Please welcome author Tanya Eavenson

Please give a warm welcome to fellow Astrea Press author, Tanya Eavenson.
About the author:Tanya Eavenson and her husband have been involved in ministry for fifteen years teaching youth and adults, and doing 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.

 

Blurb for 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?

~~~~

Tanya, I believe Elizabeth agreed to be interviewed? Please will you share it with us? 
Tanya - 1. Elizabeth, tell me the most interesting thing about you.

The most interesting thing about me is that I can’t remember my past. No matter how hard I try.

2. Wow, that must be tough, and frustrating. How do you cope? What kinds of things do you do for fun? 

Chris and I go fishing—when I don’t throw my rod in the lake and cause him to jump in after it. That was a day, I can tell you!

3. I can imagine! And I certainly do want to hear that story some time, but first, tell me, what do you put off doing because you dread it? 

I dread dealing with problems. We all have to deal with things at some point, but I choose to ignore things instead. Maybe that’s the cause of the tension between Chris and me? I awoke from a coma and everything changed, but I’m taking one day at a time. I think it’s all I can do right now.   

4. What do you most fear?

I wish I could say something easy, but my daughter stopped breathing the other day, and it really scared me. Chris wasn’t concerned and that made me doubt myself. What if there is something wrong with her? Maybe I didn’t see what I saw. Maybe he’s right; I’m too worried about things. 

5. I can understand your concern. Parenting newborns can be so frightening! Besides being a parent, what do you want out of life?

To remember my past with my husband. I believe things would be different without my accident. I’d have a happy marriage and a healthy daughter. What’s wrong with wanting that happily-ever-after I’ve read about? But it seems it’s only real in fairy tales.

6. What is the most important thing in your life?

My daughter. I know I shouldn’t put her before God. My head knows this, but my heart disagrees. Where was God when I awoke with no memory of my past life? My husband was a stranger, but somehow I knew Katherine was my daughter. I knew it the moment I held her. 

7. Do you read? If so, what is your favorite type of book to read?

Oh, my! Yes, I love to read! Owning a bookstore I can’t help myself. My favorite book is The Wizard of Oz, or so I’m told. And the classics, more than anything else. 

8. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

Ttrust God and my husband. I wish I could explain it, but I don’t understand it myself. I feel the need to trust, but it’s that head and heart issue again. 

9. Do you have a pet? If so, what is it, and why that pet?

I’d love to have a pet, but with Katherine, I’ll have to wait until she’s older. It might have to be something small since she’s an infant. Maybe once we figure out what’s going on with Katherine. If there really is anything wrong. 

10. If you could travel back in time, where would you go and why?

To the time of my accident. I would have disregarded the doctor and stayed on bed rest and not have gone to the wedding. If I hadn’t fallen from the steps, things would be different now.

Thank you for sharing this enlightening interview with us Tanya. Would you like to share an excerpt from Unconditional with us?

Excerpt from Chapter One:
Elizabeth pushed herself up from the bed. Her gaze swept the dark room and fixed on the hall nightlight. Her hand grazed over her husband’s shoulder when a thought gripped her. Katherine. The baby monitor stood silent. Darkness shrouded the red and green lights that indicated movement.

Her chest tightened. She hurled the covers away and leapt to the floor. Panic made her clumsy as she rushed to her daughter’s room. She lunged over the crib. No sound. No movement. Not even a stirring of air from her tiny nostrils.

“Katherine!” Elizabeth snatched her daughter from the mattress. The infant drew a heavy breath as her eyes flung wide open.

Lord, what’s happening?

Elizabeth’s bare feet pounded the cold tile as she ran back to her husband. “Chris, wake up! Katherine quit breathing again!”

Chris rubbed his eyes and scowled. “What is it?”

“We need to take Katherine to the hospital. She stopped breathing.”

He studied their child. “She seems to be breathing now. Are you sure?”

“Of course, I’m sure.”

“She’s fine.” Chris fell back against the pillow.

“Please—”

“We don’t have the money to take her to the hospital when there’s nothing wrong with her.”

“But there is. She stopped breathing.”

He sat back up. “You’ve been worried about her since before she was born. You’re all worked up because she hasn’t rolled over yet. The doctor said that’s normal for being early.”

She’s called a preemie. She glared into his eyes. “If you were home more often you’d know she’s not fine.”

“I’m home, Elizabeth, and she’s fine.”

Heat flushed her cheeks as tears filled her eyes. “I’m scared. Can’t you see that? I need you to pray for our daughter. I need you to hold me and tell me everything will be all right.”

“Look, she’s sleeping.” His voice softened as his hand ran down her thigh. “Come to bed.”

“How can you care so little? I’m worried about our baby.”

Chris’s hand dropped to the sheets. “Shut the door when you leave.” He turned away from her.

Elizabeth stood for a moment unable to speak. With their baby in her arms, she slowly closed the door behind her and sank her teeth into her lip to keep from crying. If tears came, it would be for her daughter, not for the stranger in her bed.

~~~

My review of Unconditional -- 
There are few authors who burst upon publishing scene with immediate impact, but Tanya Eavenson is one of them. Her debut inspirational novel, Unconditional, published by Astraea Press is hard hitting, deep, intense and in equal measure heart wrenching and heart-warming.

Ms. Eavenson has tackled the subject of infant death. Her heroine's daughter, Katherine has breathing problems and for reasons that become clear in the book, on this occasion when Elizabeth, without the support of her husband Chris, rushes Katherine to hospital there is nothing the doctor can do to save her.

As if that is not tragic enough Ms. Eavenson unfolds Elizabeth’s back-story in way that makes it clear that the doctor in question knows more about Elizabeth’s past than she does. So now Elizabeth finds herself with dilemma upon dilemma to deal with, including the betrayal of her husband.

If that seems complex, then believe me, it is the skill of the author that kept this reader engaged to the last page.

Every member of Ms. Eavenson’s cast has an integral part to play and all face with issues that challenges their faith. They are immediately identifiable with, and real.

Her scene setting is so vivid I almost felt like a fly on Elizabeth’s coat, never mind her walls.

If you enjoy tense, edge of the seat stories, then Unconditional fits the bill.

If you enjoy inspirational romance novels, then take a look at Unconditional.

If you are on the lookout for a new author who writes tight, tense, and inspirational stories then follow her link and add it to your ‘must buy’ list.
(This book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review)

Links:

Unconditional~Amazon

Tanyaeavenson.com ~Website

Guided Girls ~Writers blog

@Tan_eave ~Twitter