ways to walk with God daily. Through her writing and speaking, Ashley encourages people to move beyond survival and into a life marked by clarity, courage, and calling.

She is known for her relatable voice, authentic transparency, and ability to connect deeply with audiences seeking hope and direction.

~*~
Book Blurb for Lost No More:

What if the valley you are in right now is exactly where God has been waiting for you?

For nearly two decades, Ashley Martin lived under the crushing weight of alcohol dependency, broken trust, and a faith she could no longer feel. Then, in the unexpected quiet of a rehab facility, God met her and nothing has been the same since.

In Lost No More: A Daily Path to God in the Midst of Your Deepest Valleys, Ashley opens her life with rare and courageous transparency. She shares her journey through addiction, marital infidelity, and spiritual emptiness not to dwell in the darkness, but to show you the way out. With the practical wisdom of a Bible teacher and the hard-won grace of a woman who has lived it, Ashley guides you into a steady, daily rhythm of spiritual intimacy that does not require a perfect life, only a willing heart.

Whether you are quietly struggling to sense God's presence, overwhelmed by life's relentless demands, or walking through your own deepest valley, this book will meet you right where you are.

Inside the pages, you will discover how to:

• Surrender control daily and finally experience freedom from anxiety and fear
• Deepen your prayer life with practical, Scripture-rooted tools you can use every single day
• Unlock lasting spiritual peace through the discipline of serving others
• Reconnect with God through reflective journaling prompts and guided prayers woven throughout
• Find hope and healing even in the middle of your hardest season

Lost No More is not about religious obligation or checking spiritual boxes. It is an invitation from one broken, redeemed woman to stop drifting and start living in the peace that only God can give.

~*~

Buy Ashley's book on Amazon

Thankful Thursdays: My thoughts on the power of prayer

It's Thursday and I'm thankful for the power of prayer!

Earlier today, I prayed for a woman in the parking lot of the grocery store. She asked me for money and shared her story of hardship. I told her that I didn't have money to give but I could pray for her. So then and there, I placed a hand on her shoulder, we both bowed our heads and I prayed. I asked God to send her people who could help her and to help her and her family through this tough time.

Hours later, I've already forgotten her name but I know that God knows her name and He heard my prayers for her and He'll answer those prayers according to His will because God loves ALL of His children so I am certain He will send help.

This Thursday, I'm doing something different with my routine "Thankful Thursdays" post. I'm going to share a video of a sermon by Dr. Tony Evans. The sermon is titled, "Prayer That Works." After you watch his message, I ask that you please pray for him and his wife Lois. She is battling a rare form of cancer. You can learn more about her situation by reading this article (click here).

I believe in the power of prayer and I believe that God always answers every prayer that we pray to Him. God's Word (The Holy Bible) advises us in Hebrews 4:16 (KJV), "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."

Read more Bible verses about the power of prayer by clicking here.

As promised, you can watch the sermon by Dr. Tony Evans by pressing the play button on the video below. 

Be encouraged, friends! God loves you!

Love,

Alexis A. Goring
Founder of "God is Love" blog

When Love Inspires: Gail's story

When Love Inspires: Gail's story

When asked what inspires me to write sweet romance stores, that was a complicated question. I have many reasons for writing what is termed as “sweet”, which in the total romance novel genre, means “no sex on the page." Taking that one step further, for me it doesn’t mean it’s okay behind closed doors. As a writer of Inspirational Romance, that means the hero and heroine do not indulge until after the wedding. Since the books usually end with the proposal, that means you won’t read that in my books.

My first goal is to show the world that love can be just that – love first, consummation later, when the love is established and solid. For me, that’s what romance is all about – building a relationship and companionship that will last a lifetime. That is a realistic and attainable goal. 

Another goal was that when my kids were small, word traveled that I wrote romance books. Not that I thought my sons (count ‘em, 3 boys) would read mommy’s romance novels, but they had friends who were girls, who could, not to mention other parents around the school. I wanted to write books that I would not be ashamed for my kids, and my kids’ friends, to read, or moreso, that even for the parents, who would usually read them first, there was nothing even PG-13. Just a wholesome and entertaining love story.

