Dear Reader,

Novelists take readers into the high points of their characters’ lives, the dramatic events, the intimate moments, the life-changing decisions. We create situations forcing our characters to make important choices. We imagine how they will react by the qualities, flaws, weaknesses and strengths we give them. That is why I love being a writer and why I am particularly pleased for the opportunity the Love Inspired line gives me to portray identifiable characters in realistic ways as they face serious challenges.

Few women will ever have to confront the problem Val does. However, in telling her story I asked myself what would I do faced with her choices. I asked the questions:

How committed are most people to their marriage vows?

How binding do they consider them when the partner wants out?

What is the individual’s responsibility no matter what the other person does?

Is marriage simply a contract, or is it a sacred promise?

Do values really matter?

These are some of the issues I hope you will find as compelling as I did writing this book.

With best wishes,