The need for connection on a heart level with others is a need that God put inside each of us. The need of one another to be the hands and feet of God to each other to meet physical needs is very real. But when one person takes those needs and twists them to their own ends at the expense of another and when the recipient of those demands believes that the only way to find their worth is through acceptance by that other person, you have a story like Finding Beth waiting to happen. And not just for pretend.
These kinds of relationships are rife in our culture. Entertainment constantly fills the screen in our heads with the idea that perfection equals worth. Talent equals worth. Beauty and whit equals worth. And unless that lie is countered with the truth that only God’s love can give us worth, we go on the hunt. And there are plenty of manipulators willing to supply a fake rendition of what we look for.
Most people don’t even realize what is going on until they are rooted so deep into the relationship it is hard to extract themselves from it. That is what happens in Finding Beth. And as Beth tries to quit the relationship, the abuser goes beyond emotional abuse and enters the realm of physical abuse.
Beth is blessed on her journey with a man who is sensitive to her struggles to get away from a bad relationship. Adam may appear too good to be true since even Godly men have faults. But during intense seasons in their lives, these same faulty men can rise to the occasion and simply focus on doing what is right. And so we see in Adam as he focuses on doing the right thing for for Beth.
For once, Beth has someone in her life who is giving to her, not demanding from her. Pointing her to God instead of himself. Praying for her and leading her in prayer to where her true strength can be found. Giving her the kind of hope that every woman needs.
Through the telling of Finding Beth, I think Linnette will help shine the light on the dangers of unhealthy, abusive relationships and offer hope for women who think they can never get out of their situation.
About the Book
Three years ago, Beth Gallagher lost her brother, Josh, in a tragic accident. Grief-stricken and estranged from her father, she turned to the one man her brother warned her about — Kyle Heinrich.
Now she’s discovered his dark side.
She flees to the Smoky Mountains to clear her mind and seek God’s will about her impending marriage. With the help of a new friend, she finds the answers she needs, but will she have the resolve to follow through? And, if so, what will it cost her?
Adam Blythe had given up on finding a woman to love him for himself rather than his money. Committed to caring for his ailing mother and running the family business, he suddenly finds his heart entangled with a woman already spoken for. Can he find a way to protect her?
Kyle Heinrich is used to getting his way, so when his fiancée leaves town without a word, he is furious. When she returns with a new man by her side, he determines to make her his — one way or another.
Read the prologue here.
Linnette, why did you right Finding Beth and
how did you develop the story?
how did you develop the story?
I wrote Finding Beth to explore what would happen if a young woman discovered her fiancé might not be all he professed to be and she became desperate enough to leave town. And what if she decided to get out of the relationship? Then lots of what-ifs followed. I wanted to help Beth out of the abusive relationship she was in and I wanted to use her story to help others in like situations.
LINNETTE R. MULLIN is an author of life-changing romance. She has been married to her sweetheart – Johnathan, for more than twenty-one years. They’ve been blessed with four amazing sons: Christopher, Andrew, Matthew, and Garrison. Some of her writing credits include Charles Stanley’s “In Touch” magazine, “101 Facets of Faith” devotional book, Guidepost’s “Extraordinary Answers to Prayer”, and “Public Health Alert” – a nationally distributed newspaper for the chronically ill. She is the founder and coordinator of Palmetto Christian Writer’s Network in Lexington, South Carolina; she runs the “We Are Writers” group on Facebook; and she is an advocate for sufferers of Lyme’s Disease. Her favorite things in life are her family, her church, reading and writing, and her Savior most of all. Founder and Coordinator of PCWN since March 2011
Member of HACWN from 1998-2010
Member of ACFW since Jan 2011
Now available on Kindle at www.Amazon.com
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*I received a copy of the novel Finding Beth compliments of Cross River Media for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed her are strictly my own. *