When I first started writing, I joined a local RWA writers’ group. One of the ladies who had published many novels with Harlequin told me that people she knew asked her if she actually did the things she wrote that her hero and heroines did. She was offended. At the time I thought, if you write material some people find offensive, and wasn’t offended to write it, she shouldn’t have been offended to be asked about it. I would never write something I would be ashamed for people to read, knowing it’s my real name on the cover.

In all my stories I want to portray the growth of a realistic and healthy relationship. Then, my goal is to make the story interesting, and bring a smile to those who read them. The smile is important. There is enough stress in real life, so I want to make my fiction an escape from stress.

I chose to feature an older novel, Vancouver, for this blog. This is a series of four short novels, each one a standalone, but best if read in order, together. My publisher put the four novels together to make Vancouver, which is best read in Kindle, because it’s a big book. 

I’ll never forget how excited I was when my editor emailed me the cover, which I was delighted to see was a skyline shot of the city of Vancouver. I’ve been to that same place many times, as that is where I live. The photo was taken from on the seawall walkway that circles Stanley Park, on the portion that faces downtown Vancouver. 

When the stories originally came out, three out of four of them were voted in the favorite top three Heartsong Presents novels of the year by the bookclub members when they first came out. Actually, three of them were released the same year, so it wasn’t likely that all three would be in the top three. But two were. With that kind of response from the book club, it seemed a natural choice to combine the series and re-release it to the general public.

~*~
Author Bio:

Gail Sattler lives in Vancouver BC Canada, where you don't have to shovel rain. 

When she's not madly writing (Gail Sattler has over 40 published novels and novellas, plus a few works of non-fiction) she plays bass for an Elton John tribute band as well as a community jazz band, plus she plays piano for a smaller private jazz band. 

When she's not writing or making music (or at her day job) Gail likes to sit back and read a book written by someone else, along with a good cup of hot coffee. 

~*~

Blurb for Gail's book, Vancouver (Romancing America):

What is the best thing about living in a beautiful, modern city--being surrounded by buildings, people, and activity? Or just getting away from it all? 

Meet four women who hold different views of life in Canada's jeweled city.... Roberta, desperate for some solitude in which to reevaluate her life, has left downtown and Gone Camping. But as a novice in the great outdoors, she finds herself depending on the local park ranger's assistance - again and again. If she can't be alone, how will she find true peace? 

Molly works in Vancouver's business district. On her new boss's first day she accidentally breaks his arm - and soon is caught up in rumors of a "tawdry affair." Can she save her job by keeping romance At Arm's Length? 

Gwen's summer job - helping to drive her uncle's semi trucks - takes her away from the city, across the Canadian border, and On the Road Again. Reluctant to be paired with a handsome codriver, can Gwen maintain a friendly distance until they get the job done and return home? 

Patricia, helping at her father's Vancouver church, hears My Name Is Mike whenever she takes a recovering alcoholic to his mandated meetings. Can she give him guidance toward a better life without entangling her heart? Laugh and cry with these resourceful Canadian women and watch how faith and love uphold them on the drifting currents of life.

~*~

Connect with Gail:
Website: www.gailsattler.com
Facebook personal page: https://www.facebook.com/gail.sattler.3
Facebook Author Page

~*~

Enter this book giveaway contest for your chance to WIN a copy of this book by filling out the entry form on the Rafflecopter widget below: 

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When Love Inspires: Brandy's story

When Love Inspires: Brandy's story

Back in Colorado, during my book launch party for The Last Summer, one of the ladies there said to me something to the effect of "You must have such a romantic life to write romance!"

I choked back a laugh, cleared my throat, and set the record straight. Maybe it’s a misconception that romance writers are living lives of roses and passionate getaways and love notes left for you on your pillow. I’ve been married for nearly 16 years—and while there are those things I just mentioned at times (well, maybe love texts and emojis rather than notes!)—my days are probably similar to everyone else’s in my stage of life.

My “book boyfriend” is always going to be Outlander’s Jamie Fraser. My husband Jeff likes to remind me that Jamie’s a fictional character, created by a woman, and that’s why women love him. Because he’s all the things women want. (I have rebuttal arguments but we won’t go into that!) I think we see a lot of this in romance, right? Billionaire boyfriends falling in love with the housekeeper (or the nanny! Always the nanny for some reason!). Extraordinary athletes coming home and falling in love with the girl next door. Princes falling for commoners. I read these stories too! Happily Ever After comes and you sigh with happiness, because you just know that the couple will always be crazy about each other, never have financial squabbles, and never go through anything that might take them to marriage counseling.

