Chloe ended the call and tossed the phone onto the other side of the bed. Why did she agree to that? And why did it feel like it was three a.m. as opposed to six a.m.? She needed to get back on some sort of workout routine. Her body was paying the price big time. She blinked several times to adjust her vision to the low level of light in the room. She could use a few extra minutes in bed, but seeing Shane before work would do her some good. She wasn’t sure when she would see him again, since she had to pull a double shift tomorrow to cover for another nurse who was on vacation.
She rolled out of bed, showered, dressed in her pink scrubs, and met Shane at the coffee house down the street as promised. From outside the glass panels, she could see him inside sipping a cup of coffee, patiently waiting for her to join him. The moment she opened the door, the smell of coffee beans and fresh pastries greeted her. She adored local coffee houses, which is one of the reasons she suggested this place. The homey feel and tasty foods that you could never find on the menu of one of the large chains contributed to her fondness of the place. Plus, they knew her name. She liked that.
“You spend the night here or what?” she asked when she made it to the table after speaking to the baristas behind the register. She greeted him with a peck on the cheek before taking the seat across from him.
“Early riser, especially today. I didn’t sleep much from the excitement for today.” He gestured toward the barista to bring her cup of coffee. “Vanilla latte.”
“Thanks.” Chloe inhaled the fresh aroma before bringing the cup to her lips. After she sipped, Shane reached across the table and held her free hand.
“I know it’s early. Sorry for waking you. I just wanted to see you before work today. And I want to remind you that I’m here for whatever you need.”
“Thanks, Shane. I appreciate that because I might be needing some of this unwavering support at some point.”
“Tell me more about that. We never got a chance to talk about the new sister ordeal. How are you handling it?”
“I don’t know if I’m doing as well as I can be with it, and I don’t know how to explain it to anyone so that they will understand.”
Shane nodded and she continued.
“So here’s this woman who slept with my husband, got pregnant, lost the baby, and I forgave her. I wasn’t supposed to see her again. That was supposed to be the end of it. Now here she is with her perfect little life dancing right back into mine. I never even conceived a child with Rico and here she is with three children! It’s not fair and I want to scream at the top of my lungs. I’m angry, Shane. Angry at her and at my parents. And I feel really helpless but I’m trying to get over it. I had a good talk with God last night, so I’m trusting that He will help me through it.”
Chloe didn’t realize that tears had escaped her eyes in her frustration. Shane slid his chair around next to her and took a napkin to dab at her cheeks. “I’m sorry sweetheart. I’m here for whatever you need. It seems like a lot to take in, but we can get through this together. Can I pray with you?”
Chloe nodded and Shane enclosed her hands in his and prayed and asked God to allow His love to flow through Chloe’s heart, remind her of how precious she is in His sight, and to guide her in His truth.
“Thank you. I love you for that.”
“I love you, too.”
“So how are you feeling Mr. Detective?”
“A few jitters, but the newness of it all gives me something to look forward to, aside from my life with you.”
Part of her wanted to warn him that he may not be ready for a life with her. A life with someone who couldn’t control her attitude, her emotions, and who had no peace. But simultaneously, she was reminded of the Scriptures she read last night instructing her to trust God. That was something she had to work on . . . not just trusting Him with one little or big thing, but to trust Him with everything. So instead, she said, “I’m looking forward to what the future holds for us as well.”
“Nothing or no one holding us back, right?”
“Right.”
Shane stood and held out his hand to help her out of her seat. Hand in hand, they walked out of the coffee shop and to her car.
“Do me, well us a favor.”
“What’s that?” she asked, never breaking stride.
“Think about forever with me.”
“What are you saying, Shane?”
“You heard me right. We’ve been doing this dance for a while and I think it’s time that we move forward. Think about forever with me, and if that’s what you want. I love you, Chloe, and that’s what I want. I need you to be certain if that’s what you want with me.”
( Continued... )
© 2019 All rights reserved. Book excerpt reprinted by permission of the author, Natasha D. Frazier. Do not reproduce, copy or use without the author's written permission. This excerpt is used for promotional purposes only.
#UnWrappedLit: Kairos: The Perfect Time for Love by Natasha D. Frazier
#UnWrappedLit: Shattered Vows: Love, Lies & Consequences - Book 3 by Natasha D. Frazier
Intimate Conversation with Natasha D. Frazier
Natasha D. Frazier has authored both devotionals and Christian fiction titles. Throughout her writing career, she has published ten books. Out of the Shadows: Love, Lies & Consequences Book 4 is her most recent release and is the final title in the award-winning Love, Lies & Consequences series. With her writing, Natasha hopes to inspire readers to grow in their relationship with our Heavenly Father, in spite of past mistakes, holding on to the truth that God loves us no matter what we've done. Because of His love for us, we should desire to live better lives.
Natasha is also a licensed CPA and alumni of THEE Jackson State University and Texas A&M University. Natasha resides in the Houston Metro area with her husband, Eddie, and their three children. Connect with Natasha and sign-up for her mailing list to be the first to learn about new releases: www.natashafrazier.com.
BPM: Please, share something our readers wouldn’t know about you.
Natasha: I'm a new swimmer! I learned to swim over the summer and I'm proud of that because it's something that I've wanted to learn how to do for a very long time. I joined the YMCA to improve my skills.
BPM: If you had to describe yourself in three words, what would they be?
Natasha: Motivated, Structured, and Funny
BPM: Is writing your full-time career? How much time do you spend writing?
Natasha: Writing is not my full-time career at this time. I'm an accountant. I generally try to write 7 to 10 hours per week.
BPM: Tell us about your first published book. What was the journey like?
