Sequel to The BookFest® Award Winner, Tangled Promises

Wurttemberg, Germany, 1881

“I’ll keep your secret. But, Clara.” Oma looked her granddaughter in the eye. “Choices carry consequences.”

Clara and Daniel, the Baron’s daughter and the family carriage driver, followed their hearts and married secretly circumventing nobility’s rules. They conduct their lives separately while sneaking every opportunity to be together. When Clara is forced to reveal her marriage, can she also hide the life growing inside her, and what punishment awaits from her father?

If Vati sends her away, Daniel promises to follow. But unexpected family troubles bring them face-to-face with the words of Proverbs 16:9. A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.

Her grandmother’s last warning spins like a tempest threatening to shipwreck their joy and fray every promise they have made.

Will they trust that God gives impossibilities beautiful endings?

If you enjoy stories of faith in the face of society’s pressures and trusting God in times of struggle, you’ll love this closed-door romance that will keep you guessing until the end. For readers of Tracie Peterson and Ann H. Gabhart.

What was your favorite scene to write in this story? And why?

There were so many favorites to write. Here are two that come to mind. The ones playing with the children on the boat were fun because at heart we’re all children. I thoroughly enjoyed the humor I was able to interject into the conversations between Clara, Dora (the cook) and Alice (Clara’s maid) when Clara was facing the reality of her pregnancy. There were several other scenes that were fun as well, but we’ll go with these rather than risk any spoilers. 

What unique research was required to write this story?

Digging into Multiple Sclerosis and the history of research and treatment. I had already planned to use the disease as an element of the story, and hoped it would fit the time frame. What a delight to discover Dr. Charcot (a neurologist in Paris) had named the disease recently (20 years I believe) before it appears in the story. 

What is one bit of research you wish you could have included in the story?

I would have loved to be able to include much more about the history of abortion. The history goes back to the beginning of time. As long as women have become pregnant some have found and chosen means to bring their monthly time back for all the same reasons women make these choices today.

I applied what I learned to hopefully lend authenticity to the subject for the time period of the story. Sharing more on the topic would have made it a science/medical/historical/economics/political book rather than a novel. I wasn’t going there. 

What was the inspiration behind your story?

About 25 years ago I learned that my great-grandmother was the daughter of a baron in southwest Germany. He wished for her to marry a man she intensely disliked. She was in love with the carriage driver. They never married, but she did carry his baby. Because of nobility’s rules she was sent to America several months pregnant to have the baby (my grandmother). I’ve been led to believe she was disowned by her father. I have no idea if anyone traveled with her or not.

At least sixty years ago my grandmother shared some little things about her life that made much better sense after hearing this part of the story.

I pondered for years what my great-grandmother’s life was like. How did all of this affect her? When life didn’t turn out the way she hoped, how did she continue to trust God even in the challenging circumstances? 

This book and Tangled Promises are 99.9% imagination fueled by prayer and listening for the story God would have me write to encourage others. (In Tangled Promises you learn the story behind that awful man her father chose for her.)

What encouragement do you hope readers will take away from your story?

Choose and cherish life. All life is precious. 

In the midst of all of life’s challenging circumstances, God is there He offers forgiveness and hope. He gives impossibilities beautiful endings.

A portion of the royalties from Frayed Promises benefits Life Choices of Memphis, Inc., an organization daily encouraging women to choose and cherish life! You can visit them here: https://www.lifechoicesmemphis.org