Grace Restored by Toni Shiloh + excerpt

Hi, reader friends! Today, we welcome back our author friend, Toni Shiloh, and her newest release, Grace Restored the second installment of the Freedom Lake series.

 

my thoughts

Loss, illness, circumstances. Life is messy. Grieving, doubting, hating. Humans are flawed. Authenticity. God’s grace covers it all. Redemption, restoration, promise, and hope.

In case all the sentence fragments didn’t tip y’all off, let me tell ya, this story sent my swoofer into a bit of a tail-spin. Before this starts to sound like a bad breakup note, I highly recommend this story despite my inability to do it justice (it’s not you, it’s me). Emotions put my reader heart through the wringer as I revisited this group of friends I’ve grown so fond of since Returning Home (yes, I realize they are fictional friends but I can’t help but love them anyway!).

The folks of Freedom Lake do NOT have it all together (not even close) but honestly, that’s a big reason I appreciate them so much. I’ll say it again, “authenticity.” Life knocks them down yet they continue seeking, learning, and growing together. This group of friends is tried and true and the way they do life together is inspiring. Shiloh dives into the Word, offering truth and encouragement straight from the Source, without coming across as preachy or sugar-coated.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and was under no obligation to post a review. The opinions expressed are my own.

 

 

Grace Restored excerpt

June 11, 2003

“Promise we’ll always be friends.” Michelle Thomas glanced at her best friends, Jo Ellen Baker and Chloe Smith. Graduating from high school was going to change their relationship no matter what. She just prayed it would stand the test of time.

“Of course, we will,” Jo said in her no-nonsense tone of voice.

“Just because we’re going to college doesn’t mean our friendship will change,” Chloe stated in her soft voice.

Michelle sighed. She loved her friends, but sometimes, they didn’t seem to understand how tenuous time could be. In the blink of an eye, life could be altered.

“I love you, guys.” She smiled at them, eyes misting over.

“Aw, group hug.” Jo exclaimed.

Michelle wrapped her arms around them. Life couldn’t get much better.

The sound of the doorbell brought the hug to a close. Her parents had gone out for date night and had allowed her to have a sleepover with her girls. She knew they didn’t like her opening the door when they weren’t home, but she was an adult now.

She peered through the peep hole and frowned. Why was there a police officer at her door? She opened the door. “May I help you?”

The officer removed his hat, a somber look coloring his features. “Are you Michelle Thomas?”

She nodded. This was getting stranger by the minute.

“I’m Officer Simpson with the Kodiak City Police Department, may I come inside?”

What were the Kodiak City Police Department doing in Freedom Lake?

“Who’s at the door, Chelle?” Jo called out.

“The police.”

Jo quickly padded to the door to stand next to her. “How do we know you’re really the police?”

Trust Jo to be cynical and non-trusting. Who would lie about that?

He handed over his badge and Jo examined it. Michelle wanted to laugh at her serious expression, but something was off. Something wasn’t right.

Chloe peeked over Jo’s shoulder. “Looks real to me.”

“I suppose,” Jo replied. She handed the badge back. “Just say what you have to say right there.” Jo pointed past the threshold, as if the officer wasn’t strong enough to cross it if necessary.

The officer met Michelle’s gaze, his gray eyes softening. “Ms. Thomas, your parents have been involved in an accident.”

“What? Are they okay?” She swallowed, trying to dislodge the lump in her throat. She met Jo’s eyes, noticing the creases in her forehead. She vaguely noted Chloe’s hand on her back.

“Ma’am, I regret to inform you…”

It sounded like a recording. The words didn’t make sense. How could they be dead? She just saw them. Her dad had teared up after the graduation ceremony while they were taking family photos.

Slowly, the sound of wailing penetrated her thoughts. She wished they’d shut up. How could she hear what the officer was saying if they wouldn’t stop?

Her knees buckled and she felt arms come around to steady her.

It was her.

She was the one wailing. She was the one making the incessant noise.

They were dead. At the blink of an eye, her parents were dead.

 

 

giveaway

Comment on this blog tour post for a chance to win an e-copy (open internationally) of Grace Restored by Toni Shiloh.
Simply respond to the following question:

What verse captures God’s grace for you?

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