Then there’s real life.

I love Valentine’s Day, but not because of expensive dinners or outrageous flower arrangements. Because romance is in the little things. And love extends to family and friends, not just couples. I write romance because there’s something real and special about finding your person, even if he’s not a Scottish highlander who’s perfect (cough!). And that’s for everyone, whether they’ve found that person yet or not. 

In my new book After the Rain, the main character is a girl going through depression. The truth is that a relationship doesn’t solve that. Many of us have been there. I’ve been there. In the right relationship, your partner comes alongside you in the dark times, and you go on the journey together. And finding that person is, to me, worth writing about!

~*~

Author Bio: 

Brandy Bruce is a mom, a wife, a book editor, an author, and someone who really loves dessert. 

She’s the author of the award-winning novel The Last Summer, Looks Like Love, and The Romano Family Collection. 

Brandy, her husband, and their children make their home in Virginia.

~*~
Blurb for Brandy's book: 

After the Rain is a picture of what it looks like to desperately need change, to want to rediscover yourself, and to feel so stuck that maybe you can’t move with help. 

Debra Hart is moving on. Maybe. Hopefully. One day.

As a radio show host, Debra spends her mornings as Miss Lonely Heart on air, empathizing with all the broken hearts in the Denver metro area. She spends her evenings watching old musicals and trying not to think about the guy who broke up with her and subsequently fell in love with one of her best friends. Alone in a new city, Debra questions where she belongs and who she is now.

When she stumbles into the indie music scene, Debra meets singer Ben Price. Rock star appeal, with a day job as a worship pastor, Ben is everything Debra wants to avoid. But he’s determined to be her friend, and it so happens she could really use one. Because try as she might, nothing seems to erase the anger and betrayal she feels.

It’s time for a new dream. But how does she start over when she doesn’t even know what she wants anymore?

~*~
Connect with Brandy:
Amazon Author Page - https://amzn.to/2Mk5K5r
Blog - https://brandybruce.blogspot.com
Twitter - https://twitter.com/BrandyBruce
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/alittlebitofbrandy/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/authorBrandyBruce/
Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/brandybruce/

Website - https://www.authorbrandybruce.com

~*~
Enter this book giveaway contest for your chance to WIN a copy of this book by filling out the entry form on the Rafflecopter widget below: 

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Someone Like You: Book review and blog tour

Welcome to my spot on the blog tour for Victoria Bylin's May 2016 release, Someone Like You! Here's the cover for Bylin's book:

Isn't it a beautiful book cover? Made me want to read it as soon as I saw it! 

But Bylin's new book is more than just a pretty cover, it contains a solid, sweet and riveting read! Not only is the read worthwhile, but Litfuse Publicity Group is hosting a giveaway contest where YOU can WIN a FREE copy of Someone Like You! Visit the official link for the giveaway here. The contest ENDS on May 31. The winners will be announced on June 1 on the Litfuse blog. See the link for details. 

Meanwhile, enjoy my review of Bylin's book! 

~*~

Someone Like You

Written by Victoria Bylin

Book review by Alexis A. Goring, founder of "God is Love" blog

Rating: Excellent! 5 stars!

I loved this book, Someone Like You, written by Victoria Bylin!

The story centers on Julia Dare, a woman who’s learned life lessons the hard way, and her college sweetheart Zeke Monroe.

When Julia is sent to Caliente Springs on business, she stops Zeke’s heart (not literally). Seeing Julia again is like a walk down Memory Lane for him and he finds feelings that he’d locked away breaking through to the surface.

But time, along with trials, has changed both Julia and Zeke. Julia has a son with her ex-beau Hunter, who is a world-class player and someone who she does not want in her life. Zeke’s had a fall from grace and still struggles with the effects of his bad decisions. The reader realizes from the start that if Julia and Zeke are going to rekindle their romance and work as a couple, they have to overcome their inner and outer struggles.