Natasha: My first published book is "The Life Your Spirit Craves: 30-Day devotional and journal." Thankfully, I had someone to work with me throughout the process who had already gone through it. She was very helpful to me and I am forever grateful to her: Nickole Byrd.
BPM: Introduce us to your most recent work. Available on Nook and Kindle?
Natasha: Out of the Shadows (Love, Lies & Consequences Book 4) is my most recent release. This is the final book in the series and has come full circle. I'm proud of the growth the characters have experienced as well as my growth as a writer. When I first began this series, I had no idea how it would end. In fact, it was only supposed to be two books, but here we are.
In book 4, Chloe is coming to terms with Rico's death in order to move forward but learns of another secret that may very well cause her to have a setback. She must lean on to her faith like never before in order to pull through it.
BPM: Can you share with us something about the book that isn’t in the blurb?
Natasha: Though the story is mainly about Chloe's character, Raegan is part of the story as well. Raegan was the mistress to Chloe's deceased husband. Though Chloe said she forgave Raegan for her part in Rico's adultery, Chloe must confront and assess those feelings to see if they are real. Did she really forgive her? Or was it something she only said because she thought she'd never see Raegan again?
BPM: Give us some insight into your main characters or speakers. What makes each one so special?
Natasha: Chloe is fighting to move on with her life but is held back for several reasons. She thinks she has a good relationship with God but learns that she really needs to build on it and trust in Him to experience the life God wants her to have. I think she's like many people...reads the Bible occasionally and goes to church often, but the relationship is put on the back burner because of life's responsibilities. I think we can learn a lot from her character. What she finds is that isn't enough and she must spend time alone with God just like she spends time getting to know Shane, her love interest. It's hard to trust someone you don't know and Chloe soon begins to know God in a more intimate way.
BPM: Does one of the main characters hold a special place in your heart? If so, why?
Natasha: I'd probably have to say Raegan. The series began with her and although she wasn't front and center in books 3 and 4, she is affected by what happens in each. Although she was selfish, I think she always had good intentions and she's now a better person than she was when we first met her. I want her to be happy.
BPM: Did you learn anything personal from writing your book?
Natasha: You know it's amazing. At one point in the book, I couldn't think of how Chloe's sister should respond to a particular situation. Next thing I knew, I heard a sermon about it at church. Answered prayer for the character and for me. The lesson: When you're having difficulty sharing something that you think might hurt someone, approach them the same way you would want to be approached and make sure it's in the spirit of love.
BPM: Is there a specific place/space/state that you find inspiration in?
Natasha: Winter or summer, I really enjoy sitting in front of the fireplace. Something about it puts me in the mood for writing.
BPM: Where do your book ideas come from? Are your books plot-driven or character-driven?
Natasha: A little bit of both I think. I usually get ideas from something someone says or from any given situation. In fact, the idea for book 3 came from hearing a wife say that she doesn't love her husband anymore. That sparked something in me and I just went from there.
BPM: What did you enjoy most about writing and developing the characters for this book?
Natasha: Writing is freeing. I feel great when I get a chance to write and I feel like something is missing from my life if I go too long without having done so. Being able to write a few chapters and take a look back to see how much I've done is inspiring, especially when I get to a place where I feel like I'm not getting anywhere.
BPM: Is writing easy for you? Do you feel lonely being a writer during the creative process?
Natasha: I enjoy writing so it isn't lonely. I actually enjoy all the alone time I can get. I have three little ones around me so quiet time is much needed.
BPM: Tell us a little about your creative process. Do you use a computer or write out the story by hand?
Natasha: I use a computer, but there are times when I'm not around the computer and an idea comes to me. I jot it down on whatever I have around me or either send text messages to myself so that I won't forget.
BPM: When you’re writing an emotionally draining scene how do you get in the mood?
Natasha: Before writing, I pray. There is not really anything else I do to get in the mood besides having snacks. LOL.
BPM: Writing can be an emotionally draining and stressful pursuit. Any tips self-care for creative folks?
Natasha: I'm always in search of self-care tips for myself. Massages, hot bubble baths, reading, and exercise seem to work well for me.
BPM: How much planning goes into writing a book in general? How long does it take to complete one of your books?
Natasha: I usually just sit down and write until the story is finished. I only know how I want the story to end usually. Every now and then, there are scenes I know I must include, but I don't outline. I tried that once and it didn't work. If I am really consistent, I can finish the first draft in about 3 months. I think that's the shortest amount of time the first draft has taken me. The longest is probably six months.
BPM: Have any of your books been made into audio-books? If so, what are the challenges in producing an audio book?
Natasha: Not yet. They will be in the future.
BPM: Do you write multiple books for a series? Do you have any new series planned?
Natasha: I do. I am in the process of adding a book to Kairos to make it a series. I have also started a Christmas series, which likely won't be released until 2020 or 2021.
BPM: Do you find it more challenging to write the FIRST book in a series or to write the subsequent novels?
Natasha: Subsequent books for sure and I say that simply because I'm tasked with making sure the subsequent books are in alignment with the series. With the first book, I'm free to do whatever I want.
BPM: What advice would you give aspiring writers that would help them finish a project when so many ideas are running together?
Natasha: Jot down ideas for other projects, but work on one project at a time.
BPM: What projects are you working on at the present?
Natasha: I have ideas for several, but as I just mentioned, I simply jot them down while I work on this Christmas series. Kairos 2 first draft is ready to be sent to the editor.
BPM: How can readers discover more about you and your work? Do you have a Goodreads, LibraryThing, BookBub™ or Facebook community?
BPM: Share all of your social media links so readers can follow you online.
Purchase Out of the Shadows: Love, Lies & Consequences (Book 4) by Natasha D. Frazier
