Emma Uranova enjoys her office job until her boss disappears with the investors’ money. To avoid the media storm and false accusations, Emma flees to Whispering Creek, Tennessee to live on her best friend’ s secluded property. When a temporary position opens up in Nashville, Emma leaves small-town anonymity to pad her depleted bank account. With a handsome new boss and a steady income, Emma believes life is looking up… until she discovers she has transported the scandal in her backpack. Where is God when her life is falling apart?

Wade Donoven is recuperating from a crash that sidelined him from the family electrical business. Worse yet, his prodigal younger brother is getting the glory for Wade’ s accomplishments. Desperation, and physical setbacks, have him agreeing to let Emma help him manage the business office. But when trouble follows her to his doorstep, Wade must make some difficult choices. Sending Emma back to Whispering Creek may unknowingly place the woman he’s come to love in danger.

The eBook of Escape to Whispering Creek released on September 27th. You can preorder the print book which releases on October 31st.

View the book trailer: Book Video for Escape to Whispering Creek.

Every time I write a book, I have a theme in mind. For Escape to Whispering Creek, the theme was “Where is God when your life is falling apart.” Emma experiences this theme when her life is turned upside down by white-collar crime. Emma’s job evaporates one morning as does her bank account.

Emma’s key verse for the story is Psalm 18:2a:

The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer. (NIV)

This verse is written on a rock beneath a robust cactus named Herbie.

As I wrote my novel, another theme came to light. Emma is a believer in Jesus. Her parents don’t believe in God. Emma worries about their safety from the fallout of the scam, but she also worries because her parents don’t have a relationship with Jesus. I experienced this worry for many years after my mom and sister and I came to faith in Jesus. My dad wouldn’t turn his life over to Jesus until many years later. I love how God places story threads in my novel that I hadn’t ever thought about.

Here’s an excerpt where Samantha (Sam) and Emma talk about her concern for her parents’ salvation. One early reader texted me that this scene spoke to her. Praise the Lord!

Emma is a Wisconsin girl like Danielle and me. Can you find the Wisconsin references?

    Sam understood the weight of being an only child. Parents didn’t stay young and healthy forever, but Sam’s parents knew Jesus. They went to church and talked openly about their faith. Emma had shared about Jesus with her parents, but the words fell on hard bricks not softened hearts. 

     “You know why.” Emma gripped the thin bed sheet. “Who’s going to share the Gospel with my parents and help them if they get sick? Besides, it takes money to break a lease and pay a deposit on a new apartment. A girl’s got to eat.”

     “But I have…” 

     “I’m not taking any money from you. My pride has taken enough of a beating lately.” In a matter of weeks, she had been swindled, fired, and threatened with death. 

     “I know. When I came to Whispering Creek, I had been through cancer treatments, and Carlton had dumped me. I had lost Mr. Ted. He was one of the most important people in my life. God had a plan that I didn’t even know about, and here I am, looking forward to what God has for me in the future. I’m not looking backward.” Sam grasped her hand. “Is Wade worth a new beginning?” 

     A vision of her endearing former boss had a thrill of energy rallying her insomnia. “You know he is. I should be racing toward Nashville, but I have one leg stuck behind the cheddar curtain.” 

     Sam chuckled. “I could go for some fried cheese curds.” 

     “Stop it. After eating chocolate, crackers, hospital gelatin, and a soggy sandwich, I can’t wait to get to Lucinda’s café for breakfast.” 

     “Sam gave Emma’s hand a squeeze. “We’ll keep praying. God should have opened a direct line for us by now. And trust Him with your parents’ salvation. You’ve planted a garden of seeds. Maybe it’s time for someone else to do the watering of their faith.”

I hope you have fun traveling to Whispering Creek with Emma.

Barbara M. Britton lives in Southeast, Wisconsin and loves the snow—when it accumulates under three inches. She writes Christian Fiction from Bible Times to present day USA. Her Tribes of Israel series brings little-known Bible characters to light. Her novel “Christmas at Whispering Creek,” is a compelling, yet fun story, shining a light on breast cancer. Barbara has a nutrition degree from Baylor University but loves to dip healthy strawberries in chocolate. You can find out more about Barbara and her books on her website www.barbarambritton.com.