The author takes the reader by the hand at the start of this story then lets them run wild with the characters and enjoy the journey through the end. She writes in a way that you feel like you’re watching a romantic drama on the big screen. The A-story (main focus) is about Zeke and Julia but there’s also a B-story (subplot) that focuses on Julia’s Mom, a widow who finds love again.

The main and subplots are written with great skill and care. The author makes her character’s life and backstory realistic and addresses issues that happen in this modern day world. It’s clean fiction but it’s very real too. The characters wrestle with issues like purity, innocence lost, regret, hope, heartbreak and second-time-around romance.

It truly is an enjoyable read worth every ounce of a five-star rating! Bravo, Bylin, for a book that’s memorable and beautiful!

*Litfuse Publicity Group provided Alexis A. Goring with a complimentary copy of Someone Like You in exchange for an honest review.

Interview with Christine Lindsay, author of Sofi's Bridge

I'd like to introduce you to Christine Lindsay, author of Sofi's Bridge. The book just released today! In it, she's written on the topic of how people deal with grief. She also touches on the subject of mental illness and how society has evolved in dealing with those who have "nervous" problems. She does all of his through her new novel, Sofi's Bridge.

I hope that you will enjoy my interivew of this talented author.

*Questions by Alexis are in bold, answers from Christine are not in bold.

~*~
Alexis: Why did you decide to make your heroine, Sofi, a debutant?

Christine: I wanted to counterbalance the life of a wealthy character against one who is financially poor. True joy and satisfaction in life doesn’t necessarily come from financial wealth. Sometimes money brings its own challenges.

Why does Sofi feel so fiercely that she must protect her sister?

Sofi grew up caring for her younger sister because their mother (a simple farmer’s daughter) never adapted well to being the wife of a wealthy man. Sofi’s mother lost a part of herself in the process so that she wasn’t the mother she should have been, causing Sofi to step in and be more to her sister than was good for all of them.

How did Sofi’s dad die? How is that detail significant to the story?

Sofi and Trina’s dad drowned when Trina was sailing with him in what used to be called the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Sofi’s Bridge is about how different people deal with grief, and the stages of grief. For example, some people struggle with survivor’s guilt, while others might self-medicate themselves like Sofi’s Mother does when she is prescribed laudanum for her nerves.

But Sofi’s Bridge is also about how Neil gives up his life in order to take care of his bereaved family back in Ireland.

Why would Sofi’s sister Trina need to be admitted to a sanatorium?

Trina is suffering from what we today call Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. Back in 1913, the whole science of mental health was making huge breakthroughs, as my character Neil notes about lectures he attended by psychiatrists Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung. At that time it was not unusual for people, women especially, to be admitted to an insane asylum for bad nerves. Sofi’s Bridge touches on that new awareness regarding mental illness at the beginning of the 20th century.

Where in your fictional story world are the Cascade Mountains located? Describe the look and feel of that mountain area. What makes it special?

The Cascade Mountains is a real place in the northern, central part of Washington State and going up into Canada. I live about an hour’s drive from the Cascades, and one of my favorite places in all the world is the alpine meadows in a park on the Canadian side of the Cascades.

One of my favorite scenes has my characters sitting in that alpine meadow where the peaks of blue-tinted glaciers seem close enough to touch. The flowers are native only to great heights and create a carpet of color from red Indian Paintbrush, blue lupine, white daisies, and so many more. Up there, all you hear is the silent rush of the wind. It’s like touching the sky.

Neil Macpherson, a gardener, wants to protect Sofi and Trina. Why? What’s his motivation?

Neil has a similar personality trait as Sofi. He too is a caregiver, a nurturer, which are traits found in many nurses and doctors. The downside to that trait is Neil can’t help himself from helping others even to his own detriment. No matter what is happening in his life, he will always do his best to uphold his Hippocratic oath.

What is it about Neil that attracts Sofi?

His caring heart, the tender way he tries to help her sister. But it is also his belief in Sofi’s intellect. In a time when a wealthy society frowns on women working for a living, Neil encourages Sofi to pursue the labor of her heart. He knows how fulfilling it is to do the work that we feel created to do, and how devastating it is to not be allowed to do that work.

What is it about Sofi that makes Neil’s heart melt?

Whenever Neil talks to Sofi he feels he is talking to an intellectual equal, and also that she has no biases about people. He wishes with all his heart that he could tell her the truth about himself, believing if anyone could understand it would be Sofi.

