This book is the result of what-ifs, prayer, banging my head against the computer screen, more prayer, binge writing at a hotel in Dallas in between ACFW board meetings, and incredible edits. I pray the result is a book you will inhale and characters you’ll love. I really enjoyed getting to know Emilie better and creating a suitable hero for her. I hadn’t realized until this book that with Beyond Justice I’d created a series of heroines who are clambering for their own stories to be told, but nary a next hero in sight. Thanks to Tricia Goyer for helping me flesh out Reid. I’m already excited to have him show up in future books alongside Andrew.
Some stories grow out of experience, and this is one of those. I’ve had the privilege of working with women who were in the process of breaking free of situations that were intense and heartbreaking. It takes a village to help these women and men find the strength and make a plan. Locally we are blessed with agencies and leaders that come alongside them in a meaningful way. I worked with one of the best—Nora. She brings such grace to each situation and is a true help to those in need.
My prayer is that this book, while entertaining you, will also help you see the other side of relationships. People in these hard relationships need a listening ear and someone to pray with them and not judge them. No matter how much one person wants to save a marriage, some simply are unsalvageable without God’s intervention.
My thanks to the Grove Girls, who make this writing journey so fun! Can’t wait for our retreat! And to Colleen Coble, Robin Miller, Rachel Hauck, Tricia Goyer, and so many others who will brainstorm as soon as I e-mail or call. My husband and daughter, Abigail, were also great brainstormers from the moment the what-if hit me at our apartment table in Siena. I never expected to get this idea while teaching a study abroad . . . You never know where that next what-if will come from.
Thanks so much to Amanda Bostic and LB Norton, my amazing editors. Thanks also to the rest of the incredible HarperCollins Christian Publishing fiction team: Paul Fisher, Jodi Hughes, Becky Monds, Kayleigh Hines, Allison Carter, Kristen Golden, and Karli Jackson. It has been a dream to work with you, and the dream-come-to-life is as wonderful as I’d hoped. Thank you for all you do to help craft my stories and then get them into the hands of readers. A book doesn’t come to life before it is read, so thank you for being a key piece of breathing life into my stories.
Many thanks to Karen Solem, my amazing agent, who continues to believe in me and advocate for me.
Last but definitely not least, thanks to my family. They have to live with me when I’m going crazy under deadline pressure. They understand the rhythms of a writer’s life and believe in me when I wonder how a story will come together. This book fought me, and they kept encouraging me and putting up with a really tired mom. Love you guys!