Unconditional

He will fight for her at any cost…
Elizabeth Roberts can’t remember her past, and the present is too painful. She turns to nightclubs and drinking to forget her infant daughter’s death, her husband’s affair.

When his wife’s coma wiped out the memory of their marriage, Chris Roberts found comfort elsewhere. He can’t erase his betrayal, but with God’s help he’s determined to fight for Elizabeth at any cost.

She wants to forget. He wants to save his marriage. Can they trust God with their future and find a love that’s unconditional?

Hi, I’m Samantha from Tanya Eavenson’s debut novel, Unconditional. Elizabeth Roberts, the main character, is my sister. Okay, this is harder than I thought.

Do you ever feel responsible for something even if it wasn’t your fault? A part of me feels that way for Elizabeth’s tendency to run from her problems. I guess you can say it’s what I showed her when I left home at nineteen.

See, Elizabeth looked up to me. She tagged along everywhere I went, tried to dress like me, even liked the same music I listened to. But I couldn’t handle Mom and Dad always nagging me to go to church. How I needed better friends or why couldn’t I be more like Elizabeth. I just got tired of it and left. The world was not what I thought it would be like, but I was determined to make it. And I did. But at a price.

When I got the news about Mom and Dad’s death, it really hit hard. Not only had I not spoken to them in years, but now Elizabeth avoided any contact with me. I know I deserved it, pushing her away like I had. But by God’s grace, a few years ago she forgave me and let me back into her life. That’s when I met Chris, Elizabeth’s husband, and his brother Phillip, my husband. Yes, Elizabeth and I married brothers. Funny how God works things out.

Anyway, what can I say about Chris? He was always so sure of himself and where he was going in life. Nothing was going to stop him. You know, the “everyone knows your name” type. And he was in love with my sister, the total opposite. Quiet—well, unless she was talking about her faith—otherwise quiet, very loving, and extremely beautiful with those eyes of hers. Turquoise I’d call them. Yes, Chris and Elizabeth were complete opposites, yet in a way, perfect for each other.

I never thought they’d have marital problem. Chris’s family are church goers, missionaries, deacons, lawyers running a homeless shelter, but I’ve learned that if you’re not living day by day in the presence of the Lord, it doesn’t matter who you are; the devil will find his way in and try to destroy what God has created.

I think a lot about what happened between Chris and Elizabeth. I also think a lot about my own life and the past. How God took the bad things that had happened, the ugliness of my sin, and used those circumstances to draw me to Himself.

Before I leave I want to read a short scripture. Hold on, let me get my Bible. Here it is. Hosea 2: 14-15, “Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her. There I will give back her vineyards, and make the Valley of Archor a door of hope.”

I see this verse being true in my and Chris’s life, even though our stories are different. God lead us into the desert, and that is where we listened. God didn’t give us what we deserved. Instead, He loved us, wrapped us in righteousness, faithfulness, and compassion, giving us hope for our future.

Has there been a time in your life the Lord allured you into the desert—a time of loss or uncertainty—and spoke tenderly to you? Compassionately bringing you back to Him? If so, share your story. In your story there is hope and assurance of God’s love for others.

Endorsements:

“Unconditional is a powerfully-gripping story of deep heartache laced with fears, yet even through the sorrow, Tanya Eavenson reminds us that nothing can separate us from God’s love.”

~ Alice J. Wisler, author of “Still Life in Shadows” and other novels

“Not your typical amnesia story, Unconditional tells a tale of loss, betrayal, and forgiveness. Eavenson drags her characters through the fire, then reveals God’s power through their broken lives. The writing is stellar; the emotion, raw and palpable; the cast, impeccably crafted. This author is one to be watched!”

~ April W Gardner, award-winning author

“Unconditional explores the struggles that married couples sometimes experience, and the decisions they must make after going through difficult circumstances. A powerful story of hope and healing.”

~ Laura V. Hilton, Healing Love (Whitaker House)

“Unconditional is a beautiful story of God’s never-ending love. Throughout its pages, Tanya Eavenson evokes a myriad of emotions in her readers, from deep despair to heartfelt praise. The characters gripped my heart, showing me the reality of man’s sin but also the depth of God’s grace. Unconditional is a well-written, heart-stirring novel written by a talented new author.”

~ Jennifer Slattery, Novel Reviews

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Tanya Eavenson and her husband have been in the ministry for fifteen years teaching youth, adults, and counseling. Tanya enjoys spending time with her husband, and their three children. Her favorite pastime is grabbing a cup of coffee and reading a good book. Tanya is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and writes for Christ to the World Ministries sharing the Gospel around the world. You can find her on Twitter at @Tan_eave and contact her at her website www.tanyaeavenson.com  Want to learn more about writing? Stop by her blog http://guidedgirls.blogspot.com