Why does Sofi have trouble trusting Neil?

He is masquerading as a gardener, hiding his true profession. Whenever she asks him, and sometimes pleads with him, he will not tell her why he left Ireland, nor why he is no longer practicing as a doctor.

You’ve got quite the plot twist with Neil’s secret! How does his secret affect the story?

One the plot lines in Sofi’s Bridge is how people deal with grief. The character flaw that both Neil and Sofi share is that they feel they are the only ones who can save the ones they love, and thereby give up their own lives in the process.

What’s the “act of faith” that bridges the “distance that separates the lies from truth and safety”? Tell us what you can without giving away the plot.

The bridge in this book is a metaphor for the bridge of Jesus Christ, only Christ can safely take people by faith to a life with God the Father. But the “act of faith” is different for each person in this story.

Sofi, already a believer, must learn to trust God and take up the labor He has inspired within her, no matter how physically dangerous that work may be. Neil’s act of faith will be recognizing that his own attempts to save the ones he loves has created a web of lies that have only made the situation worse.

How does your journey as a woman of faith play into this story?

There were so many reasons for Sofi to not pursue her dream, and being a Christian writer these days is a difficult journey. I gave up an excellent career as an administrative assistant at a local Christian university to pursue my writing full-time. This was an act of faith on my part. Yes, there has been financial loss, but I get such delight when a reader is encouraged in their faith because of something I wrote. Much of my journey trusting God for my creative life as an author comes through Sofi when she talks about building bridges.

What did you love the most about writing Sofi’s Bridge? Why?

As I mentioned in the previous question, trusting God for the creative labor He placed in my heart is what I love most in this book. So many of us—men and women—have a certain labor that makes our hearts sing. Sadly in life, we don’t all get to do the work that gives us the greatest fulfillment, but as in all things, we can look to our wonderful God and trust Him for the desires of our heart.

What was the most challenging part of writing this story?

With a complex mystery twist, it was a bit challenging in places to make all the characters’ actions and motivations plausible, but I believe I made it. 

What was your go-to food or beverage while writing Sofi’s Bridge?

I’m Irish born, so my go-to beverage is always a pot of Irish Breakfast tea, or good old Red Rose orange pekoe.

What do you want your readers to treasure about this book?

I want readers to be encouraged that often the dreams in our hearts have been placed there by God. Ask the Lord if that secret dream in your heart—such as mine was to be a writer—was put there by Him. Then trust your heavenly Father to help you toward that goal. Keep in mind, that often it is the journey toward the goal that is important to God and not necessarily success as seen by worldly standards.

~*~
Author bio:

Christine Lindsay is the author of multi-award-winning Christian fiction. Tales of her Irish ancestors who served in the British Cavalry in Colonial India inspired her multi-award-winning series Twilight of the British Raj, Book 1 Shadowed in Silk, Book 2 Captured by Moonlight, and explosive finale Veiled at Midnight. 

Christine’s Irish wit and her use of setting as a character is evident in her contemporary romance Londonderry Dreaming and her newest release Sofi’s Bridge.

Aside from being a busy writer and speaker, Christine and her husband live on the west coast of Canada. Coming August 2016 is the release of Christine’s non-fiction book Finding Sarah—Finding Me: A Birthmother’s Story.

Please drop by Christine’s website www.ChristineLindsay.org or follow her on Amazon on Twitter. Subscribe to her quarterly newsletter, and be her friend on Pinterest , Facebook, and Goodreads.

~*~
Buy Sofi's Bridge:
Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Pelican Book Group

True Love Stories: My Hero

"I Believe in You and Me" is a song to that comes to mind when I think of today's featured true love story. Whitney Houston sung that song so beautifully on the soundtrack to the movie The Preacher's Wife (1997). It was a classic movie in which Whitney plays the preacher's wife and Denzel Washington plays an angel of God sent for divine intervention. 

The song lyrics talk about how she believes in miracles and God sent her a miracle because the man in her life is a dream come true. Such is the case for Mrs. Angela Ruth Strong. God restored her from heartbreak to happiness. Here's the story...

