by Irene Hannon
I’ve been thinking a lot about trust lately. Specifically about how important it is to trust people to do the right thing. To tell the truth. To follow the golden rule. To live with honor and integrity and principle. To treat people with basic decency and respect. That’s how I was raised, and that’s how I expect others to behave.
But alas, sometimes people cross our paths who don’t have these same values, and when they do, they can wreak havoc in our life. I’m speaking from recent personal experience here, thanks to a situation of long duration in our neighborhood. But that’s a tale for another day!
I expect all of us could tell stories about family, friends or neighbors who have lost our trust because of something they’ve done that undermined our faith in them. And the situation is compounded when people refuse to admit fault or make any attempt to repair the damage they’ve done.
So as I launched into the writing of my latest suspense novel, Over the Edge, it wasn’t surprising that the theme of trust and betrayal ended up being woven throughout the story.
My police detective hero, Jack Tucker, did not have a childhood that engendered trust. It’s hard to grow up to be a trusting adult when someone you should have been able to count on to protect you botches the job. As it turns out, however, a suspicious nature is a plus in Jack’s job. But on the personal front, it can be a handicap . . . because a guarded heart can lead to isolation and loneliness.
So when Lindsey Barnes, his sole witness in a high-profile murder case, begins to have odd experiences that cast doubt on not only her credibility but her mental stability, Jack tamps down the sparks of attraction between them. Much as he likes the personal chef, he’s not sure he can trust what she’s telling him. And if her life is spiraling out of control, if she’s losing her grip on reality, he doesn’t want to set himself up for a fall.
Trust is also a theme in the secondary storyline, which revolves around a newly married couple, Chad and Dara Allen, who’ve fought the odds to create a life together. But things begin to unravel when Chad suddenly finds himself at the top of Jack’s suspect list. He claims he’s innocent, but circumstantial evidence points his direction. Will Dara take a leap of faith and trust the man she loves—or will she let doubt destroy their newly minted marriage?
As a writer, I’m often able to clarify my thinking about certain subjects while I struggle to put words on paper (or into a laptop) that capture moral dilemmas. It wasn’t until I finished this book that I realized how integral the theme of trust was to this story. I didn’t plan that, but a writer’s unconscious mind works in mysterious ways!
The other thing that hit home for me during the writing of this book was how important trust is to relationships—and to life. When everything on the trust front is copacetic, we tend to take it for granted. But when trust is undermined, it can shake the foundation of our whole world.
I invite you to see how this plays out in Over the Edge, when secrets, hidden agendas, and betrayals send lives hurtling out of control. Hold onto your seats for a wild ride with surprises around every corner.
But because I believe in happily-ever-afters, rest assured that hope prevails and love triumphs for Jack and Lindsey.
Trust me!
About the Author
Irene Hannon is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than 65 contemporary romance and romantic suspense novels. She is a three-time winner of the prestigious RITA Award from Romance Writers of America and a member of RWA’s elite Hall of Fame. Learn more at www.irenehannon.com.
About the Book
As the sole witness to a murder, Lindsey Barnes is already on edge. Now she’s being targeted by someone who wants to discredit her testimony. Or is she? Police detective Jack Tucker must determine if it’s true, and if so, who’s behind the campaign to destroy her credibility—and perhaps her life.
Did You Know?
God uses the classroom of life to dispel ignorance. He capitalizes on circumstances to teach us to love and depend on Him. Under His tutelage, raising a child with Down syndrome provides a series of lessons in which parents shed ignorance about disabilities—and about God.
God loves and relates to every person He created, including those with Down syndrome. He calls everyone who responds in faith to share the gospel. Freed from limiting assumptions, one young lady with Down syndrome traveled across the world to the frozen tundra of Siberia to share God’s message of love and grace.
People with Down syndrome communicate in a variety of ways. Many learn sign language from an early age to compensate for delays or deficits in speech. Most eventually acquire speech and enjoy discussing ideas and opinions. Most learn to write as well, though the skill may develop more slowly. After persevering for years, Alyssa Yorty not only learned to write, but she also penned a chapter in a book.
Our friends with Down syndrome have much in common with those of us whose challenges are easier to disguise. God has gifted each individual with a distinct personality, preferences, plans, and dreams. Each one longs to be included and significant.
God designed people with Down syndrome to uniquely display His power. Open your life to a person with Down syndrome and discover new facets of God’s heart.
-Annie Yorty, From Ignorance to Bliss: God’s Heart Revealed through Down Syndrome
Comments