Today I welcome author Laura Ashwood as she shares a devotional, answers tough questions, and gives us a look into her latest release, A Groom By Surprise. She's also giving away an ebook, so read through to see how you can enter to win.

Memorial Day, my husband and I made the two-hour drive to the big city to do some much needed shopping. It’s a trip we typically only do two or three times a year. We had stopped for lunch and on our way back to the car, my husband – who grew up on a farm – stopped and looked up at the sky. It was blue and mostly cloudless. It was warm (85°F) and very muggy. He said he didn’t like how the weather felt, that something was brewing. Shortly after that, our phones started pinging us with severe weather watches for later in the day.

That evening, we were on the edge of a huge storm system. Most of our county lost power, including us, and two days later as I write this, some are still without power. There are areas in the two towns near us that look as though a bomb was dropped. Trees on houses and cars. Tin roofs on buildings – gone. Even the Hardee’s sign couldn’t withstand the high winds and toppled over. We were lucky, we lost 3 trees. None of them hit our house. Our garden, with its baby plants, still appears to be intact.

During the peak of the storm, the wind had huge trees rocking and quaking, the rain was horizontal. My littlest dog hid in the closet. Storms scare me too. Storms like that one and "storms" we go through in life. It's a good reminder to ask for God to watch over us during those times because He will always bring us through them. Sometimes not the way we plan, but always according to His plan.

Everyone weathers storms in their lives. The characters in my books are no different. In A Groom By Surprise, Sarah Clark has lost her family and is now trying to fulfill her beloved sister’s last wish by standing in for her as a proxy bride. I’m sure it’s not what she planned for her life. But as she learns to trust in God’s plans for, she ends up with a far better life than the one she had envisioned for herself.

Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us to “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

This year, I’ve spent a lot of time focusing on trusting God’s plans for me. Letting go of a lot of needless worrying and just trusting. It’s not always easy, but I know in the end, it will be worth it. What about you?

Getting to know Laura:

Do you have a dedicated writing spot? Yes and no. I do have an old treadle sewing machine that I repurposed into a desk and have my computer set up there. But I often write in the living room on a lap desk or out in our screen porch, weather permitting.

What do you enjoy doing for relaxation? I love to nap! I also enjoy crafting, sewing and fishing.

What is your favorite vacation spot? Anywhere as long as I’m with my husband. Seriously, he makes everything fun. We have the best time together and I am so blessed to have him.

Reader question: Where is your favorite place to read? Leave your response, and we'll draw randomly and award an ebook copy of A Groom By Surprise.

About Laura:

Laura Ashwood is a USA Today Bestselling author of sweet contemporary and historical western romance, and women's fiction. ​In her novels, Laura brings to life characters and relationships that will warm your heart and fill you with hope. Her stories often have themes involving redemption, forgiveness, and family. ​Laura and her husband live in northeast Minnesota. She works a full time day job, and in her spare time, she likes to read, cook and spend time with her husband. She is a devoted grandmother and chihuahua lover. 

About A Groom By Surprise:

A proxy bride, a surprise groom and the secrets that could tear them apart.

Sarah Clark is utterly alone. Her sister’s dying wish was for Sarah to take her place as a proxy bride. But Sarah isn’t so sure that she can go through with deceiving her sister’s would-be husband and his family…especially when she begins to fall for her new husband, Levi Nelsen.
 
Levi Nelsen has given up on marriage. After two failed attempts at securing a bride, he’s resigned to being a bachelor — that is, until his attorney brother tricks him into signing a marriage by proxy certificate. Suddenly, he finds himself with a wife he didn’t want.

Can a marriage built on deception become something meant to be?

Buy link: https://www.amazon.com/Groom-Surprise-Historical-Western-Romance-ebook/dp/B09SV2MZZ5 (KU)

Connect online:

https://www.lauraashwood.com/

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