~*~
My Hero

Angela Ruth Strong's True Love Story

My love story is one of remarriage. So there’s a sad story that comes before this one. But I think like in every romance novel, the darker the black moment, the more powerful the conclusion. My black moment included, and I quote from one of many counseling sessions, “I can’t keep a husband, I can’t get a job, my kids don’t want to be with me, and I’m in trouble with the law.” Thankfully, the ridiculous charges were dropped, my kids became my best friends and I got a job I loved working in the publishing industry. But I still didn’t have a husband.

Enter Jim Strong. Great smile. Sporty. Intelligent. Funny. Loyal. Hard-working. And oh yeah, he could sing. The man of my dreams.

I knew I was in love with him the moment he came home from a softball tournament in Reno with three stuffed bears he’d won for my kids by playing a pitching game at Circus-Circus. Not only did he bring them home, he wore them home in his backpack with their heads poking up behind him like they were in a baby carrier. Plus, he’d been sending me pictures of the bears the whole weekend so I could show the kids. Pics of them buckled into the back of a taxi and sleeping in a drawer with blankets and pillows. *swoon*

But I was scared. Oh, how I was scared. See, right before my ex left, I’d had this talk with God. I’d been reading Psalms and decided to repeat David’s prayer of, “God, you are my all.” But then I thought, “Is this really true?” And I thought about how David had said, “Test me.” So I cried while writing in my prayer journal, “Test me.” And it just so happened that was the same week my ex started his affair.

I knew in my head that God wasn’t saying, “You want a test? I’ll give you a test.” I knew it had been Him preparing me. “You know I’m your all, Angela. You know it.” But I’d still made the connection of telling God to test me with my ex-husband leaving. So whenever Jim said to me, “You’re a gift from God,” I could never say it back. Because what if I hadn’t passed my test yet? What if God was going to take Jim away, too?

It was on a jog where God opened my eyes. And the funny thing was that I’d been praying, “God, open my eyes,” but thinking about something completely different.(God knows how to answer the questions we aren’t smart enough to ask.) He gave me this verse: "Every good and perfect gift is from God"(James 1:17).

Everything about Jim had seemed too good to be true. But if he really was that good, then he would be a gift from God. I ran home and looked up every scripture I could find with the word “good” in it.

First one: Taste and see that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8).

Last one: Now you have seen that the Lord is good (1 Peter 2:3).

This was the moment where I finally accepted Jim as a gift from God. I bawled my eyes out. Overwhelmed with gratefulness. Because I really didn’t deserve him. (I’d been in trouble with the law only a year before, remember?) But God gave Jim to me anyway.

He rescued me because he delighted in me. –Psalm 18:19

Jim proposed in a movie theater. I thought we were going to a movie. I had a mouth full of caramel corn when I realized that the preview was really a slideshow of us. And that all the other movie viewers were really friends and family.

We got married in the English garden at my mom’s tea house. Dad did the wedding. My son walked me down the aisle to the song “How He Loves Us.” The kids shot silly string at us when we kissed. Then I hopped on the front of Jim’s decorated knee cart (Achilles surgery—another story) and we rolled away to the sound of a Harley revving its engine. There was also a carriage ride involved. And my daughter’s stuffed rabbit joined us for our first dance. The evening ended with him crooning to me like Michael Buble. “I’m feeling good…”

It was better than a fairytale because it was real life. But the thing about real life is that our tests never end. We still have Achilles issues and the blending of families and the headache of finances. But when I feel like we can’t handle anymore, I remember the lesson I’ve already learned.

God will rescue us because he delights in us. So in knowing that God is the hero of every story...we can all live happily ever after.

~*~

Angela Ruth wrote a book! Here's the book cover and blurb: On shoot in beautiful Sun Valley for her newest film, rising starlet Emily Van Arsdale meets handsome stunt consultant Tracen Lake. Despite their different lifestyles, the adventurous duo shares a bond. As filming wraps up, will Emily be able to leave Sun Valley--and Tracen--behind? 

Buy Angela's book, http://amzn.to/163rDPT

Author bio: Angela Ruth Strong writes romance as well as middle-grade novels. When she's not writing, you can find her teaching aerobics, hanging out with her hubby and three teen/tweens at home in Idaho, or on some new adventure like winning a hamster ball race. She'd love it if you'd drop by to visit her at www.angelaruthstrong.com and share your story with her.