Jade Benson feels that she can never trust her husband, Max, again. Not only did he cheat on her with her best friend, Rose, a baby resulted from the affair. When Rose dies in an airplane accident, Max brings the toddler into their home. Two-year-old Asa is the brightest spot in Jade’s life. Despite the boy’s beginnings, Jade feels nothing but love for him. But Jade’s world is about to crash again. She receives news that Max isn’t Asa’s dad, and the biological father knows it. Jade has survived infidelity, miscarriage, and major damage to her shop by an out-of-control car, but losing Asa could very well be the thing that destroys her.

Country singer and songwriter Evans and novelist Hauck (Dining with Joy, 2010) have proven to be a winning team. This third installment in the story of Jade and Max (The Sweet By and By, 2009; Softly and Tenderly, 2011) carries the same emotional wallop as the first two. Although libraries will want all three volumes, this one also works well as a stand-alone novel.

And now, for the interview with Rachel!

RH: I started writing in elementary school. Not stories so much, though I did do that, but I kept diaries. I started writing my first novel in ’93 and was hooked. I’d been married a year and the Lord spoke to my husband and me separately for me to quit my job, and that’s how I got started.

Now, I’m coming up on my 20^th wedding anniversary and the release of my 15th novel.

RH: Doing what I love. It’s completely satisfying, even on the hard days. I can’t believe I get to write books as my “day job.” I love interacting with readers and seeing how a story impacts them.

What are your inspirations for your books?  What was the inspiration for Love Lifted Me?

RH: Inspiration is all around. Novelist, as you know, get their ideas from a conversation, a t-shirt, a commercial, a funny kid-line, everywhere. Life is inspiration. Love Lifted Me is the third in the Songbird series with Sara Evans. This is the conclusion of Jade and Max’s long journey to love and peace, and God’s destiny for them.

The series inspiration came from Sara, and what kind of story she wanted to tell. I ran with that as the writer and developed a story about a woman who had fears to overcome and love to discover.

 Do you have a favorite part? Favorite character? And/or background story about Love Lifted Me?

RH: I love all the characters in this book. I love Jade for being brave and trusting God more than her husband, more than her own fears. I love Max for manning-up and facing his “stuff” and giving his heart to the Lord and to Jade.

These two characters had been through so much in the first two books we wanted them to come to some solid resolution and peace. To do that, we turned every one and everything upside down. It’s fun!

What was it like working with recording artist Sara Evans?

RH: Fun. She’s a great partner. We each know our job and responsibility and we do it. She’s very easy going and down to earth and believe it or not, we agree on just about everything.

Where can people find you and your books?

RH: At any box store or on the web at Thomas Nelson, CBD, Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

Please tell us a little about your new book coming in April The Wedding Dress. 

RH: OOo, this is a fun book. I got the idea while on a girls weekend in Nashville one June. We were talking weddings and I thought, “what if there was one dress four women wore… over a hundred years.” And the story took off from there.

It’s about a gown first worn in 1912, then works its way into the lives of two other woman, and last but not least, our 2012 heroine who has more to discover in the threads of the antique dress than she ever imagined.

Anything else you would like to add?

RH: Read Jamie Carie books! She’s awesome! Thanks for having me!!

Thanks Rachel! You are too kind!!!

 

If you would like a chance to win Love Lifted Me and Sara Evan’s new CD Stronger just comment on this post. Rachel brought up wedding dresses. If you are married what was your dress like? Would you go back and change it now if you could? (I would! That’s a story I’ll tell in the comments – lol). If you are not married and want to be, what is your dream wedding dress? This should be fun!

I will draw a winner on Friday! Please leave a way to contact you in the comment! And COME BACK on Friday because I will be giving away another ARC of The Guardian Duke for Christmas!!!