Since I'm a hopeless romantic who strongly believes in the sanctity and value of Biblical marriage, the subject of saving and healing marriages is close to my heart. So when Jennifer asked me to feature her new novel, Breaking Free, a book about saving a women's ministry leader's marriage, I was interested to hear more about the story. This sounds like a heart-grabber, and I haven't read the book, so I'm trusting Jennifer will take readers to healing at the end. Here's the blurb:
Breaking
Free:
Sometimes it takes losing
everything to grab hold of what really matters.
Women’s ministry leader and Seattle housewife, Alice Goddard, and her successful graphic-designer husband appear to have it all together. Until their credit and debit cards are denied, launching Alice into an investigation that only leads to the discovery of secrets. Meanwhile, her husband is trapped in a downward spiral of lies, shame, and self-destruction. Can they break free from their deception and turn to the only One who can save them? And will it be in time to save their marriage?
Women’s ministry leader and Seattle housewife, Alice Goddard, and her successful graphic-designer husband appear to have it all together. Until their credit and debit cards are denied, launching Alice into an investigation that only leads to the discovery of secrets. Meanwhile, her husband is trapped in a downward spiral of lies, shame, and self-destruction. Can they break free from their deception and turn to the only One who can save them? And will it be in time to save their marriage?
Read a free, 33-page excerpt
here.
Buy it:
Your most
embarrassing moment?
Having my credit and debit cards denied while dining with my
“friends” at an upscale Seattle bistro. Didn’t help many of those so-called
friends like to come up with scenarios, then tell everyone about them. “Did you
hear Alice couldn’t pay for lunch? Do you think Trent lost his job? Maybe they
got in over their heads. You know how she loves to shop.”
(eye roll) You’d think those women were still in junior
high—all except for Beth. She’s probably the only real friend I have. But even
she doesn’t know…
What is your first
reaction when you meet a fetching lady/handsome gentleman? Blush? Stutter? Run?
Flirt? Engage them in intelligent or witty conversation? Start an argument to
see them flustered? Offer a helping hand? Ask a friend about them?
When I met Trent, I felt hot, and giddy. All tingly. I know
that sounds cliché, but seriously, that man literally swept me off my feet. He
had charm, charisma, confidence, knew where he wanted to go and had a plan for
how to get there. Plus, he was incredibly handsome. And he made me feel
beautiful. Cherished.
Are there any
children or pets in your life? What do you love about them?
I’ve got two teenage boys, and they’re my heartbeat. They’re
both athletes; very gifted soccer players. My youngest is the studious one.
He’s got such a tender heart. He can be pretty quiet, on the shy side. My
oldest is a lot like his dad. He’s a risk taker, likes to forge his own way…
has a strong personality.
What happened the
last time you spoke to a large group of people?
I’m on my church’s women’s ministry leadership team, so I
speak to women a lot. We’re planning our next big event now, actually. I don’t
mind speaking, but sometimes—oftentimes—I feel like I’m held to an impossible
standard. Like if those women who listen to my keynotes knew I struggle, that
my marriage isn’t perfect and my kids and I fight, they’d hate me. So, I don’t
show them that side. I show them the me they want to see, the me they’ve come
to expect. Might make me seem fake, but I’ve learned the hard way that you
can’t trust everyone.
What is your dearest
dream?
That’s a question I’ve been asking myself a lot lately. I
feel like I’ve lost sight of who I am, know what I mean? I’ve been so busy
being a mom and wife, serving… Doing, doing, doing for everyone else. Sometimes
I want to just break free, even if for only a week. But then I realize, I have
no idea what I’d do or where I’d go. Is that pathetic, or what?
Any current romantic
interests?
I’m married, but there’s no romance. Not anymore. I
vacillate between determining to do anything to save my marriage and wanting to
let it go. I’m leaning more toward the latter everyday, except after nearly two
decades living as a housewife, I’m frightened I couldn’t make it on my own. And
I’ve got the boys to consider.
Jennifer Slattery writes soul-stirring fiction for New Hope Publishers,
Christian living articles for Crosswalk.com, and devotions for Internet Café
Devotions, the group blog, Faith-filled Friends, and her personal blog. She
also does content editing for Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas’ Firefly
imprint, and loves working with authors who are serious about pursuing their
calling. When not writing, reading, or editing, Jennifer loves going on mall
dates with her adult daughter and coffee dates with her hilariously fun
husband.Comment fodder:
-- What is your favorite thing about reading a save-the-marriage story?
-- Have you read any books with this theme lately?
-- Have you ever had to choose between two things very precious to you? What was the outcome?
Tweetable:
BREAKING FREE ~ Character Interview with Jennifer Slattery. (Click to Tweet)
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